The Cost of Owning a Dog

If you are thinking of adding a dog to your family, you probably have spent some time researching various breeds and their characteristics. Did you know the American Kennel Club (AKC) recognizes 161 unique dog breeds? This number doesn’t account for any of the mixed breeds that are becoming increasingly more popular. Most presumptive pet owners spend a significant amount of time researching dog breeds. However, they are probably not factoring in a huge variable: How much does owning a dog really cost? There are a number of factors that weigh heavily on the true cost of owning a dog. For instance, one can safely assume owning a large breed of dog will most likely cost more than owning a small breed of dog. The larger dog will certainly need more food than the smaller dog. Likewise the larger dog will need a bigger crate, pet bed and more toys than a small dog.

Where do you live? If you live in a smaller city or town your cost of ownership will be less than the cost of owning a dog in New York City or other large metropolitan areas. Dog related services such as Veterinarians, dog walkers and pet sitters will almost certainly be more expensive in big cities. There are many yearly costs of owning a small dog or a big dog that are the same. An office visit to the Veterinarian will cost the same for both large and small dogs. Dog licenses and tags are other examples of yearly costs of owning a dog.

A dog owner must also be aware of the monthly costs of owning a dog. Your dog will need flea and tick prevention, heartworm prevention, food, toys and treats. The cost of owning a dog can add up quickly! We recommend you take a good look at your financial picture before you adopt or purchase a dog. It is important to include the cost of owning a dog into your monthly budget.

Our annual pet cost calculator is a handy tool to help guide you in your dog ownership experience. Simply plug in the requested information and the annual pet cost calculator will give you an estimated yearly cost for owning a dog.

One way to help make the transition to dog ownership cheaper is to adopt a shelter dog or rescue dog. The initial cost of owning a shelter dog is usually free. Most shelters do not charge a fee for adopting a dog. We recommend you make a charitable contribution to the animal shelter to help the organization keep the cost of adopting a shelter dog free for everyone.

While the cost of owning a dog isn’t free, the love they have for their human family is priceless.

Rottweiler Info

What is a Rottweiler?

A Rottweiler is a powerful and courageous dog. His original purpose was that of a guard dog, draft dog, and drover dog (moving cattle). He worked close to his master, and was loyal and protective. Even though the days of man requiring the service for which the breed was developed are gone, those instincts remain strong. A Rottweiler is not for the timid or the mild-mannered owner. They are pushy and out going, and without proper guidance, will take charge of situations. These dogs need proper socialization (meeting lots of people and other dogs when they’re young), consistent handling, and solid, basic obedience. A Rottweiler would love nothing better than to be with his owner 24/7 – so when a dog is left in the yard, alone and bored, he becomes destructible and territorial (please read “Teenage Rottweilers” below). A Rottweiler is a large dog that may be wary of strangers, protective of this home, and obedient only to his master – so it is very important that he has an owner that is devoted and involved. A Rottweiler is a large breed, with many genetic issues including hip and elbow dysplasia, cataracts, and cancer – that ends the life of most Rotties. Be prepared that keeping a Rottweiler healthy may be expensive. 

Your Rottweiler wants to be where you are. They do not want to be alone in the yard they are not happy with a big yard, or a dog house, or a heated outdoor bowl – to them, these are torture. Rottweilers are intelligent dogs that thrive in the company of those that nurture their need for social contact. In general, a well-socialized Rottweiler enjoys the company of other dogs. Intact males, however, tend to dislike other intact males, and can get dominant in social situations – including guarding their yard. On the other hand, neutered males make terrific companions. Females, especially if spayed , are generally smaller than males, and tend to be a bit less pushy – though sometimes get moodier as they enter their golden years.

What can Rotties do? EVERYTHING! Rottweiler’s are part of the “Working group”. They are part of a group of dogs that were bred to perform a special duty – however, in the Rottweiler’s case, they can perform almost any duty!

• As They are natural draft dog, they love to carry their packs when hiking, as well as herd sheep, cattle, and even ducks
• Rottweiler’s excel in obedience, because they have a natural desire to work with and please their owners.
• Rottweiler’s can be trained to pull carts – and enjoy working close to their owner. Basic obedience is THE MOST important aspect of having a well behaved Rottweiler.
• A WELL Trained Rottweiler can do more duties that almost any other breed of dog.

Rottweiler

Although a versatile breed used in recent times for many purposes, the Rottweiler is primarily one of the oldest, if not the oldest of herding breeds. A multi-faceted herding and stock protection dog, it is capable of working all kinds of livestock under a variety of conditions.
The breed's history likely dates to the Roman Empire. In those times, the Roman legion traveled with working dogs to herd the cattle needed to feed the army. One route the army traveled was through Württemberg and on to the small market town of Rottweiler. The principal ancestors of the first Rottweilers during this time are believed to be the Roman droving dog, local dogs the army met on its travels, and dogs with molosser appearance coming from England and the Netherlands.
This region was eventually to become an important cattle area, and the descendants of the Roman cattle dogs proved their worth in both driving and protecting the cattle from robbers and wild animals. Rottweilers were said to have been used by traveling butchers at markets during the Middle Ages to guard money pouches tied around their necks. However, as railroads became the primary method for moving stock to market, the breed had declined so much that by 1882 in a dog show in Heilbronn, there was only one very poor representative of the breed.
The buildup to World War I saw a great demand for police dogs, and that led to a revival of interest in the Rottweiler. During the First and Second World Wars, Rottweilers were put into service in various roles, including as messenger, ambulance, draught, and guard dogs.
The Deutscher Rottweiler-Klub (DRK, German Rottweiler Club), the first Rottweiler club in Germany, was founded on 13 January 1914, and followed by the creation of the Süddeutscher Rottweiler-Klub (SDRK, South German Rottweiler Club) on 27 April 1915 and eventually became the IRK (International Rottweiler Club). The DRK counted around 500 Rottweilers, and the SDRK 3000 Rottweilers. The goals of the two clubs were different. The DRK aimed to produce working dogs and did not emphasise the morphology of the Rottweiler.
The various German Rottweiler Clubs amalgamated to form the Allgemeiner Deutscher Rottweiler Klub (ADRK, General German Rottweiler Club) in 1921. This was officially recorded in the register of clubs and associations at the district court of Stuttgart on 27 January 1924. The ADRK is recognised worldwide as the home club of the Rottweiler.
In 1931 the Rottweiler was officially recognised by the American Kennel Club. In 1936, Rottweilers were exhibited in Britain at Crufts. In 1966, a separate register was opened for the breed. In fact, in the mid-1990s, the popularity of the Rottweiler reached an all-time high with it being the most registered dog by the American Kennel Club.

Feeding your Rottweiler

The first and most important thing that contributes to your Rottweilers health is the food that you feed him or her.

Depending on the age of the Rottweiler, they need a certain amount of meat and nutrients to keep a balanced and nutritious diet.You can choose to feed them food from the store or you can make your own if you have the time.

Learn how to read the labels on the dog food before you purchase one.

It's important that the source of protein, whether it be chicken, lamb or beef, is the first ingredient listed on the label.

If your Rottweiler has allergies to certain things, that's something else you need to keep an eye out for.

The information on the bag should tell you how much to feed them and how often. If your Rottweiler needs to lose a little weight, you can find specialized diets for the Rottweiler breed. This is usually some sort of low calorie food.

Don't ever resort to "free feeding" your dog since this can lead to obesity which can lead to other serious health issues. They need to be on a eating schedule just like we are! I feed my dogs twice a day with occasional treats that I make myself. Carrots also make great treats for your dogs and that's a healthy option.

Rotties health

Rottweilers are a relatively healthy, disease-free breed. As with most large breeds, hip dysplasia can be a problem.


For this reason the various Rottweiler breed clubs have had x-ray testing regimes in place for many years. Osteochondritis Dissecans, a condition affecting the shoulder joints, can also be a problem due to the breed's rapid growth rate.
A reputable breeder will have the hips and elbows of all breeding stock x-rayed and read by a recognised specialist, and will have paperwork to prove it.
They will also have certificates that their breeding animals do not have entropion or ectropion and that they have full and complete dentition with a scissor bite.

Rottweiler saves 4-year-old boy from pit bull

When a pit bull attacked 4-year-old John Heineman on Thursday afternoon, a hero quickly came to the boy’s rescue.


Frankee - 11 months old Rottweiler
Frankee, the friendly family Rottweiler, was being walked by the boy’s brother, Cody Taylor. As the pit bull latched onto the boy’s arm and dragged him to the ground, Taylor screamed, “Get him!” and Frankee lunged at the pit bull, biting it in the ribs.

With Frankee launching a canine counterattack and Taylor punching and kicking it, the pit bull relinquished its grip on the boy. Taylor then called 911.

The mauling occurred at 5:30 p.m. Thursday on Temple Place outside John’s home. Taylor and Frankee live across town and just happened to be there at the time.
John received what police described as “serious injuries” in the attack, one of two unrelated pit bull attacks that occurred in the city on Thursday.                                                  
                  
In the other, a 13-year-old boy was mauled inside a Kinsley Street apartment, police said. A pit bull there bit the teenager, who was visiting the apartment, on the face and arm, inflicting serious injuries, said Nashua Police Lt. Raymond McDannell.
“They were bad,” McDannell said.

The boy was taken to Southern New Hampshire Medical Center. The dog is still with its owner, McDannell said, because the bite happened inside the apartment and the dog’s vaccinations are up to date.

In the Temple Place attack, it appears the boy was reaching for a toy that was close to the animal, police said.

The pit bull was on a leash at the time, but the owner couldn’t prevent the attack or pry the dog’s jaws open as it clamped around the boy’s arm, Taylor said.
That dog was taken into custody and is being housed at the Humane Society for Greater Nashua, police said.

Police were uncertain whether charges would be filed.
John is in the pediatrics unit at Southern New Hampshire Medical Center, recovering from surgery to repair extensive tissue damage to his arm, said the boy’s mother, Becky Healey.

Meanwhile, Frankee is being hailed as a hero, with neighbors bringing steaks and smothering him with praise and attention as news of the 11-month-old Rott’s heroic actions are spread via Facebook postings, said Debra Mitkus, Taylor’s legal guardian and Frankee’s proud owner.

John lost a lot of flesh in the attack, Taylor said.

“My little brother is a tough little kid,” he said.

“He’s holding very strong though all of it,” Healey said. “He’s a trouper.”
At home, Frankee, a pedigreed Rottweiler, acts like a big lapdog who gets bullied by the family cat. He’s well-trained and readily follows hand signals to sit and lie down.

But he has shown a protective instinct, never biting anyone, but positioning himself in front of kids if he feels roughhousing is getting a bit too rowdy, Mitkus said.
“I just love this dog to pieces,” Mitkus said.

Frankee – whose pedigree name is Franke E. Stein Von Birken Wald – is the third Rottweiler that Mitkus has owned. The ashes of her beloved first one, Baron, are kept in the kitchen.

“They say Rottys are so bad, but I’ve talked to people who wouldn’t own anything else,” Mitkus said.

Police told the family that the pit bull hadn’t had its shots. While Frankee is up to date on his, Mitkus is nonetheless concern about her dog’s health.
She said she planned to call Frankee’s veterinarian just to make sure Frankee will be OK.

Apollo the rottweiler

Rescued from an unknown past and cared for by selfless young shelter volunteer Bree Justice, Apollo's panicky human aggression (directed specifically toward adult males) made him a risky candidate for permanent adoption and eventually landed him on death row. Down to the wire and desperate for a solution, representatives from the Orange County Humane Society pleaded his case before Dog Whisperer Producers at an open audition at PETCO - and won the condemned Rottie a stay of execution!


It was during Apollo's long rehabilitation at the Center that he met and immediately bonded with Cesar's eldest son Andre. Brought in to aid in disciplining the pup, Andre's positive energy was a perfect match for Apollo's aggressive uncertainty, making him a powerful ally for Cesar.

"He didn't trust men, and he didn't trust me, yet," says Cesar, "So when I saw Andre's bond with Apollo, I said to myself 'he can help me.' Just like when you use food, or toys. Whatever motivates a dog to trust, that's the tool you use. And in this case, my student became my teacher. He helped me close the link."

After several weeks spent working together to build trust, and knowing that his son was dedicated to continuing the rehabilitation, Cesar chose Andre as the best candidate to give Apollo a forever home.

"It's the relationship that Daddy and I have. It's at that level. I thought 'these guys are meant to be together.' Something like that doesn't happen all the time."

The big presentation was made to Andre at the end of Apollo's episode, where Cesar requested that Andre read a written pledge aloud to mark his commitment.

I, Andre Millan, promise to Apollo
to use my wisdom about dogs
in the direction of balance and love.

"When I go away from home, I leave a list of goals for the boys that need to be achieved. I am a huge believer that whatever you think, you have to write down, and whatever you write down, you have to think it and read it. It's a very healthy way to make what you want a reality. Everything I have written has become real for me, so I believe in that. And the things that have worked for me, as a father I want to teach them to my children."

Now a permanent member of the Millan family pack thanks in large part to Bree's heroic efforts, Apollo spends his new life rollerblading and excelling at agility courses with Andre, both of them virtually inseparable. And Apollo's rehabilitation continues to this day - a testament to Andre's promise to use all his knowledge and resources to fulfill the needs of his new best friend.