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Time to get a dog.
rts
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I am 22 years old, I live in an 1,100 square foot two story townhouse, and I am allowed one pet. I have had quite a few dogs growing up, but they have always been small dogs and I think I would like to get a larger dog this time around. I am concerned though, about the size of my place which is of course rather small. I have a front and back patio, but those wouldn't be able to provide any real exercise for the dog, just a place for him to crap.
My front patio does open up to a huge grassy park though, which would be awesome to let the dog run around in except for the 'dogs must be on a leash' rule (which...many of the dog owners around here ignore). However, I don't think I could get away with it so easily because I live next door (one on both sides of me) to two board members who are constantly complaining about dogs being off leash. I am on great terms with them right now, and I would rather not ruin that but I miss having a dog.
I also live just a couple of blocks away from a dog park, and a mile or so from another park that allows people to let their dogs off leash in the mornings. And there is a dog beach only a few miles down the road as well.
I have a few questions actually, so here they are:
Is it reasonable for me to seek a larger dog? Will daily walks be enough for a large dog if I don't have a huge space for him to run around in at home?
I am thinking of a Vizsla. Do you have any suggestions for other medium to large sized breeds I might be interested in?
Should I talk to my neighbors about the possibility of me playing ball with the dog in the community park area of the complex?
Puppies are really rambunctious, so knowing that I don't have a huge area for them to run around at home I was considering going to a rescue and getting an older dog. Anyone have any thoughts or advice on that?
Thanks in advance guys, I want to do this thing right.
My front patio does open up to a huge grassy park though, which would be awesome to let the dog run around in except for the 'dogs must be on a leash' rule (which...many of the dog owners around here ignore). However, I don't think I could get away with it so easily because I live next door (one on both sides of me) to two board members who are constantly complaining about dogs being off leash. I am on great terms with them right now, and I would rather not ruin that but I miss having a dog.
I also live just a couple of blocks away from a dog park, and a mile or so from another park that allows people to let their dogs off leash in the mornings. And there is a dog beach only a few miles down the road as well.
I have a few questions actually, so here they are:
Is it reasonable for me to seek a larger dog? Will daily walks be enough for a large dog if I don't have a huge space for him to run around in at home?
I am thinking of a Vizsla. Do you have any suggestions for other medium to large sized breeds I might be interested in?
Should I talk to my neighbors about the possibility of me playing ball with the dog in the community park area of the complex?
Puppies are really rambunctious, so knowing that I don't have a huge area for them to run around at home I was considering going to a rescue and getting an older dog. Anyone have any thoughts or advice on that?
Thanks in advance guys, I want to do this thing right.
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It's totally reasonable for you to seek a larger dog. Giving your dog a huge space to run around in is useless unless you are providing some activity that requires the huge space, as your dog will not run laps in the backyard of his own accord. He will most likely go out there to relieve him/herself, play with you if you are out there, maybe bark at passerby if you don't stop him from doing that, etc. I have a friend who trains dogs, and her biggest issue is with people who say "but we have a huge backyard for him to play in, we shouldn't need to take him for walks all the time." Or something to that extent, and then they are confused as to why their darling pooch chews their house apart or is aggressive or something. These people are idiots. You should be taking your dog out for walks twice a day before you feed them, for about 30 minutes per walk. This will have the bonus effect of helping to prevent almost all of the negative behaviors dogs develop because they have too much pent up energy (chewing, excessive barking, aggression, etc).
So yeah, regular exercise, no problems.
Honestly, go to an online dog breed selector, and be completely honest with it (you don't want to be getting a Husky if you're not willing to spend an hour and a half to two hours power walking it, for example). They are usually pretty decent at helping select breeds to look at. Also, make sure you take a look at the individual dog. Their personalities are all completely different, even within the same breed, so make sure you get one that pairs up with you really well. Also make sure you take the dog for a walk before you take it home - you need to be able to control it while you're walking, else you're going to run into issues throughout its entire life.
Definitely talk to your neighbours about it to make sure they're okay with it. The last thing you'd want is a person who is terrified of dogs running away from your dog, becoming prey, and getting bitten.
Honestly, 1100 square feet with a yard is more than enough to get a puppy. The biggest issue with puppies is the stupid amount of time and training they take. If you are unwilling to basically devote 6 months of your life to training and taking care of a puppy, then look into adopting from a shelter. Getting an older dog from a shelter is a lot better anyway, as you're saving it's life, and it'll be easier to see if it has developed any behavioral issues. Things like that. Again, make sure you take it for a quick walk (like.. 3-5 minutes) to see if you can control it on the walk, and make sure you sign up for obedience classes as soon as you get the dog home. They are as necessary an investment into a dog as a leash and food.
Vizsla may not be a good fit for you. They can be high strung and need a LOT of exercise. If you're going for a purebreed you need to properly mate the genetic predisposition of the dog to your lifestyle or you both will be upset at one another. When I say a lot of exercise I'd say 1-1.5 hours vigorous walk a day, or 1/2-1 hour jog/run. When a dog that needs a lot of activity/exercise doesn't get it, he'll become nuerotic/destructive and start acting out. If my dog doesn't get at least 2 X 30 minute walks he gets annoying as hell, and unruly.
What kind of exercise do you get now that you might be able to take your dog out with you? Can you come home from work/school to let dog out if he/she's crated? Do you leave the house for days at a time for vacation or work?
You could try, but you might be setting yourself up for issues. Rather if neighbors meet cute dog and see he/she's friendly, and well socialized they likely won't have issue. Just socialize her properly and take baggies to clean up poop. You may have to content yourself with the dog park and dog beach, especially if children frequent this community park. That's better than most as far as pet resources available to you.
That's a great idea, though I don't know how you'd go about it other than contact your local SPCA or shelter group for the breed in which you have interest. A dog a few years old will need less direct attention then a pup and should be house-broken and know a few commands (sit, down, stay maybe).
Can you spend at least an hour walking it every day? If so, I would recommend a boxer, they're one of the most intensely loyal dogs. Also one of the friendliest "big dogs" by nature.
If you can't spend an hour exercising the dog, get a standard poodle.
I walk/jog early in the morning for about 4 miles which takes me about an hour. I go to school about 5 minutes walk from my house, and I work at home so I am around quite a bit. I usually go up to Los Angeles every other weekend or so, but the dog would come with me if I had one. And I have a good sized backyard up there (at my grandmother's house).
I consider labs to be pretty big dogs, I grew up with Cairns/Jack Russels mostly.
I forgot to mention that I would also prefer a dog that is very much on the quiet side.
Standard poodles require at least an hour of exercise too. A lot of the giant breeds are couch potatoes, but on the negative side they have much shorter lifespans than medium - large dogs.
Have you ever trained a dog before? Viszlas aren't as easy to train as, say, labradors or golden retrievers.
Paired with an evening/afternoon walk/jog that probably would be adequate exercise for an adult Vizsla, though as a pup she would need the exercise broken up into more manageable periods (an hour of jogging would likely be too much for any pup, they'd be game, but it might overexert them). They aren't beginner dogs, but they aren't so big and powerful as to need a super-dominant master. If you want a beginner dog I'd steer you to a golden retriever, a labrador (field stock), or a goldie/lab mix, though these would also need plenty of exercise.
Is your preference for Vizsla from the appearance, or perhaps from a positive personal association with one?
Do some research and see if you can find out what breeds fit your lifestyle and living situation. I'd start at a place like dogbreedinfo.com (they aren't the bible of dogs, but basic info on a lot of breeds and might be a good jumping off point) or akc.org. Also realize that many breed-specific forums/sites have a lot of fan(atics) and there may be more noise than signal sometimes. Know that even net of adoption expenses, adopting a shelter dog will usually be less upfront cost than a pup (particularly a purebred).
Dogs have a wide range of obedience/trainability. My Boxer isn't ... dumb, he obviously picks up stuff and keys in on things. But the fucker needs shitloads of repetitions to set a command, with ample re-training bouts. He also needs a very firm (dominant) but patient (calm and not angry) hand.
But by all means get a rescue dog, whatever breed they end up being I am sure they will love you just the same. Lots of shelters offer help with placement and some will even help you find an obedience trainer to get you up to speed on commands.
I live near Del Mar, I don't know if they race dogs there.
The 'community park' is a private park in the middle of my condominium complex. There are rarely children in it, except some annoying skateboarder kids.
my lab vehemently disagrees with this statement.
They don't bark unless there's something really wrong, they're great guard dogs, they're big, cuddly and catlike, they're super intelligent, and clean. In fact, Akitas wash their faces like cats do! As a note, they do shed twice a year.
Wikipedia Akita link
I mean, come on, look at the picture, they're so cute!
a large dog should be fine for you. my dog is 55 lbs and she is lazier than me in the house and will sleep all day/lay on her couch. but as soon as we go out, she runs around like nuts.
vizlas are nice dogs, though they can be a little skittish/neurotic. but if you socialize them, they should be fine, the ones i have met have been mostly people dogs, but that could be individual traits rather than a breed.
common consensus is not to run with you dog until 6 months or so, especially if they will be big since it can be bad for bone and joint growth which means expensive care later on.
if you live near the beach i would look into a more of a water dog. ( goldens, labs, etc) but that is because they love to swim and its easy exercise. while not technically a big dog (30-45lbs) a portugeuese water dog is awesome, jokers, low shed, smart so easy to train.
i will type more later but the key to training is to set boundries early and be consistent. and don't let them get away with anythign as a puppy that would be horrible if they were full grown
The rescue dog I picked up was a Chihuahua/Pug?/Jack Russel mix and has since become the best dog I've ever had. His name is Smokey, likely after those "Lil' Smokies" brand of cocktail sausages. He enjoys eating raw carrots, apples, and bananas on occasion, and frequently burrows himself into towels and blankets when it gets cold. He has a terrycloth pig, named Terry, that he likes to flop around and pounce on. His little teeth stick out from under his top lip which makes him seem as if he's smiling. At around 19 pounds, he's small enough to be a cuddly lap dog without needing large amounts of food or exercise.
Your best bet is to find a dog that is genuinely interested in you. Don't go for looks, as looks can be deceiving. Most shelters are eager to help you find a dog, and most shelters are currently overflowing with great dogs who have been surrendered by their owners due to difficult economic times. Puppies take a great deal of time and energy; adult rescue dogs provide plenty of quality companionship with significantly less effort involved.
Now, if you've got your heart set on a Vizsla, you can deal with the difficulty of having one as your first dog. (Bear in mind that living with dogs your parents owned is very different than being entirely responsible for one yourself). Also, take a long and hard look at your money situation: can you cover several hundred dollars a year for food, several hundred for routine vet visits, plus grooming costs, toys, cleaning for your stuff, pet deposit for your apartment, and emergency expenses? A single emergency vet visit can easily run into the thousands, and you never know when your pet is going to take sick or swallow a twist tie and need surgery or something.
Keep in mind, too, that having a pet is frequently a commitment for the next 10 years or more, and that it can make moving a great deal more complicated. Are you willing to proscribe your moving choices for the next decade so you can make sure to bring your dog along? Many apartment complexes simply don't allow pets, many have weight limits or breed restrictions (which frequently include Akitas, German Shepherds, and anything that looks even slightly pit-bull-ish like Boxers).
I love dogs and completely sympathize with your desire to have one. Just please make sure you're making the right decision for you AND the dog before you go through with this.
When we went to the shelter to choose a dog, they would let you take dogs out to a nearby field in order to see how friendly/well behaved the dog was, so if that's an option I'd reccommend it.
A vizsla would also be debatable, as they're this endearing but bwuh? mix of hyperactivity and people-gluey--they want to be on or around you pretty much every second they're not running around outside, which is still a lot. If that sounds cool, by all means, look for a rescue or comb shelters nearby.
Goldens and Labs are fantastically sweet and eager to please, but watch out for abandoned purebreds with hip problems.
I wouldn't say I have my heart set on a Vizsla, they just seemed well rounded for what I was looking for. I do love golden retrievers but they tend to smell pretty bad as they get older (even with frequent washing), and they shed a hell of a lot.
I am confident that I can handle the responsibility. I live just around the corner from the humane society here in the north county of San Diego, so I may walk over there tomorrow and start talking to them.
1. make a list of traits you think your ideal dog would have
2. get yourself a breed book, and go through it and make yourself a short list of breeds that might work
3. take that list to the spca or look at breed specific rescues.
4. Profit
do you want a puppy or an older dog?
I would prefer a puppy, but I am not against getting an older dog if that is what the situation calls for. But I do like thinking back and remembering the dogs I have had when they were puppies.
Yeah, some springers and cockers have bizarre temperaments thanks to our good friend, Mr. Overbreeding; investigating lots of rescue dogs for the right one would probably be the solution. Cavs tend to be more mellow and accepting of other dogs - not to mention melting your face off with cuteness - but have nasty heart problems.
If smell and grooming are important, maybe consider a young Lab. Vizsla are notoriously clean dogs, too, but Labs have most of their good points with slightly different bad ones (hip problems, hyperactivity, licking people to death). It probably comes down to personal preference.
Any dog is going to be quiet if they get adequate exercise.
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Oh wow. I haven't heard of any rules like that but I will check with the main guy next time I see him (which is often).
I agree with everything else in your post, But I trained an akita almost completely by myself when I was 12. They need a decent amount of socialization and training, sure, but its not really leaps and bounds over care for any dog. Not saying he shouldn't consider this when He looks at breeds, but if he even has friends around while its a puppy and reads about training and care (which he should do anyway) its not rocket science. Unless he gets a rescued akita that is already problematic, I dont see why that should be an issue.
I'm biased though, I had an akita.
Spoiled info about my experience with the breed:
-They are pretty relaxed when inside. an Akita sits at his owners feet, moves when you moves and sleeps when you sleep. Part of that whole "loyal" thing. Akitas are alright in small living spaces because of this. They just need good walks.
-Easy to train. Akitas are responsive to positive feed back, and dont necessarily need a treat for everything. I remember I could teach hatari a trick in few hours.
-Smart. Which I guess goes with easy to train. But they are fun and will surprise you with their intelligence.
Cons:
- Smart. They will get into shit and they do need training. Like I said, its not a hell of alot different than any dog, but they will occasionally be bastards. Our guy used to spit pills he didnt like taking down a floor vent, for example. He was also expert at getting pizza boxes he shouldn't have off of my desk.
- They shed so goddamn much. There is still hair in my house and hes been gone for three-ish years now. You will need to train it to stay off furniture, unless you want hair on everything.
-They will not exercise without you. You must take the time to walk them and play with them, or they will just whine at you. An akita isnt going to excitedly do laps around the yard without you.
-Not so good with small dogs, or kids. We socialized hatari and he was fine with kids, but he hated small yippy dogs. They made him nervous, got under him and bad times were had for all. If you want a dog that can hang out with other pooches at random, you should reconsider.
Check for weight limits, too, as well as any other breed restrictions. As Trowi (may I call you that?) noted, shepherds, Rottweilers, dobermanns, any pit bull-looking dog, or - ironically - akitas can all be singled out for higher insurance rates or banned, period. I can't think of any other breeds as highly regarded for aggression; no one I know was ever penalized for owning a chow, sharpei, or other standoffish-er/guard breeds, though these dogs are all not recommended for new owners. (As far as my own preferences go, I'd point you towards a Great Pyrenees, but they're huge, stubborn as hell and not eager to please. Very sweet, though.)
I love Akitas; they're awesome dogs. The reason I wouldn't recommend them for first-time owners is that they can be very, very protective, and they're quite powerful animals, so a not-fully-trained Akita can be hard to control. This varies dog-to-dog, of course, but you never know with a puppy whether it's going to be a big mellow sack of love or have a more difficult personalities.
If you get a longhaired dog, particulary one with an undercoat, and she gets a lot of time in the water, you'll need to more regularly brush her coat otherwise you'll get dredlocks and matts of hair that can be smelly and are a pain to work through during grooming. Grooming is a good thing, it's a bonding experience with your dog in a way that walks aren't. If you cannot tolerate hair get a short haired dog, and not a dog with an undercoat; even shorthaired dogs are going to shed a bit. Shedded long hairs and undercoat are more messy, but shedded short hairs are itchy.
I'm not one to make breed suggestions/prohibitions, but unless you have ample patience and time to spare, you do not want a dominant dog as your first venture into pet ownership.
My dog might have been an exception but I didn't get that impression at all from having an Akita. She was very friendly with people and we never had problems with her being overprotective or trying to bite anyone.
It's just a breed trend; not every Akita is going to be protective, but in general, they do tend that way, and people should bear that in mind before getting one. I've met some pit bulls that were awesome with other dogs, and some dumb-as-rocks poodles, and some mellow Pomeranians, but that doesn't mean pitties don't tend toward dog aggressions, poodles toward being scarily bright, and Pomeranians from being yappy little ankle-biters (actually just very active, but I don't like poms).
I checked with my HOA and they have no rules about size/breed as well.
There is a dog beach about 5 miles down the coast, so I think it should be pretty fun.