A dog isn’t really an alternative to a cat. It is a whole other world of responsibility. If you love dogs, have a good situation for a dog to live in, and are willing to put in countless hours of training and exercise, then go for it – it can be a wonderful relationship. But if you aren’t really sure you are up for it, then definitely don’t do it. Cats can be hands-off housemates. Dogs will change your life, for better or worse.
From what you’ve written, I’d advise against getting a dog. Dogs don’t always do what you want them to, especially if you are inexperienced. If your main motivation is that you want a pet and you are not allowed to have a cat, then just wait until you can live somewhere that allows cats. You and the dog will be better off.
Lots of good advice so far. I’m going to suggest that, since you’re probably not that familiar with dog behavior, you should pick the dog that picks you. Most dogs will sniff you, lick you, paw you but the dog that wants to hang out with you, put it’s head on your lap, or lay at your feet sounds like what your looking for. Take your time making a decision. Fostering might be the way to go IF you can deal with the part where you have to give the dog away.
Some dogs are overly friendly, some dogs don’t really need you (Shiba Inu comes to mind), some dogs become overly protective after they realize that this is their new home and you are part of their pack. All dogs require some amount of exercise. Bored dogs find things to do and sometimes those things are destructive. All part of the package.
I would recommend getting a cage. You may never feel the need to close the door but I feels it’s important that a dog has someplace to go when they want to be left alone and you and your guests should respect that wish.
I think it’s great that you’re going for a middle-aged dog and not a puppy. I think adult dogs are the best for first-time owners, and also they are going to be the last to be adopted, so you might actually be saving its life.
One thing that seems pretty common in adult dogs at the shelter/breed rescue, however, is that they have a tendency to have separation anxiety. No wonder; someone they loved and trusted left them and never came back. They can get over this (usually) but it can be a hard thing, particularly as a lot of this anxiety comes out as destruction or house-soiling. This is not to say that a new puppy you adopt might not get the very same thing without any reason you can see.
The local shelter has adoption specials several times a year. A guy I met at the dog park got his dog, a very nice purebred boxer, for $13 and she was spayed, chipped, and vaccinated. She was also a lovely dog.
I would avoid herding dogs if I wanted a low-energy dog. (I love them, they’re my favorite and the kind I usually have, but low-maintenance, they are not.) I believe greyhounds can go either way. It depends on the dog. I know a couple of people who think they are the best dogs ever because they’re so nice and relaxed, and once they retire from the track they don’t seem to need to run much at all.
I took care of a friend’s Jack Russell terrier puppy for a week while she was out of town, and there is just no way I can keep up with those exercise needs. I can dedicate about 40 minutes of time to walking every day (20 in the morning, 20 at night, just a walk around the block each time).
So sorry you’re excluding JRT’s from the get go… I have one and she is the best dog I’ve ever had! I know people say they are high strung and while she is sometimes it’s only at appropriate times (if that makes sense) when the doorbell ring she lets us know etc … she totally chill in the house with us - just wants to be with you, rarely barks, extremely low maintance - mine is only 10# so she eats small quanity, her ‘waste’ is minimal & I can give her bath and have her sparking clean in less than 10 min! She cuddles with someone every night (me or my kids) and we have to wake her in the morning to go out!
As for exercising - there are alternatives - since you have a nice yard the dog can go there alone if fenced and secure. We have a large yard but it’s not fenced so when I can’t be with her outside i have a ‘dog run’ - a cable connected (30 ft long i think) from the house to a tree (about 8 ft up) and another line that slides along the cable I attach to her… it give her lots of running room and she can’t get tangled because its above her. I only put her there if i am home and can’t take her out … she’s never left there. I use it alot in the morning when we are getting ready for work/school.
Anyway I know JRT’s sometimes get a bad rap… and i may have gotten a ‘gem’ but over the years (she is 7 now) I bet 5 families have gotten JRT’s after meeting mine and hanging with her.
She has never chewed/distroyed anything … granted when she was a baby she went to doggie daycare because I was gone for 10 hours some days… but I only did that for about a year and she was crate trained (for her safety mainly) when we weren’t home. But after the first year or so I leave her home and she sleeps in my daughters bed all day till we come home… it’s cute when she knows she can’t go with us she heads down the hall and looks back to say ‘bye’ see ya when you get home…
anyway I just had to put my .02 in about Jack Russells …
how about a Pit Bull? I know they have a crappy rep in the media but they really are some of the sweetest dogs in the universe. short hair, not huge.
the greyhound suggestion is also a pretty good one in my experience. a friend of mine is on her second rescue and the dogs are dumb as stumps but super chill.
Here is a page on the ASPCA website that explains more about how they match their pets with owners. I would definitely recommend trying them if one is near.
I don’t necessarily agree with the assertion the-bigger-the-dog-the-greater-the-cost.
Small breeds can have more hereditary health issues, and are more prone to gum and teeth problems. Depending on the breed, any necessary surgery may have to be carried out by a specialist for that breed (e.g. French Bulldogs, and any of the braccy bunch.) Small dogs can be aggressive, more ‘neurotic’ and more challenging to train than medium sized breeds.
Bigger dogs may require more food, but their often not as ‘picky’ in their eating habits; and I’m not sure that day-to-day costs are as important as the unexpected ones - like emergency surgery (there’s a few grand!) or ongoing medication for something like epilepsy or diabetes.
Whatever you decide Rachellelogram keep in mind that it’s basically a 10-year commitment for a medium size breed, and 12-15 years+ for a smaller one.
Conservatively, my 15-year-old Dalmatian is a $30k love investment.
That statement might mean you’re not dog owner material. But it could mean you’re just trying to minimize the impact of adding a pet. No offense, but there’s no way to guarantee an animal will fit easily into your life.
If you want to minimize the impact and maximize the fit, I’d advise the following (I speak from experience)
Find an animal shelter nearby
Volunteer on weekends to clean/walk/etc.
Take note of which breeds you like best, but try not to fixate on any particular one.
As you get to know the folks, ask them to watch for an *unusually *laid-back and well trained adult dog.
I know a few people have mentioned pugs, and from what you post, I think a pug would be GREAT for you.
One thing that people haven’t mentioned is the cat aspect. I, too, am a cat person. I grew up with cats, I love cats. Now, I have two pugs, and I gotta say, they embody all the things I like about cats and dogs. They’re small enough to sit on your lap and cuddle, and sleep with you if that’s what you want. At the same time, they are more social than a cat, they play with toys more, and they generally do cool doggy things.
They also don’t need a lot of exercise, they’re happy sitting on the couch a lot, and as long as you’re willing to cut nails and do some basic maintenance once a week, that’s all they need. Heck, mine don’t even need once a week a lot of times!
Except for one unfortunate incident when one was a puppy and I left her alone with one of my sweaters, mine have never destroyed a thing, and I definitely have shoes, computer cords, etc. around the house. They do have a lot of toys, and they happily chew & play on them and leave my stuff alone.
They do bark when people come to the door. Other than that, they are quiet. Well, mine will huff at me when they want to get my attention, but it’s not loud or obnoxious, and if it bugged me I think it could be easily trained out of them.
As much as I love pit bulls, I hesitate to recommend them to a “dog novice.” They’re great with people. Many pit bulls never manifest reactivity toward dogs. But like any of the terrier breeds, some do become dog reactive, and require a bit of forethought in management. And the social politics of living with pit bulls – or even non-pit-bulls that others mistake for pit bulls – can be a nightmare.
Often, if you show a dog what toys belong to the dog, said dog is perfectly content to leave other stuff alone. Showing a dog what to do generally works better than showing a dog what you don’t want done and hoping he or she can think up something else to do that you won’t mind.
As far as easy care, sweet, calm dogs, I’d recommend a doberman. Very trainable. Protective, not aggressive. Their world revolves around their people. Little coat care - nails need to be clipped every so often. Not really barkers unless there’s something to bark about.
Standard poodles are also a great breed, but there is a good bit of coat care. My SP, Maggie, is a farm dog and I just clip her short myseslf.
I know several people with greyhounds. They really aren’t prima donnas usually, because until they’re adopted they aren’t given much one-on-one attention. They are dogs that spend their whole lives in a crate, with kennel workers who may or may not treat them well caring for them. Any affection they get is a rare commodity. With a fenced yard, you’re likely to be able to accomodate their exercise needs with a few throws of the ball or frisbee. My friends’ dogs generally like to keep to their dog beds and watch the family activity from there. They like coming over for scrithes and will gladly occupy your bed or couch if you allow it. But since they aren’t used to furniture, if you tell them from the start they can’t get up there, they’re happy on the floor. The GPA (Greyhound Pets of America) group will usually take your living situation into account when showing you available dogs. Depending on where you live, there may be GPA meet and greets at local PetSmart or PetCo stores that let you see adoptable greyhounds and talk to greyhound owners.
Don’t do it. You are basing too much of this decision on your current situation, which is highly likely to change eventually. What won’t change is your responsibility to the animal.
You are young and still renting, and there’s an excellent chance that you’ll need to move before the dog dies. Trying to rent with a dog is hard.
Right now you have a landlord/roommate who will help, but there’s an excellent chance that you’ll need to move before the dog dies. Taking care of a dog alone – if you care about having a life – is hard.
That’s all in addition to the fact that, as others have said, it doesn’t sound like you really want a dog.
Don’t do it.
(I am a single dog owner who rents. After almost four years I still can’t believe how much I love my dog – who I adopted when I was living with my ex-boyfriend – but it is hard. I don’t regret it, but I absolutely never would have done it if I’d been able to see that breakup coming.)
I don’t think a golden retriever is right for you. You can get by with minimal brushing and washing as long as they don’t get in to too much dirt. The “feathers” on their butts do get matted and you have to cut the mats out.
But my golden gets booooooored. Not like a border collie would get bored but if she doesn’t get a walk and a ride in the car every day, she will bug the heck out of me with toys, and then get mopey. When she was younger it was kind of like having a toddler around - had to plan stuff to do with her all the time like obedience class (we did it for 5 years, just for fun) and hikes and swimming.
Anyway goldens are awesome dogs but they are people dogs and active dogs and I think they’re more suited for “dog people” and families.
Dobermans are pretty nice, but they can be huge. Greyhounds are huge too.
I think you need a mid-sized mutt. But I also sort of think you don’t seem to be right for dog ownership. Too many conditions to your desire.
What kind of dogs are you attracted to? Do you want a big dog? medium? small? Do you like dogs with pointy ears or floppy ears? (floppy ear dogs tend to look friendlier and less wolf-like to many people) What about faces? Do you think dogs with short snouts, like bulldogs or shih tzus are super cute or do you prefer a longer nosed dog - like a beagle or a pomeranian? What about coats? Short coats are easier care, but still shed. Longer coats are soft and pretty, but may need to be professionally groomed or just brushed out regularly.
Sometimes just going to a shelter or checking online sites, like petfinder and picking a dog that appeals to you can be the best way. Look at the individual dog, rather than the breed, though if a certain breed appeals more than others, start there. There are very nice, well-behaved and well-adjusted older dogs in shelters.
Good luck with whatever you decide.
Getting a dog is a big commitment and does involve some lifestyle adjustments. If it’s something you really want to do, it’s not that hard, but if you’re not really into having a dog, then it can be a burden. Think seriously about it. Consider fostering - that way you get an idea of what’s involved with being completely responsible for a dog without the 10-15 year commitment.
I pay $90 for a bag of dog food that lasts my two dogs about a month. Cheaper food makes my one dog lose weight and look like a neglect case, so I buy the expensive stuff.
Annual vet visit for shots about $100 for each dog.
Other vet visits last year included one sedation for porcupine quill removal, xrays for a sudden lameness, treatment for an infected imbedded quill, at least one clean and stitch wound. The year before I spent at least $800 treating an eye injury.
Flea and heartworm treatment also required. Costs more for larger dogs.
Toys, treats, beds, leashes, collars, brushes, crates, all add up.
Training classes are fun, but can be $20-40 a class.
I haven’t been on holiday in years - too expensive to board my dogs. Consider that cost if you like to travel or go away on weekends.
I’m sure I’ve missed something, but that’s a start.
The day-to-day costs of owning a dog aren’t too bad, but vet bills are very expensive. Expect to pay at least $100 just to walk in the door. Most visits we have are easily $400 and up for any actual health problem. Can you afford emergency pet surgery if something comes up? Because something *will *come up.
