New Daily Persistent Headache Support Group

Hello, everyone,

Once again, it has been quite a while since I've been in the forums. My headache is still unchanged, and it will have been 9 years of constant pain this October. It continues to greatly interfere with my day-to-day life.

Naturally, life gets pretty lonesome, so I tried to get a dog last fall. He was a gorgeous boxer/labrador mix that I adored. His name was Fitz, and he was a big, soft-hearted gentle giant. I live on a farm with my parents, so he lived outside and had room to run. However, I was unable to give him the proper attention, and as a result, he developed some bad habits.

Long story short, I had to let him go to another home where he would get the attention he needed. I miss him desperately, though, and wish it would have worked out. I've always been a big animal lover, and have several small pets. There's something about animals...I think they are a very healing, comforting presence.

So, after talking with my parents some, we decided that maybe we could consider a smaller house dog that doesn't require so much activity. I don't want to rush into it again, as I don't think I could bear having to let another dog go again. It was so hard to see my Fitz go.

I am wondering if any of you, with health problems like my own, have a dog or know of a dog (or any other pet with personality) that works well with this limited lifestyle? I feel that a dog might be a nice cheery presence for me, but don't want to make a dog's life small or miserable. I was thinking perhaps a pug or a dachsund or something of that sort.

Maybe this is a strange question, but I am curious what sort of dogs can live in the house and don't require a great deal of walking/running, as I am just not able to deal with that.

What pets work for you?

Thanks! I hope you are all hanging in there.

Hi Jennaboo, I am really sorry that it didn't work out for you to keep Fitz. It is so hard to let go of a pet you are attached to, but I am very glad he went to a good home.

I don't own a dog now, but I dogsit for a number of them at various times. My sister handles most of the walking, especially of the larger ones who want to really go for a long distance. I think that what might be the best thing to investigate for someone like me would be to adopt an older dog. A puppy of almost any breed is going to be very active and need a lot of care and training and tend to require a lot of energy. Lots of older dogs are already trained, calmer and you can kind of tell how much energy they are going to take better.

I would tend to avoid dogs that were bred to work (herding dogs can be especially problematic) and any breeds famous for yapping (I hate yapping). The one Boxer puppy that I have taken care of was VERY active, and I expect she will calm some as she grows up but there is no way I could have her for more than a few days.

I have heard that English bulldogs tend to be low energy and overheat easily when outside so they try not to exert themselves much though I have never owned one myself. I know some older mixed breed dogs that are wonderful couch potatoes as well that would be perfect for someone like me, but there is no way to search for one of those without meeting the dog.

I hope you can find a dog that is a much better fit for you. Probably any breed that requires a minimal ammount of exercise would be a good choice and there is lots of information available on the internet. I have been looking things up here: http://www.akc.org/breeds/pug/

Post edited by: MaryR, at: 07/19/2010 10:02 PM

This seems odd, but I've heard numerous times that greyhounds make great pets -- despite being fast runners, they don't particularly demand lots of exercise. We have several living in our neighborhood and their owners generally refer to them as couch potatoes.

There are lots of greyhound rescue organizations out there. And by getting an adult dog, you're not only saving its life, but you're avoiding all the challenges of training a puppy. (I've raised lots of dogs over the years and love puppies, but Mary is absolutely right about the benefits of adult dogs).

Here's one description http://www.k9web.com/dog-faqs/breeds/greyhounds.html.

I have two rescued greyhound granddogs. They seem to very affectionate and low maintenance.

Thank you, everyone, for taking the time to reply.

Mary, dogsitting would be a nice option...you'd have some company, while still knowing that it wouldn't be a long-term commitment. Thanks for all the advice and help. I, too, think that getting a working dog would be difficult because of their needs to be kept busy. Growing up, we always had border collies, which were nice outside dogs, but not ideal for me any longer. And of course, I'll go out of my way to avoid yappers! I can't stand that, either. I'll look into English Bulldogs...I've heard that they are very mellow, lazy sort of dogs. Rescuing an older dog would be an option to consider, as well. Thank you for all the help, and also for that good link!

kymark, thank you for your input. I have heard the same about greyhounds. They seem fairly rare around here, but I'll look into it. Thanks for that helpful link.

Designer134, thank you for your input! I appreciate it.

I was looking around online at pets with personality that might be an option, dogs and otherwise. I came across ferrets and couldn't help but think that that could be something to check into a bit. I'll keep looking around and do some more research.

Thanks again.

I am so sorry to hear that you had to get rid of your baby. I have chronic painful headaches everyday. I also have fibromyalgia which makes it hard for me to have a active pet as well, but I do have small chihuahuas. I love my babbies they are small and they do like to play, but you don't have to run or anything like that to play with them. You can just throw their toys and they will go get it and bring it back to you.

Mine are very small, they weigh anywhere from 2-4 pounds. I breed them as well. They make wonderful pets for people with limited activity.

My mother also has fibromyalgia and lupus and she has 3 of theese small babies and loves them. These dogs are so spolied they think they are human. Mine are my best freinds and can help to give you company.

Hey,

I have a 10 yo black pit/lab cross named Marley. If you like dogs, there is one for you out there. I rescued mine from a shelter at 6 months old, and have found her company to be a great distraction for me. You have to pick the size you want, and then research a breed you can handle. My dogs medium size,75lbs, but kinda high energy cause of the labradore in her. She's 10 and still acts like a puppy when people come over.

I am lucky cause the dog keeps herself entertained mostly chasing chipmunks and squirrels in the woods, up north.

It is important to give them exercise, discipline, and affection.

My dog is well behaved now but does get ancy if I am unable to let her run around with her friends, or take her out every now and then.

My friend got two dashound/chiwawa mixes, their brother and sister 6yo-they're pretty chill.

My boss got a beagle/hound mix; crazy hyper, and they chase the thing weekly, lol.

You can train almost any dog at almost any age, having said that if your parents aren't dog people they expect u too, and it's a responsibility.

I was in a car accident 4 years ago, and now have some hardware as well as severe arthritis in my ankle, I don't go for walks anymore, but she gets exercise with her friends. Yeah leash free areas!!!

Any and all pits should be destroyed and the breed made illegal in this country. EVERY owner says theirs in an exception, or they try to tell you it's all a misunderstanding. "They're good dos if you raise them correctly" is a common anthem of the uninformed. Pits have been bred for many generations to be needlessly aggressive. All the environmental benefits a responsible owner can offer do not offset this.

A recent occurrence near me had two such "sweet" animals rip the left arm off a 74 year old man. He died. The owners sang the same tired tune about how their dogs had always been very good! Guess what? I'll bet the friends of this man don't really care. There are far too many good breeds out there needing homes to waste time, money and potentially human life over such a dangerous and unpredictable breed such as this. It also gives all other dog owners a bad name. I would absolutely support a ban on this breed. There just is no good reason to justify the numbers. Some just like the "challenge" of a dangerous breed so they can say to others "Look! I know how to raise a dog!". The callous disregard for the safety and lives of others is inexcusable!

Really Kildare?

I rescued my dog at 6 months old when a law came out in Canada, that they were dangerous and not allowed to be breed anymore, and anything that looked like a pitbull had to be on leashe at all times.

My dog is 10 now and has only been in one fight, its when she was 3. A giant poodle punctured my dogs ear with its K9's when it finally caught her at the park. My dog yelped and ran away, pretty aggresively.

I have a good dog, and she is a pit/lab cross. One of my friends has a stradfordshire terrier-pure pitty. And i have no concern letting my dog tussle with him.

Within the past 4 years the pitbull law is only valid for pure pitbulls, and my mix can run around in the leashefree parks.

There are bad people everywhere in the world, and some chose to fight pitties. To stereotype the breed ain't cool.

My opinion is that you can raise any breed of dog to be however messed up you want it to be!

Wow, I have a full blooded pitbull named Grace. She turned 1 in Novemeber. I rescued her when she was 6 months old from a shelter. She had gotten dumped off or lost during the tornado in april and I got her in May. She is an awesome companion. She sleeps with me every night and is amazing. She plays with my two cats. She will bark if she sees someone outside or if a car pulls up, but that's what I want her to do. As soon as she sees that I know the person then she starts wagging her tail and licking them. Don't get me wrong, she doesn't like for strangers to even come near the house, but that's a good thing. On the occasions when she has played with a dog, she did fine. I tool her on a long walk and other dogs were trying to attack her and she didn't want anything to do with them. But in the end, everyone has there own opinion. I have read more articles about rottweilers and other dogs doing just as much if not more than pitbulls. It seems to me that some pitbulls have done horrible things and I know that, but that doesn't make them all bad. That's my opinion. Take it or leave it!