Help -- Puppy issues

[honeychile]

I don't want people to think that I'm anti-crating. I just don't know if our dog was or not. I highly doubt it, and I wish he had been - crated dogs are easier to deal with.

A fireman told me once that they'll release an uncrated dog, but will actually rescue a crated one - because they don't know if the dog will bite etc. I can understand that.

I take Buffy to work with me, so it's not like he spends a lot of time alone. We also take him to doggie daycare when we're out of town - it's funny, he heads right for the person! He definitely likes to be with people more than other dogs! My mother & I volunteer several times a year in DC, and we stay at a hotel that accepts dogs, and is near a doggie daycare center. The people at the hotel love him so much, they call him Mr. Buff, and will set up a table & chairs for us to have a meal in the hall, instead of the restaurant, just so he can stay with us! But obviously, all doggie daycares are not created equally! He goes to the Happy Tails in McLean, VA, but that was after we investigated several others. We feel that he's had enough abuse, to put him through more.

While we're talking doggie issues, what's the scoop about micro-chipping? Does it hurt them? I'm all for having it done to Buffy, but we don't want him shaved, if possible. Also, I may take him to school to become a therapy dog - is that misuse of a dog or not? I've seen some of my (geriatric) clients just light up at his cuddling - one man just rubbed Buffy's tummy and cried with joy. Since he loves people so much, I think he'd be good. I'm just worried about him marking! Any suggestions from our resident vets?