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01-10-2013, 11:36 AM | #886 |
BOOM!1!
Join Date: Aug 2004
Casino cash: $8265541
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My gf and I would absolutely love to have our first dog be a bernese mountain dog.
Have any CPers owned one before? Big, thick coated dogs. However, I've heard they have typically have short life spans. |
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01-10-2013, 11:40 AM | #887 | |
Sauntering Vaguely Downwards
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Columbia, Mo
Casino cash: $1179099
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Quote:
I'm a sucker for those things. Swissies and Berners catch my eye every time.
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01-10-2013, 11:43 AM | #888 |
Cast Iron Jedi
Join Date: Nov 2004
Casino cash: $9999900
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01-10-2013, 11:43 AM | #889 |
I'm your huckleberry
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Northern VA
Casino cash: $7615213
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I looked in to one before getting my last German shepherd. They're great looking dogs but you're right about the short life span thing. I believe I remember reading the average lifespan of one is like 7-8 years. That still didn't stop me from looking but I had no luck finding a breeder on the east coast.
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01-10-2013, 11:44 AM | #890 | |
Sauntering Vaguely Downwards
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Columbia, Mo
Casino cash: $1179099
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Quote:
Cancer is extremely common and they are just so thickly built that their joints tend to fail them as well. I've started doing some research into Appenzellers; very similar markings but in a lab-style body. It's another sennenhund but a pretty rare one. They look like they're not as user-friendly as the Berners are though and definitely won't be the 90 lber that the Bernese will be. Damn shame about the health issues with the Bernese or it would be a pretty near perfect dog.
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"If there's a god, he's laughing at us.....and our football team..." "When you look at something through rose colored glasses, all the red flags just look like flags." |
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Posts: 63,152
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01-10-2013, 11:49 AM | #891 |
BOOM!1!
Join Date: Aug 2004
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It is just so tough for me to fork out anywhere between 800-1800 for a dog that may or may not last 7-8 years.
The one dog I want more than anything is an English Bulldog. Another large chunk of change for a dog that has a short life span. Maybe we will just stick with Australian Shepherds. |
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01-10-2013, 11:52 AM | #892 | |
Supporter
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Scott City KS
Casino cash: $454734
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Quote:
Anyway, I've been more than impressed with Chief, and his traits match up pretty well with what I'm wanting. And in most cases would be a little smaller than Shepherds and have less fur for easier grooming and shedding and the like. My wife did a whole mess of research on dog breeds before we settled on Cattle Dog and they have a really good fit with us. |
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01-10-2013, 11:55 AM | #893 |
BOOM!1!
Join Date: Aug 2004
Casino cash: $8265541
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We may get a dog potentially this year. Depending on all sorts or things.
I know Topeka is opening a humane center soon too. My parents recent pet they got - Murphy - is a mini Australian shepherd. Great, cool dog. |
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01-10-2013, 11:56 AM | #894 | |
Sauntering Vaguely Downwards
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Columbia, Mo
Casino cash: $1179099
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We have a standing emergency 'slush fund' of about $3K/dog and that's with labradors. With a Bernese you're likely looking at much higher vet/maintenance bills. Unless you're able/willing to shell out 3-5K to deal with blown out knees, deteriorating hips or cancer medicine, I'd recommend you steer clear of a Bernese. It's not really fair to you or the dog to buy one and then not be willing to fix it up as things start to go wrong.
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"If there's a god, he's laughing at us.....and our football team..." "When you look at something through rose colored glasses, all the red flags just look like flags." |
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01-10-2013, 12:00 PM | #895 | |
BOOM!1!
Join Date: Aug 2004
Casino cash: $8265541
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Whatever kind of dog we decide will be spoiled and considered a 4-legged child. I just had no idea the Bernese life span was 7-8 years. Just not sure it that's worth the investment and if we decide to pursue that route we will finance and plan accordingly. |
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01-10-2013, 12:07 PM | #896 | |
Cast Iron Jedi
Join Date: Nov 2004
Casino cash: $9999900
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01-10-2013, 12:08 PM | #897 |
Rufus Dawes Jr.
Join Date: Aug 2000
Casino cash: $-131821
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This is my 2 year old floppy eared (they never stood up) GSD.
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01-10-2013, 12:09 PM | #898 |
BOOM!1!
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01-10-2013, 12:36 PM | #899 | |
I like 'em mustard & biscuits
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: The Hill
Casino cash: $10011076
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Quote:
do some research on bullmastiffs. I'm on my second one and I swear they are the best dogs. I have some pics of Dozer in my personal...what the hell ever you call it.....my profile. I've already thrown pics of him in here somewhere....wouldn't want to Q!!!
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01-10-2013, 01:48 PM | #900 |
Dirty Bit
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Lake of the Woods
Casino cash: $2546002
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2 year old Great Dane/Mastiff mix, Riley. And 4 year old goofy ass lab, Dansby
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