looking to get a small house dog
 

So my girlfriend and I have decided to go get a small house dog to keep us company. The one major problem I had before went shopping around was that we are gone probably 4 months out of the year and would have to put the dog in some pet hotel, which we priced at around $25/day. Will this make the dog hate us?

Ok, we went to petland today and found a cool little yorkie, which we got out and looked at. We later found out if was $2500. Wtf. I am in the wrong busisness. Are these prices just guidelines that I can knock very dar if I say the right things? We also went to the pound and it seemed like most of the dogs were super loud and hated people.

Also, we dont really know what kind of dog to get. I have a small 800sq' condo, so there isnt a whole lot of running around room. I think we want to get some fort of miniature dog, as it will stay cute forever. I also want something that doesnt bark or shed too much.

So, what kind of dog should I get and where should I look to get it? Thanks a lot.

Re: looking to get a small house dog
 

wtf? you can't get a dog and then disappear for four months of the year. that would be so awful.

also $2500 initial price is outrageous, but you'll pay $3k just to warehouse it for a few months?

DO NOT GET A DOG. When you are ready for a dog, and settled down, go to a shelter and pick out one that needs a home. When I went there last there was like two yorkies, daschund, etc.

Re: looking to get a small house dog
 

If you're gone that much, don't get a dog.

Re: looking to get a small house dog
 

after rereading it seems like you are about ready for a stuffed animal.

Re: looking to get a small house dog
 

small house dogs are basically genetic freaks that have no evolutionary purpose, they were bred so stuck up bitches from the upper east side can have someone to talk to when their relatives get sick of them. never buy a dog that can't win a fight against most rodents.

they are also mostly stupid and yappy and prone to weird illnesses because they have been inbred so much.

Re: looking to get a small house dog
 

Re: looking to get a small house dog
 

Check out a local SPCA. It'll be just a couple hundred for a dog out the door and that money is put to good use.

I've always been a fan of Alaskan Huskies so I would get a Alaskan Klee Kai. They won't be cheap though.

Re: looking to get a small house dog
 

A) Getting a dog together with any girl that you aren't married to is probably dumb
B) $2500 is outrageous for a dog
C) You are gone way too much for owning a dog
D) Yorkies are retarded purse dogs that no man should own

Re: looking to get a small house dog
 

Never ever buy a puppy from a pet store. They are usually supplied by puppy mills. Doesn't sound like you're a good candidate for a dog.

Re: looking to get a small house dog
 

looking forward to OP ignoring everything we say and posting "Trip Report: Just bought a puppy!!!! (Now I'm off to Europe and it's off to the kennel)

Re: looking to get a small house dog
 

These rule

http://k43.pbase.com/v3/66/585266/1/...nTerrier14.jpg

Re: looking to get a small house dog
 

[ QUOTE ]
The one major problem I had before went shopping around was that we are gone probably 4 months out of the year and would have to put the dog in some pet hotel

[/ QUOTE ]

This should be a deal breaker for anyone. Don't get a dog unless you can take care of it nearly all the time. To do otherwise is just mean.

[ QUOTE ]
Ok, we went to petland

[/ QUOTE ]

I am skeptical of these pet stores... I've heard lots of stories about them getting the dogs from puppy mills etc... Although, admittedly, I don't know if these kind of shenanigans still go on today, but I know that they used to just a few years back.

Re: looking to get a small house dog
 

I was researching one of these for myself last weekend:

http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t...shih-z-poo.jpg

non-shedding, non-barking, affectionate, $500

and their breed name is hilarious, imo: Shih-z-poo

Re: looking to get a small house dog
 

Under the conditions described in the OP there is absolutely no way that you should get a dog.

Re: looking to get a small house dog
 

of course gobbomom wants a rat dog, makes perfect sense

Re: looking to get a small house dog
 

[ QUOTE ]
of course gobbomom wants a rat dog, makes perfect sense

[/ QUOTE ]

actually, I'd prefer to replace the German Shephard I had that died last year, NT! but I've moved since then and don't have much of a yard now.

Re: looking to get a small house dog
 

[ QUOTE ]
never buy a dog that can't win a fight against most rodents.

[/ QUOTE ] Also, don't buy a dog that can be carried away by a hawk.

Re: looking to get a small house dog
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
of course gobbomom wants a rat dog, makes perfect sense

[/ QUOTE ]

actually, I'd prefer to replace the German Shephard I had that died last year, NT! but I've moved since then and don't have much of a yard now.

[/ QUOTE ]

get a cat, or a medium sized mutt.

Re: looking to get a small house dog
 

meh, Jimmy's going to get a corgi I think [img]/images/graemlins/crazy.gif[/img]
and probably saddle me with it when he moves.

Re: looking to get a small house dog
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
of course gobbomom wants a rat dog, makes perfect sense

[/ QUOTE ]

actually, I'd prefer to replace the German Shephard I had that died last year, NT! but I've moved since then and don't have much of a yard now.

[/ QUOTE ]

get a cat, or a medium sized mutt.

[/ QUOTE ]

are there good small sized cats that act like dogs?

Re: looking to get a small house dog
 

[ QUOTE ]
are there good small sized cats that act like dogs?

[/ QUOTE ]

Cats are generally pretty small... and as long as you're affectionate to them early on (get them as kittens obviously) and don't hit them / ignore them, they'll be loyal and friendly and affectionate and such. I dunno about behaving like a dog... usually they're a bit more mellow, and a lot less work.

Re: looking to get a small house dog
 

No Dog for you.

http://theducks.org/pictures/do-not-want-dog.jpg

Re: looking to get a small house dog
 

[ QUOTE ]
are there good small sized cats that act like dogs?

[/ QUOTE ]

Well, how do you mean? You have a 800 sq ft condo. Are you taking your dog hunting with you? Are you teaching it to save your life? I don't think that you want a DOG that acts like a dog.

If you're talking about a small dog, a cat is better in almost every instance. And while I wouldn't say that you should leave your cat alone for 4 straight months, cats can go for a few days at a time unsupervised.

My advice if you REALLY want to get pets is to get two kittens. That way they keep themselves company when you're gone, and you can teach them whatever you like.

Dogs are MUCH higher maintainence, and to be honest it doesn't seem like you really have that much time to devote to it anyway.

Re: looking to get a small house dog
 

everything TomVeil just said is correct, 2 kittens > 1 kitten/cat, since they're company for one another and they become better adjusted pets

Re: looking to get a small house dog
 

My friend has a yorkie, he is retarded.
GF has a chihuahua, she is retarded.
GF has a pomeranian, he is OK.

Yorkie is just plain dumb. Chihuahua isn't trained, barks too much. Pomeranian was trained super fast and is really fun. Still, the dogs make the entire apartment smell and require a lot of attention. We had a cat but the liter box also made the whole apartment stink. We tried a billion different liter things from Petsmart.

I would strongly recommend to avoid purchasing a dog in a small apartment/condo. I would go back to having a cat over a dog if I could.

Re: looking to get a small house dog
 

if you get a kitten and treat it affectionately it will be very friendly towards you and much easier to care for than a dumb [censored] yorkie.

what do you mean 'act like a dog'? go fetch? no. be friendly, sit in your lap, play with you? sure. cats are more independent than dogs, which to me is a good thing. some people think it prevents them from being affectionate or causes them to think they own the place; this only happens if you don't treat the cat properly.

Re: looking to get a small house dog
 

Long time dog owner here. I agree with what others have said. If you're gone that much getting a dog is foolish and practically cruel. What were you thinking? Stop thinking and get a Tivo or something.

Re: looking to get a small house dog
 

what does it matter how cats are?

you still can't stick a cat in a kennel for 4 months.


wait til your done traveling.

Re: looking to get a small house dog
 

dogs seem friendly, cats, not so much

Re: looking to get a small house dog
 

[ QUOTE ]
dogs seem friendly, cats, not so much

[/ QUOTE ]

This is totally not the case, if you walked into my house and sat down my cat would be sitting in your lap nuzzling into your face in like 1-3 minutes. It's all about how you treat them when they're kittens.

Re: looking to get a small house dog
 

[ QUOTE ]
dogs seem friendly, cats, not so much

[/ QUOTE ]

This is 100% false. If you treat your cat(s) well while it's a kitten, it will be just as loving and loyal as a dog. I have two (Got them as kittens), and they are both very affectionate (although one is more skittish around new people). My friends who come over always marvel about how much LIKE dogs they are, but without walking them constantly, or listening to random barking in the middle of the night because your neighbor is coming home from the bar.

Re: looking to get a small house dog
 

Get a dog from the pound. When you are ready to go on vacation take him back. When you return get a new dog. Repeat.... Hell you're buying them a extra few months.

Re: looking to get a small house dog
 

just to clarify, I am gone for usually 1 month at a time 4 times per year, not 4 months at a time.

Re: looking to get a small house dog
 

My mom has a papillon and it's the cutest/most fun dog I've ever seen. I actually enjoy going out of my way to visit home now just because I get to play with that dog. They have tons of energy and are always in a good playful mood.

http://img77.imageshack.us/img77/588...12060bgcz3.jpg

http://img77.imageshack.us/img77/872...62060bgrw9.jpg

Re: looking to get a small house dog
 

[ QUOTE ]
just to clarify, I am gone for usually 1 month at a time 4 times per year, not 4 months at a time.

[/ QUOTE ]

this is probably worse than the four months / year, each time you disappear the dog is traumatized and has to adjust.

Re: looking to get a small house dog
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
just to clarify, I am gone for usually 1 month at a time 4 times per year, not 4 months at a time.

[/ QUOTE ]

this is probably worse than the four months / year, each time you disappear the dog is traumatized and has to adjust.

[/ QUOTE ]

QFT

My friend has the most annoying dog in the entire world. He's got seperation anxiety, and every single time she leaves the house you'd think that dog was going to die.

Re: looking to get a small house dog
 

[ QUOTE ]
A) Getting a dog together with any girl that you aren't married to is probably dumb
B) $2500 is outrageous for a dog
C) You are gone way too much for owning a dog
D) Yorkies are retarded purse dogs that no man should own

[/ QUOTE ]

agree w/ all. add:

E) dont shop at petstores

Re: looking to get a small house dog
 

[ QUOTE ]
just to clarify, I am gone for usually 1 month at a time 4 times per year, not 4 months at a time.

[/ QUOTE ]

Another point for cats. When I leave for a long period of time, I simply have a friend check on them about 3 times a week. Make sure they have enough food/water for a few days (Since they won't over-eat themselves like dogs will), empty the litter box about once a week (Automatic Litter Machines are great), maybe use the laser pointer for some fun, and you're all set. No $25/day to take care of your pets. Also cats don't tend to get all traumaed up when you leave them for a decent amount of time.

Re: looking to get a small house dog
 

[ QUOTE ]
We also went to the pound and it seemed like most of the dogs were super loud and hated people.

[/ QUOTE ]

Thats because they are [censored] animals that spend 23 hours a day in their little pen.


The only reason the ones at the pet store don't is because they probably have doggy down syndrome from overbreeding and are sick and malnourished.

Re: looking to get a small house dog
 

Don't get a dog. Get a cat. My cats are awesome!