I know ive made this thread before, but recent developments have made acquiring a dog a very real possiblity in the short future. Im going to be moving into a 3 br townhouse with my current roommate and a friend/neighbor. They allow dogs if it is quiet, so Im thinking about a small to medium sized dog. I hope to adopt to save money, and preferably one that is already trained. Is it possible to find out if a dog is quiet before you adopt him? That was quiet an emphasized point when we spoke to the landlord.
Also, if I were to get a young dog that already had all its shots, how much would yearly expenses run? 1000$?
I love dogs and even like cats, birds and more, but they all are going to require cleaning after even if they are trained. Bird feathers will migrate from a cage, pet food will be spilt. Who is going to look after the critter when you have to go for a week, if you travel how are you going to care for them. The pull you feel to get a dog is real and at least you are considering money. I would think your budget is good considering at least one trip to the Vet each year for shots and a once over.
The Warden suffered thru years with allergies from pets, but she was the one who initiated it and she stuck it out till the end. It is painful to lose a pet, and you will. Now no more.
Me... Pet free
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We have a Boxer, almost 2 yrs old. She is about 63lbs, so a medium-sized dog. She eats about 3 cups of food a day, and a bag of food lasts about a month, and the food we buy is around $45/bag. (She is spoiled rotten, and only gets Taste of the Wild, which has no meals, only real meat/fish). For snacks, she gets mostly mini-carrots, with cubes of cheddar cheese (the kind sold in plastic bags). She generally goes once-a year to the vets for her checkup/shots. That runs about $150, and it seems like she gets to go around one other time a year for some sickness or other, for around $75. Toys are generally cheap.
When we go away, she stays at a doggie-day-care not far from us. That is $33/day, but she gets to run almost all day, and is not kennelled until bed-time. Well worth it, especially since it gives her valuable socialization time with other dogs.
Ok, Kenneling. Controversial subject. Nottingham loves her crate, and is in it at night, and when we are gone. She even goes in when we are home and will lie down, then come out. Dogs are den animals, and love the security their crate provides. Make sure it is big enough, and start them young!
A good take on crating came from my neighbor, who raises Shih-Tzus. She says by keeping them crated, when she comes home from work, she can let them out and love them right away, rather than coming home, cleaning, and being frustrated with them.
In all, I wouldnt trade our dog in for anything, she is a valued member of our family, and gives back everything we give her in spades, and just asks for love and attention in return. As Will Rogers said: "If dogs dont go to Heaven, I want to know where they go, because that is where I want to go" (from memory, LOL)
There shouldnt be alot of long-distance traveling, but sometimes scheduling can be a problem. I sometimes have 12 hour school days (nursing) and it would be hard to fit in the daily carings of a dog. We are looking at planning our schedules so that we can all take care of the dog together.
How much leeway is there for stuff like walking it, letting it potty, feeding it, etc etc? Is it like clockworks or would +/- 1-2 hours be acceptable?
I also really really want a rough collie or a long haired collie mix, is that a medium sized dog or a large dog? Ive heard different things. And we are hoping to adopt, so I dont know if a young dog is possible, so is the crating thing still on the table? Im looking on websites, and they seem to put young as ~2yr. What is technically a pup and what is young? What is adult?
Honestly though, the biggest factor may be the scheduling. Even up to 2000$, split between 2-3 people, its not too bad.
Last edited by fatlazyhomer : 11-15-2009 at 05:25 PM.
Two of us will be there for at least 3-4 years if not more. I think it ultimately depends on who the dog likes more in the end, as well as who can best take care of it.
I love dogs. But now that my son is basically grown and gone, there isn't going to be another for quite awhile (our family pet dog got eaten by a coyote @ the end of Son's senior year of HS - 2006), a sad day in the life of our family. But she was borderline feeble and old. I think mother nature did us a favor quite frankly.
I think I am now more of a lover of other people's dogs.
They are a huge responsibility. Expensive over the long haul. And our house still smells of urine after 3 plus years if the weather gets really humid and the AC isn't running (rare). Before I get another dog, hardwood floors will go down! I keep saying when I retire, then I'll have another dog. It's just not fair to have them sit all day alone.
Oh and one person generally winds up doing all the work involved. So, not really a shared responsibility in the end....IMO.
My gf and I have a little teacup poodle puppy. Usually I dont like poodles cause they look too fancy. But this little thing I love like a child, she looks like a little rascal she doesnt have that stupid "cottonball" hair poodles have.
We trained her in less then 2 weeks to go to the bathroom on her "wiwi" pad.
She is the smartest dog I ever seen and she behaves. She does requier some maintenance though and you must be very carefull with her. Few weeks ago she fell of the bed and broke her arm. And we didnt have insurance, so we had a pretty hefty bill from the vet after they surgically put metal plates in her bones. But shes worth it. Wouldnt give her up for anything.
My bulldogs got into a freshly run over deer today.
They came home all covered in blood from snout up to their ears. We were mortified. Turns out the school bus hit a deer this morning, wife let them out about 10am.
I had the joy of coming home from work today after working 9 hrs (driving 2 more hours to/from) to give them baths. Which I had just done yesterday.
So yeah, GET A DOG!
I love them dearly, but they make me shake my head sometimes.
Some bigger dogs need more room, but it really depends on the dog.
Many larger dogs are more susceptible to certain health issues such as hip dysplasia, and heart diseases.
Im going to take care of my roommate's mom's lab for 2-3 weeks before deciding. Shes very well behaved, but it will give me an idea of how much responsibility a dog is.
Is it true that if you want a specific personality, your best bet is to train a dog from puppy? Or that adopting can be a lottery when it comes to temperament?
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