Hi all,
My girlfriend and I are contemplating rescuing a dog from the local shelter. We've decided that we're ready to commit wholeheartedly to the dog but we don't really know what's involved. We know all the obvious stuff like walking it once or twice a day, but what about the finer details such as costs, maintenance and other things to look out for?
Any assistance is most appreciated!
Edit: You guys have been amazing! Thank you to all for the great info.
Refreshing to hear this from someone else. I also have no pet insurance. Biggest Scam going in Australia. A majority of the providers like woolworths, Medibank, RSPCA are all underwritten by the same company (Hollards Group).
Actuarial studies have shown that worst case scenario even with a $10 000+ vet bill, you would probably break even over the life of the dog even if you had pet insurance. Pet insurance is a false blanket and is pushed by vets because owners consider their animals life expendable if the bill gets over $500 (this was the average price an owner would not want to pay at one time.) and vets hate having to euthanise dogs because the owners are financially irresponsible.
All pet insurance does it leverage what you can afford at a specific time. In no way does it save you money. I'd never touch pet insurance. Then again, I'd never get a dog if I wasn't prepared to have to drop thousands on it at any given moment.
Also, you also don't have to give council officers your details up here if they ask about your dog. A guy at the dog park told one officer he was batman, the dog's name was robin and to send the fine to the bat-cave haha.
Agree, biggest scam ever and people are falling for it all over. I don't understand it either but people are stupid and insurance companies love them.
30 years I've had multiple dogs at any time and my best advice is to look after your dog. Feed good food (not that coloured crap from the supermarket), entertain & exercise it, medicate regularly as required and it will live a long and good quality life. To possibly avoid surgical interventions, I would probably recommend cross breeds over pure breeds. That has also been my experience. Every pure breed dog I've had has had some drama.
I wouldn't take on an irreversible disease or congenital defect that severely impacted quality of life. I wouldn't want it, so why force it on a dog.
The following interaction seems to be a common occurrence for the girlfriend and I. Where we now just lie about the price
One of my dogs had to have an osteotomy. It cost around $8k. Everyone seems to balk at the price and then offer me the sage wise words of "Should've got pet insurance dude!!!". It's like an adage everyone just seems to accept. Little do they realise how insidious the terms in their pet insurance contracts are. Have fun getting pet insurance if your dog breaks his leg a second time, or breaks another leg…they've worded it so it only covers it once, here's a hint, it's called a 'bi-lateral term'…but they'll still take your $500+ a year and only tell you after the fact.
We do not need pet insurance. It is not financially savvy for us to have pet insurance and we are financially literate enough to have our money placed elsewhere. I mean having a sum in a high interest account would be more beneficial. But like I said, insurance just lets people leverage the little money they have…and we aren't rich either, we just don't spend beyond our means and take responsibility for the things we do.
The whole pure bred/mixed breed debate is a whole different kettle of fish, which I mentioned somewhere else in this thread.
@docholliday: When I have shared surgery prices, I have got the usual, and equally sage,'bullet would have been cheaper'.
The whole pure bred/mixed breed debate is a whole different kettle of fish, which I mentioned somewhere else in this thread.
I know, I saw. I'm just going off my own experience. Of 13, I have had 7 'pure' breeds. I say that with tongue in cheek because 'pure' is only relative to the particular breeder and unknown to the purchaser until it becomes an issue and then you realise it is a breed issue or a congenital defect that only shows with age. 6 have had issues. 1 had to be put down and he was a great dog too. 4 have required patella surgeries. 2 of them on both knees. 2 of them had heart conditions. Of the 6 mongrels - I've had one torn ACL and another with glaucoma, which frankly is just age related and bad luck. Don't get me wrong, I love a pure maltese and agree that their personality is significantly different, and better, than a maltese crossbreed … it's just that they seem susceptible to a myriad of things the mongrels are never bothered by - food allergies and skin sensitivity on top of luxating patellas.
Great to see this advice on Ozbargain. As someone who has a limited experience working with vets, they seem to be often put in an unfortunate position of having to recommend pet insurance because people just can't budget properly for their pet's health.
I agree with all the comments in response to my post - keeping a stack of money aside is an excellent (& probably better!) alternative to taking out pet insurance. However, the truth of the matter is that most people just can't afford to or just don't do this, leaving them with awful decisions to make when bad things happen. Keeping a doggy savings account is not a bad idea at all :)
I used to work with a lady that had her dog put down after it was mauled and she didn't want to pay the $1500 surgery with a high success rate. She came to work two weeks later with a brand new jeep wrangler with custom plates. Obviously financed, but people like this have no business purchasing a dog and crying foul that they can't afford it.
That's what I meant when I referred to a dogs life being expendable…I even think she has a new puppy now…
go to wikipedia and start reading about the breeds..
Some breeds are for advanced dog owners (huskies or border collies), they require more training and the owner to take control for good training
Other dogs require a lot of exercise, some love to lounge around, others shed fur like crazy (like my golden retriever) and you need undercoat brushes
Other thing to keep in mind is when rescuing dogs, they may have personality traits that aren't ideal, so I'd recommend training to learn how to handle walking properly (no pulling) and encourage good behaviour
We also have pet insurance (worth considering). My wife talked me into it and its paid off considering her dog required 2 operations at 3k each (80% covered)
I've had dogs my whole life and I'm still learning! but its a very rewarding process
Don't forget the time involved!!! Much more important than cost.
I've seen people impulse buy a dog only to find they don't have time to walk, train, groom or play with it - leaving the dog neglected in the back yard for years. A very sorry sight.
No matter how inexperienced you are a dog will always love you unconditionally. On that note, I can only advise, dogs are not objects but living beings. Don't let it suffer if you don't have the time for it. Let someone else give it the life it deserves if you aren't ready yet.
If you are ready then I wish you all the joy you will find in owning one - pick a breed that suits your lifestyle, don't try to adapt a lifestyle to suit the breed (it never works out)
Its really nice you're considering adopting dogs from a shelter. BUT please keep in mind Australian Cattle dog as well as Labradors are VERY active breeds. Australian cattle dogs are highly intellegent and crazy active work dogs and need really LARGE land and PLENTY of exercise to stay active or they will become obese and depressed. PLEASE DO NOT GET A CATTLE DOG CROSS IF YOU DON'T HAVE A BIG BLOCK OF LAND. They are the most brilliant breed of dogs but you have to understand they were bred for a farm work life and hence need large area and intellectual stimulation. Also, they tent to live very long so its very important to allow them to be mentally and physically active for years. Please do some reading on Aussie cattle dogs and labradors before you decide to get one for a townhouse or unit block lifestyle. It will be cruel for the poor dog. I would humbly request you DONT DO IT! Rather get a smaller dog..or two small dogs that can keep each other company. I hope you do the right thing by the dog or maybe move on to a big block. (I am speaking from experience as family has owned cattle dogs and their cross for decades and even 900sqm block of lands are VERY small for them and had to be moved back to farm)
Yep, 900 sqm is nothing for these breeds. In school I used to go to my best friends family farms (they all had farms) and we would go exploring for the day with his cousins etc, sometimes with quads and bikes and the dogs would always follow. They would run behind us the entire day. From like 630am till sunset (day light savings too). If we went to a creek/lake etc they would swim with us and fetch the entire time.
Make sure someone is home to keep the dog company. Don't just leave it outside all day. This morning I couldn't sleep as between 7am and 9am my neighbour's dog was constantly barking after its owners left for work. I work late shifts and sleep in late.
The previous tenants had a dog that started barking and yelping as if it was being skinned alive at around 3pm every afternoon. First time it happened my neighbours and I looked over the fence to see whether the dog had injured itself. Nope. It was just running around the backyard raising hell. The owners were of course oblivious to all of this.
Cats mind their own business and can be left alone. Many dogs can't.
Or get a cat that is like a Dog… cheaper and easier to deal with. Get a Devon Rex :P
or a Burmese. They are a bit like dogs too.
Cat dog?
[@Shamdog]: you need to find a smaller dog or one that doesn't need lots of exercise. Getting a working dog in an apartment is asking for trouble - or you'll be looking for a new home within 2 years for those dogs.
Also agree about not taking two 'large' (cattle dog cross) puppies of the same age. Unless you're really experienced or don't need to work and can spend endless hours training & exercising, that's a disaster waiting to happen.
Two small dogs (see toy) of the same age, not so much of a problem (easier to control) BUT don't get the same sex. Everything is fine until they hit sexual maturity (up to 3 years old) and if they both end up dominant, you WILL have to get rid of one of them or deal with them hating each other for the rest of their lives. I'm living this situation now, but only because the first, clearly dominant female died and the two that were left both want to take over. It won't end until the older one dies.
When you have more than one dog, female & male, the female is usually the dominant one in the pair. The male may be dominant in protective situations but the female will always be his boss at home. I find male dogs much easier to handle and when i've had two of them, the older one is ultimately the boss of the younger one and the younger one has always accepted that. Females just bicker forever.
@snook: yeah you make total sense. Getting a working dog simply seems too unfair to the dog given the inability to roam around and keep itself busy while we're at work. We have just been informed of two cavalier cross beagles that can be rescued. They don't seem to be siblings but are 6-7 year's old and have been together since birth. The owner is quite old and simply cannot look after them anymore. What are your thoughts on this? Given that they're older, I guess it's safe to assume dominance between them has already been determined? Given that the dogs are older, will we likely run into health issues?
Cheers
I know little about those breeds. Do some research on the breeds and see what exercise is required and what the personalities are like. Some dogs are lazy. I had German Shepherds years ago and they were perfectly happy to lay around and do nothing though they were trouble makers when young. Beagles may be a bit like this because i think they have a tendency to get fat.
Also research life span and diseases they can get. In my experience, mixed breed dogs have had less go wrong with them as opposed to the pure breeds i've owned.
If you're happy with what the research says, go and look at them and try cuddling them a bit. If you're happy with whatever hair ends up all over your clothes know that this will be your future life. If black clothes are your thing … well …
I personally don't like dogs that shed. The same reason I don't like cats. I have maltese mixed breed dogs and while they don't 'shed', their hair still falls out, and when it's long it ends up everywhere. It's therefore still everywhere when I've cut their hair but just like human hair, it's not so obvious because it's now short and I can't see it. I don't know how people deal with proper pet hair. Also, proper hair shedding dogs smell more. Like. Dogs.
As for the dominance thing - if they are male and female, it should be fine. If they are both female, well … you're not going to know until you get them home and they settle into their normal routine. The best question to ask is if they sleep on the same bed. If so, they are fine.
My females are 14 & 8. The older one should be in charge as nature dictates but the 8 yr old is extremely dominant and wants the role. They can't touch on the lounge. The old one can make the younger one move just by looking at her and then the younger one tries to challenge her back. Never works but the growling and strutting around gets tiring when you're trying to enjoy a bit of lounge time :)
2 things to check (first of all, great that they are cross-breeds (likely healthier) & great they've been living together since birth (relationship sorted))
-do either of them have a heart murmur? Heart failure is extremely common in Cavaliers (especially pure-breds) & the medications can be expensive (and eventually, sadly, stop working).
-if you're thinking of getting pet insurance, check that the insurer will cover you for dogs of that age. Lots of providers will cover older dogs, but only if you take out cover before they hit 7 years old.
Good luck!
@Clarafina: great points Clara, thanks! Not too sure re heart murmurs but we'll do more research into the dogs. From what I gather, both dogs are roughly 6 years old.
If you've living in an apartment, seriously consider a dog that doesnt shed as well
http://www.homesalive.ca/blog/dogs-that-dont-shed-23-hypoall…
your source is a fail.
Yup we take ours all the time.
From personal experience
- Smelly house, even with regular bathing
- Increase in house cleaning
- Being kept awake at night by whining/barking and neighbours complaining about the same
- Having to take it for a walk every day irrespective of weather otherwise above point worse
- Paint scratched off door frames due to scratching to go in/out
- Can’t go out straight after work as you have to go home first to feed it
- Cant go away at short notice without arranging for it to go somewhere
- Digging up the garden
So my experience was not the greatest, but probably our own fault as are at work all day and the dog was bored sh1tless
Found out there isn't really a dog that doesn't shed some hair. At best low shedding dogs :-)
My dog bathes once every two weeks. My house doesn't stink like dog. I do have air filter running at background though
You shed hair too. Would you say you were low shedding?
Clarification
Some dogs have undercoat that grows for winter and comes out for summer.
Some dogs don't. They just have hair like you. Talking about hair in my house, I prefer a dog with short hair to a long haired woman. Eww.
If you do not walk your small dogs everyday, you are not a good dog owner.
They still need mental stimulation and exercise, regardless of size.
In general people live longer than dogs. Be prepared for heart ache. Very high medical costs as the dog grows older.
Please make sure you can afford pet insurance before adopting one.
The one with unlucky conditions can take up to 100k for treatments and meds :(
3 x maltese mixed breed over a year = costs for food (eukanuba with a broth of a bit of My Dog or chicken/meat leftovers), monthly heartworm and Advocate (buy largest breed packs and divide by 3) is $1300.
Add treats, fresh chicken wings and beef bones, toys, vaccination.
Grooming - cut all hair off 3 times a year, otherwise keep feet, face and arse trimmed, pull hair out of ears, trim nails. Buy clippers, scissors, tweezers, nail clippers and learn how to do it. One off cost. No ongoing cost.
Don't require a lot of exercise. Running around the yard or house is usually fine. Take to the park occasionally. Keep in laundry when not at home. Had to buy stainless steel for the back of door and door trim because they are timber destroyers. Yapping can be a problem.
When they get so old that their quality of life is greatly impacted, or they need medication to live, I have them put down because it's kinder. Not easier. Kinder. Last dog 2010 was $173. Small dogs easily live without any old age major expense to 14-15. Never had pet insurance. Never suffered because of not having it.
Advocate already kills heartworms. Unless you meant tapeworm (virbac, drontac etc)
Yeah I did and I always get the brand wrong. I use Revolution for fleas and Heartguard Plus for heartworm and worms. I'm not so keen on relying on a surface application for heartworm anyway and still need to worm. The larger boxes of Revolution come with Drontal for the tapeworm dosing.
you guys sound like you are ready to take on the responsibility of owning a dog (or two).
only thing i can add to the plethora of advice already written above is do all your travelling first.
although boarding options are available, you'll find it extremely hard to leave your pet behind once youve bonded with them.
no need to rush, there will always be dogs readily available for adoption.
@Hiroko: Funnily enough we had this conversation last night! We might go away over Christmas and then adopt when we get back :)
Also, something people don't think about is your flooring. If you have tiles or plastic stick on pretend timber, good. If you have real timber, say goodbye to the sheen and smooth surface because it is never coming back. If you have carpet, forget it, the carpet has to go or you have to ban the dog from that area.
Much the same as your lounge. If your lounge is fabric, you can say goodbye to that fairly soon. Sure, you can ban them from the lounge, and I have done it before, but they like to sit with you. They aren't concerned that they just went outside in the rain and are completely wet with dirty feet, they are just getting back on the lounge. We have a heavy (thick) leather lounge with covers on it (their nails also scratch the leather) purely because we have dogs.
@snook: We have a leather lounge. It's old and my missus hates it, so I'm sure she'll be fine with having them torn up!
I think you are brilliant for asking this question instead of just heading into it blindly.
Dogs are fantastic companions but a big responsibility as well.
Just a video on dog 'pure'breeds
I own two pure breeds. Pure bred 'show dogs' should not be lumped into the same category as pure bred 'work dogs'. Then again I sourced from a breeder that keeps her breeding pool wide by importing dogs from all over the world.
'Show dogs' were continuously inbred to accentuate specific traits even if it was to the detriment of the dog. There was a big krufts scandal on it and a documentary and now people think pure breed = show dog. Go look at historical pictures of any pure bred dog and compare it to the current breed on offer. German Shepherd arses slope down, King Charles Cavaliers skulls may be too small for their brain. This does not vis-a-vis make 'mutts' better, because not every pure bred dog exhibits these traits. Thus the buyer should be sourcing from an ethical breeder.
Ever wonder why you rarely see 'mutt' police dogs, or 'mutt' tracker dogs or 'mutt' guide dogs? Pure bred dogs behaviour is easier to gauge. If you have a mutt, its much harder to figure out it's temperament and what it's good for…it also does not necessarily equate to the 'dog being healthier'.
Someone needs to tell that Adam guy that humans have meddled into shaping the dog into what it is since the wolf willingly became domesticated thousands of years ago. Go watch the new rendition of Cosmos by Neil De grass Tyson which features a good part on this.
They use 'mutts' as sniffer dogs. I have a friend that trains them. All you need is a dog obsessed with food or a toy, oh, and a nose.
I know they do, dogs in general do have a superior sense of smell…I think a lot of people should and can teach there dogs to do this, it strengthens the bond with your dog. What I'm saying is it is highly unlikely you will find an obscure mutt being trained PROPERLY as a protection dog or a military dog because certain breeds are suited to certain activities. A mutts breed is ambiguous so you can't easily pigeon whole its traits and characteristics with another canine group.
There is a scale of canine aggression and this varies on the breed and how the aggression is directed. It may be more dominant towards other dogs or more dominant towards strangers and how it responds towards different stimuli. And good luck with 'dog DNA tests' they aren't exactly reliable.
I'm not advocating one over the other, nor do I say Mutt like it's a bad thing, I've owned cross bred dogs, but I'm tired of people with their 'research' of pure bred dogs and how they are so bad, and they generally don't have a clue. Don't worry though, it comes from both ends, people chastise other people for having there 'pure breds' desexed…like they have a clue….
in the end though, I guess it does come down to just having a pet or if you want a dog for some sort of utility too.
hrmm how about designer dogs…like labradoodles…they're a cross breed and are full of problems (Von Willebrand's disease, hip displasia, PRA)…there goes the cross breed argument straight out the window ;) Probably better of buying a pure bred labrador or poodle over a labradoodle…even the creator regrets breeding the thing.
I think the point of the video is to challenge the assumptions that many people have that dog breeds are a natural state for dogs. It is a surprise to many people that it isn't.
The Krufts scandal is key to what he is getting at.
My view is that the recent proliferation of hybrid breeds, labradoodles, spoodles etc, seems to have exacerbated the idea of a breed resulting in a certain outcome. That if you mix Breed A with Breed B you'll get a certain result. But these hybrids often don't result in what people think they should.
I've watched Cosmos by Neil De Grass Tyson. It's a great reboot of the Carl Sagan series. There's no question that dogs were domesticated from wolves into sociable companion and work animals.
Some of our close relatives are still doing it!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2lSZPTa3ho
But the domestication of the wild dog is quite a different process from continuing the trendy deformities inherent in the dachshund and the pug. That is, selective breeding from a limited gene pool determined primarily by aesthetic requirements.
As for working dogs, well many working dog breeds are no longer bred for their original purpose. How many happy but somewhat frustrated border collies do you see in the suburbs?
I had a German Shepard growing up. Such a beautiful and intelligent creature. Suffered from hip displaysia unfortunately
Anyway, this is worth a read too!
There is no correlative evidence that suggests hip displasia is more prevalent in purebreds as opposed to cross breeds. All dogs get it. It's easier to correlate a higher incidence of a specific genetic disease that occurs in one type of dog over another, like IVDD in the dachshund or PRA in a long haired dachshund.
It is possible to get a healthy dachshund, find a breeder that has the blood work to show the breeding dogs are PRA and IVDD free. A dachshund was also a work dog bred to retrieve badgers from burrows. A mini was bred to retrieve rabbits. They are incredible hounds and its advised by any reputable trainer that you should not stop your dachshund from digging unless you want other behavioural problems. They were bred to dig in burrows. Pugs I'm not to versed on what their purpose was. So I can't comment.
And I agree with you that many people should not own certain breeds of dogs let alone dogs in general. People just like the looks and I guess that's ok. If someone owned a dachshund, then they should teach it how to track, or take it earth dogging…but people don't, they just buy it because its so cute then continue to work and neglect the dog and then the dog turns to shit and is put up for rescue.
edit: dachshunds were bred to hunt You should see what they are capable of when they get in a burrow for racoons, rabbits and badgers…Don't need to be a hunter to get a dachshund but you should tailor games towards it, like burying balls and treats around the house, under the couch in a sand pit etc.
edit2: I will definitely get that book! Thanks for the link
Yep thanks for the info on dachshunds, and their original purpose. Still doesn't get around the fact that their suitability for hunting and chasing other animals down burrows are likely to cause greater issues with their spines. It's a function of their biomechanics, no? There's always a trade off when you selectively breed certain characteristics, which when you are using a dog to achieve certain objectives as a working dog may be a reasonable trade off to have.
I think we are generally on the same page. I think the fetishisation of certain aesthetic features (which may have had an original functional purpose) is completely unnecessary if a dog is intended to be a companion. I.e. who cares what your companion dog looks like? They don't care what you look like!!
As for dachshunds, yes, I've seen them hunting. Vicious brutes:
Oh and don't get me started on Pugs and their bad attitudes:
The issue with dachshund spines is IVDD (Intervertebral Disc Disease)…It's where calcification occurs between the discs and ultimately why the dogs end up being paralysed, it's not from physical activity. There is a test that can be done to check for IVDD as it is a genetic disorder. That being said it is smart practice to not let your dachshund jump off furniture because they don't have legs structured like other breeds.
The Dachshund is an old breed, and it's good practice to actually look at historical photos of the breed when looking at getting one and demanding to know the parents and see papers of the blood work which a reputable breeder would have. You need to get rid of that image of the sausage dog with the belly that rubs the ground because that is not a good nor healthy example.
I am definitely on the same page with you, I know all about the plight of pure bred dogs due to the show dog issue (like trying to get the dachshund super low, or the pugs face extra squashed), I do not care for aesthetics because health takes priority. There has been a resurgence of ethical breeders trying to get certain breeds back to their historic self. It'd actually be interesting to look up historical pictures of the pug (even say 50 years back) because I guarantee they won't look like the pugs of today.
I have absolutely no preference of a pure bred over a cross breed… as a pet it should not matter, they will enrich your life if you have the time and want for one…I'm just trying to illustrate the false dichotomy that exists between dog health and breed…the benefit of a specific breed is it's temperament can be gauged and training can be tailored for it…I understand most people don't need a dog for a purpose but if they like the look of a dog they should show due diligence and cater for it's characteristics if they do get one.
edit: I think that guys contraption was where ifetch got its idea from. What a legend!!!
@misterhorsey: Thanks for the link mate. We don't just want a dog…we want a new family member. I'd never forgive myself if we adopted a puppy and neglected it because we rushed in.
I have a shelter dog, he is loving and er really loving to the insane point, he wasn't well treated when a puppy so he seems psychologically damaged.
I would never have a shelter dog again, would prefer to know them from a puppy like the first dog I had.
Looking after a dog seem difficult if you read this thread :o I don't find it hard at all, easier than children…
At least you gave the dog a good home though.
I also think shelter dogs know that they are finally in a good home.
@treeman and @AMLagonda: agreed. We're happy to take on a shelter dog, warts and all. We're hoping it will help us bond with the dog even more..
They need to be with you as much as possible. eg. sleep on your bed with you, follow you everywhere around the house etc. If you are gone for all the day at work, they will spend the entire day waiting you by the front door. It is really cruel to leave them alone for long periods.
We had a maltese previously and now have a cavalier king charles spaniel (much more fun as it plays with balls, but it sheds, maltese didn't).
Expect lots of vet bills - cancer operations are really expensive. If you have a dog that needs regular grooming it costs $50-$80 each time (maybe every few months).
The best way to find out about dog breeds is go for walks in the morning and talk to people who have dogs.
I think the walking bit depends on what kind of dogs you have. Mine seem to attract little old ladies who tell me their life stories :)
@voiletmay: I totally agree with you. It's probably the one major factor preventing us from getting the dog - not being there for it enough. Does pet insurance help cover cancer ops and other serious procedures?
Hi Violet,
How long have you had your spaniel for? Can you share anymore tips specific to this breed?
thank you
Hi There
I don't think there is anything specific re a cavalier king charles spaniel. I've only had her for three months, so only learning. They are extremely loving, fun, friendly and want to be with you every moment of the day. They are very active and have a high tolerance for walking long distances(much more than the previous maltese, who I would have to pick up and carry twenty minutes into each walk). They enjoying playing and swimming. They are hunters and will chase birds and other small things. Main reason I chose a cavalier as I heard they were good with cats (I have an old diabetic cat and didn't want to cause it stress). It is excellent with the cat.
This dog is female, previous one was male. The male dog was almost impossible to walk, he'd stop at every post to smell and wee. Our female dog rarely smells anything and only wee's when she has to (ie. not at every post). If you like walking and not stopping continually, maybe it is better to get a female dog.
A cavalier is an amazing dog, and I doubt I will ever have another dog breed again in my life. Very very hard to find though. We were lucky with gumtree.
Thanks for replying! How are you finding training her with house etiquette? With grooming you mentioned it was $75. Why is it so much? is it not a DIY thing?
@Jzxcv: She was house trained, so didn't have to do anything. At night before bed, I just get a torch, tell her it's time to do a wee, and she follows me out to the backyard, I put on the torch and she does a wee.
With the groomer, a proper pet groomer is expensive. I had a maltese before and the usual price is around $55. She needed to be cut down for summer. I was recommended this particular one as she is good with blenheim (the colour - tan and white) cavaliers. If you cut them too short they will end up looking really pale and I didn't want that.
Definitely will find a cheaper groomer next time. A lady I know has one that is $30 and it is a lady who does it from her house (a few streets away from where I live) so I will try that lady next.
Funny story.. I was in bed deeply asleep and all of a sudden the dog will only sleep on me. I have no idea why but keep sleeping. Next time I know I hear a yell. It is my husband coming to bed and he sat down on the edge of the bed and yelled because he sat in something wet. He turns the light on and the dog had covered our entire king size bed in vomit and the dog was sleeping on me because I was the only place on the bed not covered with vomit!! She must have eaten something a bit strange, because she was fine, but quite a funny memory.
At one stage, I was spending more on my precious than on myself.
Me and my wife back when we were in UNI contemplated on getting a dog from a pet store. BIG MISTAKE, the place we got it from was pretty bad, the puppy had parvo-virus after 2 dats and being both uni students we had very little money. Fortunately we were too attached quickly and decided to pay the vet bills no matter what. Sold all my electronics and car just to be able to still own it. 5 years now, I now live with money comfortably and our dog is still with us till this day. I guess after battling parvovirus it became a-lot strong as it hasn't been sick at all since, but screw the dog place and their "puppy farm" stuff. If only I was educated back then.
Looking at their reviews on google now and its still operating and has TERRIBLE reviews.. I feel for the puppies being born into bad conditions and getting things like parvo so easily.
Couldn't you report it to like rscpa ? That's a serious thing…
I agree with @harkoliar. Report them! They shouldn't be allowed to continue to operate.
Also, good on you and your wife for sticking with your pup. Much respect :)
giving it attention, not locked in a house all day while you go to work.
This link looks pretty cool - http://www.doggierescue.com/adoptadog_apartment_friendly.htm Noticed all the apartment friendly dogs are small dogs though.
I don't know if anyone has said it not or not but good on you for doing some research before buying an animal and getting a rescue.
Too many people impulsively race out and buy animals without thinking and then end up regretting it and mistreating the poor creature. If you want an animal just so you can take cute pictures of it and post them online to all 4 of your twitter followers then you might be motivated by the wrong thing.
Thanks Juddy. I'd never forgive myself if we rushed into it, bought a pup and then neglected it because we didn't realise how busy our schedules are.
Save for accidents and unexpected costs even if you have pet insurance sometimes the serious stuff isn't covered and even with the top tier of insurance there are still out of pocket expenses and deductibles.
Chihuahua with an auto immune disease. Weekend in Vets after seizure $2000. MRI cost $2500 (deducible $400 per visit).
Holy moses! Did pet insurance cover any of that?
With most policies even if I had the top tier I still would have been $800 out of pocket. $400 for the MRI and $200 per day of vet costs.
I guess it's better than not being insured and paying $4,500 all up! Will definitely be wiser with our money leading up to and once the pup arrives. Thanks for the tip.
I love dogs, but can I recommend NOT getting a dog unless you're really really sure about it.
Here's a few reasons to consider NOT getting a dog.
1: Renting houses becomes infinitely harder.
2: As does travel. You're going to either find a housesitter, or move your pup to a puppysitter, or put it into a kennel - all problematic.
3: If the really horrible thing happens and you and your girlfriend break up, who keeps the pup?
It's a hell of a lot to consider that a lot of people don't think about. They only consider the good things with puppy purchase. And again, I adore my dog. But I at least want you going in with full knowledge and consideration.
It really comes down to your lifestyle. If you find your free time is mostly spent at home relaxing, then a pet might enhance it. But if you find youself talking about going on holidays or going out to dinner or movies or cruises or whatever - avoid a dog. Dogs are pack animals, and the second you walk out the door they will start to get lonely. Whether it's work or to go see James Bond or to go on a weekend escape, the dog just knows it wasn't with the pack.
We'r willing to sacrifice travel, nights out and all that for the dog. Personally, my gf and I are homebody's and love nothing more than staying in. You pose some really good points and adds even more for me to consider :)
Cheers
We own a maremma dog for our farm, you can just leave them with a kennel, food and water they will happily look after your stock. Just wanted to share how cute they are thats all, sorry for spam. We lost about sixty of our lambs to foxes :( but since she is around we haven't lost any! All to say is that the joy that a dog gives you is worth all the hassle they have. After all they are mans best friend.
Totally agree coolrezaee. I've wanted a dog for as long as I remember. When I was a kid my parents couldn't commit to it because of their heavy work schedules. That was a long time ago and to this very day, I still desperately want a dog. We've been told my many friends who own dogs, just how much they enhance and enrich their lives. They have young kids and reckon dogs even help with the development of the kids.
I love dog,but I can't afford to have them,as I live alone and plan to travel overseas every year :(
My Two cents worth of advice.
First get permission from your strata they will usually only give it for small dogs in an apartment. We are lucky both my wife and I work with dogs in our jobs / lives
we live in a one bed apartment with 2 ferrets and one dog. We own our unit and the strata knows we know dogs so we had no problem. If you rent think about the long term if you get moved on the dog can be your Achilles heel. If you rescue a dog from a shelter good on you but many come with problems and will need re training in the most basic of things from food to toilet training or heaven forbid anti social behavior. My wife is a kennel manager at a large shelter and I work as a dog decoy for training military and police dogs,I'm the guy in the bunny suit who gets taken out by seriously savage dogs my friends call me mad but I love it ( off to the world championships in the Netherlands next year woo hoo I am stoked). Ok were was I, if you are in Sydney Doggie Rescue allows you to foster dogs this is what I would recommend once you have permission from the strata foster a dog you are not committed to keeping the dog long term all vet bills are paid for by the shelter and it is a great step forward into the having a dog world. There are 2 types of dog owners those who we call owners and those who we call lovers… fostering a shelter dog can quickly work out which one you are.
Good luck and hope you find a friend for life.
And here is what I do for fun https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cb4m_Npq-Gc
You could consider adopting a greyhound. They really are lovely dogs, and despite what people may think, are massive couch potatoes.
Buuut unless it is GAP approved (greyhound adoption program) and have the green collar, they need to wear a muzzle in public. Don't think they're allowed to be off leash in public either. So depends if you'd be bothered by that.
Greyhounds as Pets
Legalities
Totally agree. I had mine for 3 years and it was such a lovely dog. I now do some voluntary work at a shelter for rescued greyhounds and they're so easy going and there are so many of them waiting to be adopted. Sadly many are put down when they're not good for racing.
Does anyone have a King Charles Cavalier?
How are they? can you run me through what your costs were?
I have one. I bought her from gumtree for $700 about three months ago, she was about 15 months old. We were very lucky, I think the normal price is $1200-1500. I have seen a few in the last few weeks for $300, but they go within a few minutes.
She's absolutely lovely. We had to get her desexed ($250 I think) and since we've had her anal glands drained and she had a bravetco tablet (about $50 fleas and tick protection for 3 months). She isn't due for shots till next year. Oh the groomer was $75, but will find a cheaper one next time.
I feed her advance (simply because all my walking friends with dogs feed their dogs advance) and the little square My Dogs (she only likes chicken).
She loves toys, has found heaps of balls while walking (best toys for cavaliers are practice golf balls if you can find them), is very friendly. Will chase ducks into water and swim. I use a $6 kmart retractable lead (keep the receipt, they break in 2 months, so just take it and swap it for a new one).
They really are a delight.
They need to sleep with you on your bed, and will sit on you when you are on the couch. They like to be near you all the time.
It involves regular checking of OzBargain for Petbarn 20% codes. Those codes is what keeps our dog happy
socialise your puppy with other dogs, i cant not emphasize this enough. it help prevent against a plethora of behavioral problems when they grow older (aggression, anxiety etc)
also, revolution as a flea/tick/heartworm treatment. It's cheap at costco. I pay $98 for 6 months worth of treatment and it comes with all wormer tablets as well. At my loval vet they charge me $100 for only 3 months treatment!
anyway, good luck and hope you find the right dog for you~
Definitely. Once you miss the window, it's very, very difficult to train a dog to be more tolerant of other dogs/people/kids. You'd need to leave it at a professional trainer for weeks and even then it still wouldn't be as good as if you just took it to puppy school and had everyone come over, including kids to play with him/her as a pup.
I completely agree!
The amount of people who don't let their dog interact with mine is unbelievable. Dogs like meeting other dogs. Unless your dog will bite my dog's nose off then I can't think of a particularly good reason not to let them sniff and say hello.
If you have family with kids definitely invite them over especially if it is a puppy.
Not only does it teach the kids not to be too rough with dogs as they will react (with the exception of some breads) but it teaches the dog not to get annoyed at little kids
I had two dogs, one lived to 18, the other 16. Both passed away now. Can tell you right now that DOGS are smart social animals, they will GROW on you big time. You will love them so much you will spend whatever it takes if they are sick. You will feel extreme guilt if you didn't take them for a walk, feed them late or did not bother to "play" or "see" them for two or three days because you were so busy at work and had relied on your parents to take care of them. When they get sick you will feel extreme sadness and when they get put down due to old age or illness you will cry about it and the glimpse of those pairs of eyes wide open but with no life will come to haunt you, because in a way you realize it was appropriate to put them out of their misery (sickness) but in a way, they died by lethal injection. If you had a dog when you were young and it lived to old age, the sadness is even more extreme when they pass because you will feel that a part of your childhood is GONE. Dogs will take a significant time of your life, physically, monetary and emotionally. Just be prepared if you want to go through that. Just my 2c.
My dad was willing to pay $50 000 for chemo for our family dog. The vet said it was pointless though because he wouldn't last long and the cancer was riddled throughout his body. So my whole extended family went to the vet to watch him go… Brothers, sisters, uncles, grandparents. It was one of the only times I saw my dad really cry. This happened over 6 years ago and writing this still makes my eyes well up. What you've written describing the eyes is so fitting and keeps the memory vivid in my mind, it's like he knew but was ok with it.
I will be devastated again but I guess it's the finite time you have with them that makes you appreciate them so much.
Same with my family we drove him to specialists and paid a lot for treatment.
We even put him on chemo for a while. He got really sick just before christmas and I guess we didn't want to say goodbye straight away.
Bought him a extra 3 months at quite a large expense but it was completely worth it. Eventually it got to a point that no amount of chemo would help and we knew it was the right thing to do.
Now I have my new puppy and she is amazing but my previous dog will always have a special place
http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=2+1659&aid=1030
Walking an inside dog once or twice a day is not enough. Especially not for a young animal.
I've had inside dog all my life and imagine if you could only go to the toilet once or twice a day. It's not enough.
Dog food can be healthy and cheap if you cook it yourself. Rice, chicken necks and veggies at night, kibble in the morning. I cook a big batch of rice and put it in small bags in the freezer.
Definitely get pet insurance. Vets charge more than a GP does!
If it's going to be an inside dog, get the pup used to being in a crate. It will feel safe and won't break down your house when you're away.
Treats: Soup bones, rawhide, chicken necks, liver, etc. Even a lick of peanut butter once in a while, is ok. (Keeps them occupied for a while if you stick it to the roof of their mouth)
Make sure you register the dog.
Goodluck :o)
If you love travelling. Be prepared to either give up travelling or fork up alot of money for dog boarding. Dog boarding is $40-$60 a night.
By your replies, it sounds like you're thinking of going a shelter Blue Heeler. I done this exact thing about 6 months ago with a 4 month old pup. They are super smart, protective, athletic and sweet. Be aware of the initial outlay of money (vaccination, de-sexing, flea/worm treatment, council registration). Then be prepared for vet bills over the years. These can be extremely sudden and expensive. I'd consider insurance for peace of mind. The biggest outlay though is attention. You have to train them, exercise them - exponentially more if you go for a smart breed like a Heeler. They need mental stimulation or they'll have behavioural problems like destructiveness and anxiety. You'll also need to iron-out housetraining as they grow or they'll develop bad habits.
You'll have a harder job too if you go a rescue. I made a concerted effort with my dog because I knew she had a bad start in life. To begin with she was quite timid, shied at movement etc. Not aggressive, but scared. I gave her about a 6 km walk a day and a run around in a dog park. Socialising the dog with adults, kids and other animals is important. I'd give anyone who stopped us a treat to give her so she'd associate them with good and not bad. Done trick training with a clicker. They are so damn smart - learnt over 15 tricks over the months (heel, play dead, dance, hands up, crawl etc.). Made huge improvements with her. Beautiful disposition, a friendly shadow perpetually at your side. Everyone that met her loved her. Then one day she snapped and attacked two people… :( . It really broke my heart. Called RSPCA rescue centre and my vet and they basically confirmed what I knew had to eventuate. Crushed me. She was my best, most loyal buddy. Love you Bethy.
Dogs can be the most amazing, joyous creatures, but as a result there will inevitably bring great heart ache during their existence too. Make no mistake, they are a responsibility. I would caution with the breed and shelter options. They are the ultimate dog, but when you can't vouch for their early development, or the psychological stability of the parents, it's more of a gamble than most, especially when you factor in breed characteristics. Don't want to scare you off, but rather give you some perspective.
Thanks for the great post Howdy. What are the blue heeler's exercise needs like? Are they hyperactive?
You've raised some really good points about shelter dogs. I guess you inherit existing personality traits, be it good or bad with a shelter dog but with lots of love and care they should come good….
Hi. Yeah they do have a lot of energy and need a lot of exercise.I wouldn't say she was hyperactive. She was 'normal' the majority of the time, but when it came to exercise, she could go and go. For the majority of Blue Heelers that I came accross though, a lot were hyperactive (always yapping, jumping, running around etc.). I got lucky in that sense. You have to channel it into something positive, otherwise they'll let loose in naughty habits.
Going the shelter route is noble, but there are definite trade offs. Try and assess the dog as much as possible if you do go that route. Look for warning signs. Believe me, I went above and beyond with Bethy, but at the end of the day I couldn't overcome her inbuilt damage.
Congratulations on getting a dog, they're great. Double congrats on getting a rescue, they are even better and are often there for no fault of their own!
BUT. If you're going to be both out all day, then don't get a dog. They're social animals and why bother getting a dog you never see?
Australia is the birthplace of the selfish A holes who leave dogs outside to bark a t neighbours all day and night as it is, and that's when they're home!
Apartment dogs, would be handbag dogs in size, but I'd advise against working breeds in your setup. They have been selectively bred and bred to run and work for a full day and a short walk a couple of times a day won't cut it, they will eat your walls (no joke). This would probably include:
labs
Retreivers
beagles
kelpies
cattle dogs
collies
spaniels
and quite a few others.
Greyhounds are great for needing very little exercise, although they will walk if you build them up to it, they can happily slob around a lot longer than most dogs. They're big for a flat though. And VERY flatulent!
When one of you isn't working, or not full time, that would be a great time to get a dog, as the dog would give and receive human companionship and not suffer from separation anxiety. It's like sharing your life with a child who will never be independent of you, so bare that in mind. 15 years for some breeds is a long life.
Dogs from rescues make great pets but sometimes need just a little more coaxing to get the most out of them, which would mean time, effort. They're known quantities though unlike puppies, and still have lots of love and affection to give.
Avoid buying a dog on looks. personally, I think wolf dogs look the mutts nuts. But I work full time, and have children, and they're very loyal to one person (pack leader) and stubborn to train, and powerful, and expensive, and require a lot of work we can't commit as a family. Pure breeds also have more frequent congenital defects. Heinz 57 type dogs tend to be less prone (not immune) to these things.
Finally, avoid puppy farms and breeders. For every one breeder bleating on line about being responsible, there must be tens of hundreds of scumbags doing the same thing. Don't support them, pets shops here are like the civilised world was in the 80's.
if you do get a dog, get it registered. Pretty much only struggle streeter's types wouldn't do this, as it's another sign of responsible dog ownership and not just 'well as my dog attacked yours you can't prove it' yob mentality.
Good luck whatever you decide, and hope you find the right dog for your situation.
They have to feel part of the family - not shut away when they bark, scratch or FART ( which they all do very often - or so my husband tells me!! )
In seriousness, we've had rescue dogs throughout our married life (34 years)They arrive nervous, mostly untrained but just wanting to be loved & very soon give so much more back that your lives would be empty without them in your home.We all need feeding, watering & excercising so that part is easy.However, there is a lot more to take into consideration. Vets bills can be astronomical when they become ill & not many pet insurance companies will insure a dog that hasn't been taken on as a puppy as no- one really knows the poor dogs previous life with other people. When you go on holiday, unless you have a very good friend or family member able to look after them, it will cost you on average $45.00 per day ( 2 dogs ) for kenneling - over an average 2 week period away you certainly need to budget that in to your total costs.
Also, apartment living isn't really agreeable for larger breeds, such as you are considering - they need space. Should you put them outside in the courtyard when you are at work you will have to :-
1 * Provide shade & shelter for all weather conditions.
2 * Leave plenty of food & water to sustain them during the many hours you are away.
3 * Be prepared to clean up all the wee & poo that they have to leave somewhere , when you get home from work - & that's before you take them out for their walkies & then feed them.
Taking on a dog is a big commitment - as the old advert used to say " A dog is for life - not just for Christmas "
Please think carefully before making your decision.
By the way, ours have been (& one still is Great Danes),German Shepherd, + 2 wouldn't have a clue you name the breed it's in there somewhere wonderful dogs. We wouldn't be without them. Good luck, but think seriously about what you are taking on - there are enough hurt, unwanted dogs now - please don't add to them - simply because they disrupt your lives.
Perhaps Mitchell Pierce would be the best person to ask
This post caught my eye by coincidence, while I was searching for deals just for doggies. Having just read training-your-dog blog, in amongst all the training was this gem, & it's pretty near perfectly written for your query: http://www.sitdropstay.com/do-you-really-want-a-dog/
I've never had pet insurance. I am up to 3 German Shepherds and 10 maltese mixes. Sure, sometimes things have gone wrong but if I divide what went wrong by the number of years the dog had lived, paying pet insurance would have robbed me blind … and I am therefore way ahead, even with a couple of major surgeries. I seriously think it's just a thing to make people feel nervous about not having it. It has only increased in popularity since yuppies have taken to the concrete with dogs instead of children.
Councils never follow up on registration. I've had multiple dogs for 30 years and only the first two were registered. The 3 I have today are chipped but I never follow up with the rego. Council doesn't give a rats.