Budget questions

Shepherds are always good. Smart dogs. Just add "girlfriends shoe money" to the budget.

I agree but the problem with Shepherds is hip displaysia which is fairly common. With a pound dog you dont know they history (its a genetic condition) so you do run a risk.

I thought my GSD had hip displaysia in his later life but it turned out to be a degenerative spinal disease which slowly eroded his ability to move from the back to the front. Yeah, like I said before, we get some real winners in my household.

This is why a mutt/mix is best, many of the genetic diseases which have been overbred into pure breed dogs are not there in a mutt. So a shepard mix would be good.

Labs are good too. And honestly if you do your research and find the right one pit bulls are a tremendous dog and have very healthy bloodlines still.

I got my pound pup a year ago on Thanksgiving. $35 a month for food, $200/yr in meds. Spay was ~$200, we had a voucher from the pound too. Dog was $50ish.

The only problems we've run into is her getting sick last year with a nasty stomach bug. She got fleas despite the flea meds, so we had to spend a little more to get her flea free. Vet visits tend to run $150, 1-2 per year.

JThw8 wrote: I agree but the problem with Shepherds is hip displaysia which is fairly common. With a pound dog you dont know they history (its a genetic condition) so you do run a risk. I thought my GSD had hip displaysia in his later life but it turned out to be a degenerative spinal disease which slowly eroded his ability to move from the back to the front. Yeah, like I said before, we get some real winners in my household. This is why a mutt/mix is best, many of the genetic diseases which have been overbred into pure breed dogs are not there in a mutt. So a shepard mix would be good. Labs are good too. And honestly if you do your research and find the right one pit bulls are a tremendous dog and have very healthy bloodlines still.

I love some pit bulls. My friend has a black lab/ pit mix that is the biggest softie ever. I would probably just get a mutt whatever I bond with when I go visit.

93EXCivic wrote: The list food at $250-$350, medical at $175-$200, toys at $60-$70, license $15, collar at $30-$35, carrier at $50-$80, crate at $90-$160, grooming at $300-$400, spay/ neuter at $100-$125 and misc at $45-$65.

I have 3 dogs, Rhodesian Ridgeback, Black Mouth Cur (~13 years old) and a 35 lb black dog. I go through about 30 lbs of dry dog food plus 7 cans (for the Black Mouth Cur, she needs the calories) per week. Dog food is about $15/40 lbs plus the cans at about $0.50 ea. That's 3 dogs. Meds: Ivermectin from TSC at like $4 for about 6 months worth, 1 ibuprofen per day (QD) for the BMC. Collars? Couple bucks ea, good for years. Toys? That's what trees are for. Carrier/crate/grooming? Yeah, right. They do have 3 dog houses, two of which they might use and one of which they do use, which I built myself from some 2x4's, OSB, plywood and some scrap laying around.

Vet bills: I don't think so. Vets are worse than dentists these days. I did have a tumor whacked from the BMC a couple years ago because I don't keep anesthetic agents around the house. That was about a bill or so, but that's about it for medical bills. Annualized, that isn't much. I can get rabies vaccines at the local animal supply store (I guess Arkansas figgers that as much vaccine out there as possible is a good thing), but they run rabies clinics where they give your critter a shot for $5 a couple times a year. After puppy stage, I'm about done with the other vaccines. I suspect they may have more risk than benefit, but that's my opinion. Otherwise, a 7 in 1 vaccine is about $5 as well from the animal supply store.

I think the ivermectin helps a lot with the fleas too. Otherwise, that frontline stuff is now off patent and you can get it at wally world in generic.

Anyway, my point is that you can spend as much as you want on the dogs. Start with a healthy breed and a healthy dog and costs should be minimal.

93EXCivic wrote: I love some pit bulls. My friend has a black lab/ pit mix that is the biggest softie ever. I would probably just get a mutt whatever I bond with when I go visit.

That's really the best bet, just find a mutt that loves you and you can love back and it will all be good :)

And yes, despite the rumors, pitties are amazing softies and very smart as well. If I hadn't huffed too many exhaust fumes and become enamored of chihuahuas (and yes I know they are small yappy and annoying) I'd have more pitties.

This is my newest buddy, she thinks she's a parrot. She was a puppy mill momma so she's having to learn what its like to just be a dog now.

JThw8 wrote: This is why a mutt/mix is best, many of the genetic diseases which have been overbred into pure breed dogs are not there in a mutt.

Wrong, Greyhounds are the best. I can trace the lineage back to the 1870s, very, very low rates of inbreeding and some hearty ancestors!

Osterkraut wrote:

JThw8 wrote: This is why a mutt/mix is best, many of the genetic diseases which have been overbred into pure breed dogs are not there in a mutt.

Wrong, Greyhounds are the best. I can trace the lineage back to the 1870s, very, very low rates of inbreeding and some hearty ancestors!

Agreed, there are always exceptions in the purebred world and greyhounds are a great dog and a good rescue opportunity.

JThw8 wrote: That's really the best bet, just find a mutt that loves you and you can love back and it will all be good :) And yes, despite the rumors, pitties are amazing softies and very smart as well.

No kidding. Look how nice that pit is letting that varmint sit on him.

Mutts really are the best (with exceptions). I talk about my German Australian on here allot, so I will spare you.

My cat sits on my shoulders and walks my arms like a tight rope if that scores me any points.