Thinking of getting a dog...

[Crackle]

Get a dog, Potsy. When you're out with the dog your IQ will be doubled.

 

[I like Skol]

If you're in the posh part of Manchester

 

[GM]

Excuse the plug.....If you do ever decide to get a dog Potsy and want a portrait of it, my son is an artist and does dog portraits. As an example my avatar was one he did, the owner wanted an abstract of his French Bulldog 90cm x 60cm. Keep an eye out I'll be changing my avatar each month to a different one that he's done. Good luck!

 

[Mile195]

Excuse the plug.....

Shouldn't that be "excuse the Pug"?!

 

[Maenchi]

.........................................

 

[potsy]

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

They are the current favourite and were from day 1 for Mrs P, I'm not so sure myself

 

[potsy]

It's all relative

 

[Maenchi]

They are the current favourite and were from day 1 for Mrs P, I'm not so sure myself

well as i'm a Cavalier convert i'll try and persuade you..............our's seemed easy enough to train, love to follow you around the house, will go for long walks if you want, I take our's for four to six hour wanders, and equally they would be happy lazing inside all day if a walk is not on for any reason, originally bred as comfort dogs, so cuddling up on the settee is a favourite, as is sprinting up the beach.
The breeding protocol is rarely followed exactly which I think can show in their cost being anywhere between £400-£1000...........our first one was £100, rescued, other have been £400, top price does not always guarantee a healthy dog, it can be tricky, Bailey the dog in the photo lived until he was 10, the mvd got him..................
Currently Danny is five and in fine fettle, so is the loopy two year old Bron who is a quarter Bichon, she looks just like a Cavalier but is very confrontational for a Cavalier ................last word.........................when puppies CUTE.....................

 

[SteveF]

My two rescue mutts...

 

[BSOh]

My two rescue mutts...

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View attachment 408390

Lovely. What's the second, a border terrier cross?

 

[Time Waster]

One breed, border terrier. Healthy, intelligent, easy to train, very calm when adult, energetic, capable of running all day, tough not prone to hereditary diseases, sight or joint issues, terrier traits but without the really bad deaf ear issue must other terriers have and they're cute in a full on character sort of way. I'm sorry but the oh so cute king Charles cavalier spaniel thing is all looks but nothing else. Plus various hereditary / breed conditions to worry about.

Personally I believe all the breeds with health issues should be avoided until they are at least bred out of them. I also think the kennel club needs to completely rethink their breed standards to eliminate excessive breeding to a particular extreme look For example the British bulldog should not be a short, fat dig with breathing difficulties. It should be like the earliest forms when it was a long legged, athletic dog full of power, strength and agility. IMHO the true British bulldog b is nearer the boxer breed than what it is.

Sorry but a dog should be capable of doing what it was originally bred for. A bulldog is for baiting large, aggressive animals for sporting entertainment. I reckon a victorian or earlier gentleman watching today's bulldog baiting a bull would be sorely disappointed with the spectacle.
BTW I do not advocate using them for what they're bred for just that they are able to do it.

I guess that's why I love terriers and proper working dogs. Always a working dog over a show dog version. Examples of two breeding populations are Labradors and cocker spaniels. Completely different in look and ability to perform.

Sorry for the long winded post. I just feel strongly about how man has destroyed breeds by following strict breed standards. Breeds still used as working dogs tend to be better especially if you go for a breeder who has actively bred for working traits.

 

[potsy]

Uh oh, just been informed a 9 month old 'spaniel' has been found and is available

More news when I can.

 

[SteveF]

Lovely. What's the second, a border terrier cross?

Yes, definitely some border in him, God knows what else !

 

[SpokeyDokey]

Jack's insurance costs me around £300 p.a. (via PetPlan). It's been a worthwhile investment - he's needed £8k's worth of knee surgery in the last couple of years.

Mr R's father hasn't bothered to insure his dog (a Cavalier King Charles pure bred) arguing it was a waste of money. He's regretting it now, as Charlie needs knee surgery (about £3.5k) and also has a heart defect (due to inbreeding) which requires daily meds.

I'd recommend PetPlan - go for a 'whole life' policy. One or two of the ladies at the park also recommend Tesco's pet insurance.

How old is Jack?

Our insurance started out at about £9 in 1999 and it slowly ramped up until our dog was 8 and then it went through the roof.

I used to belong to a big Weimaraner forum and the general range of insurance pm was about £60 to £100 some years ago.

 

[SpokeyDokey]

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!

Do you have separate arrangements for eg third party insurance?