Puppy or no puppy ?

PikaKnight

Hubby says he does not want a dog. They chew stuff, pee and poop where they shouldn't and they are annoying when they bark. We both work full time, so the dog would have to be crated during the day. I wanted to get a Shiba Inu dog. They don't get very big. We don't have a large yard, so doggie turds would need to be picked up quite often."

Just caught this. OP, you NEED to pick up the dog's poop everyday regardless of size. Not only is that just nasty NOT to do...but it can be detrimental to your dog's health as well.

Tropical_Turtle

To be honest - it truly does not sound as if you are even remotely ready to have one, and your descriptors of dogs and their behaviours is based on that of who trains them. Dogs are like kids, they do things, especially as puppies before they are trained and grow. ADOPT if you do decide to get a dog, and DO RESEARCH on different breeds, do NOT get a dog based on what you like in appearance. Look at the traits, etc of the breeds and see which would work better for your lifestyle -IF YOU WERE TO GET A DOG.

But right now - DO NOT DO IT, save the dog from your torture

BarbellApprentice

I have 3 dogs. I will always have dogs. I love them. But they are work and an expense.

If you are not 100% sure you want one and your husband is not on board then forget it.

If you do get I dog I echo Gzus7freek and beg you to consider a dog from the shelter. No need to pay hundreds or thousands to a breeder. Shelter pups are the sweetest. And if people do not adopt them...well...:sad:

rpoupard99

Wow! A lot of responses! I would agree not to get one until you both want one. I love big dogs but I would also suggest - since you both work full-time - to rescue an adult dog that you would not have to house train, etc. Sitting in a crate all day is not a life for a dog, and a more mature one...once you can trust it...could be left without the crate...maybe consider a doggy door. Hopefully at some time you will both want a dog at the same time!

gzus7freek

OMG...No Puppy!
They need lots of time and attention.
They pee, poop, puke, chew, destroy, and mess up everything until they are trained.
They get you up at all hours of the night to go out.

Adopt a grown shelter dog. They are great!!

I have 3 dogs and wouldn't trade them for the world!!

Dogs shouldn't be crated all day, they need ppl interaction!
Dogs that are crated can tend to get anxiety issues.
They should also never be in a kennel or on a chain!!

Ummm... no. If your dog gets anxiety being crated you are doing something very wrong. I have raised and trained 3 German shepherds to be amazing family pets and we crate trained all of them. Might want to brush up on some training materials.

I guess anxiety was a poor word....Maybe mental....I have adopted a German shepherd mix that was crated approx. 20 out of 24 hours a day and she is mental.....Can't really express what she does, but she HATES the crate. I therefore do not crate her and let her run FREE.....My other 2 dogs were crate trained just fine.

PikaKnight

OMG...No Puppy!
They need lots of time and attention.
They pee, poop, puke, chew, destroy, and mess up everything until they are trained.
They get you up at all hours of the night to go out.

Adopt a grown shelter dog. They are great!!

I have 3 dogs and wouldn't trade them for the world!!

Dogs shouldn't be crated all day, they need ppl interaction!
Dogs that are crated can tend to get anxiety issues.
They should also never be in a kennel or on a chain!!

Ummm... no. If your dog gets anxiety being crated you are doing something very wrong. I have raised and trained 3 German shepherds to be amazing family pets and we crate trained all of them. Might want to brush up on some training materials.

I guess anxiety was a poor word....Maybe mental....I have adopted a German shepherd mix that was crated approx. 20 out of 24 hours a day and she is mental.....Can't really express what she does, but she HATES the crate. I therefore do not crate her and let her run FREE.....My other 2 dogs were crate trained just fine.

I'm sorry...did you say 20 out of 24 hours!!! Straight? Ummm...I think I know why your dog is mental. And are you even exercising her? How are you exercising her and how often/how long? holy crap.

ETA: Re-read that and realized I misinterpreted that she was crated that long but not by you. Still, I'm sure that you could work with getting over her anxiety or whatever word you want to use. What's going to happen if you ever have to crate her? Even though it'll take work, you can and should have her get over the issue.

suelegal

My thing is that i don't know if I really want a dog THAT bad.....

You know you're talking about taking responsibility for a living creature for like twenty years, right?



I vote no dog.

Go shopping, you need a new accessory, not a dog.

I agree 1000% I advocate for dogs dropped off at a KILL shelter. People turn in their unwanted pets (I suppose for some to assuage their guilt). They KILL 450 to 600 unwanted dogs monthly!

450 - 600 MONTHLY!!

If you are not committed to raising and caring for this pooch for his entire life, then don't do it!

Go buy a new pair of jeans instead.

gzus7freek

OMG...No Puppy!
They need lots of time and attention.
They pee, poop, puke, chew, destroy, and mess up everything until they are trained.
They get you up at all hours of the night to go out.

Adopt a grown shelter dog. They are great!!

I have 3 dogs and wouldn't trade them for the world!!

Dogs shouldn't be crated all day, they need ppl interaction!
Dogs that are crated can tend to get anxiety issues.
They should also never be in a kennel or on a chain!!

Ummm... no. If your dog gets anxiety being crated you are doing something very wrong. I have raised and trained 3 German shepherds to be amazing family pets and we crate trained all of them. Might want to brush up on some training materials.

I guess anxiety was a poor word....Maybe mental....I have adopted a German shepherd mix that was crated approx. 20 out of 24 hours a day and she is mental.....Can't really express what she does, but she HATES the crate. I therefore do not crate her and let her run FREE.....My other 2 dogs were crate trained just fine.

I'm sorry...did you say 20 out of 24 hours!!! Straight? Ummm...I think I know why your dog is mental. And are you even exercising her? How are you exercising her and how often/how long? holy crap.

ETA: Re-read that and realized I misinterpreted that she was crated that long but not by you. Still, I'm sure that you could work with getting over her anxiety or whatever word you want to use. What's going to happen if you ever have to crate her? Even though it'll take work, you can and should have her get over the issue.

I don't crate her at all any more. I either take her with me, or someone is home with her. I have not had her very long, so I know she will take time to work out her issues. All my dogs are rescues....Angel the border collie was beaten a lot by her previous owner, Rusty the Red Heeler was dropped in a corn field near my house and lived on road kill till I found him.....Sarah another German Shepard mix was tossed out a car window on a mountain road. I stopped and took her home.....The newest addition was the crated mix.....I guess that is why I prefer non-pure bred dogs. Some of them make the best kids!!

lripson28

I agree with other posters... neither of you really want one and would not be committed to taking care of it. Don't get one unless you really want one and will love it and take care of it as you should. And if you are going to get a dog, adopt a shelter dog, please do not go to a breeder. There are so many amazing dogs in the shelters just ready and waiting for a good home. They are truly the most loveable.

Prettymisssparkles

No puppy.

SoViLicious

Turtle

CallMeCupcakeDammit

Turtle

FLYING turtle!

ryry_

So once a upon a time I went on vacation to Florida to visit my folks. Back in Nebraska, my wife, who was my fiance at the time, got a dog. Not just any kind of dog, a chihuahua. She knew I didn't like little dogs but wanted a big one. She knew I didn't like chihuahua's as a breed.

I was pissed. We weren't living together, and I didn't want this little yip yip dog I was inheriting. All I could think was I'm have to listen to the little Fu&*er yip her head off for the next 20 years.

Well, fast forward to today, and I get to smile everyday I come home because little Lucy is at the top of the stairs with her little tail wagging ready to roll on her back for a belly rub. In fact, my favorite thing to do in the morning is cradle her like a baby b/c she is still tired and its funny to watch her to try to stay and awake but fall back asleep.

One day I was bored and made a little parody rap song called "Puppies paradise" by Goosio (Goose is her nickname)

I won't give the moral of the story, but let you draw whatever you want from it.

Lleldiranne

I have been on your husband's side of this debate multiple times in our marriage. Several times, I gave in and let my husband get a dog. It was always a nightmare, and for all the reasons you list. Small yard, we weren't home enough (especially, he was gone a lot), I was worried (justifiably) about how the dog would be with our cat, etc.

Dogs take a lot of time and attention, far more than a cat. Puppies take about 10x that. Cats rarely get anxiety and tear apart the house, chew up your shoes or other possessions, jump on people, etc. You can leave a cat for a weekend with some extra food and water, or a week with someone to stop in every few days. Dogs needs someone there every single day. Until you and your husband are ready to give a dog the time and attention it needs, just don't.

I'd better add that I'm not a dog hater. When I was ready for a dog, and had the biggest choice in the dog we got, it ended up being wonderful. But it wasn't until I was ready and willing to take on the responsibility of a dog that it would work, and I wouldn't trade my pup for anything.

Darcyw4

I usually dont post on these things but this one I just have to. I have 6 dogs and they are my babies and a HUGE part of our lives. We have fostered a few dogs, worked for local rescues and have picked up strays on the side of the road. I do what I can to save animals that have been neglected and left behind not understanding why they were dumped. I beg you OP, please dont get a dog. Keep loving your cat and spoiling him/her but please dont get a dog. Dont make someone like me rescue the dog that you thought you wanted. I am a huge advocate for adopting a shelter pet - YES ADOPT DONT SHOP but if you arent 100% sure that you want a dog (both you and your husband), then for sure dont adopt. No animal deserves to be taken out of a shelter just to be put back in it or have a life in a kennel (which I am a huge fan of, by the way for those of you saying no to kennels. in my house they are referred to as "big boy and big girl beds"). If you do want to be around dogs - see if your local shelter needs any volunteers. Take a dog that likes to run along with you and give him/her some bonding time with a person. Help get a dog socialized so they can find their forever home. And as for breed - I am a firm believer (not saying this is fact) that all breeds are trainable and socialable. No breed is bad (Pitt Bulls for example are GREAT dogs) - it all falls in the hands of the person raising him/her and training them how they want them to be. it isnt fair that some catagorize Rotties as 'unfriendly' when they are very social little butterflies who love their families very much. All of my little furbabies are mixed breeds (mutts) and they are wonderful!

mander8282

Thanks again to all of your replies, your insight is much appreciated. I have considered volunteering at the local shelter. My hubby says that way i can pick up all the poop i want lol.....I really liked the flying turtle and the little yip yip dog that ended up being loved in the end :happy:

CallMeCupcakeDammit

Thanks again to all of your replies, your insight is much appreciated. I have considered volunteering at the local shelter. My hubby says that way i can pick up all the poop i want lol.....I really liked the flying turtle and the little yip yip dog that ended up being loved in the end :happy:

Ok, that makes me very happy!!!

Also, you might consider fostering, then you don't have the dogs long-term, just until they get adopted. A lot of people tell me they wouldn't be able to give the dog up, but you have to think of it as petsitting for a friend, because your friends aren't going to let you keep their dog! Also, whether you adopt one or foster one, you still save one. :flowerforyou:

BaggioTX

I think that first of all - if you don't want a dog…don't get one!! If you resist his existence in the first place, it's almost impossible to live with him…I mean, he is gonna be in your lives for a good decade and a half - that is a l-oooooo-ng time to be with anyone. So, I think it's important to come to a consensus with your husband on this.

Second of all, I don't think that the size of the dog should matter! We live in a really small apartment in a city, and yet we have a pretty large Golden Retriever in the house. Again, if you really want a dog, you'll come up with creative solutions to accommodate for the fact that there's a large dog in the house…and he needs some serious space!!

Last but not least, I also think that you do have to let your dog go through proper training…should you decide to get a puppy…especially if your'e concerned about issues with barking, house training, chewing, biting, etc. I have a website on dog training if you're interested: http://dogtrainingkingdom.net/.

Good luck and hope you'll come to a resolution!

Cheers,
Baggio

OMGeeeHorses

I have a shiba inu, DO NOT DO IT AS YOUR FIRST DOG!! this is a very challenging dog and will create rifts in the house because it is that challenging. I say create rifts because my husband is a sucker for my dogs little pitty me face and will let him get away with ANYTHING! Which is not good for this breed. It needs to be constantly put in its place. It needs a very FIRM hand. I don't mean beating or anything like that but you will constantly have to keep on it with its commands or 2 days later the dog will try to act like it doesn't know what your talking about LOL. Or with my husband it will snap at him and try to act like alpha dog and he gets so mad because he never does it to me and all I can say is " well keep letting him tear the hamper basket up and never telling him to sit down and let you get out the door before him and then see how much worse it gets." Then they shed like no tomorrow because they have a double coat. They are very CUTE and look like little Foxes. But they are TERRORS on 4 legs LOL. I was a stupid dog looker, I ended up getting Reu because he looked like such a fox and was odd balled in his color for his breed. ($600 buck from Missouri to Maine) and I love him but still honestly wish I never became his owner. Not because I hate him, just because I feel like I can be better with him sometimes but honestly don't know how!!! I tell my husband all the time that I should have had a kid with how much I have to puppy proof my house with my dog and he is 6 years old now!! They are not very affectionate dogs. My dog gets so pissy when I try to baby snuggle him and will growl and try to nip at me to let me know he doesn't want the love LOL. They will run away if let lose or make an escape and will not come back when called ( my dog has gone through two obedience classes and agility and still will not come when called) this is how the breed is and always will be. You may get some obedience of being called back with a zap collar but I have not tried it and never will. If you want a dog that is loving and chills out with you and just is super excited to see you all the time and doesn't cause too many issues when you are away or at home get a Dachshund. A Dachshund is a great time, first dog to own. Can't mess up too much with them ( unless you don't correct them for bad behavior, then you have a yippy snappy dog) but they are easy to potty train and the one I had didn't damage anything but his toys.

Just think on this a great deal! this is like having a kid. They need vet care, food, toys, shampoo, flea treatment and etc !! I mean my dog is on a special food because he is allergic to the crap you can get at wal-mart. He is also super allergic to fleas and breaks out in hives and gets all red on his little tummy.

Just please think long and hard on this, this is an animal for life. I would suggest going to a shelter. they have tons of puppies and bigger dogs that love cats and don't mess around with them. My husband got a pitbul before I met him who loved dogs and cats and would sleep with them and snuggle. So there are dogs in the shelter you can save. My next dog ( if I ever decide after my Reu giving me grey hair LOL) is going to be from a shelter. I can honestly say I was ignorant when I paid $600 for Reu when I could have saved a life in a shelter for nothing more than $200.

OMGeeeHorses

1st doesnt sounds like you have the time to deal with another dog and you two need to be on the same page, which you arent.
I have a Shiba Inu and they are stubborn dogs. very tough to train.
When you get a dog, you want to make sure you get the right breed for your lifestyle. If you choose the wrong breed, youll either end up miserable or surrending the dog.
Also, consider adoption over buying. So many dogs need to be adopted.

Another shiba inu owner :laugh: :happy: Listen to him, he knows the truth about shiba inu's like I do as well

VeganLexi

Definitely not!!

Sylvitryinghard

getting a dog because you want a dog and both work full time is egoistic. not in the sense of the dog. thats why I have cats. Im a dog lover but just doesnt work. the end.