Anyone ever bought a dog .....

[Herbie]

And then regretted doing so?

We keep talking about it,but never take the plunge. Love the idea of a dog,but sometimes get scared by the responsibility of vets,walking,feeding and general care needed to look after one.The kids promise to take it for walks,but as their education becomes ever increasingly important,we know it will be down to us.

A friend has bitten the bullet last weekend, got a black labrador, and we are talking yet again about dogs .....

Any advice/suggestions/warnings appreciated

We have a rescue dog (a lab collie cross) he was 2 years old and a bit of a nightmare for first few weeks and we almost put him back but persevered....he was just frightened and needed to trust us and get used to us and us to him.Our perseverance paid off and he just the most cracking dog i've known...we wouldn't be without him now,,,a dog is a big responsibility but worth it if you work at it and be patient...we've had him 4 years

 

[deanE]

Dog's and Children are better when they belong to someone else.. You can pat them, play with them and enjoy them and even take them down the park..

Not to be recommended!

 

[seadragonpisces]

I would give the same advice to anyone.
Unless you can give the dog the love and attention it deserves (and exercise requirements) then I wouldn’t get one, for the dogs sake more than your own.

 

[EltonFrog]

I would give the same advice to anyone.
Unless you can give the dog the love and attention it deserves (and exercise requirements) then I wouldn’t get one, for the dogs sake more than your own.

This is by far the most important advice. Don't get a dog unless you have the time to be with it.

 

[yello]

I would give the same advice to anyone.Unless you can give the dog the love and attention it deserves (and exercise requirements) then I wouldn’t get one, for the dogs sake more than your own.

Agreed.

That said, like humans, animals have different levels of neediness. Indeed, each dog has it's own character, it's own needs, angsts, etc etc etc that ought be addressed. Whilst some dogs can be 'fit and forget' (well, you get my drift) others seemingly need constant therapy. It's difficult to know exactly what level of attention will be required in advance and you may get more than you bargained for. You have to be honest with yourself for the best interests of your dog.

 

[Sara_H]

Agreed.

That said, like humans, animals have different levels of neediness. Indeed, each dog has it's own character, it's own needs, angsts, etc etc etc that ought be addressed. Whilst some dogs can be 'fit and forget' (well, you get my drift) others seemingly need constant therapy. It's difficult to know exactly what level of attention will be required in advance and you may get more than you bargained for. You have to be honest with yourself for the best interests of your dog.[/quote}

True, my Lab would go out and enjoy it if it were raining nails. My Mums Cavalier KC Spaniel is disgusted at the suggestion of going out in even slight drizzle. The Westie I grew up with used to sit down and refuse to walk any further after about twenty minutes!

 

[cd365]

I bought a black lab puppy about 17 months ago, it is now a big beast but is still that 10 week old puppy at heart, loves to be fussed, walked and eating is his favourite thing (I am very careful not to over-feed). He made changes to my life when I got him and I am still adjusting to his needs but the welcome I get whenever he sees me is worth it; then he is like my shadow.

He is my daughter's best friend and he is great company but he is hard work, when he wants to play, you play!

 

[oldfatfool]

If you are unsure/ worried wether you will want to commit to a long term commitment or scared about large vet bills then might I suggest you pop along to your nearest greyhound rescue or rgt and offer to foster. Rescues are piled to the rafters with worthy dogs that can't find permanent homes because they aren't puppies or the wrong colour/ markings.

The rescue will give you a full home check and ensure the right hound for you is selected. If you find that having a hound in your life is not working out then they will understand and take the hound back, in the meantime you won't have to worry about vets bills. If you decide that that hound is for you then you can just adopt the hound you have been fostering or you might decide that you prefer to keep fostering as individual hounds in your care find permanent homes.

I have two hounds with me from the RGT that have been stranded in kennels after retiring from racing and they are on the older side (8 yrs) they will probably never find an adopter but I don't mind and the branch of the rgt are happy as they don't have to pay kenneling fees or food bills lol. Don't worry about training, even though these two have never been in a home before they quickly adapted though of course the odd accident as to be expected.

Though Greyhounds are my 'soapbox' breed I would seriously consider a hound, they need very little exercise and happy to sleep 23 hours a day, clean and well mannered, not particularly bouncy and not aggressive (avoid small furries though) Oh and be prepared o give up your sofa, bed and heart!

 

[SpokeyDokey]

I love dogs - not had one since my boy (in avatar) died 18 months ago. Can't bring myself to do it yet.

My only advice is this:

Think of all the negatives of owning a dog. And only when you can honestly get over them can you even begin to think of a getting a dog into your life.

Here's some:

Many dogs need heaps of exercise. High activity breeds need masses if they are to stay sane and healthy. My dog had 1.5 hours every day and much longer in the mountains every weekend for 12 years solid. A big commitment but it is relentless year after year after year. If you are not up for this then get a dog with low exercise needs. If your home late your dog will still need a walk. If your sick your dog will still need a walk. If your job, marriage or life in general is getting you down your dog will still need a walk. If you go on holiday without your dog someone will need to walk it.

Bigger breeds cost a lot to feed. My dog was £60+ per month.

Insurance is expensive. It's all very well getting a puppy policy for £8.99 from Tesco but by the time your dog is 10+ it'll be North of £60 per month for a decent policy.

And there will be loads of vet bills that are not insured as they are under the excess and a load more that are just above the excess!

And one day it may fall upon you to make one of the biggest decisions of your life when your time together is about to end - this is the biggest negative for me and one that I am struggling to deal with again.

Some people do not understand dogs appetites. Dogs are scroungers. They will eat horse, sheep and human crap. Cat litter trays are handy little buffet bars. Most dogs eat most things and there are times when what they eat will disgust you.

Dogs need to be trained. Some dogs are a PITA. This is usually due to the dog not being trained properly. Be aware that there are an awful lot of anti-dog people about and you will meet up with them wherever you go. You will come across fretting Mummies clutching their offspring as though the four horsemen are about to roll in just because your dog has glanced at their precious little ones. You will meet many people who have allegedly 'been bitten' by a dog just like yours. Farmers can be a nightmare (although many have just cause to be). It takes time and commitment to train a dog. Minimum requirements for me are come, heel, sit, stay and instant off lead down at any distance within hearing range and to be able to ignore sheep and cattle (the ignoring stock training is very intensive). All takes lots of time and patience.

Dogs smell. I rather like the smell. A lot of people do not. Your house will smell, your car will smell and your clothes will smell.

Dogs are grubby. It is rare to find a fastidious dog. They constantly tread filth into the house. They get greasy, they get ticks, mites and lord knows what else. Dog crap needs cleaning up. Dog sick needs cleaning up. And they damage things around the house.

There's probably more!

***

But........the best thing I ever did was get myself a dog!

 

[yello]

Dogs are grubby. It is rare to find a fastidious dog. They constantly tread filth into the house. They get greasy, they get ticks, mites and lord knows what else. Dog crap needs cleaning up. Dog sick needs cleaning up. And they damage things around the house.

Very good points. Unless you're going to keep them outside, dogs are NOT for the house proud. And forget any notion of going out anywhere without being covered in dog hair! The car equally will look a mess. Look around the next time you're in a public place, you'll see the dog owners even if they've not got their dogs with them!

And be prepared for having muzzles stuck where you don't want them. Some dogs check you out. If I've been out for a while, the dogs always give me a once over for interesting smells on my return. And if you've been fussing another dog then be prepared for some sustained interrogation! You'd swear you're being accused of being unfaithful!

 

[EltonFrog]

I love dogs - not had one since my boy (in avatar) died 18 months ago. Can't bring myself to do it yet.

My only advice is this:

Think of all the negatives of owning a dog. And only when you can honestly get over them can you even begin to think of a getting a dog into your life.

Here's some:

Many dogs need heaps of exercise. High activity breeds need masses if they are to stay sane and healthy. My dog had 1.5 hours every day and much longer in the mountains every weekend for 12 years solid. A big commitment but it is relentless year after year after year. If you are not up for this then get a dog with low exercise needs. If your home late your dog will still need a walk. If your sick your dog will still need a walk. If your job, marriage or life in general is getting you down your dog will still need a walk. If you go on holiday without your dog someone will need to walk it.

Bigger breeds cost a lot to feed. My dog was £60+ per month.

Insurance is expensive. It's all very well getting a puppy policy for £8.99 from Tesco but by the time your dog is 10+ it'll be North of £60 per month for a decent policy.

And there will be loads of vet bills that are not insured as they are under the excess and a load more that are just above the excess!

And one day it may fall upon you to make one of the biggest decisions of your life when your time together is about to end - this is the biggest negative for me and one that I am struggling to deal with again.

Some people do not understand dogs appetites. Dogs are scroungers. They will eat horse, sheep and human crap. Cat litter trays are handy little buffet bars. Most dogs eat most things and there are times when what they eat will disgust you.

Dogs need to be trained. Some dogs are a PITA. This is usually due to the dog not being trained properly. Be aware that there are an awful lot of anti-dog people about and you will meet up with them wherever you go. You will come across fretting Mummies clutching their offspring as though the four horsemen are about to roll in just because your dog has glanced at their precious little ones. You will meet many people who have allegedly 'been bitten' by a dog just like yours. Farmers can be a nightmare (although many have just cause to be). It takes time and commitment to train a dog. Minimum requirements for me are come, heel, sit, stay and instant off lead down at any distance within hearing range and to be able to ignore sheep and cattle (the ignoring stock training is very intensive). All takes lots of time and patience.

Dogs smell. I rather like the smell. A lot of people do not. Your house will smell, your car will smell and your clothes will smell.

Dogs are grubby. It is rare to find a fastidious dog. They constantly tread filth into the house. They get greasy, they get ticks, mites and lord knows what else. Dog crap needs cleaning up. Dog sick needs cleaning up. And they damage things around the house.

There's probably more!

***

But........the best thing I ever did was get myself a dog!

All the above is true, without a single shadow of a doubt. BUT there is nothing like the unconditional love that a dog will give you, it will make you laugh more than it irk you, it will keep you fit, and if you treat it right, the right dog will bring you unreasonable joy.

 

[swee'pea99]

Seems a tad OTT to me. My dog - a medium-sized 50/50 working/show cocker -

Does not shed hair
Does not eat crap
Does not stink
Doesn't seem to get much by way of ticks, mites etc
Has managed to keep away from the vet apart from jabs and the occasional minor ailment
Is not insured (yes, there's a risk, but insurance costs a packet. I don't insure my bikes either, for similar reasons)
Eats for about £20/month

So...they don't need to cost a fortune, or stink the place out. I do agree though that a bit of basic training is absolutely essential.

 

[SpokeyDokey]

Seems a tad OTT to me. My dog - a medium-sized 50/50 working/show cocker -

Does not shed hair
Does not eat crap
Does not stink
Doesn't seem to get much by way of ticks, mites etc
Has managed to keep away from the vet apart from jabs and the occasional minor ailment
Is not insured (yes, there's a risk, but insurance costs a packet. I don't insure my bikes either, for similar reasons)
Eats for about £20/month

So...they don't need to cost a fortune, or stink the place out. I do agree though that a bit of basic training is absolutely essential.

Not OTT at all - just trying to give the flip side to the cute Andrex puppy scenario.

Obviously smaller breeds cost less to feed but I just wanted to point out that some large dogs cost a lot to feed. Their are no end of large dogs hitting rescue centres as 'things have got tight' on the money front.

I have never yet had contact with any dog that does not stink. As I said I like the smell but dogs stink. The closest I have ever come to a non-smelling dog is the Wheaton Terrior which is a dog recommended for people who are usually allergic to dogs. Something to do with an enzyme they don't secrete I think - could be wrong though.

Similarly I am amazed that a working Cocker doesn't pick up any ticks or mites when burrowing through undergrowth etc. I have regular contact with maybe 30 workers of various breeds (Lab's, Border Collies, Springers, GSP's and 1 Police GSD) and the whole lot pick up live creatures in their hair - the bane of many a working dogs life.

I pointed out the insurance angle as many people forget this. Personal decision off course but I do hope that anyone who does not have vet fee insurance which comes with TP insurance in place has a suitable third party policy for their dog. I live in Cumbria and it is a working/active dog part of the world and here are a few examples of vet bills that I know of over the last couple of years that many would baulk at if they were uninsured:

GSP bitch, mild RTA, insert titanium rod into rear leg - £3800.

Chocolate Labrador, damaged leg vaulting a high wall - just under £10000 for rear leg rebuild and 3 years of ongoing operations. Sadly she died shortly after her treatment finished as she ate a rabbit laden with rat poison.

Weimaraner - carcinoma of larynx - £4500.

Weimaranar - mast cell tumour treatment (failed) - £6000.

My Weimaraner - 3.5 hours of scans/x-rays followed by PTS at £1660.

Novice dog owners need to know these things so sorry if you think I was OTT but I get sick to death of all the poor dogs that end up in rescue centres because of uninformed owners.

 

[Goldenretriever]

If you are worried about dirt just tile your floors. I have tiled kitchen/diner and utility it's a lot easier to keep clean.

 

[Becs]

I think the kindest thing you can do for a pet is put it to sleep before it is so crippled that it's chronically house-bound (we see this a lot). Euthanasia is a privilege and allows us to relieve pain in our faithful friends, even if it hurts us to do so.

Also if you are considering a pedigree (or any medium to large crossbreed) it is important to keep their weight under control and restrict their exercise until a year of age to prevent arthritis in later life. Insurance is a must, unless you have several thousand easily accessible or a very ruthless approach to euthanasia for minor ailments. Also, if you buy a puppy get it insured before you go for a "puppy check", then get it thoroughly checked out - good breeders should take it back if any problems are found. Definitely try to see the parents and find out about their elbow and hip scores if they are a breed that is commonly affected by OCD/DJD, for example, labs, GSDs and springers. Generally you are better off with a crossbreed, although a lot of people are now giving these stupid names and charging extra for them (e.g. labradoodles, springadors etc).

Be aware of rescues - a lot of them won't re-home to people with full time jobs (even if you can get home at lunch time).