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Adopting a Dog
Malgaras
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
So, I'm looking at potentially adopting a dog in the near future and would love some advice. A little about me as far as dog ownership is concerned:
My main problem is what breeds of dog I should be looking for. I feel like the dogs that are suitable for an apartment in the city are not the same dogs that would be good for hiking/camping/outdoorsy stuff. Any suggestions re: breeds? In general I like medium-large dogs, since I'm a pretty big guy myself (6'3"). I'd like something that would be pretty comfortable in the water as well. Sadly, I sold my kayak moving across the country earlier this year, but I'd like to keep the option open for a kayak buddy if possible. I've have had (rather large, as in well beyond breed standard large) Shelties for most of my life, and love the breed. Aussies as well. Again, my problem is these things all seem to conflict quite a bit with living in a city/apartment. Realistically, I'll probably wind up with some sort of mix, because I'll be going to a shelter anyways, but it'd be nice to have some general ideas.
I'm also conflicted re: my work hours. Is it feasible to have a dog and not have anyone home during the day? Like I said, I'd be taking the dog to daycare, and occasionally to work, but I don't want to be a bad dog owner either, and wonder if that is a reasonable solution.
On a related note, anything I else I should be doing right now? Obviously down the road a bit further there is a ton to do, but this is very preliminary at this point. I'm currently looking in to local shelters/rescues as well starting to look at daycare options. I suppose I should start looking at vets too.
- 27, live by myself, have had a dog from birth till about 7 years ago
- Live in a ~1000 sq. ft. apartment in downtown Seattle, pet friendly
- Gone 9-11 (mostly 9ish) hours during the week, I'd bring the dog to daycare (I do work in a dog friendly office, but I question whether the dog would simply get bored there)
- Live next door to a reasonably sized(for a city) park (not off leash), nearest off-leash park is ~10 minute walk
- I hike on the weekends and really want a dog that would be a good hiking buddy
My main problem is what breeds of dog I should be looking for. I feel like the dogs that are suitable for an apartment in the city are not the same dogs that would be good for hiking/camping/outdoorsy stuff. Any suggestions re: breeds? In general I like medium-large dogs, since I'm a pretty big guy myself (6'3"). I'd like something that would be pretty comfortable in the water as well. Sadly, I sold my kayak moving across the country earlier this year, but I'd like to keep the option open for a kayak buddy if possible. I've have had (rather large, as in well beyond breed standard large) Shelties for most of my life, and love the breed. Aussies as well. Again, my problem is these things all seem to conflict quite a bit with living in a city/apartment. Realistically, I'll probably wind up with some sort of mix, because I'll be going to a shelter anyways, but it'd be nice to have some general ideas.
I'm also conflicted re: my work hours. Is it feasible to have a dog and not have anyone home during the day? Like I said, I'd be taking the dog to daycare, and occasionally to work, but I don't want to be a bad dog owner either, and wonder if that is a reasonable solution.
On a related note, anything I else I should be doing right now? Obviously down the road a bit further there is a ton to do, but this is very preliminary at this point. I'm currently looking in to local shelters/rescues as well starting to look at daycare options. I suppose I should start looking at vets too.
Malgaras on
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I love dogs too, but it's a hell of a burden on your time.
I live in a super pet friendly town and everyones got dogs and can take them out with them. At least here, it seems pretty feasible to have a dog as a single person, but I went down the cat route till I have the time and the space for the kind of breed I want. I had a dog while I was in highschool and that was probably the the best time for me to take on the sort of around the clock attention dogs thrive under.
A greyhound might be a good fit. Worlds fastest couch potato. Despite their athletic reputation they are very good apartment dogs. And theres always a need for greyhound adoption.
However, I would seriously consider a cat or other pet if you cannot do the daycare thing or have the dog with you at work
Edit: The breeds that would do well in an apartment are opposite the breeds you can take for long hikes.
Unless you have property with a yard, I'd advise against the kind of dog you would want for hiking. Especially with a 8-11 hour schedule.
huge generalization
we used to take our firends corgi out snowshoeing with us in foot deep powder and it was fine. also dogs like the portuguese water dog are super hardy and will hike with you .
conversely you can have a big dog in an apartment. our dog is 70lb ish and only really stays in one room. when she was younger she was super active outside but lazy as hell if we were inside.
if you are going to walking the dog as much as you say when you are home you will be fine. it will be work but will manageable especially if you plan on taking the dog with you as much as you can.
a house if just a place to sleep and most dogs don't really play inside
Leaving a dog alone for 9 hours is not really ok
I do agree that dogs can be completely great in apartments, but you should definitely not leave your dog alone that much.
You need a dog that is relatively lazy?
Great Danes are amazing for this. I have one in my apartment, am away a similar amount of time (granted my wife stays home about half the week, but she's too busy with the kids to really take him out so he stays indoors until I get home) and he's perfectly happy. They are a bit on the pricey side (both in terms of initial cost and vet fees) but exercise is actually bad for them. It's advised that they should be maxed out at a 10-15minute walk per day (I generally do a bit more because mine has been slightly on the full of energy side of things.)
It's doable, especially if you go the doggy daycare/bring it to work route. It does put a hard limit on how long you can be away from home and you have to be committed to getting the dog outside for lots of outside time every day.
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Just make sure you exercise them when you get home, and get a breed better suited for apartment living (I'd avoid a border collie, even though beef avenger is doing okay).
He wants a dog that will laze around on weekdays and go on long hikes with him at weekends. Sounds like if 15 minutes is the max a Great Dane should do, a 5 hour hike would kill it entirely.
The fact that you are taking it to doggy daycare at your work during the day should be more than enough.
I missed the hiking part - that said I do take mine for 4-5hour walks once in a while. Certainly not every weekend and I'm sure it'd be frowned upon by the Great Dane community but I never force him to carry on.
The dog would absolutely not be staying in the apartment alone while I go to work every day. It would be a mix of daycare, bringing the dog to work, and working from home. I already worked out the budget and daycare shouldn't be a problem. Short version is if I can't find something I am happy with in that regard (i.e. not sitting around at home being bored), I won't be getting a dog.
Still deciding whether or not to move forward with this, all the discussion so far has been very helpful. Greyhound sounds like an interesting choice on breed. I may have to look into that.
They aren't naturally strong swimmers (but generally happy to wear a flotation device) and would need to work up to long distance hikes as they are much more a sprinter than an endurance breed.
Our girl is home by herself about 8 hours a day and pretty much just sleeps the whole time - we take her for a 20-30 minute walk before work, sometimes another one after but she's just as happy to snuggle up on the couch. Generally if you let a local greyhound adoption agency know what you're looking for they are happy to keep an eye out for one with the right temperament - the first greyhound we were looking at had been fostered with another dog and young family and enjoyed that company so we were told he wouldn't suit our situation and we were happy to wait for one who would.
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plus if they see something in the woods they are probably gone
I'd just really recommend you think hard about how often you do anything spontaneously in your life. Dogs and spontaneity don't get along well. I have two good friends who were relieved when they finally gave their dogs to their parents due to things like: being unable to take off for an unplanned snowboarding trip when it snows, being able to go straight to rock climbing after work, being able to go to happy hours they hadn't planned on, etc.
But if it's a concern, like maybe he needs an afternoon walk or play session, check out some local vets to see if they have a dog walking service. At mine, a few of the vet techs offer a service where they'll come to your place and walk and feed and play with them.
But to echo a few others, a lazy apartment dog would be a huge difference from a weekend hiking dog. I tried that with mine and he wanted to rest beneath every shady tree and kept wanting to go home. Even when we used to take him to dog parks he'd just stroll on back to the car.
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yeah I can agree with this
if you're a boring homebody like me who likes a schedule, dogs are great
if you're someone who likes to get up and leave town for a week.. dogs are not so great
spontaneity is okay if the dog is included, though, like hiking or kayaking or something (some dogs looooooooooove kayaking)
You literally can never take them off the leash.
If you go greyhound adoption, make sure the adopting agency finds you the type of greyhound that has already been exposed to being alone not around other dogs. When they are racing they are constantly around other dogs.
I adopted one for a short period of time, but her separation anxiety was so bad I had to return her, it just wasn't a good fit.
yea and maybe that is a personal bias i have against greyhounds. I will always want a dog I can train to be off leash in the woods. (or really anywhere)