Pets

Do you really have to have a dog?
My cat rides with me, been riding in the truck since he was eight weeks old. I scoop out the litter box every morning, fill his food and water twice a day. I never have to stop to let him out.
One time he sat on top of the refridgerator meowing, looking at the brake valve, the lines under the trailer were dragging on the road, wore a hole and were leaking air. I couldn't hear it, but the cat knew it was abnormal. I could hear it only after putting the truck in neutral.

 

Personal bias, I admit... but I'd not get a small dog. By small, I mean anything I can punt over the fence. If I can punt it, so can the guy breaking into my truck.

Another problem with smaller dogs is they tend (in my experience) to be a tad hyper.

Further, they do darn-all for keeping you warm on chilly nights. But maybe that's just me. At home, I have my wife on one side of me, and the dogs on (or almost on) the other side of me. I don't get to move much, so I'd better be comfy when I fall asleep.

If I had my druthers, I'd take my American Tundra Shepherd (115lbs) with me, but he's getting too old to make the leap. He sheds a little, but the bread molts - shed gihugic clumps of hair about twice a year. The rest of the time it's no worse than.. me.

What's cool is that he's pitch black, and has the biggest, whitest teeth you never want to meet on a dark night (which is where I met him.. and how I learned to love silk underwear)

However, as I said, he's getting too long in the tooth, and the white shepherd (140 lbs) is.. well, I've known smarter rocks, so I'm going to be taking the mutt (80 lbs). Dalmation/Chow/Mastiff/who-knows. It helps that he's as antisocial as I am.

And you'd better believe you can teach a dog to use a litter box. It's just not instinctive, the way it is with cats.

 

New policy...no pets I guess

Guess "Diesel" will have to stay home.

 

I may be in the minority here, but speaking from personal experience my little 8 pound Yorkie is a VERY BIG dog in heart. The little guy has taken on 3 stray wild black something mixes 10 times his size to protect his Mom and I have the vet bill and photo's to prove that he gave as good as he got. He sounds like a big dog at night if anyone comes to the door unannouced. I do plan on taking the big guy with me after I finish training cuz he loves riding with me. He is not "hyper". He loves to just lay on my arm and look out the driver's window. He keeps my blood pressure in check and gives me ungodly amounts of joy to have him around. For anyone considering getting a dog, I recommend a Yorkie just get them shaved down to about 2-3" fur otherwise you will spend a whole lot of quality time brushing!

 

Which companies allow pets? Or do you have to be O/O?

Anita

 

Baseballs - you need to check out the company's web site - most of them declare their rider/pet policies online. If not, you'd have to call.

Newdrivermaybe. Yeah, I've run into Yorkies before. Be a heck of a lot easier to get in the truck than my American Tundra Shephard, or even my mutt. Still not something I'd take with me - but, heck, some people like cats. What can I say?

I'm not particularly worried about stray dogs of any nature. Not trying to denigrate the little guy's efforts - it's just that dogs and people pose different kinds of threats. Virtually ANY dog would be a good alarm system. I just prefer an alarm system that's also a very good protection system - I know that if I'm hurt, odds are very good that I won't be going to the hospital alone!

(oh, lest anybody think I'm talking about some killer attack dog, you should know that the ATSD is quite possibly the most gentle breed on the planet. Read http://www.americanshepherd.com/history.html for a little history. It's kinda dated, but as accurate as I know of. )

 

I've been reading the posts, and I'll have to say that if you are really considering a dog, go to petfinder dot com and search for one in your local area, and save one from being murdered. I don't refer to it as euthanization because there is nothing good I can say about murdering animals because you don't have "room" for them. I work with the Weimaraner rescues in the Southeast and I will admit I am prejudiced toward the breed since I own three. Like the young lady that saved hers on the morning of execution, I have one that I rescued just minutes before they were going to kill him. I beg any of you who are considering a dog (or a cat, for that matter) to please go to petfinder or your local pound and save a life. I promise you will not ever regret it.

 

US Ex Yes, TMC No (Nice trucks need no pets).
I got very lucky 6 months ago. A friend called and asked if I was still interested in getting a dog for the farm. I had lost my dog of 13 years and was slow to replace her. I said maybe. He explained that a friend of his, a police office (K-9) had been in a very serious motorcycle accident and they need to place his dog. He could not be transferred to another officer. I called the officer and long story short, I have a beautiful fully trained Sheppard sleeping at the end of my bed. "Whiskey" is one great dog. He listens, stands guard, runs the parameter without a fence. heck he even brings me a turkey every once in a while just because he loves that I love to eat turkey. Of course I had to tell him there was a difference between a turkey and a Guinea hen He's a tracker by trade and training but you should see the looks I get when were on a walk and some less than desirable strays near. All I have to say is "Whiskey-NO BITE" and he gives this low growl! It's great. I'm not sure he would do well in a truck though. The hair isn't to bad as long as I brush him every other day. But he's a BIG dog.
Max

 

I keep a full size vacuum cleaner under my bunk.

Dragging your sneakers on the carpet will roll any hair in a ball. Wear a Playtex rubber glove and drag the seats to roll up any hair. Then vacuum.

I have two little dogs and I can still keep the inside clean.

I recommend small dogs as it makes more sense in a small space.

If you get a big dog... Make sure he has cheweys as they get bored and you don't want them chewing the truck up. Some breeds are particularly bad. Some with their big paws will wear an interior out. Get a mild temperred dog as you will be around other people and other pets.

I think pet owners are good drivers because they are more caring. You never hear of a pet owner getting in a wreck. Have you?

 

I never had a dog the first three years driving, figuring stopping would just slow me down. But solitary lonelyness had me thinking...I tried petfinder.com and was shot down. Even thought the local non-kill shelters were busting at the seams, they didn't like the ideal of a dog of any type in a truck...
I went to craigslist. Looking for a breed that didn't shead. There she was! The lady re-homing her took an adorable photo of her little crooked tooth smile.
She was a rescue that didn't go through the system. An elderly hobby breeder of Shih Tzus went to the nursing home and her kids were going to put all of her dogs down. Boo Boo got snapped up by the groomer, as she was so sweet....
When I answered the ad and told her what my situation was, she said she knew she'd be perfect, as she had other truck driver clients.
Boo Boo sheds minimally. She doesn't bark. The only learning curve was that she was housebroken to go out side. I had to train her to use pee pee pads in the truck. If it's raining an inch an hour or -5 degrees, no we aren't going out.
I am very cautious letting her mix with other truck dogs. There is no guarentee that they are up to date on thier shots or have good flea control.
Boo Boo definately improved my life and attitude. I love her bunches!