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[gamz]

Would pugs be a good dog to get for me?

My Pug is 12 and I couldn't imagine owning any other bred. He's amazing and is expensive as others have said, but worth every penny. They are extremely affectionate and lovable, and is never left alone because he has bad separation anxiety. They snore and shed like crazy!

Not for everyone but great pooches.

 

[fuzzyset]

Puppies are an insane amount of work and require a lot of patience. They're also not exactly cheap. They get sick. You'll probably freak out and go to a pet ER. Plus the routine shots + checkups. You'll have to clean up shit at some point (in addition to picking it up everyday for him). You might feel anxious constantly because you're afraid he'll destroy your place. I had a very bad case of puppy blues. I probably would've given my dog back to the shelter if it wasn't for my SO and the social stigma of 'giving up'. It was awful. That was about a year ago.

Now, though (and the last 6-9mos), it's been great. I love him, and I can't imagine not having him around. He still pisses me off, but he's always so damn happy it honestly just cheers me up on a daily basis. I think we got lucky with our guy though. He loves people and other dogs, so taking him places is no issue. He seems pretty lazy for an Aussie, so he's totally fine all day at home, but still loves to go do things. He's crazy smart, so teaching him things is easy.

Here's our boy as King of the Weiner Dogs at the dog park:

He's also a cuddle maniac:

 

[Wag]

Well, I wasn't picking up shit before...

 

[Doctoglethorpe]

If you have hard floors, don’t get a shedder. Oh god it’s a nightmare. It’s easy to ignore on carpets (though you’ll need to vacuume more often). It also gets all over you clohes if you let them on the couch or bed, which, what kind of monster doesn’t let their doggies take comfy naps?

I love my shepherd mutt, he’s fucking adorable, but god is he high maintenance. Never again. Next dog is probably gonna be a swimmer breed.

 

[Count of Monte Sawed-Off]

I recently got a Husky puppy. She's a pain in my ass, but I love her.

 

[neorej]

First you need to figure out which breed you want. Each breed had different traits, and it will need to fit your lifestyle and living situation.
Then you really need to think about the commitment you're making. Are you willing to take care of the dog for it's entire life? Can you afford to take him to the vet? Can you live without long distant vacations, or do you have an address where the dog can stay during your vacation?

 

[Naked Snake]

My dog has been such a massive positive influence on my life. Definitely takes work though, and your life will change to some degree depending on the dog. I couldn’t imagine living another way, though.

But yes, prepare for ruined socks. Also a yard to some degree is a must.

Your dog is gorgeous. I've wanted a dog my whole life, but I don't think I'm ready or know if I'll ever be ready for all it takes to own one

 

[Jakoo]

Dogs absolutely change your life. You absolutely lose a level of freedom but ultimately I think the habits they get you in lead to a healthier lifestyle, both physically and emotionally. The companionship really is worth it.

I recommend getting adopting a shelter dog over a puppy, because generally they are already potty trained and are sweet dogs that require a lot less upfront mental investment in training. I would also recommend crate training it so you can be away from it for 4-6 hours without worrying about it getting into any trouble.

Good luck!

 

[Inferno313]

Adopt at a pet shelter, there are thousands of wonderful animals out there that need loving homes.

You'll have an amazing experience getting a dog. Mine is a constant source of joy in my life. Love her to death.

 

[robotrock]

Thank you NeoGAF sincerely for these beautiful dog pics and stories. I really needed this today.

 

[JCHandsom]

Read title as "Thinking of bullying a dog" and got upset for a split second.

I need more sleep.

 

[evilromero]

Before you adopt make sure you ask yourself the tough questions first. Are you willing to care for this animal no matter what even if you get married, have kids, move for a new job, starts to become inconvenient, etc? Are you prepared to give him the best medical care even if you can't afford it or it puts you in a very difficult financial situation? If your answer to any of those questions is "no" then DO NOT ADOPT AN ANIMAL.

 

[Kor of Memory]

Adopted this one over 10 years ago. She's been an amazing part of my life. I try to spoil her as much as I can. While she has been the best fucking dog ever, I have a hard time talking about her ever since she was diagnosed with Cancer last November. She doesn't have long for this world, but she still makes every day worth coming home to.

 

[Redd]

My sister just got a blue heeler puppy last weekend. It's only been 3 days but her and my giant Schnauzer are getting along amazingly.

 

[Admiral Woofington]

Order of what you should do as a single person in an apartment:

1. Consider rescuing more than buying a puppy from a breeder. Plenty of dogs need a home in shelters.

2. If you do rescue, make sure your apartment doesn't have restriction on pets. Aka aggressive breeds, big dogs, multiple dogs, etc so you go in with the right mindset.

3. If possible try getting an older dog. They're usually passed by more often than puppies, and are normally easier to take care of as a single person because they'll largely be potty trained and have already gone through the teething phase of biting everything they can.

4. If you absolutely want a younger dog, try getting one that is at least 7-8 months old minimum. That way if you ever have to leave the dog at home he/she can likely hold it in until you get home.

5. Consider crate training. Particularly in apartment complexes, in most situations someone has to come in and inspect something in your apartment. Your dog needs to be either in their crate, or in a closed off room.

That's essentially it. I got my dog from a rescue and I love him, he's my bestie. Definitely helps with the loneliness of living away from close friends and family.

 

[LogicStep]

Do your research on breed. You don't want a super energetic dog if you won't be able to handle it or want to deal with that. I made that mistake but I love my dog too much and do my best to fulfill her needs.

 

[Viewt]

Buy, dont adopt.
Only cause you cant get French Bulldogs from the pound.

Pretty much house trained the day theyre born. Wont chew or scratch furniture, dont dig, and wont chew on your shoes unless they realllly look like hides. They only bark when they have to, and they pretty much live to cuddle.

CONS: They love running.. but if youre pretty fit then they will not be able to keep up with you for long periods. Especially if youre doing things like stairs.

False.

French bulldog rescue organizations are less prevalent, for sure, but you can find them, especially if you live in a major metro area. That's how my fiancée and I got our bud Esteban this past May.

As for whether you should do it, I certainly don't regret my decision. But I am glad that I can share the responsibility with someone else. It's not like taking care of him is some is some monumental burden, but with four walks a day, feeding him at 6AM and staying up to date with vet visits/medication (if you get a frenchie, you WILL deal with big vet bills), sometimes it's nice to be able to spread that weight around with someone else.

Dogs are great. They love you, they're very cute, and they constantly find new ways to make you laugh at them. But they are work, so if you're going to adopt one, go into the experience knowing that.

 

[Anteater]

dog is man's best friend, just make sure you don't get one that's a misandrist

 

[DeVeAn]

I loved dogs. But, if you have even the slightest feeling that you might not be able to commit don’t get one. The worst thing is to get a dog and after months give the dog away. That just feels cruel IMO.

Otherwise they can be the best thing in your life and probably will be.

 

[BobNewbert31]

This guy is my best bud and I can't imagine life without him now.

 

[Distresssss]

Lily is the best thing that's ever happened to me and I don't regret my decision for a moment, ever. Love this little bastard.

She used to be so tiny.

 

[Enduin]

Yes it changes your life, but for the better. Given your work is pet friendly I would be all over that. I hate leaving my guy home all day, even if there is usually someone around the house.

I would say do a lot research into owning a dog, ie training it properly, general upkeep, exercise, care and so forth so you know what you're getting into time and money wise in the broad sense. It's not a massive commitment that will take up all your time, but it's an easy hour or two every day all told between going outside to do their business and then playtime, going on a walk/run and such. Monetarily it can easily be a couple thousand a year between foods, vet fees, toys and other items/fees. You need to be absolutely sure you're willing to provide the necessary care and follow through with training and socialization of your dog, otherwise you shouldn't get one. They're not just some accessory or furry companion you can buy and then deal with when you want to.

Then figure out what kind of dog you want to get. Puppy or adult, rescue or breeder, specific breed or not, etc. Getting a puppy is really great, but it's a much larger commitment of your time for the first 6 months or so as you have to really baby them, cause they're babies. Constant direct supervision, lots of training and house breaking work. Socializing with other dogs and people and situations. They will pretty much take up all your free time during those initial months. I really enjoyed it, but some people are willing to commit the time and that just leads to trouble down the line for you and your dog.

Unless there are issues of allergies and other traits you need to limit your search to I would urge you to go to a shelter and find a rescue dog to adopt. So I would look up and then visit all your local shelters and rescues and look at what dogs they have available to find the right one for you.

If you do find you want or need a specific breed or type and/or want a puppy please find a reputable breeder and thoroughly look into them to ensure they are on the level, as there are so many people out there operating for profit breeding farms that are not treating the dogs right and or doing what is necessary to maintain the health and quality of their breed.

 

[Vincent Alexander]

Get a cat too while you're at it! Then they can be best buds like my cats and dog.

 

[SeanC]

I hadn't had a dog in years but my girlfriend (one year coming up) has one and goddamn do I love him. When I come home and he's there so happy it's like the badness of the day just washes away.

It's true: dogs and pets are just great therapy in a way. Laying on the couch and him curling up on my chest is soothing.

 

[Sulik2]

Dogs are a gigantic waste of time, energy and money. You are making a huge mistake getting one.

 

[TarpitCarnivore]

If you need to ask someone else if you should get one I think you need to think a lot longer before getting one.

You should also should do your due diligence and research dog breeds. Far too many people get breeds that are far beyond their expectations in training and maintenance.

 

[old]

Check to see if you're allegeric to dogs first.

Check how much the dog will shed. My Labrador sheds a coat a day. I have to vacuum up a quilt every week. Not exaggerating.

Consider dog care. Will you be able to afford upkeep on food, toys, treats, vaccination shots, vet visits, registration, and who will watch them when you're away. Where will they be when you're at work? Will they have a chance to go the bathroom? They can't hold it forever and it's inhumane to ask them to hold it 8-9 hours every day.

Consider lifespan. How many years are you willing to commit. Some dogs live for 14 years. Some only about 8. They affect where you can move and living arrangements.

 

[acohrs]

Dogs are a gigantic waste of time, energy and money. You are making a huge mistake getting one.

What an arsehole

 

[Dog Problems]

I can't imagine life without a dog, or some other kind of pet. They're bring so much joy to my life. There can certainly be some annoyances here and there but the good parts far outweigh any of those annoyances.

 

[Admiral Woofington]

Dogs are a gigantic waste of time, energy and money. You are making a huge mistake getting one.

Shit opinion is shit.

 

[acohrs]

Also getting a dog was one of the best decisions of my life. Walking them om the weekends is one of the highlights of my week.

 

[xxracerxx]

Dogs are a huge responsibility, especially in the early years. Just know what you are getting into before you take the plunge.

Also getting a dog was one of the best decisions of my life. Walking them om the weekends is one of the highlights of my week.

Do you not walk them on weekdays? Or are you just taking longer more adventurous walks on weekends?

 

[acohrs]

Dogs are a huge responsibility, especially in the early years. Just know what you are getting into before you take the plunge.



Do you not walk them on weekdays? Or are you just taking longer more adventurous walks on weekends?

Longer, funner weekend walks but i do walk them on weekdays or theyre exhausted from daycare

 

[MiddeSummer]

Uhg.... Once I close on my new home, a dog is the first thing I'm getting.

OP, get a dog. He or She will change your life... in a positive way. There is no way to properly measure or explain the impact unconditional love and companionship have on us, and the only way to know for yourself is to get a dog.

They're frustrating for sure. They require so much from us it doesn't make sense that we should be so attached to them, but, damn. Here we are.

I'd recommend getting an adult dog, since this would be your first time owning one. As others have mentioned, puppies are a lot of work. Good luck!

 

[Zackat]

I can't imagine my life without my dog. She is family.

 

[cucuchu]

If you need to stay in shape or lose weight, get a Siberian Husky. You will either take the time to run with them and get them their needed exercise, or they will destroy your apartment and eat all your food while you are gone. Either way you lose weight.

In all seriousness though, do your research and go with one that fits your personality. Also keep in mind that sometimes having two dogs is easier than one (if you can afford it). My Siberian Husky and Goldendoodle complement each other in a way that makes taking care of each of them so much easier. But its work. I wake up in the morning, take a 20 minutes jog with my husky before work. I get home and take both dogs for a long walk and they will play together in the yard/house after that.

Also, shedding. Its not something a lot of people think about until after they have lived with their first dog. Some dogs have hair that you need to make sure is maintained and brushed (Poodles for example) while others have coats of fur that shed year round and you WILL have hair everywhere in your house/apartment no matter what you do (Husky for example).

 

[Lombax]

OP get a puppy it will be an awesome addition to your life. We recently adopted a German Shepard mix puppy from a German Shepard rescue in TN.

Some advice:

- factor in the cost of training your dog, and plan to keep up with it.
- stay away from 'pocket dogs'.
- set some money aside for a surprise trip to the vet.
- keep up with training your dog.

 

[GeordieMark]

I’ve got a little golden retriever. She’s six months old, and the apple of my eye. The joy that little fluffy bundle of playfulness has brought to the family is so special. She’s been a handful at times, but she brings people together because of her loveable nature. The family spend way more time together since she came into our lives. I’ve been way more relaxed since we got her too. A bit of puppy time and a walk does wonders for me after a stressful day at work.

Dogs are a gigantic waste of time, energy and money. You are making a huge mistake getting one.

Miserable fucker. I hope one bites you.

 

[Nafai1123]

We just adopted a 9 week old puppy a few months ago. She's not about 5 months.

Puppies need a LOT of attention. If my GF didn't work from home we wouldn't have done it. Bringing a very young pup to work is going to be tough, whether they're pet friendly or not. That's not to say it's impossible.

If you do get a puppy, crate train! It's very important for when you need to leave for awhile, or when you go to sleep. We haven't let our pup sleep with us, because once you do that it will be the expectation. Train them to sleep/hang out in a crate and life is much easier later on.

While separation is necessary, you shouldn't leave a puppy alone for too long, especially when they are very young. Puppies can only hold it for so long, are you really don't want them being forced to go in their crate while you're gone.

Puppies are awesome. My pup brings joy to my life everyday. Whenever I come home and see her run up like I'm the most exciting thing she's ever seen in her entire life, it's a great feeling.

 

[ty_hot]

Consider the money to spend on food,vaccine, etc
Consider the time you have left to actually take care of him
Consider your way of life

Your job is pet friendly, but maybe you like to go to some happy hour which you cant bring the pet with you... or how often do you travel?

Taking care of a dog alone is harder. But maybe you have friends that also have dogs and you can do each other favors sometimes.

I dont have a dog but I would like to.

 

[Jenov]

Would pugs be a good dog to get for me?

Good first time dog, small sized for an apartment, short coat is easy to maintain, but will shed in your house. May have health complications and are normally not allowed to travel as cargo in planes (would need to be a carry on pet). Go for it if you have the time and resources

 

[thescience]

I have a 3.5 month old Labrador Retriever.

It's a shitload of work. Way, way more than you think. Especially if you really care about having a well behaved dog.

Think about pet insurance, food costs, crate/bed/toys/leash costs, vaccination costs, registration costs, dog care costs, obedience training costs, etc. We have spent over $2000 on our dog so far.

Think about dog care as no dog should be left alone for too long too often, not even older dogs.

Think about literally 2 hours of your day minimum being completely dedicated to your dog.

Think about not being able to go away for extended periods without finding suitable accommodations for your dog or bringing them along.

Are you patient enough to deal with a young dog destroying all your shit?

If you don't want to get/ can't afford insurance up to how much can you afford at any given moment out of pocket for a dog before you have to put them down? I have never seen a vet bill less than $500 for any emergency. Common vet bill totals I have seen are $3000-5000++++.

Unlike a baby, this animal is completely dependent on you. It will never "grow up" and be able to feed or walk itself, etc. Try to make the responsible choice. if you don't have a plan for all of the above questions, then a dog is probably not for you. Most people I know with dogs really should not have dogs.

 

[oneils]

Do your research. Many breeds require lots of time outside and physical exercise. Like three hours a day minimum.

If you can't provide that, maybe look into breeds that don't require that.

 

[Orbis]

I have a Labrador Retriever in an apartment, some tips:
1) I own my apartment and my lease allows keeping pets, please check this though and get confirmation in writing that it's acceptable.
2) If you're not on the ground floor, make sure you get a small, light dog. Dogs love to bound around and will disturb people below you. I have a Lab but I'm on the ground floor.
3) A smaller dog however may have a smaller bladder, consider that for leaving it alone.
4) Do not encourage barking. If your dog starts to bark then you need to train them out it immediately. Or risk having the dog removed.
5) Make sure there is somewhere you can (and are allowed to) take it to the toilet that isn't going to be a pain in the ass getting to multiple times a day.
6) If you're getting a puppy, study beforehand like you're taking an exam. It's really hard work and for a while it will potentially drive you to tears. Totally worth it though.
7) Crate training is something I 100% recommend. You will need the space for it though, especially for a larger dog.
8) A dog is a massive commitment and you will have to think about extra things that you didn't before, such as cost (food, flea+worming, vet visits, pet insurance (VITAL), toys, treats) and not so obvious things like, what will you do when you go on holiday? What will you do if you need to stay overnight somewhere else?
9) Read everything about the particular breed you choose, different dogs have different exercise needs, social requirements or medical concerns.

Think long and hard and make sure you're ready.

 

[Inferno313]

Dogs are a gigantic waste of time, energy and money. You are making a huge mistake getting one.

I'm sure you're honestly a nice dude, but now you're my least favorite poster on this website. Sorry, that's just how the cookie crumbles.

 

[Wolfgunblood Garopa]

I would never get a dog. Every single dog owner I know is stuck in a shitty dog situation, either they jump all over you and slobber on you for the first 5 minutes you walk in their house, hitting you in the balls and whatnot while you're supposed to ignore the dog so it stops, or it barks or whines all the time. Cat owners I know are loving life, the cats are fun to pet, etc.

 

[BobNewbert31]

I would never get a dog. Every single dog owner I know is stuck in a shitty dog situation, either they jump all over you and slobber on you for the first 5 minutes you walk in their house, hitting you in the balls and whatnot while you're supposed to ignore the dog so it stops, or it barks or whines all the time. Cat owners I know are loving life, the cats are fun to pet, etc.

Sounds like you know a bunch of shitty dog owners.

 

[Goro Majima]

I think cats are a lot lower maintenance if you're feeling lonely and need an apartment companion. Sometimes they're just assholes though which is the roll of the dice I never wanted to take. I've met a lot of great cats though.

Dogs are my favorite but they always struck me as the best companion for retirees more than anything. They keep people active and on a routine well into their golden years. My heart always kinda hurts for dogs left alone 12+ hours per day as is often the case with overworked young people.

 

[mhayes86]

My wife and I adopted my family's dog last year, and it was a great experience (minus his health issues). You lose some of your freedom since dogs require a good bit of maintenance, but I absolutely love them. In your situation, one could really fill the void of living alone. If you want something with less maintenance, consider a cat. I personally don't care for cats. I'm allergic to both cats and dogs, and I can't stand shedding, so I'm strictly a poodle/poodle-mix owner.

Anyway, when our dog passed away back in July, my wife and I were a mess and our place just didn't feel complete any more. After some time, we decided to look into animal rescues and ended up with two dogs.

Read title as "Thinking of bullying a dog" and got upset for a split second.

I need more sleep.

I originally thought it said "burying a dog", so I was about to add my condolences. I'm glad it wasn't.

 

[Wolfgunblood Garopa]

Sounds like you know a bunch of shitty dog owners.

I understand the assumption, but they put the time in and do all of the responsible stuff. The dogs are just fucking crazy active, you even look at one of the dogs and they leap into action. Pit bull mixes and Australian Shepherds are the worst in my experience.