The cost of owning a dog

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by basuca

if you realy want a big dog get a great dane there realy cool and frendly, I have 6:)
http://i1.tinypic.com/x4kiud.jpg

---

Great Danes are great (lol) but take a look at her:

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...g/P1010035.jpg

Libby's an Olde English (hence the Olde) Mastiff. Currently, at 6 months, she weighs in at 90 lbs.. Mom and Dad were 150 each at two years old and still growing. For temperament you can't do any better than a Mastiff. She still a pup (i.e. excitable) but her outbursts of energy last about thirty seconds then she's back laying down. My wife and I love her dearly.

Obviously everything stated above is accurate and helpful but another thing to consider in a breed is your activity level. With a lab, you're looking at several exercise 'sessions' a day. You have to work/play all that energy out of them or they'll use it in places you don't want them to! :D

Also, look into puppy kindergarten. Well worth the investment. Helps develop the bond between you and your dog AND helps socialize the puppy young which cannot be overstated. Good luck in your search. If you have any questions don't hesitate to ask.

PS---please don't get me wrong, I think labs are great dogs and an excellent choice if they are the right fit for your personality!

English mastiffs are awesome.. can't find a more level-headed guardian dog.

With labs training is extremely important.. a lot of the ones we have that come in to the groom shop have absolutely NO manners. They barrel through like elephants, jump on us, scratch us, bark their heads off and won't even sit when told. Training goes a long way!

Might I also throw out the suggestion of adoption? There are so many adult dogs out there that need homes... and getting one from a good shelter usually means that they're already trained (or mostly so) and up to date on shots.

Just my two cents. :colbert2:

Yay for Lynn!!! Good suggestion! I'd also say go check out your local dog rescues/pounds/animal shelters. There are always a lot of wonderful dogs there that need good homes and will have been vetted and temperment checked prior to being placed for open adoption. Our local humane society charges about $150.00 for a dog adoption but that includes everything from spay/neuter to heartworm to rabies and so forth. That's a deal any day of the week! The nice thing about getting a rescued dog that's past the puppy stage is, especially with a mixed breed, you have a fair idea of what you are getting at maturity. Some of my best pets (cat and dogs) have been rescues (our first Labrador actually was a "pound puppy")

Here's a link to a great resource online. You can define your search and will get a list of dogs that fit that criteria available for adoption in your area. I love this link (though I want to bring them all home everytime I go look).

http://www.petfinder.com/

Here's the link specifically for Labs/Lab mixes available today in the Orlando, FL area. Hope you find a new family member here. :) (personally the pup named Skeeter is about the cutest thing I've seen in years!)

http://search.petfinder.com/search/search.cgi

I would personally recommend getting an ex-racing greyhound. They are the sweetest and most laid back dog you will ever own. Their short hair and low shed ammount makes them fairly hypoallergenic. The only thing is that their stomachs can't handle beef, so Nutro chicked and rice mini chunk is ideal. They also have to stay inside because they can't handle the cold.

I've been searching the sites of local dog shelters around Columbus and have found there are many, MANY full-blooded and mixed-blood labs up for adoption. And, like Jo said, their adoption fees usually aren't that much... most places spay/neuter, and the dogs are fully updated wit htheir shots. They're also usually treated for behavioral problems, and are pretty well-trained.

I'm always one for pushing adoption!

We had an Irish wolfhound for a while when I was growing up. What a regal animal. I swear those dogs are born with old souls...=)

Irish Wolfhounds just look so cool! I've never met one personally but man they look very handsome!

The one caution against adoption is unfortunately you have no background info on the previous owner. If the dog was abused/malnourished/etc. it may not necessarily be the best choice for the novice dog owner. Especially if there's small kids either present or in the future ;)

Just something to keep in mind.

One thing I would like us all to keep in mind is that at some point we have all acquired our first pet. Some of us did so carefully, others not so. Keeping in mind the overall vet, training and supplies aside. Lets try to educate people on care, rather than scaring the daylights out of them with the extreme horror stories. MOST dogs I have owned have made it thru life without major trama to theirselves or my pocketbook. If someone truly loves a dog enough to go searching for advice on how to care for it, I'm sure if a crisis occurs they will deal with it as best as possible.
I always am looking to learn more. I don't know if I would have loved animals the same way if the venture appeared overwhelming.

I am in no way slamming anyone, There has been a tremendous amount of advice given. Once they have the basic facts, they can then make a choice.;)

A little suggestion for a first time pet owner. I was raised with dogs, a lot of dogs. When my family looks for a pet we look for rescues or people who need to get rid of pets because of moving or some reason. Timba we got at a year old. She was already house trained and fixed. The people were getting a divorce and wanted her to go to a home where she wouldn't be left outside or alone for two long. She is perfect. The only thing she ever really did wrong was go for my throat when I was playing rough with my kids. I gave her a slight attitude adjustment and decided to keep her. She wanted to protect my kids, made her good enough for me. I messed up by acting violent around a new dog. We get along fine now. She is the best dog I have had in a long time. I like the older dogs cause puppies are a lot of work. I wouldn't suggest one too old but between 1-2 yrs old is a good age. I do love the Great Danes and sight hounds, but they live short lives and bigger dogs tend to have a few more problems. Like Nancy said with maintenance and proper care they can be pretty cheap to keep. Also look at taking the dog on a trial basis if possible, get a feel for it's temperment and attitudes. Sometimes the best things in life are free. I would not advise anyone to buy a dog from a petstore. They are raised in the worst of conditions and prone to more medical problems. Get you dog from a breeder, a rescue or from a private owner. Check the local dog clubs, and most of the time you can find the perfect dogs and really great prices.