So I just moved to a new city, I live by myself, and I don't really know too many people. I've wanted to get a dog for a while, but never really had the money or time to get one and be responsible about it due to school. I definitely would like to get one now that I'm out of school and have a steady job but I'm pretty sure that my current living situation would be completely unfair to a dog:

- I live by myself in a one bdrm apartment. That means there is the bedroom, the living room, bathroom, and small kitchen. Not too much space for a dog to run around in.
- I am gone for work 9 hrs a day on the weekdays. Of course I would walk the dog directly before I leave and right when I get home from work, but I know that in most cases that wouldn't be enough. What do those of you that live alone and have a dog do about this?
- The dog would have to be relatively small (less than 25 lb) and not too loud as my apartment complex is kind of strict about it.

Are there any breeds of dog that would be okay in this type of environment? I really want a dog but I don't want to get one if it is going to be unhappy... I would only want one if I can make sure I can give it the attention it needs. What types of dog wouldn't freak out if I were gone most of the day?

[Edited on July 10, 2007 at 10:15 PM. Reason : V So most dogs are okay not going to the bathroom for 9 hrs a day?]

7/10/2007 10:10:06 PM

shrug, lots of people have a dog and work 40-45 hours a week. my dog seems perfectly happy and is very happy to play with me when she can. i dont consider it unfair or mean, though im sure she'd be happier if i was around more often.

7/10/2007 10:13:36 PM

we have a dachshund that has been left alone during the day at times and has given us no problems. she likes it better when she gets to be outside most of the time, but she deals with being inside well also.

7/10/2007 10:16:16 PM

as long as you adopt an adult dog that can hold its bladder for 9 hrs you should be fine.
contact some local rescues that keep their dog in foster homes and tel them what you're looking for.

7/10/2007 10:50:04 PM

The answer is pekingese. I have had one since I was a sophomore (so 4 years now). He is very much his own dog, so he doesn't really care that I am gone during the day, but he is thrilled to see me when I get home. Mostly, he sleeps on the back of my couch looking out the window. So, this is his day:
700 wake up just long enough to realize I'm getting in the shower
705 sleep
800 wake up and eat
810 go outside to bathroom
820 sleep
500 wake up b/c I just got home and go for a walk then eat
700 sleep on couch
800 wake up and play
900 sleep
1000 wake up and go upstairs to sleep on bed
You get the picture.

I am sure he gets up and about during the day, but he is the laziest and most chill dog alive. He is really smart, does tons of tricks and fetches, loves people, and likes to run (VERY short distances) and walk lots. He is, in my opinion, a great house dog that doesn't require lots of room and tons of exercise. Another thing about my dog, I trained him to use puppy pads to go to the bathroom on in the house in case of emergency, but most of the time he is fine waiting until I get home and take him outside. Although he was easy to house-train, there are usually some of these dogs on petfinder.com that are already grown, vaccinated, neutered, and housetrained (which would be easier on you since you are already working full time).

[Edited on July 10, 2007 at 11:18 PM. Reason : human error]

7/10/2007 11:16:08 PM

Quote :

"I am gone for work 9 hrs a day on the weekdays. Of course I would walk the dog directly before I leave and right when I get home from work, but I know that in most cases that wouldn't be enough. What do those of you that live alone and have a dog do about this?"

It seems like a long time, but my dog, which is close to 70 pounds, has no problem with this. Just don't let them have an entire bowl of water in the morning and you should be good.

7/10/2007 11:17:55 PM

Go to the shelter and get an adult dog. We got one there a in May and she is absolutely the best dog ever. She was a 40 pound Shepherd/Collie mix and is about 2 years old. She is very tolerable of staying in her crate for about 6 hours a day while we are both at work, but we are working up to her being able to stay out of it. So far, she has not messed with anything, has never had an accident in the house and doesn't seem unhappy at all to be left alone for a good part of the day. She gets a long walk when I get home from work and that seems to suffice. The only problem we have with her is she loves to chase that cat!

7/10/2007 11:43:42 PM

My cousin lives in a TEENY apartment in NYC with her pit bull. She has a dog walker that comes by mid day to walk Dixie though. But, the dog is perfectly happy there.

7/11/2007 6:26:42 AM

So those of you who have a dog in a similar situation, how big of an apartment do you live in?

Do most of you leave your dogs in a crate or big box while at work like hammster?

7/11/2007 9:15:50 AM

ive got a 2 bedroom apartment and i let my dog roam around. she's pad trained though.

7/11/2007 9:20:44 AM

My fiance and I have a 5 year old daschund and he has no problem holding it for 8-10 hours in his crate. We live in a 2 bedroom apartment and we're about to adopt a miniature pinscher as well. Definitely look into dogs from a local rescue. Many have had tough lives so far and need a good home. They're cheaper than from a pet store as well.

[Edited on July 11, 2007 at 11:43 AM. Reason : typo]

7/11/2007 11:42:20 AM

i think this family may have one for sale

http://www.wben.com/news/fullstory.php?newsid=07892

7/11/2007 11:44:13 AM

What other types of small dogs would you guys recommend? Preferably ones that aren't too loud.

7/11/2007 11:44:16 AM

depends a lot on the dog. my rat terrier/chihuahua almost never barks, but i wouldnt consider that the norm for the breed.

7/11/2007 12:07:20 PM

If you don't want to leave the dog in a crate all day, consider buying a baby gate and blocking him off in a kitchen or bathroom while you are gone until he can be trusted. Initially ours stayed in the crate while we were gone all the time, now we let her stay out of it for about 3 hours at a time when we are not home. I was afraid to let her roam the apartment before we could trust her, but we are adding a little bit of time every week just to see how she does, thankfully no accidents so far! I wouldn't be concerned about it not having any room to run in the aparment, especially if it gets two walks a day. Ours just basically likes to sleep on the couch all day anyway. Also, take it to the dog park if it seems to have too much energy.

Also, if you are getting a little dog, this may just be my opinion but they all seem to bark, a lot. I also wouldn't recommend a particular breed because mutts are better

7/11/2007 12:25:30 PM

My mini dachshund is used to getting up anywhere between 8am-11am, sits around the house all day while I'm at school and might go out anywhere between 3-6pm depending on when I or my boyfriend gets home. She rarely barks, except one little "hello" bark when someone comes in the front door.

I got her from a dachshund rescue. Great breed, btw. Really smart, cute as hell, and very affectionate!

Definately get an adult dog who is already housebroken or crate trained, especially if you're going to be gone that long. Besides, I think it's mean to lock up a puppy all day.

http://www.drna.org

They have a local person here too who is really nice.

[Edited on July 11, 2007 at 12:45 PM. Reason : ..]

7/11/2007 12:45:22 PM

Quote :

"this may just be my opinion but they all seem to bark, a lot"

thats just these specific dog's personality

i know several people with little dogs that never bark and are just chill pets

7/11/2007 12:56:05 PM

Yep, our daschund hardly makes a sound.

7/11/2007 1:38:54 PM

do NOT get a dachshund. they were bred to be extremely vocal and most of them still have a problem with this. they are not ideal in an apartment setting because of that. they bark and howl a LOT. it's not just personality, it's their genetics.

many of the small dog breeds were bred to act like a siren. it was their job to bark and warn people of intruders. there are some that are a little more laid back, but the majority are not that way. you really need to get to know the particular personality of the dog instead of picking a breed.

part of the barking problem and overall bad behavior seen in small dogs is because their owners don't treat them as dogs. they baby them, don't scold them, and the dogs end up running the house. they think it's cute when it barks so they allow it. don't be that guy.

go to a shelter and hang out for a while. ask some of the workers which dogs are quiet and lazy. they'll know which to point you towards.

7/11/2007 1:39:49 PM

if u want a small yelping/barking dog, get a daschund, yorkshire terrier, pekingnese, westie.....i've had all these before

if u want a nice lap dog that hardly ever barks, get a maltese, shih tzu, or llasa apso.....

of course this could just be my particular shih tzu/llasa.....she hardly ever barks, licks strangers to death, and can't count on her to protect the house....

7/11/2007 1:52:53 PM

I've had 3 Dachs. the first one hardly ever made a sound and did exactly what was said above. Sat around all day and was very low maintenace. We got 2 brothers from the same litter who turn 2 in october. They are a little more vocal only because they are so young and, well, they're brothers and they fight a lot but its adorable. They still sit around all afternoon and unless provoked don't bark unless a visitor comes to the door. They are the two coolest weiners on the planet.

7/11/2007 1:54:27 PM

Quote :

"you really need to get to know the particular personality of the dog instead of picking a breed."

I agree with this but you also need to get to know the particular personality of the dog before ruling out an entire breed. I have seen some yippy daschunds but have also seen plenty of quiet, very well-behaved ones like ours. We had him for a week before he made any noise at all. I was in my room and my fiance was out in the living room with him. I heard a single bark and had to walk out to ask my fiance if that was actually Cooper who made the noise. It was like an epic event.

7/11/2007 1:59:03 PM

you need to reread my post...apparently you misunderstood it.

but of course everyone who has a dachshund (or any other specific breed) is going to say their dog is the best, the exception to the rule, etc. small dogs were bred to bark and are therefore more prone to bark. you can't change that. proper training can make your dog shut up and behave, but it won't change his genetics.

you need to choose a dog based on its personality and size. it needs to fit your lifestyle.

just because small dogs are small, doesn't mean they are the most appropriate for a small house/apartment. many large breed dogs are lazier and quieter and would do better in an apartment situation because they don't have the excited energy that small dogs do. most apartment complexes set a weight limit on dogs though, so that's not always possible.


[Edited on July 11, 2007 at 2:08 PM. Reason : ]

7/11/2007 2:00:35 PM

I guess my dog is a genetic anomaly then.

7/11/2007 2:11:43 PM

jeebus, you have a really hard time with reading comprehension, don't you?

7/11/2007 2:45:35 PM

No no, I completely understand. I realize it's just easier for you to say that than try to backpedal.

You ruled out an entire breed of dog when some make wonderful apartment dogs. You said yourself to discover each dog's individual personality but then made a blanket statement about small dogs being loud and yippy and, therefore, being undesirable in an apartment setting. Make up your own mind before trying to debate with someone else.

And, yes, I'm making up everything about my own dog because I'm biased. He's actually a monster.

7/11/2007 3:14:02 PM

Quote :

"many of the small dog breeds were bred to act like a siren. it was their job to bark and warn people of intruders. there are some that are a little more laid back, but the majority are not that way. you really need to get to know the particular personality of the dog instead of picking a breed."

Quote :

"go to a shelter and hang out for a while. ask some of the workers which dogs are quiet and lazy. they'll know which to point you towards."

Quote :

"but of course everyone who has a dachshund (or any other specific breed) is going to say their dog is the best, the exception to the rule, etc. small dogs were bred to bark and are therefore more prone to bark. you can't change that. proper training can make your dog shut up and behave, but it won't change his genetics."

Quote :

"you need to choose a dog based on its personality and size. it needs to fit your lifestyle. "

i never called you a liar, wtf...

ask anyone who has been around lots of dogs, dog shows, taken any companion animal class, etc. they will tell you that small dogs tend to bark a lot and if you're denying that then you're out of your mind.

[Edited on July 11, 2007 at 3:22 PM. Reason : ]

7/11/2007 3:20:33 PM

I've always liked corgis for a small/medium size breed. I used to help out a woman who bred and showed them and hers had perfect manners and weren't yippy at all.

do NOT get a cocker spaniel - they have a reputation for "piddling" whenever they're excited/nervous/scared or just feel like it.
do NOT a hound. They can be stubborn and some breeds are hard to housetrain (bassets & beagles)
Stay away from terriers- typically very energetic and can be loud. although bull terriers are a cool breed.

the only smalls breeds that I like are italian greyhounds (all i've met are pretty quiet) and miniature schnauzers

I own 2 mutts and a purebred Shar Pei. They all only took a few weeks to completely housetrain and I trust them unsupervised for any length of time. The Shar Pei is the best at holding it. However, they're not an easy breed and can have some health problems (skin, ears, eyes). Mine is the exception - she's small (45 lbs) and is a bonemouth and doesn't have a lot of that excess skin.

Your best bet is to talk to rescue organizations and ask the foster parents about the dogs they have in their house. they have gotten to know the animal, can (hopefully) be honest with you as to how housebroken it is and have a good idea as to how long it can hold it. Most rescue orgs will let you take a dog on an adoption trial for a few weeks before committing to the adoption. At least that's what BFPA does (who i foster for).
Do a search on http://www.petfinder.come for rescues in your state and check their websites and lists of adoptable pets

7/11/2007 3:20:58 PM

Quote :

"do NOT get a dachshund."

Quote :

"i never called you a liar, wtf..."

Oh cmon, you know you implied it......

Quote :

"but of course everyone who has a dachshund (or any other specific breed) is going to say their dog is the best, the exception to the rule, etc."

Quote :

"ask anyone who has been around lots of dogs, dog shows, taken any companion animal class, etc. they will tell you that small dogs tend to bark a lot and if you're denying that then you're out of your mind."

Every dog has its own personality. I've said several times and you've even said it yourself, take each dog on an individual basis. I guess you've pretty much abandoned that notion though and resorted to stereotypes.

[Edited on July 11, 2007 at 3:34 PM. Reason : ]

7/11/2007 3:21:59 PM

alternative - ferret
they're great pets - love to play and interact with you. Can be easily litter box trained, be walked on a leash, and you don't have to worry about leaving it in it's cage for 9 hrs. My 2 boys are let loose every day for an hour or so for playtime.

they can cost a $100-$200 and a decent sized cage will run you that much. They need a distemper and rabies vaccine but other than the initial cost they're easy and inexpensive to keep (bag of food will run you $20/month)
they do have a natural odor (even after being descented) but I spray mine with a powder scented spray and they live in the laundry room so it's no big deal. and my dogs love playing with them

7/11/2007 3:25:55 PM

^or a cat would be a good alternative also.

^^you shouldn't. they're ugly

my parents live next to 3 dachshunds, 2 on one side and 1 on the other. they bark ALL day long, all night long, and at every single thing including their owners. they're annoying as shit and wouldn't be good in an apartment setting.

i live next to 2 jack russels. don't get those either. they yip even more and are crazy.

so are you seriously trying to argue the point that dachshunds don't bark much?


[Edited on July 11, 2007 at 3:30 PM. Reason : ]

7/11/2007 3:27:03 PM

Have you considered a retired greyhound? Despite the fact they are "race dogs" they're very quiet, loyal, and tend to be couch potatoes. Plus the retired racers are from prime genetic stock, well socialized around other dogs, and are usually pretty young.

7/11/2007 3:31:04 PM

Quote :

"so are you seriously trying to argue the point that dachshunds don't bark much?"

Some do, some don't. Like I said, ours rarely makes a sound.

7/11/2007 3:33:27 PM

^^gotta keep them on a leash cause they will run like a motherfucker after anything small and rodent like.

7/11/2007 3:59:06 PM

^^^i've always wanted to adopt a greyhound. They're such a sweet natured breed (i'm sure there are exceptions).
But my husband thinks they are ugly and i've promised him our next dog will be a yellow lab. He's put up with enough fosters so he deserves to get what he wants. I will get it from a breed rescue if I can. If not I have a friend who's parents breed labs for field trials and the dogs are from incredible genetic stock.

7/11/2007 4:56:55 PM

yellow lab, how creative.

7/11/2007 6:27:36 PM

Don't get a small dog.

But...if you do get a small dog then do your neighbors a favor and treat it like a dog instead of a little princess.

In general, I fucking hate small dogs.
The only small dog I've ever liked was a rat terrier who's owner had a good handle on him.

[Edited on July 11, 2007 at 7:27 PM. Reason : Cats kick butt]

7/11/2007 7:26:56 PM

greyhounds are couch potatos from what I've heard. They can obviously run, but they are quite content being lazy if they get basic exercise.

if you're living in a smallish place, you definitely want a smallish dog. big dogs need room. shelters and rescues are obvious places to go, but I'd toss in my recommendation for a miniature or standard schnauzer. they don't shed, their moderately intelligent, good tempered, and sturdy built dogs. my brother and I used to roughhouse with ours and she loved it. Yes they are terriers, yes they are energetic, but ours was not a particularly yappy dog.

Quote :

"many of the small dog breeds were bred to act like a siren"

schnauzers were bred as ratters, not guard dogs. its all the benefits of a cat, without actually having to put up with one.

[Edited on July 11, 2007 at 7:41 PM. Reason : .]

7/11/2007 7:38:20 PM

Quote :

"big dogs need room."

That's the biggest load of bull that people mindlessly repeat when someone asks about dogs.

Yes, a golden retreiver would take up about 10 times the floorspace of a dachshound. But, to stay happy a dachshound needs about an acre to run in while the golden would only need a cool spot large enough to turn around in.

7/11/2007 7:43:21 PM

I disagree, anecdotally at least. My friend's golden was miserable when he lived in Cary, but once they moved out to Green Level he loved his land. But it is a bit of a broad statement. A Jack Russel Terrorist can be comfortably kept in a back yard, as long as he can run. I greyhound will probably work in an apartment as long as he gets exercise. Generally speaking though, smaller dogs weren't bred to be working dogs and are thus better suited to indoor life.

7/11/2007 9:20:06 PM

Quote :

"we have a dachshund that has been left alone during the day at times and has given us no problems"

well youre lucky. because ive had 2 dachshunds, and i know a couple other people who have them, and theyre adults and still not housebroken. a lot of hound dogs are hard to housebreak, especially dachshunds!!
and if youre going to get a dog, i suggest not a puppy....i suggest adopting an adult thats already housebroken, and out of its chewing stage...and if you get a puppy and crate train it, itll probably bark and bark and bark while you're gone until it gets used to the crate, meaning pissed off neighbors.

Quote :

"to stay happy a dachshound needs about an acre to run in"

false. our doxies were the biggest lazy asses. and why would they need an acre to run if their legs are like 2inches long. look at it this way, the time it takes a lab to run 100 feet is probably the same for a doxie to run 30. plus doxies can run around a room or a couple rooms and tire themselves out and be fine. so i dont really think that acre statement is true.

7/11/2007 9:47:13 PM

the answer. Is Mini Pin. they are the BEST dogs ever in the world.

7/11/2007 11:27:53 PM

Quote :

"Go to the shelter and get an adult dog. "

I can vouch for that too... when I got my dog, he was about a year old and was a stray for a while, never in a house. I had him housetrained in less than a week with maybe one or two instances where he didn't make it outside.

7/11/2007 11:52:47 PM

English Bulldog is the best breed in the world. ESPECIALLY for apartment dwellings. My dog, Lewinsky, loves being my roommate.

7/11/2007 11:53:39 PM

I guess what I really want to say is this:

Don't be the asshole neighbor who lets their small yappy dog bark all the damn time.
Sure you think he's a good pooch when you're gone, but when you're gone he's giving the neighbors hell.
Doesn't matter what breed it is. It's the tendency of those who get small dogs to let those dogs be annoying because it's to cute and innocent and harmless to be properly trained.
If you get a small dog then don't fall into it's trap. Treat it like the subordinate animal that it is.

7/11/2007 11:56:25 PM

Quote :

"It's the tendency of those who get small dogs to let those dogs be annoying because it's to cute and innocent and harmless to be properly trained."

hah, that's probably more true than not! WHATEVER you do, train your damn dog and make sure you're the Alpha Male. I've seen too many owners get owned by their dog, and sooner or later those dogs will be put down when they bite someone.

7/12/2007 6:36:20 AM

I live in a two bedroom townhome and have two dogs: a scottish terrier and a bull terrier. They do well in the apartment, although I do crate them whenever I'm not there to supervise them. They sleep all day, and love their crates! But they go out as soon as I get down stairs, and are out in the apt. while I'm eating breakfast, and then they go back in the crates. As soon as I get home, or my boyfriend gets home, we let them out on a walk and they're usually out for the rest of the evening.

Just so you remember, the smaller the dog, the smaller the bladder!

7/12/2007 8:00:13 AM

i don't think dachshunds need an acre, but i don't think he meant that literally. jack russel terrorists definitely need more room, and in the case of my neighbors, a bark collar or two.

bottom line, go to a shelter or rescue group. tell them what you're looking for. adopt a housebroken, trained, adult dog. and they all lived happily ever after.

7/12/2007 11:59:04 AM

I've got a 1 yr old Shiba Inu who I've had since he was 13 wks old. He never barks or makes any noise. He's fine being left alone all day (I'm gone 730-530) and has held it as long as 15 hrs. He's had some accidents, but always when we were home. And I'm pretty sure some of those were intentional. Shiba males don't get much larger than 30lbs, or 20lbs for the females. He's pretty low maintenance (doesn't need brushing or a bath too often). The only bad things are they can get a little bit destructive if bored, and they're dominant animals so you really need to put them in their place and let them know you're in charge....over and over again.

Also, they're crazy escape artists.

7/12/2007 1:42:44 PM

ugh English bulldogs, while having the reputation for being lazy.. are a breed notorious for health problems. Not only are you going to spend $1000-$4000 for a purebred you can expect to have HUGE vet bills for the animal. They have respitory problems, skin problems, problems in their rear end from having their tail docked too short, etc... everyone who I know who has experience with them has had to pay for at least one surgery to fix something.

English Bulldogs are a grossly deformed breed and perpetuate the health problems with every litter produced. It's been said that if you feel like supporting your vet with great chunks of money, get an English Bulldog. They suffer from hip problems, heart problems, and skin problems. Their compromised respiratory system makes it very risky to anesthetize them. Many Bulldogs can't even walk normally, or run without gasping for breath. Many of them struggle to breathe in hot or humid weather. In the summer they should be kept in air-conditioning and supervised during outside activity so they don't over-exert themselves and become overheated. Most have to be bred via Artificial Insemination and give birth via C-sections because they're incapable of doing so naturally. They can be stubborn and be aggressive (usually food aggression)

7/12/2007 4:10:45 PM