Thinking of getting a dog, what did you consider before getting one?

[Inferno]

Originally Posted by BeltlineFan

Oiler Fan, hates cats. Checks out.

Yeah, hating cats is the equivalent to hating to win games.

[wretched34]

Originally Posted by Swayze11

What do most people here who think pet insurance is too expensive?

I have had it since I got my dog 9 years ago. It originally was $27 a month and now its $34 a month. I don't really think its THAT expensive. I am still coming out on top as he has needed surgery to remove a string in his stomach which would have costed $5000.

We have insurance on both our dogs, one is a pure bread Olde English Bulldogge, who costs just over $40/month at 6 years old. He's had 2 major surgeries, both rear legs done, that combined would have cost around $12,000. Out of pocket it cost us less than $2,000 combined. so we're way ahead with him.
Our other is a Bulldog/Pitbull mix, who at 2 is the picture of health, and costs us just under $40/month on insurance.

Originally Posted by you&me

Yep. We have two and they're great at just lazing around.

Also chick magnets.

was gonna mention this, seeing as OP is a young single guy. We've got a purebred Olde English, and a Bulldog/Pitbull mix, the oldie gets so much attention at the parks that the wife doesn't like me walking him alone. lol

[DoubleF]

Originally Posted by BeltlineFan

Oiler Fan, hates cats. Checks out.

I am no Oiler fan, but I hate most of the cats I run into. Mainly for a few reasons:

1. As a child, I had bad experiences with around a dozen farm cats that clawed or bit me for a variety of reasons. As an adult, I am ok with kittens or well trained cats, but I have this uneasy feeling around poorly trained cats, like I'm supposed to be ready to fight it if it goes nuts or something. I think I have a valid reason, no cat owner enjoys being clawed. I'd say nearly every cat with the exception of 3-4 I've met over the last dozen or so years, I hate.

2. I hate certain cat owners who get cats because they "don't really need to do anything". This allows said cats to have bad attitudes that cause visitors grief. Let's just say that these cats, if they were dogs or kids instead, they'd still be considered creatures you wouldn't want to be around. That's on the owners more than the cat itself though, but that attitude relating to cats pisses me off and makes many other cat owners look bad.

3. I dislike the fact that a badly managed cat household stinks to high heaven. This is far rarer in dog households. I have me people that I didn't realize they had cats until half an hour in. It was clean and there wasn't evidence of a cat. That's a good household. Others smell like a cat household as soon as you walk in. But... this is probably more of an issue with the owner than the pet itself.

Originally Posted by Swayze11

What do most people here who think pet insurance is too expensive?

I have had it since I got my dog 9 years ago. It originally was $27 a month and now its $34 a month. I don't really think its THAT expensive. I am still coming out on top as he has needed surgery to remove a string in his stomach which would have costed $5000.

I don't know if certain breeds are different, but my brother said it was going to cost around $1K per year to insure our shared dog (Malti-poodle mix). He said it was just shy of $100. We decided to roll the dice and "self insure" when the times comes. I think that was around 8 years ago.

But those amounts you are quoting are pretty damn reasonable. We may want to consider looking into pet insurance again if those are the current prices.

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

The first thing is probably self-fulfilling. Animals, dogs and cats included, pick up on your vibe, and if you're tense around them, they're going to be tense around you, especially since you're a stranger. They're animals, they have no interest in putting you at ease. If you're not concerned about the cat biting you it probably won't bite you (generally, anyway; obviously different cats are different). And given that it can't really hurt you that badly, you probably shouldn't be that concerned about the cat biting you.

[wretched34]

Originally Posted by DoubleF

I am no Oiler fan, but I hate most of the cats I run into. Mainly for a few reasons:

1. As a child, I had bad experiences with around a dozen farm cats that clawed or bit me for a variety of reasons. As an adult, I am ok with kittens or well trained cats, but I have this uneasy feeling around poorly trained cats, like I'm supposed to be ready to fight it if it goes nuts or something. I think I have a valid reason, no cat owner enjoys being clawed. I'd say nearly every cat with the exception of 3-4 I've met over the last dozen or so years, I hate.

2. I hate certain cat owners who get cats because they "don't really need to do anything". This allows said cats to have bad attitudes that cause visitors grief. Let's just say that these cats, if they were dogs or kids instead, they'd still be considered creatures you wouldn't want to be around. That's on the owners more than the cat itself though, but that attitude relating to cats pisses me off and makes many other cat owners look bad.

3. I dislike the fact that a badly managed cat household stinks to high heaven. This is far rarer in dog households. I have me people that I didn't realize they had cats until half an hour in. It was clean and there wasn't evidence of a cat. That's a good household. Others smell like a cat household as soon as you walk in. But... this is probably more of an issue with the owner than the pet itself.



I don't know if certain breeds are different, but my brother said it was going to cost around $1K per year to insure our shared dog (Malti-poodle mix). He said it was just shy of $100. We decided to roll the dice and "self insure" when the times comes. I think that was around 8 years ago.

But those amounts you are quoting are pretty damn reasonable. We may want to consider looking into pet insurance again if those are the current prices.

Check out Trupanion, that's who we are with. They direct bill to our Vet, and reimbursement checks are issued within a week when required.
I ran a quick quote on a Maltipoo on their website, with a $0 deductible for a puppy, you'd be looking at $85/month.
We went with a $500/deductible to bring costs down.
So a Maltipoo with a $700 deductible is $30/month.

Super reasonable.

[BeltlineFan]

Originally Posted by DoubleF

I am no Oiler fan, but I hate most of the cats I run into. Mainly for a few reasons...

I appreciate the well thought out post, much better than 'cats suck'.

My wife and I have fostered 60+ cats over the last 5 years and have ended up keeping four of them to add to the two we already had so I've seen pretty much everything. We also have a rescue dog who is, believe it or not, even more neurotic than most of the cats.

In my experience, cats aren't trained so much as integrated with humans. Kittens adopted at a young age are less likely to bite humans, very similar to dogs. Feral cats, just like feral dogs, are a lot more work to integrate and may never act like a 'normal' cat. One of ours hadn't lived with a human until we got her, she still has problems letting us touch her after 2 years.

I completely disagree with out about the cat house smelling more than a dog house, but to each their own I guess. Our house is typically very clean and only smells from the cats if one of them has an accident (usually about once a month). Individually, the dog smells way more than any of the cats.

[Swayze11]

Originally Posted by DoubleF

But those amounts you are quoting are pretty damn reasonable. We may want to consider looking into pet insurance again if those are the current prices.

We are through PC for pet insurance. We were with someone else (Pet Secure) but switched over because it seemed like there was always these random cost increases. PC has been extremely consistent.

[stang]

Originally Posted by BeltlineFan

I appreciate the well thought out post, much better than 'cats suck'.

My wife and I have fostered 60+ cats over the last 5 years and have ended up keeping four of them to add to the two we already had so I've seen pretty much everything. We also have a rescue dog who is, believe it or not, even more neurotic than most of the cats.

In my experience, cats aren't trained so much as integrated with humans. Kittens adopted at a young age are less likely to bite humans, very similar to dogs. Feral cats, just like feral dogs, are a lot more work to integrate and may never act like a 'normal' cat. One of ours hadn't lived with a human until we got her, she still has problems letting us touch her after 2 years.

I completely disagree with out about the cat house smelling more than a dog house, but to each their own I guess. Our house is typically very clean and only smells from the cats if one of them has an accident (usually about once a month). Individually, the dog smells way more than any of the cats.

Cats suck

[BeltlineFan]

Originally Posted by stang

Cats suck

[DuffMan]

Originally Posted by wretched34

English, and Olde English Bulldogges are good at being lazy and independent.
They don't require much exercise, and enjoy just laying around, especially with the family.

crazy at it sounds, greyhounds are like that too. they do love to run around in circles at 50 kph in a park once in awhile, but they love to just lay on a corner of the couch all day long.
Also they are completely uninterested in other dogs/people so won't leave the back yard even if unfenced.

[manwiches]

This is entirely my opinion, as I have no research to back it up, other than my experience.

I had my dog for 9 years before giving it up for adoption. He was a Wheaton Terrier, and while such a happy and fun dog, was a constant energy ball. From year 1 to 7, it was easy. My parents were still together, my sister was living at home, I was living at home going to school. Then within my first year of starting work in the field, where I'd be gone from 6am to 6pm 6-7 days a week, my parents divorced, my sister moved out, and I took my puppy. I've made mention of it in a past post, but I made the super difficult decision to give him up for adoption.

I couldn't have given him up in a more ideal situation, where the family he was being adopted to had an identical Wheaton Terrier, who was 6 years younger. I become close friends with that family, and was always kept in the loop of how the dogs were, and always had visits. My dog gained probably 2 years of additional life from having a brother for the rest of his.

His new parents constantly marvelled how they could leave both dogs in the house for 9-10 hours at a time (keep in mind... they were house trained, and got along), and they would come home to amazingly happy dogs with no separation anxiety issues. When I took care of them myself on the occasion, I also tested these waters with them, and was amazed at the difference in my (old) dog, from when I used to leave him by himself alone, to now with a friend.

Anyhow, what I'm trying to say, is that I would consider getting a pair of dogs, similar breed, maybe same sex, and let them become best friends.

[The Boy Wonder]

Get trupanion... we've had a ton of trouble with our pup and honestly its been a total lifesaver

[TheSutterDynasty]

One big caution with rescue dogs:

You don't know how they were raised or socialized. They also don't tend to show their 'true' behavior for a few weeks after you've adopted them.

Rescuing a dog is amazing but be aware that you may be getting a dog with reactivity and/or socialization issues, even if they seem perfect upon first meeting.

Socialization is a LOT harder to train or untrain than regular tricks.

There are also people you can hire who will take your dog out during the day while you're at work for pretty cheap.

[OMG!WTF!]

I'd caution against thinking two dogs will keep each other company and make it ok to leave them alone for a long time. It still really depends on the breed. Two goldens will just stare out the window until you get home. Two wheatons I fully believe could entertain each other. Some breeds just want to be with people.

[edslunch]

Originally Posted by Bagor

To the OP.

If you get one from a shelter ask to be allowed to take it to the nearest fenced in dog park. You really want a sense of how your dog is around other dogs before committing to it.

This. I live a block from a fantastic dog park but my dog is too anti-social/comes on too strong to let her loose with other dogs. Actually the other dogs are probably ok it’s the other owners that don’t like a 90lb shepherd cross barking aggressively at their dogs, which I get. She’s cool in pack walks at least.....

[Amethyst]

Originally Posted by llwhiteoutll

I've always wanted a dog and I think I'm at the point where my work is stable enough that I can seriously look at getting one.

I've considered where I live and it seems ok. I have a detached house (smaller backyard) and am close to a large off leash area and plenty of walking trails. No neighbor concerns with getting one either.

Costs don't seem to be a major concern, I'm assuming that the cost of care for a medium sized dog is around $300ish a month? Food, health insurance, regular checkups at the vet, toys.

My main issue is work. I'm out of the house from about 630AM to 500PM. I'm concerned that 11 hours is a long time to leave a social animal by itself, especially during the day. Is 4-5 hours of waking interaction every day, plus weekends enough and/or fair to a dog?

I was thinking about adopting from the SPCA, with preference to Goldens, Labs or a similar sized dog

Are there any things that you'd recommend thinking about before going further?

I haven't read all the posts yet, so hopefully I don't repeat too much others have said.

Most people work jobs and are gone all day. My schedule is similar except I don't leave until 7:30. What I would say with that kind of a day is get an adult dog. Puppies can't handle being alone that long, either potty-wise or training-wise.

The breeds you are interested in would be easy to find in a rescue. There isn't really the SPCA. There is the Calgary Humane Society and the City's Animal Services, but there are also many rescues that are foster based. AARCS is a big one in Alberta. The rescues should have a good idea of the dogs' personalities and be able to point you towards one who has the right personality for your lifestyle.

I think your cost estimates are reasonable, but I don't have pet insurance. I basically self-insure. I have savings that will cover any unexpected medical bills and I like being able to make the decision (and keep the money if I don't need it). However, if you aren't disciplined about saving or your couldn't handle a big bill right away (for example, the dog breaks a leg a couple months after you get him before you have the savings) then insurance is the way to go.

A couple things to think about. It would be a great idea if you could plan to get your dog and then take a week's vacation right away, to help with the adjustment. If not, at least try for a long weekend. There are also dog walkers you can hire to come in and take for a walk part way through the day, if needed (for example if you had to work late one night).

I have a couple dogs of my own and have fostered about 65 dogs for a couple different rescues in town.

Good luck in your search!

[Amethyst]

Originally Posted by llwhiteoutll

I might also look into volunteering with the SPCA to get a better feel for what I would want in a dog.

I've seen a few cases where people got a dog simply to have a dog and it usually wound up bored, destroying things (not its fault) and generally not well cared for. This is what I really wanted to avoid, since it's not remotely fair. I'm going to look into doggie daycare and dog walkers around me, but if it's not a 100% feasible option, then I'll just wait until it is.

Another option would be to foster for a rescue group to try it out without the long term commitment. I started fostering when I was considering getting a second dog for that very reason.

As for the two dog comment from some people, I wouldn't recommend two dogs at once. You need to teach and bond with each dog individually, so two dogs is twice the work. Also look up littermate syndrome for further details about why that isn't recommended. I have two dogs now and they are great company for each other, but I got them four years apart (the second was a rescue dog who is about the same age as the first).

[ben voyonsdonc]

I'd highly discourage fostering if you are away for that long each day.

[Fuzz]

I think I've found the perfect solution for you.

Spoiler!

[llwhiteoutll]

Originally Posted by Amethyst

I haven't read all the posts yet, so hopefully I don't repeat too much others have said.

Most people work jobs and are gone all day. My schedule is similar except I don't leave until 7:30. What I would say with that kind of a day is get an adult dog. Puppies can't handle being alone that long, either potty-wise or training-wise.

The breeds you are interested in would be easy to find in a rescue. There isn't really the SPCA. There is the Calgary Humane Society and the City's Animal Services, but there are also many rescues that are foster based. AARCS is a big one in Alberta. The rescues should have a good idea of the dogs' personalities and be able to point you towards one who has the right personality for your lifestyle.

I think your cost estimates are reasonable, but I don't have pet insurance. I basically self-insure. I have savings that will cover any unexpected medical bills and I like being able to make the decision (and keep the money if I don't need it). However, if you aren't disciplined about saving or your couldn't handle a big bill right away (for example, the dog breaks a leg a couple months after you get him before you have the savings) then insurance is the way to go.

A couple things to think about. It would be a great idea if you could plan to get your dog and then take a week's vacation right away, to help with the adjustment. If not, at least try for a long weekend. There are also dog walkers you can hire to come in and take for a walk part way through the day, if needed (for example if you had to work late one night).

I have a couple dogs of my own and have fostered about 65 dogs for a couple different rescues in town.

Good luck in your search!

Taking some time off from the office would definitely be the way to go, a nine or ten day stretch would be doable since I can work remotely.

I spent a bunch of time on the AARCS website last night and they really seem to put a decent amount of effort into identifying each dog's different traits and any special requirements. I'll probably see if I can schedule an appointment with them to get a better idea of their whole process and if they feel that I'd be able to provide the kind of home that a dog needs.

On the plus side, there are three doggie daycares near me, so even if it wasn't an everyday thing, they are close.