doggies! Best breeds, expenses, and rewards of having them

MrsSWW

We have had 5 rescues so I am DELIGHTED to see that you want to adopt rather than buy from a breeder. In the UK we have the Dangerous Dogs Act whereby certain breeds (including pits) are pts purely because of their breed, an absolute disgrace!

I don't think any specific breed is better or worse than any other for temperament but they do tend to have different personalities - but you'll need to consider the size for your home, and also the amount of exercise required. Greyhounds don't actually need a lot of exercise, but a working dogs like a collie or cocker spaniel needs a lot.

Spend at least a couple of hours with any dog you are considering adopting, introduce it to all members of the family who are liikely to be coming to your home, especially children, and see if you can take it for a walk a couple of times before making a final decision.

Costs will depend on the breed of dog. The cost for adoption at our local shelter is around £60 for a small dog, they do neuter the dogs if they are of age, but that could potentially be another £200+ if it is something you need to pay for yourself - all shelters are different. Cost of micro-chipping if not done at shelter, I'm not sure how much... Initial costs for things such as a bed, crate, car harness/belt, leads, harnesses, collars, id tags, food & water bowls, poop bags (the most important things, lol!).....

Then there are ongoing costs of vaccinations (I rcently paid £36 for a vaccination booster, not the initial treatment), worming and flea treatments, and in some countries heartworm meds (thankfully not in the UK).

I have 3 small dogs and their insurance comes to just over £50 per month, but they are covered for illnesses and accidents including third party insurance if they cause an accident or damage. I would urge you to take our insurance as a priority, so many dogs are prone to horrible illnesses like Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and Syringomyelia, I would hate to be in a position where I had to have a dog pts because I couldn't afford to pay for treatment.

My best advice would be to pick mongrel or mixed breed - if you do choose a specific breed do as much homework on it as you possibly can.

Best of luck, and bear in mind that you don't have to get one on your first trip to the pound. Much better that you make a few visits and make sure you are both right for each other :flowerforyou:

MrsSWW

We adopted a young dog from a shelter thinking she would be easier than a puppy. My guess is she'd been in a shelter all her life and she's used to peeing where she lives. She was definitely not housebroken. She ruined our carpet. She chewed holes in the wall. Destroyed hundreds of dollars worth of clothes. She pulled the siding off the side of our house (she's a small, active pointer mix). And then what did we do? Adopted a puppy. And he did all the same stuff. But they're best friends and they love eachother and we have a pretty big happy, disfunctional dog family.

Dogs will never be what you expect them to be. They will change your life and the love is really hard at first. But now I can't live without them.

One thing that irritates me is that people think dogs are going to be easy, they think they'll get along with small children, cats, not bark, not chew, not destroy, not ruin your house, not require training, and so then they find all kinds of reasons they "have" to surrender them to shelters where they only have a 50/50 chance of NOT being euthenized. Drives me nuts.

I'm so glad I read to the end of your post, I read the first paragraph and thought "Well the DOG doesn't know any better, you have to TEACH it". We had a rescue Lab who was adorable, my Sam, our first born.... he chewed everything he could get his teeth on until the day he died, was trying to chew the vets hand as he was being put to sleep. We loved him all the same, and I have tears in my eyes just thinking about him

smashatoms

Good work on adopting, it's definitely the way to go.
I have a Husky mix. She is on premium holistic food (Earthborn) and we spend about $60 on a bag and it lasts for a month and a half to two months. The good part about premium food, is that you can actually feed your dog less because there is more protein and they use quality ingredients. My dog is an extremely picky eater and seems to like the Earthborn. Other brands you might want to check out are Arcana, Orijen, Innova, Kiwi, and Fromm. You may need to go to a specialty pet store to get these brands, but they are better for your dog. Also, go for a grain free formula. The food is more palatable and it's also better for them.
We spend approximately 240 a year on flea/tick/heartworm/worm prevention.
We spend about 100 a year on vet bills. (This is an estimate, as she doesn't go to the vet often; Maybe once a year.)
We spend about 15 dollars a month on new toys and treats.
And we spend an additional 20-30 on her Norwegian fish oil supplement that we put on her food at every meal. We get it at GNC.

(Gosh, do I have a spoiled dog or what!?)

livnlite

There are so many breeds to choose from. I don't know if I would ever be able to say if ONE is better than another because they all have pros and cons. There are a few things to consider .. namely size, whether or not they shed and what type of needs do THEY have (are they a dog that needs a lot of exercise) .. Those are these easiest choices to make, then take it from there.

While you are at the shelter, you will be able to see what is available and kind of get the feel of each dogs personality. These dogs have some level of 'history' so you can not simply go by breed and expect to get all the 'good' traits of that breed rolled up into one dog. Some have medical conditions and some have temperament problems.

Although you mentioned that your husband is already involved with shelter animals, which speaks volumes about your pet friendly nature ... I must again mention, please consider the dog's needs. A small house dog is not going to have the same needs as a large active dog.

In any event, I wish you luck, and commend your decision to get a shelter dog.

rthompson81

We adopted a young dog from a shelter thinking she would be easier than a puppy. My guess is she'd been in a shelter all her life and she's used to peeing where she lives. She was definitely not housebroken. She ruined our carpet. She chewed holes in the wall. Destroyed hundreds of dollars worth of clothes. She pulled the siding off the side of our house (she's a small, active pointer mix). And then what did we do? Adopted a puppy. And he did all the same stuff. But they're best friends and they love eachother and we have a pretty big happy, disfunctional dog family.

Dogs will never be what you expect them to be. They will change your life and the love is really hard at first. But now I can't live without them.

One thing that irritates me is that people think dogs are going to be easy, they think they'll get along with small children, cats, not bark, not chew, not destroy, not ruin your house, not require training, and so then they find all kinds of reasons they "have" to surrender them to shelters where they only have a 50/50 chance of NOT being euthenized. Drives me nuts.

Well said. And props to the original poster for wanting to adopt! I have a rescued Boston terrier/border collie mix, and she's a great dog. When we got her she hid under the table, and for years she was scared of men and brooms, but since then she has learned to smile and play with toys, and now she's pretty much the best dog ever. I grew up with pure-bred golden retrievers, who are also amazing dogs... but talk about medical bills! Each one had some kind of very expensive medical condition. I'm guessing its from all the inbreeding. Poor things. I'll always lean toward the lab types, because that's what I know, but I'm surprised that my little Boston terrier rescue has won my heart so quickly.

smashatoms

We have a pug and I have to say she has been the BEST dog I have ever owned! We trained her to use a doggie litter box so when we are not home there is no accidents and because she is a pug they can't be outside and overheated ( I live in Florida).
We have her on a wellness plan at Banfield which is in our local Petsmart (nationwide I think) and we pay $24.00 a month which includes shots worming getting fixed and discounts on all other procedures.

I'm on the wait list to adopt a pug from the Ohio Pug Rescue! I can't wait! They are wonderful! I'm so excited!

ladybg81

I did not read the other posts. BOXER, all the way. I grew up with them and have 2 now. I could not imagine life without them. They are the smartest, sweetest, most loyal dogs ever. They are hyper and prone to chewing when they are little (what dog, or person for that matter isn't.) But they do grow out of it. My male boxer was (and still is but not as much) very protective of my son when he was born. He laid by his crib anytime he was in there and would stand guard when the other 2 dogs were around. My son crawls on them and does whatever and they love every second of it. If you choose to have a pet, then you are committing financially as well. And they are expensive. But prices vary with vets I've found. The one we used for YEARS charged 2xs the amount for everything that our current vet does and the old vet was a total jerk to us and our dogs.

Our beagle was a rescue and so was our female Boxer. Our male Boxer came from a breeder. If you choose to go the breeder route, DO YOUR RESEARCH and make sure you are not getting a dog from some puppy mill. Make sure you can see the mom and preferably the dad as well. Our breeder had the mom and aunts and uncles. The dad lived down the street but she had a TON of pics for us to see. I think most breeds have issues when they get older. Boxers for example are prone to hip dysplasia. The Boxer I had growing up had it and it was really sad to see him deteriorate but I would still not change anything. I know what we have to go through when my 3 get older but again, would not trade it for the world. The heartache sucks and I am tearing up right now thinking about it; but pets bring so much joy in the short time they are with us. We truly could learn a lot about life and love from them if we would open ourselves up.

My ultimate dream is to have a Boxer rescue because that breed has always been such a big part of my life and I want to try and give back to them what they've given me for so many years. Patience, love and understanding. That's really all they want. Oh, and food and water.

I hope I did not make any spelling errors or gramatical errors because I can not go back and proof it. I cried while writing it and I am not work. Can't.show.weakness.

margo36

I have two Dalmations that I have had from Puppies and both are well behaved. I also have a Black Belguim Shepherd who was a Rescue Dog and was badly treated as Pup. Although he is Okay with me but I have to keep him close to me when I take him out because if he feels threatened he will go into attack mode without warning. He is 5 years old and the first few months of his life has permenantly scarred him. Whe I first got him he was a very frightened dog and spent first week huddled in a corner of the kitchen. I've spent a lot of time socialising him and building him confidence up but if I'm out with him and there are any raised voices of waving of arms he panics.
So if you get a rescue dog please choose very carefully and be prepared to put in the time with your dog.

maab_connor

my best advice is this: personality first, breed second. dogs are a lot like ppl, they can't be easily catigorized by looking at them, so don't rely on the breed. spend some time, get to know the dogs. let the DOG pick YOU. don't just grab "the cute one" take the dog who gravitates toward you naturally.

mine is a rescue, and we'd looked for months, then i saw that face in the pen. he stole my heart. we had the one-on-one time and he cared more about me then about the employee who he knew. he's MY dog and i am HIS human.

take the time to let your dog find you.

starboardzor

[/quote]

I'm so glad I read to the end of your post, I read the first paragraph and thought "Well the DOG doesn't know any better, you have to TEACH it". We had a rescue Lab who was adorable, my Sam, our first born.... he chewed everything he could get his teeth on until the day he died, was trying to chew the vets hand as he was being put to sleep. We loved him all the same, and I have tears in my eyes just thinking about him
[/quote]

Heh.. I've definitely paid my dues.. I've taken two of the worst dogs on the planet into my home and loved them to pieces. That's sweet about your lab... I grew up with a lab and thinking about her tears me up too.

JoLeeFA

I have a standard poodle (65 pounds). Wouldn't be the best "apartment" dog. He is high energy and needs room to run. He has long legs and would make a GREAT partner for someone to run with (maybe that will be me one day). I have walked him 4+ miles with him having no trouble in the middle of a Mississippi summer. So he is very sturdy. I got him from his breeder at 7 months old - already had shots, was kennel trained, basic commands, and house broken! Awesome deal on him (1/3 asking price) because he was an "older" dog. He is the best dog I have ever owned. No doggy odor, doesn't shed, hypo-alergenic. He is extremely smart, but is a hopeless counter-top surfer. I have to have all food put away if he is left unattended. His stomach is easily upset if he has a food change, so I try not to let him have much people food. AND he is, at times, GASY... But he sleeps on the foot of my bed, so gasy is not a good thing!! hehe

I feed him a mid-high end food ($40 oer 35 pound bag) He and my 4 pound palmapoo eat about 35 pounds per month. I do my own grooming, but he needs grooming every 6-8 weeks. If I was paying for the grooming it would be about $60 at Petsmart. I bought a $100 pair of clippers and have been using them for over a year - well worth the investment. Booster shots/checkups all done in one visit was about $200. Other than that the maintenance issues, flea preventive, heartworm preventive - all of those things are much cheaper online. So shop online sites for those medications.

If you decide to go with a "breed" try the breed rescue organizations too. I know there is a Standard Poodle Rescue organization. They will pair people and dogs and help arrange transportation to get the dog.

CarrieJ85

My family has always raised pitbulls and I love, love, love them! Ours have always been very loyal and loveable, very good dogs! Now I have a long haired chihuahua (which I never thought I would have!) but when I saw him it was love at first sight! He's a lover and likes to be next to me at all times when I am home. He listens well and was easy to train, definitely not as hyper or yippy as I thought chihuahuas were. He doesn't eat a lot, I spend less than $20/month on food.

SarahMorganP

We adopted a lab/irish setter mix a few months ago and she is fantastic! She shed a TON when we got her, but as soon as we took her off her gross grocery store dog food and put her on Canidae Grain Free dog food she stopped shedding completely, her coat looks so shiny and healthy, and she poops a lot less. Feeding a dog good high quality food is so important. Her dog food is about $50 for a 35lb bag and she only eats 3 cups total a day, so it lasts a while. Since she is 3 she only has to go to the vet once a year now and I assume that will be less than $100 each visit. I do get her heartworm prevention meds and the tick meds, together those are around $80 for a 9 month supply.

Labs and Irish Setters are both awesome dogs, so mix them together and you get perfection, um until she sees a squirrel or a bunny that is! :noway:

MrsSWW

When I Got My New Dog

I asked for strength that I might rear her perfectly;
I was given weakness that I might feed her more treats.
I asked for good health that I might rest easy;
I was given a "special needs" dog that I might know nurturing.

I asked for an obedient dog that I might feel proud;
I was given stubbornness that I might feel humble.

I asked for compliance that I might feel masterful;
I was given a clown that I might laugh.

I asked for a companion that I might not feel lonely;
I was given a best friend that I would feel loved.

I got nothing I asked for,
But everything that I needed.

Unknown

Indy_Mario

Beagles are definitely espace artists - my mother breeds and shows them.

And I LOVE pitbulls.

i love pits too

I love pits! We have two rescue dogs and they are worlds apart from each other, as far as personality. One is a Pit/Lab mix who is very lovable, loyal and a bit needy since he was abused when he was a puppy. Then we have a Rott/Chow mix who gets a lot of compliments still, whom we rescue from a shelter after my mom fell in love with him. We've had them for about 7 years now, and they're both terrific dogs! Neither of them are the type to get if you don't like sweeping your floor often though, because they both tend to shed quite a bit. But they're both very protective, easy to train and take care off...Oh, they do eat a ton though! :noway:

Huskeryogi

I have a goldendoodle that I love, but it might be hard to find at the shelter (although that's where I got Gizmo - he was 6 months old). I have a friend who has a doodle too.

Vet bills have been pretty standard - just the cost of vaccines and then once he got a scratch on his stomache that got infected.

He's super smart and if I was consistent with leash training he'd be great when I run. He loves to run which means he pulls on the leash. He knows sit, stay, down, off, high five, wave, roll over, jump (this is my favorite), watch me, and take a bow. He LOVES training time. I lucked out and he came home from the Humane Society potty trained. I think he's had one accident in my house total.

I do pay about $80 a month to take him to doggie daycare once/week. But you probably won't need to worry about that since someone is almost always home. He's pretty high energy though and if you don't have a fenced yard will require a couple run/walks a day.

Food I probably spend $25-30/month on Science Diet.

First year I had him I paid $70 once to have him groomed. Since then I bought a $40 clippers and a $10 scissors and I do it myself. I actually like the look better, but it takes awhile.

Huskeryogi

Oh yeah - He's a major chewer. Destroys any toy in 15 min tops and I have stuffing all over. We do toys very rarely now. The first time I had to leave him home for a full day he chewed up the couch in the basement (It was ok cause I hate that couch).

He hasn't chewed on furniture since that couch though and now I just buy bones instead of toys.

foodluver27

I love my corgi. He's 12 and still full of energy. Great with kids (though a barker, which is either just a corgi thing or our fault for spoiling him). Incredibly smart, too (maybe a little too smart, lol). He used to be an escape artist but has calmed down since we had him fixed a couple years ago (I know, I know, I wanted to do it earlier, but my dad thought it would be tramatic for him...siiiighhh...). If you did this right away (or it's already done) I would imagine that the 'wanderlust' would drastically decrease.

I love corgis too! We have one and will forever be corgi owners. They are affectionate, smart and very devoted to their owner. We have a female and she had a little hyperness in her when she was puppy but it soon calmed down as she got older. She loves people and children (she flocks to them!) She is the best dog..not biased or anything

Queen_JessieA

Well...I have a pure bred Rat Terrier who is a lovely dog. He doesn't bark (but that is just my dog...my mom has two...well, one recently passed on) Rats and one is a huge barker and the other (was) not. They are great little dogs, tho...and for a terrier, pretty good with children (we have three kids and our Rat loves to play...and he is almost 9). Very loving but he doesn't like to be held a lot. He needs his space.

We also have a part Daschund part Jack Russell that a friend found on the side of the road when he was about 8 weeks old. He is SO sweet and loving and his ideal day would be for you to sit and hold him all day long. He is curled up next to me right now

I prefer small dogs, but if I were to get a large dog, I would have to go for a Boxer or a Great Dane. They have great temperments and they are lovely dogs Mutts are generally good ones, too!

I don't buy the most expensive food for them ~ but they do have to have lamb and rice because my Rat (and a lot of Rats have this) has food allergies. His skin on his belly would get red and raw on stuff w/ lots of fillers. He does great on Pedigree's Lamb and Rice. I pay about $12 a bag...cheaper if I can get a coupon...and they eat a bag a month. They only weigh 10 pounds each and I leave food out for them all the time. I know some people choose not to, but it works for us. We take them to the mobile vet, so shots are a lot cheaper there. Maybe $50 a year? However, a few years ago, my Rat snapped his leg in half and we had to go to an orthopedic. After all was said and done, we had shelled out $3k to get it fixed...so you can't just think that shots are the only thing you will spend on the pets!

cirka2002

Another vote here for Greyhounds!!

They are pretty quiet, and although large, really don't require a ton of room. You'd be surprised how tiny my 80lb boy can become!! They are couch potatoes and happy with a 15-20 min walk a day and a good run once a week.

Look around for a local Greyhound rescue and go visit them. You'll be surprised.