Are you tired of putting your doogy doo in plastic baggies?  Hate picking it up in plastic bags?  Try making your own or buying a doggy pot or doggy composter.  For a few bucks and a trash can, you can build yourself one.   There are several ways to build them online, but the pattern I like best is listed on the City Gardener’s website.

A couple of adjustments that he doesn’t mention.  First, don’t just put in poop.  Feel free to add tree brush,  grass, and other yard clippings.   Two, your poo bucket should be proportionate to your dog.  If you’re going to bury a small trash can in the yard, remember that the average dog creates like 250+ pounds of waste a year.   Think of all those 40lb bags of dog food and where they end up going.  Also, consider how often you’re going to use the soil on your yard.

Friends of ours had to put to sleep their beloved Yorkshire terrier, Gus, in the early spring. They were telling everyone “no more dogs” and gave away all of the dogs items they possessed. Then this summer, new friends came into their lives that had a Yorkshire terrier, Tinker. Tinker on occasion would need a puppy sitter and Tina who is 93 years young, volunteered to be that person. Tina lives with her son Dave, and the two of them fell in love with Tinker and realized that they really missed having a companion of their own. So the search for a new “Yorkie” began. A “Yorkie” was found and the puppy that was coming to live with Tina and Dave was a girl dog, and she was going to need all kinds of things!

Now all of us girls got to thinking about this situation and decided to throw Tina a puppy shower! We sent out invitations and ordered balloons that claimed “It’s a Girl” and had a dog centerpiece and a cake decorated with tiny dog biscuit shaped candy. Tina was so surprised and claimed that this was the first shower she ever had! She received all kinds of puppy things, from small dog girl clothes to small toys and treats. The day after the puppy shower “Truffles” arrived in a small basket lined with a pink blanket. The last I talked to Tina, she still was floating on cloud nine over the shower and the new puppy!

As a do lover, I never thought about the cost of a dog. But with the economy we are facing, everyone is taking a good look at their expenses. If you decide to buy a purebred today the price can range from $800 to $2,000 depending upon the quality of the blood line as well as the size of the breed. An English Springer Spaniel rescue can cost considerably less, somewhere between $150 to $300 depending upon the age of the dog.

If you never owned a dog before the basic supplies of bowls, leashes, collars, toys, brush, nail clippers, and training crate can add up to $200 or more. Crates can be as much as $200 alone if you need one of the larger sizes.

A dog license is an estimated $10 to $20 per year. Identification tags for your precious pet are about $20 each. Micro-chipping your dog is approximately $65.00.

Dog training school adds another $50 to $150 to the cost, depending upon the area you live.

Grooming is approximately $40 for a medium sized dog every six to eight weeks. Some breeds do not need groomed that often, but I find that my Springer, Eliot needs groomed every six to eight weeks.

Dog sitters or dog walkers can be $25 to $50 per day, depending upon the area you live. Boarding can also be dependant upon the area you live, ranging from $10 to $60 per day.

Food costs approximately $30 to $50 per month and don’t forget treats!

Veterinary care can be quite costly, even if your dog is healthy. A minimum yearly cost including exams, vaccinations, heartworm medications, teeth cleaning is estimated at $500 to $1000. Then add flea treatment for about $10 to $15 per month. Emergency care can be upward of $1000 depending upon the circumstances. Old age will also require more veterinary visits and medications adding to the expense.

Fencing your yard for your dog’s safety is also another cost factor.

Overall, the cost of a dog for one year is estimated at $1500 to $3000 per year. But the love and joy that they bring to your house is PRICELESS!

The English Springer Spaniel is a intelligent great dog, and it is not a surprise that some of them are famous!

Mildred Kerr Bush, aka Millie, an English Springer Spaniel was a famous “First Dog” that lived in the White House along with President George Bush and his wife, Barbara, from 1988 to 1992. Millie also co-wrote a bestseller, “Millie’s Book” about her life in the White House. The book was on the bestseller list for 29 weeks. Then on March 17, 1989, Millie gave birth to a litter of English Springer Spaniel puppies in the White House! It created quite a frenzy to get pictures of the darling puppies!

One of those puppies, Spot Fetcher Bush, aka “Spotty”, made US history by moving back into the White House with her new owners, President George W. Bush and his wife, Laura. Spotty, also a “First Dog” became the first –second generation presidential pet.

Buster, an English Springer Spaniel, is a member of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps arms and explosives search dogs and is serving with the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment in Iraq. Buster found an extremist group’s hidden arsenal of weapons and explosives and received the Dickin Medal for his service!

Jake, an English Springer Spaniel was deployed with the London Metropolitan Police explosive search dogs following the July 7, 2005 London bombings. Jake received a PDSA (People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals) Gold Medal, an animal bravery award for his call of duty!

There are also many other famous Champion Show Springers and Champion Field Springers! Cheers to the famous!!