First Time Adopter!

[YAorNEIGH]

Hey, guys!

So, this coming summer I'll have my first opportunity to have a doggie of my very own, since I'll be living off campus with some friends :) I know that this forum is full of warm, kind-hearted people and I know we have many who adopt and take in animals.

I'm leaning towards adopting a dachshund, but I'm open to any small breeds, really...I've decided to go with a small dog mainly because they're cheaper to feed and care for! Being a college student, I've got to watch my spending ;) I've also decided to get an older dog that is (hopefully) housebroken because then shots and surgeries for spay/neuter are taken care of and I won't have to worry too much about accidents in the house.

Anyway! I was just curious as to what you guys have encountered in dealing with dogs that already have a history. I've had dogs my whole life, but we've always raised them from puppies...I've never had to deal with a dog that may have pre-existing issues...Do you have any advice or suggestions for a first time adopter?

Also, if any of you hear of a dachshunds (or other small dog) in need of a home in the Midwest (WI, IL, IN, or OH, specifically) please point me in their direction ;)

Edit: Oh! Also, do you guys know how much an initial visit to the vet typically costs? I've got the majority of my costs figured, but that was one I couldn't seem to get an accurate estimate on. I'm trying to budget way in advance...I'll be able to bring home my new doggie at the beginning of May when the semester ends :) So I'm trying to get everything planned out so I don't have to worry about the money issues when the time comes and can just focus on how exciting this is to have my own dog for the first time!

[lovesfortune]

I just adopted a 10 week old puppy (a dachshund mix) this weekend. We have only adopted puppies so I won't be much help in older dogs with histories. We were thinking about going that route, but aside from there being no small older dogs available in our area - we were worried about how much we could trust a dog with our young kids without doing the training ourselves.

I highly recommend finding a dog that is in FOSTER care though instead of a shelter. They get much more one on one time and the foster parents should be able to tell you about issues, more likely to have crate training or house training started, etc.

I did a lot of research about the dachshund breed while looking up small dog info. Overall they sound like great dogs, only issue I read about was the difficulty in house training.

Good luck! And I think vet costs vary with the vet. I know my vet is pretty cheap, but we get a discount rate, so I'm not sure what it would be like in your area.

[lovesfortune]

Also we found our pup on www.petfinder.com (http://www.petfinder.com) you can search for dogs by size, breed, etc. And you plug in your zip code and it brings up what's in your area. We found some great dogs that way to look at!

[oursarge]

Well we adopted a puppy mill/Pet Store Rescue. We got her at 6 months old, the doggy trainer said their formative months are at around 3-5 months when they learn the most. She was in a cage then with not much human contact so she's sort of behind in her training skills. She is VERY HARD to train, housebreaking was a nightmare and she's still not reliable when it comes to that.

Our first trainer we had said she is gifted and very smart but we have a new trainer now [First trainer got very hurt in a horse accident] and she is not cooperating at all because he is being a little more demanding. She is stubborn but then she is a terrier so that's a whole other story. She is smart, she is now learning to tell me when my bird flys off the cage but she won't sit when I ask her unless she feels like it, if she has her harness on she'll sit, if she has her training collar on she gives me a hard time. She does listen to the trainer but not me and she hates going to the trainers. Last week we let her play with one of their dogs and she liked that, she was tired when we came home.

If you get a rescue my advise would be try to find one that has been in a foster home where they know more about the dog and housebreaking has started and some training plus if it's a good foster home they will know alot about the dog. I talked to some real idiot foster people but the good ones really know their dogs. I would also rather one that is a yr or two old or even older, puppies are alot of work as cute as they are. We wanted something small and small dogs are harder to find and a Westie adult is really hard to find so we ended up with a puppy who we love very much but she is a challenge at times. If she had been in a foster home they might have worked on her shyness and some other issues she has because they have experience with these things, I never faced this before and feel so helpless at times. She has come a long way but it would have been easier if she came without being so scared of everything, who knows what they did to her before the rescue got her, I don't even like to think about it but she doesn't really trust people at all except for us and my parents. We try to socialize her but she really isn't into people except for us, she loves us. We want to take her to see Santa next week but that might be a real disaster, we'll probably have a blur for a picture. Oh yeah she was $300.00 and that included the spaying, all of her shots, vet check, microchipping and something else so that really wasn't that bad since they charge alot around here to spay a dog.

When we got Puppy who will be a yr old tomorrow we were told she was very healthy. We had her flown from MO. That was our first mistake, my father said if he knew how traumatic the flight would be for her he would have driven me there to get her. She got sick the first day we got her and was sick for 2 months. I called the vet so much they knew my voice when I called. I changed her diet and she is doing better for right now [we think she's allergic to grains so she's on a grain free diet] but she had coccidia and giardia, the coccidia came from her being stressed from the plane ride [We assume since the rescue swears she was fine when they sent her to us] but it also happens when they get stressed in a new home if they feel stressed. Some dogs don't care but with her she's pretty much scared of everything.

If you can't afford a vet I would probably not get the dog. All vets are different but ours is I think $85 just go walk in the office but I have to say we were there so much he didn't charge us for office visits most times, in one week we spent around $1,000 just at his place between her and the horses then we took her to the animal ER and that was another huge bill. Thankfully we had MasterCard that's the only way we were able to pay for it. I think I have my figures right there, I know it was alot of money and actually the ER vet gave her more medication for a longer time that seemed to help better than what my vet gave her. All vets are different though, some cheaper some more expensive. I do like my vet alot though so we pay what he asks, he also does farm calls and that's harder and harder to find someone who will do that anymore.

Hope you'll find a great dog, there are so many in rescues that need homes. Ours really needed a home or she'd be back in the puppy mill if she wasn't saved by the rescue.

I rescued the last 2 dogs I had and there were no issues with them at all, everything went fine, both were from the shelter but with this little girl it's been a hard 6 months trying to get her trained and with her fears and everything. Hopefully you will find one who doesn't have the issues, Noah got here and it was like he had always been here, same with Koty. She loves it here too, she loves to play and loves the car but she is scared of people and that's probably for good reason. Good Luck, I'm glad you are looking into rescue. Even though we've been through all of this I'd still probably do it again because I really do love her even though I didn't think we needed another dog. She is very very cute.

[oursarge]

We found Puppy and all of our cats on PetFinders. Our cat Bo was in a kill shelter, we went for her, she's a great cat, Molly and Jack were in rescues. If you are open to any small dog the Colonel Potter Cairn rescue is a great rescue. Their web site has the dogs listed by state and tells about every dog. Some are older, some are puppies. They've been very helpful to me with Puppy.

This isn't to say Shelter Dogs aren't great, our Koty came from the shelter, one day from being put to sleep, he was one of the best dogs I ever had. He was almost 5 months old when we got him and I had him housebroken in a day and 1/2. Our Noah was way younger when we got him but he was also a shelter rescue, an abused puppy and he was also a great dog, loosing him ripped my heart out. Shelter dogs are great too, it's just that sometimes especially with an older dog if they are in a foster home the foster parents know if they like cats or kids or what ever when the shelter doesn't always know much about the animals they're just trying to get them homes. The rescue we got Puppy from writes the same thing about every dog they have up for adoption, they have so many they just want them to find homes. They seemed nice but I'm not sure about them but I'm glad I have her anyway, life really can be easier without a dog but I love her.

PetFinders has both Shelters and Rescues listed you just have to put your zip in and if you are interested in a breed. We checked our shelter [Well my husband did, I didn't want a dog but he thought we should have one] but they just had big dogs and I love big dogs but I'm getting older and with Noah getting sick I couldn't pick him up and that broke my heart so we decided if we did get a dog it would be something small and none of the local shelters or rescues had small dogs.

[shelsnsaus]

All of my critters were rescues. I've raised all of them with kids and only one came to me as a true puppy and that was the dachshund (he was 3 months when we got him). Wyatt (the border collie terrier mix sitting between the middle child and the one on the right) had the most 'issues'. His prior home had been very abusive and he is sporting a large dent and scar in the top of his head. He was very fearful and literally lived in my hallway for 2 weeks. I had to force him to come out and mingle with the others and he would only do it on his own after everyone else had gone to bed. He was not trusting of my kids and made 'faces' at them when they got to near, however once he realized they respected our pets he became very trusting of them. He is my youngest shadow now and follows her everywhere. I've had him for nearly 6 months now and with us he is a normal dog. It took awhile to get him to that point though. Mainly just giving him time and space to adjust. He now plays with the other pups and acts just like them. He is a whiz with obedience and loves to play fetch...all these are activities that he avoided big time when he came to us. He can go to doggie daycare and does fine with the people and dogs he is unfamiliar with, however he is still leary of strangers in our home. Housebreaking or at least a house breaking brushup was necessary with nearly all my pups. Many, 'normal' dogs in rescue are there because of house breaking issues (usually because of a lack of time on the previous owners part).

If all vaccines are done etc, a routine check up should be pretty inexpensive (maybe $30-50 for the exam?) Here (in pa) I pay about $100 a year per dog, for updating vaccines, fecals, heartworm test and exam, that doesn't count anything non routine though.

As far as finding them...they are plentiful, however the what you are looking for tends to find you when you aren't looking. At least thats my experience, which is how I've come to have so many. I guess it doesn't help that I work actively with a rescue and foster many dogs myself so my exposure is higher than many I guess.

Best of luck. I've included a pic of my brood of rescues and kids. All the animals are rescues including the cat and goat. Cody- the 13 year old black lab on the far left was rescued from an abusive home when he was nearly 2. He is petrified to this day of leashes, ropes, belts etc. Sadie the GSD mix laying in front, was abandoned at the place I work at, she came from a pitbull breeder where she was kept in the yard with the pits and had to fight for each meal. She was 6 years when she came home with me. Riley the kitten's mother was hit by a car, his littermates all died before they were found. I raised him from the time he was about 2 weeks old. Banjo, the basset mix lying next to Sadie, was taken to a shelter and scheduled for euthanasia because he was not 100% housebroken, he was 10 months old when I got him. Wyatt, I've already told his story above, was 2 years old when he came home. Stella, the red dog on the end was found running in a park in the middle of the city. It took animal control several days to catch her, and I adopted her at age 1-2 years. Guido, the doxie, was 3 months old, when his breeder brought him to the vet I worked at to put him to sleep. He had an eye issue and she couldn't sell him. I brought him home and treated him. He is blind in his one eye, but you'd never know it. He is 8 years old now. The goat came from a home that wasn't feeding him or his brother properly. They were emaciated so badly that I did loose his brother, but Billy Two horn lived and is doing great. He's nearly 8 months old now, he was 2 months when we got him. Anyway, the point of all this is, that yes, most of my rescues did have 'issues' that were the product of their previous lives. However, they all make wonderful members of my family. Some involved more money to rehab (Guido), and some involved more time (Wyatt, Riley and Cody). Every single one of them were worth it.

[YAorNEIGH]

Wow, oursarge, thank you very much for sharing that story with us. Sounds tough :(

I'm planning to get a dog that is being fostered so I can confirm that they're housebroken or at least mostly housebroken. I can deal with accidents here and there, but I can't have one that's going to be peeing all over the place all the time. Also, I'm hoping to find one that is not very vocal as I don't want to bother my housemates with the dog barking all the time, but I'm fairly confident in my ability to teach them when it's appropriate to bark and when it isn't. I taught both of my parents dogs to only bark when someone rings the doorbell or when they're told to "speak". :)

Good for you for giving your dog a loving home, despite her problems :)

[spotsmom]

I know it was posted, but potty training is horribly slow with most doxies, and they'll piddle in the house if the wind blows wrong. My parents have two- they were raised right, and we've just now (at 3 1/2) started trusting them (oh, and don't count on wood floors EVER being the same again ;))

Since you'll be living with friends, have you considered a breed that doesn't shed, or very little? Off the top of my head- poodles, some of the terrier breeds.. Your room mates might thank you!

[YAorNEIGH]

shelsnsaus, what a great picture! Thanks for your input :) I really appreciate it!

[YAorNEIGH]

Very good point, spotsmom...All my housemates want a dog as well, so I think they'll be comfortable with the fact that there might be barking and a considerable amount of shed hair involved ;) They're all pre-vet majors, so they love animals. :D

I hadn't heard mention of doxies being hard to housebreak until now, so thank you all very much for mentioning that!

[shelsnsaus]

I'll second or third that. They are. They are very stubborn, routine, reward and a crate will be your best friends. My guy will still have 'accidents' when he's angry at his routine being changed for whatever reason. Hence, even at 7 years of age he is crated when we are not home. I have a friend who has two doxies who are 3 years old and will still have accidents if not crated and no one is home. Same story with many of the doxies who come to daycare at work, hence the reason for the daycare. Also, watch their backs. We have 2 regular doxies who board who have been paralyzed from back issues and are in wheel chairs, at least 5 that I can think of who have had back surgeries, and two who were put to sleep from back issues arising from jumping off a sofa. Doxies are very prone to serious back injuries.

Oh and thanks for compliment on the pic...I must say, I love it. I am so proud of my gang!

[jeezitsjacki]

I have never owned a dauchsund ( I know I didnt spell that right) but I house sat one, and he was very barky, so I would start right away with training that is not allowed, or get one who hasnt been aloud to bark obsessively. Also I would definately recomend getting a crate, we did for our puppy and it is great for training and feeling safe about leaving them alone in the house for a bit without them having accidents all around or chewing things

[YAorNEIGH]

The dog will definitely be crated when I am not around. Even though both of my family's dogs can be trusted completely and are very well trained, we've always crated them when we're away, just to be on the safe side. We'll be living in a rental home, so I'm not comfortable risking damage to the house or my housemates belongings. This has all been super, super helpful, guys! Thank you very much for your input :) I've got a LOT to think about.

[YAorNEIGH]

Well, I'm not very seriously considering a cairn terrier, thanks to you guys ;) I think they may be a better fit for me than a dachshund! Plus...could they be ANY cuter? Honestly!

I'll keep you all posted :)

[oursarge]

If you do decide on a Cairn if they are anything like Westies they are STUBBORN! They are so cute though. When Puppy gets older I really want to adopt a Cairn from the Col. Potter Site. I think they will even help get the dog to you if you are in another state but are a good fit for it. I really like that the foster families write so much about them and update alot and they really are helpful. There are great rescue people on here too. I would check with them first, I did check the site but everything was too big. Good luck with your new doggy what ever you decide to get or who ever you get it from.

Today was Puppy's first birthday so she posed with her new little outfit and her birthday hat, she wasn't thrilled with the hat but at least we got some silly pictures of her with it.

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g82/ournoah/PB155425.jpg

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g82/ournoah/PB155441.jpg

[lovesfortune]

Oh my goodness. That hat picture is priceless! :)

[oursarge]

Puppy says Thank you, I want to frame it. I had one of Noah from his first b'day and one of our late cat with a hat on helping him celebrate, Misty looked like she wanted someone dead because she had to wear the hat, it was hysterical. They were so cute but now that they are gone I had to put the pictures away because I'd cry looking at them. I wasn't going to use the hat since it was Noah's but I thought she should have one for her first birthday and it was the only one I had. We took bunches of pictures, these two are the best. She is cute but she is a rip, I never had a dog like her. I thought she was all housebroken and has been for months and now this week has had two accidents. I can't figure her out. I love her but wish she was better behaved and I hope that this house breaking thing doesn't become a big problem. This one is going to be a wild ride. I know most of it is her background and that's why I think that foster homes are important with rescues, I know even some shelters are doing fosters now. The place we got her from seemed nice but they just wanted to get the dogs homes and I don't think they really get to know the dogs like they should and aren't great at answering questions after the fact. I'm still upset about her being put on the wrong flight and never got a good reason WHY, the lady said they never gave her a good reason but never told me what they told her even though I asked a few times. Having them mess up her flight messed her up mentally in alot of ways. I knew we'd have issues but didn't know there would be so many, hopefully she will do better the older she gets. She is cute though and she loves horses.
Thanks again.

[YAorNEIGH]

Here's another question...When applying for adopting a dog, do all places do home inspections? If so, what should I be aware of? What will disqualify me from being approved?

[JackieB]

Here's another question...When applying for adopting a dog, do all places do home inspections? If so, what should I be aware of? What will disqualify me from being approved?

Good luck with the process, by the way.

No, not all do home inspections. It depends on the rescue. Disqualifying criteria would include things like if you wanted a high energy dog (say a Jack Russell) and were going to be gone all the time. Or if you had roommates and hadn't cleared everything with them. A hound or sled dog without a fenced in yard might disqualify you since both breeds tend to run rather than stay nearby if they get loose.

I'd just answer all of their questions honestly and if you and the dog are a good fit for each other, it should work out.

[YAorNEIGH]

Thanks, JackieB :)

I'm a little worried because at the time of adoption, I'll still be living at my parents house. Their place has a fenced in backyard, but they have two dogs already, which might be cause for concern on the part of the "home inspector", although both dogs are friendly.

However, my friends and I are renting a home for our senior year of college, so the dog would only be with me at my parents house for a few months before I headed back to school. Is that move something I should mention to the rescue/shelter or will that just complicate things unnecessarily? I mean, we're not sure exactly which rental property we'll have yet, so there's no home for them to inspect, even though that's where the dog will be spending the majority of the next year or so...but pets are allowed and all of my housemates are comfortable with my bringing a dog. They're just as excited as I am, I think! ;)

[oursarge]

I've never had a home inspection even though some places I applied to for the cats say they do them. We did have to go to meet Molly to make sure the lady liked us and we liked Molly and she liked us which was sort of a joke because at the time Molly was still 1/2 wild she didn't like anyone! She's a friendly cat now. With puppy she came from MO and we're in PA so they didn't do any home inspections. She is the only dog I put an app. in for since I didn't really want another dog, my husband did, I was willing to just wait to see what happened but he called, the lady read our application while we were on the phone and I think she said all was well she'd just have to call the vet to make sure we had a vet then it would be all set. I love her but she's going to drive me crazy.

I know alot of rescues do home inspections but I've never had one. Good luck in your search.

[shelsnsaus]

As far as home inspections go, with my rescues, I've done them on some but not all. First time dog owners I've done them. Dogs with very specific needs, I've done them. Dogs that require fencing to stay safe, I've done them to make sure their fence is what was needed for that dog. Why? I placed a dog into a home that swore they had a fence on a hound who loved to run. Two days after placement, their hound was gone and on the run. Apparently their fence had a 3 foot hole in it behind the bush that their other dog never even bothered with. The hound found it quickly and it took me quite awhile to catch him. Now I'm pretty picky when it comes to dogs that require a fence and I want to see it to make sure it is a fence that will keep that dog in. First time dog owners the idea is just to make sure they are ready for what they are getting. Many think they have a good idea of what they are getting, I know what they are getting. The home visit is to bridge the gap, point out problem areas etc. I've only refused one dog on a home a visit. It wasn't until the home visit that I found out they planned on keeping the dog outside, they checked indoor dog etc on all their paperwork, interviewed for an indoor family pet. At the home visit they had a brand new kennel and admitted that that is where the dog would live. Sorry, not the dog for you.

Dogs with specific needs. Had an extremely overweight lab in rescue, who was on a diet blah blah blah. She was loosing weight, but at her massive 143 pounds when she should have been 60 or so, she had difficulty with stairs. Wanted to make sure her new home could accomodate single floor living until she was at a better weight to manage the stairs with out risk of injury.

Oh I've also done home visits on family's with small children. After having raised 3 children with a dog who is not appreciative with the chaos small children can bring to a home, and did it successfully - no issues (dog is now 13). I am very knowledgable of the challenges that dog ownership and parenting can bring when mixed. Not bad, and I'd never discourage it, but there are challenges at times. I want to make sure that everyone is prepared for the potential chewing of kids toys (size, texture etc can resemble dog toys), the potential for stealing/sharing food, excited runs up and down stairs with toddlers learning to walk. Screaming, crying etc on the childs part can be very unnerving to some dogs. I do it to get a feel for that household and what the dogs life would be like. Remember, I have 2 small children and I've had these dogs in my care, I know what they like, don't like, tolerate and abhor.

Anyway, those are the situations in which I do a home visit.

I have done home visits for other rescues when asked to. Many are checking fencing, cleanliness of home (to a degree), dog proof / chew proof, dog tolerant (you know white sofa white carpet type deal), fencing, etc etc.

[YAorNEIGH]

I'll have to get my parents to clean up the house, LOL! It's pretty disorganized, but with two dogs already, it should be pretty well doggie safe, right? ;) Thanks for your help, guys!

[shelsnsaus]

Don't go to nutty on the 'cleanliness' remark. No need to prep for the president. Lived in and comfortable for people and dogs. I would worry if I saw spick and span and the first thought and where I would focus the conversation would be on what if the pup came in with muddy paws and belined it for the sofa. I also don't want to see a weeks worth of dishes in the sink (who does), and trash and food everywhere. Dog friendly, I guess is what I'm looking for. Dog beds? Safe dog toys? clean dog bowls? plenty of water? No no areas blocked off? I am assuming you are planning to adopt from a foster based rescue? Ask them lots of questions about how their routine works. What can you do to make transition easier on your dog, either routine based, toy based, food based etc. Get specifics as to when they go out, when is play time, what is the dog's favorite type of toy? Get plenty of information on how the dog you are interested in does with a group dog scenario. Is he pushy, has he been fed loose with others, does he guard toys. Ask how he behaves at the vet, is he well behaved during exam, how is when cutting his nails, looking in his ears/mouth etc. How was he for vaccines and blood draw. None of these issues should be deal breakers, but it will give you guidance on what you still need to work on and you'll be able to give your vet a heads up.

What commands specifically do they use. For instance, a key word in my dogs life is "go". We use it a lot, as in lets go (dog to walk with me), GO to bed (crate up), GO (move out of my way) etc etc. Now hubby is always trying to tell them STOP of Knock it off, or crate etc. GO is quick easy and to the point GO + Destination. Anyway, they rarely if ever listen to hubby and I'm standing there telling him just say GO. Anyway, find out what specific commands they use to get what behavior. Beyond the sit, stay etc. For us GO is important. It gets them out of the kitchen when eating, out of the bathroom, out from under foot, it tells them to go to bed, walk with me etc etc etc. ALL my fosters very quickly learn this command. Find out the commands for day to day living from whoever is fostering your pup.

I've met some completely overzealous rescuers where I don't think anyhome would qualify for a dog from them. I try to go into it with an "ideal" home for a specific dog and than find ways to make a less than ideal home perfect. For example. I had a very high energy playful dog in rescue. An ideal home for her(in my mind) would have been a family with a nice fenced yard-plenty of room for her to run_, an active family who wanted the dog to go most places with them. A family that enjoyed swimming (this dog loved it), you get my drift. I ended up placing her in an apartment with a single girl who worked and went to school. Doesn't sound perfect for an active bordering on hyper dog huh? Well it is. This girl is very active and runs nearly 10 miles a day. She camps, hikes, jogs etc etc. The dog goes everywhere with her. When she is working her dog goes to doggie daycare. She had a very good plan and the ability to make it work. She knew apartment living wasn't ideal for a young active dog, so she geared her plan for the dog into how she could make it work. I still see her pup and its been nearly two years. The dog is very well adjusted, happy, well mannered. It was the right family for her, but couldn't have been further from what the 'ideal' home was in my mind.

Ok enough babbling...gotta go play with my own pups before I leave for work.

[quest]

First off, I want to wish you good luck on your search for the perfect dog. I got my first dog of my own about a month ago. She was over a year old so I had to deal with some training (or no training) issues. She didn't know her name very well, wasn't properly socialized as a puppy, wasn't housebroken, is terrified of kids, but I still love her and we are working on those issues. As for housebreaking,I got lucky... she went in the house once the second day she was here and not since, and she is inside a lot. Good thing she was easy to house train because she is terrified of the crate and no matter how much work I have done with her, she still doesn't likeit. She didn't have any puppy shots and was not spayed, so I had to pay about $100 for that. I usually buy a bag of dog food maybe once a month, which is around $12 and I also buy a couple bags of treats a month for training. The startup fees were expensive, she is a border collie and a big chewer so I had to get her some toys that would encourage her not to chew things shes not supposed to and she also needs a ton of exercise. If you are crate training, a small crate is probably around 30-40$, plus water dishes, etc. Here are a few things to consider before you get your dog.
1. Do you have time for a dog? I know between school and work I am rarely home. Fortunately I work on a ranch that has two other dogs and they let me bring Kelly with me to work... good thing because she LOVES the ranch and it keeps her busy... we also have a great dog run here at home with three other dogs to play with. At least once a week we drive out somewhere new to go for a walk, and I take her out when we ride.. being in Wyoming almost everywhere she is allowed to run off leash and fortunately she is very good at coming when I call. She also LOVES to play ball. With many of the smaller breeds you are at an advantage that many of them aren't so hyper as a border collie, but there is still the issue of time. You don't want the dog to have to be by itself a lot or put the responsibilities on other people all the time if you aren't around.
2. Have you considered what you are planning long term for the dog? Once you are out of school, will your parents let you bring your dog home if you have to stay with them for a while? Just consider that maybe there might be a day where you have to give up the dog.
3. Finances.. just like horses we can budget out things with dogs, but stuff still happens. Having a dog isn't as cheap as I initially thought, but I do have a good job and support
There are definetely a lot of things to consider, but if all is a go, then having a dog around is so worth it! I got a dog because I wanted a running partner, trail riding partner, best friend, and protector. I do a lot of recreational activities alone and having kelly around makes me feel safer. She tends to growl and bark when she can hear, but not see another person.. although I don't always like this, it could someday save my life. Despite this, she has NEVER tried to hurt me, she is as loyal as they get and although I had some issues I had to work out with adopting an "older" dog that already had bad habits, she was sooo worth it!