Can't get a dog but can't stop thinking about one.

LiNgWiStIkZ

A dog isn't a possibility in my house atm, with our baby brother and our cat. There wouldn't be enough room for one and the expenses are high enough already

I really want a rottweiler! I'm being selfish in wanting one at this stage but it's been on my mind for a while (moreso in the last week or two). I'm prepared to feed, walk, play and train him/her. I want a buddy

I'm just after doing my LC and have no job, so I have no income atm to actually pay for vet bills, etc. if anything ever happened!

Could you guys try to convince me somehow that I don't want one?

Acoshla

There is absolutely no point in you getting a dog at this stage of your life. You said yourself you have no income to pay for it, how were you thinking you'd pay for it's food even?

What would happen when you move out or get a job? Most rental places don't allow animals, especially not large dogs. What if you decided to travel, then what would you do?

My boyfriend just got his/our first dog 2 years ago, he's 30 and I'm 25, and at our ages it is still a huge responsibility and a tie down, I really wouldn't recommend you do it at your age before you know where you will end up and what you'll be doing.

Cherry Blossom

LiNgWiStIkZ wrote: »

A dog isn't a possibility in my house atm, with our baby brother and our cat. There wouldn't be enough room for one and the expenses are high enough already

I really want a rottweiler! I'm being selfish in wanting one at this stage but it's been on my mind for a while (moreso in the last week or two). I'm prepared to feed, walk, play and train him/her. I want a buddy

I'm just after doing my LC and have no job, so I have no income atm to actually pay for vet bills, etc. if anything ever happened!

Could you guys try to convince me somehow that I don't want one?

Have you done any research into the breed? Not really suitable as a first dog and your whole family would have to be involved in the training of it. If your getting a first dog choose something easy to train! I waited five years to be in the right circumstances, i'd have loved a Doberman but at the end of the day it was going to be my dog and input from other people in the house as regarding training was going to be minimal and I was unsure I could be firm enough and I school horses for a living. So I ended up with a Westie at 30 years of age and we've always had dogs as family pets my whole life.

Put it on the back burner and think it seriously when your in a positon to look after it. ie. when you are responsible enough to be a parent

ppink

Is there any way you could get to a local rescue and volunteer.......there are LOADS of doggies there who would only be too delighted to be your buddy to walk and play with, and you would be doing a good deed too!

I think you pretty much know yourself that now is not a good time to get your own dog cost wise.
A lot of places also look for foster homes and they pay the food and vet bills I think.

peasant

LiNgWiStIkZ wrote: »

Could you guys try to convince me somehow that I don't want one?

What you want or not is totally irrelevant.

You have:
- no space
- no money
- no idea what your immediate future holds

A dog is the last hing you need right now.

The Sweeper

LiNgWiStIkZ wrote: »

I'm just after doing my LC and have no job, so I have no income atm to actually pay for vet bills, etc. if anything ever happened!

Could you guys try to convince me somehow that I don't want one?

My husband has joined the army and leaves on 26th October for three months initial training. I wanted a dog to keep me company, even though this household has six cats already (so like yours, not a perfect dog household). Thought I could persevere and things would be good. Wanted the pup for company. Have him written into the budget though, so there we differ - I can afford mine. (Within reason.)

In the last 72 hours, I adopted a pup. Hooray!

Then, when I got him home, I found he was infested with fleas and has ringworm. Now I have to keep the pup segregated from the rest of my house because of the ringworm. I had to take him to the vet within 24 hours of getting him because I just wasn't satisifed that his condition had been properly assessed.

Then I changed all my well made plans about socialisation and training, because of course with the ringworm, I can't allow him contact with other animals because he may spread it to them.

I'm also dealing with bad toilet training habits learned in his shelter days, so if he does have an accident it's as likely to be a poo in his bed as it is to be a wee on the floor.

Just after I changed all my well made plans, and redesigned how I intend to care for the pup, my father died suddenly and unexpectedly. I now have a puppy I cannot kennel (ringworm) and I cannot socialise, and I have to go away for a month because my father is dead and I need to go back home for my mother, so my husband is left to care for my dog, plus all the rest of our pets, including toilet training this pup, monitoring him for a flea reinfestation and treating his ringworm while ensuring he doesn't spread it to himself or any of our other animals.

Tell me precisely what you'd do in the above case, and if the answer isn't "lose my reason", then go get a pup.

Shit happens sometimes - if you're not able for the potential problems, don't do it to yourself.

andreac

As a rottweiler owner myself i would say absol do not get one at the moment.

I wanted a rottweiler all my life and only got one 3 years ago and im 31. I waited until i was finished college, and have my own house (not rented).

We've had family dogs all my life but i always wanted a rottie so said when im finished college and settled down in my own house i would get one and i did:D

But they need a lot of training, socialisation and vet treatment etc which doesnt come cheap so you would not be able to afford any of that right now and for the near future.

If you are so intent on getting one just wait until your situation is suitable and it certainly isnt now.
There are so many rotties in the pound etc so what would happen if you got the dog and went to college or had to move somewhere to get a job and couldnt take the dog with you and your family couldnt mind it?? It could end up in the pound, shelter etc and they are very hard to get rehomed.

So do the dog a favour and wait until your situation is suitable. Trust me the wait will be worth it, it certainly was for me.:)

lrushe

Agree with everything above. I had a 5 year gap between wanting a Rottie and getting one. I knew when I initally wanted one that it just wasn't possible at the time so I spent 5 years learning as much about the breed as I could, trying to find a good breeder, saving up the money to afford a pup from a good breeder etc. Actively preparing myself for the day when I would eventually get my Rottie made the longing a bit more bearable and by the time I got her I felt really well prepared. 5 years might sound like a really long time but you'd be amazed by how quickly it will go by and I'm sure any future pup you get will be worth the wait.

IvySlayer

Yeah, dog is totally unsuitabale right now. A new pup will take up all your free time for a few weeks.

Any shelters in your area?

koneko

I wouldn't recommend the shelter either, I wouldn't recommend any dog. At that age you'll want a million different things and not all are suitable.
What would you do when you're done with your LC? What are your circumstances going to be? Going to uni? Where are you going to be living? Are you going to be travelling? Moving in with mates when you're studying or working? Likely you wouldn't even be able to keep the dog.

Don't get a dog until you have a place of your own and can financially (and time wise) afford to take care of it. It isn't right or fair for you or a dog right now.

kezimus

Don't do it! We got a dog after moving into our new home 6 months ago and it's a huge tie, she's our baby substitute and even though we were, and still are, prepared to give her all the time, attention, exercise and love she could possibly want, nothing prepares you for how much of a responsibility it is. If you really want to be around dogs, why don't you look into doing dogwalking? If you've just done your LC you might have some free time!

seamus

You're only a kid. The next 5-10 years will involve lots of going out, staying out all day and all night and generally being super-selfish (in a good way) and enjoying yourself.

One of 3 things will happen:

- You will leave the dog alone all day and all night and it'll become destructive and difficult to control (unlikely)
- Your parents/siblings will have to raise the dog on your behalf (likely)
- You'll get so pissed off with having to constantly come home to look after the dog while your mates are off partying, that you'll give it away after a few months

Just wait. Take yourself up to a local animal shelter when you have free time and help look after the dogs there. That will give you the contact you crave without tying you down.

kylith

You certainly shouldn't be getting a dog now. What would happen when you go off to college? Your parents would be left with a dog they never wanted because most landlords won't take them, and digs certainly won't.

Dogs are a huge tie down, much more so than children IMO. You can't take them on a lot of public transport, people are likely to turn down a request to mind your dog so forget about last-minute holidays, or much holidays at all unless you can take the dog with you. Some people will even tell you to leave the dog at home when you visit them.

I'd recommend getting in touch with a local rescue. They'd probably be delighted to have you volunteer to walk and play with the dogs, and you'd get the doggy affection that you crave.

LiNgWiStIkZ

Thanks so much guys. You've certainly helped me loads. I'll wait alright, it'll be worth it

morganafay

It's definitely be worth it to wait.

I got my three dogs when I was a kid/teenager (well two belong to my brothers but I always was the one to look after them all), and my other pets. But then I moved away to college, and my family had to look after them, but it was really bad, because they just got fed but didn't get any attention. I couldn't come home every weekend because I had college work to do and it cost too much, and when I did come home I was tired after college all week and a long train journey, and didn't have enough time/energy to look after my animals properly, and it was very overwhelming to try to fit enough care into two days that they should have had for the past two or three weeks. And I really missed them and was feeling guilty about it.

I actually missed them so much and moved back and look after them all now, but they had three years of not enough attention, grooming, exercise, etc. and me really missing them.

I'm still in college but near home and make time for all animals and have the money for looking after them. I say that you should only get a dog if you're sure you have the money, sure you never want to travel or move away, you accept that you can't stay out with friends for a whole day and night, and sure that you will want them and be able to care for them for the next 15 or so years. I'm 22 now and I have gotten more pets but there's no way at all I'd leave them now, it was the worst mistake ever.

And I agree that a rottie isn't a good first time dog. Start with something easier to train, maybe even a small-medium dog, because that'd be easier (hopefully) and you don't know how much work looking after a dog is until you try it.