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Which pet to get?
Canada_jezus
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
Hey,
So I'm moving into a new apartment at the end of the week. I've really wanted a pet since forever and i figure, hey I'm moving, might as well get a pet now. Its a two room apartment, ground floor but it has a rather spacious courtyard with a bit of plants that's all mine, so i figure I've got the room. (on Friday i can upload pictures if need be to really asses this).
I'm asking my landlord tomorrow when I'm picking up the keys if they're okay with dogs or cats. There is not one word about pets in the lease. If they don't wants dogs, I'll respect that. But there's definitely going to be a pet of some kind.
Quick checklist, i've got the time to take care of them, the money and the space to keep them. Am i missing anything? Anyway, for the thread now i'm not sure what kind of pet i should get. Ideally they'd be not too fragile health wise and easy to transport. Also appreciating human affection and returning it is a must.
Dog: Really this would be ideal, since i could take it along if and when i visit my parents. Man's best friend, really the most loving of all animals i guess? I'd be a pound dog, one that's getting on in age, seems like the thing to do.
Cat: An easier sell to the landlord and my mother would bitch less when i bring it for a visit. I am however allergic, so i'd need to see a doctor for pills or something.
Guinea pigs: Two females, in a rather large cage I'd setup somewhere. I am kind of freaked out over what they need to eat and where i'd get green hay and that sort of thing. These bad boys are the most likely outcome, do they travel well? or at all?
Rabbit: This is another option, i mean they go on a leash apparently. they won't make painful amounts of noise. Only worried that i'd really have to protect/tape to the walls ever single power cord i have.
Bearded Dragon: Only mentioning this since there is a really big reptile specialty store nearby. Probably a bad idea since i know nothing at all about reptiles.
Fish: Well they're calming i guess? I don't want fish to be honest but it keeps getting suggested so much i figured i'd list it. Honestly cleaning out an aquarium sounds terrible. I might as well just get a painting or stare at my screen saver.
Rats: Well i think guinea pigs are cuter and they'll be more accepted by the landlord so, sorry rats.
edit: Sugar gliders: Know nothing about them, marsupials i think? High maintenance? idk.
So which pet for a first time pet owner? Anything i'm missing? Advice? Thanks in advance.
So I'm moving into a new apartment at the end of the week. I've really wanted a pet since forever and i figure, hey I'm moving, might as well get a pet now. Its a two room apartment, ground floor but it has a rather spacious courtyard with a bit of plants that's all mine, so i figure I've got the room. (on Friday i can upload pictures if need be to really asses this).
I'm asking my landlord tomorrow when I'm picking up the keys if they're okay with dogs or cats. There is not one word about pets in the lease. If they don't wants dogs, I'll respect that. But there's definitely going to be a pet of some kind.
Quick checklist, i've got the time to take care of them, the money and the space to keep them. Am i missing anything? Anyway, for the thread now i'm not sure what kind of pet i should get. Ideally they'd be not too fragile health wise and easy to transport. Also appreciating human affection and returning it is a must.
Dog: Really this would be ideal, since i could take it along if and when i visit my parents. Man's best friend, really the most loving of all animals i guess? I'd be a pound dog, one that's getting on in age, seems like the thing to do.
Cat: An easier sell to the landlord and my mother would bitch less when i bring it for a visit. I am however allergic, so i'd need to see a doctor for pills or something.
Guinea pigs: Two females, in a rather large cage I'd setup somewhere. I am kind of freaked out over what they need to eat and where i'd get green hay and that sort of thing. These bad boys are the most likely outcome, do they travel well? or at all?
Rabbit: This is another option, i mean they go on a leash apparently. they won't make painful amounts of noise. Only worried that i'd really have to protect/tape to the walls ever single power cord i have.
Bearded Dragon: Only mentioning this since there is a really big reptile specialty store nearby. Probably a bad idea since i know nothing at all about reptiles.
Fish: Well they're calming i guess? I don't want fish to be honest but it keeps getting suggested so much i figured i'd list it. Honestly cleaning out an aquarium sounds terrible. I might as well just get a painting or stare at my screen saver.
Rats: Well i think guinea pigs are cuter and they'll be more accepted by the landlord so, sorry rats.
edit: Sugar gliders: Know nothing about them, marsupials i think? High maintenance? idk.
So which pet for a first time pet owner? Anything i'm missing? Advice? Thanks in advance.
Canada_jezus on
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Cat and fish would be the best bet. Even then large tanks might be a no go. If they break thats a lot of damage to the apartment.
If you are able to have a dog, spend a lot of time reading about the differences between the breeds so you will know what to expect, as different breeds have huge differences between the amount of care, time, space and exercise needed. I cannot stress this part enough, and the size of the breed doesn't necessarily make things one way ot the other.
Make sure you are fully aware of what you will be getting yourself into, as many breeds will not be as good a choice as others depending on your schedule and will cause you (and likely your new apartment) much trouble if you don't make an informed decision.
When you are talking to your landlord ask about size. In my area a lot of buildings are cats or dogs under 15-25lbs. I got my first dog ever 3 years ago and couldn't be happier. There is a bit of a learning curve and I definitely relied on the help of a good friend who has had lots of dogs, do you have anyone like that or are you embarrassed to ask stupid questions here frequently? Also a good class will help you immensely. I found a wonderful (and free) online training program and that has been how my dog learned the most actual behaviors but going to class was such a different (and really beneficial) experience.
My college roommate has a bunny that she loves. You definitely need to plan on putting just as much time into training a rabbit as you would a dog or they will eat all the cords in the place. I can get you more information on where to find hay and stuff like that if you are actually interested. I know she also takes the bunny along to visit her parents and has moved several times.
One pet you didn't mention is a bird. I love birds and landlords don't seem to mind the small ones at all. I have had parrotlets and parakeets. I had one standoff-ish parakeet that I bought from a big box store (bad idea) but I got the rest a lot younger and they were very friendly and cuddly. Note, if you wear a beard they might try to groom you and if you are very ticklish you probably won't like them as much as I did. They can be potty trained to fly back to their cage/playpen to poop. You do need to clean the cage but if you put newspaper in the bottom you just pick it up and throw it out. Disclaimer: I no longer have birds b/c I suck at keeping them alive even with the help of a vet.
on rodents and small creatures: they smell but not so bad so long as you keep their cage clean. think of these as fuzzy fish since the only advantage of having one of these over a fish is that they are cute and cuddly.
IMO i'd go with the cat if you weren't allergic but the dog since you are. just make sure that the dog does not shed alot because often it is general hair and dander that you are alergic to and not just cats over dogs.
I clean my snakes out every few weeks with new woodchips, as well as picking up the poop. Pretty odourless really.
Cats: Super easy to take care of and that's a plus if you are lazy like me. As long as you have two that get along (shouldn't be too hard to find if you get some that are littermates) you are golden. Allergic you say? Well, so was I, but I wanted cats real bad so I got them anyway. The first couple of weeks were me sneezing and such, but after that I accumulated a tolerance and now I have no issue whatsoever with cats. Instead of going to the docs, maybe try to spend a bunch of time at a friend-with-cat's house and see how bad your allergies are. If you are just getting a stuffy nose that's mildly annoying, you'll probably lose that after you are acclimated. If you are breaking out in hives and can't breathe, I would say a doctor+ pills is a good route. You may even have only to get a once a year shot.
Rats: Okay, I know, there is a negative association with these guys. But truly, I promise, they are the best small animal pets you will ever have. They are very smart and clean, as long as you are getting them from a pet store. Honestly though, if your landlord doesn't want a rat (and you should only get one, they don't do well with "friends"), he's going to say no to most of the other small animals you have on that list. Guinea pigs/rabbits can be especially damaging, and really most of them make "eh" pets (at least, they did for me).
Reptiles: I have a western hognose. It's a small snake that will never get bigger than a foot (at the largest) and she eats a mouse every couple of days. She's super easy to take care of (just dump out and hose down the aquarium every couple of weeks, it's like ten seconds.) I have a heating pad for her instead of a lamp and it's fun to watch her eat. As for smells, yeah, I thought she needed a bath after I handled her for a while, but the cage itself actually does not smell (I use aspen shavings for her bedding). Don't know how much of an issue this would be for you. I might try this instead of the dragon, because that reptile I think has to have a lamp that's on all the time so if it's anywhere near where you sleep...
Spiders: Yeah, I own a tarantula. Talk about easy! Rose hairs are cheap and common, and they don't need a ton of room (mine's in a 5 gallon). Dump a couple of crickets in there once a week and your done. Also, while the tarantula is not as "interactive" as other pets, it's hella cool to watch, especially when it's eating food. I know, it's sorta like the fish, but you get to watch people's reactions when you tell them you own a huge hairy spider.
Honestly, I usually go the "if he didn't say anything about it, I won't mention it" route with my landlord. I'm pretty responsible with my pets and they generally don't get out unsupervised, and they don't ever cause damage. As long as you take good care of them and such, the landlord won't have reason to come to you with issues, so the whole thing will be moot.
Studies have shown that pets are enriching, healthy parts of human life, and having one is only going to be beneficial to you (stress relief, general happiness). Good luck finding the one (or many!) that's for you!
They're an extremely kind, intelligent and loyal dog with a great temperament and the fact that they're used by police forces around the world adds to their credentials as a good dog and gives them a nice reputation that should put off any muggers or burglars etc.
On which planet are German Shepherds considered medium size?
I'm sure we could go round and round in arguments about dog breeds. Unfortunately any breed that is popular tends to have a lot of puppymills producing them as well. If you do your research they aren't hard to pick out (even in a pound situation). With german shepherds you have to watch out for ridiculously weak hips.
Also most people don't consider 80lb dogs medium :P
Honestly, if you're looking for a "pet," and not just a thing to leave in a cage, your only options are a cat or a dog. They're really for different lifestyles and different approaches to pet ownership.
Dogs are great if you want a companion who will go places with you, interact with you for playtime, and so on. They also require that you train them, walk them and deal with their poop, and require more of your time.
Cats are great if you want a companion who is happy to see you but will typically do its own thing. Cats are not "solitary" but they do not typically interact with you the same. For example, a dog will wrestle with you, where a cat will play hide & seek. Cats poop in a box that you should scoop every other day, are OK with you leaving for a weekend (you just leave food out), and generally don't get into as much trouble on their own compared to a dog.
But housecats generally shouldn't go outside, either. A lot of friends of mine have dogs and use them as social leverage, which is common -- dog people can talk about their dogs and have them play together or go on a walk together. Cats are much more owner-oriented, and will let you love on them and will rub on you but won't interact much with strangers or other cats.
How bad are your allergies to cats? If you've never had a pet before, your allergies may hold true for most mammals, or it may simply be because you've never had your own pet before. I had minor cat allergies but I own two cats and am not allergic to them at all, partly because they're mine and partly because I feed them very high quality food.
Dogs on the other hand, if you want to be gone for even a night you need someone to let the dog out.
So if you travel a lot I'd advise against a dog.
Eh, something like 30% of dogs in pounds are purebred and most of the rest have at least one recognizable breed in them. I got a purebred dog by accident (I thought he was a mix, turns out not).
Researching some of the breeds that are really common isn't a bad idea. Knowing that a medium sized dog that slinks likely has some BC in it and therefore very high energy needs is important. Breed traits will be even less prominent in mixes but that doesn't mean that the OP can't stack the odds of getting a dog that meshes well with his lifestyle by researching and recognizing some common ones.
Yeah, getting a dog that you think is going to be mellow and ending up with a crazy pooch is bad, and vice versa just leads to a disappointed owner.
For you dog folks, what do you think about the OPs idea of buying a dog that's "getting on in years"? I know that dogs aren't as long-lived as cats, and many die before they hit double digits. Should the OP (if the OP decides to get a dog) get one that simply isn't a puppy? Or is it worthwhile for a first-time pet owner to get an elderly pet?
I feel that if the landlord doesn't want a dog in that's fine. Barking and all that. But a wee rat or a cat, well they can't bother the neighbors. Also I've rented from these people before and they like me cause the rent was never ever late. (apparently a problem with a lot of their tenants).
The only places i travel are where i could take a dog no problem. (Paintball in the forest and my parents house for the weekend. Big yard)
So i guess now it goes.
1. Dog if its allowed
2. Rat (only problem is its have to leave it alone when i visit my parents)
3. Cat: the allergy consists of sneezing, sore eyes and swollen throat + coughing. So untenable if i can't get pills
4. Guinea pigs, bit lacking in interaction but they're cute when you give them floor time.
I've never thought about birds because well, aren't they meant to fly around and not be cooped up?
And yeah if my older dog idea if a bad one please do comment on that. I mean, most of the pound dogs i've seen range from like 2 years to 7 to 9-10. Elderly people's dogs that got taken cause they died and all. I've read a bunch about dogs, like jack russels and great dane's do good in apartments. Smaller dogs sometimes don't. etc etc.
Also eggytoast i'm a guy, just to be clear, not that it really matters :P
Jack Russels aren't great apartment dogs from what I've read. They can be really hyper. I've known a few people that have had them...
Great Danes are relatively calm indoors, so that is pretty true.
As far as adopting a dog in need...it's a nice idea to adopt an older dog, but all of the dogs in shelters need homes, I would do your best to find one that matches you and your lifestyle than a criteria for ages. Even young dogs get put down because of lack of room or interest in something other than a puppy.
There is also another option. If you want a certain kind of dog, but want to rescue it look for breed specific rescues. Type "Papillon Rescue" or "American Eskimo Dog Rescue" etc in google, and find one in your area. These dogs typically live in home with someone and are fostered by them so they don't get kennel cough as often and they also aren't in a stressed out kennel environment. Since they have lived with their foster for awhile, they can tell you about the dogs personality. And when you adopt from them you help save 2 dogs, because they then have room to pull another one out of a shelter.
But I happen to own two awesome cats, and I think the world of them.
If you do decide dog, do yourself a favor and get a pound-puppy, It seems like too many people get caught up in "I want this breed, or this breed" But honestly, Every dog that I've had that changed my life for the better was a rescue-mutt. It's like they know you saved them, and you actually probably did save them.
My parents went out looking for another "small dog" to replace their fox-terrier who passed. They ended up getting a great pyrenees mix (see: not a small dog at all) but man, she is the cat's meow. All 75 pounds of her.
Just my advice, worth what you paid for it.
I would consider them medium, but my dog is ~125-130 lbs.
For small caged pets, take a look at chinchillas. Extremely cool little buggers who actually clean themselves by rolling in the dirt. Pretty awesome.
or
Corgi
As for cat allergies, I'm no expert but I'll share my experience, which is this: I'm allergic to cats too, but if I'm around a particular cat a lot I quickly build up an immunity to that cat. My own cat doesn't make me allergic at all, but other cats still do.
I don't think I'd be willing to take medication in order to own a pet.
If you're allergic to cats I don't recommend getting one. My boyfriend has multiple allergies so they have him on a shot to hopefully cure them but it's weekly at first, expensive and takes five to seven years to be effective.
So, Dogs. Small, trained, older dogs are good pets. But remember, if you happen to get a "barker" it may be game over for the fella. The apartment probably wont be big on it.
How long would you be leaving ANY of these animals alone? My aunt and uncle loved when they had rats. I could never get used to the smell.
Don't get a cat if you're allergic.
Guinea pigs are not lacking in interaction. They can't run up to you and lick your face or anything, but they do recognize you and will call out to you for attention and food. If you want to avoid that gross rodent smell you can get a large bottomed cage. They can't climb so you don't need a cover unless there are other pets in the house.
Of the above I would go with a Guinea Pig for the current situation (Unless there are other things you didn't mention in relation to your situation. I would have a couple guinea pigs right now except my room gets around 95 degrees in the summer and that would kill them good). Guinea pigs are quiet, fairly easy to care for, affectionate, cute, and if you get a big enough cage wont really smell. A dog would be my first choice, but I would be too afraid of not being able to control barking or some other bad behavior.
But, you said you will be visiting your parents. How long would each visit be?
Although I agree with the first part, the part about them not doing well with 'friends' is utter bullshit. Rats are social animals and do alot better with a cage-mate. In the labs we used to keep them in separate cages, and they bit people quite a lot, then they started being partnered in cages and the rate of bites dropped to zero. As long as you have a big enough cage, they'll be ALOT happier together.
Rats get along very well when caged together, although it's generally easier if you raise them together rather than introducing a new friend later. Make sure the rats you have are the same sex unless you want babies. The pet store told my friend she had a boy and a boy. It turned out it was a boy, a female and later a whole ton of babies.
Rats are sweet, friendly, wonderful pets. If you raise them right they will be great to you and anyone else handling them. If you have any female friends who aren't squeamish they love to sit on the back of the neck and hide in the hair. It's very cute to see a little nose and whiskers peeking out.
Also, since you have cat allergies, I would advise not getting a cat. If your cat allergy is so bad that your throat can swell (like mine), there is a chance that allergy medication would at best only partially ease the problem (as in my case). I still do tend to show symptoms when I am around cats even though I take medication for it. And yeah, there is the possibility that long-term exposure would build up your tolerance, but I have never found that to be true for myself, and in some cases the opposite can happen. I had a friend whose mom had cats for a long time, and the friend's allergy problems just got compounded to the point where her doctor warned her that she was on the verge of developing asthma thanks to her exposure to cats.
Ah the longest i'd be gone would be 2 nights, from say saturday at lunchtime to monday afternoon. Also i never really considered if i got a "barker" and i couldn't keep him. That'd really fucking suck. I mean thinking about it, i can't guarantee the landlord a dog'll be quiet. Though the nearest neighbor would be a floor above me but still. i'll see what they say, but atm i'm leaning toward either two female rats or guinea pigs. I'll read about about sexing them before i get them, to make sure it goes alright.
Why couldn't you take your rat to your parents? When I had a bird I always brought her when I visited my parents. I would close the door and lock it so the cat couldn't get in and let her out.
Birds do like to be free. But mine were generally loose in the living room when I was home (multiple hours every evening). They seemed happy.
I would whole-heartedly recommend that you get a dog over age 2 if you get a dog. 2 is about when a dog is finished maturing emotionally so you will have a much better idea of the dog's personality than with a puppy. This will give you a much better idea about barking/not barking and lots of other things. Also they learn faster b/c their brains are done maturing. Personally I don't think I would ever get a dog over 10 b/c you likely only have a few years with it. But some people do and find it very rewarding. I don't think there is anything inherently "wrong" with wanting an older dog and there are rescues out there that specialize in older dog (Oldies but Goodies is one near me).
But two days is generally considered a pretty long time to leave any animal on its own.
Let me tell you, it is work man. Somedays I could just pull my hair out. For example, this morning, Stella (she is 10 weeks old) decided to shit everywhere. Now the shit was contained in her indoor kennel, but none the less, she painted her kennel like a shit picasso.
Dogs are work man, somedays I feel like I just don't want to deal with it, but you have it. Its like having 1/4 of a real child that barks.
Also, if you're worried about getting hay, Wal-Mart sells timothy hay right in the fish/bird section.
Lastly, most people think guinea pigs are pretty damn cute, 'cause they are (just stay away from pet stores, which will sell you pregnant and missexed pigs and generally suck); I got tired of explaining to visitors that my rats were not horrible blood-sucking vermin.
Ferrets are fucking awesome, but they dig and stink and don't do well left alone for long stretches.
Closed on top. They can climb and jump ridiculously high.