Toggle sidebar

Dog owners

I

IndyCat1995

All-American
Nov 21, 2016
2,642
7,672
0
Need some insight here.

My girlfriend brought home a dog yesterday. Not unannounced, we have discussed it. But I was in a long work meeting to end the day. I had missed calls from her but couldn't answer because of said meeting. When I got home, it was just there. Lol. Now technically, it is a trial run. We have the option of giving her back Sunday if we don't see it as a good fit and from there it would get re-homed.

I've never had a dog in my life. We have been together for two years in total and living together for about 8 months. We currently have two cats, but they both literally do nothing but sleep all day and of course can use the bathroom by themselves like most cats do. And naturally, most indoor cats are pretty damn clean. So, owning these cats has not impacted either of our daily lives at all. Just gotta feed them and change the litter box which takes all of 5 minutes.

Now a dog. Messy. Requires training. Bathroom breaks at odd and often times inconvenient hours, etc. And I am an extremely tidy person.

We are also currently in an apartment. We are both 24. I am recently graduated from college in an entry level position. She is a current student working full time. We are both busy, not broke ya know, but young trying to figure out our lives.

Cats require little effort. But man, this puppy. She's a 9 week old German shepherd husky. This is just going to introduce a whole new dynamic and stress into our lives.

I guess main reason for the length of this post is I know she will fall in love with this damn thing by the time Sunday rolls around.

Any advice from you dog owners out there for someone who is a first time owner and apprehensive about this whole thing? Is it worth it to push through some of the struggles that will come with this?
 
H

H. Lecter

All-Conference
Nov 1, 2012
994
1,265
0
You’re not ready. Say it bit you and you won’t have that and get rid of it before she gets home. She brought it there without asking you.
 
X

Xception

Heisman
Apr 17, 2007
26,407
22,344
0
If you give it back you’ll always think you made the right choice. If you keep it you’ll most likely think you made the right choice. In the long run you’ll become very attached to the dog and you’re right that she is probably going to consider it a must before Sunday. If you really don’t want it just tell her you don’t want the responsibility, she may give signals that you’re a lazy mf.

That’s ok though, just tell her that if she wants to look after it you won’t complain about it anymore. In the end you’ll probably consider that dog to be your buddy and cry like a ***** when it passes.
 
  • Like
Reactions: mdlUK.1 and Lexie's Dad
C

cat_in_the_hat

All-Conference
Jan 28, 2004
5,909
4,457
0
The whole point of owning a pet is for it to impact your life. I don't understand owning a pet you never interact with. What is the point? Dogs are very pack (family) oriented creatures. They require attention and training to be good family members. That is a positive though. You get pets for the love and interaction they bring your life. If you think the cat situation, where you don't have to interact with them, is the norm for pet ownership, then you have the wrong idea. You get a pet because you want the love and interaction they bring.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Bigblue2023, awf, ULISwuzPointGod and 1 other person
M

mustnotsleepnow

All-Conference
May 18, 2011
1,921
1,322
0
Dogs are the best. They're constant entertainment. They're easy to deal with once their trained.

Keep it.

Are you not an animal person? Other than the cats, of course.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Chase4UK
I

IndyCat1995

All-American
Nov 21, 2016
2,642
7,672
0
Xception said:
If you give it back you’ll always think you made the right choice. If you keep it you’ll most likely think you made the right choice. In the long run you’ll become very attached to the dog and you’re right that she is probably going to consider it a must before Sunday. If you really don’t want it just tell her you don’t want the responsibility, she may give signals that you’re a lazy mf.

That’s ok though, just tell her that if she wants to look after it you won’t complain about it anymore. In the end you’ll probably consider that dog to be your buddy and cry like a ***** when it passes.
Click to expand...
The thing is that I definitely want a dog. Just unsure of the current timing.
 
I

IndyCat1995

All-American
Nov 21, 2016
2,642
7,672
0
mustnotsleepnow said:
Dogs are the best. They're constant entertainment. They're easy to deal with once their trained.

Keep it.

Are you not an animal person? Other than the cats, of course.
Click to expand...
I think it's lack of experience. Never once been a pet owner until the cats.
 
R

_Rooster

Heisman
Jan 29, 2003
9,607
79,236
0
The puppy will mature over a two year period and gain control over it's dirty deeds. Having had animals all of my life some 70 years. My opinion is that an apartment is not a suitable domicile for a larger K-9 (German Shepherd mix) but like elbows I have 2. The second is if you're going to move to a house soon with a yard it will be worth the effort. Your K-9 needs daily exercise (playtime) for an hour or so every day, start 6' leash training for disciplined public excursions and introduce it to fetching balls ASAP, preferably morning and evening.
 
  • Like
Reactions: warrior-cat, awf, UKGrad93 and 1 other person
M

mashburned

Heisman
Mar 10, 2009
40,283
49,516
0
IndyCat1995 said:
. We have been together for two years in total and living together for about 8 months.
Click to expand...

Sinner.

Here's some real advice you already know:

Horrible, awful idea. Think of the poor dog. That guy needs mucho exercise and room to run.

If you want a dog for your apartment, get a much smaller and older dog. Not a puppy. Certainly not a GSP/Husky.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Shydog, birdforbogey, berniecarbo and 10 others
M

Mossip

All-Conference
Jul 20, 2007
5,704
4,833
60
I've owned a few of various breeds. For me, potty training is really a month or so long commitment to taking the puppy out every 20-30 minutes while you're home and crating while you're not present. Go ahead a purchase a large crate that it can grow into and then close part of it off for now (otherwise the small puppy may just do its business on one end and lay on the other). After the puppy starts associating the outdoors as the only suitable place to use the bathroom, you can start to expand the space where you leave it alone and the amount of time you leave it.

Once you get potty training out of the way, it's really just a matter of learning the dogs temperament / quirks, and you can assess how it needs to be trained from there. If you are patient and consistent the sky is the limit for a shepard/husky mix imo.

Make sure you are committed to long walks or spending plenty of time at the dog park. Dogs aren't meant to be cooped up in an apartment all day. I've currently got a 25 lb Corgi and make sure he gets out an hour a day. I can't imagine life without a dog but they aren't for everybody.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Shydog, warrior-cat, awf and 2 others
W

wildcatdonf

Hall of Famer
Sep 26, 2003
78,022
128,835
0
Son, remember that a 9 week old puppy is a baby. You have to be patient with it. This puppy will love you back. Good luck. There is plenty of information about raising puppies on the Internet.
 
  • Like
Reactions: awf and TurnipDaBeet
T

TurnipDaBeet

All-Conference
Oct 17, 2019
5,500
4,392
0
Exactly... GF was in the wrong springing the dog on the OP

OP needs to HINT that their relationship isnt on the right path SO he doesnt look like a puppy relationship killer

No way OP can get out of this situation if he puts the emphasis on THE DOG
 
  • Like
Reactions: awf and mashburned
T

TurnipDaBeet

All-Conference
Oct 17, 2019
5,500
4,392
0
2 cats 1? dog lol

Bad signs OP

The DOG is or will be the relationship killer

GET OUT while u can

UNSCATHED
 
B

BlueBallz_rivals30790

All-Conference
Mar 26, 2003
5,688
1,812
0
Puppies are an incredible amount of work, especially starting at 9 weeks. German Shepard Husky, oh man, it will need ALOT of attention. They are working dogs and need activity. Go ahead and budget at least $2k for the stuff it will destroy that you need. Your neighbors will hate you and probably call management because living in an apartment it will bark non stop every time you leave the apt. Then you will be resigned to staying at home all the time. Did I mention budget at least $2k for all the stuff you need it will destroy? You will live in a honeymoon period with just a few days, long term, a puppy will torture you.

If I were you, get a good rescue thats 3-4 years old and has all the puppy out of it. They are alot more mellow and you can find ones that are trained well. My best dog was a 6 yr old Doberman I rescued and got 7 more years out of. Right now we have a Doberman/Beagle mix that we rescued at 3 yrs, he's awesome, and have a 1 yr old Doberman/Husky/Pit mix we rescued at 6 months. She's still tearing up stuff, but fortunately we are in a house and can put her in a crate.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Shydog and awf
M

-Mav-

Heisman
Jun 19, 2017
4,693
12,354
0
Hey OP, if you're gonna take the plunge and get one dog, you might as well get another one while you're at it -- poor thing is gonna need some company since neither you or your GF are planning on being around much to raise it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: awf, TurnipDaBeet and ZaytovenCat
UKwizard

UKwizard

Heisman
Dec 11, 2002
21,277
13,810
113
I also feel bad for the puppy.

My wife did this to me when we had only been married for 6 months where she calls me at work and told me to meet her at Petsmart to meet the new puppy she took for free from a coworker. There was an option to return the puppy if I really wanted too also and we also lived in an apartment. After meeting this small beagle girl at the store I was like "Ok she is precious and needs a home"

But here are some key differences from your situation:
  1. We were married. Which even with your best intentions as a dating couple is way more stable.
  2. We both grew up with dogs. She had owned a dog post college on her own also.
  3. We already had a dachshund that we mutually decided to adopt from the ASPCA 3 years prior. While he seemed perfectly content with being the only dog in hindsight it was good for him to have a friend. He passed away last year at 17 years old. Point is we knew what we were doing.
  4. We had small dogs in an apartment. We didn't actually get a bigger dog a bully/plot hound mix until after we had a house with a fenced yard. And even then her 52 pounds probably pales in comparison to what a German Sheppard/ Husky will grow into. Marcus welby adopt Clifford.
So I wish you luck and hope it all works out but yeah I feel sorry for the dog and the strain it likely will put on your relationship.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Shydog, awf and ukalum1988
B

bigsmoothie

All-American
Sep 7, 2004
11,161
8,850
0
We don’t have pets. But if you don’t live somewhere that the dog can have a place to roam some then wait. But it’s already a fine deal if she has brought it home.
 
  • Like
Reactions: UKGrad93
M

-Mav-

Heisman
Jun 19, 2017
4,693
12,354
0
rudd1 said:
-unlesss you can run it 2-3 miles a day minimum...a dog that size shouldnt live in an apartment.
Click to expand...
Mossip said:
^^ Or a bicycle leash is good for dogs that size to put in the miles
Click to expand...
Or just get one of these...

 
  • Like
Reactions: awf, TurnipDaBeet, mashburned and 2 others
L

LordEgg_rivals16573

All-Conference
Jun 4, 2003
66,315
2,807
0
Cats are snakes with fur. We have one. I still think it. We have a German Shepherd too. I love her. Then again, I’m a real red blooded Man and the cat actually belongs to my daughter. I also eat bacon. And drink beer. I have both thrown and received punches. I like sex with women. I live back in the woods, you see...the woman and the kids and the dog and me. Got a shotgun, a rifle and a four wheel drive, Do grow tomotoes but haven’t made homemade wine.

Anyway. Cat men wear panties.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Kooky Kats, wildcatwelder_rivals, GnarlsBarkley and 3 others
TortElvisII

TortElvisII

Heisman
May 7, 2010
51,578
96,712
66
Mossip said:
I've owned a few of various breeds. For me, potty training is really a month or so long commitment to taking the puppy out every 20-30 minutes while you're home and crating while you're not present. Go ahead a purchase a large crate that it can grow into and then close part of it off for now (otherwise the small puppy may just do its business on one end and lay on the other). After the puppy starts associating the outdoors as the only suitable place to use the bathroom, you can start to expand the space where you leave it alone and the amount of time you leave it.

Once you get potty training out of the way, it's really just a matter of learning the dogs temperament / quirks, and you can assess how it needs to be trained from there. If you are patient and consistent the sky is the limit for a shepard/husky mix imo.

Make sure you are committed to long walks or spending plenty of time at the dog park. Dogs aren't meant to be cooped up in an apartment all day. I've currently got a 25 lb Corgi and make sure he gets out an hour a day. I can't imagine life without a dog but they aren't for everybody.
Click to expand...

Chow chows require 0 potty training.
 
  • Like
Reactions: wildcatdonf
bluthruandthru

bluthruandthru

All-Conference
Feb 24, 2009
3,830
3,943
113
Canine parvovirus (commonly called parvo) is a highly contagious viral disease that can produce a life-threatening illness in puppies and dogs. It can be transmitted by any person, animal or object that comes in contact with an infected dog’s feces.

2. Limit your puppy or unvaccinated dog’s exposure to other dogs.
Wait until your dog has had his first two vaccinations, unless you are sure the other dogs are fully vaccinated.

3. Avoid places where your puppy or unvaccinated dog could be exposed to parvovirus from unvaccinated dogs.
Dog parks, pet stores, play groups, and other public areas should be avoided until your dog or puppy is fully vaccinated.

Off to a good start...
 
  • Like
Reactions: BlueBallz_rivals30790
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom