Thinking about adopting a dog

In My Humble Opinion
1

After suggestions in my self-pitting thread, I’m seriously considering getting a dog. My family had dogs when I was growing up so I have some experience taking care of one, but I don’t know much about choosing one. The major concern is that I live alone in an apartment - I live close to work and I’m sure I can spare the time to take care of a dog, but he/she will still have to spend 8 to 10 hours a day alone indoors. Is there anything I should look for that would indicate compatibility with my situation? Any particular breed to look for or avoid?

I’ve already gone to the shelter twice. The ones that caught my eye are:
[ul]
[li]A 1-yr old Jack Russel Terrier. Very active and affectionate, but I fear she may have more energy than I and I’m not sure how she’ll handle being indoors all day.[/li][li]Young Husky/Boxer mix, maybe 1 yr old, rather large. I was a bit freaked out by the strikingly different eye colors - one white, other deep yellow/orange - almost red. (But not bloodshot - at least it didn’t look that way to me.) But if this is just genetics and not indicative or predictive of health problems, it’s really cool. Any ideas?[/li][li]This girl, described here as a Dalmatian/Spaniel mix but the tag on her cage said Beagle mix. She seemed very quiet and docile, though still alert to my presence. I guess can be good or bad.[/li][li]This “Beagle mix” - didn’t look very much like a Beagle to me, but who knows. Seemed like a good medium between too quite and too hyper, but not sure yet.[/li][/ul]

There were also a couple of labs, but they’re a little too mainstream/conventional for my taste. :smiley: And I’d guess the labs would have no problem finding a new owner, while some of the mixes have been there for over a month.

2

Well, I just saw a show on TV this morning and the doggie expert said no more than 4 hours alone for a dog. Eight to ten does sound a little much to me. I don’t think any dog would be happy with that. I’d recommend a cat instead.

3

Darn. My parents had (and still have) a dog and they both have full-time jobs so I didn’t think it would be a problem, but maybe I’ll need to rethink this… If I decide against a dog I’d definitely get a cat, but a cat isn’t very useful as an excercise partner, conversation starter, or a motivation to make my life more structured and disciplined.

4

I just had the longest reply written. Grumble.

First, snaps on getting a dog from the pound! Yay!

Anyway! Here is my doggie experience:

Great Dane (Scooby) Sweetest, most gentle dog- ever. Lazy as all heck. According to my vet, they actually make decent apartment dogs so long as you walk them because they are so lazy. Stupid as a brick, but he makes up for it in cuteness. Scoobs is 9 now old for a dane and is begining to have hip issues.

Chow (Doc) Sweet and loving to people, but HATES other animals. He can be a vile little bastard. I wont be getting another chow.

** Schipperke (Undertaker)** He was basically a big pomeranian and always had the biggest, goofiest smile on his face. Not too smart, not too hyper, but very cute. Over all, a very good dog.

Husky/Shepard Mix (Ogie) Easily the smartest dog I have ever owned. He had some hip problems (which apparently is consistant with those two breeds), but nothing that required surgery. I would highly suggest any combo of husky/shepard etc- very smart, trainable dogs.

From the ones you mentioned:

Dalmations tend to have lots of health problems (someone else probably can elaborate on this more then me).

Every boxer I’ve ever ran across has been a very smart, well behaved dog. Not to mention the one you are looking at is precious!

Overall, any big dog will probably have some hip issues that come with age. We’ve noticed this gets much better if we give our dogs broccoli.

Dogs with squishy faces have breathing problems. Dogs with long bodies and little legs have internal problems. Great danes think they can sleep in your full sized bed with you, but that’s ok :smiley: .

5

As far as the time thing: yeah, a dog alone for a long time might get destructive and unhappy. Is there anyway you could maybe get two little dogs? That way they would have a friend. My great dane and chow are alone all day, but they’ve got one another to stay entertained.

6

Thanks DiosaBellissima. Getting two may be a possibility, but it would mean twice the expense (apartment pet fee/deposit isn’t cheap!) and twice the work to train them. I’ll have to think about it.

A quick googling revealed that brown/blue bi-eyed Huskies are not uncommon. I never knew that, it’s really neat.

7

Like I said, most of my dogs are pretty dumb- so training really hasn’t been an issue :).

Seems like you want a dog to run with. That would def. need to be a bigger one then, yes?

You live in the South (if I’m reading your location right), so it might be a bit warm in the summer for a husky to be outside running and such. Just a though.

And sorry for my fragmented thoughts- at work :(.

8

Not necessarily. If I don’t get enough excercise walking the dog(s) I’ll ride my bike.

True, but I don’t think there’s much chance of this girl finding a home in a cooler climate. Either she’ll be in my air-conditioned apartment during the day and excercise outside in the morning/evening, or she’ll be adopted by someone else and possibly kept outside all day. (Or, god forbid, be euthenized :frowning: )

9

You’re completely right! I didn’t even think of that.

Go and bring her home now. And post pictures. Lots. :slight_smile:

10

A book I would really recommendSuccessful Dog Adoption by Sue Sternberg. I had it recommended to me by someone who had just adopted a dog. Last fall I was seriously considering getting one myself, though I ultimately decided against it. My apartment has a lot of dog owners (it’s one of the few apartments downtown that allows any size dogs) and I questioned a lot of them. Plenty of the owners leave their dogs at home all day. Some crated them, some didn’t. Our apartment is by a rather large park, and I see plenty of people walking their dogs when I leave in the morning or get home in the evening.

11

Thanks easy_e. I placed an order for the book on Amazon.

I’m actually starting to lean towards “Jax” (third link in my OP), who will perhaps be slightly less demanding than the Husky mix in terms of excercise and attention. Of course I’ll spend more time with both before I decide. Or maybe I should just take both of them home… :wink:

12

Jack Russells are very demanding little dogs. If you don’t mind coming home to torn up pillows and chewed on shoes, then go ahead and bring one home. Oh, and they bark incessantly when bored.

I would suggest a somewhat lazy dog that will sleep most of the day while you’re at work, or, as someone else suggested, adopt two dogs so they can play together while you’re at work.

Huskies are too smart and active to be left indoors for eight hours. That would make them insane. A husky mix, maybe. If it’s mixed with, oh, a basset hound.

Pound dogs will love you like no other. They seem forever grateful.

13

Thanks. Everything I’ve read so far agree with the above. I think these two are out… :frowning:

Any opinions on a beagle mix? I met this one today. He seemed a little hyperactive when I took him to the petting room, but I’m not sure if that necessarily means he’ll always be that way and would get bored in the apartment. He’s such a beautiful dog, very friendly too. I’m told he was brought in as a stray and he’s been in the shelter for 5 or 6 weeks now.

14

The best apartment-style (leave 'em alone, in other words) dogs I’ve ever seen are rescued greyhounds, if you’re not set on having one of the dogs above. You’d think they’re active, but they’re totally not - real layabouts. You may need to teach them to climb stairs, though. But they come trained!

15

I would definitely not get a beagle. I’ve known several people who have them, and they can be very destructive when bored: digging, chewing, barking, etc.

We adopted a German Sheppard/Mastiff/misc. mix almost a year ago, and he’s been a dream. We started off locking him in the kitchen during the day, so he could relax and sleep without having to patrol a whole new place, but now we give him the run of the house and he’s fine. Nothing’s ever been chewed – he seems to just sleep and chew on his Kongs until we get home. I think that’s in large part due to his Mastiff side – they’re supposed to be very calm, low energy dogs. I highly recommend you read up on which breeds are lower energy (e.g. Mastiff, Great Dane, Newfoundland, etc.) and wait until you can find one with one of these lower energy breeds mixed in. You really don’t want to deal with a hyper lab chewing up everything you own while you’re gone, trust me.

Also, something to consider when getting two dogs – you may want to get them one at a time. Training one dog at a time is a lot easier, and the second one will pick up cues from the first one.

Lastly, don’t get a puppy. They’re unbelievably cute, but if you’re gone during the day you’re going to have a terrible time housetraining it. Try to get something nine months or older. (Usually not hard, as people take them to the shelter once they stop being adorable puppies…) Much easier to deal with.

Good luck! Getting a dog is a wonderful experience.

16

Retired greyhounds tend to have a lot of health problems, and they have to have soft things to lay on (they’re very bony) but are generally very quiet dogs.

They can NEVER be out without a leash and a high fence. EVER. You can’t tie them up, either, they can break their own necks if they see something they want. All sight hounds are this way, though.

Good luck to you. I suggest crate training if you’ll be away for long periods, crates can give dogs a sense of place and security when you’re gone. If you live close to work, can you come let the dog out over lunch? That would be a great help.

Our dog <a href=“http://www.sunflower.com/~cneuman/photos/dogdog.jpg”>Hockey dog!</a> (a mutt of the highest degree) stays at home 10-12 hours at a time (maybe once a month) and has no problems (other than a need to cuddle when we get home). Some dogs can do it, some get anxious and stressed. She can’t be crate trained because of abuse she endured prior to Ardred finding her in the street. She’s also terrified of laundry baskets.

Good luck and I hope you find yourself a good buddy.

17

D’oh. Stupid html.

Hockey Dog (fixed link)

18

Your first consideration MUST be the enormous amount of time the dog will be alone, not what you will be doing when it isn’t.

PLEASE get a slug of a dog. You are obviously drawn to active, energetic, intelligent dogs…that will go nuts left alone. You need a chilled out, sleepyhead, mellow middle aged hunka doggy love that will be content to crash out most of the day, but happy to get up and have some fun when you come home. Lots of dogs can fit that description.

Also, I think you should rescue a dog, but not from the pound. Get a rescue that has been fully evaluated so you know what you are getting, so work with rescue organizations that place dogs with fosters.

19

Is taking the dog to day care an option? I’m sure there’s one near you. Call kennels and vets for a referral.

It costs me about ten dollars a day, but I think it’s well worth it. I pick up a happy, tired puppy who has played all day long, and has had some obedience training during the afternoon, too. (Not all day care services include this.)

I don’t have to worry about my carpets, or worry about things getting chewed. My puppy is wildly excited to go. She’s getting well socialized, which means I won’t have to worry about biting or aggression in the future.

Check around for deals. Some of these places have weekly packages which include baths and grooming.

20

That is the cutest little dog I ever saw.

Go for it.

Beagle mix sounds like not too much trouble.