Off Topic · OT: Any pet owners? (page 1)

I'm just curious to see if there are any pet owners out there.

I am looking to adopt a dog as a pet but these prices for donations are outrageous. I understand it's for a good cause but $250? The hell?

Does anyone know of cheaper places or alternatives?

Any help?

Thanks.

GKFv2, I have a Boxer. What kind of dog are you thinking of getting? I always tell people, that even if they want to get a small dog, that I don't recommend that they get a dog unless they walk that dog for an hour a day at least, and that's for a small dog.

If you want to get a powerful breed dog like a pit bull, boxer, rottweiller, mastiff, german sheppard, anything like that, then you HAVE to walk him/her for AT LEAST 2 hours a day, and I'm not talking about walking him and letting him sniff everything he pleases. I'm talking about keeping him at your side and being his pack leader and just migrate. This is because it's basically a dog's instints to 1)Migrate and 2)Be pack animals. And that's just walking them. There's also the discipline thing and leadership thing and taking care of them.

I recommend you read a book called "Cesar's Way" by Cesar Millan. Maybe you know him as the Dog Whisperer, but he's brilliant when it comes to dogs and using Dog Psychology to tame them down and turning them into more balanced animals.

By the time you finish that book, I guarantee you'll definitely be ready to be a GREAT dog owner, if you're commited to walking him.

Actually Allan, I've done a lot of research on adoption and taking care of a pet. I want to get a miniature pinscher - which is a small dog - for my apartment. The ones from the adoption places are usually house-trained and vaccinated so I don't have to worry about that and I'll have time for walking.

You gotto remember though, a dog can change with the snap of a finger, from "Trained" to "Not trained" depending on how you deal with it, especially energetic dogs like mini pinschers. I'm sure you'll be great, but you have to establish your leadership from meeting him to the day he dies (Which will hopefully be a long time away.) That book I told you about can teach you a lot.

Again, I'm honestly not trying to come off as a douchebag telling you not to get a dog. I totally recommend you get one! I love dogs (And all animals for that matter) I'm just saying, for your own sake and your future dogs sake, to make sure you're commited to walking him a lot and being his leader at all times and not keeping him isolated from the world.

Again though, no matter what dog you choose to get, including your mini pinscher, I wish you luck and think/hope it will turn out to be a great thing for you.

Yes, thank you very much. Do you have any suggestions on where to adopt with a cheaper fee?

BTW, when you mean isolated do you mean like not taking him to dog parks and stuff? I'll walk him and stuff and there's bound to be dogs to run into but I don't expect him/her to interact with other dogs on a daily basis.

Naaa, by isolated, I mean keeping him behind your doors and closed windows or even in your backyard and not taking him out for walks or anything.

If you have friends or family with dogs, then that's awesome, b/c if your friends or family are willing to brings their dogs out with them to hang with you and your dog, then your dog is likely to become even happier and more stable if you and your friends, again, can show the right pack leadership that your dog needs.

I'm always nervous about dog parks, b/c certain owners may just come along, who know nothing about hangling animals, and it can easily turn into a bad fight, somehow someway.

As for prices, I couldn't tell you. I live on Long Island and my mom got my sister our boxer for her birthday and he cost like $80 or something. The place was a kennel or a pound, in Wantagh, and when we first got him, he was bone skinny (His ribs were so easy to see) and he had little cuts all over him and his fur was in real bad condition. He looked like a boxer runt. He's now probably somewhere between 75 and 80 lbs and his fur is absolutely gorgious. He's still way too energetic though and could use a lot more excercise. Sweet as can be though.

Beautiful dog. I have a boxer/pitbull mix. I have pictures of him on my digital camera. I'll upload them 2morrow.

[Edited by - MX25 on 02-18-2008 03:30 AM]

Thanks again Allan.

Last question: how much money did you drop on the dog? Obviously food is needed monthly, grooming regularly, vet yearly, and side things like bed(for a small one), toys, and others.

but a fish tank... it's less hassle.

I'm currently a cat owner. Growing up, my parents always had beagles. But, my parents were always only interested in purebreds, so they paid a lot.

Not sure I'm of much help since I don't have a lot of experience with getting pets cheap. The best we did was the cats (free), but that's because my girlfriend's mom's cat had babies.

Posted by GKFv2:

Actually Allan, I've done a lot of research on adoption and taking care of a pet. I want to get a miniature pinscher - which is a small dog - for my apartment. The ones from the adoption places are usually house-trained and vaccinated so I don't have to worry about that and I'll have time for walking.

I have a Min Pin as you seek and I would really be careful with this breed. They are wonderful, called the "king of the toys" as they are small, but have a "Big dog" attitude. Its a hearty breed with little medical issues in general.

very athletic dogs and very trainable. The min pin is breed from an extinct terrier breed, Italian greyhound and of all things, Dachsands! Mine is mid sized at 12 lbs but long legged. We keep him trim and walked aften. Can't stand a fat dog!

Here is the catch, this is a breed that needs to be socialized early and should not be left alone all day. One of my friends has one that is left frequently and the dog is nuts. when we shopped for a dog we stayed away from "SHOW" dog breeders as the dogs were a bit high strung. We found one that is bread for pets and this guy is really a sweet dog. I have a chocolate.

Great dogs with attitude. A bit of trivia, the Doberman we breed AFTER the min pin and has no common blood. The doberman we breed to resemble the Min Pin but to be a larger version.

GKFv2

I have a 100lb puppy he's a English Mastiff. But if your looking for a cheap way to get a dog the pound can be a good starting point we got our old German Shepard for one and he was the best dog we ever had.

Posted by Allanfan20:

Naaa, by isolated, I mean keeping him behind your doors and closed windows or even in your backyard and not taking him out for walks or anything.

If you have friends or family with dogs, then that's awesome, b/c if your friends or family are willing to brings their dogs out with them to hang with you and your dog, then your dog is likely to become even happier and more stable if you and your friends, again, can show the right pack leadership that your dog needs.

I'm always nervous about dog parks, b/c certain owners may just come along, who know nothing about hangling animals, and it can easily turn into a bad fight, somehow someway.

As for prices, I couldn't tell you. I live on Long Island and my mom got my sister our boxer for her birthday and he cost like $80 or something. The place was a kennel or a pound, in Wantagh, and when we first got him, he was bone skinny (His ribs were so easy to see) and he had little cuts all over him and his fur was in real bad condition. He looked like a boxer runt. He's now probably somewhere between 75 and 80 lbs and his fur is absolutely gorgious. He's still way too energetic though and could use a lot more excercise. Sweet as can be though.

i have met allanfan.

i have little doubt as to who is the real master in this relationship.

Buying/adopting dogs are a hassle either way.

If you want a specific kind of dog, like a pure breed you gotta pay 1k at the very least.
A mix will cost you around $500.

Adoption that you have to pay $250? I dunno about that. Taking on a dog up for adoption is a great responsibility. Its like taking in a child from an adoption agency. They have special needs, moods, etc....they are set in their ways and you have to be ready for that.

Money.....my advice is, if you are worried about money when it comes to getting an animal then you might wanna think a little harder about getting this type of animal.

Shit, shit and more shit! Grooming.....feeding....walking.....doctors bills. Its work.

Dogs require a lot of attention. I for one don't have the patience. They are more active than children.....except they don't really grow out of that.....and they never stop shitting.

Read, read, and read again. Starting this thread is a great start.

My sis has a shorkie...which is a yorkie/shitzu mix. I swear this little guy does lines of coke all day before we get home. Talk about hyper? He won't stop. He naws/nips like crazy. Plus training his tough since he is so busy.......so the maniac shits where he wants.
He's getting used to us as we are to him. He doesn't bark as much. He used to bark non-stop. Now he only barks when he's just playfully excited or if he here's movement like me getting ready for work or going for a snicker doodle break @ 2am.

Right now I happen to be off from work. He's chillin in his little caged off area. He knows I'm gonna ignore his ass all day. So he is just sitting there....as I am just sitting where I am.

Shots! The dog is only like 5 months old. He doesn't have all his shots so I can't really walk him until then.

enyspree sounds tramatized from his last dog.

I had two Rottis my boy Passed 9 months agoIam still not over it he was like my son! They are great Dogs its all how you raise them!My girl Rotti which i still have is the sweetest dog ever we joke that she has to be part Lab or something even thought she's pure Rotti!Anyway i paid 1K for the Boy and $800 for the girl.Overall dogs are great to have even though they are alot of work to care for.But i think iam going to take a break after this cause you get real attached to them and they get old quick and its very hard to say goodbye!My girlfriend is actually thinkung of pet therapy from the loss of our dog!

I've been dog-sitting a friend's pug this weekend. I cannot say enough about what an awesome breed they are. The dog is very mellow energy wise. She can burn off a lot of energy in the apartment and we've been walking her about three times a day (though she gets a bit pissy if the walks are too long). The dog is super social and has taken to everyone that we've had over this weekend.

Apparently the breed is very adept at learning obedience tricks. This dog sits, lays down, jumps, balances on its hind legs, spins in circles and rolls over all on command. The dog never gives you any hassles and even lets you know if it's time to take a walk. Plus, it only barks when someone is outside the door. I don't know if the owner took it to a school or trained it herself, but this dog has been an absolute joy and now I'm gonna miss it when I have to give it back.

So yeah, I didn't know this before, but pugs rule. I bet it would cost you a pretty penny to get a pure pug. I have no idea. But whatever it cost you up front, if the end result was a pleasant and obedient little buddy (that can do awesome tricks) -- it'd be worth it.

PS: Nice dog, Allanfan... Boxers are awesome!!

I guess you can always adopt from some shelter. But its probably harder if you're looking for a specific breed or age. Check out craigslist. There's always some pet owner giving away pups.

I never had a dog because i lived in manhattan and nobody would be home to look after it all day in a small apartment. once i began to live on my own i got a cat. the cat was cool because even if i had to go on a business trip or something for a week or so, I could leave the cat be.

she died suddenly 5 months ago of a heart defect and losing a pet is not a good experience. I wasn't ready for it. I am still getting over the grief. thats the sad thing about pets. you outlive them. they can't tell you whats wrong. and you have to monitor them carefully for the slightest change in their behavior. i never let her outside of the house because i didn't want her getting in fights or getting run over. it still wasn't enough.

Posted by Allanfan20:

enyspree sounds tramatized from his last dog.

Nah man. I am a mellow guy for the most part. If I were to get a dog I would get a bigger one. I fell in love with this pit/rot mix. He was a big bear. He was at that central park thing for adoption they do every year in the summer. I spent about 30 minutes with the dog just laying on the floor with his handler. I wanted to try to adopt him, cuz nobody wanted him. His handler says he's too big and most people want the little dogs. Shame that I didn't have the space for him then.

Anyway.....lesson? Find out about breed personality and get into conversations with people that are out walking their dogs. They are massive geeks about that type of thing so most people will yack it up.