We are looking into getting our first four legged family member

What I dont know is dog life length? I know it's differ. for small and large dogs but I dont know how?

Thanks

Nana~

Pure breed dogs have shorter life spans than mutts typically. Each breed comes with unique common "issues". For example, Shitzzus (sp?) have common eye infections, german shephards have hip issues, dalmations have hearing and ear issues, pitbulls can have temperment and protective issues, greyhounds have muscle issues, etc etc.

A really small dog and a really large monster size dog generally have shorter lifespans than medium regular size dogs (25-60 lbs). My best advice would be to go to your local pound and look for a mutt puppy. Then research the breed mixes. Find the dog that will hold attention span when you are with them, then that is the one!

Putting a dog to sleep is one of the traumatic things that I have ever had to do (though it was the vet who actually performed the deed).

Recently I was debating getting a cortisone shot for my bad knee (3 surgeries, next time artificial knee). My choice was 10 seconds of pain and 6 to 8 months of being able to walk without continual agony or skip the 10 seconds of pain that accompanies the injection and suffering every time I walk in continual agony.

My wife, sister-in-law and brother-in-law all said they would skip the needle to avoid the needle's pain. I took the injection.

What does this have to do with dogs?

The pain of putting away a dog hurts much more than any needle, but the pleasure that a loving dog can give you is only surpassed by the love and life-giving fulfillment that raising a child can provide.

No one should put off living because there is death at the end of the road. If you want a dog, do not let the specter of his demise deter you. Buy the kind of dog that you most like. I have had 5 German Shepherds. They lasted from 11 years to 14 years (except for a puppy that had to be put away at 9 months). I love all of them, and cried and mourned each one almost as if each were human. Getting a new dog after one dies can help so much. It is a major difference between mourning a human and a dog. You can't go out and bring home another mother, father, etc. But you can bring home another dog, and no matter how much you loved the last one, when the puppy licks your face, your mind is relieved.

Now, we have an unusual mix: Half Malamute, half PitBull. We love him just as much (and maybe more) than any of our German Shepherds. He is 11 and in good health. I fear putting him away, because he will be our last dog. I fear having to tell my grand-daughter where her beloved Rocky is on that day. I am crying as I write this, so I must stop.

very small dog and very bigs one have shorter life expectancies. Mid-sized dogs seem to statistically live the longest. (based on the charts in our Vet's office.

Nana~ just make sure your new dog has a job. They need jobs. It's critical that they have a purpose, otherwise they are not balanced. I'd get a book on dog psychology. Cesar someone has a very good one. He also has a show on ... the national geographic channel. My sister has the dish so we watch it when we visit.

Dogs need jobs. Cats need staff.

Congrats on your new family member!

Jobs? What kind of jobs? The only ones that immediately come to mind are protecting, greeting, fetching, playing, exercising, being loving, and possibly putting away their own toys. What other categories or subcategories of job are there?

We had a mastiff/ st bernard cross that in his prime was about 150 lbs. As he slowly went down hill around 11 yrs old we asked the vet what was his life range and was told -about 2 yrs ago. The bigger the dog the less time you have with them but every dog and every situation is different. If I knew then how long we had with him I would still do it all over again. It has been 3 yrs and we still talk about him and remember but we are really careful to make no comparisons with our current dog. Like comparing apples to oranges. Our currant American Bulldog at 90 lbs should be a 15 yr dog but who knows?? For the love and companionship, and the pure joy of having him around I will take what I can get.

I dont think my dogs got the JOB memo....damn it I KNEW I was getting ripped off hahaha! Our chihuahua is a pistol I tell ya, and we also have a mut named Dougan that is soooo sweet but sheds like crazy. They are definately part of the family and we love them like a child. They even fight like our kids hahaha! Oh by the way Nana, our kids are the same age!

Well, I guess dogs are a lot like us. We all have different health issues, and different life spans. We all like to have a purpose. We like to be spoiled by someone, and we like to play...

Hey, is there already a book like that out there?

We are thinking our next dog/puppy may be a boxer. Are there any boxer fans out there?

My wife tells me there is a pet pic thread out there somewhere. Will try to find it. We are huge animal lovers.

A quick search reveals the life expectancy for dobbies is 13 years. :welldoneclap: Congratulations on your new dog! I think dobbies are beautiful, but I have two pugXbostons myself... bugs!

Thanks ya'll We have two Dobermans coming to our home on FRIDAY for a home visit with our Family!

One in between8 and 9 Years and the other is est 2 years old~

I'm excited!

We (Hubby and I) sorta are leaning towards the senior dog because most people want puppies and the older dogs get pined up just cause their older :welldoneclap:

But we shall see, theese dogs are in fosrter homes so no risk of them getting killed.. I hate places that kill every two weeks!

Nana~

Thanks ya'll We have two Dobermans coming to our home on FRIDAY for a home visit with our Family!

One in between8 and 9 Years and the other is est 2 years old~

I'm excited!

We (Hubby and I) sorta are leaning towards the senior dog because most people want puppies and the older dogs get pined up just cause their older :welldoneclap:

But we shall see, theese dogs are in fosrter homes so no risk of them getting killed.. I hate places that kill every two weeks!

Nana~

~~~~take them both~~~~~~

subliminal messaging courtesy of Bettina!

oooh, Dobeys - gotta love 'em, the big softies. My Dad jokes that they'll lick you to death! LOL! Good luck with your new best friend.

We had a Jack Russell x Pomeranian. Best dog we ever had. She only made it to 13, which was a big shock, we thought she'd last forever. The vet was surprised too. Being a small dog, everyone thought she'd go to 18 or so. She had heart disease - an enlarged heart - probably from loving us too much, and trying too hard to keep up with us (well, that's what we reckon...)

Jobs? What kind of jobs? The only ones that immediately come to mind are protecting, greeting, fetching, playing, exercising, being loving, and possibly putting away their own toys. What other categories or subcategories of job are there?

• Skitching cats, possums, birds etc
  
• Rolling in hodmandods (snails) and other unspeakably stinky stuff
  
• Licking
  
• sleeping on the food lady's feet
  
• Sniffing
  
• Chewing humungous bones
  
• Spraying Water all over the master after a bath or swim
  
• Marking all telephone poles and trees with family ownership
  
• Exercise reminders
  
• Constant best friends and companions

I have a german shephard that is 3 years old that is my big baby. The first dog I got on my own and I love her to pieces. My hubby worked nights and so she slept with me and she sits on the couch and watches tv with me. We're very close. My mom went with me to get her so I know that someday when I have to put her down I will be especially heart broken.

My husband has a lab/german shephard mix that's 11 months old. He's a big goofy boy that I love to pieces too. I want to get a third dog but everyone things we're crazy. It's just the two of us though in a 3 bedroom house on 3 acres of land. Why shouldn't I get another doggy???

I have a dobie she is 15 years oldactually almost 16. She is part of our family we keep her inside. She was rasied with both of our kids (playing, sleeping, eating).She has grieved right along with my husband and I when both of our kids went off to college. She is just as excited when they come home as we are.

In April we adopted a Saint Bernard from the local St. B rescue. She is 1 1/2 and just a big (120lb) baby. My DD's 7 & 11 love her. We have invested in some very good training and a fence, but she really is a lot of fun to have. Lifespan is tough to deal with, but we get to enjoy her for now. We debated the puppy thing, but I just didn't want to deal with the chewing and "potty" training.

Good luck with your new addition. A dog also makes a great exercise companion.