Honestly, I think that the stuffed kind is the best kind of dog for you. I am sorry, but all dogs take work and no dog wants to hang out by himself all day long.

 

have to agree!

 

I don't understand why you want a dog at all? It sounds like you're hardly ever home and aren't really looking to put any effort into taking care of a dog. Dogs are one animal where you pretty much get back what you put in. I would recommend a cat, honestly. Most of them couldn't care less whether you're home or not as long as the food doesn't stop showing up.

 

I agree. My girlfriend is the one actually pressuring me to get a dog..She promises me that she'll take care of it, and I just take care, when she's extremely busy. She lives by herself in an even smaller 1 bed room though, so she thinks the dog will prefer to stay in my apartment. I'm just thinking of the worst case scenario, when both she and I are busy, the dog may end up being by itself for a while..

Regardless, I just want to at least try finding the breed requiring least amount of care, and even that dog breed needs more time than I can spare, then alas, no more dog.

She hates cats, so that's out of the picture. It has to be a dog..

 

Yeah, well, um...maybe you shouldn't be considering a dog at all. Some dogs are lower maintenance when it comes to grooming or exercise needs than others but ALL dogs require exercise, company (they are social animals), training and attention. Lots of dog owners work, but many of them get a dogwalker to come in and also ensure that the dog gets a good hour of exercise and training a day (morning and evening). Dogs don't come out of the box house trained nor manners/obedience trained and it takes hours, days, months, years to get a really well behaved dog.

I also think you should get a cat.

 

Then I would suggest that your girlfriend finds a shelter that she can volunteer at and become a dog walker. She can also volunteer to take care of the dogs/clean cages. She doesn't want the dog to live in her apt so I think that this would be the best option for everyone involved.

 

Too bad. Cats are awesome (different from dogs but still awesome).

Dogs don't need big apartments btw. They need to go outside a lot of exercise and fresh air and then come in and sleep in their crate. I live with a cat and a 70 lb dog in a bachelor/one room apt.

I think your girlfriend should seriously look at what care is involved. Two or three times a day the dog will need to be walked (not just out for a pee). If she gets a puppy it will need to be taken out hourly and there will be sleepless nights for the first while. She will need puppy classes or a good positive trainer to help prevent issues and get a well behaved doggy. All of this is time intensive. Then there's the money. Puppy vaccines, possible illnesses, spay and neuter, HW medication, good quality food etc can run in the thousands of dollars the first year.

If you are looking at low maintenance breeds, short haired/smooth does not require regular professional grooming but still shed and require brushing etc. Many of the small breeds have pretty high exercise requirements. Larger breeds cost more to feed and medicate but CAN be lower energy depending on their breed characteristics. There are so many more variables than easy care and smart....ALL dogs have to have a trade off somewhere. All dogs can learn (with proper training), but some terriers, bully type breeds, etc can be more independent and therefore not necessarily as tractable as others.

I would suggest your girlfriend do some research to start on what she WOULD like in a dog, size, temperament, looks, energy etc and pick a couple of breeds she may be interested in. Then come back and see what the DFers have to say regarding suitability. Be aware as well, that even within a breed there will be variances in personality etc.

 

Hi...there are so many dogs in shelters looking for love and a good home -- but will you be home everyday for at least part of the day so the dog will get into a routine? ...and what about weekends or your days off --- will the dog still be alone or will you quality time for your dog then?

Lots of people look at that a dog needs to be with their people all the time -- but I think the quality of time with the dog and the security that the dog will feel when you are around and a schedule is enough for some dogs -- especially older dogs who have no homes at shelters -- I really don't like when people say don't get a dog if you work all day -- most people work and that would mean that most dogs would have no homes --

If I was you - and really want a dog -- I would look on Petfinder.com for a mellow/couch potato dog (there are many) -- by looking through Petfinder you can read about them without running all over the place -- if you find one that sounds mellow -- then you can check them out.

PS -- I don't mean that a dog doesn't need love and companionship - I just mean that just because you are not at home - it's not a reason not to get a dog --

 

Hi...there are so many dogs in shelters looking for love and a good home -- but will you be home everyday for at least part of the day so the dog will get into a routine? ...and what about weekends or your days off --- will the dog still be alone or will you quality time for your dog then?

Lots of people look at that a dog needs to be with their people all the time -- but I think the quality of time with the dog and the security that the dog will feel when you are around and a schedule is enough for some dogs -- especially older dogs who have no homes at shelters -- I really don't like when people say don't get a dog if you work all day -- most people work and that would mean that most dogs would have no homes --

I agree with Donna5503. If people who worked couldn't have dogs, the homeless dog problem would be more out of hand than it already is. I certainly wouldn't have one. But like everyone said, dogs are big responsibilities. I used to have a different life but now it's pretty much Flash. I feel guilty that she does have to spend so much time in her crate while I work, so I devote my entire evenings and weekends to feeding, grooming, training, exercising and socializing. A couple days a week are a little easier now that she is going to a doggy daycare and is EXHAUSTED when we get home but it seems those nights end up being housework nights. I'm sure it will get easier once she is trained and gets older but that's a long way off yet. Having a dog especially a puppy is just like having a baby.

Even though your girlfriend has raised dogs, I would still agree with others that an older rescue/shelter dog might really be the way to go. Then you could find one that is already housebroken and into the relax and hang-out age.

One question (as I am great at devil's advocate)...what happens with the dog if you and your girlfriend break up? I really wish you both the best but it happens. Any thoughts about that?

 

Thanks all. By the way, my girlfriend has raised dogs before, and she knows what it takes. If this were to work out, the dog would need to stay in her apartment 70 to 80% of the time. But again, I'm just thinking about the worst case scenario. I still have a lot of research to do, such as extra cost to take care of a dog which I know can run in thousands. But as of now, I just want to at least find a breed I want to get, and then I'll go ahead and do further reserach to see what I need to do to own and maintain that dog in healthy form. I hope I'm going on the right path for right dog ownership, but let me know if I'm not. Your feedbacks are appreciated!

Anyway, so I guess terriers and bully types can be indepedent? I'll have to check out petfinder.com. Please keep comments coming especially on types of breeds that are more indendent than others!

Thanks!

 

Anyway, so I guess terriers and bully types can be indepedent? I'll have to check out petfinder.com. Please keep comments coming especially on types of breeds that are more indendent than others!

Thanks!

terriers are very high energy.

If anything I would look at a retired greyhound.

or a dog 6+ years old.

 

I'm not concerned as much about the lack of free time as I am about the overall sentiment that neither wants to really put any work into a dog. All breeds need something from their owners on a regular basis, and I'm not just talking food/water.

Dogs are a full time, 10+ year commitment. I'm not judging the living situation at all, but if my non-live-in boyfriend was asking me to get a dog on their behalf because they wanted one...it would not even be a debate or a discussion. That's like asking me to take on the responsibility of a child because he thinks babies are cute and he'd like to come play with it once in a while. Dogs aren't toys and they aren't "sometimes" pets. They're a daily responsibility that can, on occasion, be very inconvenient (and expensive!).

 

Haha. I hear you. To be honest, you're preaching to the choir here. I have seen dogs being raised by close friends, and family, and definitely know it takes a lot of commitment. And I do love dogs, and the only reason I haven't bought it yet, is because I know how hard it is.

This is why, I want a dog who requires least amount of care, because I know I may not be able to be there for him 24-7. I think it's knowing my limits?

Anyway, I don't think my girlfriend doesn't want to have the dog in her house simply due to inconvenience. She has even stated that she would 100% take care of it, potty train it, do everything it takes to take care of it. I think she really is concerned about her small living space, and also the fact that I live in much larger pet friendly condo, with river outside to walk around, is leaning her towards keeping the dog here. Now, do I trust everything she says, considering that she does not live in my house? Not 100%. But, before I actually buy the dog, I will make sure we talk about these in detail. Obviously, you don't know me, so I can see why you doubt these things, but trust me, when I buy something I research it to death before I sign on.

So anyone know what type of breed is more independent than others??

 

I would actually suggest looking for a senior toy-breed dog or an elderly retired racing greyhound.

OR, actually? What about fostering senior animals for a rescue group? There's always a need for that- seniors are hard to place, so they tend to spend longer in foster care, too.

 

Maybe you should wait awhile to get a dog until you have some more time. In the mean time you could do some in home dog sitting, borrow a friend's dog for a weekend. Even a low energy low maintenance dog needs a lot of care. But if you want a dog NOW do not get a puppy. I have a puppy right now and they require a lot of work.

 

It doesn't sound as if this is an ideal situation to get a dog. Will the dog be all that happy if you and your partner aren't devoted to having one, and loving it? Its a commitment, one that requires a lot of love, attention and care. It doesn't sound as if either one of you are 100% committed to having one, nor have done the research on owning a dog either.

 

I think it's a terrible mistake to think that the bully breeds are independent. Many have seperation anxiety and they are really high energy. They can do a ton of damage to property if they aren't getting enough of what they need. Please learn a lot more about bully breeds before getting one. I think they would be one of the worst breeds for lots of time alone. I have three of them.

 

Maybe you should wait until you and your girlfriend are living together, at least. If she wants the dog, but wants it to live at your apartment, it sounds like a set-up for disaster. Wait until your girl and yourself have a full commitment, and then make a commitment to another living thing.

 

 

I think a Retired Greyhound is the best choice for you. altho they are not easily trained I havea feeling you guys arn't going to do more than basic Come, sit, lay down. They don't shed much at all, they are very quiet dogs and they love to laze around the house and sleep for the majority of the day but they also love to cuddle with their humans.

Any Terrier is going to need LOTS of excersize, more than a 5 miles walk per day to prevent it from becoming aggressive and a barking nut from bordom, most Bullies are Terriers.

Toy Breeds like the Maltese and Shih Tzu are quite independent and difficult to train, they require less excersize than most breeds.

You will not find ANY breed that is both Independent AND easy to train. THe easiest to train breeds are the ones that wan't to be with you all the time.

 

Thanks! That's some real good info you put there. So I guess Indepdence and training difficulty are at opposite ends here.

In terms of trianing, the reason I put that in there, is because I just want it to be potty trained easily, that's all. Not trying to raise a show dog here. So I guess to me, independence is more important than any.

Anyway, I will definiltey have to look into greyhounds, and maybe even Maltese/Shih Tzu.

 

Maybe adopting an older Papillon? They're great apartment dogs, semi-independent, and the 7th smartest dog breed. They need plenty of excercise, but tbh, I have two that are happy with 1 - 1 hour walk, and 1 - 20 min jog. They'd love to have more, but they don't show that they'd need it. They're smart as heck, and weren't hard for me to potty-train..but an older Pap will probably come potty-trained already. Their maintenance is alot easier than Maltese or Shih-tzu's as well. They don't require all of the grooming, brushing and clipping. I just pop mine in the bath tub, shampoo and rinse, and air dry.. all done. =]

 

Paps are pretty TOUGH to potty train, though, just like most toy breeds. My pup still has accidents sometimes and he KNOWS he isn't supposed to pee/poop indoors (he just pooped all over his bedding and sheets yesterday, sigh).

I would think retired greyhound for you definitely. They are usually already crate trained, and do fine in them. During their racing careers, they are crated maybe 20 hours a day, so they're already used to it. They should be easier to potty train than small dogs like shih tzus.

 

If I missed something in this thread, forgive me, but if your girlfriend wants a dog, why are you looking to get one; why are you asking the questions and getting yourself into this commitment?

If she wants a dog, let her get one herself and be the one responsible. She can do the research, pay the bills, devote the time, etc. And if she can't/won't, well that takes care of that decision for the time being. You're not married, engaged, or even living together. You don't even want a dog yet, you're just doing it for her. Wrong reason, wrong timing, wrong circumstances right now IMO.

 

She wants a dog, so he is willing to accomodate her because he wants a p***y... errrr cat. Uh, yeah...that's it!

 

Maybe, just maybe?

 

She wants a dog, so he is willing to accomodate her because he wants a p***y... errrr cat. Uh, yeah...that's it!

LOL, that is too funny (and true)

honestly, forget about getting a dog to make your girlfriend happy. Start researching Tom Leykis, He's not on the air anymore, but im sure hes got some podcasts somewhere, he can teach you a lot.

 

Honestly I think what you need is a cat. They do well by themselves and can be a companion when you get home from work.

 

Do not get a puppy of any kind, you can not leave a puppy alone for more than an hour, you will have to get up in the night with it.

If you want a dog get a retired racing greyhound or an older shelter dog.

even though greyhounds are big they are very very easy care, perfect for you

 

Well I would suggest that based on what one of my neighbors (who has 3 rescued greyhounds) told us about them. They are extremely easy to care for. But some of them come with health problems, a lot with joint problems. Which could be a con.

 

I see a lot of people here recommending cats; I gotta say, as someone who has a cat, they can be just as demanding and needy as a dog. As I walk out my door to go shop, I can hear my cat meowing for me. When I sit down, she's in my lap. She sleeps with me.

She also costs me an arm and a leg in vet bills because of health issues.

Sorry, the (mis)conception that all cats are independent just bugs the hell out of me. I've met a lot of cats that live for human companionship and attention, and many people have more than one cat because of just how social they can be.

My second cat (RIP) was also destructive if not played with and exercised, at least until he got to be about 3 years old.

Elka (my husky mix) is more independent than my cat is.

I would recommend utilizing that energy to love animals in a shelter, as others have recommended. Or yes, possibly a senior dog (or even a senior bonded pair that can keep each other company?) would probably work out.

 

I see a lot of people here recommending cats; I gotta say, as someone who has a cat, they can be just as demanding and needy as a dog. As I walk out my door to go shop, I can hear my cat meowing for me. When I sit down, she's in my lap. She sleeps with me.

Oh, perish the thought... she meows for you and sits in your lap!


I could only wish that my dog was anywhere NEAR that low maintenance.

 

I was going to say a Lab, they don't require much grooming and are easy to motivate to train. But they wouldn't do good in an apt without much exercise. Maybe a small breed who doesn't need to be exercised much, like a lap-type dog? Or maybe a cat?

 

Oh, perish the thought... she meows for you and sits in your lap!


I could only wish that my dog was anywhere NEAR that low maintenance.

You may scoff, but recommending that cats aren't social and can be happy being alone all day every day is simply not a true statement to make.

Some can be, and some dogs can be, but that as generalized advice is simply poor advice.

No offense meant, but if a bunch of people are going to recommend cats, I think it's important that includes that a cat may be miserable in that situation too.

 

Most cats would be fine in that situation. While the social time might be a little low for a cat, they do not need to be exercised daily like a dog. They do not require obedience training, they do not need to be taken out to the washroom in frigid or wet weather. Overall, they are less time consuming than a dog, and with the OP and their GF having such limited time to spend with the animal, it would make sense to get an animal that is least time consuming.

 

Agreed on the cats. My last two cats were independent and somewhat aloof; my current three are more doglike in personality (they follow family members around, run to the door to greet guests, and cry if they can't find anyone to cuddle with. I even taught them to sit for treats). I think a cat would be a better fit in the OP's situation, though, especially a shelter cat whose basic personality is known. I also think that most people who "hate" cats just don't know much about them, or haven't met a wide enough variety to see that they have distinct personalities, just like dogs. I think the girlfriend would end up liking cats if she or the OP had one (unless she's allergic or suffered some freak cat mauling as a young child that left her physically and emotionally scarred for life or something, although I would imagine the latter scenario is unlikely ).

Seriously, though, I liked the suggestion that she volunteer at the local shelter. She can walk dogs there in her free time and they don't need to live with either of you! Plus she could know she's doing a good thing in showing these dogs some kindness and helping them learn polite leash manners so they'll be ready for their new families.