[Pocn]

First of all let me say thank you for taking the time to look at my topic

I've been in love with dogs my whole life and now I think I have finaly reached the point in my life that I can get my very own to love and cherish as my own! I have a one bedroom apartment with a kitchen/ living room area that is about 30'X15' that I would keep my dog in when Im away. Im looking for a mid sized dog and have come up with several breeds that I would love to have by my side. I want a dog with some energy and the ability to be trained well but has to have some independce because it will be spending nearly 1/3 of its life home alone. I work 48-53 hours a week plus Im gone about 10ish hours a week at school. Now as for the unique circumstances, I live 1/4 mile from work and 1/2 mile from school (super awesome I know!). Though I have things to do each and every week and nearly every day, Im never gone for more then 3 hours at a time. I get to go home 10 minutes on my 15 minute breaks from work and generaly my friends come to hang out at my place so Im not leaving to party on weekends. I have several friends my age with dogs and a nice public dog park about 4 miles away from me that I plan to attend weekends for socializing. The challange of training a dog is part of the reason I want one so I plan to train daily as well as a morning run before work everyday to help being locked up in an apartment for 10.5 hours mon-fri (with visits every 2-3 hours remember). Thank you for reading my wall of text and all answers very apreciated!

So my question- Should I get a dog? I'll have time to train and exercise my dog but it will be home alone, however never for extended times unlike most dogs.

PS- The two breeds I have in the top running right now are a Canaan and a S Husky. A lab or German Pincher also sound good and my friends just had pit/A sheperd puppies but Ive read about how A sheperds get seperation anxiety so Im trying to not look at how cute those darn puppies are!!

[Duchess_007]

Your schedule is super similar to my younger brother's. He works fulltime and attends school at night a few days a week.

I would definitely recommend an older dog. I don't know a whole lot about the Canaan dogs, but from what I've heard they have similar tendancies as the Sibe - high energy and vocal. Maybe not the best situation for an apartment. My inkling is that both these breeds left to their own devices for long periods of time will find ways to keep themselves entertained.. not exactly ideal.

Any dog can develop separation anxiety, it has more to do with temperament and training than breed. I know quite a few Sibes who have awful separation anxiety.

I'm wondering if you would be open to adopting an older dog if you were to go with the Sibe, as there are maaaaaannnny Sibes in rescue. And this way you can pick a lower energy dog that perfectly suits your situation.

My brother ended up rescuing a racing Greyhound which has been the perfect match for him. She's super quiet, a little couch potato at home, and doesn't shed a whole lot which suits his bachelor tendencies on the cleaning front

[Pocn]

That is an amazing idea! I was considering a rescue for the cost and moral aspects but a more mature dog with less of an energy need would be excelent! Working so close to home I will be going home on all breaks ( I do already) so dropping out a new frozen chew toy or something to distract them with for awhile wont be a problem and can be changed in and out every 3 or so hours. I want the companionship and an exercise buddy so every morning before work I plan to go out for a job or bike ride aswell so exercise shouldn't be a problem. My main worry the dog getting SA or tearing stuff up but Im thinking the only being alone for a couple hours at a time always should counter that. Thanks for the reply!

[GingeryDaveysmom]

Welcome to the forum. I agree an older rescue dog would be great! And its not so much a certain breed that you should be looking for but a certain dog in that dogs are like people there are good and bad in all breeds/races.

[StarfishSaving]

I agree, a rescued dog would be a good idea. Rescues that keep their dogs in foster homes are great resources because you can contact them, tell them your situation, and let them pick a dog that would fit your needs (I would choose Hailey...)

Basically, I think you described a pit bull. Pit bulls are active but have an off switch. They aren't prone to anxiety since they're not super high strung, and they love people and would be great with frequent visitors. They are HIGHLY trainable- I have fostered many breeds and pit bulls are probably not far behind some of the more famously intelligent breeds. I'd suggest that it's just about as easy to train a pit bull as a german shepherd, but pits are more suited to first time dog owners IMO. A bonus to adopting a pit or pit mix is that they are one of, if not the most, common breeds to end up in shelters and rescues and so there are many to choose from and they are the breed most often euthanized so you are really saving a life (two, technically, since you're freeing up room for another dog as well when you adopt...) If you adopt a dog 2-3 years or older, they are fully mature and what you see is what you get!

[GingeryDaveysmom]

Star makes a very good point. Pittys are real love bugs! I have met several and they are great dogs. Just be sure they are allowed were you live before you adopt so you don't get in trouble thanks to alot of bias, ignorant people there are alot of areas that have banned pits/pit mixes. Good luck in your search and please do hang around and post pictures when you get him/her. ; )

[Pocn]

Ya as much as I would love to own a pit and they would work nearly perfect in my situation....Stupid people are stupid! My friends has a 3 or so year old pit and she is beautiful and I would LOVE to give her a good home over the crappy one she has now its just like I said, People are stupid! Im afraid with a pit the rep that people have given them (sad its the dog that gets the rep and not the failed owner). I would own a pit but I plan to be living in an apartment for the next several years and living in LA county alot of bad owners around have given pits a really bad name. The Greyhound idea has been nearly a perfect tho! Plenty of them with energy and lounge aspect and now spending most of my day reaserching them a 2-3 year old retired racer is sounding like the perfect doggie for me! My only draw back would be my girlfriends cat she brings around every so often but Ill just find one that is okay with smaller animals and use her cat for controled socializing : ). Im waiting untill december to bring a dog home when I get my next raise so any cost difference in my life style + 1 dog will be paid for but Ill be sure to keep in contact with you all and post many pictures! All your answers have been greatly appreciated!

[Duchess_007]

You better post some pictures when you bring home that new doggy!

Just to let you know, most Greyhound rescues will temperament test and let you know how they are with cats, small animals etc.

My brother's dog was suggested to be in an "only dog" environment. But she still plays very well with other dogs. When he first got her she tended to be a little bit snippy and intimidated by other dogs but she's improved a huge deal. She is fine with small animals 90% of the time. When it does become an issue is if the small animal bolts, then that prey drive kicks in. There's never been an issue with her and our indoor cat, but outside my small dog tends to run like a little idiot and has a peculiar little hop to his run.. which makes him the perfect imitator of a little rabbit.

Some definitely aren't ok with small animals/cats, others will be fine, and the rescue volunteers/fosters would be the best place to start asking those questions.

You have to be a bit patient with them in the beginning. Although they tend to be great with grooming (the only dog that has actually sat patiently to let me paint her nails ) they usually aren't very well socialized and are used to their own space for sleeping etc. One of the biggest issues is guarding crates or bedding, or sometimes getting snippy if they're awoken from sleeping. But those are definitely things that can be worked on and improved dramatically.

My brother's dog is literally like night and day since he got her and she's suuuuuuch a lovebug. It always breaks my heart to think she had never really experienced a real bond before, but you can see it in her eyes the way she looks at my brother she just loves him with every fiber of her little being.

[GingeryDaveysmom]

Greyhhounds are awesome but I don't think they are good for running long distances they are sprinters at least thats what I was told when I voluntered for a greyhound rescue.

[Lucille]

Originally Posted by Pocn

I have several friends my age with dogs

You sound like you have thought it all out putting the dogs needs first, so already you are way up there in terms of potential owners.
If you think you are gone too many hours, maybe one of your friends will let you timeshare one of their dogs for a while as a test drive.