Thinking of getting a dog...
- Thread starter potsy
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Andrew_P
In between here and there
My GSD was one of the most loyal creatures I have ever come across.That was how we got Sabor, he'd been returned to the breeder after about a month due to him being destructive if left alone so when we got him he was about 14wks old. By then I was working nights and Maz days so he was never alone and plenty of 'chewy toys/treats' broke the habit, also cos he was older he was much easier to house train and borrowing a book from the Library on GSDs I learnt a few tips like the Police/Armed Forces trick of training the dog to toilet before a spell of duty, you use a 'command' word when they 'do' something and then praise them afterwards (me being me Sabor's 'command' word was "Haveacrap", used to drive the neighbours we didn't get on with crazy when the dog and I walked up the garden and I said "Haveacrap" and he did)
I took him over from my Mum we lived in a Studio flat and he was enormous, luckily at the time I worked as a delivery driver and my boss loved dogs and GSD's so he came with me to work and when he was older stayed in the office. Only downside was my mum was a fan of Robert Redford and called him Redford... He responded to Red though.
He had some kind of weird disease when he was 8 my boss lent me 2k for pioneering treatment with a Vet miles away. This was the eighties, the following Christmas he let me off the repayment. Bought red a good few more years.
My point was that it takes time and effort to train a pet and so often modern life means they end up alone for hours, they are still instinctively a pack animal so this drives them mad.
Not all breeds are as instinctively pack driven but I have seen people try and fail to leave a Husky all day and even try and Dog Crate them in desperation.
Even the food bill for a big dog is a lot of money let alone potential vet bills.
If like you and others spend time and effort then mostly it works out but a lot of people under estimate or have no clue how much effort is required!
- Location
- Somewhere wet & hilly in NW England.
Having had a Weimaraner in my life for 12 years I can testify that some breeds need an awful lot of exercise and are very expensive to keep.
Admittedly a male Weim' is a large dog and not a medium as per the OP - although a male Labrador is a hefty dog.
It breaks my heart to see an under-exercised dog. Not just because of their physical condition but the thought of the mental anguish they must suffer - akin to caged zoo animals I'd suggest,
Our boy sadly died in 2012 (although he had a fabulous life roaming in the mountains) and at that stage we estimated his 'running' costs as being in the order of £2500 pa - this included around £500 pa carting him to and from his daily walk in the car.
Insurance was around £850 pa. The rest was food (lots), toys, assorted vet fees, insurance excesses, balls/kongs/collars/leads/bedding etc and as he got older some drugs for mild arthritis.
He was worth every penny though.
Biggest downside of having a dog in your life - the inevitable end of life scenario. Still, better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.
Admittedly a male Weim' is a large dog and not a medium as per the OP - although a male Labrador is a hefty dog.
It breaks my heart to see an under-exercised dog. Not just because of their physical condition but the thought of the mental anguish they must suffer - akin to caged zoo animals I'd suggest,
Our boy sadly died in 2012 (although he had a fabulous life roaming in the mountains) and at that stage we estimated his 'running' costs as being in the order of £2500 pa - this included around £500 pa carting him to and from his daily walk in the car.
Insurance was around £850 pa. The rest was food (lots), toys, assorted vet fees, insurance excesses, balls/kongs/collars/leads/bedding etc and as he got older some drugs for mild arthritis.
He was worth every penny though.
Biggest downside of having a dog in your life - the inevitable end of life scenario. Still, better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.
Piemaster
Guru
- Location
- UK City of Culture
We've been fortunate in that my wifes job means that at most she is only alone in a morning and doesn't seem to bother her - just part of the routine. And we have a dogsitter neighbor for the rare occasions its any longer that will look in. During the early days, at a puppy training class, giving her with a distraction kong and leaving the room she didn't even noticed we'd gone. At other times she does get a bit miffed and sulk if she thinks we are going somewhere without her and its about time for the afternoon walk - more missing out on something than wanting to be with us.
We've never crated her, but there is a bed in the dining room she uses when wanting a bit of peace and quiet. Or monitoring cooking activity in the kitchen.
The local park cafe and one on a nearby beach both welcome dogs. Without dogs + owners they would both be very quiet over the winter months. Holidays aren't that difficult to find somewhere. The dog gets a holiday too - there is no way she is going in a kennel. And she is a great camping buddy - something my wife refuses to do.
And to the OP there is a social aspect to having a dog. They socialise with other dogs when out and about - you'll end up chatting to the dogs owners. I know other dogs names but not their owners names!
Rescuing a dog is one of the nicest things you can do for an animal
- Location
- Somewhere wet & hilly in NW England.
[QUOTE 5237915, member: 9609"]Very true, we lost our Black Lab last June, he was 15 and ready to go but it was still truly awful when he went, nearly broke my heart. I still miss him, his bed is still on the floor next to where I'm sitting now (how sad is that)
We're dogless now, first time in my entire life - so much more freedom not having a dog though, it is surprising how much of your life revolves round a dog when you have one.
I guess we will have another but for the moment we're enjoying the freedom - doing odd things like sitting inside a cafe rather than freezing outside with the mutt.[/QUOTE]
7 years on, his first and last collars still hang on the coat hooks in the hall.
We're dogless now, first time in my entire life - so much more freedom not having a dog though, it is surprising how much of your life revolves round a dog when you have one.
I guess we will have another but for the moment we're enjoying the freedom - doing odd things like sitting inside a cafe rather than freezing outside with the mutt.[/QUOTE]
7 years on, his first and last collars still hang on the coat hooks in the hall.
Fab Foodie
hanging-on in quiet desperation ...
- Location
- Kirton, Devon.
The Whippet is a cheap and undemanding breed to keep. Don’t need heaps of excercise (but will walk all day), calm, rarely bark, don’t dribble or slobber, don’t shed much hair, don’t go swimming or rolling in mud, cheap to feed, generally good heathwise too.
Hugely affectionate but not very bright. Don’t try to teach one more than a few essential commands.
They will steal your sofa, bed and heart however....
Hugely affectionate but not very bright. Don’t try to teach one more than a few essential commands.
They will steal your sofa, bed and heart however....
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Nigeyy
Legendary Member
- Location
- Massachusetts, USA
My kids and wife keep pestering me to get a dog, but I'm not having it. It's not that I don't like dogs, just that I feel inevitably on a cold wet rainy day and the dog needs to go out, I know who will be doing it (having a mental image of my wife holding a lead near the front door late in the evening with cold wet windy weather outside saying "would you honey?" has helped harden my heart to all doggie owning entreaties!)
Besides, as I get older I want to be less tied down rather than more. While I do have cats, I can easily set up huge bowls of food and water and automatic feeders and water containers knowing they will be fine for a couple of days. I fear a dog would more than likely just keep eating all the food at one going...... And I don't want to pick up poop either (another job that I'm sure would be mine too). Add in that doggie smell which I don't find overly pleasant and that make me wonder too.
But I also think there is huge reward involved, and I also think getting a dog that otherwise would meet an untimely end is a very noble idea. I hope I don't sound too curmudgeonly with my post. I should also add that if I won the lottery I'd definitely get a dog as assuming I wouldn't need to work I wouldn't, and I feel leaving a dog unattended isn't quite the same as doing it to a cat. I'd also buy a lifetime supply of Shake 'n Vac to put the freshness back for doggie smells and a baby elephant to wash my car as well.
Besides, as I get older I want to be less tied down rather than more. While I do have cats, I can easily set up huge bowls of food and water and automatic feeders and water containers knowing they will be fine for a couple of days. I fear a dog would more than likely just keep eating all the food at one going...... And I don't want to pick up poop either (another job that I'm sure would be mine too). Add in that doggie smell which I don't find overly pleasant and that make me wonder too.
But I also think there is huge reward involved, and I also think getting a dog that otherwise would meet an untimely end is a very noble idea. I hope I don't sound too curmudgeonly with my post. I should also add that if I won the lottery I'd definitely get a dog as assuming I wouldn't need to work I wouldn't, and I feel leaving a dog unattended isn't quite the same as doing it to a cat. I'd also buy a lifetime supply of Shake 'n Vac to put the freshness back for doggie smells and a baby elephant to wash my car as well.
biggs682
Touch it up and ride it
- Location
- Northamptonshire
Best place to get one from rather than a puppy farm and we all need a 2nd chance for sure
uphillstruggler
Guru
- Location
- Half way there
This from this mornings walk
I like the cold wet morning walks too
I like the cold wet morning walks too
Profpointy
Legendary Member
If you want to keep the cost down - get a Dalmatian .....
....... it's a cheaper licence for a black and white !
Boom-tsch, I'm here all week folks
....... it's a cheaper licence for a black and white !
Boom-tsch, I'm here all week folks
The dog in my avatar is Lucas. He's a rescue and is 6 years old. He was 18 months when we got him. There was a little training to do. We had to get him used to our chickens, and try and reduce the excitement on spotting foxes or cats, but he's the most loyal companion we could ever have wished to have.
Yes, some dogs have problems and if you get a dog, you have to accept that you may have to work with the animal a bit to gain his trust and feel settled with you. Lucas didn't come with any serious issues, but it was still a good six months before he became well and truly settled with us.
It is important to choose a dog breed that suits your lifestyle, not just one you like the look of. You will probably have to make some adjustments whatever dog you get, but some need more attention than others. Spaniels for example need alot of exercise. Greyhounds are more likely than some to suffer seperation anxiety. Jack Russells are feisty and can get a bit tetchy around new people and big dogs. Lucas is aloof with strangers. You have to gain his trust (bribery with cheese usually works) before a new person can stroke him. That's not specific to him - the whole Shar Pei breed is like that. However, he does spend alot of time sleeping, so he's alright for a good number of hours on his own, and he won't even know you're gone which is ideal if you can't be around as often as a more anxious dog might need. However, on the other hand he is prone to skin and eye problems. We've thankfully not had much trouble, but it's something we were well aware of before we decided to adopt him.
Getting a rescue is an incredibly rewarding experience. So many dogs need homes, and don't be put off by any negativity you read. You take the time into getting to know your dog, and he'll soon settle into a routine with you. Just make sure you research the breed you choose thoroughly so you know what to expect and what adjustments you may need to make to your lifestyle.
Finally, a note on insurance. Vets bills are indeed expensive. But pet insurance companies are sheisters, just as much as car and house insurers. We have no insurance for Lucas because they wouldn't cover eyes or skin and still wanted £80 a month. He doesn't have great recall so he's always walked on a lead and therefore less likely to have an accident. We put £1000 in a bank account when we got him, and transfer £60 a month into that same bank account for him which over 5 years has more than covered the vets bills we've had. He had a knee operation which it covered in it's entirety. (Vets4Pets tried to charge us £3000 for an overly complicated and invasive op that he didn't need. We shopped around and found an independent vet who did a simpler op for £650).
Insurance can be wise if your dog has an accident (where bills get very high, very quick). However (and I know I will incur the wrath of other dog owners here by saying this), but I don't consider it essential IF (and only if!) you've made other arrangements to cover vets bills. And don't forget, all vets are not created equal. Some really care about animals. Others are simply there to make money. You CAN shop around and go elsewhere if you are quoted a stupid amount of money for something. However, I think some prey on the fact that most people probably won't.
Good luck whatever you decide to do... your new friend is out there waiting for you somewhere, and make sure you post pictures on here when you get him!
Yes, some dogs have problems and if you get a dog, you have to accept that you may have to work with the animal a bit to gain his trust and feel settled with you. Lucas didn't come with any serious issues, but it was still a good six months before he became well and truly settled with us.
It is important to choose a dog breed that suits your lifestyle, not just one you like the look of. You will probably have to make some adjustments whatever dog you get, but some need more attention than others. Spaniels for example need alot of exercise. Greyhounds are more likely than some to suffer seperation anxiety. Jack Russells are feisty and can get a bit tetchy around new people and big dogs. Lucas is aloof with strangers. You have to gain his trust (bribery with cheese usually works) before a new person can stroke him. That's not specific to him - the whole Shar Pei breed is like that. However, he does spend alot of time sleeping, so he's alright for a good number of hours on his own, and he won't even know you're gone which is ideal if you can't be around as often as a more anxious dog might need. However, on the other hand he is prone to skin and eye problems. We've thankfully not had much trouble, but it's something we were well aware of before we decided to adopt him.
Getting a rescue is an incredibly rewarding experience. So many dogs need homes, and don't be put off by any negativity you read. You take the time into getting to know your dog, and he'll soon settle into a routine with you. Just make sure you research the breed you choose thoroughly so you know what to expect and what adjustments you may need to make to your lifestyle.
Finally, a note on insurance. Vets bills are indeed expensive. But pet insurance companies are sheisters, just as much as car and house insurers. We have no insurance for Lucas because they wouldn't cover eyes or skin and still wanted £80 a month. He doesn't have great recall so he's always walked on a lead and therefore less likely to have an accident. We put £1000 in a bank account when we got him, and transfer £60 a month into that same bank account for him which over 5 years has more than covered the vets bills we've had. He had a knee operation which it covered in it's entirety. (Vets4Pets tried to charge us £3000 for an overly complicated and invasive op that he didn't need. We shopped around and found an independent vet who did a simpler op for £650).
Insurance can be wise if your dog has an accident (where bills get very high, very quick). However (and I know I will incur the wrath of other dog owners here by saying this), but I don't consider it essential IF (and only if!) you've made other arrangements to cover vets bills. And don't forget, all vets are not created equal. Some really care about animals. Others are simply there to make money. You CAN shop around and go elsewhere if you are quoted a stupid amount of money for something. However, I think some prey on the fact that most people probably won't.
Good luck whatever you decide to do... your new friend is out there waiting for you somewhere, and make sure you post pictures on here when you get him!
If you're in the posh part of Manchester then get a Cavalier, 
..........in the area I used to live it was said to me 'that's a bit of a posh dog for around here'......'.not really' I would reply and grin as my Cavalier would make friends with their supposedly hard Staffi's,,,,,,,,,,,,( I know it's all in the training)
..............as for health problems, a lot of dogs have problems, do a bit of research, and a Cavalier will give you at least 10 years and be easy to look after
..........in the area I used to live it was said to me 'that's a bit of a posh dog for around here'......'.not really' I would reply and grin as my Cavalier would make friends with their supposedly hard Staffi's,,,,,,,,,,,,( I know it's all in the training)..............as for health problems, a lot of dogs have problems, do a bit of research, and a Cavalier will give you at least 10 years and be easy to look afterAttachments
jayonabike
Powered by caffeine & whisky
- Location
- Hertfordshire
Here’s Daisy our rescue staffie
Slick
Guru
Easily my favourite so far, Daisy is a wee beaut.
Have you heard of https://www.borrowmydoggy.com/?
We looked into this but didn't actually try it out before jumping in the deep end with a puppy of our own. As others have said, it's not an easy ride and gets very expensive with things like daycare, kennels and insurance. He's coming up to a year old now and is a lot of fun, but can be an overexcited handful - he's been expelled from one doggy daycare place and his current walker yesterday described him as a hooligan!
We looked into this but didn't actually try it out before jumping in the deep end with a puppy of our own. As others have said, it's not an easy ride and gets very expensive with things like daycare, kennels and insurance. He's coming up to a year old now and is a lot of fun, but can be an overexcited handful - he's been expelled from one doggy daycare place and his current walker yesterday described him as a hooligan!
