dog owners, need your help!

[TwoToneX]

All right, well, I was over at my buddies house the other day and his sister was there, she has two dogs. One's a pure bred border collie with papers and such, the other (the female) is a border collie/something (can't remember exactly what) mix and she is pregnant. My buddie's sister is trying to get rid of the puppies cause she didn't want to keep them all, and she offered one to me for free, so I accepted. The thing is, I have no experience raising a dog really, and I know I've seen a few threads about dog owners here on the site so I figured this would be a good place for a few questions and hopefully you guys can help me out. So here goes.

First off, can anyone give me a rough estimate on how much it costs to take care of a dog? I know the pricing of food and stuff, but I was looking more for the prices of a veterinarian, shots, and any "hidden" costs (such as just things I might not think of). I'm not really worried about being able to afford it and I know no one can give me an exact number or anything, just wondering so that I can kind of get a jumpstart on budgeting for it.

Something else I worried about it how to train it. I've never known anyone that's paid to have a dog trained, and I really have no idea if that's even the best way. How much does it cost to have it trained, and is it even worth it? I want to have a dog that'll listen to me without having to yell at it constantly, but I don't really know how to train one. I've read some stuff on how to train them, but it's all kinda jumbled and mixed on what is the best way, I could use any help deciding on what avenue to take there.

Hmmm... I know I had a few more questions but I can't think of them off the top of my head. I'll go ahead and post what I've got here and if you guys think of anything else worth knowing, feel free to post it. If I think of anything else I'll add it on. Thanks in advance guys!

***EDIT 1/20/05 Added pictures!***

[XplorerKid]

this might not help but i heard a statistic once, that said to raise a dog to age liek 10 cost around 6grand, that includes vets, food, and all that stuff.....

But than theres alot of variables, as if your dog gets a disease and needs more medical treat ment and what not.....

Good luck with the Dog, and Post a picture sometime

[Soundguy01tx]

whatever it costs you, it will be less than my parents cotss... they've got 8 dogs... labs, mutts, etc... only 1 was a "pure bred" the others were all dogs we rescued from various locations (middle of the freeway, parking lots, side of the road, etc)... Its so sad how ppl dont care about their animals... HAve fun with your new pup! Be sure to share a pic when you can...
--Bryan

[Flounder]

Just a little note - border collies (even if a slight mix) are very, very intelligent dogs. They are extremely trainable, even with simple command-actions. Check your local library or the internet for some more how-to's to build your confidence.

[BBQ_HotDogs]

If you get a dog and fall in love with it, the dog will become a member of the family, like it is your little son or daughter. The costs of raising a dog are not exact science. It all depends on how much spoiling you do. The main costs are while they are puppies, the costs of the shots and stuff, but it is strung out over a period and not hard to swallow. The most expensive trip will be around 60 bucks I think.

As far as training, the more time you spend with it, the smarter it will become. It will learn from you. It will know your voice and determine if you are playing or serious. They will push you to the limit and when you think you are gonna break, they will surprise you and suddenly become the smartest dog on the block. It takes allot of patience to raise a dog just like a child. It learns most of the commands while it is a puppy, so watch those bad habits. Like sleeping on the bed, drinking water from the toilet, getting into the trash, etc. Discipline is the hardest. Don't beat a dog. A rolled up newspaper with a couple of swats on the behind teach well, but they listen to your tone of voice and know right from wrong. So go in with an open mind and take it outside often as it will learn something every day.

[Lifted95X]

I do not have an estimate, but if you are a dog person, the companionship outweighs the cost by far. As Adam said above, Border Collies are extremely smart dogs. They can tend to get bored with simple fetching and tugging games. You can train them do many things. If you ever watch those dog competition shows, where they run a course, weave in and out of poles, jump for distance in water, you will see that most of the dogs competing are Border Collies.

[TwoToneX]

Originally Posted by Flounder

Just a little note - border collies (even if a slight mix) are very, very intelligent dogs. They are extremely trainable, even with simple command-actions. Check your local library or the internet for some more how-to's to build your confidence.

that's what I've heard, that's why I had to jump at the chance to get one for free. I'm pretty excited about it since I just talked to her yesterday, so I haven't had much time to read up on it, but I'll go ahead and look around for some more books and stuff, thanks...

and thanks for your post BBQ, that helped out.

Don't worry about the picture, as soon as I bring it home I'll be putting it up here for all the world to see

anyone else that cares to chime in, please, feel free!

[aldive]

The cost of dog ownership is variable. Factors such as the size of the dog, its activity level and more are involved. Will a fence for the yard be required? You will need a colar and leash.

The cost of food you feed the critter is also variable. You can feed your pet the el cheapo grocery store food or can use a premium food such as Pro Plan or Iams.

Your yearly vaccination schedule is also variable. Rabies is required. It is recommended to vaccinate dogs yearly for canine distemper virus, canine leptospirosis, canine adenovirus-1 and hepatitis, canine parainfluenza virus , canine parvovirus , canine Coronavirus as well as canine bordatella or kennel cough and Lyme disease. There is a schedule of the inoculations required for puppies too,

You will also need to provide monthly heartworm medication. Often the heartworm medicine also eliminates ticks and fleas, however, in Florida, we often need to supplement the heartworm medicine with a Flea and Tick killer such as Advantage.

Whatever these expenses run, the pure ecstasy of dog ownership is well worth it. I cannot imagine living without dogs.

[TwoToneX]

Originally Posted by aldive

The cost of dog ownership is variable. Factors such as the size of the dog, its activity level and more are involved. Will a fence for the yard be required? You will need a colar and leash.

The cost of food you feed the critter is also variable. You can feed your pet the el cheapo grocery store food or can use a premium food such as Pro Plan or Iams.

Your yearly vaccination schedule is also variable. Rabies is required. It is recommended to vaccinate dogs yearly for canine distemper virus, canine leptospirosis, canine adenovirus-1 and hepatitis, canine parainfluenza virus , canine parvovirus , canine Coronavirus as well as canine bordatella or kennel cough and Lyme disease. There is a schedule of the inoculations required for puppies too,

You will also need to provide monthly heartworm medication. Often the heartworm medicine also eliminates ticks and fleas, however, in Florida, we often need to supplement the heartworm medicine with a Flea and Tick killer such as Advantage.

Whatever these expenses run, the pure ecstasy of dog ownership is well worth it. I cannot imagine living without dogs.

Fortunately my backyard is setup for having a dog, as the people that owned it before had a few I believe. There's even a couple dog houses out there that they didn't take.

Thanks for the post though Al, very informative.

[LOGJOCKY]

with border collies u need to keep them busy and active or they will go nutty on you, they are working dogs and just cant sit around, ive know people who had to put them down because they did not keep them active enough and they got mean. DOnt use cheap food, it will cost u more in the long run, use something somewhere in the middle priced range, i got 2 pure bred shelties and i feed em pedigree, not cheap and not too expensive. my shelties are colsly related to boreder collies and mine(well the puppy) chews everything when she is bored.

[mctoy]

Definitely buy 'em GOOD food! They (Any pet) deserve the best you can afford. Dont use over the counter flea/tick meds and such. (Hartz, sargent etc) They are very strong! Many pets (Cats more than dogs) go into siezures and even die from the 'cheapo' Brands. Go to the vet and get something like Advantage or Frontline. These are prescription and are tailored to your pets weight. Much safer, and they do a better job overall. Establish yourself as the 'Alpha' dog, (The boss) early on, and you will have virtually no problems with it. They tend to be a bit 'nippy', and very protective as well, so that is something to behavior train for. DONT HIT YOUR DOG! or any other animal. A newspaper on the butt (softly) is more than enough. I have had better results with clapping my hands or smacking the ground (Anything that will make a sharp noise) and saying "NO" firmly. Love your pup and he/she will love ya back!
MCTOY

[aldive]

For an occasional snack, feed em a cat or two.

[turtle313]

Listen to what these guys have said, especially aldive and BBQ. Incredible patience and loads of time are required with puppies. Spend as much time as possible with them just like a new baby. Take him/her with you when you leave if possible. Puppies get lonely and will destroy anything in their path if left alone indoors or in the backyard. That's when they get exspensive. Outside is for playing on nice days and using the bathroom, not punishment. I recommend a kennel for times like that if scolding doesn't get the point across. Time outs work well even if it's only making them lay down on their own bed away from you. They get the message. They are much cheaper to keep happy and healthy than the Explorer. We just moved and can't have our dog in the new place, it's like part of the family is missing. She's in good hands until we find a different place though. Damn California real estate prices are rediculous though! If anybody's got a hook up for cheap rent or a decent house for sale around Lakeside let me know. Have fun with your puppy.

[Critical_Level2]

Get some sheep for it. While your at work, it can herd the sheep around the yard.

[AspenX]

Be sure to take it riding in the truck so it wont be scared to go wheelin with ya.

[Laddy]

Don't leave anything you want on the floor or if it's anything like my beagle it will chew it up. My beagle is 6 months old and has already chewed up about 10 hats, 2 pairs of shoes, and 3 xbox live headsets, and she buries my socks outside..

[LOGJOCKY]

mine just usually likes to chew drywall, drives me nuts cause i just redid all of it and now i am patching it again. she knows she does it too, i come home and see it and look at her and say...DID U DO THAT??? and then she goes and lyes down in her kennel, they are very smart

[Redrig]

Im going to use the term him since im not sure. To train him start with simple commands like sit. Tell him to sit and help him as your doing it so he knows. The most important thing is to reward him with a treat after he does it(whether or not hes doing it right at first). Get that down to where he sits when you tell him him to, and thats it dont expect nothing more. Than tell him to sit stay, he will already sit so now make him stay. At first he gonna get up, put him back. remember to reward everytime. Also through this whole process you have to be firm, its not being mean its just being strict. For example my golden retriever loved soccer balls so i put one in front of him and told him to sit stay and then I walked the whole way around my house (hes on his own then) until when i came back he was still there sitting. Like the others said this takes alot of time and patients but it works and pays off.

Potty training. Put him in a Kennel for a few hours (he gonna pee in it at first) the first thing you do after you let him out is take him outside and in that process tell him "lets go potty". It will be like cockwork after awhile.

Anytime he does something wrong dont beat him, spray his nose with vinegar and water mixed. Beating him will lose his trust in you. You can also tap him on the nose with a rolled up newspaper. Also you have to punish him at the time he does something wrong not later, he wont understand what hes getting punished for.


My wifes sister trains shepards. This was the advise i was given for my retriever and it worked great.

If you have any questions just pm me and if i dont know the answer i can get it from her.

[Mbrooks420]

First off, be prepared to lose some stuff. Puppies will ruin at least one thing you really like. Second, be prepared to walk the dog every day. As suggested before Border's are very, very active. They are working dogs, plain and simple. If they aren't worked and get plenty of exercise, they will get bored, and get into trouble. Playing out in the backyard for a few hours usually isn't enough, unless you have more than one. When picking a food, don't pay to much attention to the price, take a look at the label. You want something where the first or second ingredient is meat based. The more soy in a dog food, the worse it is. Dog's cannot digest soy, and it just passes through, straight to the yard. A short obedience class is also very productive. Not to train the dog, but to teach you how to train it yourself. You can read up on it in books, but it's usually more effective when shown first hand, since all dogs are a litlle different.

[Broccoli1]

I worked on a photo shoot with this guy and he was amazing with the dog with a " traing problem" for the story.
http://www.unclematty.com/index_flash.htm
Good luck with your new pal and stock up on some frisbees