There are lots of shelters (non-governmental) where you can have a sleep over to see if there is a good fit. The people at the right shelters are a great resource and they want a good fit as much as possible. Ask for input.
In the beginning your new dog may be very very good. That might relax a little as he gets used to his environs.
I adopted a young adult dog that seemed to have problems with other dogs. I started getting really tense and crossing the street when I saw one coming our way and it just got worse and worse. THEN somehow I figured out the dog was reacting to my reacting to the other dog…protecting me…SO I figured out that if I said hello/good morning to the owner in a really nice voice he didn’t react…he knew I saw them and was comfortable. It’s made a world of difference.
A friend who had never owned a pet of any kind adopted two adult chihuahuas two years ago when she was going through a painful divorce. They have been wonderful pets and are very loving. She is able to visit them over her lunch break to let them out, but small dogs can also be trained to use indoor “potty areas” such as absorbent pads and litter boxes. Small dogs are much easier to travel with since most hotels, airlines etc. have weight restrictions on dogs. Be forewarned that the cost of veterinary care can approach the cost of medical care since many of the same treatments developed for humans are also available for dogs. You need to be mentally prepared to say goodbye to your pet if a catastrophic illness arises and the expense of treatment would cause you financial hardship. Some vets will level with you about the prognosis for treatment but others will continue to offer expensive interventions even when the dog is close to its natural life expectancy.
Thank you so much for the replies everyone! Another thing I forgot to mention was that my long distance boyfriend will most likely be moving in with me in June. He used to be very afraid of dogs as he never had dogs growing up, but the dog we had that just passed taught him to love dogs and he says now he can’t stop noticing cute dogs on the street. @Consolation the dog we just put down was a pittie and my family fell in love with the breed. They are such sweeties! I also agree about keeping an open mind.As a child I wanted a golden retriever. When i was 12 we got a dog who was supposed to be a golden mix… safe to say I never got my golden and probably would not get one now knowing the energy level of the breed, but I have a soft spot for them. I am from NYC originally, so I totally get the whole dog in a city/ apartment thing having lived that until a few years ago.
In terms of breed I am thinking of a chihuahua or chihuahua mix ( I never thought I would say that :P) but there it is, however i would be open to any breed or mix under 15 pounds. I do worry about the housebreaking/tiny bladder issue with very small dogs however. I will have about a 25-30 min. commute each way to my job so will have to do either a dog walker or doggie daycare situation.
Along with some other posters, I also think it is very possible for a dog to choose you and that you will know when you have been picked so to speak. I was at an open house for a rescue organization here in NC recently, and a girl about my age came to look at a 1 year old female chihuahua. The dog that ended up picking her was a 12 week old male chihuahua who just curled on her lap and fell fast asleep. She kept saying “this was not who I came for, but he picked me so”. I will for sure keep everyone updated as I look around and when I find a dog friend. Keep the advice coming!
I really have to confess that to me a chihuahua is not actually a dog. I am a big dog person 99% of the time. Pepper is an exception. Also, I had a foster pug who was just such a character. But he was the fittest pug in existence. Most pugs are so fat that they can hardly get out of their own way. They have a hard enough time breathing as it is…
Cavaliers are lovely little dogs, but finding one in a shelter is highly unlikely. Maybe breed rescue…
Are you familiar with Petfinder?
Oh, I just noticed that you are in NC. At least 50% of the dogs adopted here in New England seem to come from the south, where people apparently don’t spay neuter and kill shelters are common. You should have NO problem finding a lovely dog down there!
I wanted any kind of dog except a jack Russell. Guess what kind of rescue dog adopted me? At least he is not full blood jack Russell. Our little jack/terrier mutt has had very few health issues. And even as he has mellowed with age, he still has enough energy at age 11 to play everyday. (He does sleep and rest a lot during the day.)
I encourage you to look for a dog that likes other people/other dogs. Avoid dogs that only bond with one person.
Last spring, we adopted a 17 lb, 4 y.o. dachshund terrier mix from a rescue org that has foster for all their dogs. (They had brought her up from some southern state.) We got to meet the foster mom, as well as the pup, knew she was housebroken, loved to sleep in bed, chase squirrels, how she responded to her alpha human, if handled properly. And more.
She’s loving, devoted, smart. She gets underfoot, needs to be taken out, some days she has to wait patiently for us to get home. What a doll.
You have to be ready and willing to commit. It’s not that hard.
Pet insurance is an interesting subject. I’ve never had it. Apparently some are more highly regarded than others. Perhaps people could weigh in on their experiences.
(Sorry about the cat picture) My one suggestion would be to find a place or a person to help you learn basic obedience and make sure it someone who keeps the lessons positive and fun. And I agree with someone above- A tired dog is a happy dog and is a good dog!
Despite a lot of out advice, I wouldn’t get too fraught about it, as long as you are a person who loves dogs and has a genuine interest in spending time with them and sufficient financial resources to spend $500-$1000k per year on one.
I’ve read all kinds of complicated advice on adopting a cat, and my one and only cat was a stray who showed up at out door. I never did any of the stuff about introducing her one room at a time and so forth, and she was great.
Just take your time – don’t feel that you have to take a dog from the shelter if “the one” doesn’t seem to be there. I’ve had very good luck with my last 3 dogs – all shelter dogs – but dogs #1 and #3 required multiple visits to multiple shelters. Dog #2 was different – I was feeling despondent after the passing of dog #1 and just stopped by the pound on my way to a meeting at work just to browse… and ended up showing up to my meeting with a very sweet, friendly, cuddly older puppy. (also in violation of my no-puppies rule.).
Do stick to your guns on maximum size if you have health issues – I used to be a big dog person – my 80’s dog was a purebred Rottie – but dog #1 mentioned above was a 65 lb. aussie mix and as she faded with age I was always terrified that her legs would give out and I wouldn’t be able to lift her. So my rule became: a dog I know I will be able to easily lift 10 years from now. My current dogs are both under 20 lb --the smaller one is well under 10 lb.
Aussie’s are good dogs but they shed like crazy. As much as I loved my aussie-mix, it definitely put me off of long haired dogs.
My experience with small dogs (admittedly only 2) is that they are needier and crave human attention more. My two tend to follow me from room to room, sit outside the bathroom door waiting for me, etc. The reason I have 2 now is that I felt that the first one needed companionship. I never had that experience with larger dogs, who seemed more content to curl up and sleep in a corner somewhere.
Anyway - good luck. It really is a hassle in many ways owning a dog, but I can’t imagine living without one. Dogs are little bundles of pure love.
There has been a ton of good advice here. I just want to add that my healthy cockapoo drained $1500+ from my bank account in the last seven days. Be prepared for an unexpected doggie illness, plus regular vet fees and meds such as heart worm prevention.
Zoeydoggie is 18lbs and such a happy dog. She rarely barks and does not require a lot of exercise. She would be a great apartment dog since she is only willing to be outside for potty duty. Our other dog is a 15lb Manchester terrier. She would also be a good apartment dweller since she barks very little. Keep an open mind, OP, and take your time. Your four-footed friend will find you.
Our last one, 28 lbs, was a serious barker, a real doggie doorbell. This one is alert, but not nuts. It’s one good thing about having a rescue who’s been fostered. Not only did ours know the dog, she knew what to look for in us. I don’t mean to overstate that. But this pup had a particular rescue history and we found that knowledge of her reassuring.
Our last ran up about 3k at the end, an unusual medical situation, where everyone initially thought she’d be ok.
We now have a concierge type plan that pays for most everything routine that we anticipate. Some procedures are extra, some discounted. It was important in the beginning, til we knew her needs and I may drop it and just keep ER coverage, with a deductible. That will cover a crisis and some other things.
We love and trust our vet. That’s an important part of the equation, too.
Agreed re vet costs. Just routine yearly check-ups and shots really add up (hundreds of dollars). If your dog has an emergency and you have to take them to a 24hr place, whoa that is expensive!
And when you do decide on a breed, almost every dog breed has its own rescue group - which is how I got little one. She was a breeder in a puppy mill before being rescued. Just google and you will find them.
BTW, something else to consider is grooming cost. I’ve never had a dog that had to go to a groomer, but some breeds do. Notably, I think, the ones whose wiry coats have to be hand-stripped.
Almost all other dogs just need a few baths a year and to be brushed regularly and have their nails clipped, all of which you can do yourself, especially with a small dog who you can just pop in the sink.
I find that grooming costs for the breeds I’ve had or taken care of–German Shepherds, Goldens, a pug, a German Shorthaired Pointer, a pitbull–are grossly overstated in most online guides. Thank doG for the existence of do-it-yourself dogwashes!
Of course, some people just prefer to have someone else do it.
@emilybee They are adorable! And it looks as if they would not have the breathing problems pugs do, since they have more of a snout.
@Consolation, some have more pushed in faces than others but I haven’t heard breathing problems being an issue.
What they don’t have are good teeth so you do have to brush them. I give mine doggy toothpaste on a baby’s toothbrush and she chews on it.
They don’t need grooming but mine gets a puppy cut ever couple of months because I like that look. Chins are very cat like (they love to be up high so walk along the backs of sofa’s and mine sits up there all the time.) They also groom themselves just like cats.
Going around in circles is a very Chin thing, too. Mine has a whole routine down - she doesn’t go down the steps of the deck until she’s circled three times. Coming into the house is two circles.
OK so I mostly posting so I get a chance to show off my Standard Poodle. But I would like to concur with the poster who said wait until your boyfriend arrives. You want to make sure that both of you have the same ideas on training and rules (it is like being parents – you don’t want to give conflicting information to your doggie-child.) Also you need to know what kind of doggie culture your partner wants in the house. For example my husband doesn’t like dogs in the bedrooms, so we trained ours to not go upstairs. One person might be OK with the dog on the sofa, and another may not. How will you distribute tasks like walking and grooming?
I’d make sure these things are settled before you get the dog, so it doesn’t end up as a point of contention.
I totally agree with everyone about the not confusing the dog and waiting until my boyfriend gets here, but that move is not for sure as it depends where he gets a job. He is currently in Indiana so it could be there. Then again we have been long distance for 5 1/2 years so I am used to it.
