I'm thinking of getting a dog.

[My2tailwaggers]

I'd love to own a dog myself one of these days, but would never do it while living in an apartment and working 40 hours/week. Leaving the dog along while I'm at work every day just seems cruel to me under those circumstances.

If I had a house and a yard- maybe, if it was definitely an outdoor dog.

Well, I'd likely leave the dog out and about in the apartment during the day with his food and water readily available so he won't be kenneled up during the day while I'm at work. I mean plenty of single people who work FT jobs have pets.

Along those lines, if you can't handle a little dog hair, you might not want to get a dog. Of all the problems and messes dogs will cause, hair is VERY low on the list...

Bathroom messes are easily managed and cleaned up. Hair gets EVERYWHERE. On furniture, on clothes. Ugh.

*******************

Westies are great small dogs... hair instead of fur so no shedding.. and they are tough little dogs. Glad you arent wanting to keep your dog crated. I always wonder why in the world people get dogs just to keep them in a crate or outside. Dogs dont love to be outside.. they are pack animals. When they are outside, all they are doing is waiting for you to come out or let them in.
I havent read the other posts.. but really, if I was in an apartment or in a situation where I wasnt home to take care of my dogs, I would look into a cat.. or hire a dog walker to come by during the day.
Good luck....

 

[John Picard]

Westies are great small dogs... hair instead of fur so no shedding.. and they are tough little dogs. Glad you arent wanting to keep your dog crated. I always wonder why in the world people get dogs just to keep them in a crate or outside. Dogs dont love to be outside.. they are pack animals. When they are outside, all they are doing is waiting for you to come out or let them in.
I havent read the other posts.. but really, if I was in an apartment or in a situation where I wasnt home to take care of my dogs, I would look into a cat.. or hire a dog walker to come by during the day.
Good luck....

I agree with you about people who crate dogs, but since when do dogs not like being outside? I have had several dogs that preferred staying out of the house even when I was home.

Have you ever owned a dog?

 

[Danoz]

I want to get a dog. But what are some good breeds to get? I want something smallish, loyal and that doesn't shed.

Miniature Schnauzer or Scottish Terrier... both shed though, but VERY smart, very loyal breeds.

 

[Arrqh]

Miniature Schnauzer or Scottish Terrier... both shed though, but VERY smart, very loyal breeds.

Can't speak to Scottish Terriers, but Miniature Schnauzers are definitely in the "don't shed" category.

 

[dkehler]

My wife and I just recently got a basenji, which is a small to medium-sized dog that sheds very little and doesn't bark (although they can and do make noise). However, it is a high-energy dog that requires a good deal of exercise. How do you feel about getting up early every day for a 45 minute walk? Also, they tend to chew, especially when they are young, so you would definitely need to "enclose" him or her while you are away for the dog's own safety.

She is a wonderful and smart dog though. We are so proud of her.

Also, wanted to reiterate that puppies especially require a great deal of commitment in terms of time and you should be prepared for that. My wife and I are pretty much always home, although that leads to another problem, that being that the dog doesn't like to be left alone. We are going to have to work on that one, but that is another story.

Addition number two: There is nothing wrong with crate training a dog for overnight or for when you have to leave the dog alone unsupervised. As long as you don't leave the dog for an unreasonable amount of time (like all day every day). This too is for the dog's safety and will become the dog's "cave" which is natural.

 

[Crusher Disciple]

What about a pet snail?

Pet rock?

 

[SmoothieX]

Glad you arent wanting to keep your dog crated. I always wonder why in the world people get dogs just to keep them in a crate or outside.

Addition number two: There is nothing wrong with crate training a dog for overnight or for when you have to leave the dog alone unsupervised. As long as you don't leave the dog for an unreasonable amount of time (like all day every day). This too is for the dog's safety and will become the dog's "cave" which is natural.

I agree with you man. Many responsible dog owners crate their dogs while they are out for the day. For one thing, its for the dog's own safety. If he's in there, he's not chewing on an electric cord or getting into something he shouldn't. It also protects your stuff.

It's a good way to housebreak them as well. Dogs don't like to lie in their own filth.

Dogs don't think the way we do. To them, it's not a cage, it's their own safe room. We've had dogs that have willingly slept at night in the crate (unlocked) because its comfortable.

When my dog was a pup, he was crated during the day while we were at work, and again overnight. We worked with him until he was trustworthy overnight, now he sleeps at the foot of the bed or in bed with us.

Eventually, we eased off on crating him during the day, and at this point, he generally just hangs out in our room with a baby gate in the doorway.

I do agree that just leaving him outside all day is not a great idea though. Too much that can go wrong.

 

[Danoz]

Miniature Schnauzer or Scottish Terrier... both shed though, but VERY smart, very loyal breeds.

Can't speak to Scottish Terriers, but Miniature Schnauzers are definitely in the "don't shed" category.

Having raised two Miniature Schnauzers, this is only true if you live in a warm enough environment to keep their coats very trim/light. In rough winters their coats absolutely DO shed.

 

[Scout101]

Out of curiosity, what would you say the likelihood of you actually GETTING a dog is? This thread is starting to take the feel of so many of your other threads, a random whimsy expressed as an "I'm going to" that doesn't really go anywhere.

[Stewie] how's your novel coming along? hmm? Been working on your novel? [/Stewie]

 

[John Picard]

Out of curiosity, what would you say the likelihood of you actually GETTING a dog is? This thread is starting to take the feel of so many of your other threads, a random whimsy expressed as an "I'm going to" that doesn't really go anywhere.

[Stewie] how's your novel coming along? hmm? Been working on your novel? [/Stewie]

Dude, it's Trekker

 

[My2tailwaggers]

Westies are great small dogs... hair instead of fur so no shedding.. and they are tough little dogs. Glad you arent wanting to keep your dog crated. I always wonder why in the world people get dogs just to keep them in a crate or outside. Dogs dont love to be outside.. they are pack animals. When they are outside, all they are doing is waiting for you to come out or let them in.
I havent read the other posts.. but really, if I was in an apartment or in a situation where I wasnt home to take care of my dogs, I would look into a cat.. or hire a dog walker to come by during the day.
Good luck....

I agree with you about people who crate dogs, but since when do dogs not like being outside? I have had several dogs that preferred staying out of the house even when I was home.

Have you ever owned a dog?

****************
No never owned a dog. Oh wait. My screen name is My2tailwaggers.. so I guess yes, I do have dogs! I have taken many canine behavior classes and so I do have a bit of knowledge on the subject. I didnt say dogs dont like being outside. I said people that get what they think are "outside" dogs dont realize that their dogs are pack animals and would like to spend time with their pack.. owners. My dogs have a doggy door and go in and out of the house all day. But owners that get dogs just to stick them outside all day and night thinking that their dogs are happy are mistaken.

 

[Arrqh]

Miniature Schnauzer or Scottish Terrier... both shed though, but VERY smart, very loyal breeds.

Can't speak to Scottish Terriers, but Miniature Schnauzers are definitely in the "don't shed" category.

Having raised two Miniature Schnauzers, this is only true if you live in a warm enough environment to keep their coats very trim/light. In rough winters their coats absolutely DO shed.

Having also raised two Miniature Schnauzers, I think that I shed more then they did. All the literature I've seen on the subject also puts them in the "sheds less then most dogs" category. The breed is generally on lists of dogs that are easy on people with allergies for this reason.

Everything with hair looses it on some level. If you let their hair grow out crazy then I'm sure it would become noticeable... but on the continuum of shedding, they're definitely on the very low end of the spectrum.

 

[John Picard]

Westies are great small dogs... hair instead of fur so no shedding.. and they are tough little dogs. Glad you arent wanting to keep your dog crated. I always wonder why in the world people get dogs just to keep them in a crate or outside. Dogs dont love to be outside.. they are pack animals. When they are outside, all they are doing is waiting for you to come out or let them in.
I havent read the other posts.. but really, if I was in an apartment or in a situation where I wasnt home to take care of my dogs, I would look into a cat.. or hire a dog walker to come by during the day.
Good luck....

I agree with you about people who crate dogs, but since when do dogs not like being outside? I have had several dogs that preferred staying out of the house even when I was home.

Have you ever owned a dog?

****************
No never owned a dog. Oh wait. My screen name is My2tailwaggers.. so I guess yes, I do have dogs! I have taken many canine behavior classes and so I do have a bit of knowledge on the subject. I didnt say dogs dont like being outside. I said people that get what they think are "outside" dogs dont realize that their dogs are pack animals and would like to spend time with their pack.. owners. My dogs have a doggy door and go in and out of the house all day. But owners that get dogs just to stick them outside all day and night thinking that their dogs are happy are mistaken.

That I agree with, but that nonsense about "crate training" reverts dogs to their "cave instincts" is the latest canine psycho babble from so-called experts. Crate training is cruel and is akin to puppy mills that keep dogs locked up all of the time.

 

[dkehler]

I agree with you about people who crate dogs, but since when do dogs not like being outside? I have had several dogs that preferred staying out of the house even when I was home.

Have you ever owned a dog?

****************
No never owned a dog. Oh wait. My screen name is My2tailwaggers.. so I guess yes, I do have dogs! I have taken many canine behavior classes and so I do have a bit of knowledge on the subject. I didnt say dogs dont like being outside. I said people that get what they think are "outside" dogs dont realize that their dogs are pack animals and would like to spend time with their pack.. owners. My dogs have a doggy door and go in and out of the house all day. But owners that get dogs just to stick them outside all day and night thinking that their dogs are happy are mistaken.

That I agree with, but that nonsense about "crate training" reverts dogs to their "cave instincts" is the latest canine psycho babble from so-called experts. Crate training is cruel and is akin to puppy mills that keep dogs locked up all of the time.

Yes, by all means it is cruel to want to protect the dog from biting electrical cords and/or ingesting something harmful while unsupervised.

Dogs enjoy having a den. It is natural for them. Again, I'm not suggesting that the dog be cooped up all day every day.

 

[SmoothieX]

Yes, by all means it is cruel to want to protect the dog from biting electrical cords and/or ingesting something harmful while unsupervised.

I'm totally with you on that one. What else are you supposed to do when you're at work earning the money to feed and shelter the dog?

Seeing as most people I had dog class with or interact with at the dog park do simlarly crate their dogs, I guess we're all just cruel and awful and one step better than Mike Vick.

 

[dkehler]

Yes, by all means it is cruel to want to protect the dog from biting electrical cords and/or ingesting something harmful while unsupervised.

I'm totally with you on that one. What else are you supposed to do when you're at work earning the money to feed and shelter the dog?

Seeing as most people I had dog class with or interact with at the dog park do simlarly crate their dogs, I guess we're all just cruel and awful and one step better than Mike Vick.

The other thing is that you can get an indoor/outdoor "exercise pen" which would give the dog a bit more room than a crate. I've seen this set up with the dog's kennel inside the exercise pen for him or her to go in when she wants to rest.

 

[Trekker4747]

Out of curiosity, what would you say the likelihood of you actually GETTING a dog is? This thread is starting to take the feel of so many of your other threads, a random whimsy expressed as an "I'm going to" that doesn't really go anywhere.

[Stewie] how's your novel coming along? hmm? Been working on your novel? [/Stewie]

It's something I'm thinking about doing but haven't comitted to one way or another.

The novel. Going through rewrites/editing.

 

[mimic]

We put our dogs in crates at night when they were puppies and stopped once they were house trained - didn't seem to do them any psychological harm.

 

[Lindley]

What about a pet snail?

Pet rock?

Little Deckard Cain?