What breed of dog would you recommend?

Question

I am looking to get a puppy but not sure of the most ideal breed I should get that will be compatible with my lifestyle! Basically I need a dog that is happy to spend long hours of the day on his own as i am a uni student and a few days of the week i spend most of the day at uni (obviously when i first get him I will not leave him alone for so long). I also want a dog that does not need tons of exercise. Ideally a dog that would be happy to be taken for walks 2 or 3 times a day for half an hour each time would be suitable for me! And also I would prefer a breed that is not prone to illnesses/disabilities as I don't want to be frequently taking him to the vet. For example I know that dalmations are prone to obesity so i wouldn't want that breed of dog. I am thinking that I would want to get a cross-breed dog, but I can't seem to find any websites that have mutts for sale! Does anyone know of any sites that has mutts for sale?

Answer 1

I'm a West Highland White Terrier and we are ideal for your situation.

We are perfectly happy with 2/3 decent walks a day. We also live to a ripe old age (many of us reach our 17th or even 18th birthdays). And so long as you feed us a good diet and exercise us (so we don't get fat) we are very healthy.

I'm 10 and have never had a day's illness in my life.

Also we are loyal and loving and adaptable. And very cute.

Answer 2

Have you really thought about this? When would you get your dog? How can you say at first it won't be alone for long - you sound very busy and I don't think as a student you should be comitting to owning a dog as you may find your circumstances change - why don't you volunteer at your local dog shelter and walk dogs in your spare time.

I have two dogs and it is very difficult running our lives around them - they are lovely but we don't leave them for longer than 3 hours a day. We work shifts that accommodate very well. They have a big garden and get walks. There is no time for social unless we get someone in to sit - or we don't do a long session out.

As a student you may find there are nights you want to spend round a mates and who would have the dog then?

Please take the advice of the dog owners and wait until your circumstances are much more settled.

(Try a Nintendog!) Also - 3 x 30 minute walks a day could be quite a klot of exercise for some dogs - do you have a garden. If not then don't even consider a dog yet. I think a dog should have freedom to go out and play and do business without being on a walk as such.

Good Luck with your studies!

Answer 3

I recommend a cross breed dog as you mentioned - look out for ads in local papers, www.loot.co.uk and www.epupz.co.uk for dogs that interest you. Try visiting a local rescue centre after Christmas when they are briming with unwanted but lovely doggies and pups. They will help you choose a dog with the personality that suits your lifestyle.

First of all, 2 to 3 half hour walks a day is a good amount of exercise. If about 20 mins of that is free running off the lead, you would be able to get a reasonably active type of dog like a labrador or collie cross breed.

The main serious breed problems are physical deformities like blindness and hip abnormalities - obesity is something that you can control as an owner so don't let that put you off a certain breed. When they say a breed is prone to obesity then what they mean is that its a greedy pig and doesn't have a high metabolic rate - basic storing food as fat! Good breeders will have tested the dogs they breed from for the problems that breed is prone to so you can ask them for the results of those tests. However, good breeders also charge a lot of money and your student budget may not stretch that far!

You say you want to get a puppy. I do feel that I should warn you that puppies need constant supervision for many weeks - depending on their personality - even months. I'm not sure that it would be a good idea for you to get a demanding puppy - it will really tire you and impact on your studies. Plus, if you leave it at home for several hours while you are at uni - it will eat your home. This is normal puppy behaviour and it would hardly be fair to crate it for long periods of time.

If you get an older dog when you have reading weeks or a longer break like over christmas you will have time to settle it in before you have to go back to lectures. Perhaps you can get someone to pop in and take it out for a quick walk on the days you are out for a long time. If someone you know might be willing to do this then have a chat with them before you choose a dog and get them involved in the process. If they feel part of it all then they will be far more willing to help out!

Hope it all goes well!

Answer 4

Like the other good answers, I say get a pet from a rescue or humane society. The adoption fee usually pays for spaying/neutering, vaccines and basic tests. So you really get your money's worth and are saving a life.

I'd pick a small to medium sized mixed breed. I would also recommend getting a little older dog. As a student, it's hard to spend the time a tiny puppy needs. Plus, you can tell better what the energy level and attitude is like with an adult or "teenage" age pet. Puppies are all puppies, no matter what their breed is.

Also, lots and lots of college students each year get pets then end up abandoning them when they move on in their lives. You may not be one of these types, but everyone should remember, pets are a lifetime commitment...ten to twenty years with money to be spent every single year.

Only get pets when you're able to make the time and resource commitment they deserve.

Answer 5

For anyone else who is reading this question, I would recommend a course haired terrier. We have a rescue mongrel, mostly a border terrier, maybe crossed with a cairn. Very good with children, very good with people, very bad with other dogs, though. Feisty, and not too big to manage. There are all sorts of terriers of different sizes, and by and large they are pretty healthy.

In your situation, I agree with all the other people who have said it would be better for you to wait until you are able to provide the right environment for your pet. You could end up with an unhappy animal that will make your life miserable (they can really do that!). You won't be able to just scoot off somewhere for the weekend, for the next 10-20 years without thinking of your animal. Can you really commit to exercising a dog even once a day?

I would never recommend getting a bred puppy. There are so many unwanted dogs. Pay the money to rescue one of the poor unfortunate rescue dogs instead of lining the pockets of a breeder.

Answer 6

Sorry but no dog is happy to spend long hours of the day on its own unless he has a friend to play with.

http://www.epupz.com is a good website if you decide to get a dog in the end.

As for breeds French Bulldogs, Pugs, Staffordshire Bull Terriers, West Highland terriers are all nice dogs. You said you wanted a cross breed, try Battersea dogs home or your local animal shelter or RSPCA as they have a lot of cross breeds and they usually end up having fun personalitys.

Answer 7

Please think twice about getting a dog until you feel you can give it the time and attention it needs, especially if you are thinking about a puppy. Would you leave a child on it's own for 8 hours?
Think about the consequences and stress the poor dog would
suffer. Like a child needs love and attention so does a dog.
If you want you're place of digs to reamain in one piece avoid getting a dog at this time in your life and when you're all graduated and settled into a less erratic lifestyle then you will be ready to give a dog a loving home. Good luck.

Answer 8

Keep in mind that if you are going to get a dog, you might want to wait until you have a lifestyle suited for that dog. Most dogs don't want to spend long hours of the day on their own, so keep in mind that dogs need to be let out about every 4 or 5 hours to use the bathroom comfortably, particularly if it is a smaller dog.

Try this web site for some help on selecting a breed:
http://animal.discovery.com/breedselector/dogselector.do

Answer 9

You would be better getting a toy dog maybe from toys-r-us and you're a student - would you be able to afford keep a dog?
You cannot always judge a dog by its breed as to whether or not it will get ill. I don't think you are responsible enough for a dog and I own two dalmatians and have never heard before that they suffer from obesity - I think that would be more down to the owners than dog breed.

Answer 10

With your schedule of being gone so much I would tell you to buy a stuffed plush doggie. No dog wants to be alone for long hours at a time..dogs are pack animals so either wait until you can spend more time with the dog training and socializing it or you'd better get two dogs so they can keep each other company. A dog left alone for too long will end up causing you problems.