Hey welcome to Tripawds! Bless you for being so kind and considering adopting a Tripawd from across the country. Ok, so we'll try to give you our perspective.

First, check out our "What to Expect" posts (you can skip the parts about cancer, thank Dog):

What to Expect Part 1:
http://tinyurl......tToExpect1

What to Expect Part 2:
http://tinyurl......tToExpect2

And our Health Tips Page too. Go to the section about Exercise for some advice about walking.

To answer your questions…

1) What kind of exercise will he need? Is walking him daily alright?

Tripawds get around like other dogs mostly. They love to do doggie things like run, play at the dog park, go on walks, dig, you name it. Even Tripawds with cancer still do cool things like head to the beach and run amok. The most impawtant thing about a Tripawd and looking after her/his health is to just make sure they don't overdo it. Actually, really the same applies to all dogs. Keep in mind that a Tripawd shouldn't go on long multi-mile hikes or walks. Though they may try it's not the best thing for them. Monitoring their activity is necessary but you don't have to be overbearing. Stay tuned for a series of blog posts we're doing about exercise and massage therapy for Tripawds.

2) How different is the lifestyle with a tripawd opposed to a four-legged pup?

 As for activity, see above. Other things to consider are; be aware of where you will be going and ensure that they aren't able to hurt themselves their. Slippery floors can really freak out a Tripawd if they fall. If you know you're going somewhere with slick floors, use a harness or what you can to help them not fall or become fearful of the surface.

The biggest change you'll see when you're with a Tripawd out there in the world is, everyone wants to know their story! You can't go anywhere without people stopping to ask you questions. Your dog will be a SUPERSTAR and an ambassador for Tripawds everywhere!!!

If you check out our Wyatt Ray's blog, you'll see that he lives a pretty good life for a Tripawd (he doesn't have cancer).

3) Is the life expectancy the same? How different are medical costs?

Good question. Our introduction to Tripawds was through cancer, but as you've seen, dogs like Comet kick butt and have normal lifespans for dogs. As for medical costs, I would say that with the exception of amputation and cancer costs, the expenses would be the same as any other dog with four legs. Some people are afraid that their Tripawd might break their remaining leg, but we've never seen that happen here since we started the site. We've seen some dogs need physical therapy but that's usually due to pre-existing or degenerative health issues unrelated to Tripawdism, like arthritis.  

Overall I'd say that if you just follow the good advice people give you for taking care of a bigger dog, you'll do fine.

Keep us posted, we'd love to see this boy! And if you choose not to adopt him let us know who he is and we'll put him in our Rescue Forums.