Dog owners

[Crazy_Joe]

I'm interested into getting a dog because they seem fun and good companions and are so damn cool.
Though a lot of the dogs i am interested in seem to be dangerous and need proper training :lol:
I don't want a little fluffy dog, i was more looking at Bulldog, Jack Russell Terrier, German Shepherd, Pit bulls (though i think they are illegal?) and others like that.
I don't want a huge ripping apart dog but more a dog that isn't a siccy is you get what i mean haha.

So a few questions:
1) How much effort is it to maintain one of these kinds of dogs, in terms of effort and £££?

2) How much effort is it to properly train a slightly aggressive dog so they are more pet/family dogs than dogs that will attack people? I have searched wikipedia and other sites and generally they aren't aggressive as long as they know you are the master.

3) How often do they need check ups?

4) How much are they and where is the best place to get a dog from in Hertfordshire?

5) What dog would you recommend for the kind that i want?

6) Will they even let me have one? haha

[gingataff]

First of all I'd recommend finding a local dog shelter, they may want volunteer people to walk their dogs. That would be a good way to make sure if you really like spending your time with them, you may also find the perfect dog for you in the process.

[Crazy_Joe]

Cool, i have no idea where any of them are around here though, time for a google search.

[_tom_]

Just get a golden retriever.

[plastercaster]

Pit bulls are for mugs, get an afghan Hound
We're getting some little basset hound type thing, to my irritation.

[Crazy_Joe]

hahaha that afgan hound looks like sucha joke i would be embarrassed to be seen in public with it.

[38thBeatle]

I was able to have my first dog when I was 10.I had a Staffordshire Bull terrier before most people knew what they were and before the cretins got interested for all the wrong reasons. I believe that in the main, there are no bad dogs but many bad owners.A dog is not a toy and is a huge responsibility. Learn about training them and if you do get one, treat it like a dog and not a baby.Dogs are pack animals and will love you and obey you if they get the message that they are subservient-little things like making sure they feed after you and you do not pay homage to them as you walk in the house after being out-say hello to them last. I still love Staffies but am not in a position to get another dog right now but the idea of checking out a rescue centre seems to be a good one. If you get a breed, bear in mind the job that the breed was intended for-Staffies were bred for fighting-they like a fight and don't often loose so you have to ensure that you can control them-mine were trained to obey and I did not tolerate them doing their thing. Think about where you will be and what you will be doing in x years time-will you still be interested/able to look after it?

[FELINEGUITARS]

hahaha that afgan hound looks like sucha joke i would be embarrassed to be seen in public with it.

Afghan's are no joke - they are seriously fast in spite of all that hair.
they will easily outrun a greyhound!

38th has got a lot of the basics well stated in what he put.

I will get my girlfriend (Ms Feline) to post on here later as she is somewhat of a dog expert .

[FELINEGUITARS]

hahaha that afgan hound looks like sucha joke i would be embarrassed to be seen in public with it.

Afghan's are no joke - they are seriously fast in spite of all that hair.
they will easily outrun a greyhound!

38th has got a lot of the basics well stated in what he put.

I will get my girlfriend (Ms Feline) to post on here later as she is somewhat of a dog expert .

Ms Feline here.
Please ,please DO NOT buy a dog or for that matter get a rescue animal until you have done a little more research.
I have grown up with dogs(Grandfather a greyhound breeder and trainer)I had an Afghan given to me when I was seven,she lived till I was 21.However I lived near a beach and could exercise  her.
I have had a few dogs since and trained a champion working Gun dog when  I lived in Switzerland.( a Gordon Setter)
I have studied Dog Psychology and body language,however even I had a disaster when I took a rescue animal in because the dog had been cruelly treated by it's former owners.( a fact I wasn't made aware of)
My advice would be to contact a shelter as MR 38th said,in particular look into Greyhound rescue as they are sadly thrown onto the scr@p heap when they are retired from racing.
Any rescue  centre worth it's salt would have it's Dog's and Bitches neutered and could give you advice on the regular injection's and care a dog would need.
They cannot just be left whilst you go to work,need regular exercise and according to size of Dog ,2 regular meals a day ,both dry and wet food.
they are incredibly rewarding friend's and loving companions but please find out a little more before you go ahead.
As a side note my Sis spent a fortune on a pedigree Golden retriever and sadly it was overbred ,mad and savaged my Brother in Law...it had to be destroyed..she has had a more positive experience since with a little Springer Spaniel from Battersea Dog's home!!!!
Hope this help's ,sorry if it sounds a little discouraging ...

[hunter]

I'm interested into getting a dog because they seem fun and good companions and are so damn cool.

Great idea, just make sure it's a Black Dog!

So a few questions:
1) How much effort is it to maintain one of these kinds of dogs, in terms of effort and £££?

Maintenance is pretty low, effort will be around 100GBP each.

2) How much effort is it to properly train a slightly aggressive dog so they are more pet/family dogs than dogs that will attack people? I have searched wikipedia and other sites and generally they aren't aggressive as long as they know you are the master.

Hmm, I find it's much harder to get your BlackDog be agressive than mellow. I guess training 1 hour a day should have you pretty soon tame your Dogs to come across more mellow. Just make sure you back off the tone a bit.

3) How often do they need check ups?

Don't hit it too hard and it won't need any maintenance. If you have some sweat and dirt on your BlackDog, leave it there, it will just improve the looks and substance of the animal

5) What dog would you recommend for the kind that i want?

I would go for open Zebra style. The fact that they are called Black doesn't mean you can't get them a bit coloured.

6) Will they even let me have one? haha

Hmmm, now you mention it ...

 :roll:

[noodleplugerine]

I'm interested into getting a dog because they seem fun and good companions and are so damn cool.

Great idea, just make sure it's a Black Dog!

So a few questions:
1) How much effort is it to maintain one of these kinds of dogs, in terms of effort and £££?

Maintenance is pretty low, effort will be around 100GBP each.

2) How much effort is it to properly train a slightly aggressive dog so they are more pet/family dogs than dogs that will attack people? I have searched wikipedia and other sites and generally they aren't aggressive as long as they know you are the master.

Hmm, I find it's much harder to get your BlackDog be agressive than mellow. I guess training 1 hour a day should have you pretty soon tame your Dogs to come across more mellow. Just make sure you back off the tone a bit.

3) How often do they need check ups?

Don't hit it too hard and it won't need any maintenance. If you have some sweat and dirt on your BlackDog, leave it there, it will just improve the looks and substance of the animal

5) What dog would you recommend for the kind that i want?

I would go for open Zebra style. The fact that they are called Black doesn't mean you can't get them a bit coloured.

6) Will they even let me have one? haha

Hmmm, now you mention it ...

 :roll:

Didn't get it untill the check ups bit xD

Very witteh ;)

[Crazy_Joe]

Hahaha very good Hunter! :P

Mr 38th and MR & MRS Feline thanks for the help, the dog will get fed well everyday i will make sure of that, also there is a nice hill called Windmill Hill right next to me and i often see many dog owners taking their dogs out daily so that wouldn't be a problem.

The only thing that could suck is that when i go to college everyday there would be no one at home and i don't know what that effect that would have on a dog.
Surely there are many dog owners who go to work or school everyday who own a dog, so what advice would you give for this situation?

[Elliot]

Let it feed on the girls who dwell on Windmill Hill ha ha ha ha  :twisted:  

[hunter]

Here's a classic, make sure you don't expose the poor thing to screaming guitars with cranked amps

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KiHVkgSdTf0

[Crazy_Joe]

Hahaha, a dog just seems like a good companion and fun to have around the house and to go for walks with and to make it fetch too. Though might get lonely if there's only 1 dog.