Is this a good pet for me?

Question

I love poodles! I'm thinking of adopting a teacup poodle. I live in a one-bedroom apartment by myself, and I work full time. I am gone for about 5 hours in the morning, come home for lunch for an hour, and am gone again for 3 hours. Would the poodle get too lonely with me gone at work? Is an apartment ok for a small dog like this? What kind of health problems do these dogs have? What is the average life span of a teacup poodle? Would I be better off with a cat?

Answer 1

I think it would be a great match! Teacup poodles are great companions. They do bark quite a bit though.

Check out this sweetheart - http://search.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=7194798

There are litterally thousands of dogs listed on www.petfinder.com and they all need people like you to love them. Search by your zip code and breed you are interested in and Im sure you will find a guy or girl to love.

As far as the dog getting lonely, sure they do but they get used to a routine and usually sleep while you are gone. Leave the radio on, a few toys, some water and they will be just fine. Its great that you can come home for lunch. You'll get quite a greeting Im sure. These adopted dogs are used to so little. When a friend like you comes along, they will be thrilled just to have a warm place to sleep and some food.

Good luck with your new friend!

Answer 2

Personally, I don't love cats. They are standoffish a lot of the time and don't come when you call in the same way a dog does.

First, poodles are okay. Anything sold as a teacup is more prone to health problems, because they have been bred and rebred for size. Look into teacup and be ready for vet bills.

Next, if you get any dog, look up KENNEL TRAINING and go with that. Don't let anyone talk you into paper training or you are teaching the dog it's okay to go in the house. Then you have to train them again. Stick to the kennel training guidelines 100% and you can do it! The smaller the dog, by the way, the harder to housebreak.

Lastly, if you give your dog lots of love when you ARE home, and toys to play with while you are gone, go for it. Don't buy two dogs so they can keep eachother company...they don't really need it. It's fine, but not necessary. LOTS AND LOTS of folks work full time, don't even get to come home for lunch, and their dogs do great. Dogs are super.

If you really worry about the dog being lonely, make sure he gets toys...pretty soon he will choose a favorite and be sure it's there for him. You can also leave the tv on while you are out, for voices in the house for him.

Answer 3

If your adopting look for a mature dog that has spent the day home alone before dont get a puppy. Poodles can live for a long time up to 16ish. If you get a mature dog youll most likely be aware of any health probelms up front, but always expect vet bills not matter what type of pet you get. If your still thinking about a cat I would say dont rush out and get a dog because having a cat and a dog is completely different. Cats are very self sufficient compared to dogs and require nowhere near the time and energy.

Answer 4

Do more reasearch with books, magazines, email "Toy Poodle" breed clubs, speak to breeders, groomers, and people who own that breed. The internet is a good start, but be thorough in order to acheive the whole picture.
"Toy" breeds are not the same as "Miniature" breeds, they are smaller and are becoming more and more popular. They can evern be taught to use a litter box at home.
I agree that crate training is the more traditional (and sociologically speaking for a dog) and better way to go, but a litter box is fine as well.
If you live in an apartment or condo, a cat or small breed dog makes much more sense that a large breed, but you're right to question the genereal personality of each dog breed.
Poodles are smart, generally good tempered dogs (taking into account they are socialized and trained properly). People sometimes have a tendency to carry them everywhere and treat them as babies and this produces a dog who generally fears (and will bite at) everyone but his/her owner.
They also require regular grooming and if they are to be left at home alone for even a few hours at a time, they will require stimulation. Toys, a t.v left on, a radio playing, food and water all provide stimulation. A dog walker stopping in once a day also helps to pass the time. Doggie Daycare is also available quite readily now, and if you take your dog 5 days a week, most businesses will give you a discount on their services.
(Dogs who don't receive stimulation when their owners are not around for extended time periods often develop Separation Anxiety, your vet can give you more info on this condition, but it basically consists of unwanted, and usually destructive behaviour, on the dog's part.)

I hope this helps!

Answer 5

A tiny dog like that can be taught to use a litter box for the bathrooom. They make a puppy john or pee pads. You are home for lunch and only gone for 5 hours at time. A dog can handle that. Most people work full time and have dogs do not come home for lunch.
Tiny breeds are long lived. I have a freind who had a toy poodle that was 19 when she passed and one that was 17 and he died accidentally not from natural causes.
I think a poodle would do fine with your schedule.
Good luck.

Answer 6

Dogs do get very lonely when you leave him alone for that amount of time. My dog is a year and a half, and I have difficulties leaving her at home, even though its only for 3 to 4 hours at a time. Dogs don't understand that you will be home eventually, they only understand the present, that you aren't there right then.

Poodles (of any size) are prone to cataracts (which can cause blindness), skin allergies, ear infections and runny eyes.

The average life span of most small dogs is between 12 to 16 years.

Apartments are okay for small dogs, but 8 hours may be too long for a dog to be alone, and since puppies can only typically hold their bowels for an hour per month they are old, (so a 3 month old could go 3 hours, a 4 month old 4 hours, etc.) you might be better off either getting an older dog, or a cat.

Good luck!

Answer 7

Dogs need a lot more attention that a cat I am a dog lover but if you are gone 8 hours a day in total i would suggest a cat or fish not a dog . We have both a cat and a dog plus 6 kids and the dog is much more demanding than the kids!

Answer 8

I think you would be better off with a miniature poodle. A teacup is just a runt version of the miniature, and with it's small size comes short lifespan and health problems.

I have a dog and work about the same schedule as you. I think it will be fine.

Answer 9

I think you should get a cat. A dog will really need you to spend a lot of time with it, especially in the beginning. Poodles are smart dogs, and the smarter a dog is the more trouble they are likely to get into if you leave it alone.

Answer 10

So after work and on the weekends you stay home? It's very hard to train a dog while you work full time. It will need lots of your attention when you are home. Yes, it will be lonley without you there so many hours and again, you won't be staying in all the time after work. Cats can survive on their own for days if you want to go somewhere for the weekend. What will you do with a dog? It's expensive to board it and they can get sick while there. I'd do the cat thing for now.