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Hey, so I'm starting grad school soon, and I figured to keep myself from going batshit insane from studying 60+ hours a week, I might get a dog.
Does anyone here have a dog and know how much it costs to keep one in terms of $/month?
I understand that one time fees for buying the dog are different from continual monthly fees. Like, the one time fees would be for shots and licensing and actually buying it and looking around. The continuous fees I suppose would be for food and insurance.
I have no idea how much of this costs. I ideally want a dog that is as low maintenance and costs as little as possible. So, a breed that doesn't get sick, doesn't need to run a lot, doesn't eat a lot.
basically, something for me to talk to so it's not like i'm talking to myself all the time.
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Valhalla18444 Posts
if you're living in a dorm or apartment get a cat instead
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Canada9720 Posts
i think cats and dogs cost the same, more or less, to upkeep. a larger dog will eat more than a cat, but even then most dogs are fed twice or three times a day at most. the big difference in cost is how much time you have to put in. you can't ignore a dog and let it do it's own thing - it'll fuck your place up. you have to get it exercise, let it out to shit and piss, and generally just care of it.
cats are a lot less hassle, but i'd argue you get the affection that you put into an animal. i find dogs to be much more loving animals, but this is personal preference.
given your situation a cat probably makes more sense
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is awesome32274 Posts
Don't get a dog if you are not able to walk him, take it out to piss, etc...
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Hong Kong20321 Posts
cats are the shit
dogs are just too hyper and run around and destroy things.
;o
no idea how much it costs though sorry cuoldn't help 
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man that sucks.
i really like dogs more cause they are cooler to hang out with. they are like, totally chill, like if they were a person, you could grab a beer with them and smoke pot and shoot the shit.
i guess i'll have to go with a cat, but dunno, hanging out with a cat feels retarded. ugh
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On February 26 2009 23:10 Polyphasic wrote:
So, a breed that doesn't get sick, doesn't need to run a lot, doesn't eat a lot.
Pretty much every breed will satisfy your needs, as long as it's DEAD.
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I have two dogs that were given to me which already had their shots and registry already done for me. What really happened was the owners couldn't take care of them so I just took them in. I keep them in my backyard though. Food alone for the dogs run me about 8-15(30-40 lbs) bucks a week depending on the brand of dog food. I usually buy the dog food at some wholesale discount grocery store though which consist of pretty descent dog food.
In your case since you will be studying you might wanna get some type of toy dog (chihuahua,scottish terrier,mini pincher,etc) since you can easily give the dog attention and not worry about walking it everyday. I have a small toy dog and a pitbull which they entertain each other well enough but I still have to give them attention. Just don't be that person that neglects to give the dog attention, shelter, and food.
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On February 26 2009 23:10 Polyphasic wrote:
Does anyone here have a dog and know how much it costs to keep one in terms of $/month?
Obviously depends on the size of the dog but you should find the cost of those things (I am not living in the US so I can't tell you how would it cost in dollars, I can only tell what needs money. That's because I am a vet):
- once in a lifetime castration. I do believe it's free of charge at the Animal shelters in the US. Or maybe it depends on the state.
- annual animal tax if the dog is not neutered, I have no idea how much that is.
- annual vaccination - I do believe in the US it is around $60-80. Divided by 12 gives is $5-7 per month
- every 2 months you have to give the dog anti worm pills. The usual dose is a pill per 10 kg body weight. Each pill cost like $4 in Bulgaria. I am talking about the best pills by Bayer. So for 30 kg dog it's 3 pills for 2 months. That makes it 1,5 pill per month which costs $6.
- every month you have to use anti flea/anti tick medicines such as Frontline or Fort Dodge's ProMeris. In Bulgaria ProMeris for a 25 kg dog costs $15.
- food expenses - those can vary but I think not more than $40 per month.
Total of: $5-7 vaccination + $6 for internal parasites + $15 for external parasites + $40 for food = $66-68 per month IMO without the annual tax.
All of this is IMO and shows how I would care for a dog. You cna skip the antiparasite drugs and not buy them so it will be cheaper. But from what I know in the US even a simple flea allergy treatment will cost you like $400-500.
That's it. Take care.
ps: get a cat!
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Damn that guy sure did sum everything up together. I do feed mine anti-worm pills which aren't much every couple of months but instead of the antiflea/tick stuff I just bath mine with a $20 dollar dog shampoo every couple of weeks. You really don't need to sign your dog up for everything on that list but it is recommended(i don't do it though).
Now that I think about it I spend more money then I think on my dogs. I don't even pay attention to the cost b/c I <3 them so much. They are my babies.
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I would seriously consider adopting a dog instead of purchasing one from a breeder or pet shop. Not only is it cheaper and more humane, but also, house breaking a puppy is very time intensive. They will be pissing and shitting all over your house, and if you don't yell at him then take him for a walk /right/ after it happens, he will never get the message.
i don't know how serious hym was about the cat.. but its true cats are generally less time consuming, so that's also something you should consider..
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I'd just like to add that you cannot skimp your dog on the worm pills, because even during winter they can get them. We forgot to give my German Shepherd his pills for a while (like 2 weeks during winter) and he ended up with heart worms, which are nasty fuckers.
If I could guess how much a dog would cost and put it into a monetary value, I'd say something to the effect of 100 a month + 500 or so set aside for any vet bills that may occur if your dog does something dumb like eat a salt map.
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Dogs cost you a lot more time. Seriously, if you don't take him for a walk 3 times a day for at least half an hour, he will turn into an irritating, chewing, biting thing. Dogs need a lot more attention.
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Get a guinea pig instead? It's much cheaper.
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doesn't sound liek you have time for a dog. research some breeds. smaller ones will need less walks and stuff. smaller dogs usually require less tiem and stuff.
sounds like you should get a cat honestly
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Get a cat for a domestic setting. They are generally more chill and relaxing 90% of the time. Plus they are more intelligent where it matters (when to pee, when to play/when to relax, etc.).
Cats > Dogs
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is awesome32274 Posts
On February 27 2009 00:25 fanatacist wrote:
Get a cat for a domestic setting. They are generally more chill and relaxing 90% of the time. Plus they are more intelligent where it matters (when to pee, when to play/when to relax, etc.).
Cats > Dogs
You have no soul
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On February 26 2009 23:12 FakeSteve[TPR] wrote:
if you're living in a dorm or apartment get a cat instead
amen, get a male cat.. and declaw him, make him a boxer!
i rough-housed with my male cat and trained him to know me
it was awesome.. he hated everyone else that wasn't in the family lol
i miss him now.. :/ ALL cat's aren't boring & for losers
-----
and my cat had this awesome ability to make his back hunched
and run sideways towards me, trying to scare me off if i was walkin towards him down the hallway
it was awesome lol his whole back and tail suddenly POOFS up and gets like a fuzzball lol
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On February 27 2009 00:27 IntoTheWow wrote:Show nested quote +On February 27 2009 00:25 fanatacist wrote:
Get a cat for a domestic setting. They are generally more chill and relaxing 90% of the time. Plus they are more intelligent where it matters (when to pee, when to play/when to relax, etc.).
Cats > Dogs You have no soul
You value blind loyalty and filth over intelligence and cute fuzzywuzzy kitties.
You are a pervert.
Sup quoc, BW?
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5390 Posts
My older brother just got a dog for free.
Within a week it had a huge sore on its face and had to get it cut (removed) from the vet for > $100. Then it continues to shit and piss in front of him instead of a single bark to go out.
Dogs suck unless, like everyone says, you have the time and money to take care of them.
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On February 27 2009 00:37 pheer wrote:
My older brother just got a dog for free.
Within a week it had a huge sore on its face and had to get it cut (removed) from the vet for > $100. Then it continues to shit and piss in front of him instead of a single bark to go out.
Dogs suck unless, like everyone says, you have the time and money to take care of them.
My GR learned to ask to take her out and whatnot in no time.
They just need some "preparation" time. and If you get a dog, enjoy as much as you can while it's a puppy ;P.
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Physician
United States4146 Posts
get a monkey, chimp preferably
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On February 26 2009 23:21 IntoTheWow wrote:
Don't get a dog if you are not able to walk him, take it out to piss, etc...
You said that you are working/studying 60+ hours a week and I really don't think that'll give you adequate time to properly care for a dog. They are very engaging pets who demand a lot of your time and attention. One of the cruelest things you can do to a dog is adopt it and then completely neglect it. Its persistent whining and crying while you are locked in the next room studying will only contribute further to your slow decent into madness.
But more on topic, here is a writeup and some tables explaining the basic costs of dog ownership. It should give you a ballpark idea.
For arguments sake, here is the same writeup for cats.
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I wouldnt reccommend getting a dog. Dogs require a lot of time and effort. If you cant put that time into a dog, then you are just being cruel. If your studying 60+ hours a week and your living by yourself, your dog is going to become very lonely and sad. Cats on the other hand handle being alone much better and are much easier to care for.
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On February 27 2009 00:36 fanatacist wrote:Show nested quote +On February 27 2009 00:27 IntoTheWow wrote:On February 27 2009 00:25 fanatacist wrote:
Get a cat for a domestic setting. They are generally more chill and relaxing 90% of the time. Plus they are more intelligent where it matters (when to pee, when to play/when to relax, etc.).
Cats > Dogs You have no soul You value blind loyalty and filth over intelligence and cute fuzzywuzzy kitties. You are a pervert. Sup quoc, BW?
Kittens are irrelevant in comparison to a dog. Maybe compare it to a puppy. But I've seen cute puppies that no cat can compare to.
Anyway, point is this:
Kittens are bad ass. Puppies are cool too.
Cats sucks. Dogs are awesome.
Cats....Have too much damn personality. I got my kitten, and it was the nicest thing ever for a while. Then out of nowhere, it just hated to be touched a lot. You had to touch it when it wanted to be touch, or your fucked for the rest of the day. My dog on the other hand. Undying loyalty, even when I'm gone for a few days. She's always their to greet me. I love my dog SO MUCH MORE than my fucking cat. Cats are stuck up animals dammit.
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On February 26 2009 23:10 Polyphasic wrote:
So, a breed that doesn't get sick, doesn't need to run a lot, doesn't eat a lot.
Please do not get a dog. You will just give him/her a sad life...
On February 27 2009 01:26 ~OpZ~ wrote:
Cats....Have too much damn personality. I got my kitten, and it was the nicest thing ever for a while. Then out of nowhere, it just hated to be touched a lot. You had to touch it when it wanted to be touch, or your fucked for the rest of the day. My dog on the other hand. Undying loyalty, even when I'm gone for a few days. She's always their to greet me. I love my dog SO MUCH MORE than my fucking cat. Cats are stuck up animals dammit.
God damn I hate people who gets a pet without knowing what is he going to get into..
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With (optional declaw / spay / neuter) / yearly vet vists, the price of per month treats, toys, cat litter, dog bones, brushes, overall grooming, and food or whatever else is not really comparable(ok maybe it is, but dont not take a pet to the vet!). it may seem to be common sense, but some people get pets and then don't have the money to take them to the vet once in a while.
cats and dogs are different animals of course - though i dont know a shitload about cats i do partially care for my dads. they can be very loving, but they tend to show it in different ways. for instance, my dads cat loves to snuggle(a little) with him whenever hes watching tv or going to sleep even though he doesn't particularly like it. shes fucking huge. once in a while they'll rub against your legs, i think its to mark their scent on you a little by instinct but the intention is because they luv u  they're perfectly fine being alone once in a while, but this cat is always waiting for my dad when he comes home(and sometimes meows when he goes outside at night for a smoke), its clear she misses him :3
she also chills on the table near him when hes reading the paper, just out of arms reach, shes not supposed to be up there :0 i think it would take to me more if my dog wasn't so territorial. im usually in my room when im in the house and that means the dog too. the door is a chokepoint in which the cat is usually tackled or chased onto high ground
when i was younger i had a gnarly ass cat. it was declawed, intended to be an inside cat, but since i had a dog at the same time whenever i let my dog into the backyard she would leap out there lol. it steadily got pretty damn big and strong. occasionally she would bring back "presents" from her voyages, unharmed animals and insects would be promptly dropped on my lap. ive gotten a HUGE cricket locust thing, a large pretty monarch butterfly, and a fucking CROW! how the fuck did she capture a live crow without claws and without getting beaten up like shit? i dont know, but it was godly. the crow, after flying around for a while, was content with being on my moms arm covered in newspaper and being led outside.
she got into some kind of poison or antifreeze years ago. i still have the dog.
-- oh by the way, female cats are preferred by my dad a LOT, i forget why but im pretty sure it was a logical reason. hes a through and through cat person, so it may be worth looking into.
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Sweden4353 Posts
A cat is much easier, but most cats won't really care that much about you. Of course you can do what most cat-people do and pretend they actually see you as a person and not an object in their possesion. A dog will require much attention and effort but if you really like dogs then it's worth it.
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+1 for a pet rock... lol
Heres the thing with dogs and your busy schedule...
My dog is 18 years old (yup shit you not)
anyway the thing with a dog, you cant just have him there when you want him to be. He will always be there...
They get sad when you leave the house (if you have classes all day/work this is going to affect him)
They get depressed, they get hungry, they have to go to the bathroom wethere your there or not. They need to run/play ALL THE TIME especially for the first 4-5 years.
Its like having a child.
You have to realize that getting a dog isn't getting a "pet" its adding on to your family.
When your thinking about a dog asking "how much money is it going to cost me" I already know, you shouldn't get a dog...
Unforseen things happen all the time.. He could swallow something wrong and hell need to get it removed, get sick, get hurt.. (yup dogs can break bones just as easily as us), get depressed (yes dogs get depressed to, lock yourself in your room for 18 hours a day with no tv/phone/internet see what happens to you) They need friendship from you and other dogs... you must take them to dog parks/ let them hangout with a friends dog the whole 9 yards
I think you should think about this more...
Im a huge dog lover and I treat my dog like my son/best friend... proof is by his age alone because he is 18(human years) and I forsee another 2-3 years before he gets close to his end. He is a cocker spaniel named Patches and I'm happy to say the love of my life... hes been around for most of it xD!
Think about this more, my advice to you, if you have a friend/family member that owns a dog. Ask them if you can borrow the dog for a week, see if you really enjoy it. Best part is he'll probably already be potty trained...
I let my friend borrow my dog for 1 week before he decided to get one a few years back. Just to make sure he was ready for the reponsibility.
so... IMO Pet rock...
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dogs need too much attention, and if u cant provide that for him don't ruin a dogs life -_- i kno some ppl who own a dog and treat it like an object. if they dont want the dog to bother them they will just stick him in his tiny cage and if he starts just squeal they'll just stick the cage int he basement.. sigh
for a student, cats are ideal as they are very independent=] that doesnt mean they dont love to cuddle or play with you ^_^
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On February 26 2009 23:10 Polyphasic wrote:
Hey, so I'm starting grad school soon, and I figured to keep myself from going batshit insane from studying 60+ hours a week, I might get a dog.
Does anyone here have a dog and know how much it costs to keep one in terms of $/month?
I understand that one time fees for buying the dog are different from continual monthly fees. Like, the one time fees would be for shots and licensing and actually buying it and looking around. The continuous fees I suppose would be for food and insurance.
I have no idea how much of this costs. I ideally want a dog that is as low maintenance and costs as little as possible. So, a breed that doesn't get sick, doesn't need to run a lot, doesn't eat a lot.
basically, something for me to talk to so it's not like i'm talking to myself all the time.
Haven't read all of the replies. But dogs cost more for sure. Even the smaller dogs cost more. We have a cat and a shitzu/whatever mix. Our dog is only a little bit bigger than our cat but it eats quite a bit more. Dogs, like cats, always need to have kibble in their tray, and of course they should also get dinner once a day ^_^. Another thing to note is that puppies (and other younger dogs) need to be walked a lot more than most of the older dogs. When our dog was a puppy we walked him 7 times a day. He is 14 months old now, and we still walk him 5 times a day, if we don't he pees on the floor, especially on cold days.
If you think you have the time to care for a dog. I would choose a dog over a cat if I were you. I love my cat to death but she ignores all of us all day long lol. Dogs are so loving and cute.
Just look at mine http://img22.imageshack.us/my.php?image=swiffer3.jpg <3. So epic
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I thought you were going to med school? Why did you change to grad school, no acceptances or what happened?
On topic: Don't get a high maintenance dog, it's a lot of work. Also, if its an inside dog, get a dog that doesn't shed.
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When I lived at a frat house I got a dog. Was for free but hadn't any shots nor was spade. It was a medium sized pitbull mutt about a year old. Food cost 20-25$/month. Shots cost a decent amount. I went to the ASPCA hospital where shots cost 20$+ as opposed to 50$+ at the various vets I had asked. The checkup, flee/tick for 3 months, and the shots cost around 300$.
I gave the dog to a friend before it got spade. But while at the ASPCA they had suggested some thing where you can bring your dog - leave it there and they spade it in a van. It's pro bono for vets and all you have to do is donate some dollars.
The entire thing was done rather haphazardly and spontaneously. I had a job and took classes but since my commute wasn't far I was able to manage - I also had all my friends help out when I'd be gone for an extended period. But it's a lot of work - like taking care of a child that needs - a dog needs constant attention. Unless you find an older dog who's trained and doesn't need as much activity it's going to be a lot of work and I'd suggest not doing it unless you know exactly what's at stake.
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On February 27 2009 01:26 ~OpZ~ wrote:Show nested quote +On February 27 2009 00:36 fanatacist wrote:On February 27 2009 00:27 IntoTheWow wrote:On February 27 2009 00:25 fanatacist wrote:
Get a cat for a domestic setting. They are generally more chill and relaxing 90% of the time. Plus they are more intelligent where it matters (when to pee, when to play/when to relax, etc.).
Cats > Dogs You have no soul You value blind loyalty and filth over intelligence and cute fuzzywuzzy kitties. You are a pervert. Sup quoc, BW? Kittens are irrelevant in comparison to a dog. Maybe compare it to a puppy. But I've seen cute puppies that no cat can compare to. Anyway, point is this: Kittens are bad ass. Puppies are cool too. Cats sucks. Dogs are awesome. Cats....Have too much damn personality. I got my kitten, and it was the nicest thing ever for a while. Then out of nowhere, it just hated to be touched a lot. You had to touch it when it wanted to be touch, or your fucked for the rest of the day. My dog on the other hand. Undying loyalty, even when I'm gone for a few days. She's always their to greet me. I love my dog SO MUCH MORE than my fucking cat. Cats are stuck up animals dammit.
I said kitties, not kittens. Kitties is cuter way of saying cats, to me.
And see, this is an example of a typical dog owner/lover. Dogs are perfect for you because you don't want personality or individualism or depth, you want blind loyalty so that even if you hit the dog it won't run away from home, it will be your best friend in five minutes. Dogs don't bite the hand that feeds because they are simplistic creatures; cats have a sense of equality with humans and should be respected as such. You want an animal that does whatever you want, when you want it.
Imagine you are taking a nap or cleaning yourself, and some douche comes, picks you up, and starts harassing you about some crap he wants. You would be irritated and pissed. Dog will be like "YESUH MASTUH, THANK YA MASTUH." Cat will be like "Fuck off, I don't disturb your shit unless it's important, like feeding me or cleaning up my piss."
Bottom line, if you want a simple animal with a loyalty bordering on stupidity, choose dogs. If you want an intelligent animal with a sense of respect and individuality, choose cats.
If you have limited time/money, choose cats.
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On February 27 2009 01:44 Piste wrote:Show nested quote +On February 26 2009 23:10 Polyphasic wrote:
So, a breed that doesn't get sick, doesn't need to run a lot, doesn't eat a lot. Please do not get a dog. You will just give him/her a sad life... Show nested quote +On February 27 2009 01:26 ~OpZ~ wrote:
Cats....Have too much damn personality. I got my kitten, and it was the nicest thing ever for a while. Then out of nowhere, it just hated to be touched a lot. You had to touch it when it wanted to be touch, or your fucked for the rest of the day. My dog on the other hand. Undying loyalty, even when I'm gone for a few days. She's always their to greet me. I love my dog SO MUCH MORE than my fucking cat. Cats are stuck up animals dammit. God damn I hate people who gets a pet without knowing what is he going to get into..
QFT. Although he isn't the one who got the cat (probably... hopefully), it's still true.
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On February 27 2009 01:48 nttea wrote:
A cat is much easier, but most cats won't really care that much about you.
I thought this line was unfair to kitties and a common misconception.
From Wikipedia:
For cats, life in close proximity with humans (and other animals kept by humans) amounts to a "symbiotic social adaptation" which has developed over thousands of years. It has been suggested that, ethologically, the human keeper of a cat functions as a sort of surrogate for the cat's mother, and that adult domestic cats live their lives in a kind of extended kittenhood,[43] a form of behavioral neoteny.
Cats may express affection towards their human companions, especially if they imprint on them at a very young age and are treated with consistent affection.
See, a cat will acknowledge its care giver and form a very strong bond. But that care-giver is rarely you. Kitty sees your mom or dad feeding it, watering it, and changing its litter. It sees your 8-year-old self running around and showing up whenever you feel the need to dish out some abuse in the way of squeezing kitty and holding kitty when kitty does not want to be held. To have a cat's affection, you have to treat it well - not simply acknowledge its existence.
When people get older and become the primary care-giver for their new kitty, raise this kitty from kittenhood, and treat this kitty affectionately, they will experience first hand the kind of love that a cat has for its person. And there ain't no love like kitty love. It's insane.
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Bosnia-Herzegovina1381 Posts
On February 27 2009 00:48 Physician wrote:
get a monkey, chimp preferably
awful.
funny, but awful.
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I'll talk from my own experience since i just got a dog exactly 1year ago when he was 2months old.
- Dog food costs $35 - $85/month depending on how big he is for a 15-20kg bag and the quality of the food.
- Bones and toys from time to time ~ $10/month for the first year depending on how many toys and bones you buy for him of course.
- Vaccination $15 - $20 depending on which one it is and there's about 4 of them for the first year but you need to do all of them around at the same time. + the visit to the vet will cost you something. ( I dunno if it works the same in the US but here just to visit the vet without the vaccinations costs, it cost me $45 everytime -.- )
- Collar & Leash $15 - $20 depending on how big and how fast your dog is growing you might have to buy a new collar later during the year
- Dog himself ( when you buy him ) can cost from $100 to $1000 depending on the breed.
Now if you still decide to buy a dog... like everyone said, it demands a LOT of attention. Especially during the first months: when he's not clean yet ( pissing and shitting around in the house without asking for the door ) you'll have to stand up in the middle of the night ( not every nights ) to go clean his mess. This is probably the hardest thing to do.. to get him clean as it lasts around 2months - 3months depending on how much time you spend teaching him to ask the door when he wants to go pee or shit and it's a lot easier to teach him to do it outside during the summer rather than the winter.
He'll wake you up in the morning 6h00am - 8h00am, wanting to go outside or just to play.
You must take at least a walk per day with him of around 30mins depending on how much energy he has. While taking the walk you'll have to teach him to stand right next to you and not go in front of you.
You'll need to teach him also not to bark & to don't bite, since he's young he'll tend to bite you a lot when you play with him.. of course it won't really hurt but when he'll get bigger, it will hurt.
He'll most likely pick up everything that he can and destroy it if he can: boxes of tissues, shoes, socks are the most common things.
You'll need to teach him to sit, lay down, come back to you whenever you ask him to. You might also have to teach him not to dig everywhere and not to jump onto people that comes to your house.
It is a lot time consuming and you have to repeat over and over and over again, but having a dog is more fun than having any other pets.
PS: If you do still decide to get a dog after that, don't fear asking people for a lot of TIPS.
edit: girls LOVE puppies
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On February 27 2009 00:30 QuoC wrote:Show nested quote +On February 26 2009 23:12 FakeSteve[TPR] wrote:
if you're living in a dorm or apartment get a cat instead amen, get a male cat.. and declaw him, make him a boxer!
Don't ever get cats declawed... it's the equivalent of removing a person's fingers from the knuckle up. Leads to behavioral problems sometimes because the cat feels defenseless so they get more aggressive to compensate.
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On February 27 2009 00:36 fanatacist wrote:Show nested quote +On February 27 2009 00:27 IntoTheWow wrote:On February 27 2009 00:25 fanatacist wrote:
Get a cat for a domestic setting. They are generally more chill and relaxing 90% of the time. Plus they are more intelligent where it matters (when to pee, when to play/when to relax, etc.).
Cats > Dogs You have no soul You value blind loyalty and filth over intelligence and cute fuzzywuzzy kitties. You are a pervert. Sup quoc, BW?
Intelligence? I'm only a "decent" student, but I am far more intelligent than any cat or dog. Cats and dogs are both stupid, but they're also both furry and cute.
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On February 27 2009 05:05 yoshtodd wrote:Show nested quote +On February 27 2009 00:30 QuoC wrote:On February 26 2009 23:12 FakeSteve[TPR] wrote:
if you're living in a dorm or apartment get a cat instead amen, get a male cat.. and declaw him, make him a boxer! Don't ever get cats declawed... it's the equivalent of removing a person's fingers from the knuckle up. Leads to behavioral problems sometimes because the cat feels defenseless so they get more aggressive to compensate.
Agreed. Besides the personal reasons, declawing is simply inhumane. But still: Get a cat. They are nice, quiet, warm, fun to play with, and intelligent.
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Yeahhh, as with everyone else, I say you're better off with a cat. I love both dogs and cats, but dogs are way tougher to take care of, unless you have a big ass backyard for them to play in.
Dogs are also more expensive than cats by a little bit. My cat costs me maybe $15 a month, if that, not including vet bills... Which don't exist for me, because my cat is strictly indoor, I just got it fixed at C-Snip for like $35, and bought $3 dewormer at the store.
So prettymuch it looks like this for me:
Big ass bag of cat food - $15 (once every 2-3 months)
Big ass thing o' litter - $10 (once every 2 months)
Fixed - $35
Dewormer - $3
Toys out the ass - $50
As far as a dog, I don't even know where to begin, haha. Dogs prettymuch need to get fixed, and prettymuch need to go to the vet, and are more likely to need emergency vet care. They cause more physical damage to your stuff, and you've gotta take them out a lot. They eat more, too. I love dogs to death, but they're way tougher to take care of.
Plus, it's easier to find a place to rent with a cat than it is a dog. (If that's even an issue with you)
Lastly, DON'T get a dog OR cat if you're not willing to make a 10-15 year commitment, please!
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get a male cat, they are AWESOME.... you dont have to train them like dogs usually....
I've had a lot of cats and ive found the ones more prone to fucking up your house are the females.
maybe its just my cats though.
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Male cat, declaw it, win. FRONT claws only though because declawing the back claws will screw them over. I try not to declaw my cats if I can but sometimes if they like to claw the shit out of the furniture you don't really have a choice.
Seriously they are relatively low maintenance but make sure you spend TIME picking one you like. Affectionate kittens are more likely to be affectionate adults and likewise with not so affectionate.
If you want an independent low maintenance pet you get a not so affectionate kitten and you're good to go.
If you really only want to get a dog well.. good luck, they take time and more money. I like dogs myself (prefer cats by far though) but they are much more difficult to take care of no matter the size.
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On February 27 2009 05:19 Ancestral wrote:Show nested quote +On February 27 2009 00:36 fanatacist wrote:On February 27 2009 00:27 IntoTheWow wrote:On February 27 2009 00:25 fanatacist wrote:
Get a cat for a domestic setting. They are generally more chill and relaxing 90% of the time. Plus they are more intelligent where it matters (when to pee, when to play/when to relax, etc.).
Cats > Dogs You have no soul You value blind loyalty and filth over intelligence and cute fuzzywuzzy kitties. You are a pervert. Sup quoc, BW? Intelligence? I'm only a "decent" student, but I am far more intelligent than any cat or dog. Cats and dogs are both stupid, but they're also both furry and cute.
Was I talking to you? Not trying to sound mean though lol, I meant relative intelligence. Animal kingdom intelligence. Monkey vs. fish intelligence.
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On February 27 2009 06:06 Jayme wrote:
Male cat, declaw it, win. FRONT claws only though because declawing the back claws will screw them over. I try not to declaw my cats if I can but sometimes if they like to claw the shit out of the furniture you don't really have a choice.
Seriously they are relatively low maintenance but make sure you spend TIME picking one you like. Affectionate kittens are more likely to be affectionate adults and likewise with not so affectionate.
If you want an independent low maintenance pet you get a not so affectionate kitten and you're good to go.
If you really only want to get a dog well.. good luck, they take time and more money. I like dogs myself (prefer cats by far though) but they are much more difficult to take care of no matter the size.
I have a leather couch. To get my cat not to claw shit was to buy a 30 dollar column (fuzzy thing in pet stores) and get some of that yellow hay-like string/wire and wrap it around the middle. Cat goes apeshit on it (we trained it to do so) and never touches furniture.
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On February 27 2009 00:04 Steelflight-Rx wrote:
I would seriously consider adopting a dog instead of purchasing one from a breeder or pet shop. Not only is it cheaper and more humane, but also, house breaking a puppy is very time intensive. They will be pissing and shitting all over your house, and if you don't yell at him then take him for a walk /right/ after it happens, he will never get the message.
i don't know how serious hym was about the cat.. but its true cats are generally less time consuming, so that's also something you should consider..
I agree about getting a "used" dog  Get one that already knows where to do it's business. You will miss out on the cute puppy stage but you'll also miss out on the why won't you stop shitting in my shoes stage.
I'm having a difficult time house training my Weimeraner, although she's learned everything else pretty easily. I'm hoping it will start to improve soon -_-
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On February 27 2009 00:25 fanatacist wrote:
Get a cat for a domestic setting. They are generally more chill and relaxing 90% of the time. Plus they are more intelligent where it matters (when to pee, when to play/when to relax, etc.).
Cats > Dogs
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On February 27 2009 00:48 Physician wrote:
get a monkey, chimp preferably
i don't know if you are joking or not. there was just this article about a chimp that mauled a 55 year old guy.
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On February 27 2009 07:37 rushz0rz wrote:Show nested quote +On February 27 2009 00:25 fanatacist wrote:
Get a cat for a domestic setting. They are generally more chill and relaxing 90% of the time. Plus they are more intelligent where it matters (when to pee, when to play/when to relax, etc.).
Cats > Dogs
that is the worst thing iv ever heard its called training i have a 7 month old puppy that iv had since a pup and its nvr peed in the house ever you just gotta be willing to take care of them >_>
but yeah after the initial shots and what not depending if you get a puppy or not (do it cause it will be your best friend) its cost roughly 20/30 for a week or 2 of dog food so i dont think its that much imo
I have 2 rottys and i love them ^_^
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I have a dog (chihuahua cross) and a cat. Both cost about the same in terms of money and time.
To me, the biggest cost is the time rather than the money. I spend about half an hour every day walking and feeding the dog (and she's so small!) and about the same time playing with and feeding the cat and clearing his litter tray.
That time is huge, to be honest. My wife can help me when I'm rushing for deadlines, but if you are all alone, not spending that half hour on your pet is NOT an option, even when you're really busy. A few times both my wife and I have been busy and it is really tough to make that time for the pets.
A big dog like a Golden Retriever or a hyper dog like a Jack Russell would require about double that amount of time, I think, because they need longer walks and some play time too.
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On February 27 2009 01:55 1a2a3aGG wrote:
When your thinking about a dog asking "how much money is it going to cost me" I already know, you shouldn't get a dog...
What? That is worlds better then some dude who walks by a pet store and impulsively buys one but ends up not being able to care for it due to cost.
Anyways, if your dog gets seriously sick it can be quite upsetting and even more upsetting if you can't handle the medical fees. Research your breeds - some dogs are more susceptible to certain diseases than others. Generally, smaller dogs should be easier to take care of (and much easier to handle of course).
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I think the big thing is that dogs have been made into companions animals. they need and benefit from the relationship with a human. Cats are more independent. Pointless getting a dog if you cant have a proper relationship with it because you are studying 18 hours a day.
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Cats are sure best for you. They're really inexpensive, they dont need a lot of food, so you'll save a bunch there, compared to a dog. Also cats are CLEAN. You just need a sandbox and done deal.
Besides cats are really useful, they clean your house/apartment from bugs, which i think its a big bonus.
And they're so funny!
ps: get a cat :D
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On February 27 2009 08:43 Polyphasic wrote:i don't know if you are joking or not. there was just this article about a chimp that mauled a 55 year old guy.
that was the joke =(
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I'm 95% sure the animal you are looking for is a cat. But not just any cat, you want a fat lazy cat that comes strolling around every so often looking for loving affection, and looms around creating a warm aura around the room that it resides.
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grad student has no time to afford a dog... might I suggest stuff animal or... gf or... fish?
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+1 for getting a cat.
Also, if you do get a cat, I'd recommend a female. They tend to be less aggressive, and more playful, and are much easier to keep as in-door cats. They tend to develop a bond with a single person, but as they get used to visitors they'll sort-of warm up to them.
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On February 27 2009 10:34 Fishball wrote:
AWWWWWWWW MY HEART JUST BROKE T_T SO CUTE
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On February 27 2009 10:37 VorcePA wrote:
+1 for getting a cat.
Also, if you do get a cat, I'd recommend a female. They tend to be less aggressive, and more playful, and are much easier to keep as in-door cats. They tend to develop a bond with a single person, but as they get used to visitors they'll sort-of warm up to them.
You kinda just described male cats actually...
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On February 27 2009 11:10 kefkalives wrote:AWWWWWWWW MY HEART JUST BROKE T_T SO CUTE
+1
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On February 27 2009 11:13 Jayme wrote:Show nested quote +On February 27 2009 10:37 VorcePA wrote:
+1 for getting a cat.
Also, if you do get a cat, I'd recommend a female. They tend to be less aggressive, and more playful, and are much easier to keep as in-door cats. They tend to develop a bond with a single person, but as they get used to visitors they'll sort-of warm up to them. You kinda just described male cats actually...
All the male cats I've come across have been harder to keep as in-door cats. They also just relax all day and don't really notice their owner. They're more independent.
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Haven't read the whole thread but buying a dog just to keep you from "going batshit insane" is the wrong reason to get a dog. Please don't get one.
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On February 27 2009 11:42 prOxi.swAMi wrote:
Haven't read the whole thread but buying a dog just to keep you from "going batshit insane" is the wrong reason to get a dog. Please don't get one.
and the whole time I thought the opposite would be true lol...
OMFG i have no time for studying AND I have to feed the dog? Wtf
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On February 27 2009 02:36 fanatacist wrote:Show nested quote +On February 27 2009 01:26 ~OpZ~ wrote:On February 27 2009 00:36 fanatacist wrote:On February 27 2009 00:27 IntoTheWow wrote:On February 27 2009 00:25 fanatacist wrote:
Get a cat for a domestic setting. They are generally more chill and relaxing 90% of the time. Plus they are more intelligent where it matters (when to pee, when to play/when to relax, etc.).
Cats > Dogs You have no soul You value blind loyalty and filth over intelligence and cute fuzzywuzzy kitties. You are a pervert. Sup quoc, BW? Kittens are irrelevant in comparison to a dog. Maybe compare it to a puppy. But I've seen cute puppies that no cat can compare to. Anyway, point is this: Kittens are bad ass. Puppies are cool too. Cats sucks. Dogs are awesome. Cats....Have too much damn personality. I got my kitten, and it was the nicest thing ever for a while. Then out of nowhere, it just hated to be touched a lot. You had to touch it when it wanted to be touch, or your fucked for the rest of the day. My dog on the other hand. Undying loyalty, even when I'm gone for a few days. She's always their to greet me. I love my dog SO MUCH MORE than my fucking cat. Cats are stuck up animals dammit. I said kitties, not kittens. Kitties is cuter way of saying cats, to me. And see, this is an example of a typical dog owner/lover. Dogs are perfect for you because you don't want personality or individualism or depth, you want blind loyalty so that even if you hit the dog it won't run away from home, it will be your best friend in five minutes. Dogs don't bite the hand that feeds because they are simplistic creatures; cats have a sense of equality with humans and should be respected as such. You want an animal that does whatever you want, when you want it. Imagine you are taking a nap or cleaning yourself, and some douche comes, picks you up, and starts harassing you about some crap he wants. You would be irritated and pissed. Dog will be like "YESUH MASTUH, THANK YA MASTUH." Cat will be like "Fuck off, I don't disturb your shit unless it's important, like feeding me or cleaning up my piss." Bottom line, if you want a simple animal with a loyalty bordering on stupidity, choose dogs. If you want an intelligent animal with a sense of respect and individuality, choose cats. If you have limited time/money, choose cats.
annoying a dog while its sleeping is a great way to get bit. the only reason why you think theres a distinction is because dogs are generally awake whenever you are so you don't really have the opportunity to wake them up, whereas cats sleep whenever theyre not eating
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omg >_< you guys have no idea how to train dogs its driving me MAD...first if all your supposed to be the alpha male PERIOD once that is established you should be able to do anything and everything to the dog without the slightest fear of getting bit.
And the cat thing...most of what they say is true except 1...male cats are so gross...they spray there funk all over the house and there is only one thing you can really do about it.....SNIP SNIP O_O GG NO RE
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60 hours of studying huh?
A dog might not be such a good idea, especially if you dont have time to walk it. No walks mean more energy to destroy your house. But if you can make time for a walk or two a day, plus training, a dog can be a real mood booster.
At the end of the day, it really depends on the breed, size, age, prior training the dog has. These factors play a huge role in how much money you may spend. For example, for dogs with hair you need to groom them (hair cuts, brushing etc.) or some breeds have breed specific problems.
I think gf is a better idea XD
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On February 27 2009 13:01 SoMuchBetter wrote:Show nested quote +On February 27 2009 02:36 fanatacist wrote:On February 27 2009 01:26 ~OpZ~ wrote:On February 27 2009 00:36 fanatacist wrote:On February 27 2009 00:27 IntoTheWow wrote:On February 27 2009 00:25 fanatacist wrote:
Get a cat for a domestic setting. They are generally more chill and relaxing 90% of the time. Plus they are more intelligent where it matters (when to pee, when to play/when to relax, etc.).
Cats > Dogs You have no soul You value blind loyalty and filth over intelligence and cute fuzzywuzzy kitties. You are a pervert. Sup quoc, BW? Kittens are irrelevant in comparison to a dog. Maybe compare it to a puppy. But I've seen cute puppies that no cat can compare to. Anyway, point is this: Kittens are bad ass. Puppies are cool too. Cats sucks. Dogs are awesome. Cats....Have too much damn personality. I got my kitten, and it was the nicest thing ever for a while. Then out of nowhere, it just hated to be touched a lot. You had to touch it when it wanted to be touch, or your fucked for the rest of the day. My dog on the other hand. Undying loyalty, even when I'm gone for a few days. She's always their to greet me. I love my dog SO MUCH MORE than my fucking cat. Cats are stuck up animals dammit. I said kitties, not kittens. Kitties is cuter way of saying cats, to me. And see, this is an example of a typical dog owner/lover. Dogs are perfect for you because you don't want personality or individualism or depth, you want blind loyalty so that even if you hit the dog it won't run away from home, it will be your best friend in five minutes. Dogs don't bite the hand that feeds because they are simplistic creatures; cats have a sense of equality with humans and should be respected as such. You want an animal that does whatever you want, when you want it. Imagine you are taking a nap or cleaning yourself, and some douche comes, picks you up, and starts harassing you about some crap he wants. You would be irritated and pissed. Dog will be like "YESUH MASTUH, THANK YA MASTUH." Cat will be like "Fuck off, I don't disturb your shit unless it's important, like feeding me or cleaning up my piss." Bottom line, if you want a simple animal with a loyalty bordering on stupidity, choose dogs. If you want an intelligent animal with a sense of respect and individuality, choose cats. If you have limited time/money, choose cats. annoying a dog while its sleeping is a great way to get bit. the only reason why you think theres a distinction is because dogs are generally awake whenever you are so you don't really have the opportunity to wake them up, whereas cats sleep whenever theyre not eating
From my experience, if you are the clear alpha male to the dog then no matter what (except life or death circumstances or protection of another family member) the dog will not bite you, not even by reflex. Waking a dog up usually leads to nothing, and I have had many family members with various breeds of dogs and that is what they do when they need to walk it or what not.
Otherwise (not alpha male situation), you are definitely right. It also depends on how you wake the dog up as well.
Cats do NOT sleep whenever they are not eating, they just sleep a lot in the day time, and even then a lot of domestic cats are not completely nocturnal. They tend to go to sleep with you, and only wake up a few hours later in the night and then nap in the morning when you wake up (also from my experience, with the cats kind of being put into that time schedule... definitely could vary).
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On February 27 2009 15:19 StalinRusH wrote:
omg >_< you guys have no idea how to train dogs its driving me MAD...first if all your supposed to be the alpha male PERIOD once that is established you should be able to do anything and everything to the dog without the slightest fear of getting bit.
And the cat thing...most of what they say is true except 1...male cats are so gross...they spray there funk all over the house and there is only one thing you can really do about it.....SNIP SNIP O_O GG NO RE
all pets need to be desexed unless you want them to spray everywhere in the case of male pets or attract every male animal from miles away whenever theyre on heat in the case of females
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I have friends in grad school who got hedgehogs. There are other "exotic-ish" animals that you might wanna consider.
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On February 27 2009 11:33 VorcePA wrote:Show nested quote +On February 27 2009 11:13 Jayme wrote:On February 27 2009 10:37 VorcePA wrote:
+1 for getting a cat.
Also, if you do get a cat, I'd recommend a female. They tend to be less aggressive, and more playful, and are much easier to keep as in-door cats. They tend to develop a bond with a single person, but as they get used to visitors they'll sort-of warm up to them. You kinda just described male cats actually... All the male cats I've come across have been harder to keep as in-door cats. They also just relax all day and don't really notice their owner. They're more independent.
It doesn´t depand so much on gender it´s more the race that makes big different and how the breeder mixes the parents :D and how you treat them.
I have a Siam and she is like a dog, following me whereever i go, you could even go out with her and she won´t get lost, but she never goes out alone outside the garden, she is 19 now.
My male was a norwegian forrestcat and he was amazing dominat against everything and everyone that wanted to come into my bed and out bathroom  , the problem with malecats is that once they are "man" they start to mark every corner, thing, whatever and this gonna kill you if you don´t run imidiatly for kastration.
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-1 for getting a cat. I have one, and it sucks.
Some myths about the cats:
- they're cleaner than dogs - bullshit, they carry way more diseases and tend to create more alergies
- they don't smell bad - bullshit, they don't smell themselves, but just by entering an apartment you can tell there's a cat there, also the smell is much less pleasant than the dog
- they require less attention - bullshit, sure you don't have to walk them and stuff but man they can be a real pain in the ass when they're in a mood to play or if they're hungry
- they don't destroy stuff so much - bullshit, I've lived around dogs my whole life and 4 of them together didn't cause as much damage as 1 cat during a year
Pros of a dog:
- it actually does stuff you tell it to (cats understand you but don't care about you, you're just a way to get food or their plaything)
- it loves you no matter what (like above, cats love you only at the moment you give them food or play with them)
- it can protect you
etc.
etc.
DO NOT get a cat. Dogs ftw!
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i want an animal to keep me company while i'm studying. i don't care if it's a cat or a dog, as long as it provides companionship. I guess i'll go to the local uhm... animal store? i don't even know where to buy animals.
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I have a jack russel terrier cost about 45$ a month in food, water ill give for free since they consume far less than us, and the 6 month visits to the vet about $200 (being liberal last time was like 80$ i think), only thing imo is if u have the time to spend with it to train it and make it bonjwa dog. also take into consideration the environment it will be staying in i.e. when u go to school will the area it will stay be adequate for it to be comfortable small areas for large dogs lead to bad hips and areas with electronics are never good for a small bored dog. good luck if all else fails i recomend a reptile of some sort EASIEST pet to own.
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I definitely vote for a dog in terms of a pet that will help you not go nuts (eventually). Cats kind of do whatever they want. Dogs will hang out with you. Keep in mind though, that if you get a puppy, it's going to cause damage and it WILL take up tons of your time.
I'd say cost per month fluctuates based on things like...is the dog sick? Because vet visits will cost a TON.
It's not unreasonable to expect to pay 50$ for food. But don't forge other costs, such as food/water bowl, leash, chews, etc. And if you go away, it costs money to board the thing, and vet visits when it gets older are really expensive.
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On March 03 2009 22:02 Polyphasic wrote:
i want an animal to keep me company while i'm studying. i don't care if it's a cat or a dog, as long as it provides companionship. I guess i'll go to the local uhm... animal store? i don't even know where to buy animals.
So you're going to ignore everyone's advice, get a dog anyway (and perpetuate shitty puppy mills by buying through a pet store no less) and watch as the poor thing goes batshit insane because you don't have time for it? Sweet.
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On March 03 2009 21:24 Manit0u wrote:
-1 for getting a cat. I have one, and it sucks.
Some myths about the cats:
- they're cleaner than dogs - bullshit, they carry way more diseases and tend to create more alergies
- they don't smell bad - bullshit, they don't smell themselves, but just by entering an apartment you can tell there's a cat there, also the smell is much less pleasant than the dog
- they require less attention - bullshit, sure you don't have to walk them and stuff but man they can be a real pain in the ass when they're in a mood to play or if they're hungry
- they don't destroy stuff so much - bullshit, I've lived around dogs my whole life and 4 of them together didn't cause as much damage as 1 cat during a year
Pros of a dog:
- it actually does stuff you tell it to (cats understand you but don't care about you, you're just a way to get food or their plaything)
- it loves you no matter what (like above, cats love you only at the moment you give them food or play with them)
- it can protect you
etc.
etc.
DO NOT get a cat. Dogs ftw!
QFT
My cat tried to destroy my big screen tv and the leather sofa, despite having scratchy stuffs bought for it. We declawed the little bitch after that.
Don't fuck with my big screen.
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EPT![[image loading]](http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n114/corsiphoto/photos-part2/dog-74.jpg)
