Questions for Dog Owners . . .

Kelanne

1) Is your dog a great addition to your life or just more work?

2) how much extra work is a dog in your day to day life?

3) What kind of dog do you have?

4) is it a good family dog, good with children?

5) what's the approx annual expense (food, vet visits, etc.)?

6) Any other imput you can give would be awesome.  Or even a recommended breed.  We are looking for a smallish dog if that helps at all.

Wildlandwife

Kelanne:

I should preface this with I did a TON of research on dogs before deciding what was the right one for us with a future family, lifestyle, etc. I wanted a dog that had energy but not a lot.  One that didn't shed very much and if it did, you didn't notice.  One that was good with kids and people.  One that was 'low maintenance'.  Didn't think I wanted a puppy, but one that was a bit older.

1) Is your dog a great addition to your life or just more work?  He's a great addition.  Adds laughter, warmth to our home.  We can't imagine life without him.  However, with DD now...he is a little more work.

2) how much extra work is a dog in your day to day life?  Before DD, we were able to go for walks everyday (sometimes twice a day).  Now, there are days I'm not able to take him.  It's also hard when I sit down to feed DD and all the sudden he has to go outside to potty, or when they both need to eat!  Day to day though?  No much more work.  He's my helper dog.  They only drawback to him is that he's my 'velcro' dog, but he's very loyal.

3) What kind of dog do you have?  We have a retired racing greyhound.  Love them and have considered getting another.

4) is it a good family dog, good with children?  He's wonderful with kids, gentle, quiet and lets her crawl all over him. 

5) what's the approx annual expense (food, vet visits, etc.)?  He is a mini horse and does eat four cups a day, so we buy food at Sam's once a month ($38 x 12).  Vet bill is about once a year for about $200 (includes $100 worth of heartworm medication).  Roughly about $500-$600/year.

6) Any other imput you can give would be awesome.  Or even a recommended breed.  We are looking for a smallish dog if that helps at all.  Just reseach and visit the dogs before you commit.  It took us four months of researching and hanging out with greyhounds to decide they were for us.  Then another three months being on a waiting list for ours.

Not much help if you're looking a smaller dog.  I swore I'd never own a large dog, but now I do and can't imagine him any different.  He honestly doesn't feel that large to me anymore.  He's a big cat, loves to sleep and loves his family. 

Good luck!!  Can't wait to see/hear what you end up getting!!  You kiddos will love it and be so excited!

Amanda78

1. He is an amazing addition-but definitely more work. I cannot imagine our live without him honestly.

2. We don't have a yard so its walks several times a day. We have a lab, so he's high energy, so long walks.  In the summer we go to the beach so he can swim-tired dog and fun for all

3-4. Black lab, he's amazing. Rambunctious, but he loves her and she adores him.

5. At least 1K? Vet, shots, toys, treats, food.  We don't buy cheap food though and definitely see a difference in him when we do.

6. My mom  told me every dog needs a boy-that was what she said when I got Loki for J for Christmas.  I'd never had a dog, but I love our big moose so much.  Have you seen Marley & Me? Or read it? Because that's my dog.

Small dogs-I want a Boston terrier! My advice would be to look on petfinder and look for dogs being fostered with kids.

 

NavyPilotWife

1) Is your dog a great addition to your life or just more work?  I have 2 dogs and while I love them both dearly, they do make for more work.

2) how much extra work is a dog in your day to day life?  They need to be walked once per day, so that can take anywhere from 20 to 40 minutes.  I have to vacuum and wash floors more frequently because of them.  DH picks up poop in the backyard once per week (they usually poop on their walks, so there isn't much to pick up).

3) What kind of dog do you have?  I have a saluki mix and a chow mix. 

4) is it a good family dog, good with children?  They are good with the kids, but we don't allow the kids to climb or sit on the dogs.  We still try to give the dogs their space.  We always supervise interactions.

5) what's the approx annual expense (food, vet visits, etc.)?  We have two, large breed dogs.  If they are healthy and we only have one vet visit for their annual check up, we pay around $500 per dog, per year.  That includes food, heartworm preventative, flea preventative, and their shots.  The dogs see a military vet, so keep in mind that our vet costs are lower than normal.  When they were seeing a civilian vet, it was $40 just to see the vet.  We also feed our dogs Canidae, which is a top dog food.  You can buy pet insurance or have some savings put away for unexpected pet bills.  My girl dog had exporatory surgery early on in life that was $500.  The chow had heartworms, when we took him in ($1000) and he broke his tooth one weekend ($500).

6) Any other imput you can give would be awesome. Or even a recommended breed. We are looking for a smallish dog if that helps at all.  Both of our dogs are rescues, so I highly encourage you to rescue a dog instead of going to a pet store.  If you aren't home during the day, it would be better to get a young dog vs. a puppy.  Puppies are a lot of work and need to go outside a lot.

ihearteddieboo

Kelanne:

1) Is your dog a great addition to your life or just more work? Our dog is 9 years old, I got him while I still lived at my parents' house and he was our "baby" for the first four years we were married.  Boo (the dog) LOVES Cole and is so great with him and the feeling is quite mutual.  Cole loves Boo.  Having a dog is a great addition to our life. 

2) how much extra work is a dog in your day to day life? Since he's on the older side, Boo likes to sleep and lay down a lot.  We go for walks but he's very low maintenance.

3) What kind of dog do you have? Cocker Spaniel

4) is it a good family dog, good with children? He's wonderful

5) what's the approx annual expense (food, vet visits, etc.)?  He has skin allergies so he eats a grain free food that I buy at Petco.  I buy a huge bag when it's on sale for about $40 and that lasts a month and a half.  He goes to the vet twice a year which ranges from $90-$200/visit.  We also have him groomed at Petco which is about $80 every three months.  To cut down on that expense, I recommend a dog that needs little to no grooming.    

6) Any other imput you can give would be awesome.  Or even a recommended breed.  We are looking for a smallish dog if that helps at all. I've heard mixed reviews about cocker spaniels and children, but I have had a wonderful experience with mine.  Very gentle with the baby and very loving. 

pepomntpat

1. He is a great addition, though he is more work.

2. Day to day, it is really just feeding. Our dog doesn't require a great deal of exercise. He is happy with a walk or a game of zoomies.

3. He's a mutt. Dachshund/beagle/terrier mix.

4. He's fair. He puts up with a lot, but he is not terribly happy with Ro. He adores my older nieces though. I just think the tiny suddenly moving thing that took away some of his attention isn't his cup of tea. He's never been aggressive or anything though. 

5. I am not sure. He goes to the vet for check ups once a year, but more often for his arthritis flare ups. It can be expensive.

 6. I'd suggest a mutt from a foster home. They can tell you how the dog is with kids and other character traits.

Schnooks88

Kelanne:

1) Is your dog a great addition to your life or just more work?

I couldn't LIVE without my dog. Ok maybe a little over the top, but she is definitely a part of our family. She is pretty laid back a lot of the time, but likes to play too so it is a lot of fun!  

2) how much extra work is a dog in your day to day life?

We bathe her when she needs it or once a week(ish). We give her heartgard/frontline (really easy!). We only go to the vet once a year for shots(if needed) or a check up since she is almost never sick. So barely any work? She doesn't chew on furniture or wreck things. 

3) What kind of dog do you have?

A Weimaraner! She is a bit small for her breed (50lbs), but that works for us! 

4) is it a good family dog, good with children?

Yes! She loves DS and his cousin too (she is a month younger than LO). Juice(dog's name) is very gentle and like to just sniff his face(not lick!) and when he cries she looks very concerned. 

5) what's the approx annual expense (food, vet visits, etc.)?

The vet(for a normal visit) is like $40ish I think? If there are shots to take, they are around $15 each if I remember correctly (DH took her last time...)

Food is around $40(without coupons which I usually have) for a GIANT bag. This last us a few months. 

6) Any other imput you can give would be awesome.  Or even a recommended breed.  We are looking for a smallish dog if that helps at all.

I would definitely get a Weimaraner again. She has a lot of energy, but she knows when to quit it and cuddle. I would NOT get a higher energy breed than this if you can't handle it.  My SIL has a Austrailian Shepherd mixed breed and they don't give her enough run around time and it seems to make her act up (jumps on counters, doesn't listen, steals food off your plate!) But if you exercise a lot/or have a nice backyard to play in then a high energy dog would be fine too. 

My husband has also had Labs his whole life and they are the sweetest, friendliest animals in the world. Great with kids too! Juice was my first dog ever and I will definitely get a Weimy again! Hope this helps! 

sarahandeddiejune212008

1) Is your dog a great addition to your life or just more work? great addition

2) how much extra work is a dog in your day to day life? not much

3) What kind of dog do you have? mini dauchshund

4) is it a good family dog, good with children? she is DD's BFF

5) what's the approx annual expense (food, vet visits, etc.)? a 44lb bag of food lasts about 3 months - so under $100 for food.  She has never been sick and only sees the vet for shots and to get her nails clipped.  We spend maybe $150/year at the vet.  The only other expense we have is flea prevention, which runs about $15/month, but we only do it in 6 months out of the year

6) Any other imput you can give would be awesome.  Or even a recommended breed.  We are looking for a smallish dog if that helps at all. I have had mini dauchshunds my entire life.  They have all been great family dogs.  They live about 12-15 years.  They are small, but not yippy.  Their size makes yard clean-up pretty easy too.  They are lovable, loyal, and protective of their people.  They really become members of the family.  The only downfall is they can injure their backs easily from jumping up and down from furniture.  We have doggy stairs so our dog is a little more protected - although she still sometimes jumps down from the bed.

HugginAngel

1) Is your dog a great addition to your life or just more work?   We looooooove our pups. They are truely a great addition to our life. They can be a bit more work but only because our older dog has a seizure disorder but even with that I wouldn't trade her for anything.

2) how much extra work is a dog in your day to day life?  We let the dogs have free run of the house when we're home so they really aren't much extra work. They play within the house so really it's just the going outside for walks to go potty that is extra.

3) What kind of dog do you have? We have 2 Crack Russell Terrorists!  (aka Jack Russell Terrier)

4) is it a good family dog, good with children? They are fabulous with DS only sometimes they love him too much. The older one (14yrs old)  pretty much leaves him alone. The younger one (3yrs old) likes to be in his face sometimes but they both tolerate DS hitting them, pulling their ears, pulling their tail, etc. They are really lovable.

5) what's the approx annual expense (food, vet visits, etc.)? Because they are small I think we spend 23.00 on food every 3mo, vet visits are as needed we get our shots from a local breeder or free rabies clinic, and our biggest expense is Rawhide to keep the little one happy.

6) Any other imput you can give would be awesome.  Or even a recommended breed.  We are looking for a smallish dog if that helps at all.

Our JRT's are great they can be a little hyper but they are really great dogs. They are so very loving and sweet. They can be a little shy but they are super duper protective. Their small size is nice and they don't eat alot. They are easily entertained too. An empty soda bottle will keep our dog entertained for hours!!  They are smart (sometimes too smart..lol)  But another nice thing about a little dog is that they do live longer than big dogs. The breeder we got our Junior from has had JRT's for as much as 18-20yrs. it's nice knowing that Roz ( the older one despite being 14still has some good years ahead of her)

Junebug060609

1) Is your dog a great addition to your life or just more work? He's a great addition, well worth the effort involved.

2) how much extra work is a dog in your day to day life? He requires walks and to be let out several times a day, plus the usual feeding and watering.  Ours is a heavy shedder as well, so extra vacuuming.

3) What kind of dog do you have? We have a rescue, a German Shepherd Mix.  He's 5 yrs old.

4) is it a good family dog, good with children? He's a fantastic family dog.  He's been great with kids and is already starting to look out for DS.

5) what's the approx annual expense (food, vet visits, etc.)? We get a higher end food...~50/ big bag.  Well dog visits and shots...guessing $150/yr.  Heartworm & flea...~15/month.  Inevitable sick dog trip to vet...$100/yr.  We also have boarding costs since DH is military and we travel to visit family...$30/day (it was $9 in VA, so costs will vary on that one).  Don't forget the set up costs of getting a dog: spay/neuter, dishes, leashes, crates, beds, training.

6) Any other imput you can give would be awesome. Or even a recommended breed. We are looking for a smallish dog if that helps at all. I'm not much help with small breeds, but I'd highly suggest a rescue and a mutt at that.  There are so many amazing dogs there looking for a family to love.  I'd suggest you and DH go alone first, focusing on the temperment of the dog (that will be around longer than the cute puppy phase).  Once you have a 'maybe', let the dog and kids interact.  You want a dog that isn't afraid but isn't too overzealous with the kids.  I'd also suggest you guys really take a look at your lifestyles before getting a dog.  If you are never home, getting a dog isn't a good idea.  If you wouldn't be able to properly exercise the dog, also a bad idea.  Matching the breed (if known) to your families lifestyle is also a good idea. 

ETA: I'd also suggest you consider an 'older' dog.  Their temperment will be better known/established, they don't have to be let out 4,000 times a night and have a good shot at being housetrained or catching on quickly and they are far less likely to find a home (example: when we got our dog we were also looking at a puppy.  the puppy had a half dozen interested families signed up for it, our dog had only us.  he was a year old and was the perfect fit for us.)

leneae10

1) Is your dog a great addition to your life or just more work?

A great addition AND more work!  There will always be work with a pet, it's like having another child.  They make messes, they get sick.  It's a part of pet ownership.  But, they're loyal and warm and soft and fun.

2) how much extra work is a dog in your day to day life?

Picking up everything so the dog doesn't get to it, putting food away IMMEDIATELY, letting in and out for potty+play, food, water (whihc always seems to be empty)

3) What kind of dog do you have?

2 black and tan mutts.  We will never own another kind.

4) is it a good family dog, good with children?

ETA: Somehow I skipped this question.  My dogs are AWESOME with older kids.  They are both terrified of Isaac for some reason.  They are gentle around him, just very skittish. 

5) what's the approx annual expense (food, vet visits, etc.)?

$40/mo for food, vet $250 per year minimum (includes shots, heartworm prevent)

6) Any other imput you can give would be awesome. Or even a recommended breed. We are looking for a smallish dog if that helps at all.

Just get a dog that makes sure to fit with your lifestyle or you will resent the dog.  If you're high energy and willing to take the dog with you everywhere and/or walk constantly a Jack Russell or Border Collie would be a smart and great addition.  If you're more low key, a greyhound is a beautiful choice.  They are huge couch potatoes.  You have to make sure to get a Martingale (dale?) collar for them, though, as they are GONE if you are walking and they see something they want.

Rescue mutts are the BEST, though.

rvandiver0705

1) Is your dog a great addition to your life or just more work?

 Both.  However, he is very independent for a dog.  We tease him that he is part cat.

2) how much extra work is a dog in your day to day life?

He goes for a short walk around the block three times a day.  He doesn't over eat, so we just keep his bowl full.   

3) What kind of dog do you have?

West Highland White Terrier 

4) is it a good family dog, good with children?

He loves toddlers, children, and adults.  He is jealous of R right now, but as she gets older he likes her more and more.   

5) what's the approx annual expense (food, vet visits, etc.)?

He eats one large bag of food every three months, and a box of treats every two.  He gets groomed 4 times a year, but we've gone down to two when we lived in a colder climate.  He gets a bath when he gets dirty, and we have been using the same bottle of shampoo for 4 years.  I would say he costs us between $300 - $500, depending on if we need to board him. 

6) Any other imput you can give would be awesome.  Or even a recommended breed.  We are looking for a smallish dog if that helps at all.

Duke was $1500,and worth every penny.  We didn't have the flexibility of getting a rescue, and honestly I would pay twice that for another one just like him.  I would go to a dog show and "meet" the different dogs to see the kind you like.