Anyone ever bought a dog .....

[Mallory]

I've never owned a dog but did become really attached to my grandparents dog was I was younger. I even had the enjoyment of looking after him when they went away.

We bonded from the moment he was a puppy and was very protective.

Personally I'd LOVE to have a Bulldog

I do live in an apartment but I have 2 large balconies so he gets fresh air plus a park right outside

It's just the healthcare costs that puts me off

Plus the day I'd have to make that ultimate decision to send him to doggy heaven

 

[smokeysmoo]

It's just the healthcare costs that puts me off

Then don't get a bulldog, I believe they have more problems than a lot of breeds, particularly respiratory and hip issues. The joys of breeding to an 'ideal' I presume?

Plus the day I'd have to make that ultimate decision to send him to doggy heaven

That'll be the killer for me.

I dread that day even though all being equal it should be many, many years away for our dog. That said, if I can take him when the time comes and stand there with him knowing I've given him the best life possible, then I can only hope that gives me the strength to help him at the final hurdle.

 

[Mallory]

Then don't get a bulldog, I believe they have more problems than a lot of breeds, particularly respiratory and hip issues. The joys of breeding to an 'ideal' I presume?

That'll be the killer for me.

I dread that day even though all being equal it should be many, many years away for our dog. That said, if I can take him when the time comes and stand there with him knowing I've given him the best life possible, then I can only hope that gives me the strength to help him at the final hurdle.

The only issue is that a Bulldog is the ONLY dog that i'd be prepared to make sacrifices for. I JUST LOVE them. The one called Frankie on Paul O'Grady the other week melt/broke my heart

The wrinkled up face, the snoring, the stubborn temperament, bad breath, the drooling and the flatulence
















But i guess the dog would get used to me

 

[Arch]

Then don't get a bulldog, I believe they have more problems than a lot of breeds, particularly respiratory and hip issues. The joys of breeding to an 'ideal' I presume?

Sadly yes. The daftest thing is that a modern bulldog isn't even the animal that was bred to tackle bulls - as recently as the 19th C, Bulldogs still had longer legs and snouts, and were more robust. The 'ideal' now is just the result of breeders fixating on appearance instead of use, and accentuating things beyond practicality.

Give me a mutt any time.

 

[smokeysmoo]

Give me a mutt any time.

Here here. Nowt wrong with a mutt, ask my mate Patch

 

[Mallory]

Here here. Nowt wrong with a mutt, ask my mate Patch

View attachment 23443

He's the mutts nuts

 

[Archie_tect]

Life cover and health insurance.... for a pet? Vets must be rubbing their hands.
We supported the PDSA, and raised money for them but private health care seems a bit excessive.
Attachment comes at a price.

 

[Archie_tect]

Vets bills are easily mitigated with insurance tho. one hefty bill like that and you're quids in for years.

All insurance does is provide specialists the freedom to inflate the cost of repairing whatever it is, or the unscrupulous rip off the rest of us... until it becomes unaffordable to do without insurance... use the PDSA and support them if you wish... their vets are caring but realistic.

 

[yello]

We don't bother with insurance for our dogs either. Someone told me recently that our 2 are too old and wouldn't get insurance anyway!

We find the vet's bills reasonable. One of our dogs was recently attacked by a horse (long story) and required stitches to her paw. She was damned lucky as we thought she was a gonner when it happened because the horse gave her a good 'hoofing'. Only damage was to her paw; a fractured toe and an open wound requiring stitches. The total bill for stitches, 2 xrays, bandages, antiseptic etc plus the vet's time over 3 appts was under €200. That said, neither dog has faced serious problems (touch wood).

 

[Mallory]

Luckily I do have a PDSA close by and my household would qualify so I guess that's one stumbling block out of the way

 

[Fuzzball]

I have 2 dogs. 1 rescue and 1 pure breed. The insurance is about £65 a month for both. I do pay for the slightly dearer dog food but it still works out at at only £30 per dog a month. Have used the insurance for both dogs and wouldn't be without it. Previous dog had surgery on both front legs and tore its knee ligament in back leg that worked out at about £2500 all in. Then the bloody thing got loose in park and ran out in front of a car. Serves me right for fixing the legs, but it was worth it to have had her she was great. No 2 dogs are the same but I wouldn't be without one and always have 2 so they have company when on their own.

 

[shouldbeinbed]

All insurance does is provide specialists the freedom to inflate the cost of repairing whatever it is, or the unscrupulous rip off the rest of us... until it becomes unaffordable to do without insurance... use the PDSA and support them if you wish... their vets are caring but realistic.

Can't and wouldn't argue the insurance point but its hardly unique to pet insurance and without a global change we're trapped in that cycle, same as people choosing to live on a floodplain pay for the privilege, banks and oil companies seem to fix rates to suit themselves, holidays cost twice as much when the schools aren't in. Life ain't fair but unless you're really lucky you're stuck with the consequences.

Personally I've had bad experience with a local PDSA place, simply for my good fortune to have a job seemingly. Also the implication that they are somehow more altruistic or caring than other vets?? Not sure you could prove or quantify it. As said I've had a not happy experience with them but a longstanding happy relationship with my evil commercial vets, no idea what you mean to imply by realistic either?

 

[Archie_tect]

Depends on attachment SBIB... whether you think of a dog as a member of the family but probably best not go there as it might make me face a few home truths that I'd rather not think about.

 

[yello]

Depends on attachment SBIB... whether you think of a dog as a member of the family but probably best not go there as it might make me face a few home truths that I'd rather not think about.

Indeed. I had to curtail my own reply earlier for the same reasons.

 

[Mange-tout]

We have two rescue terrier cross bitches. One 16, deaf, partly blind and needing the loo 3 times a night. The other 4 years old, mad as a box of frogs - absolutely hates traffic (whines, barks, twirls on the lead, you get the idea), won't settle in the back of the car so has to sit on mum's knee on the front, and has a tendency to pick on weaker dogs (anything small and fluffy, or big and scared) so has to be muzzled when off the lead.

We've had the nutter 3 years now and had a terrible first 12 months with her. She would get over excited about anything and then attack the other dog, who was then 13. I had to throttle her to get her to release. This happened daily - I couldn't even take a pee without locking them in separate rooms. I felt so bad for the old dog, Lizzie.

Eventually I had a date to hand the nutter back to the dogs' home and it broke my heart every day as I thought of having to drive her there and walk away (filling up even now). The day got nearer and nearer and ever so slowly the attacks became less frequent. I talked to Coco (the nutter) every day, asking her to behave (I was slowly going mad), telling her she couldn't continue taking out her frustrations on Lizzie. The day of handing her back came and went. I couldn't hand her back. The months went by and slowly she became a more chilled out dog. 3 years later she and Lizzie tolerate each other and Coco takes her frustrations in her stride. No going for Lizzie. Life is good.

Saying all that, she still hates traffic and walking her along the busy roads near us to the woods is torture for both of us. So we're moving house. To the countryside. In 7 weeks. Traffic free walks straight from the front door (not to mention perfect MTBing trails and stunning views for us). Nothing but gorse and fields of wheat for miles. Nothing for her to get worked up over. Life will be even better .

The photo is of the moment Coco was let out of Balerno dogs' home and taken to her new home by her new dad.