snotty_pie
Shiny_Rock
- Joined
- Jan 18, 2006
- Messages
- 224
It's so exciting to get a new dog. I wasn't allowed to have pets when I was growing up, so as soon as I went to college, I started researching. It took me a year before I moved to an apartment that allowed them, but it gave me a chance to get some research in on several hypoallergenic breeds (poodles, bedlington terriers, etc). I decided Eskies were by far the cutest!
AmberGretchen - given your busy schedules, you guys may be better suited to get an adult. Puppies are a *ton* of work - they need to be let out every 3-4 hours (meaning you have to come home in the middle of the work day to let it out), need to be trained, etc. Some of my friends have gotten puppies before and said that it's like having a toddler on your hands without any of the flexibility/sympathy from the employer that comes with having children. When I got my adult dog, I was worried that he wouldn't "bond" with me like a puppy would, but that hasn't been the case at all! But puppies are totally cute though, so I understand wanting one too.
About leaving them for long periods. . . I don't leave my dog alone for more than 8-9 hours during the work day. I try to go home during lunch to let him out just so he can run around and stretch his legs, but it doesn't get to happen often enough. He has his own room (2nd bathroom) though, so he's not totally crated. I make sure to spend time with him when I can - taking him to the dog park on weekends, etc. If I have to leave him alone too much, he gets a little depressed and won't eat his food.
Thanks everyone again for the kind words. I am definitely in for a lifetime of luxury - the luxury being the company of my awesome, funny FI (I am so cheesy!)
AmberGretchen - given your busy schedules, you guys may be better suited to get an adult. Puppies are a *ton* of work - they need to be let out every 3-4 hours (meaning you have to come home in the middle of the work day to let it out), need to be trained, etc. Some of my friends have gotten puppies before and said that it's like having a toddler on your hands without any of the flexibility/sympathy from the employer that comes with having children. When I got my adult dog, I was worried that he wouldn't "bond" with me like a puppy would, but that hasn't been the case at all! But puppies are totally cute though, so I understand wanting one too.
About leaving them for long periods. . . I don't leave my dog alone for more than 8-9 hours during the work day. I try to go home during lunch to let him out just so he can run around and stretch his legs, but it doesn't get to happen often enough. He has his own room (2nd bathroom) though, so he's not totally crated. I make sure to spend time with him when I can - taking him to the dog park on weekends, etc. If I have to leave him alone too much, he gets a little depressed and won't eat his food.
Thanks everyone again for the kind words. I am definitely in for a lifetime of luxury - the luxury being the company of my awesome, funny FI (I am so cheesy!)
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