What a dog needs,what i can give...?

Question

Hello guys,i am new here!Please help me with this huuuuuge thought bouncing in my head from weeks now!I WANT A PUPPIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!I am craving for one,i always wanted one
:( Well,what is the problem then?I WORK 8 hours a day and i live in an appartment,a big one with a balcony and 4 sweets little cats that i LOVE,but that i cannot take camping with me unfortunately ;)) Tell me friends,be frank and we no mercy,is there any chance i can do something about it?If the puppie would be taken out in the morning before work and after work PLENTY of my time plus the week end and during the day anyway,he could have his cats friends.do u think there´s a chance for me to make this dream come true?I will always have to work,my husband isn´t reach and we all need to survive.Still,i want a dog a shower him/her with all my love....

I know that at the beginning the puppie won´t hold her stuff for that long,but that isn´t a problem.I will paper the whole house if necessary,till he learns to hold it...I

I thought of asking the neigbors to check my dog from time to time,she has 2 dogs too and is SURELY an animal lover :)) But i cannot count too much on that,just an idea.I think i cannot afford a dog sitter :( I didn´t mean to paper the whole house u know,it was just a drastic joke :)) But i would surely love to crate train my dog,but then he wouldn´t be able to play with cats if stuck somewhere.I want him to be free to play...

I ALSO thought of adoptinf an older dog,but guys,i am scared to get one with his own personality which me and my family might not agree with.Isn´t better to get a small one that can learn the house rules and grow together as a real family?I don´t know,i´d rather spend sleepless nights,rather than having a stranger in my home u know...

The cats are small too,that is why i thought that a puppie could grow and learn to love with them :)

Is it hard to do the crate training?

Answer 1

Good for you asking before the fact ! That alone tells me you should be a good pet owner. Tell me though? If everyone here says you shouldn't would you still? I see no problem with people who work owning pets. How could we feed them if we didn't work? Vet bills aren't cheap you know? As others have said, look up crate training and see if its right for you. Don't allow a pup to run loose in the house, too much potential danger in that. An older dog may be good but, will it get along with the cats? Don't know? Which ever you decide good luck and remember to keep the dogs welfare first in your mind.

Answer 2

Puppies are great, but they are sooo much work. I have a 10 week old German shepherd puppy. She is up every morning at 4:30-5 am. We talk a long walk. She bounces off the walls all day. Puppies have small bladders, so we have to take her out every hour to housebreak her. At night, she crys all night because she's lonely.Nothing is worse then getting up at 4am, and then not being able to go to sleep at night because the puppy is crying. She gets up at 1am to be let out because she has to pee. Then crys some more. She's chews everything. She doesn't know any better. So it's constantly, watching her and telling her no as she chews the table, the wall, the other dog. Don't get me wrong, I love my dog. She's wonderful, but she is sooo much work. I work part time, and have my husband helping me, and it's still hard. It's like having a baby. Seriously. I'm not saying it can't be done, but it will suck the life out of you. If you do get a pup, make sure you crate her in a cage when you are not home, or she will distroy your home. GOOD LUCK!! =) ** Oh, I am reading the other posts, and I think adopting a older dog is a WONDERFUL idea!! She won't be as rowdy and you'll be saving a pet!! Do that.

Answer 3

You could look into adopting a dog that is already house trained. Definitely don't paper the whole house or the puppy will see everywhere as a potential place to do his business. If you really want a puppy is there any way you could come home on your lunch hour to let him out or have a neighbour come over for an hour or so a day? I believe certain kennels offer an in home service where they will come and visit your dog and let him out while you are working as well.

Answer 4

It is possible, many homes have dogs that having working families. Puppyhood is always tough but you can do it. You may want to consider adopting a slightly older puppy. Many a couple months or so. By that time they can hold it a little longer. But if not you can always crate or do one room that is puppy proofed. When I housebreak my puppies I use the grass scented potty pads. That way they have no confusion on scents. As they get older they can hold it longer. With the cats you may be better off bringing in a puppy orr young adult so he/she can grow up around cats.
But it is possible, and you sound like your ready and have lots of love to give.

Answer 5

I think getting an adult dog would be a good idea for you. The first dog I got was about 8 or 9 months old. She hadn't gone thru her first heat.

She still did a lot of chewing but she was housebroken and that helps a lot.

Certain breeds are better with other animals than others. I have a Shetland Sheepdog and she gets along so well with the cat it's amazing and very cute. The cat even grooms her in the morning.

Do your homework before you decide what breed of dog you want to get. Check out the AKC website at www.akc.org.

I asked my vet and my trainer for recommendations. They told me to get a mini poodle, a Shia Tsu(sp?) or a Sheltie. I'm so glad I took their advice.

Answer 6

hi.. i don't see any problem having a dog in an apts....personally i would like to have a small dog if there are already so many animals, i am also a dog lover and have 2 labs i was living in an apts with them and was working also.... i have had them since they were 1 month old and puppy hood is very tough but since i had a full time maid i did not face tht much trouble....but now things have changed for me now, as i have moved to Dubai and again i am living in an apts i have not brought my dogs here as i was not sure weather dubai is a dog friendly country or not as i had heard lot of disturbing facts of keeping a pet in UAE, my dogs r with my parents but now i know tht its not that difficult to keep dogs in dubai .... i would be importing them in the month of November when the weather has cooled down a bit and i don't intend to work here so its not a prob for me but for u it is advisable to buy an older dog rather than a puppy and if u have a transferable job i advise u not to buy a puppy... it is very stressful for the animal as it happened in my case... pls don't take any decision in haste Coz u already have so many animal... if i can have 2 dogs in a city like Dubai( its not a very dog friendly country) then i am sure u can have a dog in an apartment in any part of the world...

Answer 7

The puppy would probably harass the kittens, wanting to play rough with them and not knowing that he is biting when he wants to play. A dog definitely ties one down when you want to travel, not like cats who use a litter box and don't need as much attention. That is a lot of animals in one apt. Think about it for awhile or as someone said, borrow a puppy and see for yourself. Male dogs are the worse for 'peeing' all over the place.

Answer 8

Puppies really are a hassle until they stop teething and chewing at about age 2. Maybe you can help you and the puppie by finding one at a Humane Society (pound)? They'll really chew up your wood furniture if unattended younger...

Remember, this is a 9-20 year commitment to own a puppy. Our 14-1/2 year old Shih Tzus are now keeping us from travelling as they get nervous and diarhea if left at a boarders. We got 2 to keep themselves company.

Good luck!

Answer 9

Don't paper the whole house. google 'crate training'- that works and will not confuse your dog.

Please look into adopting a year old or older dog. They will be able to hold it 8 hours. Check petfinder.com -lots of cute dogs in your area I am sure- and much cheaper then buying from a breeder- especially since alot of the expensive vet stuff will already be done.

Answer 10

I really don't see any problems.Here in Valencia Spain most people live in apts. and most people have at least one dog,and some have two.Friends of ours have a dog,and they live in a large apt. Two times a day is enough for them to do their business.I would get a puppy so it can be paper trained.Once a puppy gets accustomed to going in one area,that is where it will go (to do it's thing) until it gets older and can be taken outdoors.Dogs are not hard to care for as a rule,but don't forget the visit to the vet for shots.I say go for it.My Daughter has two large dogs (a Dane and a retriever) and she is as poor as a church mouse,and lives in a mobile home.(no husband or kids though).Go for it.With the blessing of your husband of course.