Getting a dog???

[PennyCarter]

Okay guys,
I've never had a pet, not even as a kid. I like animals okay, but I've never really wanted one. But I've been living by myself for over a year and from time to time I've thought that maybe I would like a dog. Well, last week, my boyfriend was in town and we went to a pet store (he LOVES animals) and there was a yorkie (I'll explain the significance in a minute), he was soooooo cute!!! Well, that night I came home and there was a baby chihuahua by my door!!! He was soooo cute. So I kept him that night (it was too late to find his owner) and I fell in love with him. I even let him sleep in my bed (for someone who's never had a pet, this is HUGE). The next day I found his owner, but I must admit that a part of me was hoping I wouldn't. I was sad giving him up. So now I've been thinking about gettind a dog.

Well, when i was a kid, I always wanted a yorkshire terrier. My godmother had one and I LOVED her. I used to beg and beg, but my mom doesn't like dogs so I never got one. I've always said that if I got a dog, it'd be a yorkie. I've been begging my boyfriend to get one for over a year so I could come visit it. He won't because he says they aren't manly enough for him

So, now I'm thinking about getting a yorkie...but I want to know if they are okay being alone all day (while I'm at school and work). Also are they hard to house break? Do they cost a lot to keep up (once you have them)? Where can I find one that doesn't cost $1200+????? Are there other little dogs that are relatively low maintenance and good for someone who's never had a dog?

[texas*princess]

I've been puppy-shopping myself, and I have narrowed it down to either a yorkie, a bichon frise, or a maltepoo (which is a cross breed of maltese and poodles... absolutely ADORABLE little creatures!!!)

I think the best thing you can do is talk to breeders. I've emailed several online, and they are usually more than happy to answer your questions even if you don't plan on purchasing right away or even ever. Most that you can find just ADORE the little animals to pieces, so they love talking about them.

Also, check in your area for pet places. My best friend got a new puppy about a couple months ago... and I can't remember of the name of the place they got it, but it basically sounded like a huge pet store where several breeders showcased and sold their puppies. There were so many breeders for yorkies, that the puppies were being sold as low as $300 because of the other "competitors".

Also - check out www.petfinder.com
You can locate several puppies and even search by breed for puppies or dogs that have been abandoned or rescued.

Best of luck in your search!

[honeychile]

I don't know much about Yorkies, but since you asked about other low maintainance dogs, as much as I worship the ground our Buffy's paws walk on, I wouldn't suggest a Bichon Frise. They are the ultimate "people dog" and are NOT good "home alone" dogs! They're also non-allergic, since they have hair, not fur.

Good luck on finding the puppy of your dreams!

[ADPiAkron]

I have the best dog in the whollllllllllllle world! Her name is Lily and she is a strange-- yet wonderful breed--she is a chihuahua/shitzu! So adorably cute--weighs 9lbs!! I never suggest getting a dog to anyone if they are going to be caged for long periods of time-- but I can understand you wanting a dog since you have never had one! I cannot suggest a specific breed, but as long as you are getting a little dog that is good! A big dog needs excercise and more time to play-- where honestly when I get home from work all Lily needs is a short run around the yard (she has tiny legs and is a little pudgie so that is all she can handle ) and then she is content laying on the couch with me allllll night!

My parents dog is a shitzu/yorkie-- he is a pain in the ass but I do not know what part of his breeding that is! He still is not fully potty trained and he is 3 yrs old!! So look into intelligence as a factor-- and overall training for the breeds you are interested in!!

My biggest suggestion although I hate to continue to see them suffer (and I honestly think they should be banned), do not buy from a petstore-- they jack up the prices!! Take your time and look in the classified ads in the paper and get a good price in mind before you buy one!! BUT BELIEVE ME-- ALL THE MONEY IN THE WORLD CANNOT BUY THE LOVE YOU GET FROM A DOG!!

GOOD LUCK! Let us know how it turns out!

PS: I had a Lhasa Apso-- I do not suggest getting one of them-- although they are easily trained-- they can get mean!! And do not get a dog with/grows long fur-- to much maintenance!

[ADPiShannan]

I have a toy fox terrier. He is a mix of a fox terrier and a chiahuhua. (spelled?)

He is about 7 pounds, very cute and a one person dog. He doesnt need a lot of maintenance because he is short haired and also doesnt need to be out much. He hates to be out at all in the winter, he freezes.

I paid only 200 for him and he was well worth it. I wanted a teacup chiahuhua, but they are like WAY expensive and I looked everywhere for one cheaper and not much luck. I wouldnt trade my dog in the world for any other dog. Hes adorable, loves to be with me whereever I go and loves to cuddle. He sleeps under the covers in my bed. He also loves my 2 cats and loves my parents dogs.

I would suggest anyone wanting a small dog to look into a toy fox terrier. He is much cheaper to buy and so adorable. Good luck though, on whatever dog you buy. They are all adorable.

[winneythepooh7]

Hi. I just want to encourage anyone thinking about getting a pet, especially a dog, to think long and hard about your decision. It is basically like having a baby, especially when they are young and a puppy. I have a 6 month old pug and he is just now starting to be housebroken. I crate trained him but he still has one or two accidents per week. Also, remember, you will need to get up very early in the morning (he wakes up around 6 am) to walk and it is gonna be cold out soon! Sometimes my dog gets up 2 or 3 times in the night. I haven't been able to take a real vacation since I got him because I don't want to leave him in a kennel, my friends who said they would watch him also have big dogs which makes me nervous, and my parents and a lot of my other friends are not dog people so I cannot impose him on them. Are you still in school? Do you know what your job situation is going to be in a few years? Do you plan on going to grad school at night? These are all major things to ask yourself because you CANNOT do a lot of things once you take on the responsibility of a pet. I would love for example to work p/t for extra money in addition to my f/t position, but feel it is unfair to the dog to be alone that long. Also what is your living situation? Are you able to have pets where you live? What if you plan to move? Apartments that allow pets are hard to find and you can't sneak a dog into an apartment. Yorkies are also very yappy and barky and are attention seeking dogs as well. I encourage everyone to research the breed in great detail. I am not implying this against the person who started this thread, but so often I hear "oh dogs are so cute I want to get one" and people do not realize all the work that goes into caring for a dog, and hence, end up giving the dog away. Cost of the dog was a factor. I don't recommend anyone who is not able to afford to pay for a dog to get a dog because it is expensive to care for a dog in general!!!! I took Darby to the vet for all his puppy shots, which was about 5 or 6 trips. Each trip was $50 bucks. What happens if he gets sick? That could be anywhere from $1000 and up to care for him. My friend has a charpet (spelling?) and he had a tumor on his back. It cost her I believe close to $3000 with the surgery and all the doctor visits. Luckily she had her parents to rely on cuz she was a student at the time and not working!!!! I really don't encourage anyone who is a college student to get a dog because you don't know what your life is going to be like in the next couple of years. Are you really ready to be this tied down? I don't mean this post to sound really negative but I can't stress it enough, every day I ALWAYS have to think about how I am planning my day so I can get home to take care of the dog. I can't just dash off to happy hour after work or go away for the weekend without planning this all in advance!!!!! If you have been gone all day too, it is really not fair to leave the dog alone at night, especially in a crate. If you have any other questions at all about dealing with a puppy, please don't hesitate to ask. Remember DOG=CHILD. PERIOD.

[WLFEO]

We got our sweet dog from a rescue shelter. I could not ask for a better dog. He was already housebroken so we didn't have to go through all of that. The adoption fee was $25. We have since done some volunteer work for the shelter. Also we use the vet services at PetSmart- their vet system is called Banfield. We bought doggy "health insurance" there which means we pay a low monthly fee (under $30) and then all the doctor visits and routine shots, etc. are free. And other procedures are discounted. It has saved us a lot of money. But I agree that dogs are expensive (though who can put a price on unconditional love?) and a lot of work. Good luck on your decision!

[scho5148]

I have a Yorkie and she is such a joy! My whole family has Yorkies. My Mom has had 2, my Aunt has one, and my uncle has one. I knew I was destined to get one. My husband didn't think Yorkies were manly enough either, but now he spoils her more than I do!

My Yorkie is a little bit bigger - 11 lbs - than the typical one. We got her from a breeder in the newspaper for $550, which is pretty decent, comparatively. Females are more expensive than males. She came with AKC papers. Since I didn't get a "show quality" one she was a little cheaper and her hair isn't quite so long. She doesn't shed at all, which is a plus for my husband who is allergic to pet dander.

I got her at about 9 weeks old (she will be 2 in November) and shortly thereafter enrolled her in puppy training class. (Really it is owner-training) She caught on pretty quickly and then I even enrolled her in puppy agility classes. Yorkies are really good on agility courses. But classes aside if you are consistent in any training, the Yorkie will do well. It took about 6 months to fully potty train. There are several different methods, so you have to figure out which one will work best. (Crate training, paper training, even litter box training.)

I will admit that since her hair is longer it tangles easily. But, if you brush your dog regularly it should be fine. You can also keep their hair cut to a shorter length and not down to the ground. I wouldn't say that mine costs a lot to keep up. She visits a groomer about every 3 months. I do bathe her at home every couple of weeks or as needed. Most of this is up to the individual owner, though. I wouldn't say she goes to the Vet any more than any other dog would. When you first get any dog, it will seem very expensive because you pay for food, toys, vaccines, etc, but it gets better after all of the initial stuff...depending on how much you want to spoil your "baby".

My husband and I work all day, and Cheyenne (her name) stays in a bathroom. She is very excited to see us when we get home, but she is pretty used to her little "den". I don't like the confines of a crate and she definitely can't stay outside all day. Yorkies do love attention, but they aren't all "yappy and barky". I mean, they bark at regular things that any dog would, but I wouldn't say OURS is extremely vocal. Also to note, she gets along very well with other dogs and people. Again, this has a lot to do with how much the owner socializes the dog with others.


I am a big fan of Shih-tzu's as well. My family owned one a long time ago and I have several friends who own one. They look really cute with a shaved hair cut, but I couldn't tell you much about the rest of the maintenance. I do agree that you need to do a lot of research into different breeds and talk to other dog owners before purchasing.

I agree with a lot of the practical points that winneythepooh7 made, although it felt as if there was a little negative edge. Just to note, there is pet insurance. It isn't for everyone, but worth looking into. If you would like to discuss this more, we can email privately or I can even give you a call.



Good luck!

[winneythepooh7]

Originally posted by scho5148


I agree with a lot of the practical points that winneythepooh7 made, although it felt as if there was a little negative edge. Just to note, there is pet insurance. It isn't for everyone, but worth looking into.

I wasn't trying to be "negative" but think getting a pet is a huge decision and not one to be taken lightly. I think that comes with being as honest as possible about all the NEGATIVE aspects of owning a dog. Plus with the pet insurance, it doesn't cover everything. For example, if your dog breaks it's leg or get's it's eye poked playing, you will probably have to pay out of pocket for this. From what my vet tells me, pet insurance covers basic routine care, like yearly vaccinations. My friend with the charpet had pet insurance and the tumor wasn't covered. Another friend of mine has a dog and it has some kind of skin condition. That wasn't covered by their pet insurance either. Talk with your friends and family too. They can come in really handy in helping you stay grounded if this decision is really not one for you. My biggest piece of advice which is geared to those of you still in undergrad is to WAIT until you know what you are doing with your life before you make this decision. (See the CONS thread I started in chit chat for more stuff on this). The bottom line is no matter how much you educate yourself and learn about the responsibilities of dog ownership, especially as a FIRST TIME dog owner (which I am) this will be a very stressful time for you in the beginning so be prepared for that if you do get a dog.

[lmcsuc]

Just get a cat...their cheaper, easier to take care of and they are most importantly independent!!

[texas*princess]

Originally posted by lmcsuc
Just get a cat...their cheaper, easier to take care of and they are most importantly independent!!

LOL

[ADPiAkron]

Originally posted by lmcsuc
Just get a cat...their cheaper, easier to take care of and they are most importantly independent!!

So true! I have both and the cat is mucccccch easier to take care of!

[PennyCarter]

Thanks so much for all the advice. Don't worry, I so know this isn't a light decision. I feel like I'm considering having a baby! I am in grad school now and I'm only taking 10 hours and not working (this is the easiest semester EVER for me, I've always taken tons more hours and had a job). I graduate in December and will be working 8-5 type hours. My mom thinks I should wait til then to get a dog, but I have always heard that they are like new babies and require a lot of attention and special care--especially in the beginning. Since I have such a light load now, I figure this would be the best time for me to get one because I have the most time to spend with him/her. I have definitely not made a decision yet, but I'm leaning towards getting one soon. I know its not the same, but my boyfriend loves animals and he's willing to help me, especially in the beginning. I don't feel right leaving a dog at a kennel, so I've been talking to family members about baby sitting if I ever had an emergency and needed to go out of town. Money...well its not the biggest consideration. I am okay financially right now and unless I get a job WAY below the average starting salary for my field, I will be fine once I graduate too. Its just hard for me to justify spending tons of money buying a dog when I know I could save one for so much less, and since I've never had one before its just hard to justify that money, but I know once I fall in love with one it will be completely different. Oh goodness...I so cannot believe I'm even considering this!

[WLFEO]

I just did an internet search for Yorkie Rescues and there were a ton that came up- there may be one in your area.

[winneythepooh7]

Hey. Having a lot of free time would be the best time then if you are considering getting a puppy. It is also great that you have people that are supportive of you. Good luck and keep us posted!