Selecting a dog

zaidoo

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#1
I want to buy a dog. Give me best possible options which dog should be suitable for me. I live alone in a single apartment and will have time for the dog in the morning and after office at 5 pm. I want to keep him in my room and I want a friendly dog which is also a guard dog and would take him outside daily for a walk. Suggesstions?
 
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#2
Just some ideas:

1) Get an adult (puppies require frequent walks and, while adorable, are undoable unless you can return home every few hours) Adults can be anything from 6 months to 10 years old. You don't have to adopt an old dog, but remember that the younger the dog, the higher the energy level. Around 2 years, they calm down; ie, they don't run spastically through the house at warp speed.

2) Very small dogs, aka lap dogs (Yorkies, Chihuhuas, etc.) tend to be one-person dogs. If living alone with one person, they tend to be cranky with other people. If you don't want that, you'll need to put some effort into having people over to the apartment regularly, taking the dog to meet others, etc.

3) Very large dogs tend to dominate a small space. Many loyal and slightly blind fans of Great Danes, Rottweilers, Mastiffs, etc., claim that their breeds' quieter nature makes them excellent apartment pets - ie, the Danes are sleeping on the couch while the Fox Terrier is doing backflips off the ceiling. This is likely true; but the bigger the dog, the less space in an apartment, no matter how quiet that dog. And, to be indelicate, the larger the waste product you'll be picking up.

3) Some breeds make life as an apartment-dweller more difficult. Generally, it's harder to find an apartment if your dog is over 25lbs, and various breed restrictions can make it difficult to find a new home if your pet is a Rottweiler, a pit bull, etc.

4) Some breeds are harder to find than others; any shelter in America will have a purebred or mixed-breed Cocker Spaniel, Beagle, and 65 pit bulls and/or mixes. Fewer have Afghan Hounds or Harriers. But the sheer popularity of some breeds means that you have to scrutinize them closer - too many Cockers are snappish by nature, too many pit bulls are dog-aggressive.

5) Pet stores are the clean face of a nasty business; don't waste your money. Breeders, shelters and rescues are the way to go, but you should be cautious there too.

6) Don't get a dog with big exercise needs unless you can fulfill them onleash or have some secure place to run the dog. Offleash dogs in public places are a huge pain for everyone but the owner.
 

Boemy

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#3
3) Some breeds make life as an apartment-dweller more difficult. Generally, it's harder to find an apartment if your dog is over 25lbs, and various breed restrictions can make it difficult to find a new home if your pet is a Rottweiler, a pit bull, etc.
So true. :( Does your current apartment allow dogs? And does it specify a maximum size / weight?
 

Jynx

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#4
are you the poster who a few months ago was getting a gsd or doberman? You couldn't decide on the breed? I thought you "got" a GSD?

what happened with that?
 

Jynx

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actually I looked at your past posts,,in Oct of 06 you were getting a GSD puppy,,so what happened?
 

Julie

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oh, I didn't refresh my memory, but aren't you the one that lives with other people and wanted to keep your dog in the "courtyard"?
Along with wild expectations?
 

mrose_s

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#10
i would say rescue a greyhound. they arn't great protectors but most people are convinced they are.

they are huge snuggers and so many of them need help.

plus, they don't need any more excercise than your average dog
 

mrose_s

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#11
ooo. wait. if your away for THAT long everyday i DO NOT recomend a dog. they need a LOT of attention. maybe a cat? rats, rabbits, fish (they are SO much fun) are probably all better options if you have to leave for that long
 

Whisper

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#12
Actually m_rose, I disagree. I don't think he has time for any animal. It's not fair to leave cats or rabbits alone all the time, either. I have cats and a rabbit and I would not leave them like that if I were consistently away from home so much.
 

Serena

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#14
I want to buy a dog. Give me best possible options which dog should be suitable for me. I live alone in a single apartment and will have time for the dog in the morning and after office at 5 pm. I want to keep him in my room and I want a friendly dog which is also a guard dog and would take him outside daily for a walk. Suggesstions?
I too am wondering what happened to the GSD puppy you mentioned...

In regards to what kind of dog you should get, well Steiff puts out a lovely line of stuffed animals...stuffed animals are ever so cuddly! They won't do much for the "guard dog" factor...(unless you leave them on the floor and pray that any would be intruders trip, of course there is the more intelligent option of investing in a good home security system.) but their exercise and attention requirements are even less then you are willing to give a living breathing pet..
 

mrose_s

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#15
ooo. wait. if your away for THAT long everyday i DO NOT recomend a dog. they need a LOT of attention. maybe a cat? rats, rabbits, fish (they are SO much fun) are probably all better options if you have to leave for that long
okay good point. i suppose it depends on the cat to. panda hardly talks to me during the day but he just loves to cuddle up at night.
 
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#16
Many loyal and slightly blind fans of Great Danes, Rottweilers, Mastiffs, etc., claim that their breeds' quieter nature makes them excellent apartment pets - ie, the Danes are sleeping on the couch while the Fox Terrier is doing backflips off the ceiling.

Please do explain the slightly blind comment?

I've lived in an apartment for the past 5 years....my last dane spent her senior years in an apartment and my current dane grew up in an apt.

It doesn't take a millionairre with a palatial home to own a dog (large or small)...only a dedicated owner who will tend to his/her dog's needs. Great danes DO make wonderful inside pets, regardless of the size of the home. They take up minimal space inside, but yes, they will hog your sofa and bed if you let them. They do require outdoor exercise, but so do all dogs.

A RESPONSIBLE owner can certainly own a dane in small quarters. An IRRESPONSIBLE owner should not have any pet, regardless of the size of their home.

I'm just curious how I'm slightly blind? :rolleyes:
 

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