Pets anyone?!

[Guest Debating]

I'm curious, how many people have pets? I'd appreciate if you can give me some advice since we want to get a puppy when we move. I know raising a puppy tends to be a lot of hard work (not nearly as much as a baby, of course) and we don't have much experience...

[PETRAL6]

I have a puppy and live alone. I have been fine, but not sure you'd want to get a brand new puppy right when you start grad school since they have a phase early on where they have to pee 10 times a day and I doubt you'll have time for that. Right now, I usually let my dog out three times a day, but he should be alright with twice a day by the time I start grad school and he gets even better at being home alone long periods of time. If there are two of you and you have different schedules, it might be doable, but if you're both working long days getting a puppy might be a little cruel to the animal and to you house which will be covered with little puppy presents/

[Guest Debating]

PETRAL6, I wouldn't want to leave a tiny little puppy alone all day, you're right, that would be cruel. I was looking into dog rescue--we will probably get a puppy, but not a really young one, more like say 6-8 months, which I hope will be doable.

Does anyone have any experience with adopting a dog from a rescue shelter?

[PETRAL6]

Honestly not trying to dissuade you, sorry if I sounded harsh. I'm sure you wouldn't do that. I have a friend who rescued from a shelter at about a year. There are some problems with that as well. Make sure you go to a high quality shelter (I know that sounds strange because you want to help the dogs who need the most help). Often they can not afford to take good care of the dogs and the vet may come infrequently and see so many dogs that things may slip by. My friend was told the dog she adopted was up to date with shots and had no medical problems. She ended up finding out the dog had mange which needed to be treated three times a day for about 4-6 months. Also, rescued dogs often have strange habits because they have a difficult schedule. (They may get taken outside in a shelter many times during the day, but have to be inside from 5 at night to 10 in the morning). they also may be used to paper training which can be hard to break them into going outside and holding their bladder for a bit. It took about a year to get everything straightened out, but he's a great dog now and healthy. However, some dogs may have had good training and be fairly healthy and only have been sheltered because a family moved to somewhere that can't have a dog, or sadly enough the owner passed away. So, if you rescue a dog, make sure to visit the dog a few times before bringing them home, check medical records, ask about past history if they know, and choose a dog that seems to have a clean cage. If you can take a week off (or a couple days each) to stay with the dog and get them acclimated that can really help so that they know what the rules are. Also, shelters that specialize in certain breeds (if you know what kind you want) generally have dogs that are abandoned on better terms since people seek them out. Another good thing to do is check breed data sheets and find a dog breed or mix that seems to be in line with your needs. (some dogs need a lot more attention than others).

[Guest Debating]

I was afraid of that answer. I'd really like to find that perfect age where the puppy doesn't need constant attention and care anymore, but at the same time he/she's not that old that bad habits are already established...

I thought I wanted an Italian greyhound--perfect size, great activity level for my lifestyle, sweet and affectionate dogs... all that until I found out that they generally do poorly if they're left alone for long periods of time. If you don't mind me asking, what kind of dog do you have?

[gradgirl]

Easy solution... get a kitten instead It'll love you and play with you, doesn't need to be let out, and will grow into an aloof adult who won't make demands of your time. Hehe.

Really though... all cats aren't aloof... and they really are a lot easier to care for, IMHO.

[Guest Debating]

Not only do I not like cats, but my significant other is allergic to them. Which to an extent is a good thing because otherwise he'd want one . I see where you're coming from, I'm just not a cat person myself.

[PETRAL6]

Both my friend and I have beagles. There are ups and downs of the breed. He's the sweetest dog and he was potty trained really easily, but he's a bundle of energy and will not walk on a leash that well. I crate trained him for the first 2-3 months and he was never alone for more than 4-5 hours. Now, he's allowed out in my room unless he;s recently destroyed something major or I have to keep something out that he might destroy. He was really almost ideal until 6 months. He never caused any problems barking or destroying things. Now, he barks occasionally and chews everything. But, I love him enough to scream inside and buy replacement items. The problem with dogs is you never know what kind of temperment they;ll have. Some breeds are better than others, but there is a lot of variation within a breed too (just like people). In addition, when dogs are young they can suddenly *discover* a new annoying trait. Like my dog realized he could destroy things at 6 months where he had never thought of it before, or barking, or god forbid biting. If you can find a relatively easy going breed and can guarantee a couple of months that you will have someone at least to let the dog out every 4-6 hours (8 max, and only if you *have* to every once in a while) you could be alright. No matter what I am glad I have my dog. I did, however, purposely get in this year so he's pretty well trained and settled by grad school. Not sure it will work, but I attached a pic of the dog. His name is Ryobi and this was when he was pretty young.

[Guest Debating]

He is adorable!!! Incidentally, my friend has two dogs named Makita and Ryobi so the name made me smile. Beagels and basset hounds are the two major breeds I have been considering. I want a dog of small to medium size, which is active enough so I can take it hiking or jogging with me, but at the same time I can't handle a sporting dog that needs to run for miles. It seems like those two breeds would fit me well in terms of temperament so I guess I'll just have to hide my shoes (I really don't care about anything else he/she might chew :-D)

[PETRAL6]

Wow! never thought I'd ever hear any other dog with that name. Yeah, I'm partial to beagles, for obvious reasons. Beagles can get chubby though, but if you can teach yours to run on a leash that might work out. Good luck!

[ealc]

My boyfriend and I have a wonderful li'l Shiba Inu, who is now a little over a year old. We'll be moving across the Pacific, bringing him to grad school with us. I'm sure that in times of stress, he'll continue to bring balance and joy to my academic life. Besides, we knew when we got him that he was a lifetime commitment.

That said, he was an absolute HELLION as a puppy, and sometimes, he still is. I don't think I could have dealt simultaneously with his puppy-stage and my first year of grad school. I probably wouldn't have had the patience to deal with him alone. Even now, I feel like I have to make special preparations for the dog's sake (yeah, people are adaptable, so the DOG gets first consideration... heh). I want an apartment with yard access, and close enough to campus so that I can run home for quick breaks if, for example, I had class from 1-3, 4-6, and a movie to attend in the evening. Anyway, my dog is older and more trained now, but he still has the temperament of a puppy. And from what everyone says, that does take a few years to outgrow.

Kudos for opting for a rescue. You may want to look at some fosters as well, living with folks that will be able to tell you in more detail what a dog's temperament is like. I would think that an "older" dog, like 2 years old or older, might be better for a first-time dog owner who is ALSO doing grad school at the same time. I guess I say that as someone eagerly waiting for my own dog to mellow out a bit. =)

[Guest Debating]

Actually, we used to have a Min-Pin-Chihuahua mix (2 of them) when I was at home so I know about puppyhood and I agree, I don't think I can deal with that while being in school. Looking at dogs that are in foster care is a great idea--I didn't think of that. I read that beagles tend to be very vocal when left alone--PETRAL6, you said your only barks occasionally, do you know about your friend's? I wouldn't want to fight with the neighbors over barking... and there inevitably will be neighbors because I'm looking for an apartment.

[PETRAL6]

My friend's dog hardly ever barks unless my dog is annoying him. When ever one of us is out of town, we take care of the other's dog usually a fairly feverish event we call Beagle Bonanza. We may be the lucky ones with the barking, because even whn they are together, we can keep them from being REALLY loud. The other thing you can do is get bark control collars to train your dog. They have ones that shock (which I wouldn't do, but some say that it's not that painful) or one's that emit a high pitched tone. I used the latter for a few days when he started barking, but he doesn't really do it enough for me to feel I have to continue. I have also heard that barking (or the beagle howl) is connected with puberty and mostly in male dogs. (We both have males). Neutered dogs (both alos neutered) I think are less vocal. Obviously, for a myriad of reasons, I think any dog should be spayed or neutered unless you plan to breed, and it doesn't seem that that is in your plans. Again, however, this might be a factor that varies greatly between dogs of the breed.

[Guest L again]

Hi! I have a dog too and he's great--a guy today just told me I had the greatest dog ever. We got him from a rescue shelter and he's fantastic. I've fostered rescue dogs/cats too. Lots of people get puppies and when they get too big to be "cute" they get rid of them, so there's lots of older puppies to be had, of any breed. Last year, I saw tons of pure bred baby puppies online. Check out http://www.petfinder.org, where you can search by your area and breed. If you work with the rescue folks (especially if there's a foster home instead of a shelter), they can tell you the quirks of the dog before you take it home. Most provide adequate vet care, but any dog you BUY can have just as many problems. My brother didn't listen to me and bought a pure bred puppy, which he then found out had mange (which cost $600 to fix). In other words, you have to be careful whether you buy or rescue a dog.

[Guest Debating]

L again, thanks! Someone told me a couple of days ago not to rescue since "those people are just trying to get rid of the dogs as fast as they can" and although I have had no experience, I have had the exact opposite impression. I feel like they have already rescued the pets from people who didn't want them or didn't care for them and they'd like to place them in a permanent home so they try to tell adopters as much as they know. That kind of coincides with what you said, too, which is nice.

From your experience with the dogs you fostered, does it take them a long time to get used to you, and have there been any that are especially afraid of people and just won't bond with you? Also, can you meet the dogs a couple of times before you adopt them? None of the rescue sites I looked at mentions that.... Thanks!

[Guest L Again]

Glad to hear you are considering a rescue dog! Rescue one, and they'll save another at the pound... There are a wide variety of rescue groups, so just email or call and ask if you can meet the dog a couple of times, preferably not at a vet office or anywhere "scary". The humane society that I fostered for encouraged people to do a two week trial with the dog, and if it didn't work out you were only out the fee. They don't want the dog to be miserable. Dogs are all very different, so ask if the dog was abused or if it has any special needs. Some will need training, and I recommend doing training anyway so it knows what you want, not what it's last person wanted. I have two cats that I rescued who are scared of people, but they sit in my lap when no one else is around. Dogs are even more likely to "come out of their shell" with you if you are patient, but there's no need to expect that from all rescue dogs. You can find plenty of dogs that were not abused at all, their owners just moved or something.

[Guest Debating]

I found and got in touch with a Beagle rescue close to the school where I will be going and they were extremely helpful. It looks like they're really willing to work with me to make sure that the dog would be a good fit !! I'm very excited )) and will get back to them as soon as I have a definite place to stay.

[Guest L Again]

Beagles are the cutest dogs and the ones I have been around are so sweet! One word of caution: a lot of people drop off beagles to shelters because they bark too much, but of course each individual dog is different. If noise is a problem, be sure to ask them about whether the dog is very barky. Good luck with your search!

[Guest Debating]

I actually specifically brought that up when I talked to the rescue people and they said they will look for a dog suited for apartment life for me 8). Thanks for all your advice L!!

[Guest MightyMidge]

Good for you to be looking for a dog! I love dogs and cannot imagine life without them. My husky/white shepherd cross was rescued from a Nunavut First Nations Reserve and taken the the Humane Society in Alberta, where I adopted her (I'd post a photo, but I'm not exactly sure how...). Tikitiboo was 1 1/2 years old (we estimate), had never even seen stairs, walked on a leash, or had a "person" of her own before. I know picking rescue animals can seem a little like a crapshoot, but, like many others who have posted so far, I think it's a matter of matching your needs to the dog you are considering. I'm a runner, so I like the fact that Tikitiboo is athletic and high energy (and a big dog, albeit gentle, is good protection for the single runner). However, other people may find the high spirits of the Husky to be unmanageable. At the same time, some people may not be bothered by a noisy dog. I am easily distracted, so I am content with a dog that rarely barks.

Mostly, I chose my mutt because she has such a gentle soul. She needed obedience training, but she instinctively knew how to behave around children. The best story I have is about my roommate's autistic nephew, who has found true companionship with Tikitiboo. Although he's diagnosed as non-verbal, he interacts with Tikita and seems truly at peace with her. Ooops, I digress...sorry about the lengthy missive.....

[Guest Debating]

MightyMidge, digressions are always good , thanks for the encouragement! I want a dog that is athletic as well, but have been considering Bealges also because they are small and I always feel like big dogs should not live in apartments, no matter how much exercise they get. I love dogs myself, but am not allowed to have one in the dorm, so I ended up housesitting for someone for an entire summer last year just so I could spend time with her dog!!!

Just out of curiosity, how does everyone feel about purebred dogs vs. mutts? I know mutts generally have fewer diseases and live longer, so why bother with a purebred?

[Guest MightyMidge]

I've had purebreeds and mutts and, although I have loved all my dogs, I prefer mutts. Since they come from a more diverse genetic pool, mutts are less likely to have undesireable recessive traits (e.g. hip displasia in German Shepherds, back problems in Daschunds and aggression in Cocker Spaniels). However, if you buy a purebreed you know what type of dog you're getting and its accompanying traits (e.g. high intellegence in Border Collies, obedience in German Shepherds and extreme loyalty in Bouviers). If you are specific about the size of dog you want, would you be willing to take a chance on a puppy who had one large parent and one small one? Also, there is the "snob factor" of purebreeds. I have a dog breeder friend who bred his last Malamute to be shorter in the body because a boxy frame shows better.

[Guest L asain]

I have always preferred "mutts" though I like to think of them as new experiments in breeding. Since you're going for an older puppy, you won't face the surprise size issues at all. In fact, if you adopt an adult or near-adult dog, you won't have to face surprise personality issues either. When I worked with the humane society, they always encouraged folks with very particular needs/wants to go with an adult, which is true even if you're buying, so that you get what you are expecting.

[Guest Debating]

OK, so nothing really that special about purebreds, huh? I understand the snobby part of it :roll:, but what I am looking for is a pet that would be great with people and other dogs (and maybe even kids). I don't care about the whole dog showing or how perfectly my dog may adhere to the breed apprearance guidelines. I feel that a Beagle would be a great fit for my lifestyle, but I couldn't care less about whether he's a perfect tri-color, etc.

I would like to get a relatively small dog, which doesn't shed much, is friendly, and relatively athletic (hiking, jogging, etc.) but doesn't require a 5 mi jog every day. Any other recommendations?

[Mnemosyne9]

Mutts tend to have better genetics than purebreds (ie, longer lives and better health, fewer vet bills) because purebreds are often rather inbred and do not have as wide a variety of genes. A basset and a golden retriever are going to create a puppy with the best of both, but two purebred bassets who may be cousins to begin with will not have as much genetic diversity, so if both have a particular bad gene or two it's a problem.

However, this does all depend on the breeder: really high end breeders of show dogs will have a very solid understanding of genetics and will be careful to have enough diversity. It's the less scientific breeders who just breed for looks that will be a problem.