From: mlhb@mammoth.dr.att.com (Sky Warrior)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.dogs
Subject: Re: Potential first time Dog owner - questions, etc.
Keywords: dog
Date: 8 Oct 92 15:22:27 GMT
Distribution: usa

In article <18800@bunny.GTE.COM>, dwo1@gte.com (Donald W. Ottens) writes:
|> Greetings,
|> 
|> Recently, our family's dog passed away.  I live about 800 miles away, but
|> knowing he was alive and my best friend, I felt like I had a dog of my own.
|> 
|> I'm am curious now about having a dog of my own, i.e., one that lives with
|> me, but I need to know what it would mean to take responsibility as a dog
|> owner at this juncture in my life (I moved away from home when I was 18yrs
|> for school and haven't had to take care of a dog since).
|>

This is a FAQ and we do have a FAQ written up about it.  I will e-mail you a copy
(it may not be the latest)
 
|> I feel like I am ready to own a dog within a year.  I particulary like
|> Chocolate Labs or those types which are nice, loving, and have noticeable
|> facial expressions.

Do research into the breed to see if that is the type of dog for you.  How do
you find out?  First, buy a couple of books on the breed in question (in your
case Labs) and read them.  Then, call up a couple of vets and animal obedience
schools and explain that you are interested in that breed and see if they know
any clubs and breeders in the area.  If this falls short (which in most cases it
won't) check the Yellow Pages under animal or pet services -- usually there
is an all-breed referral service listed.

At this time, don't cold call breeders who have puppies to sell in the 
newspaper's classified section.  You might get a good breeder who is concerned
enough to make sure you can take on the commitment; you might get someone who
just wants to get rid of the pups.  Remember, you're on a fact-finding mission
-- you don't want to make an impulse decision you might later regret.  STAY
AWAY FROM PET STORES!!!

|> 
|> A little about myself:  I am 29 years, single.  I am a professional working
|> during normal day and weekly schedules (40hours/wk).  I have a car and live
|> in a suburban Boston neighborhood.  My living quarters is a three story house
|> with 3 housemates.  Pets are allowed, to my knowledge.  No other pets exist
|> in the house.  Frequently, I workout or take classes after work.  That's about
|> it, except I should mention that I think dogs, in general, are the universe's
|> most exciting and noble creature (ok, I went off on a tangent there).
|> 

You might be better off with a full grown dog, rather than a puppy.  (I know, if
you have your heart set on a puppy, you're going to get one.  I did ;-)  You are
going to have to talk this over with your roommates because even though the 
dog is your dog, they will also have to deal with it.  (Letting it out, feeding,
etc.)

|> At anyrate, I am curious about:
|> 
|> * Daily routine and time commitment

Dogs will change your life like nothing else (except kids).  You must feed them,
pick up after them, provide exercise, companionship, etc.  You must take them
to the vet for shots, injuries, and wormings.  You should provide basic obedience.
You can't simply disappear for the weekend -- you have to either kennel the dog
or have someone take care of it.

|> * Costs

Dogs are not cheap.  A "free" dog is just as expensive as a dog you paid $300 for.
These are my "guesstimates" for the cost of upkeep of 1 dog Lab size (Yearly):

$30 Shots (Adult dog) Distemper, parvo, rabies, etc.
$70 Shots (puppy) Must have a series
$60 crate (To keep dog in)
$30 bed
$5 misc dishes
$10 leads and collars
$15 worming
$25 annual check up
$360 dog food (assuming $30.00 a 40# bag, 1 bag a month)
$144 pooper scooper costs (if you have the service in your area, otherwise
     $30 for pooper scoop)
$120 misc snacks (assuming $10/month)
$35 dog toys
$70 spay or neuter (you *ARE* going to spay/neuter, aren't you?)
$100 obedience classes
$50 misc cleaning items (Nature's Miracle, Dog shampoo)
$65+ for misc vet bill -- don't think it won't happen to you
$10 dog license

If you go on vacation, count on $7-$11 a day for boarding or pet sitter service.

You're probably thinking that you might not have one expense or another listed up
there and you might be right, but count on extra expenditures along the way.  You
might also think I have over priced some things, but remember this is over the
course of a year.

|> * Sleeping habits

Dogs sleep about 11+ hours a day.  Puppies sleep when you are awake and are 
awake when you are asleep ;-)

|> * Cleanliness & obedience

Dogs have no manners (in terms of human's definition) unless you train them.
Don't try to train them by yourself.  (I've done it and I then took my dogs
to a professional trainer)  Seek out a reputable professional trainer (your
vet can recommend one).  Don't bother with the community college or animal
shelter trainers -- you'll just be wasting your money.

Cleanliness....hmmm....  Brush your dog often and bathe him with a good dog
shampoo when he needs it.  Pick up (or have someone pick up) the poop.

|> * Description of dog's inherent personality (this is all for a Chocolate Lab)

That I can't remark on.  Lab owners?

|> * Any other concerns that I should be aware of as a potential dog
|>   owner (I am sure that I am missing quite a few)
|> 
|> In short, I would be a first time dog owner, although I have lived with
|> dogs (in our family household) for all of my childhood and teenagehood.
|> 
|> I would appreciate any help and advice on the pros and cons, and what
|> to expect.
|> 

Back when I got my first dog after the family Collie passed on, I thought I knew
a lot about dogs.  My first dog, Conan, proved otherwise.  It has been a very
painful and enlightening experience ;-)  (Those who have read my stories
about Conan understand this joke)  Anyway, don't enter this relationship (it *is*
a relationship) with preconceived notion you have picked up from childhood.  Every
dog is different -- they have different personalities even within the same breed.

I'm getting my Malamute puppy tonight and three Alaskan Huskies are flying in
from Wisconsin tommorrow.  I will have 11 dogs total at the end of this week.
Yeah, I guess I'm addicted (Maybe I should be committed ;-)

Sky Warrior & Conan, Cuawn, Shadow, Mirin, Dancer, Skye, Jasmine, Kiana, 
Kersel, Ed, and Tasha.
-- 
-----------------------------                                              
SKY WARRIOR aka MLH Bonham  | "Good tea.  Nice House." -- Lt. Worf
mammoth!mlhb@druhi.att.com  |----------------------------------------------
mlhb@drutx.ATT.COM          | SKY WARRIOR RACING KENNELS - Coming to an
                            | Iditarod near you!
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Newsgroups: rec.pets.dogs