i want a dog ...

oregonrene · Dec 3, 2004

What is your school schedule like? And do you also work?

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · Dec 3, 2004

Doggy daycare (how expensive is THAT going to be, btw?) doesn't provide the adequate training for the home.

Is anyone else living with you that might be able to help with the dog?

Dogs sometimes retaliate for not getting a ton of attention, or because they are bored. Ask yourself if you're ready to come home, wondering if your trash will be strung out all over the floor.

I really would not recommend a dog until after graduation.

Fiona59 · Dec 3, 2004

Six years old and only partially house broken? Sounds like puddles in your future?

You can crate a dog while ur out but be prepared to spend a lot of time using all that energy..

checkers · Dec 3, 2004

I've heard wonderful things about the doggy daycare. Someone I work with has had hers in it since it was a puppy. She says the dog is well-socialized and completely exhausted when it gets home from so much attention and play. I can't remember how expensive it is though.

rngreenhorn · Dec 3, 2004

I live by myself in an apartment with a poodle. He is potty trained and never goes potty in the house. But he can only hold it for so long. I work 8 hour shifts and sometimes have to turn down OT because I have to come home and take him out. Will you have help in the "potty" department. Or will he be an outside dog? If you are taking him to day care every day, that can get pretty "spendy" and you still have to take him and pick him up. Also you will have to worry about their schedule.

Also, I set my alarm clock for 0530 and he sometimes sets his for 0200. He'll wake me up and lick my face until I take him out. I can't go to bed too early because I know he will be waking me up early.

And I have to think about what I will do with him if I want to go somewhere. Of course he usually goes with me. He's a spoiled brat.

He gets bored in the apartment all day, so I have to take him to the dog park p work, so he can get some exercise. Sometimes I just want to come home an take a nap.

But, I wouldn't trade him for the world... He is a great companion, sometimes he likes to chew stuff though.

So, I'd say if you're willing to make some sacrifices... go for it. But, if you like your freedom or are unable to make some changes, you might want to rethink. And if the doggy is 6, he still has 5-10 yrs of life left... what are your plans for the next 5-10 years?

Good luck...

PS my doggy's favorite freind at the dog park is a duschound. They're really neat dogs.

dazzle256 · Dec 3, 2004

Doggy daycare (how expensive is THAT going to be, btw?) doesn't provide the adequate training for the home.
Is anyone else living with you that might be able to help with the dog?
Dogs sometimes retaliate for not getting a ton of attention, or because they are bored. Ask yourself if you're ready to come home, wondering if your trash will be strung out all over the floor.
I really would not recommend a dog until after graduation.

I've heard of people paying up to 30 dollars a day for an 8 hour shift for their doggy day care. I was very lucky......a friend of mine owned a kennel and let me drop my dog off at 6:30 am and pick him up at 8 or 9 and if I had to work later then that the next morning (10 dollars a day) . I know a kennel isn't a day care but at least he wasn't sitting home alone in a crate. So 3 days a week he was a kennel dog. I think he liked the exposure to other dogs even though they were in a kennel next to him. I'd drop him off in the morning and he wouldn't even say good-bye....actually I think he had a couple of girlfriends there.

Anyway, I think I was extremely lucky to have that and don't think while in nursing school would be a good time to get a dog.

So my vote is no... wait a little while :)

dazzle256 · Dec 3, 2004

I live by myself in an apartment with a poodle. He is potty trained and never goes potty in the house. But he can only hold it for so long. I work 8 hour shifts and sometimes have to turn down OT because I have to come home and take him out. Will you have help in the "potty" department. Or will he be an outside dog? If you are taking him to day care every day, that can get pretty "spendy" and you still have to take him and pick him up. Also you will have to worry about their schedule.
Also, I set my alarm clock for 0530 and he sometimes sets his for 0200. He'll wake me up and lick my face until I take him out. I can't go to bed too early because I know he will be waking me up early.
And I have to think about what I will do with him if I want to go somewhere. Of course he usually goes with me. He's a spoiled brat.
He gets bored in the apartment all day, so I have to take him to the dog park p work, so he can get some exercise. Sometimes I just want to come home an take a nap.
But, I wouldn't trade him for the world... He is a great companion, sometimes he likes to chew stuff though.
So, I'd say if you're willing to make some sacrifices... go for it. But, if you like your freedom or are unable to make some changes, you might want to rethink. And if the doggy is 6, he still has 5-10 yrs of life left... what are you're plans for the next 5-10 years?
Good luck...
PS my doggy's favorite freind at the dog park is a duschound. They're really neat dogs.

Just a thought... maybe you could get him a kitty as a companion. They are pretty easy to take care of.

rngreenhorn · Dec 3, 2004

Just a thought... maybe you could get him a kitty as a companion. They are pretty easy to take care of.

I actually have been thinking about that... I hate litter boxes though. I think a kitty would be good entertainment for him, he'll play with anything. Not so sure the cat would like it.

fergus51 · Dec 3, 2004

Sounds like a bad idea to me. I am also a dog owner and it's a huge commitment. Have you tried fostering? Often you can foster a dog until a permanent home can be found. It allows you to really see if dog ownership is a realistic option before making that commitment. Too many people get dogs because they want one and it's the dog that suffers for it in the end.

GAgirl · Dec 3, 2004

There is no better stress reliever than a dog. I have 2. Before I got my first one, I thought long and hard since I do work 12's sometimes. I crate-trained both of mine and they did wonderfully with it. They have each other during the day to stay entertained. My basset is no problem when it comes to being in the crate for a long day. My lab puppy always needs a good long walk in the evenings. It is a huge commitment, but I wouldn't change a thing. If I get stuck at work for a double shift, I have my sister come by and let them out. She loves to give them a little tlc while she's here too. I think it all comes down to what the dog is used to....how he/she was trained.

flashyrn2be · Dec 3, 2004

Hold off until graduation - I could go into detail but really, do you need to take on any more than you are already taking on?