I have wanted to get a dog for a while now. I have never really had a pet but think it would be nice to have one around. I did have a lizard for a while, but an ex-girlfriend decided I needed a cat and brought one over un-announced. It was able to open my cage just enough to let the lizard escape. I never was able to find a trace, but hopefully he did all right. Fortunately soon after the relationship ended and the cat was given away.
Now that I am older and a bit more settled in, I would like to try the pet thing again. I would like a dog because you can take them for walks and get some exercise. They are fun to be around and chicks dig 'em.
I would like a golden retriever because they are intelligent and friendly and are good-looking dogs. However living in an apartment it would not work, and I am not planning on getting a house in the near future. Also because of work they would have to spend a lot of time alone in the apartment and I don’t think most dogs would like that. If I do get one it would be an older one from a rescue organization, because I would not have the time a puppy would need.
I could get a smaller dog, but they tend bark a lot and that would be unfair for my neighbors. I know I hate it when I am kept up because someone’s dog is yapping at whatever. Although I think a chihuahua would be neat because it would be easier to transport. I could put it in a basket and take my bike to the park to walk him around. Also from what I have heard they are intelligent as well and fairly easy to train and care for.
Well I guess I could get a cat. It would be easier at this time but I still would prefer a dog.
I wouldn’t suggest getting a dog unless you’re prepared to spend a lot of time with it at first. Even an adult dog who has been housebroken and whatnot needs to learn the rules of his new home and time to adjust to his new “pack.”
Barking is not a learn-to-live-with-it problem. With proper training, you can rid your dog of almost any bad habit. The problem for you is time.
Maybe a cat is the best pet for you. They’re much more independent and don’t need as much care as a dog.
If you have a friend that would be willing, you could “borrow” their dog for a few days or a week to get an idea of the type of commitment involved.
Also, if you check out petfinder.com, they have a little quiz that helps you determine what kind of dog is best suited for your lifestyle, although a cat does seem to be more your speed at the present time. Good luck!
Thanks Lissa and slice, y’all are probably right, time is my main concern right now. Ringo not sure why it would be a surprise coming from you? Minuature poodles are one of the breeds I have sorta’ been looking at.
Ya know, Bostons don’t bark much.
While some can be at best ADD (as I look at my dog sitting at my lap, knowingly), not all are. Some are sweet and quiet (looks at other dog on my lap).
[/obligatory Boston Terrier suggestion]
regardless, a rescue is a great thing!
best of luck to you!
Just a suggestion, if you are looking for a Golden Retriever, maybe you may want to adopt an older one which is less active. Rescues usually have hard times adopting out older dogs and they are less active and so will need less space (but not necessary less excerise)…
Then again, I have no idea how small your apartment is…so it’s just my 2 cent worth…
I have a (slightly mutant 10 lb) chihuahua, and his name is Kermit, and I love him so much he continues to live, in spite of his evil ways.
He does not, however, bark very much; I trained him out of that when he was a puppy. Basically I just throw sofa pillows at him if he starts it up, which usually mellows it into an under-his-breath “you suck!” little growl. It’s actually very cute.
But chihuahuas are very people-dependent; they’re worse than children. If you’re going to get one dog, you might want to get two, since you’re at work a lot. They’ll need you a bit less.
I also just adopted a little 8-pound stray last week, who has yet to be named; these two dogs already love each other so much it’s mildly pukalicious.
Seriously, go to your local shelter and ask about older small dogs; often, they have a pair who came in together who might be looking for someone just like you. (Word of caution: not to discourage you from adopting an older dog, but any problems the dog has will be harder to break, b/c of his/her age. And a lot of people like the idea of a small dog, thinking that it will somehow be kind of like a small barking cat, and end up with a pet that’s just as “doggy” as its 80 lb cousins…so they get rid of it. These are the dogs with really bad habits that take a lot of love and nurturing to break.)
I’m in basically the same situation as you, Zap. A woman at work is very involved in the local animal shelter, and sends out twice weekly photos and lists of what the shelter has - it kills me each time.
Last week, she brought the Greyhound Society in. I’d encountered greyhounds before - a good friend of my brother has rescued two of them. I told the woman with the society my situation - I work full time, I go to grad school at night two times a week, and I live in a fairly small apartment.
She said greyhounds are perfect for that situation. Contrary to what you might think, they’re not very active, as they’ve been caged most of their lives. They do require exercise - a daily walk, a dog run on the weekends. But they rarely bark, are wonderful companions, really appreciate any time you have to give them (since they’ve been given little to no attention most of their lives), are fully grown upon arrival to your home, and through the rescue society you have a built-in network of dog-friends.
I also want a dog, but I won’t be getting one very soon. When I move into my own house I’ll probably get one. I live in an apartment now, and they don’t allow dogs. Jerks. :mad:
I’d get a cat, but I’m a little bit allergic. Besides, I’d just prefer a dog. Good luck, Zap.
I’ve been dying to have a dog for a while now. I also live in an apartment and while they allow dogs (up to a certain size), I’ve had to make the determination that my current financial situation (grad student:no money) means that I cannot afford to take care of a dog the way one deserves to be taken care of.
I’m allergic to cat saliva, so I can’t have one of those (though I keep trying to convince myself that it’s a mild allergy and I look at kittens…then they lick me and I have hives for several days).
So I now volunteer a couple of times a month at the animal shelter. That gets it out of my system for a while and I’m not going to rush out and adopt one without thinking about it.
I agree with the idea of 2 dogs, but then you would have to run and throw balls for 2 dogs when you got home. Lots of time commitment with a dog. Or two.
Really, a cat may be more in order for you. Or a hamster. You could build really cool habitrails all over the apartment.
Most rescue societies are VERY selective about who they will allow to take a dog. I knew a woman (client at the vet’s office where I used to work) who wanted to adopt an Italian Greyhound but they wouldn’t let her. She wasn’t married yet and they were afraid that the dog would cease to be the center of attention if/when she got married. I’m not saying that having strict adoption rules is a bad thing - just wanted to give you a heads-up on how difficult it may be. (Home inspections, interviewing the vet you’ve got picked out, etc.)
And don’t forget to take into account how often they need to be groomed!!
Zap, not sure if you would consider it, but Prairie Dogs are great pets that give you the affection of a dog, but don’t make noises loud enough to disturb neighbors. If you get two, then being away at work shouldn’t be too big of a deal. (You still have to spend time with them every evening, though.) Here is an FAQ type link:prairie dogs
They are a very popular pet in Japan as they make excellent apartment dwellers. You can generally buy one for $150 or so. I have seen them at my local pet store, but there are several internet sites that sell them as well. This is the time of year to get them - March through June.
Something else you should take into account when looking at dogs is the health problems certain breeds are prone to. Big dogs like Goldens and Shepherds are prone to joint problems, brachycephalic dogs like Bostons, pugs, etc., are prone to airway problems, the list goes on and on. You can run into some serious money on vet bills if you’re not careful.
You might also want to consider the spit factor (or the spit factory, as I call 'em.) Certain breeds drool all the time, and some folks just can’t handle it. That’s why I could never have, say, a Rottie. I’ll pick maggots out of wounds and come home covered in blood and shit without thinking twice about it, but the slime those dogs leave in their water bowls just turns my stomach.
I also couldn’t have a brachycephalic dog because of the noises they make all the time just trying to breathe. It gets annoying after a while.
Whatever kind of dog you get is going to require a lot more time and energy than you expect. Take your biggest estimate, and double it. Dogs are inherently social animals, and they need lots of time and attention and interaction. You’ll either have to arrange doggy play dates, or fill all the needs yourself.
I met with similar problems to what Avarie537 describes…
Shelters are not so selective, but they do require you do divulge a suprising amount of information and some may require home visits. Breed rescue societies can be extremely selective and prefer dogs to go to people with homes, who are there most of the day, have fenced in yards and maybe even children to play with the dog. I had none of that, so it was to the local Humane Society for me, thankfully. I got a great dog: she was 5 when I got her, rarely barks, is very affectionate and is under 50 pounds.
She does have some quirks, though, and it’s obvious she was mistreated by her former owners. I’ve had to work with her on not being scared by men, for example. She’s come a long way, and I’m very proud of her. But it is work.
Anyway, my big push is for a shelter/humane society that will allow you to foster the dog you’re thinking of first. I did this twice: the first dog needed much more (time, training, knowledge, space, exercise) than I could give her, and, though it broke my heart, I took her back. I knew someone else would be this dog’s only hope at being rehabilitated. A couple months later, I took the second dog home, and we meshed really well: it was and still is a success. Fostering is good, too, for the dog. Even if you don’t end up adopting the dog, you’re helping to socialize it, you’re giving it a break from the anxiety of the shelter situation, you’re feeding it and you’re creating space for another dog, at least temporarily.
Thanks for all the comments. I have been looking at all the issues mentioned because I do not want to get one then regret it. Also , Chrisk72, I had not considered a prairie dog, I’ll look into it. Right now I think I will hold off until the timing is better.