Want to Get a Puppy

[Calculator83]

Ok, So i'm kinda lonely, and I want to get a dog.

Now, I've had pets when I was little in another country, so the process from what i can tell is COMPLETELY different. So, i've just got a bunch of questions if u can answer them, THX.

I'm allergic to Cats, So don't suggest them.

How much are puppies. I want the small cute kind when it's little, and I want it to grow HUGE.

prefurably a low maintanence type. I don't mean walking/showering, I mean doctors, pills, special food.

Not a fan of pugs/"taco bell dog"

No weird looking dogs please.

One of my friend said I needed insurance on pets, and i was like, Ok WHY? and he didn't know why.

How much does it cost to feed dogs. and how long does it take to Potty train?

UPDATE::


mmmmmmmmmmmm... OMG this seems to be harder than building my first computer...

Ok, SO FAR i've taken into my equation.

1. Buy one from pound. (Save a life)

2. Get medium-small size Dog, Live in apartment.


Questions:

1. How much is yearly bill assuming this dog already has shots?

2. No one answered potty train question?

3. How do I tell if the dog is well behaved at the pound?

4. If I'd get 2 dogs, Do they have to be the same ones, or are types incompatible, as in computer ram.

5. How much SHOULD I spend?

6. Are dogs alright with electronics, I have many and I'd notice high pitch noises sometimes from them, will dogs go crazy over this?

7. Fixing dogs. Does this have to be done? I just cannot wrap my mind around it because I think of another life, and If it had happen to me OMG, idk, I can't contemplate doing this to a dog.

 

[Capt Caveman]

The first question to ask yourself is, are you willing to make a 10-15 year commitment?

 

[Calculator83]

Originally posted by: Capt Caveman
The first question to ask yourself is, are you willing to make a 10-15 year commitment?

Yes, I am, I plan to start dating/get married at around 35.

So till then, i have time for Pet

 

[Calculator83]

Originally posted by: Calculator83

Originally posted by: Capt Caveman
The first question to ask yourself is, are you willing to make a 10-15 year commitment?

Yes, I am, I plan to start dating/get married at around 35.

So till then, i have time for Pet

I am also goign to break up with my Girlfriend Soon, so that is a huge boost in available time

 

[Jadow]

trust me when I say, get a small dog that doesn't shed.

edit- Shih-Tzu, $250 - $450, look in the classified ads...

 

[tailes151]

I've always had a thing for siberian huskies. Damn cute pups, decent sized adults, and gorgeous eyes.

 

[dougp]

Originally posted by: Calculator83
...I mean doctors, pills, special food.
...

Good luck, pretty much any dog is going to have problems in one form or another. What is your preferable weight/size range? People could suggest anything from Labs to Goldens, to Basenji's and the like ...

 

[Jadow]

Originally posted by: Calculator83

Originally posted by: Capt Caveman
The first question to ask yourself is, are you willing to make a 10-15 year commitment?

Yes, I am, I plan to start dating/get married at around 35.

So till then, i have time for Pet

You're going to "start" dating at 35? WTF? might as well cut your dlck off and become a monk.

 

[aphex]

Get a Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier

http://www.puppydogweb.com/gal...tenterrier_andrews.jpg

They are an absolute joy to have and are hypoallergenic.

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: Calculator83

Originally posted by: Capt Caveman
The first question to ask yourself is, are you willing to make a 10-15 year commitment?

Yes, I am, I plan to start dating/get married at around 35.

So till then, i have time for Pet

married around 35 eh...when do you have your first kids planned?

Please say you are like 16-17.

Anyway...

If you want a dog the questions you need to ask are:

1) Can you afford it? Can you come up with $500 just in case something bad happened or have enough credit? Food costs will vary greatly by dog / weight / activity level.

2) Do you have the time? Dogs are social, not solitary. You will be it's pack leader and he/she will be waiting on you more than you are around already. Make sure you have time to spend with the pet or get two.

3) What kind of dog do you want? This will dictate a lot of the rest like how much food, water, walking, time, attention, etc they will need.

Getting a pet is not about having a break up coming up, or just being between friends...a dog will be around for around 10 to 20 years depending on breed.

 

[thedarkwolf]

http://www.petfinder.com/
Forget the classifieds and just adopt one. I'd suggest not getting a puppy either. Sure they are cute but they are a huge PITA too. I'd rather just get a 1 - 3 year old dog thats already house trained and grown into its personality.

 

[SlitheryDee]

You want to potty train a dog that's going to grow huge? Why do you want a huge dog? With rare exceptions a huge dog is best kept as a yard dog, who uses the yard as his potty. I'd say go to the pound and get a mongrel if you want low maintenance. They're smarter usually and they aren't as susceptible to illness as "pure" breeds.

 

[RKS]

Get one from a shelter.

 

[McCarthy]

Unless you completely have your heart set on a puppy, may I suggest rescuing an adult dog?

 

[SinfulWeeper]

Originally posted by: Jadow
trust me when I say, get a small dog that doesn't shed.

edit- Shih-Tzu, $250 - $450, look in the classified ads...

Trust me when I say do not get a little dog. Their constant non-stop yapping that never stops will drive the dead insane and bring out your worst stress.

Get a big dog, there are many breeds that do not shed much. Almost any lab will have minimal shedding. Dalmatians I imagine would not shed much either.

However I am a fan of shepherds. You would have a loyal dog that is not loud unless it senses potential danger that is a real threat, and not a little tweety-bird flying across your window and having those little pip-squeeks jumping and yapping for 20 minutes. Unlike those little ones too, they actually can protect and not get killed by a drunk stumble or taking a wrong step... or heaven forbid, a intruder kicking it.

They are always playful and happy dogs, you would have to go out of your way to teach them to be mean... ie constantly chained up, neglect, and perhaps mishandling... but then if you were in that situation, you would probably be mean and dangerous too.

A big dog can be a best friend, a little dog can drive you nuts.

 

[Jadow]

Originally posted by: SinfulWeeper

Originally posted by: Jadow
trust me when I say, get a small dog that doesn't shed.

edit- Shih-Tzu, $250 - $450, look in the classified ads...

Trust me when I say do not get a little dog. Their constant non-stop yapping that never stops will drive the dead insane and bring out your worst stress.

Get a big dog, there are many breeds that do not shed much. Almost any lab will have minimal shedding. Dalmatians I imagine would not shed much either.

However I am a fan of shepherds. You would have a loyal dog that is not loud unless it senses potential danger that is a real threat, and not a little tweety-bird flying across your window and having those little pip-squeeks jumping and yapping for 20 minutes. Unlike those little ones too, they actually can protect and not get killed by a drunk stumble or taking a wrong step... or heaven forbid, a intruder kicking it.

They are always playful and happy dogs, you would have to go out of your way to teach them to be mean... ie constantly chained up, neglect, and perhaps mishandling... but then if you were in that situation, you would probably be mean and dangerous too.

A big dog can be a best friend, a little dog can drive you nuts.

The key is to find a little dog that's mellow. IE SHI-TZU!

 

[Geekbabe]

I want a dog,lol, I need one that'll get along well with Miss Kitty

 

[evetstech]

Welsh Corgi gets my vote. My dogs so smart he graduated. Firefox is his name.

 

[Pacfanweb]

Big dogs are NOT low-maintenance. They need to be walked, they doctor bills are more, the medicine they take (heartworm pills, etc) is more, they cost more the get fixed, they eat more, and the turds they crap are HUGE.
Don't buy a big dog (50+lbs) unless you have some room for it to run. They might be lazy when they're older, but they are a hand full the first few years. Now if you have a nice yard for it to run around in, go for it.
Labs are the best all-around dog, IMO. Some get pretty big. Great, great dogs.

 

[thedarkwolf]

All dogs need to be walked.

 

[Born2bwire]

I would suggest a lab as the ultimate companion animal.

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: SlitheryDee
You want to potty train a dog that's going to grow huge? Why do you want a huge dog? With rare exceptions a huge dog is best kept as a yard dog, who uses the yard as his potty. I'd say go to the pound and get a mongrel if you want low maintenance. They're smarter usually and they aren't as susceptible to illness as "pure" breeds.

No dog is happy as a 'yard dog'.

A huge dog can be kept indoors easily if you have the residence for it. An apartment is usually unfit for even medium dogs.

A properly trained dog usually makes his dumps in one spot in the yard.

 

[dougp]

Originally posted by: SinfulWeeper

Originally posted by: Jadow
trust me when I say, get a small dog that doesn't shed.

edit- Shih-Tzu, $250 - $450, look in the classified ads...

Trust me when I say do not get a little dog. Their constant non-stop yapping that never stops will drive the dead insane and bring out your worst stress.

Get a big dog, there are many breeds that do not shed much. Almost any lab will have minimal shedding. Dalmatians I imagine would not shed much either.

However I am a fan of shepherds. You would have a loyal dog that is not loud unless it senses potential danger that is a real threat, and not a little tweety-bird flying across your window and having those little pip-squeeks jumping and yapping for 20 minutes. Unlike those little ones too, they actually can protect and not get killed by a drunk stumble or taking a wrong step... or heaven forbid, a intruder kicking it.

They are always playful and happy dogs, you would have to go out of your way to teach them to be mean... ie constantly chained up, neglect, and perhaps mishandling... but then if you were in that situation, you would probably be mean and dangerous too.

A big dog can be a best friend, a little dog can drive you nuts.

You're pretty misinformed - Boston Terriers, French Bulldogs, Jack Russells, Basenjis are all very mellow, quiet dogs - but it can also depend on their personalities. You need to keep your opinion to yourself if you don't know what you're talking about.

 

[0roo0roo]

larger dogs don't last very long. maybe 7 years. smaller dogs live a long time sometimes.
read.
go to the library or go buy some training books. read everything you can.
understand the growth for dogs is accelerated, you have one easy chance to train them correctly, there are windows of brain development of months early on in puppyhood for correct socialization and other things that if missed are hard if impossible to make up. a poorly behaved dog will be a chore. you only get one chance to make it easy. do not treat them like humans which is a mistake many make. understand the pack psychology and how you fit in their idea of how the world works and make it work for you. things like staring too much into their eyes for instance can give them a big head thinking you are loooking to them for leadership etc. and always be consistent with your body language/voice.
and get it fixed asap. unfixed or late fixing a dog makes them harder to deal with as well. the early puppy period takes a lot of time to deal with. only later on can you leave them alone for long periods.

and don't do something stupid like chain it outside or something, it makes them nuts.

 

[thepd7]

Originally posted by: SinfulWeeper

Originally posted by: Jadow
trust me when I say, get a small dog that doesn't shed.

edit- Shih-Tzu, $250 - $450, look in the classified ads...

Trust me when I say do not get a little dog. Their constant non-stop yapping that never stops will drive the dead insane and bring out your worst stress.

Get a big dog, there are many breeds that do not shed much. Almost any lab will have minimal shedding. Dalmatians I imagine would not shed much either.

However I am a fan of shepherds. You would have a loyal dog that is not loud unless it senses potential danger that is a real threat, and not a little tweety-bird flying across your window and having those little pip-squeeks jumping and yapping for 20 minutes. Unlike those little ones too, they actually can protect and not get killed by a drunk stumble or taking a wrong step... or heaven forbid, a intruder kicking it.

They are always playful and happy dogs, you would have to go out of your way to teach them to be mean... ie constantly chained up, neglect, and perhaps mishandling... but then if you were in that situation, you would probably be mean and dangerous too.

A big dog can be a best friend, a little dog can drive you nuts.

As per the bolded, your opinion on dogs is now null and void.

edit: I see I was already beat to the punch but on a different point. Also, little dogs can be trained not to bark. My Dad spent lots of time with my Shi Tzu and he ONLY barks when someone is at the door (which we encouraged, nice to have a heads up).