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Want A Dog (Breed/Apartment Issues)
CorcoranCadet
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I am going to be going to grad school next year, and I am looking into getting a dog for companionship and personal enjoyment. I think it would be a good step for me to take in getting to bond with and take care of an animal. I will probably be living in an apartment for the next year and then moving to another area after that. (The grad program is a year long including a good bit of summer school.)
I was wondering if anyone has any experience keeping dogs in an apartment and what the general sentiment was towards raising a dog indoors. I would be walking the dog at least once a day and all that. So I don't think that it would be too big a factor. The breeds I am keeping an eye toward are the chow chow and the shar pei. According to what I've read online they seem to be okay for living inside a house but they weight in at around 65-70 pounds. I've also looked at a Puli. (Yeah I'm kind of a sucker for weird breeds) Just wondering if you all had anything worth my consideration with either of the breeds and the living situation. (All the websites online are pretty generalized so I feel like they might not be entirely useful)
I was wondering if anyone has any experience keeping dogs in an apartment and what the general sentiment was towards raising a dog indoors. I would be walking the dog at least once a day and all that. So I don't think that it would be too big a factor. The breeds I am keeping an eye toward are the chow chow and the shar pei. According to what I've read online they seem to be okay for living inside a house but they weight in at around 65-70 pounds. I've also looked at a Puli. (Yeah I'm kind of a sucker for weird breeds) Just wondering if you all had anything worth my consideration with either of the breeds and the living situation. (All the websites online are pretty generalized so I feel like they might not be entirely useful)
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Wiener dogs are also pretty good, pretty sharp and bold (and women love them) and they're small enough that they're happy running around the apartment until you take them out for a walk.
My personal opinion is go to the pound and save a life. If you're set on getting a specific breed, at the very least go to a rescue.
Don't get a puppy as tempting as it is. Grad school will probably not afford you the time to train it properly.
You may want to go with a larger dog if you're going to be in school for long periods of time, the smaller the dog, the smaller the bladder. My dog is about 16 lbs and he can go about 6 hours if he has to, and has held it for 8 but when he got downstairs he peed on the sidewalk immediately outside the door and I felt like a shit for making him wait that long.
Puli are herding dogs and probably not suited for apartment like. In addition, those coats actually require a lot of work.
Also, the Shar Pei, touch one before you get it. They produce an oil that can irritate the skin, even if you aren't allergic to dogs. Also, and this is anecdotal, but every shar pei I have met has been an asshole.
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This is the truth, puppies need taking care of 24 hours a day for quite a while, so try to get a dog thats a year or more, the rescue option sounds like something right down your alley.
Im in a similar situation as you, combining school with dog care, and 1 trip seems a little low. I usualy take my dog for a walk once before school and one after school, then a third one before bed, keeps the dog happy, me awake and none of my shit chewed up.
However, mixing a dog and studies can be tricky at times. School stuff takes a large amount of time and sometimes it sucks to have to break it off because of the dog, keep this in mind before aquiring a dog.
Id look into a lazy breed since your gonna be studying more than you think, unless you have ample running space (a yard or similar) dont get a herding dog, or any dog with a huge amount of enery or stimulance requirements, they will tear your shit apart if they are bored. Lost glasses, games/movies, phones, remotes and a laptop to a bored boxer who wanted to surf the internet
Once a day? Expect poo and pee in the house if that's the case. Do you go once a day?
Anyways,
I have a around 60lb Hound(rhodie)/Mix rescue in a 1 bed apartment.
He does fine, he was very mischievous at first and liked to get on the counter to rummage for food and what ever else he could destroy. Get a crate as well, it's a savior if you have training issues, or it has separation anxiety or nervousness issues.
Just be prepared for possibilities, like it eating your books (my dog loves to play with boxes and paper and packing stuff that makes the pop sounds when you step on it) but anything can be broken with the right training and patience.
When I feed him I fill his kong with his kibble and that way he can't just woof it down like he would otherwise. He has to try a little and think. He knows now to just grab it and turn it upside down and WHEEE FOOOD OM NOM NOM! but it's something. Peanut butter spread on the inside is also a great way to get him down or off the couch (mine is a big couch potato) while I watch a movie or something.
Things I wouldn't live with out:
Crate (Must be able to sit stand turn lie down)
Kong
Rope toys (supervise first, mine likes to tear them up, but won't eat them)
Exercise, Mental Stimulation, TRAINING(falls into the last category) are all extremely important. Dogs need structure or they will walk all over you. Be firm and don't be afraid to make him stop bad behaviors.
Having gotten a rescue apartment dog just a few months ago, I can tell you this from experience.
Also, Get a rescue.
edit: Make sure you find out if they have breed/weight restrictions at the apartment. Some places won't even allow GSD/Bully Breeds/Dobie/Rottie's. Which is stupid because all of those dogs are so sweet and gentle if given the proper attention.
I concur with others - if you don't have the 24 hour supervision to give a puppy there will be a lot of problems. I'd recommend an adult - a do a lot of breed research to make sure the dog will be a good match for your lifestyle.
Like many things, you get out of a dog what you have time to put in.
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My girl ( sadly she is missed ) April was a Whippy. She had 2 modes. Chase the Ball, and Sleep in your Lap.
She mostly stayed indoors.
We also had a chihuahua mix mutt, and a dauchsund mix mutt. Both also great indoor dogs.
One walk a day isn't going to be enough. If you mean 1 real walk (30-90 mins) and several other 1 minute potty runs, that would work fine and is what I do with my dog (training them to "go" on cue is soooo helpful).
Also, do you know where you will be moving after grad school? If you know you are going to be moving around a lot, getting a dog under 40 lbs or 25 lbs will open up a lot more options than having a 60 or 70lb dog. (Those are the two weight limits common in my city). Now size isn't necessarily correlated with activity level, so don't assume just any small dog will do.
Can you throw a tennis ball with one hand while studying? Can you study and use the computer with a dog in your lap? Think about things like that. Some dogs would prefer to be touching you at all times some dogs want to chill across the room and take everything in. Different people prefer each. Can you dog sit for some of your friends? My husband and I dog sat for two different dogs for a week each before we got our first dog. It made me feel a lot more comfortable that we had the time to properly care for a dog and it gave us a chance to see what we really liked or didn't like about different dog personalities.
As far as kongs... depends. My bullmastiff ignores it. My mom's bulldog consumed one. I mean... seriously. Ate the fucking thing. My bullmastiff sat there with the most amazed/horrified expression while he watched his "auntee" eat a giant red thing. He is pretty well behaved, so he has no idea what to do with that goddamn landshark except get out of the way.
Depends on the rescue. Some rescue dogs, especially if they've been abused/neglected, aren't a good first-time owner dog. I'm assuming you're meaning breed rescues and not just the SPCA. It it was some old lady's dog that she got too sick to take care of... that's fine. But, neglected/beaten dogs are a handful and require a lot of your time to get them re-socialized.
Before you do anything make sure you can have a dog and that the complex doesn't have limitations on size or breed in place.
Also, once a day for peeing and pooping? Thats pretty cruel.
My wife and I have a 22 lbs rescue Corgi/American Eski mix who is pretty much a perfect apartment dog. If Corgis in general are anything like him, I highly recommend taking a look at them.
I agree with just about everyone here that your perceived idea of what/how pet ownership consists of is sorely wrong when it comes to a dog.
By rescue I mean an organization that fosters the dogs in a home for a bit before offering them for adoption. They are frequently a little bit more expensive than a shelter (spca or pound) but you know a lot more about the dog and get more support. Some are breed specific, others (probably most) are not.
This is more succinct than I was.
Short of having a kid, there's no responsibility you could take on that needs more of you than a dog if you are going to do it right. Do it wrong, everyone gets hurt.
Right now it sounds like your plan is grad school at day, dog after school. Odds are the dog will be spending multiple periods of 4-6 hours alone right there. What about a girlfriend? Friends you want to hang out with? That movie you want to see? All the studying you need to do?
A fish, a hamster, even a cat is down with all of that. Not a dog - a dog NEEDS you. I think the dog rewards are much higher than other pet options, but the commitment needed from you is completely different.
Please think about this. I'm not saying don't do it - I'm saying make sure you can make the commitment to do it right.
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This is really true. My husband and I aren't really into the social scene but since we've gotten the dog we still curtail a lot of things. We used to go to Denver to walk in the museum/zoo on a whim but we can't really do that anymore because we have to arrange dog sitting. When we hang out, it's usually at our place so we don't have to leave him, or we take him with us to dog friendly places, of which there are not a lot in my town.
I also touched on it earlier, but moving with a dog is also not the easiest. You have the expense of finding a pet friendly place that allows your dog, added expense of flying there with it or the semi headache of driving long distance with a dog. Do you think you could be employed on the Hawaiian Islands? That's a consideration in my field and when I looked into it, it takes $$$ and 6 months to transport pets there.
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Dogs are so awesome and so great company, but the time needed to take care of them just dont mix well with being a student and living the student life, let alone a singles student lifestyle. Unless you can find someone reliable to look after your dog, you can kiss most longer trips goodbye.
I really dont want to discourage you about getting a dog, but just stressing the importance of thinking it really well thru.
As for being territorial and protective, think all dogs will be to some extent. Some breeds will be more protective than others, well worth reading up on breeds you find interesting.
I see alot of people recommend smaller dogs, sound advice if your not too familiar with dogs just from the fact that they are easier to restrain than a 150lbs mastiff. But dont let size fool you, small dogs can be a keg of gunpowder when it comes to energy and will require almost as much exercise as a big dog.
Oh, for sure.
But, as was mentioned, one of the biggest hurdles to apartment living with a dog is the apartment's pet policy. A lot of apartments only allow small dogs.
You can take the dog out to make a deposit without commiting to an actual w-a-l-k every time.
I appreciate all the help you've given me when considering breed and size, and I am going to definitely look into how much of a commitment this will be as well. My family has had dogs in the past so I have a decent idea, but I think I need to take a closer look at it.
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Most people would probably say he's way too big to be in that small of an apt and so on, and I would agree with them, the story of his adoption is a long one and I adopted him for good reasons. That said, he does fine in my apt., in fact he's a lazy bum, but I also walk him on average...5-6 times a day, and it is a butt load of work. So large breed dogs can be done, it all depends on the dog's personality more than anything else. For instance, I think I've only heard my dog bark 4 or 5 times since I've owned him, my neighbor who brought home a smaller, much more appropriately sized dog a few weeks ago, had huge problems with him barking and going nuts while she was gone.
Unless you are a seasoned dog owner used to working with large independent breeds, I would stay away from chows and shar pei's, they are not bad dogs in the least, but you have to be extremely consistent and strict with them, they also are usually restricted breeds for apts, so be aware if you adopt one that you may have trouble finding future places that allow dogs like that. I wouldn't adopt a puppy either, as the amount of time needed to properly train and care for them borders on the astronomical.
Best bet is to research breeds, but also have an idea of activity level, temperament, and maintenance level you're looking for. If you go down to a place like the SPCA, they'll usually have charts outside the windows for each dog giving them ratings in these areas, and they are very helpful. Lastly, don't discount older dogs, a lot of people do, but older dogs can be totally awesome as adoptables because they're almost always house trained, lower activity, and have most of their bad habits gone. An older dog will just chill all day when you're busy whereas a younger dog will get bored and find trouble.
Good luck, dogs are the greatest pet ever.
I don't think anybody in this thread has recommended a small dog because all small dogs are better in apartments. I, and several other people, said that a small dog would be better for the OP in particular because he is going to be moving several times in the near future and a lot of apartments have weight limits on allowed dogs.
Size in no way correlates to energy level. It is purely from a practicality standpoint that it is easier to move around with a small dog. There are plenty of under 25lb breeds that would do not typically do well in an apartment and equally many 70+lb breeds that typically do well in apartments. It can just be hard to find apartments that lets you have them.
As someone who had "family dogs" as a child and didn't get her "own dog" until her 30s, let me tell you two things:
1) dogs can be a hell of a lot more work than you might think
2) dogs can be a hell of a lot more rewarding than you can possibly conceive of
I used to call myself a "cat person". I still love my cats to bits, however having dogs now... man, they're just on a completely different level.
Anywho. Yes, it will come down to the breed/dog's personality.
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Corgis are very intelligent and trainable. They're awesome because they make fantastic dogs whether they have tons of space or very little space. They don't get too big for most apartments' weight reqs, they're hardy lil buggers, and they're adorable.
OP, I don't know where you're located, but this lil guy has 4 brothers and sisters awaiting adoption from a farm in San Antonio, TX (which is where we got him). They're a bit younger than you're wanting (about 5 months right now) but ours is a wonderful dog, and as I mentioned above, we are rockin' a SMALL ass apartment (about 500 sq ft) and he's doing great:
Anyway, can't recommend them enough as far as apt dogs go.
I got my dog from the local no-kill shelter and despite being a shepherd/hound mix he is a big ole couch potato.
His past was very very saddening. Ring around his neck from a rope collar he grew into so now he has no hair there ever again, he was extremely malnourished and then his next home over fed him so he was a fatty and just left him tied up outside on concrete. So his elbows and knees and legs have some black patches from being stuck laying down constantly on concrete.
Despite all of that he still craves affection and constantly wants to be touching someone.
He became comfortable after just a month or two and got used to his new home and stopped bad behaviors with a little training. He had a rough past, but still came around quickly.
Don't rule out a shelter dog completely. Go visit some shelters and see what they have, see the history of the dogs. When we went to our shelter I had one in mind, but once I walked past the cell with my boy in it, and he walked up and licked my hand it was over. Just because it isn't what you think you want, does not mean you won't find the best dog ever that is completely different.
This! My girlfriend got a pomeranian puppy 6 months ago. He was cute, adorable, and very smart. It takes alot of training to get a puppy to a reasonable level of behavior though. She takes him to dog training (run by her friend's mum. They have 6 dogs >_>) twice a week and since that started he is a new boy.
One thing we found out works really well was to have a patch of fake grass near the door. Trained him so if he wanted to go to the toilet he would come get you and get taken outside but if no-one was home it gave him a spot to go so that it didn't make a mess.
if it's an adult it should be fine. but lab puppies are very naughty (have one right now) and LOVE to run. Mine likes to run around indoors and growls while she does it. They also love stealing anything they can get their mouth on. They're very intelligent and learn fast though, which is why they're so popular and perceived as problem free dogs.
Labradors tend to have separation anxiety issues though, which is why even an adult would be a problem. If you had a puppy you'd have to deal with running, inappropriate "retrieving" of your shoes and keys and barking/crying when she doesn't have company.
the main issue with labradors are that they need company. you definitely need an apartment with a bit of space though, not a student shack or any place which doesn't have more than 2 meters without furniture or walls in the way. I don't mind them jogging indoors, since each session tends to be less than 5 minutes, and if it gets 3 walks a day it will just laze around.
but labs need special training to learn to chill alone.
She's looking into cheap one bedroom apartments, so size is an issue.
Her current job has her working from 5:30am - 2pm, so she would have lots of daytime light to take it on walks and play with it. I want a dog that will fiercely protect her, yet is small enough to be allowed in most apartments (Los Angeles area).
Any recommended breeds?
A jack russell might sound like a silly idea but might also be sort of ideal. They tend (in my experience) to think they're way bigger than they are, so they don't give a shit about barking at people, they can be loving as hell, they're small enough for an apartment and as an extra consideration I saw something recently which said they wound up being the cheapest dog on average over their lifetime.
There may be better suggestions with regards to breeds which could be more appropriate as guard dogs etc. but if you're looking for a fairly easy dog which would help her feel safe and is size appropriate you can't really go wrong.
A jack russell mix could also be a good idea, since the terrier instinct can be very strong and they tend to run after squirrels etc. and it is a BITCH to train out of them a lot of the time