Prestigious pets

From Friesians to Gypsy Cobs, Dogue de bordeax's to Afghan hounds, Purple tangs to sea horses, and Hyacinths to Black Palms; each species has it's "trophy's". Animals sought after with pocket books and pride, rather than longing and love. I often hear statements like " A Friesian is my dream horse", or "Someday I will have a Hyacinth". When I hear these things I have to fight the impulse to say something like "have you ever even met one?" My point to this statement can be explained by looking closer at a few of these animals... Friesians are pretty, but high maintenance and very difficult to train compared to other horses. Afghan hounds are pretty but require daily brushing, weekly baths, and are the dumbest breed of dog known. Hyacinths are sweet and pretty, but have dietary and husbandry requirements that are more hassle than their common macaw counterparts. Sea horses are neat looking, but almost impossible to keep alive in a normal sized captive environment. I see a lot of tension in animals owner circles caused by a constant need to prove each of us is better than the other. Instead of upgrading the care and training of their cockatiel or quarter horse, they often "upgrade" outside of their skill level. Which makes many others feel inferior and seek after those same "trophy" animals without even really knowing why they want them. I have done rescue a long time with both parrots and horses, and sadly the ones that are usually too far gone to save are those "trophy" animals (the only rescue animals we have ever lost have been very high end animals much farther gone than we have seen before). A dying black palm cockatoo came here once... and no amount of vet and work was able to save it. A Friesian on his last legs was unsavable. Why? Because something purchased with "pride" usually makes the owner reluctant to admit they messed up. You would think that the amount of money spent would ensure these animals a better life... but it's quite the opposite. Some of the best cared for animals are the most common ones. I could care less about a hyacinth or a friesian (unless it's quite loved and someone really takes care of them)... but the light I see in the eyes of a person with their beloved cockatiel or grade horse is just amazing. So, the next time someone tries to make you feel inferior because they have a yellow tailed black cockatoo, or a high end pure bred dog, or a Gypsy cob horse... don't pay their inferiority complex and large pocket book much mind

I would add something else to this thread, and that is to select a pet or animal that is appropriate for your lifestyle and your living arrangements. I've seen so many people select dogs based on their looks, with no thought as to what the breed needs to be happy or what is appropriate. Most large dogs do not belong in small apartments. If you are a low key person or a couch potato do not get a more active breed, such as a Jack Russell, get something like a Pug. If you don't like to be active outside, or don't have the time to exercise your dog, don't get a breed that some would call 'hyper' when in fact it's not hyper, it just requires that daily workout to burn off that energy. If you don't have a lot of extra cash, don't get a large dog that will require you to spend a lot on appropriate food. I'm using dogs here as a reference, but really it is any pet or animal. I do have a couple rule of thumbs - 1) If you can't afford vet bills you can't afford the animal ownership; 2) Always provide the best diet you can afford, this will pay off with less health problems and in the end save you money with vet bills; 3) Make sure the animal is appropriate for your lifestyle; 4) don't bite off more than you can chew - if you can't physically handle an animal or control it, you shouldn't have it; and 5) provide the animal what it requires in terms of personal space, diet and care.

Well, I love Hyacinths for Hyacinths sake... not as a status item.

But you are right they are specialized feeders, very large stainless steel cages, and lots of TLC required.

But the same can be said for any "status" item...

How useless in everyday driving conditions is a Ferrari or a Lamborgini?! And really, is there any place this side of a closed track they can be safely driven at 200 mph?

Can anyone guess what the maintenance and fuel costs are on a private jet?

And what, exactly, does it cost to furnish, heat, and air condition a 15,000 square foot Mansion? And with all those extra rooms, how many freeloaders do you think you would get stuck with?!

HAVING SAID ALL THAT...

My dream horse is a Gypsy Vanner...

Even though I don't actually ride!

I am not arguing against wanting a hyacinth or a gypsy cob... (I personally own a Friesian, an afghan hound, a hyacinth, and a purple tang)... I am just pointing out that our motives need to be our own, and that (as pointed out above) we are capable of handling these animals... that being said... aside from the purple tang, those "trophy" animals in my collection are rescues. Not something we sought after for any particular reason. I just can't stand going to a bird show and seeing the macaw owner snub the conure owner... too busy trying to feel better than everyone else... On a side note, I ALWAYS REFUSE to sell to people like that. If I think the bird you are buying is simply to "keep up with the Jones'" you can take your business somewhere else.

It's funny, because if you ask certain respected breeders who raise things like hyacinths and black cockatoos what their favorite species of bird is... you will often get answers like "dusky conure", "VOS eclectus", "hawkheads" and "quakers"... I know, I've asked... lol.

ShreddedOakAviary said:

I just can't stand going to a bird show and seeing the macaw owner snub the conure owner...

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Well, THAT GUY is an a$$...

NO, I TOTALLY GOT WHAT YOU WERE SAYING... AND I HAPPEN TO AGREE WITH YOU.

The horse comment was a joke. I actually don't want to deal with shoveling stables, thank you.

Besides, the "Stable boy" might be a distraction to my 20-something trophy wife with the fake ta-tas... and we wouldn't want that now, would we?!

Hahahahahaaaaaa!

LOL! How Funny!

Just don't tell that joke to my 50 something girlfriend with the REAL ta-tas...

ShreddedOakAviary said:

It's funny, because if you ask certain respected breeders who raise things like hyacinths and black cockatoos what their favorite species of bird is... you will often get answers like "dusky conure", "VOS eclectus", "hawkheads" and "quakers"... I know, I've asked... lol.

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I've actually never been around a hawkhead that wasn't a one person bird... and you want to talk about short tempers?!

Hawkheads would top my list of the birds I would be least inclined to keep.

I love this forum.... It's fun to laugh. I'm off for now, I have some horses to train, dinner to start, and some baby birds to feed. I'll be back to laugh later

Thank you! I always HATE it when people are like "Awww a Australian Shepherd! Lets get it even though we never go for walks or get out side!" I knew someone who had a mental Aussie from a breeder and he was sooo fat! Then they got a Jack russ and he barked and barked! So annoying! They finally got rid of them because the dogs jumped up on people and got into the garbage! Schatzi, our little Tazmanian devil, She is very energetic so we take her for walks every day and runs every other day. And when we're done, she is still ready to run!

Im glad someone is speaking up about that! Lots of normal everyday people couldn't handle a Hyacinth or a Thorough bread!

Birdman666 said:

ShreddedOakAviary said:

It's funny, because if you ask certain respected breeders who raise things like hyacinths and black cockatoos what their favorite species of bird is... you will often get answers like "dusky conure", "VOS eclectus", "hawkheads" and "quakers"... I know, I've asked... lol.

Click to expand...

I've actually never been around a hawkhead that wasn't a one person bird... and you want to talk about short tempers?!

Hawkheads would top my list of the birds I would be least inclined to keep.

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Birdmann ,sorry I have to interject here. Its so hard to generalize species . You must have experienced this with all the birds you helped.I have to tell you how great my "Charlotte is" I don't know if its because she a female or cause ive had her since she was a baby.She likes to go to all my family members [she under my chin right now ].Shes never hurt me ,and is the only one I totally trust [out of my 15 birds ].When I someone visits [and wants to hold a bird] I know Terry on here has one too [maybe she will see this and share.]

I would love to have a Gypsy Vanner. I have a sneaking suspicion a GV could, just maybe, cart me around. Or a Shire Horse... but I couldn't afford the shoes. Sigh...

Prestige is very evident in the horse world and warmbloods are the flavour of the month right now in Newcastle. Thing is, it takes a strong dedicated rider to get a warmblood going (ones like our Tab) and if you're a bit on the wimpy side, it's not going to work. I have a feeling that warmbloods will be going fairly cheap around here in a few years' time. LOL!

Dogs? Staffordshire Terriers. They're everywhere! And of course, since the vast majority are from puppy mills, they're not particularly well bred or bred for a good, stable temperament. Lots and lots of bites are happening from unruly Staffies whose families never bothered to train them or to teach their kids that a dog is not an animated stuffed toy. A while back, it was Rottweilers. Before that, Weimaraners. It really is a sin for anyone to sell a working breed to a suburban family!

My hawkhead, Dar, is relatively new to us and is 17 years old. she likes my hubby as much as she likes me, and she was raised exclusively by a woman. She does have a temper, but is easy to read when she doesn't want to be messed with. I think that there are exceptions to every rule

Betrisher, my warmblood was a push button! My quarter horse however is a stubborn pain in the a$$ even with the blue blooded 'prestige'. We joke we could hit him with a baseball bat and he still wouldn't move. I am the only one who can get him to do anything even when I was 12 I had to do most of his training because he wouldn't listen to the trainer... and when he was young he was left out to pasture at the trainers facility because he was the most stubborn lazy thing the trainer had ever seen. He had rain rot like crazy when I met him the first time and was a very green color... By the way this is the horse that will gallop forever if you let him or rush around a jump course with delight. When we were showing I broke my ankle when 4 wheeling and another girl had to ride him while I healed up. She was so frustrated after 15 minutes of trying to get him to canter that I had to get on him with the broken ankle. Right away he started cantering when I asked and I looked at the girl laughing my a$$ off. I love my quarter horse even though he is a HUGE pain. Even now at 14 he still acts like the 3 year old I bought home from Tennessee....

I agree with not buying animals just for the prestige of owning a certain type. I can see my quarter horse being a very dangerous horse with the wrong owner.

I love my $130 cockatiel as much as if he were a $30,000 Black Palm cockatoo. I might love him even more actually. The price of a bird has no direct correlation to the personality it might end up with.

I'll admit, sometimes I sit and drool over animal's whos appearances I love (korean mastiffs and hyacinth macaws... oh my!) but when it comes down to it, I've always owned the "common" pets. I've had the most "boring" colored cats you can imagine, a plain brown rabbit who was litter trained, my beloved rats were simple black berkshire. They were all fabulous animals.

I feel sorry for people who purchase an animal solely for appearance without appreciating the individuality each creature can have. It's ok to have visual preferences of course, but a person should put the suitability of the animal to their lifestyle and the quality of care and love they will be able to provide the animal, too. Don't get a pretty macaw if you are almost never home, of course. You won't have a happy macaw.

Haven't I seen on this very forum Macaw owners adorn their posts with special "seals" attesting to their status as part of an elite group? Just sayin'