Another Apartment Dog Post
- Thread starter ~Janessa
- Start date
I've never even heard of a long haired whippet.
Keep in mind, too, that just because this apartment does not have a weight restriction does not mean that all apartments don't have weight restrictions. Personally, I've moved to a different apartment every year for the past 4 years (and I'm about to move out of this one after only 6 months), so it's good that my dog's only 7 pounds. If I had a 30+ pound dog I might have some problems. I work with a rescue group and go to shelters a lot, and it always amazes me that people drop their dogs off just because they're moving and can't take them. And the people (I do see them sometimes) are not heartless, cruel, negligent, or anything, they really do feel bad that they have to let their dog go, but ultimately they probably just hadn't really thought it through to begin with.
Keep in mind, too, that just because this apartment does not have a weight restriction does not mean that all apartments don't have weight restrictions. Personally, I've moved to a different apartment every year for the past 4 years (and I'm about to move out of this one after only 6 months), so it's good that my dog's only 7 pounds. If I had a 30+ pound dog I might have some problems. I work with a rescue group and go to shelters a lot, and it always amazes me that people drop their dogs off just because they're moving and can't take them. And the people (I do see them sometimes) are not heartless, cruel, negligent, or anything, they really do feel bad that they have to let their dog go, but ultimately they probably just hadn't really thought it through to begin with.
Forgot to mention this:
Many dogs do not do well when you spend so much time with them, and then suddenly you're gone all the time. It's a good way to develop separation anxiety. And two weeks is a long time. I would suggest taking a few days, off work, maybe make it a long weekend, and make sure to leave the dog alone for several hours at a time even on those days. Kind of "wean" him off of being with you 24-7.
You see, in two weeks your dog will have learned your routine very well - wake up, walk, eat breakfast, play a while, quick nap, walk again, dinner, play a while, etc. He'll get used to having you all to himself all day long, and think this is normal. Then all of a sudden you're gone for HOURS at a time EVERY day (or almost every day, at least), and boom, your dog's schedule is completely thrown upside down. Then he just has to get used to it all over again, but it won't be as much fun the second time around (because, after all, you're gone).
Many dogs do not do well when you spend so much time with them, and then suddenly you're gone all the time. It's a good way to develop separation anxiety. And two weeks is a long time. I would suggest taking a few days, off work, maybe make it a long weekend, and make sure to leave the dog alone for several hours at a time even on those days. Kind of "wean" him off of being with you 24-7.
You see, in two weeks your dog will have learned your routine very well - wake up, walk, eat breakfast, play a while, quick nap, walk again, dinner, play a while, etc. He'll get used to having you all to himself all day long, and think this is normal. Then all of a sudden you're gone for HOURS at a time EVERY day (or almost every day, at least), and boom, your dog's schedule is completely thrown upside down. Then he just has to get used to it all over again, but it won't be as much fun the second time around (because, after all, you're gone).
We have a member (Dekka) with two of them, looky: http://www.chazhound.com/forums/showthread.php?t=71056
I would probably go with one of the whippets due to their age and size, You might have a hard time getting into places with a Chow (since people can be prejudiced against them) and if some people even HEAR that your dog has GSD in him they might turn you down. I've known a lot of GSDs to bark as well so you'd need to find that out about this individual. But let the choice be yours...here is some info on the breeds:
LHW: http://www.longhairedwhippet.com/longhaired_whippet_characteristics.htm
Chow Chow: http://chowclub.org/ccci/content/view/23/35/
Pug (Multiples because I couldn't find just a temperament info page on the Pug Club of America website):
http://www.tampabaypugclub.com/pugforu.htm
http://www.pugs.org/indexIllusStandard.htm
http://www.midmichiganpugclub.com/
GSD (scroll to the bottom of this page, not the most info there though):
http://dogs.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http://www.gsdca.org/
Belgian Tervuren:
http://www.abtc.org/answers.htm
I would probably go with one of the whippets due to their age and size, You might have a hard time getting into places with a Chow (since people can be prejudiced against them) and if some people even HEAR that your dog has GSD in him they might turn you down. I've known a lot of GSDs to bark as well so you'd need to find that out about this individual. But let the choice be yours...here is some info on the breeds:
LHW: http://www.longhairedwhippet.com/longhaired_whippet_characteristics.htm
Chow Chow: http://chowclub.org/ccci/content/view/23/35/
Pug (Multiples because I couldn't find just a temperament info page on the Pug Club of America website):
http://www.tampabaypugclub.com/pugforu.htm
http://www.pugs.org/indexIllusStandard.htm
http://www.midmichiganpugclub.com/
GSD (scroll to the bottom of this page, not the most info there though):
http://dogs.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http://www.gsdca.org/
Belgian Tervuren:
http://www.abtc.org/answers.htm
I don't recommend any of the international LHW dogs. Many (not all) are the byb and mill version of the dogs. WHen I told people I was gettign a LHW they were very shocked as they don't have good reps. But it is the fact that the 'real' (for lack of a better term) LHW are sooo rare. The 'real' LHW have some of the most stringent health testing I have ever come across. There is no rescue, as there are so few, the club knows who has them, and if they ever need homes its done through the breeder. The other longhaired whippets are crosses, they will call them percentage whippets. These are the ones that end up in shelters etc etc. I know of a couple with serious health issues.
Whippet pups are ROWDY pups. (this is coming from a person who has 5 JRTs......) They could be appt dogs as they are not barkers, but they do make noise.
www.longhairedwhippet.org
but if you are rescuing one from a shelter thats good. Just remember it likely won't have the correct temperment. (whippets are not supposed to be shy nervous dogs)
Whippet pups are ROWDY pups. (this is coming from a person who has 5 JRTs......) They could be appt dogs as they are not barkers, but they do make noise.
www.longhairedwhippet.org
but if you are rescuing one from a shelter thats good. Just remember it likely won't have the correct temperment. (whippets are not supposed to be shy nervous dogs)
Thank you so much for the information & input, Dekka & Maxy.
I'm going to be there when the shelter opens tommorow morning and meet with the 2 whippets & the terv again. The whippets age is ideal, BUT I am REALLY starting to expect they are from a mill. I have never seen a LHW in my life before, and to find 2 in a shelter seems a liiiiittle fishy.
The Terv, oh, such a sweet boy. I bet his owner must've loved him to death!
If, however, it doesn't work out, I'll have to keep searching. Wish me luck tommorow.
Any other input welcome.
I'm going to be there when the shelter opens tommorow morning and meet with the 2 whippets & the terv again. The whippets age is ideal, BUT I am REALLY starting to expect they are from a mill. I have never seen a LHW in my life before, and to find 2 in a shelter seems a liiiiittle fishy.
The Terv, oh, such a sweet boy. I bet his owner must've loved him to death!
If, however, it doesn't work out, I'll have to keep searching. Wish me luck tommorow.
Any other input welcome.
You're going to be gone 13 hours a day??
I hate to tell ya this, but I'd HIGHLY suggest waiting on getting a dog until you're out of school.
You must get paid a lot if you can afford a $600 apartment AND a dog AND school if you only work 4 hours a day. I work full time and can barely afford my $600 apartment, and I'm not even in school.
I hate to tell ya this, but I'd HIGHLY suggest waiting on getting a dog until you're out of school.
You must get paid a lot if you can afford a $600 apartment AND a dog AND school if you only work 4 hours a day. I work full time and can barely afford my $600 apartment, and I'm not even in school.
So you are planning on leaving this dog for 13 hours a day?
Look...I'm going to be honest here. You are 18 - are you going to college when you finish high school? if so, how will a dog fit into your plans? college is wildly different to high school with longer hours and rediculous amounts of course work. Not only that but there is is also the social aspect of college which is part and parcel with it.
I can't imagine being 18 years old, being able to afford an apartment all its upkeep, being gone for 13 hours a day and owning a dog on top of that. It sounds like a recipe for disaster...it just won't work. Have you thought about a cat instead?
Look...I'm going to be honest here. You are 18 - are you going to college when you finish high school? if so, how will a dog fit into your plans? college is wildly different to high school with longer hours and rediculous amounts of course work. Not only that but there is is also the social aspect of college which is part and parcel with it.
I can't imagine being 18 years old, being able to afford an apartment all its upkeep, being gone for 13 hours a day and owning a dog on top of that. It sounds like a recipe for disaster...it just won't work. Have you thought about a cat instead?
