Anyone ever bought a dog .....

[swee'pea99]

Please, my 'OTT' comment wasn't meant as any kind of criticism, and you're right to flag up that it's not all happy Andrex puppies...I was just trying to moot the idea that it doesn't have to be quite as heavy duty as some people have been suggesting...£3,500 a year for three dogs, kind of thing.

 

[Fab Foodie]

I'm with oldfatfool, hounds are great pets. Buying a dog after an awful lot of deliberation was one of the best family decisions we made. We'll get another nexy summer.
Our choice?
Whippet ... not the sexiest of breeds, but hugely affectionate, sleep loads so good for working families, no real sheding, no real smell (though a whippet fart could waken the dead), rarely bark, no medical issues, small eaters, cheap to own, don't need much walking. Slight downside is you have to be wary when off the lead as they'll chase most anything. Greyhounds are much the same but more prey drive and take-up more of the sofa. Hugely affectionate.

 

[RWright]

This past week two of my neighbors have acquired dogs. I am not sure where they came from but they are full grown. These are two neighbors that live closest to me, maybe 150 yards or so away for each. Both of the new dogs have been barking. One just normally barks when I go outside at night and the noise gets it going. It is on the side of my house that I don't spend a lot of time on so it doesn't bother me while I am inside, just sort of annoying to hear every time I walk outside at night.

The neighbor on the other side just got their dog yesterday. It barked all day and into the night, I got tired of hearing it since it is on the side of my house that I spend about all my time in. I got out my very powerful spotlight last night and shinned it over at the dog and it would shut up. I go back in and it started back, very annoying, it finally stopped around 10 pm. I later heard it again around 4 am.

Today I call neighbor 1 and ask her if she has neighbor 2's phone number so I can call her and ask her if she wants me to buy her a muzzle for her annoying ass dog that barked all night. I never called neighbor 2 and tonight not a peep out of either dog. Hopefully I may have killed two birds with one stone, we shall see.

If you get a dog, be considerate of your neighbors.

 

[Becs]

This past week two of my neighbors have acquired dogs. I am not sure where they came from but they are full grown. These are two neighbors that live closest to me, maybe 150 yards or so away for each. Both of the new dogs have been barking. One just normally barks when I go outside at night and the noise gets it going. It is on the side of my house that I don't spend a lot of time on so it doesn't bother me while I am inside, just sort of annoying to hear every time I walk outside at night.

The neighbor on the other side just got their dog yesterday. It barked all day and into the night, I got tired of hearing it since it is on the side of my house that I spend about all my time in. I got out my very powerful spotlight last night and shinned it over at the dog and it would shut up. I go back in and it started back, very annoying, it finally stopped around 10 pm. I later heard it again around 4 am.

Today I call neighbor 1 and ask her if she has neighbor 2's phone number so I can call her and ask her if she wants me to buy her a muzzle for her annoying ass dog that barked all night. I never called neighbor 2 and tonight not a peep out of either dog. Hopefully I may have killed two birds with one stone, we shall see.

If you get a dog, be considerate of your neighbors.

This is another reason why rescues aren't for everyone - if an adult dog is unsettled they have a powerful woof to tell everyone about it! I'm about to move into a new house and really want to get a dog of my own (finally!) - although I think for my situation a puppy might be best so it can adapt to it's new lifestyle (coming to work with me and hopefully not woofing every time someone comes into the office!). I'm very worried about upsetting the potential dog sitters neighbours.

 

[Cletus Van Damme]

We have had cats which we nursed until age related illness killed them, and now the dog. I love cats, and would have another one in a flash but I can't bear to see them go. It broke my heart when I had the Tom put down. I held him whilst they put him to sleep. He was ready to go and the Kidney failure must have been very painful. I will never forget that, and it still upsets me now thinking about it.

I had to do exactly the same with my tom cat called Tom in October last year. Exactly the same kidney failure, but he lasted for 3 years since diagnosed and was 15. Fortunately he went downhill fast with this near the end I do not think he suffered for too long. Horrible experience.

Cats are great pets and a lot less hassle than dogs. I have had 4 cats in my life, one totally just vanished after going out at night, one got run over and killed, the one described above and I still have a 16 year old female cat. With the 2 cats that I had for so long I have had lots of vets bills for fighting and once when one was knocked over but survived. I live in a semi-rural location and the road is not really busy at all. Most of the problems I have had with cats are due to them going outdoors. My current cat does not go outside anymore, if I was to get another kitten I think it would be a house cat to be honest.

 

[SpokeyDokey]

Please, my 'OTT' comment wasn't meant as any kind of criticism, and you're right to flag up that it's not all happy Andrex puppies...I was just trying to moot the idea that it doesn't have to be quite as heavy duty as some people have been suggesting...£3,500 a year for three dogs, kind of thing.

Not a problem at all - it's just a forum thing!

I know that some dogs can be kept for a moderate amount of money. I was just responding to the potential novice owner in the OP.

I get a bit uptight about some people and dogs that's all so if I sounded 'off" - my apologies.

I am particularly close to the Weimaraner breed and there is a constant stream of them turning up at breed specific and general rescue centres and it is usually the same old excuses why they are being brought in. Stuff like:

"I didn't realise they grew so big." Not hard to research in this day and age.

"He/she costs too much." Including travel to his favourite walking spot in the fells our dog cost around £2500 pa. Worth it though!

"My wife is/I am, having a baby and it will be too much for us/me".

"The dog pulls on the lead and won't do as it's told". That's an owner issue not the dogs.

"The dog messes in the house". Dogs are den creatures and go to the ends of the earth not to defecate in their own den. It usually transpires the poor thing has been crossing its legs all day whilst the family is at work.

"The dog howls, the dog has burrowed straight through a door". It's bored, it's lonely. What's it supposed to do.

"The dog knocks our children over." This happens, excited dogs chasing something move in straight-ish lines. If something like a small child is in the way it may well get bowled over.

***

As I said I love dogs but it's no good glossing over the harsh realities of having one.

 

[oldfatfool]

Just to give you another take on costs, we don't bother with insurance, for our 4 it would be in excess of £100 a month which when you take excesses and treatments not covered into account is quite a lump of vets bills. Buying wormers and flee treatments online brings cost down dramatically.

Food. four dogs with a combined weight of around 120kg, go through around 15kg a week at £13 ~ 16, CSJ good natural food, ignore pet shops!! Then they probably have a tin of pilchards a day and 32 eggs a week, along with a treat so maybe another £10

All in all I would say we spend £30 week including routine meds on four large dogs.

 

[yello]

Oh, and another thing... consider holidays or weekends away. You'll have to find a home for your dog(s) whilst you're away, or stay in dog-friendly hotels/locations. It's another cost and consideration.

Like having children, life becomes less spontaneous with dogs. Not impossible but more thought required.

 

[SpokeyDokey]

Why I get fed up with some dog owners. This is one breed and one rescue centre only. This story is sadly repeated across most breeds.

http://weimaranerclubofgreatbritain.org.uk/index.php/rescue/dogs-in-need

Fortunately there are many more responsible dog owners than not. Obviously there will always be dogs for rescue due to nothing more than the ill-fortune of their owners. But there are many who are there who were a) purchased by idiots who thought the cute little pup was going to stay the cute little pup forever and b) by irresponsible 'breeders' who want to make a fast buck. NB: there are many brilliant breeders out there and I am not castigating them.

 

[Alan16ac]

I think if you're doubting wether you have the time and effort to care properly for a dog, then the answer is no don't get one. They're a blessing to have and great companions but are also very time consuming and expensive. There's food to buy, vet bills, worming tablets, inoculations, leads and collars as they grow, toys, beds/bedding, puppy training class (good for socialising your dog at a young age), the cost of the dog itself unless you're adopting. If you're adopting be sure it's safe around children.
On the upside you get a companion that will never judge you and will love you unconditionally. Until the 26th of December I had 4 dogs. Unfortunately my Briard Hugo developed internal bleeding on Boxing Day and I was forced to have him put to sleep. He lived to a good old age of 14, which is excellent for a big dog. And I can honestly say the hardest thing about having a dog is losing them
What kind of breeds are you thinking of?
I still have my three other dogs, Mylo, Alfie and Jasper, which are a Cavapoo, Briard and Toy Poodle (not cut like a poodle). Very intelligent dogs.

 

[SpokeyDokey]

I think if you're doubting wether you have the time and effort to care properly for a dog, then the answer is no don't get one. They're a blessing to have and great companions but are also very time consuming and expensive. There's food to buy, vet bills, worming tablets, inoculations, leads and collars as they grow, toys, beds/bedding, puppy training class (good for socialising your dog at a young age), the cost of the dog itself unless you're adopting. If you're adopting be sure it's safe around children.
On the upside you get a companion that will never judge you and will love you unconditionally. Until the 26th of December I had 4 dogs. Unfortunately my Briard Hugo developed internal bleeding on Boxing Day and I was forced to have him put to sleep. He lived to a good old age of 14, which is excellent for a big dog. And I can honestly say the hardest thing about having a dog is losing them
What kind of breeds are you thinking of?
I still have my three other dogs, Mylo, Alfie and Jasper, which are a Cavapoo, Briard and Toy Poodle (not cut like a poodle). Very intelligent dogs.

Sorry about the loss of your dog - very upsetting. Definitely a great age for a big dog.

 

[MichaelM]

Please, my 'OTT' comment wasn't meant as any kind of criticism, and you're right to flag up that it's not all happy Andrex puppies...I was just trying to moot the idea that it doesn't have to be quite as heavy duty as some people have been suggesting...£3,500 a year for three dogs, kind of thing.

Less than £100 per month per dog isn't particularly "heavy duty" considering two of them are on prescription diets.

Luckily, we chose to have ours insure which turned out to be a good choice - one of them has bad skin and we eventually (after a couple of years of trying all else) resorted to having to use "Atopica" which comes in at £300 per month. Thank god for "life cover"!

That would have been heavy duty! In fact, I wouldn't have been able to sustain that sort of expense myself - I honestly don't know what we'd have done.

 

[Becs]

Luckily, we chose to have ours insure which turned out to be a good choice - one of them has bad skin and we eventually (after a couple of years of trying all else) resorted to having to use "Atopica" which comes in at £300 per month. Thank god for "life cover"!

Yep. Insurance policies without life cover aren't worth the money. Skin conditions, diabetes and arthritis are long term, often expensive conditions.

 

[Noodley]

We have 2 dogs.
When our old Charlie, a Pointer, died a few years ago (aged 13) it was a big loss, but after several months I was missing having a dog in the house as it did not feel right after so many years of living with a dog - it was too quiet. So we got Solo 2 years ago, another Pointer. He is as daft as a brush and I expect him to eventually stop acting like a puppy when he hits 8 or so.
We also have Buster, who is some strange kind of lurcher/deerhound/terrier dog, "rescued" by Mrs N from his previous owner where he was left for days on end without food or company. He is not without "issues" when it comes to people arriving at the door - but a bigger soft lump you could not meet. He sleeps with the cats (well, the cats sleep on top of him) and he just loves cuddling up on top of his people on the sofa. But he is not without "issues" - he has bitten the postie when he made it out of the house a few weeks after we got him, and we now introduce him to anyone who comes to our house. Oncde he has met people he loves them. He has also been attending training classes and is great in the class, yet we cannot let him off the lead as his recall is non-existant due to his instinct to chase anything and nothing.
Dogs are a big commitment, but one well worth the effort - a commitment not to be taken lightly.

We aslo have 3 cats. Easy-peasy compared to a dog.
And a horse. More demanding that a dog.

 

[Alan16ac]

Sorry about the loss of your dog - very upsetting. Definitely a great age for a big dog.

Thanks. Yeah and he enjoyed his life and was happy so that's best