Pets
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Really want a dog
in Pets
My husband and I have been living in our 1 br apartment for a year and a half now. We have a 1 year old cat who is amazing. She is very social, loving, and even acts like a dog in many ways. Growing up, my husband and I always had a dog so getting a cat was a new experience for me. I wanted to have a pet that I could take care of when my husband has to travel out of town for work. We agreed on adopting a kitten from the local animal shelter because we didn't want to get a dog with such a small living space. We're hoping to move out into a house or townhome in another year or so but to be honest, I'm really missing the company of a dog. I'd love to take it on walks, go for a ride, and just miss the playfulness of a dog. My husband has been very insistent that we wait until we have a house and both of our parents are saying they think we should wait until we have a bigger space. I would be the one taking care of the dog for the most part since my husband has been travelling alot for his job so I feel that it should come down to if I think I could have the time, resources, etc. to care for a puppy. Recently, my husband has said maybe this summer we'll discuss it, but I don't want to feel guilty thinking that I pressured him into getting a puppy. I always hoped that he would surprise me with one and that it would be our "baby." We want to wait another 3-4 years to start trying for a baby so I don't want to wait too long to get a dog and have a hyper puppy on our hands with an infant. Thoughts?? Does anyone else have a dog in a small apt...we're thinking on a lab puppy.
Re: Really want a dog
I think it's really important for all family members to be 100% on board before you get a dog. Even if one family member will be taking care of the dog most of the time, there will be plenty of times when other members will need to chip in. Also, all members should participate in caring for (walking, feeding, training, etc.) the dog so that everyone can have a relationship with the dog. DH and I both were 100% on board when we got both of our dogs, and we split care (though I take the lead on decision-making for food, training, etc. but only because I want to). It has resulted in both of us having wonderful relationships with both dogs.
As for having a dog in an apartment, as long as you are committed to meeting the dog's needs, it shouldn't be a problem. We didn't have any issues having dogs in an apartment, but my dogs are relatively low energy and don't require anything near what a lab puppy would require in terms of exercise. Without enough exercise and mental stimulation, a lab puppy could become destructive (many of them are big chewers). That being said, every dog is different. If you want a lower energy dog, consider an older puppy (12-18 months) or adult whose energy level and temperament are more set than a young puppy.
Whether you decide on a lab or something else, you will need to decide whether to adopt from a shelter/rescue or buy from a breeder. If you go with a breeder, you will need to make sure they are reputable. The FAQs (in the green banner at the top of the Pets board) have some great info on how to determine whether a breeder is reputable. Many reputable breeders have waiting lists that may mean you have to wait a year or more to get your puppy. Considering you have a cat, I would personally look to adopt an older puppy or adult dog from a shelter/rescue who has been cat-tested (and potentially also kid-tested if you are planning to have kids).
FWIW, I also don't think it's a good idea to"surprise" someone with a pet of any type. It's a big decision, so all family members should be involved in the entire process. Also, most rescues/shelters and reputable breeders will require all family members to meet the dog before you are allowed to adopt/buy it.
A dog is a huge responsibility, and both you and your husband need to be 100% committed. Even if you're willing to do most of the day-to-day maintenance, he needs to be on board to support the training and accommodate the lifestyle changes that will come along with adding a dog. Also, no responsible rescue or reputable breeder would ever let someone buy or adopt a dog as a surprise gift. Any puppy that your husband could surprise you with is not a puppy you'd want to have, so it's actually a great thing that your husband is taking his time and thinking this through with you.
That said, it is certainly possible to have a dog in an apartment or condo situation. (I live in a condo and have two dogs including one VERY active breed, a cat and a toddler). BUT I will say from personal experience that living in that type of environment increases the responsibility that you have for exercising your dog and managing any behavior problems it might have. I won't lie; some days it is HARD. If you don't have a yard, all potty breaks and exercise must happen with you along. And they're happening in a shared area which means you must work on leash manners and social skills right away. You'll also have to find safe ways to give your dog the exercise he/she needs. Puppies under two shouldn't run on leash or on pavement, so you'll probably have to go to a dog park. One of my best friends adopted his lab mix as a puppy and spent two hours at the dog park every day for the first couple years. She's much mellower now, but it was a huge commitment in the beginning. You'll also want to make sure you can afford some obedience training and, for a young active-breed dog, I highly recommend doggy daycare on a regular basis too.
I'm a big believer that you don't have to have a huge house or yard to be a responsible dog owner. But it sounds like you and your husband both need to do a lot more research and ensure that you're going into this commitment with both eyes open. Also, a lab puppy isn't the easiest match for your situation...I'd consider rescuing a housebroken adult dog and maybe consider some lower energy breeds as well.
"The hardest thing is to live richly in the present without letting it be tainted out of fear for the future or regret for the past." - Sylvia Plath
Don't get a lab (especially a puppy) in an apartment unless you plan to spend a lot of time exercising it. There are lots of couch potato older dogs that would be fine in a small apartment, but a puppy needs space to play and run IMO.
I ditto this. You should research different breeds with their characteristics and find the one that you can give an ideal living arrangement for. Labs LOVE water and love to run - so, unless you are planning on taking him/her to a dog park EVERY day for a few hours a day and/or a lake or a pond, etc - I'd say right now, this may not be the best breed for you & your FI.
I highly suggest rescuing and not going through a breeder too.
I'd also encourage you to look into an adult lab rather than a puppy, particularly with your cat. Some labs have a strong prey drive, and adopting an adult would let you find one that has been around cats before without incident.
When you're living in tighter quarters, like an apartment or condo, it's easier to deal with an adult dog for many reasons. Larger bladder size and actual bladder control, for instance. Lower exercise requirements. More stable personality.
It is not impossible. I had a lab and a large mix in a one bedroom apt. with no destruction by either and they were both puppies when we got them. It is doable but you have to be committed to walking them and taking them to exercise (we went to my parents as I am not a fan of the dog park).
I do agree that you have to both be committed to getting a dog since they are work and can be expensive.
See my post below about the total commitment a dog is. Every single person in your family needs to be on board. It ended up being a problem with XH and myself because while we entered into pet parenthood together, I ended up doing 99% of the work and he wanted the 1% "go for a ride" and snuggle on the couch part. It did make me resent him. And they are a ton of work, especially as little puppies. Potty training, shots, not being able to go in public places when they are tiny, training, walking, grooming, clean up, destruction of really anything (including the walls). When puppy is little, will one of you be able to come home every 2-3 hours to let him out to potty?
Also keep in mind that it was a total nightmare to find a place that would take 2 big dogs, in a nice enough area, that I could afford. If you are planning on moving, this is something to take into consideration- pet rent, pet deposits, weight limits, limits on total number of pets, places that only allow pets on lower floors and the rentals are on the upper floors, etc.
For a little over a year, me and my 2 very active, 55lb golden retrievers have lived in a place that's just under 500 sq feet. We don't have a yard so much as a large patio, and thank goodness we do, because at least I can let them out and they will go potty without the full trek outside. Daily walks are still a must, and manners are extra important when you live so close to others. But we make do and I'd say we work it out pretty nicely. I love them to pieces and I'm very happy they are in my life, but I won't lie and say it's piece of cake.
I mostly lurk around here to enjoy all the cute pet pictures but I was in a really similar situation so I figured I'd chime in.
Prior to buying our house, H and I purchased a 2 bedroom condo. Living there it was us two, a roommate and 2 kitties. I, like you, badly wanted a dog, but H and I agreed that we would wait until we purchased a house which we were planning for later that year. Well, he went away one weekend for his bachelor party and came back with a 12 week old lab puppy. I was ecstatic, and majorly confused. lol
We made it work but I can't say that it was easy. Mo was actually a really easy to train dog, very smart. He picked up potty training really quick and developed his manners pretty quickly but it was still rough at some points. My H was like yours, he was at work A LOT which left me on puppy duty all the time. I was the one that took him out at 1, 3, and 5am to go to the bathroom. I took him out for an hour before I went to work and an hour when I got home to let him run and play. And that still didn't tire him out. He could go FOR-EV-ER. Still can. At one point I went to work and came home to a nice hole in the middle of our linoleum floor. He chewed baseboards. Ripped up carpet and USB cables...
Don't get me wrong. I adore my pup. He's my best friend but he's also a pain in the butt! So I guess what I'm saying is, it's possible to do, but so very hard. It's very time consuming, especially since we ended up with a really active puppy breed. As much as I love him, looking back, I would have probably waited until we purchased a home, or adopted an older dog.
We recently adopted a dog from a local lab rescue and he's amazing. He's so sweet and is old enough to be out of puppy destructive phase, but young enough that he still has some of the puppy mannerisms. I highly recommend checking out your local rescues if you and your H decide to go for it!
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Everyone else has covered the main points, but I wanted to hit one big one: please don't get a dog and treat it like a substitute "baby." Dogs are not children and should not be treated as such.
If you do get a puppy, I highly recommend crate training so you do not have this happen. Both of our were crated while we were at work with some toys and never had an issue.