In my pursuit of finding things that make me happy, I've been wanting a dog forever. It has taken quite some time to get the wife on board, but she's come around. Living with my brother's dog for while helped her to understand that animals aren't just things that get hair on you and try to lick you.
After a long internal debate, I've decided against getting a puppy. We cannot be there every 2 hours to let the little guy out, and its wrong to expect it to go longer.
Luckily, my wife works 2 blocks from our apartment, and a mid-day outing will be a daily occurance for the dog. We have a good, hour-long loop to walk on without real traffic, and dog parks too. I actually read the Cesar Milan book, and I know all about using calm assertive energy.
As an added bonus, our building is VERY dog friendly. It seems that everyone here has a dog. They allow up to 50lbs too, which is great.
So this brings me to my potential choice- I am seriously considering a Greyhound Rescue Dog. The benefits are as follows:
- plenty of socialization from day 1 with people and dogs
- contrary to my initial thoughts, they are not abused. An abused dog would not run very fast.
- they have been well fed, and given proper medical care during their 'career'
- they are 100% crate trained already, having spent their time in one daily.
- as a breed, they are very healthy
- All of the sighthound benefits (virtually no barking, low energy indoors, an hour walk daily plus playtime sufficient, not stinky or very sheddy)
- The rescue organizations that get them are very well organized, the dogs are often kept in a foster home and are always up to date on shots and spayed/neutered
Drawbacks-
- not housebroken. Luckily, they are crate-trained, so half the battle is done. Plus, as its not a puppy 4 hours is not too long for the guy to wait for outside
- The size puts it right on the threshold for what is allowed at our building. The smallest females are right at 50lbs. I have to say I've seen some pretty fatassed dogs in by building, but I will go tonight and ask management rather than try to be sneaky. Plus, the rescue people would call them anyhow. They actually screen adopters and everything. Probably for the best.
- Sighthounds cannot be off-leash. Ever. If a squirrel is running around a quarter mile away, and they focus on it, they are gone. The only exception is an enclosed area with 5 foot fences all around.
Assuming my discussion with management goes well, we will go to an adoption open house on Saturday and check it out.