More Questions
Adult OES (we don't have a dog yet) How much on average do you walk an adult dog(5yrs old lets say) daily? Could playing fetch in a large back yard count as walk time? Since I live in Canada with our wonderfully cold winters how does winter change your exercise routines with your dog? If you go on holidays without your dog for a week how much does it cost to kennel? What issues would you have with this? What do you do with your dog while at work? How long can the dog be crated? (I don't work now but might in the future) If we were to get a dog I was planning on a puppy cut but what did it cost to purchase all the grooming equipment to keep your dog's coat from matting. Since these are all part of the start-up cost of getting an OES. Any other reality checks that you may have to offer. Since getting a dog for a non-dog home is a definate change in lifestyle. Thanks again for all of your insight. |
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| OES is a pretty high-maintenance breed.
I brush mine EVERY night to prevent matting. And it seems, though I didn't want to, that I have to have grooming done professionally about every 4 - 6 months to keep on top of the mats. But people tell me it will get easier when my girls are out of their puppy coats. They are now 18 months old. Professional grooming for each of them is between $100 and $200, depending on how bad the matting is. I insist they dematt, and not shave my girls down, so thats why the really expensive rate. And that was only once, and only on one of the dogs. The "regular" rate for my groomers is about $100 I think. My girls need ALOT of exercise; if you are getting a puppy, it will be difficult to manage that and a job out of the house. My boyfriend and I both work from home, and it was still a challenge to keep my girls active and entertained. But it worked out well for us. You might find it easier to go for that possible 5 year old dog; one that is past needing to be taken out every few hours. I was doing 2 long walks a day with my girls; one in the morning and one in the evening, each anywhere from 30 - 60 minutes. But I find I can substitute trips to the park (we go for an average of 2 hours) or training sessions (usually an hour long) for a walk. Or if the girls go to Day Care ( usually once a week) they play so much there that they get home really tired out and walks aren't necessary. Kennelling is going to vary; depending on what you chose. I was using a place here in Atlanta that was an all day play group. The girls stayed in adjacent kennels and did okay there. But the place was staffed from 8am to 7pm, and my girls were having accidents during the night. From 7pm to 8am was too long for them to go without a potty break. I found for the same amount of money, an hour's drive outside the city, I was able to get my girls MUCH more posh accommodations. At the place we now go to my girls have their own "suite" with a private outdoor cement porch and grassy run. And the woman that runs the place brings my girls with her while she works and watches tv with them in the evenings. She lives on premises, so can take them for a late, last potty break around midnight. They also get 2 off-leash walks on 15+ acres of woodland. For me its worth the long drive for the more personalized attention my girls receive. In the summer the place has a dog pool, and they are re-building their Agility course; so if I chose to pay a bit more, I can have these activities added to their stay. One more reality check I'll throw out there: the Vet. I was completely unprepared for how much my dogs went to the vet the first year of their lives. It was every 7 - 10 days for SOMETHING. My vet said puppies go one of two ways; either they get their shots and then they don't see them for another 12 months, or they are like my girls; always in for something. We used to joke that the day we coul dmake it 30 days without having to go in, we were going to throw a party. One time, we actually made it 29 days; we all laughed ALOT and joked that the girls were going through withdrawl and needed to visit the vet. Seriously though; my girls just seemed to get sick alot. We had 3 rounds of urinary tract infections, eye infections twice, one ear infection, and lots of tummy troubles resulting in diarrhea all the time. And Luna had a mystery limp that required X-rays. Oh and Tonks got a puncture wound that to this day we don't know WHERE it came from. Now add to that your shots, boosters, and spay/neuter and the cost will REALLY add up! |
We live in Alberta Canada nice cold snowy winters. When it is real cold minus 30 stuff you really do not want to walk them, anyways but if you have dogs like mine and can tell time, we have taken them out, believe it not even 10 minutes.... it was all anyone off us could handle. But normal winters mine are happy with half hour walk... but they do run wild..... chase bottles... Sami runs with a plasic bottle while the others chase her  but when we are done they are pooped. I do not talk them for other walks on normal work days they do have access to a yard all day (doggy door) Some oes need more of a run... warmer weather we do get further... mine are only 2 and 1 and the last few winter been lots of snow so hard to find places for them to run free. |
| Lordy, my guys are couch potato's! Go out and go for a walk????
They prefer the couch....... or floor and a good bone. I can let them out at potty time (mine too tell time) and they are all back at the door w/in 4 to 5 min at the most demanding to come back in the house! |
| Thank you for taking the time to share you experiences with puppies and older dogs.
This really helps me and my family think about this decision. |
| I have to disagree with Alison, you can have a puppy and work. we have raised three puppies (two OES) and we both work long hours. we adjust and the dogs adjust. I would walk the puppies befor ework - long walks and we used puppy day care. we also used large crates when they were home so they could play. and yes there was extra potty training time and extra baths because of it.
We also did obedience classes at night after work and practice when we didn't have classes and they were fine. as little puppies in the winter in NY I can tell you we didn't take long walks at night. they learned to retrieve with a tennis ball in the hall - burnt off a lot of energy, and we had a kids play tunnel for some fun games. we also played chase me int he basement - there are many ways to get them to exercise when you can't get outside. walking itself really doesn't burn off much energy - not much physical or mental challenge in the same old walk. I always find focused play to be more tiring for them than say taking them to the dog park. I do that when I am in a lazy mood and don't want to work them. We also had at one time a rescue OES who we got at three and he also adjusted fine to our schedule and activity levels. You can get a good briush for under $30, you get nice ones for even less than that. Grooming clippers cost about $150 (less than two grooming appointments here in NY) and I personally go through a blade a year - another $30 (I need to find somewhere to get them sharpened). I paid arouns $30 for a gallon of shampoo two years ago and am still using it (with sme others tried ot along the way). The biggest cost can be vetting. I had a dog come down with a sick stomach in the fall and ended up with $1,000 of vet bills. You might also want to try to locate a vet BEFORE you get a dog and find out their rates. My sister has a vet in FL that charges over $100 just for an office visit (mine charges $40) and all the ones in her area are the same. Nice that you are asking these questions before you get a dog 
Kenneling a dog can be expensive (around here from about $50 to $100 a day) - we have used pet suitters from time to time instead of the kennel. They do get more exercise in the kennel, but for a week it won't make a difference. |
| If the other dogs are out, Bella will go out and play until she can not stand up. We live at the end of a cul de sac and with five other houses with dogs that play well together. We have our own dog park. However, we walk Bella at least twice a day, before work about 15 minutes and then after work for a half hour to forty five minutes or more depending on the weather.
Grooming is about an hour 3-4 times a week and a trip to the groomer every 4 weeks. We have the best deal on a house sitter. So when we are away she stays at the house and takes care of both Bella and the fish for $25.00 per day. She is the mother of a neighbor that has a dog so she just lets them play in the back yard, we’ve got a BIG yard. We have a dog door so Bella has the run of the house and the yard day and night. The only real problem there is that she brings in lots of dead leaves and grass and occasionally takes out a throw rug or two. As everyone else has said or implied they are family dogs. They need to be a part of the family when you are home. They are high maintenance dogs but they will repay you ten times over in love and kisses. |
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