looking to get a small house dog

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We are still undecided as in we are trying to figure out a way to make it work where we could take the dog traveling with us, etc etc. Clearly we hope to not leave the dog alone for long periods of time.

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Dear god man, give it up. I'm sure your gf is leaning pretty hard on you and you're cracking like one of those dads on MTVs super sweet sixteen, but damn.


So instead of leaving it in a kennel for 4 months, you are going to drag some small yappy dog all over the globe, dealing with the hassles of paperwork and international flights, potential quarantines, the dog never having a stable environment, etc.

grow a sack, tell your gf no, and move on.

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noah you are batting like 1000 lately. maybe my new favorite poster.

[Soh]

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So to recap this thread:

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So my girlfriend and I have decided to go get a small house dog to keep us company.

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

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

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C) You are gone way too much for owning a dog

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Doesn't sound like you're a good candidate for a dog.

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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.


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

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No Dog for you.

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to be honest it doesn't seem like you really have that much time to devote to it anyway.

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I would strongly recommend to avoid purchasing a dog

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f you're gone that much getting a dog is foolish and practically cruel. What were you thinking?

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each time you disappear the dog is traumatized and has to adjust.

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Seems fair. As long as you get to enjoy those eight months, [censored] him for the other four, right?

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but don't get a dog.

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Definitely don't get a dog

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I wouldn't get a dog if I were you

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Getting a dog would be awful for both the dog AND you.

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Don't get a dog.


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Don't get a pet if you plan on abandoning it for 4 months a year.

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So we are still undecided.

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So basically, you're [censored] retarded? Why bother coming here and asking questions if you are just going to ignore everyone. Pets are living things, you can't simply get one and make it suit your needs and disregard its needs.

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I like your post.

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As far as being gone 4 months a year it may not be that big of a deal especially if the dog will stay in an environment where it get's enough excercise, food, and has safe place to sleep and chill. It would be especially good if you socialize your dog with other people and dogs. When you go away put the dog in a place where it can socialize with other dogs and it will be fine. Believe it or not it's common for dogs to like hanging with other dogs. The being gone 4 months thingy isn't a deal breaker at all IMO.

Wouldn't buy the dog from a pet store, find a reputable breeder if you want a pure bred. A rescue dog is fine too. I've had good luck with both types.

[Rushmore]

No to jump on the bandwagon, but...

Part of the point of owning a dog is the loyalty and comraderie that a good dog brings into your household. There's a reason they're known as "man's best friend."

Problem seems to be that you don't really like dogs very much.

You don't ask if the dog will be unhappy when you abandon it for a third of the time, sticking it in a cage. You ask if it will hate you.

You mention you have an 800 sq. ft. apartment and do not seem concerned that this might be the wrong environment for a dog to thrive in.

You want a miniature dog that "will stay cute forever." What are you--a 14 year old girl?

Seriously, do dogs everywhere a favor and just go get a cat.

[CORed]

If you're going to be gone 4 months of the year, don't get a dog. Also, never buy a dog from a pet shop. These dogs come from "puppy mills", breeders whose sole objective is to crank out as many puppies as they can without regard to quality, and they often keep their breeding stock and puppies under horrible conditions. If you want a purebred, you should get one from a quality breeder. It will cost more, but the pet shop dog is likely to cost you far more in vet bills (and heartbreak) than one from a breeder. Better yet, get a mutt from the shelter. Mutts and crossbreeds are generally healthier than purebreds. Even purebreds from good breeders are highly inbred, and prone to genetic problems.

But again, if you are going to board the dog 4 months of the year, don't get one.

Barking and shedding come with territory (although some breeds, such as poodles, shed very little). Barking can be controlled with training, but not completely eliminated.

[prohornblower]

My girlfriend found this dog back in June about to be thrown into a ditch by some punk kids. She was a couple months old and was 2 pounds and covered in fleas. So we got her for "free" but I've spent already close to $2,000 on her since June. $800 for a week of training. $400 for our apartment deposit. $350 for her spay procedure so she didn't bleed all over the apartment. She's been sick a couple times so probably $200 there for vet visits. $60 for a kennel. Plus food, bones, collars, toys, medicine, etc.

But she's been a blast and we adore her. This pic is really old. She's 33 pounds now.

So keep in mind if you spend money to get a dog, you will spend more money on other stuff you can't foresee. But like I said, she's been a blast and I love coming home to her everyday. She loves people and we really enjoy taking her to the dog park on the weekend to mingle with the other doggies.

Sascha:
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[johnnylovescandy]

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So my girlfriend and I have decided to go get a small house dog to keep us company.
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Ok, we went to petland today and found a cool little yorkie, which we got out and looked at.
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I think we want to get some sort of miniature dog, as it will stay cute forever. I also want something that doesnt bark or shed too much.
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So, what kind of dog should I get and where should I look to get it? Thanks a lot.

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Here's an idea. Get a pussycat because:

1. Pussycat's don't bark.
2. You're already pussywhipped anyway.
3. You can flush the feline down the toilet when girlfriend gets bored and dumps your ass...

[coltranedog]

Don't get a dog at a pet store whatever you do, supporting the puppy mill industry is pretty disgusting imo - I'd say if you have any reservations about getting a dog, especially with the travel, I'd hold off for a little while. Its a pretty big decision. We have 2 dogs and I also travel quite a bit, ideally we usually have someone watch the house and dogs for us when we go out of town. This works out really good and the dogs seem to prefer that to boarding.

If you do board the dog, find a good place. Here in LA there are several places that i'd recommend but none are 25 bucks a day, most run in the area of 80-100 bucks per day and those are the only places I'd feel comfortable leaving my dog if I was going to travel as much as you. These places are cage free kennels where the dogs are outside most of the day and sleep in little casitas with other dogs etc.
The places that charge 25 bucks a day usually leave the dogs in crates/kennels all day and only take them out briefly for exercise. If you are going to do this 4 months out of the year, why bother getting a dog.

If you still have your heart set on getting a dog and a small one at that, I'd rec'd getting a Brussels Griffon. They are pretty cool dogs and make great, loyal pets.

You may remember the dog from as good as it gets, that was a BG. The great thing about getting a griffon is you can rescue one here;

http://www.brusselsgriffonrescue.org/

Give that site a look, there are a bunch of dogs that are in need of good homes and its a way better way to go than getting a dog from a petstore. If you don't know what a puppy mill is, google it.

How cute is this one here;

http://www.brusselsgriffonrescue.org...l08-28-07.html

Haralabob