2006-07-21 14:13:51 · 31 answers · asked by Sharn 1 in Pets ➔ Dogs
We are thinking of rescuing a 12 year old dog from the dog shelter but we would like to get a few years out of him!
2006-07-21 14:16:51 · update #1
hes a bull terrier cross dont know his history hes been rescued from the pound hes a medium size dog
2006-07-21 14:21:11 · update #2
Well thanks for all your responses...And I got to thinking...Who knows how long any of us have got...So this morning I went to the pound and bought home our newest member of the family...they called him Fargo but I have named him O.B as in old boy...So heres to the quality of time we will spend together and who cares about the quantity...As long as I care for him as best as I can... then things should be sweet...Just wanted to share that with ya.
2006-07-22 02:33:53 · update #3
Get him, not too many people are willing, and you can bring his last years in a warm loving home rather than in a cold noisy shelter.
He could have a good 4-6 more years
2006-07-21 14:29:01 · answer #1 · answered by Marge Simpson 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
the life expectancy of a bull terrier is about 10-16 years. possibly longer if a cross breed. The only known prones to these dogs are cataracts. because of the eye color. (blue) if this dog does not have blue eyes there is a chance that it will not get this problem. If the dog at the shelter is 12, i say go for it. Give him a loving home and don't let him count his days in a shelter. The best companions are those rescued from a shelter.
good luck...
2006-07-21 15:07:29 · answer #2 · answered by alaskan village 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
depends on the dog. some individuals can live well into their 20s.
what kind of dog? how long have you had it? where did it come from? what is its general health? any chronic/genetic/injury problems?
why do you ask?
please re-post with more information so that we can help you.
a bull terrier cross, eh?
well, how does he look? how well do you know your shelter?
talk to the kennel staff at the shelter, they will likely know him as well as possible under the circumstances. many shelters offer a free vet check and a limited guarantee. i would expect that if the shelter was not confident that he is was reasonably healthy he would not have gone up for adoption.
that said, adopting an older animal may carry some health issues with it, but them's the breaks with dog ownership in general.
older animals sometimes have a hard time finding new homes.
if you are feelin' the vibe with this ol' boy, i say give 'im a home!
2006-07-21 14:17:59 · answer #3 · answered by L. S. 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If his health is sound now, and if you give him good care, he could be with you for a possible six or eight years. His age should not be a problem - he's a mature adult, not a puppy, which can be an advantage. His bull terrier ancestry, unlike his age, might be a real issue. Some BTs are wonderful pets...and some are not. Some are bred to be aggressive...and are.
Have a talk with the pound staff about this dog's temperament and know what you're getting into before taking him on. Be candid with them about your level of experience as a dog owner and what you can and cannot handle. Get as much information from them about his behavior as you can before making your decision.
2006-07-21 22:51:23 · answer #4 · answered by silver.graph 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It really depends on the size of the dog. The smaller the dog, the longer the life. Really big dogs like Great Danes and Mastiffs typically have lifespans of 8-10 years while a toy breed might still be going strong at 15.
Another thing is how is the health of your dog now? Is he suffering from arthritis, is he healthy? How long did his parents live? If you have any info about his relatives and how long they lived, that would give you a good indication as well.
2006-07-21 14:20:08 · answer #5 · answered by MastiffLvr 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
about 1 to 10 years
2006-07-21 14:18:20 · answer #6 · answered by shockgirl360 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The 1st question is what kind of dog?? I have had a maltese that lived to be 18 and a shepard who died at 10. Rule of thumb says small dogs live longer than big dogs. Then there all so many other factors such as diseases or breed weakness, does your dog have all his shots, a good vet etc. These can all be a part of the answer.
2006-07-21 14:30:57 · answer #7 · answered by kaianna 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Rescue him!!
You can give no greater gift to this pup than to give him a nice place to live his remaining years with a loving family (it'll probably add time to his life).
Everyone who goes to the pound to rescue dogs wants a puppy. Older dogs are very hard to adopt. You'll be doing this dog (and the shelter) a great service by taking him.
2006-07-21 14:53:08 · answer #8 · answered by Ginbail © 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It really is unpredictable. I have a dog that I got back in 1994. He was two years old then...Yes, he is an old dog and has slowed down a bit but he is still alive.
Go ahead and rescue the dog. Let him live out the rest of his life happy with a nice family
2006-07-21 14:22:25 · answer #9 · answered by say it ain't so 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just go for it! The poor thing is in a shelter at his age! Let him live out his life in comfort. It's hard to say how long he'll live, but medium sized dogs live longer than big dogs, so you could get a few good years. Plus, he'll be so happy to be with you that he'll make sure to live extra long! Good luck with your new pet!
2006-07-21 14:40:44 · answer #10 · answered by CC 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It depends on the breed of the dog. Generally, most smaller breeds tend to live a long life, but there are exceptions. It also depends on how well the dog has been taken care of throughout it's life. Just like humans, detrimental experiences can shorten lifespans.
2006-07-21 14:18:20 · answer #11 · answered by Enough 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋