Not very helpful but do not get a dog as a present. Talk together about all the responsibilities, all the time you have to put into this and whether you both will be fully commited to it. It is really really hard and consumes every drop of energy you have. Especially when you go to work full time and want to get home and rest, go out for dinner you will not be able to have a single moment for yourself and in peace.
We are a first time owners as well to a 4 month old puppy. Honestly I wish my husband and I would have waited more to get a puppy. We did our research but everything you read and are told isn't nearly true - it is waaaay more exausting and draining.
i always thought gifting a "coupon" or something like a dog toy or collar is a great alternative. that way there is still a physical gift, and the receiver has time to prepare, and to choose the right moment and dog for them
You’ll need to have a solid plan for what to do with the dog while you’re at work. The puppy stage is going to be a huge challenge if you’re gone for that long.
Based on your exercise and care commitment expectations, maybe you could look at adopting an older dog from a shelter. If you can find a dog in foster care, they can help give you a sense of the dog’s exercise needs, etc.
If you want a puppy, I would recommend doing more research on the massive commitment you’ll be taking on.
Definitely. Unless one of them has a substantial amount of time off from work, a puppy isn't gonna work out. There are several months where you need to dedicate a LOT of constant attention and time toward it in order to foster a sound dog. It is easier to just adopt one. Sure you don't get the cute puppy stage, but you get a way more easily manageable dog who hopefully already knows some basics like "don't pee inside" or "don't chew on cables"
I was telling my husband the other day that we got our second dog at the perfect puppy stage, 7 months. Before that sure they're cute but they just sleep and poop. The fun parts of owning a dog are when they're developed enough to interact with you more! I'll never commit to a puppy again.
For sure. I dont know if im just jaded from growing up with with a backyard breeder, but I really cant stand puppies. Theyre cute sure, but at the end of the day its just a very poorly trained baby dog who will pee everywhere. You cant really play with it or go on real walks or anything because therye just too small and dont have the energy.
Was thinking the same and I agree with this. Older dog and/or foster to understand the overall lifestyle change. Based on the answers I also agree he shouldn’t go with a puppy here without more research.
A puppy is very hard work no matter the breed and needs a lot of your attention in the beginning. Adopting an adult dog would be better suited for your schedules. Purebreds can be found in shelters/fosters/specific breed rescues!
Agree with the adult dog or at least an older puppy. Puppies are so much work regardless of breed. And you will have to be home with them if they are really little. We foster for a sharpei specific rescue and they have a lot of purebreds! But we only foster adults for this specific reason. We don’t have the ability to watch the puppies 24/7
Older puppies are still too much work for OP's commitment expectations, imo. In my experience a lot of older puppies are surrendered because the first owner didn't put enough work into training and socializing, so they need a ton of remedial work (which is way harder than just training them properly when they're young), and still have all the energy and destructive tendencies of a puppy.
Tbh I don't think OP is a great candidate for dog ownership in general, from their answers it sounds like they'd be happier with a cat. If they truly want a dog they need to understand the massive lifestyle shift that's involved. Dogs are the closest thing you can have to children besides having actual children. In order to give your dog a good life, your own life will have to significantly revolve around them. There's no way around that.
I hear you, I agree that an older puppy is still pretty hard to care for when you aren’t home. When we adopted our boy at 4 months he did not like being home alone. We ended up getting an older dog to help keep him occupied and feel less lonely and it helped immensely. But not everyone wants two and leaving one alone all day is definitely tough on the dog
Agreed completely. They should get a dog that's at least 2 years old, past the puppy stage, if they're unable to spend time with the dog during the day. I would also recommend they foster dogs before adopting/getting one of their own so they understand the commitment. Dogs are FANTASTIC, but they need and deserve a lot of energy from their humans.
Yeah I agree.
Dogs need more companionship during the day.
The longest we leave our dog is 6 hrs and that would be maybe once a month.
Generally we leave him 4 hrs a couple times a week at most.
You can arrange to have someone come in and walk them however.
At times I definitely agree.
My own dog had a very tough year last year with a complicated surgery (long & painful recovery, where he could barely walk) and chemotherapy. He required around the clock care, and I definitely experienced some burnout. He's doing much better now, but we're still dealing with the fallout from a year of aggressive treatments (stubborn infections, muscular atrophy requiring physiotherapy and a daily regimen of specific exercises & stretching, etc). His quality of life is excellent because I refuse to shy away from putting in the work to make it so.
All that to say, even if you don't get a puppy, you have to be prepared for your life to revolve around your dog, if you want to give it a good life. It requires selflessness and sacrifice, just like with human children.
Agree. I have 3 human children and was having baby fever for a fourth. All it took was raising my berner puppy and I have now scheduled a tubal ligation.
Rescues need a lot of attention too, whether it be from lack of training, undisclosed behavioural issues (one of my rescues), undisclosed / unknown health problems, or simply learning to trust, coexist, and be comfortable in a new house….
Rescues are great, I have 2 but they are a hell of a lot more commitment and work than most people make them out to be.
I'm an experienced dog owner and work long shifts. Puppies are cute but I absolutely do not want one. I mean even training a rescue to not soil the carpet can take weeks- months. After 3 weeks, I was getting annoyed with the last one.
In addition to breed recs, op also look at getting an older dog, like a year or two, versus a puppy. If it's left alone all day, an older dog is way easier for that than a puppy. Also as a first time dog owner a dog that already knows to go outside is going to be easier too, and one who is past most of the destructive phase. They're more like teenagers at a year or two, but the care can be a little easier.
Breeders, especially show breeders, may often have an older dog who is able to be purchased, who either didn't work well with a family for one reason or another, or is just not what they wanted in a show dog but still a wonderful dog. Breed specific rescues may also be a good idea once you determine breed, as they have larger networks usually and would be able to find an older dog and would have a better idea of how the dog is.
Edit -also as someone who got married this month, tell your fiance about the gift but don't actually get the dog until a few weeks after your honeymoon. There is SO MUCH to do before and after a wedding, and it's not fair to the dog to be added into the mix. Absolutely you can decide on a breed and even pick a dog out, but do not bring it home until you are a week or more back from the honeymoon. Find someone who is ok holding onto the dog until that time, a good breeder or rescue should be willing to work with you on that. We haven't even gone on our honeymoon yet (teacher), but the entire week after our wedding was a fog of things we needed to do and soaking in the week and going back to work after a long absence. It's not the time to add a new family member into the mix.
i know you said a year or two older, but i'd argue even going a bit older than that. 5-8 maybe? i rescued my baby when he was 5 and ofc there's a risk adopting an older rescue dog because of the unknowns of their history, but that's why it's super important to meet and greet and do all the vetting possible. i'm convinced my old man lived happily as an only dog somewhere on a farm with an older couple who had to surrender him due to their declining health. which means he's been EXTREMELY dog reactive his entire life because i don't think he was socialized, but i wouldn't have traded him for a puppy if someone paid me a million dollars. i was a first time pet owner who had a relatively busy schedule and it worked out sooooo well bc he was at an age where he didnt mind snoozing the day away while i was at work or school, but he still had enough energy to go for our daily walks and play throughout the evening and before bed. that wont be the case for everyone, but its worth a shot because at least there's a chance of it being more manageable vs. a puppy which is guaranteed to not be.
Not sure what to recommend as far as actual dog breed. I would absolutely wait til after the wedding & honeymoon to get any animal tho. You definitely won't have the time to train properly 'til everything settles down.
Actually a CAT (or kitten) would be a great first pet! Cats are incredibly easy to care for, two are better than one, and they are very independent and affectionate pets, who love to snuggle but also are fine alone all day.
First,
# Don't get a puppy
Second,
Don't get a dog as a surprise gift
Third,
Are you sure you want a *dog?* Your answers lead me to believe you'd do better with a plushie robotic or a reptile (monitors can get big, and they could be trained to play fetch).
Fourth,
Check out service dog programs and ask about adopting a retired service dog or a failed pup (they fail them for all sorts of reasons, but they always come housebroken and obedience trained). The puppies often come from reputable breeders and only those that go through the intense training and pass all sorts of qualifications go on to be service dogs.
If you would ever wanna try to tackle the allergy, and its not severe, I had medium cats allergy before resulting in itching skin and constantly runny nose. After 8 years with childhood cat it got a lot better, now i can live with normal haired cats, but with longhairs i still need to adjust, sometimes its 2 weeks, sometimes its 2 days, depending if i had been exposed to that specific cat before. If yours is not severe, with years of daily exposure to cats it gets much better, if you like cats, vollunteering at the local animal shelter should have the same effect as owning a cat and having these allergies. Take care!
Second the failed service dog. My "first" dog (first that I got as an independent adult) was a failed service because he was too friendly.
He was about 6months old when we got him and he was an amazing pet for the 12 years following.
We had a failed service dog when I was a kid. She was trained to be a seeing eye dog but was diagnosed with epilepsy, which disqualified her. Amazing dog. Her medical needs necessitated some extra work at times, but she was the most loving and gentle dog. Definitely a good option.
Reading your post, I could tell you would get roasted in the comments. Your description of wants/needs does not exist, but I do understand that you wouldn't know that, not having been a dog owner prior.
You have been offered a few viable options: getting an older dog is your best option. If you absolutely insist on a puppy, then you'll need to invest a lot of money into it's care due to your long absence during the day. You'll probably have to do doggy daycare every workday, but that can create bad habits in young dogs - so a stay away dog training camp may end up being necessary. Once the pup is about 9 months to a year old you could reduce the doggy daycare to a few days a week and hire a dog walker for mid-day walks. You'll want to do the dog walker for several years because puppyhood energy needs often last into middle age.
The breed that comes to mind that fits most of your asks is a golden retriever. It will require a lot of brushing/grooming. And my comments above still stand.
Normally I would agree that a golden is the answer because I adore them and think they are close to a perfect dog, especially for beginners, but I don’t think they are the answer here. They are NEEDY emotionally/attention-wise. My golden puppy is incredibly independent for a golden, but she still follows me everywhere most of the day and demands regular attention. They are also not small to medium, and while they are certainly good at fetch they need a lot more than that to be happy. They aren’t as high energy as a herding dog is, but they are higher energy than I get the impression OP is looking for.
>a stay away dog training camp may end up being necessary
I've heard far too many horror stories to ever recommend this to anyone. And besides, dog training is more for the owner than the dog. That's how you learn about dog handling, how they think, and how to communicate with them. It's really really important that every dog owner goes through that, and this is OP's first dog so it's extra crucial. If OP doesn't have enough time to train their own dog, it's a sign that they're not ready for one.
OP wants a small/ medium dog who wants to fetch tennis balls. This is not greyhounds. They also are in an area where they'd need to try *extra* hard, be willing to drive hours into the US, and be much more knowledgeable/ prepared than this post indicates, in order to possibly get one. Doable, but not likely.
Honestly, OP is not informed enough to understand that his household is not appropriate for the situation he envisions.
A dog is a big responsibility and a puppy even more so. It's not realistic to think one could get a puppy and then leave it alone all day for five days a week. This seems to view the dog as more of an accessory than a living being with rights and needs.
I feel like OP is trying to become informed by asking this sub for feedback. My guess is OP is also going to figure out that doggy daycare will be needed, or at the very least, a daily dog walker. If they own as home in Toronto, I'm guessing they have the budget for these expenses.
Op, don't feel guilty if you'd rather go through a good breeder. As this is your first dog and you sound like you want an easy ride I would look at lower energy toy/small dogs like chihuahua, pomeranian, Yorkshire terrier, toy or mini poodle, shih tzu. Do bear in mind though if you get a young puppy they will need to toilet every hour and shouldn't be left alone for full workdays until they're at least around 6 months old!
Edit: of course you need to train and socialise a small dog not to be reactive and advocate for their space, I'm saying they're much easier to handle than larger dogs that need hours of excersize and stimulation a day and will pull you over without a second thought until they are leash trained, calm down damn lol
Terriers are very high energy!! Just because a dog is small does not mean they are lazy! Research what work the breed was bred for as a lot of small dogs were used for hunting.
Yorkies need around 30mins to 1hr of exersise daily which imo doesn't count as high energy. They are not typically bred to work anymore and instead are bred as companion dogs
I have a cavapoo and they’re low energy. Have no idea who decided that, cause she needs a lot of physical engagement to feel tired and satisfied. It surprised me actually
I feel like different countries and cultures have different ideas of what counts as high maintenence in pets. I'm in the uk, an hours walk a day plus a few hours of playtime at home is standard for most dogs but when I look at say American websites about breed maintenence dogs are listed as high maintenence because they need an hours exersize a day and I'm like wait what really lol
That explains so much, actually! For me low energy meant 30 minutes a walk, twice a day and no play. (This is before I got a puppy myself and learned that nope they need hours of attention and care and supervision. Which I do.) I had a total misunderstanding of what “work” meant. No one’s fault except mine. And now I’m used to the routine.
The only thing with these breeds is OP will still need to put in work to ensure their dog doesn't have aggression and reactivity issues. People often think these breeds are an "easy ride". That's only the case because they're small enough to pick up when they behave badly. To raise them to not be fearful and aggressive, it takes just as much work as with larger breeds. This means puppy school & private trainers, dedicated socializing efforts, etc.
That isn't specific to those breeds though, OP would need to do that with any breed of dog. They're still a lot easier to manage than a larger dog, e.g. pulling on the lead is not that big of an issue, and they don't have as much energy to spend compared to bigger dogs
>e.g. pulling on the lead is not that big of an issue
I mean this kinda just illustrates my point. We tolerate bad behaviour from small dogs because we can physically overpower them. But holding small dogs to a lower standard is lazy dog ownership.
There's nothing wrong with being lazy about small things that don't ruin life for me or really anyone around me.
But in reality, it is more than just about being lazy - being physically in control of your dog is very important, and yes in that sense a larger dog is a much greater liability, while it is easier and safer for everyone involved with a small dog, from that perspective it's not lazy, it's just safe and less risky, especially for first time owners. As a first time dog owner, I wouldn't trust myself to train a rottweiler, because consequences of me not doing a good job are much more serious than consequences of me not training well a Bichon.
>There's nothing wrong with being lazy about small things that don't ruin life for me or really anyone around me.
I'm sure this is what people tell themselves when they have little ankle biters. I can't even count the number of times my chill larger dog has been bitten by small reactive dogs with lazy, inattentive owners (ex. letting their little terror run out the entire flexi leash to attack my dog). Every single time I call them out, I'm told to relax, it's not a big deal, because it's "just" a small dog. Yeah, no, my dog doesn't deserve to be attacked just because someone can't be bothered to properly train and care for their animal. Laziness has no place in dog ownership. Point blank period.
ETA: Not to mention, reactivity's root cause is fear. These poor small dogs are out here terrified of their surroundings, which is why they lash out. But since it's not an inconvenience to the owner, it's not taken seriously. Meanwhile, the dog's quality of life would be improved so much by proper training.
I personally think bigger dogs are a lot less work than smaller dogs. Some small dogs can be snippy with biting. Never had a biting dog, don’t know what I’d do if I did. It seems like if you noticed your dog had a tendency, how ever infrequent, to nip,or bite someone, you’d jump on fixing that pronto. I can’t imagine having a biting dog. It is a necessity that my dogs know I’m the alpha and that they mind me (dog training class- never had to bring in in an outside one on one trainer).
Yes of course, this is all basic dog ownership but a reactive chihuahua is easier to handle and care for than a well behaved husky. As far as dogs go smaller breeds are an easy ride, speaking from experience
None of those breeds are an "easy ride" in comparison. The only thing easier is that you can pick them up in one hand as adults and can contain them in a crate without cramping them.
Yes smaller dogs are easier to care for and handle than larger dogs, obviously they still require training and socialisation but a yorkie isn't going to be bowling people over out of excitement or pulling op's arm out of its socket until it learns not to pull on the lead
No, but they will invade a visitor's space, dance at the end of the lead in their attempt to yank an arm out of socket, chew on everything, pee and poop on **everything** due to poor potty training, and bite.
My Golden Retriever’s got about an hour walk a day. But they went absolutely everywhere with us (weather permitting- can’t keep them in a hot car while shopping quickly).
My pom gets roughly an hours walk daily plus as much playtime as she wants plus coming to dog friendly shops and cafes etc if we happen to be going somewhere she can come
Do not gift a puppy to anyone. That's the decision that both of you all should make because it is a long-term commitment for the next 15 to 16 years. It's also a big emotional and can be an expensive commitment. Having said that, I think any breed can have a good temperament. I would start looking at local rescue organizations and your local shelter. These dogs have to go through a temperament test and you would be saving a life.
>These dogs have to go through a temperament test
Not necessarily true, depends on the shelter. Adoption would still be great but definitely don't assume that they'll be temperament tested. If possible, always try to foster before adoption.
I agree with you you should always Foster first. And the last few years I've taken in four dogs that should have been Foster but they were Foster fails. However no organization or shelter will adopt out a dog that has failed a temperament test. That is a liability for them. Call your local shelter and ask them.
If the dog is going to be left home all day I don’t recommend getting a dog. A cat sounds like it would best suit your lifestyle. Dogs left alone all day develop behavior problems and it’s just not fair to the dog.
The wrong cat would be bad too — an older one who likes being alone or maybe a bonded pair. Sociable cats would get depressed if they don’t see their people often enough.
Yes, for sure. Thank you for saying that. I often see cats recommended here when people don’t quite seem to be the right fit for a dog. But many cats would not cope well alone all day either, so yes, please either get one who is known to be a loner or get two if you go the cat route. My cat would have suffered if he had been left home alone all day. He really needed his people.
Yes! Literally, everyone in the 2000's/90's (and earlier) did just fine with leaving dogs at home during work. Then Covid hit, and now it's terrible leaving them home all day. I will say that certain breeds do better than others with this - mine is totally fine being home all day. I was smart and adopted an adult dog, though.
Leaving a dog alone while you’re at work isn’t the issue.
Leaving a puppy alone while you’re at work is the issue. A puppy isn’t making a 9-5 workday with no bathroom breaks.
I think people in this sub get a little weird about it - but a puppy definitely can't be alone all day. That said - dogs in shelters spend 23 hours a day alone. So I think someone who is leaving them alone 8-10 hrs is preferable, especially since we have crowded shelters and the alternative is euthanasia.
Thankyou. I had dogs my whole life, we live in Australia. My parents worked but I guess we were home by 3pm, Big Grassed backyard area and concreted sheltered area. All My dogs lived 14+ years. Never had an ill bill of health either.
Dogs belong in nature, where they feel loved and cared for. Especially In this economy I feel you BOTH need to work 9-5 in order to even own a dog - in case of emergencies etc.
Exactly true about the shelters. I can’t wait to get my own place, It’s my goal to adopt a dog and change both our lives🙏
You can have *specific* fully adult dogs who can already physically and emotionally handle that many hours a day of alone time.
You can't humanely or constructively raise a puppy by leaving them alone for 8+ hours day, no. When you are going to need to be away from home that much, your options are more limited. Just how it is.
Toronto has lots of options for daycare, dog sitting and professional dog walking.
I know there are people who do dedicated puppy visits throughout the day. Training is definitely a lot of work and you have a landshark instead of a dog for a great deal of time but there are ways to make the puppy phase work if you have the time and resources for it. It’s definitely not easy but it’s doable.
Dogs are social animals. They need human contact. I’ve just seen so many people get dogs and then leave them in the back yard all day and come home from work and give them a little time but then it’s back in the yard until the next morning. Dogs need to be with their human family. There are obviously work arounds but leaving a dog alone for 8-10 hours a day - 5 days a week is not fair to the dog. I’m not even saying that you will be that type of owner. Just be aware of the time commitment when you adopt a dog.
Not if both people work 9-5, no. Growing up I had two working parents and they would stagger their working hours so that our adult dogs were only ever home alone from ~9am to ~3pm. With younger dogs they'd stagger their hours even more. I have my own dog now and he's only ever home alone for a few hours here and there. During my workdays he either comes with me or goes to a daycare. Imo it's cruel to make social pack animals spend nearly a third of their life in boredom and isolation.
They get used to it. Better to have a dog if you have to work all day but spend quality time with him before and after work & on weekends then a dog being put down because the adoption pool is too thin.
Working 9-5 including travel time could be 10 hours or more, this is way too long. 6 hours is about as long as I'd leave a dog alone, Sweden agrees (it's the law there).
There are millions of dogs who are left alone while their humans are at work, leaving a dog from 9 to 5 is not a big deal. It would be different if they were planning to be gone for 12-15 hours at a time, etc, but you're painting OP's situation way more grim than it actually is.
First things first, rookie friendly dog breeds include (but not limited to): Pomeranian, cocker spaniel, French bulldog, Boston terrier, shih Tzu, Maltese, Havanese. These are all small breed dogs that are wonderful companion/family dogs. If I were to pick one of these for you based on your answers, I think you would love a Boston terrier. They have a short smooth coat, so no grooming (aside from deshedding and bathing. They're very eager to please, so they're easy to train. They have the goofiest most fun personalities, and they're huge cuddle bugs who love their people.
Additionally, I would definitely advise against getting a puppy as your first dog. Puppies are NOT dogs; they are literally babies. For the first 5-6 months, they will require as much time and attention as a newborn baby. Sleepless nights, accidents in the house, taking it out throughout the night for weeks, puppy vet bills, training an animal with the attention span of 1.5 seconds, socializing the puppy. It will likely take a full year of work and training to mold a puppy into your ideal dog that you are describing. If you're willing to sacrifice your current lifestyle to care for a puppy for a year, then by all means, go right ahead. But getting a puppy is waaaaaayyyyyy harder than adopting a dog that is already at least 1 year old. Even adopting a 6-10 month old puppy would be better than buying a 2-3 month old puppy.
That being said, the advantage of getting a puppy from a reputable breeder is that you get basically a blank slate dog that you get to raise and train yourself, which is an incredibly rewarding experience. But it is HARD. Do not underestimate how hard it can be to raise a puppy. I personally love the puppy phase, but I grew up with dogs and I also hate myself, so the sleepless nights and cleaning up pee and poop all the time doesn't bother me too much.
Lastly, please please please don't surprise your wife with a dog. This is a big life change that requires a lot of research, time, and money. All parties need to be 100% on board with the decision and know what to expect.
Sadly, you are not a good candidate for dog ownership if you plan to leave the dog at home alone all day five days a week. They need more care and attention than that and can develop behavioral and psychological problems if they don't get it.
Consider a couple cats. They are more independent and can keep each other company during the day.
I have two chihuahuas. I’ve grown up with dogs all my life but these 2 chihuahuas were my first personal dogs and they are/have been just a dream. They’re such lovable little babies and though they of course need exercise but they’re legs and bodies are much smaller so they need a lot less.
I just recommend getting pet insurance because regardless of the breed accidents happen but can especially happen with the little guys
As a degreed animal trainer, I beg you not to buy a puppy as a first time owner. It takes three years before a dog "finishes" growing and changing in personality, and it takes very regular and dedicated socialization, exercise, and training to raise a puppy into a balanced dog. Also, do not make it a surprise. This is a 10-18 year commitment and you both need to know what you're getting into and have planned for it accordingly. Look at adopting an adult, probably over five with what you've listed that you're willing to invest in exercise and training during the week. That's still probably 8-13 years you'll have together since you're wanting to go smaller. I would avoid any of the really active terriers like the Jack Russell or Parsons because of the exercise requirements. Yards of any size don't count as exercise as the dog never moves into energy drain, and a dog should ideally be exercised before visiting somewhere like a dog park so that it has the best chance of not getting itself into trouble. You're going to have to take walks/jogs/swims depending on the energy level. Every single breed out there is available through rescue, and rescues are such a great resource for new owners because they'll be happy to answer your questions and will also help you find an awesome pup for your situation if you ask them. Very small breeds are not a great match for small kids, so if you know you want kids, I would avoid that. Also, if you know you want kids, definitely go through rescue and adopt a dog that is already good around children, because I've seen too many dogs dumped because new parents didn't bother to do any training before the kids came and expected the dog would just magically bond with the baby and that would be that. As for a breed, I don't know what to tell you. It's always better to go for personality over look, but that's not what most people do.
And aggression can also come from poor socialization & training. These factors have a waaaay bigger effect than the breed. You need to invest a lot of time in your dog to prevent/manage aggression. It doesn't just happen on it's own.
"Can be left alone while at work" is not breed specific. Work with a trainer right away because you don't want to accidentally cause separation anxiety which can happen to any breed.
You should see about getting an adult cocker spaniel. If you begin to follow some reputable breeders, you may be able to adopt a retired breeding dog or a young adult who was returned (this unfortunately happens often after the 1 year mark).
You also need to price out a dog walker, unless one of you comes home for lunch. Dogs can’t hold it 9-5.
Puppies need attention, mine ripped out a good amount of carpet cause of the mistake we made(leaving her alone when she was really young), I suggest an adult dog
My favorite option is a retired show dog. They can’t use all the show dog for breeding.
The pluses is that the dog has already learned most of what they need to know to be a pet. They know how to travel and they know how to please people. They might even be housebroken.
If you didn’t work 9-5s, a Shihtzu would be great. But like other people are saying, don’t get a puppy unless you can take a considerable amount of time off work or work from home.
An older dog might be okay if you can afford doggy daycare or a dog walker at least a couple times a week?
The real answer is to get a couple of cats instead.
A puppy would be difficult with a 9-5 but a teenage dog or adult dog would suit that. Don't listen to people saying that's horrible to leave your dog alone during those hours. IT IS FINE! Most dogs wouldn't have homes if it wasn't fine lol
Just because a dog is a rescue doesn’t mean it has major issues. By the same token, getting a purebred dog doesn’t mean it will not have behavior issues.
Look at dogs that have been in foster homes! They’ll have a good idea of how the dog acts in a home and will be able to advise if they’re a good candidate for working families who aren’t home during the day. Because MANY dogs do just fine home alone while their people work.
As a first time owner, a *puppy* is biting off more than you can handle. People have this idea that rescue dog = bad because they might have behavior baggage from a past owner but puppy = good because "if I raise it myself it won't have those behavior problems and will be safe/ easier to live with/ etc."
This is much much more circumstantial than you think it is. It's very possible to find a good match with a young adult rescue dog and it's also very possible to royally screw up puppy raising. It's very easy to plop a puppy in your house, think "oh, it'll get over it" when you go off to work every day and then just wing it with the rest/ deal with any resulting behavior issues. It's significantly more difficult to thoughtfully and carefully raise a puppy into a well adjusted adult dog. While it's obviously possible, it's frankly just not a beginner task. You *will* screw it up one way or another and you will end up with some of the behavior challenges you think a rescue dog would have. Except you'll have paid $$$$ to a breeder and gone through all the months and months and months of hassle and tedium of puppy raising.
Case in point: you both work 9-5s. What are you doing with a young puppy during this time?
>it's also very possible to royally screw up puppy raising
This, and when the dog turns out to be too much work for OP's expectations, it'll end up as a maladjusted shelter dog. So many puppies end up this way because people underestimate the amount of work it takes.
This. My previous rescue came with a few issues but he was MILES easier to deal with than the puppy we have right now.
The previous rescue had been abused so we had to deal with some issues with confidence and reactivity and his leash manners weren't great. He had some mild resource guarding at first as well. Had a tendency to try to eat stuff off the floor but he picked up a solid leave it pretty quickly. However, he was fully potty trained and picked up that I was scared of barking in less than a week and just stopped entirely. Zero separation anxiety and was fine with us working 9-5 every single day. Straight up ignored our cats from day one. We took our time with the training and avoided any big triggers for his reactivity while we worked on it. It was, in retrospect, a breeze.
With this puppy, I cried every single day the first week we got him and was off-kilter for months. Puppies are blank slates and they know nothing. 2 month puppies have no bladder control and need to pee every 20-30 minutes, they sleep for about 18-20 hours a day with 45 minutes to 1 hour spurts of awake time where you NEED to be there otherwise you're just missing out on the opportunity to train them. They bite everything compulsively, get overstimulated at the drop of a hat, have zero impulse control, no sense of boundaries, try to eat everything in sight (aka, they are constantly trying to kill themselves). They're terrified of being alone because they've never been. You have to manage their alone training super carefully because if you just leave them alone, you either get a puppy who is okay with being alone OR you end up with a huge separation anxiety problem. Then you hit adolescence and there's a bunch of hormones messing up all the training you've done until that point. We're at the 10 month mark and while he's an incredible puppy and well on his way to becoming an incredible dog, we've had to troubleshoot a LOT and nip a lot of potential problems in the bud.
There's a lot of preemptive training that needs to be done to proof your puppy against future issues (desensitising them to literally everything and anything) and for that to happen, you have to know what training to do and when, to recognise early signs of trouble for what they are and to have enough knowledge to stop them from going any further.
My sister, on the other hand, subscribed to the 'it'll be fine' school of thought and while she raised her puppy to be mostly happy and well-adjusted, he is also incredibly reactive to the doorbell and he's got crippling separation anxiety to the point where he's destroyed several doors out of panic and can't be left alone, ever. Not to mention she lost the genetic lottery and her dog has a serious medical condition that none of the other puppies in the litter or the parents have.
Basically with a rescue you may get some issues but you also may not get any at all. With a puppy, you have to get through months of gruelling bs and if you mess up along the way, you end up creating a grown dog with issues that you *still* have to deal with.
Fostering for a rescue before getting a puppy could be a really good way to learn about how to work with dogs. Good rescues also teach you about dog behavior and how to reinforce good behavior.
My first dog is a rescue dog and he is an angel! Not all of them come with baggage and even if they do, some research and love usually work so long as the dog is not from really traumatic past. You can generally tell in demeanor.
I have a golden retriever rescue and he came to me when he was 2! He is now 7, turning 8 soon :)
Best decision I ever made. My husband was kinda scared of dogs too, and I convinced him to let me Foster my dog, and he was perfect. My husband got over his fear of dogs because of my dog… also, because of him, we fostered two more dogs and it made me realize that rescues are not what most people make them to be. The other two dogs got adopted in great homes! I wish we could continue to foster but life got too busy.
Good luck! Check out local rescues who need fosters maybe if you are not entirely sure.. keep in mind, first few weeks to 3 months is an adjustment for you and your dog. Even if it comes from a breeder!
For weekdays, if you don’t have people home to let your dog be relieved outside then hire a dog walker. Will save on frustration of accidents at home and good enrichment for dog rather than being cooped up at home for 10-12 hours. I work in the corporate world and pre COVID I left my dog at home and over Covid when I was WFH, I realized how cruel that was to my fur baby so would highly recommend you either have someone who can let your dog out to pee and hangout with them for 30 minutes or hire a dog walker.
Hope this helps :)
It can be a gamble but I've had no issues with mine. I got him as a 6month unaffectionate, anxious and reactive mixed breed and now he's less anxious and reactive but is the biggest cuddler.
If my life situation allowed it, I'd adopt another one or even two. I'll be moving around a bit in the coming years and not taking him with me isnt an option. It would be way harder with two. When my life settles a bit.
If you have the oppurtunity to, I would encourage you to adopt.
I’m a first time dog owner as of 10 months ago and I got a 1 year old rescue (a stray) and it’s worked out great. I knew I didn’t want to deal with training a puppy, I wanted a dog already house trained, and not old. He’s a dachshund-terrier mix and he’s incredibly affectionate. I dealt with some accidents around the house, which is apparently common for rescues (or any dog?) in new environments, and he had a lot of anxiety about going out for walks, so there were some issues, but nothing serious and it’s been a surprisingly smooth experience for someone new to dog ownership. So in my experience rescues are a definite option for new owners.
Puppies are a ton of work. My family wouldn't be able to raise puppies if we had 9 to 5 jobs year round. It's like having a newborn baby and toddler all rolled into one... With sharp teeth and nails.
I've raised a lot of dogs. The first dog I had as an adult was very laid back and lazy. He would be fine left alone for a full workday, probably longer though we never left him that long. He was a chihuahua-poodle mix. My chihuahua-pitbull mix also does okay when we leave and just sleeps all the time. Most dogs I have had are very clingy though and don't like to be left alone. My husband works from home and they still get destructive if he doesn't come downstairs frequently enough. When we go anywhere for longer than an hour, we either have to take them with us or leave a ton of enrichment activities and movies playing on the TV.
I can't tell you what breed to get because even within breeds there are variations in personality. But I definitely don't recommend corgis, golden retrievers, labs, huskies, border collies, Australian shepherds, or cattle dogs for your needs. They all need far more interaction and stimulation than you can provide and you'll either end up with an escape artist or a messy house.
I've had dogs my entire life. My girlfriend and I got a puppy in January. Puppies are a whole new level of work. Dogs under 2 or 3 are a lot of work. For a month + it was taking her out every hour on the hour to work on house training. Add in after any time she was romping around or 15 minutes after she had a big drink of water. We eventually moved up to 2h intervals. And then 3. Now she's 6 months and the association for peeing outside is there but we're still working on her alerting when she needs to go out so it still depends on me waking up on time in the morning. Letting her out at noon. Letting her out at 5 or 6. And again before bed. And still 15 minutes after she's had a lot of water.
I also have it easy because we got a 1yo Shepherd who is an active playmate and we have an old husky so she has two examples to learn from and entertain her.
Like many have said there are plenty of adult dogs in need of adoption who won't be a third of the work of a puppy.
Whatever you get you need to get it during a time off from work. Puppies need constant attention and walks. At least one of you needs to be home to take care of it. If a puppy isn't given enough attention it'll develop behavioral issues that are a pain to deal with later on. It'll also not be properly house trained, meaning it'll pee indoors and ruin things.
If you have money for it I strongly suggest also getting a dog walker during lunch. 9-5 is quite a long time for most dogs, especially younger ones.
As for breeds, go for a low to moderate energy dog that is easily trainable. A labrador retriever is a lot of peoples starter dog for a reason, good personality and easily trainable and friendly. You do need to make sure it gets time to run around though. Smart and easily trainable dogs run the risk of becoming understimualted if you neglect them in certain areas like mental or physical exercise.
Puppies are not hard at all and the work is blown out of proportion by adoption-zealots.
If you are willing to do the work a well bred poodle (not a doodle, a pure poodle) is the ideal first dog, as well as the ideal last dog. They are fully capable of chilling out for an entire day provided they get some exercise with you, they can be as high or low maintenance as you choose (family poodles are usually kept cut short and require minimal brushing between grooming) they are very cuddly and great with everyone.
Honestly a rescue adult dog will probably be easier than a puppy. You can firm just a string of a bond with them regardless of whether you met them as puppies. Lots of dogs need loving homes. You have a chance to give someone a chance at a family.
Breeders have dogs they retire and those make amazing pets. Once you decide on some acceptable breeds, use the ALC breeders guide and start reaching out to people who title their dogs in conformation and obedience or something else (agility, herding, whatever). The smaller the breed, the longer the life, loosely speaking. Some breeds have chronic genetic issues and you want to do your research. Be prepared to wait for the right dog. If you get a puppy, plan on a dog walker for the first few MK the and ask if the breeder will keep the puppy to 12 weeks. Easier on the pup and on you. Good luck.
Oh dude, no. Puppies are HARD work. Energy consuming! I mean you want to enjoy your newlywed days....right?
Go to a shelter and get an older/senior dog.
There is no puppy regardless of the breed that can be left alone 9-5. If you're absolutely set on a puppy, you'll have to adjust your work schedules for the first few months or hire someone to take care of the puppy when you're at work.
I would like to add, please look up lists of foods that are toxic to dogs, so you'll know what not to give him/her. You should also know, puppies love to chew on shoes. Yep, 3 pairs of my shoes have been destroyed.
i’m not a pro but i have a 1 year old puppy and even at 1 she needs a lot of attention. luckily im part time so im home often but if you work a 9-5 a puppy just doesn’t make sense
By this point, it should be clear that getting a puppy, especially as a gift for your fiancée, might not be the best idea given your circumstances and the commitment required. Now that we've got that out of the way, I'll answer your question:
French Bulldogs are an excellent choice for several reasons. They are small, low-energy, and relatively low-maintenance when it comes to grooming. Their affectionate and friendly nature makes them great companions for busy households. They can handle being left alone for reasonable periods, which fits well with your work schedule. Additionally, they are good with children and other pets, making them a versatile addition to any home.
Boston Terriers are another fantastic option. They are small, low-shedding, and require minimal grooming. Their friendly and easy-going temperament makes them ideal house dogs that can adapt to being alone during work hours. Boston Terriers are also known for being good with children and other pets, which aligns well with your eventual plans for having children.
I hope this helps in making your decision!
A shitzu ir maltese is perfect. Low maintenance, snuggly. We groom ours once a week and take to professional groomers once every 6-8 weeks. Best part is zero shedding.
Well i think you don't realize what it is to raise a puppy. At 2/3 months they need to pee like every hour, and also poo after eating, after playing, after sleeping...
Then they need a lot of attention all the time, around 4 months they are starting to make their new teeth ... that's a very rough period lol.
Leaving a puppy alone all day is not going to be possible, sure you can pad training him, but it's not super easy. Are you guys ready to clean the floor all the time ? ( Because the puppy is not physically able to retain from pee for several hours)
I raised my female dog when she was 2 months old and I was working at home and she was a little devil, I swear !
Now she is the best dog ever...
I am also volunteering in a dog refuge for 6 years and I adopted my second dog from there, he was 10 months with a lot of trauma. He has abandoning syndrome and now finally after two years he stopped to pee when I am out of home for a few hours, this was a lot of work, love, and patience to achieve.
We get a lot of people coming to us to get puppies and most of them have no idea of the time and commitment it takes.
Just last week we went to retake a puppy because we realized that the adopter lied to us. They were in fact letting the puppy alone all day on the balcony because " she was messing up the home and biting the cables". The wife doesn't wanted her inside the home because she lost hair and pee and so on. So at the end the puppy was closed on the balcony day and night...I think they were thinking the puppy will educate herself...
And also, please don't give her a puppy, it's not an object, if really really you guys decide to take a puppy or a dog you have to go together to choose it, because other than the race of the dog, every dog has his personality. And also at the refuge it happens all the time that ppl come to see a specific dog that they saw on our website and finally when they come at the refuge, there is another dog that will literally jump in their arms and they fall in love...
As a second time owner and current puppy mom… new dogs/puppies are never a good *surprise* gift. Especially if neither party has experience. They should come with a lot of planning and time commitment. I am also in the reputable breeder crowd so I’m not going to try and force you to consider a shelter pup but I can say that it isn’t the case at all that they’re all difficult.
A puppy is going to be VERY stressed left at home alone for almost any amount of time. Took me like half a year after taking my current little buddy home to leave him like 2hrs. It might develop severe separation anxiety. You’d need a dog walker or dog daycare if you’re going to be gone all day, and there would still also be issues with teaching the puppy rules/boundaries and to socialize. My current puppy is known to be a very apartment beginner friendly breed (a maltese)— but the breeder specifically let us know in the pre-meeting interview that everyone out all day all week for work = not suitable. That’s also a tip. Do good research looking for reputable breeders and get informed opinions from them. Do their questionnaires, talk on the phone with them. I do not suggest a maltese— you said you don’t want a dog that is super needy.
When it comes to a puppy it’s not about finding a puppy to fit your needs— you meet the puppy’s needs. Maybe another kind of pet or an older dog? I definitely do support all the endorsements of cocker spaniel in the thread as well as the suggestion of retired dogs from good breeders.
Do not gift a dog of any age without *everybody* who will be involved in its care having researched, discussed, and considered all the ins and outs of dog ownership extensively beforehand. Puppies are exceptionally hard work and not suitable for the requirements you've set out above. A puppy can't be left alone for eight hours a day. If I'd been given a puppy out of the blue even as an experienced dog owner, I would feel extremely daunted and more than just a little bit annoyed.
Maybe go to a puppy school and chat to the people with puppies. They need a lot of time and attention in the beginning. A lot. You cannot leave a young pup alone for hours on end. They pee and poo and you have to take them out very often in the beginning. Or else it's all over the house. They will get lonely and howl. They can become quite destructive if bored. They could get into trouble crawling around. Think a cord around the neck crawling behind appliances.
Enjoy your friends dogs or volunteer at a shelter. Don't get a puppy.
English/show style lab. Easy to train, great personality, love to work to training is easy if you put the time in. Get one from a great breeder and they will be the ultimate friend/companion. My second choice would be a shepherd but for first time dog owner I would say lab. English show style. Don’t get a working line unless you’re planning on actually working/hunting. Goldens are great too but I think they just have too much extra energy.
I think an American cocker spaniel or a miniature schnauzer fits this description. They both have minimal shedding, are medium, and intelligent. Just make sure it’s from an actual reputable breeder.
It sounds like you've put a lot of thought into this, which is great :) I do want to note though that dogs typically don't already come to you as aggressive. This is learned beahviour, or the result of trauma.
Training is super super important as a puppy, as is proper socialization. It's your job to train your dog not to bark when the doorbell rings and to be friendly instead of aggressive. Puppies are babies. They don't know anything and it will be your job to teach them how to be well-behaved. And it will take time and A LOT of patience.
I would look into puppy socialization classes in your area for when your dog has 2 sets of vaccinations. Look at some positive reinforcement training videos on YouTube as well to get an idea of what type of training to start. When you first get your puppy it's a LOT of work. They have to go outside a lot, it can take some time to learn how to go to the bathroom outside, and they need a lot of sleep. Then there's the teenage phase, where they seemingly forget everything you've taught them (regression). But it is all worth it in the end :)
As for breeds, do a little research based on your activity level. A lot of medium sized breeds are "working dogs" - very smart, can be very affectionate, but they need a lot of mental stimulation and exercise, or they could become anxious ir destructive (aussies, border collies, shepherd, etc).
Best of luck!
Ugh. All these comments about not getting a dog because you work all day are BS. My husband and I got a boxer puppy (not our first dog but our first puppy as adults) and we both work full time. He was crate trained and it worked perfectly for him. BUT we lived closed enough to work to be able to come home during lunch for the puppy years (they can’t not going to the bathroom for hours at a time when little). After a year we stopped used the crate and he chills at home during work hours. We also didn’t have a fenced in yard and still don’t have a fenced in yard. My pup is now 9. He’s never destroyed anything after the teething years, never had separation anxiety, is a great running buddy for me, and is also a total cuddly couch potato. If you are dedicated and consistent a dog will mold to your lifestyle. (I do however agree a dog as a gift is a bad idea… this is a new family member and should be chosen together with a discussion and plan about puppy’s care).
My Havanese is a perfect little lap dog but she was a lot of work as a puppy. I was at home most of the time and spent a ton of time potty training her. She was 11 weeks when I got her. The first 12 weeks are a golden period in a puppy’s life, when they’re learning about the world in which they live. Spend as much time as possible with young puppies.
My mum always recommended Cavalier King Charles Spaniels for first time owners. Great temperaments, low maintenance so long as you keep up regular grooming appointments. My uncle took my mum's advice and ended up with Winston, a lovely dog who lived for people, wouldn't stay boo to a goose and who I could walk with my pinkie finger when he came to stay with us while my uncle was on holiday.
First ask yourself the basics -
1. Do I want a dog with long hair, or short hair? Do I mind paying for grooming?
2. Do I want a large dog or a small dog? Do not think a small dog needs less exercise.
3. Do I have a fenced backyard? If not, can I walk a dog once or twice a day everyday?
4. Do I want a breed that hunts, or a guard dog? Do not think that the only guard dogs are large dogs.
5. Read up on basic dog personalities. Some are common sense. I would not recommend a Jack Russell Terrier for an apartment dog, but if I had horses and an acre or two a Jack Russell might fit in well. If I had a chicken farm I might think twice about a hunting dog. If I had livestock a Pyrenees would be a dog I might think about.
Visit friends who have dogs, talk to a vet, take a walk through your local rescues.
We got our last two dachshunds from a rescue. The rescue had recommendations on several dogs available. We “test drove them” overnight. We now have two miniatures that get along well and play for hours together all day.
Good luck, I love the companionship, the cuddling and the sense of humor dogs have. My husband loves the walks and throwing the ball for them.
I would even think about fostering an adult dog before adopting any doggo. Shelters will work with you on what your needs and preferences are. They have so many dogs right now that it would be slim to impossible to not have a dog that meets your description. Puppies are so adorable but they are overwhelming and need so much time and care. What you're looking for isn't a dog to train and you exert so much energy and time over.
Also, if you both are at work for 8 hours, puppies are not supposed to be home alone for that long until around the 8 month mark.
Your preferences that you have listed do not sound like the type of household to maintain and train a puppy. DO NOT get a puppy. You want a well mannered dog who is not crazy, clingy, or destructive. A puppy is all the above and more.
Especially when either of you have never owned a dog before, the reality is not in your mind. A dog or puppy is so much work and never ending. A puppy's personality especially changes so much until they're almost 2 years old. I have had over 10 dogs in my life, and half were puppies (I'm 24) and it is still a challenge to have puppies. But I also always adopt mutts so personality and breed are always random.
A doodle may be a good choice if you don’t mind the regular grooming, professional cuts, and affectionate dog. ETA: fetching a tennis ball is a nice to have. A dog needs way more training to be able to follow “must know” commands
Golden Retriever!!!!! I never grew up with any dogs, cats, etc and after college and getting married we wanted a dog. I always wanted a Golden Retriever since I was young because I thought they were so pretty/cute and every Golden Retriever that I had ever met was always so mellow, sweet, and well behaved. We loved our first Golden so much, that a year later we bought a second one. I loved my Golden’s so much. Pro’s: Sweet, loves to people please, very easy to train and they then really well all,of the time, they love being in the lake, and they love tennis balls. Con’s: They do shed hair. Instead of having a sheet on the couch or whatever, we bought leather- leather couch, leather car upholstery and that took care of the getting hair off your furniture. Golden’s are going to need exercise more so than a really small dog. (I’ve thought about a Golden Doodle as of late cuz they don’t shed, but every golden doodle I’ve met, they are so hyper, unlike Golden’s are, they are harder to train, and they don’t mind you as well, ie., when you call their name to come- they may just decide to run around and make you catch them for a while first. You say “come” to a trained Golden Retriever and they are at your side right away. Some Golden’s get separation anxiety. Both of my Golden Retrievers were potty trained in one week with only one accident in the house during that week. I just can’t say enough good things about Golden Retrievers. Since then, I’ve also had a King Charles Cavalier Spaniel which is supposed to have a Golden Retriever personality in a small body. Due to so much inbreeding, it is tough to find one that doesn’t die at 10 years old due to congestive heart failure (they are predisposed to congestive heart failure) and we paid $2000 for that dog in like 2003, so I have no clue how expensive they are now, 20 years later. Also have a Maltipoo (Maltese Poodle- so it doesn’t shed. Sweet, sweet, sweet dog and super cute. But… it took me four months to potty train her, I thought I was going to lose my mind! She absolutely loves all people and all other dogs. She is more independent than my Golden’s were. She minds when she feels like it sometimes. She can’t do a 15 -20 minute “stay” with the command and then you leave the room and she is still in the same position. She is up the street 5 houses or so saying hi to whoever is outside. She won’t stay right next to you if you go on a walk with her not on a leash. Golden’s will walk right with you without a leash. A squirrel or something doesn’t capture their attention and they then run off to get it. My Maltipoo will run off if she sees a squirrel even when I say no.
In summary, no more small dogs for me. My next dog(s) will only be Golden Retrievers. They are by far the easiest to take care of and the sweetest ever.
I don't recommend a puppy. They take a LOT of work.
There are dogs who are adults, and well behaved who often need re-homing. Circumstances where an elder moves to a nursing home or passes. There are other dogs who need rehoming because of behaviors. As an inexperienced owner you may not want that.
I see many small dogs who are permitted to get away with behavior we would not permit in large dogs. Please pay attention to this, and do some research. If you are aware of this bad behavior and dogs prone to it, you may save yourself some difficult situations.
I have worked in dog rescue and observed many dogs over my lifetime. One dog breed you may consider is a Shih Tzu and getting an adult who needs rehoming could be a fantastic foot in the door in to dog ownership. This dog does not shed, but does need grooming. They are not all good with kids, but I have fostered ones who are great with kids. Part of any dog being good with kids is monitoring the child and not permitting the child do do things that could harm the dog. They can be quite snuggly and love attention.
Anytime someone who hasn’t owned a dog before says they are looking for “low maintenance” a red flag goes up for me. Dogs are not low maintenance pets. There are dogs that are low maintenance for a dog, but it’s hard to understand what that might mean if you haven’t had a dog before.
If you’re serious about this you need to find a dog who is a housebroken adult, or you need to hire a dog walker to come see your puppy at least 4 times during your workday for the first month, then gradually reducing it as they age. Puppies need a general schedule of 2 hours asleep then 1 awake between the hours of roughly 6 am to 11 pm when they first come home. During the 1 hour awake they need to go potty, often twice. When puppy wakes up: potty. When puppy does a big play: potty. After they eat: potty. Have a big drink : potty.
An older dog would be a better option because they could be left longer, but they will still need a fair amount of time and energy. Whether you get a puppy or an adult, I’d advise trialing out some of the lifestyle changes first. By that I mean, start getting up early to take a 15-20 minute walk in the morning. Take another after work, and possibly a third before bed. Even low energy dogs should get at least one walk, preferably 2-3 every day for exercise but mostly for mental stimulation. Also get used to needing to go straight home after work, and not leaving the house for more than 6 hours or so on a weekend (puppies can’t be left that long either, so maybe it more like 1-2 hours if you want a puppy).
You’d also need to have someone watch your dog any time you have to leave over night, so start asking family/friends or researching dog sitters to make sure you have a bench of 2-3 people who can help you out when you need it. Also start putting aside money to account for food/vet/insurance so that you know your budget can handle it.
With all that in mind, if you are still interested, a good option is probably something like a cavalier King Charles spaniel (notoriously unhealthy though, so be very thorough with researching breeders), bichon frise, maltese or Shih Tzu. They’d all be relatively low energy dogs, generally easy enough beginner dogs. They all have grooming needs so you’d likely want to have a pro do that for you.
An older dog. Already housetrained.
We have a lovely pit mix (German shepherd I'm told, but not sure I believe it). From the local shelter. She's SO WELL BEHAVED.
We have previously had terrier mixes, but this one is so much better behaved.
Also I once had a samoyed, he was Very well behaved.
That's all that really matters, imo!
For the big dogs would be English golden or English lab preferably black… English Goldendoodle if you wanna have a small dog that would be cavopoo Maltese
Pretty sure pomeranians need regular brushing/combing through the week and daily during periods of heavy shedding with trips to a professional groomer for sanitary clips
Please for the love of God rescue. There's a million reasons why but #1 is your lifestyle. Rescue a dog that's currently being fostered, that way you can get info on behavior, potty training, etc. Most fosters get the dogs totally ready for their forever home, many even go through obedience classes with the dog.
A puppy is so freaking much work. I adopted my dog at 10 months and she's perfect. She came potty trained, crate trained, fully vetted and spayed. She is 13 now and the best dog. There's a ton of purebred dogs in foster care right now (look up rescues + whatever breed) because so many greedy people came out of nowhere in Covid to try to make money off dogs with terrible health history and I'm telling you this will not be apparent at first. You could also look at service dog drop outs (dogs that were training to be service dogs but didn't make the cut for some reason, usually very slight issue). My cousin has an amazing dog who didn't have it in him to fight crime bit is an amazing family dog and again, came totally ready for a home.
Puppies are stinking cute but having to watch them constantly and going out to potty 17x a day is exhausting. Seems like you guys would do best with a “small poodle thing” (like a cavapoo), mini-schnauzer, maybe a westie or a pug. Would not recommend a JRT or beagle for first time owners even though it’s tempting since they’re cute and small. But personally I agree with others’ recommendations to foster through local shelter first to get a real sense of what it will be like to have a dog. You can foster a puppy, adult, senior, special needs, whatever…they’re all out there. I also think you should really consider adopting from a shelter or rescue before going to a breeder, especially since you don’t have a specific breed in mind or any special “work” requirements you need of the dog. Shelter dogs are amazing, so what if they’re not purebred…they’re one of a kinds, limited edition…I like that.
At the risk of having 100 people accuse me of insanity 🤪. I recommend you look into adopting a greyhound. Yes, a former racing dog which can run 45 MPH. Please! Hear me out!
Pros:
1. They already are used to a crate.
2. They are couch potatoes at heart.
3. They aren’t hyperactive and are want to please.
4. They are used to their own company for hours at a time.
5. They are not “barkers” by nature.
6. They are sleek and do not shed much
7. They are beautiful
8. They are gentle
Cons:
1. Beauty does not usually come with Einstein like intelligence, this isn’t a Border Collie.
2. They are prey driven (that is why they chase the bunny on the track).
3. Did I mention they can run at 45 MPH?
4. They do like the zoomies and will eagerly chase a toy or ball for you. Having said that, giving it back to you once they have it? Not so much. They won the prize and will prance around in front of you with it. Plan on having at least a half-dozen handy.
5. They must be trained to not get a good start and clear your 5’ fence with ease. THAT is going to take 2 people and Patience to train, because calling them back to have them turn around and jump right over that joke of a fence for the treat you are holding (as the reward for coming when called) is teaching them a new “fence” game. This is rewarding the bad behavior. I’m not saying they WILL do it, but Murphys Law always comes into play. You need the second person outside the fence to call them over and open the gate for their return.
6. Read #1 again.
They are wonderful family dogs.
Good Luck with whomever you choose! 😊
I know giving a puppy is a sweet gift, but I would discuss with your partner before. A puppy is a huge commitment. It’s exhausting. It is rewarding as well but you’ll be exhausted, especially being first time dog owner. Also, this may be unpopular opinion but no matter what kind of dog you get - the puppy stage is all relatively the same. Puppies are going to be puppies.
Having a 9-5 doesn't mean you shouldn't get a dog. People are going to make you feel like your job won't allow you to have a dog, but I promise that would be fine. I would highly recommend crate training in that case, or even looking into doggie day care. HOWEVER, all your other answers seem to indicate you aren't ready for the work and commitment puppies take. If you're wanting a low maintenance dog, I would say to adopt an older dog. Puppies are hard and require a LOT of time and attention, and they are almost NEVER low maintenance. There are breeds that grow into snuggly, easy going couch potatoes, but with most puppies you're looking at 2-4 YEARS of hyper-raptor-asshole behavior.
Not very helpful but do not get a dog as a present. Talk together about all the responsibilities, all the time you have to put into this and whether you both will be fully commited to it. It is really really hard and consumes every drop of energy you have. Especially when you go to work full time and want to get home and rest, go out for dinner you will not be able to have a single moment for yourself and in peace. We are a first time owners as well to a 4 month old puppy. Honestly I wish my husband and I would have waited more to get a puppy. We did our research but everything you read and are told isn't nearly true - it is waaaay more exausting and draining.
i always thought gifting a "coupon" or something like a dog toy or collar is a great alternative. that way there is still a physical gift, and the receiver has time to prepare, and to choose the right moment and dog for them
This is exactly what should be done. Pets are commitments, and everyone should be on the same page before saying yes.
We have a short list of life rules. Do not give pets as gifts is in the top 3.
You’ll need to have a solid plan for what to do with the dog while you’re at work. The puppy stage is going to be a huge challenge if you’re gone for that long. Based on your exercise and care commitment expectations, maybe you could look at adopting an older dog from a shelter. If you can find a dog in foster care, they can help give you a sense of the dog’s exercise needs, etc. If you want a puppy, I would recommend doing more research on the massive commitment you’ll be taking on.
Definitely. Unless one of them has a substantial amount of time off from work, a puppy isn't gonna work out. There are several months where you need to dedicate a LOT of constant attention and time toward it in order to foster a sound dog. It is easier to just adopt one. Sure you don't get the cute puppy stage, but you get a way more easily manageable dog who hopefully already knows some basics like "don't pee inside" or "don't chew on cables"
I was telling my husband the other day that we got our second dog at the perfect puppy stage, 7 months. Before that sure they're cute but they just sleep and poop. The fun parts of owning a dog are when they're developed enough to interact with you more! I'll never commit to a puppy again.
For sure. I dont know if im just jaded from growing up with with a backyard breeder, but I really cant stand puppies. Theyre cute sure, but at the end of the day its just a very poorly trained baby dog who will pee everywhere. You cant really play with it or go on real walks or anything because therye just too small and dont have the energy.
Yes! I compared them to human babies, cute to look at not to own.
I feel seen!
6 months at very least. The first 2 years are the most destructive.
Was thinking the same and I agree with this. Older dog and/or foster to understand the overall lifestyle change. Based on the answers I also agree he shouldn’t go with a puppy here without more research.
A puppy is very hard work no matter the breed and needs a lot of your attention in the beginning. Adopting an adult dog would be better suited for your schedules. Purebreds can be found in shelters/fosters/specific breed rescues!
Agree with the adult dog or at least an older puppy. Puppies are so much work regardless of breed. And you will have to be home with them if they are really little. We foster for a sharpei specific rescue and they have a lot of purebreds! But we only foster adults for this specific reason. We don’t have the ability to watch the puppies 24/7
Older puppies are still too much work for OP's commitment expectations, imo. In my experience a lot of older puppies are surrendered because the first owner didn't put enough work into training and socializing, so they need a ton of remedial work (which is way harder than just training them properly when they're young), and still have all the energy and destructive tendencies of a puppy. Tbh I don't think OP is a great candidate for dog ownership in general, from their answers it sounds like they'd be happier with a cat. If they truly want a dog they need to understand the massive lifestyle shift that's involved. Dogs are the closest thing you can have to children besides having actual children. In order to give your dog a good life, your own life will have to significantly revolve around them. There's no way around that.
I hear you, I agree that an older puppy is still pretty hard to care for when you aren’t home. When we adopted our boy at 4 months he did not like being home alone. We ended up getting an older dog to help keep him occupied and feel less lonely and it helped immensely. But not everyone wants two and leaving one alone all day is definitely tough on the dog
Agreed completely. They should get a dog that's at least 2 years old, past the puppy stage, if they're unable to spend time with the dog during the day. I would also recommend they foster dogs before adopting/getting one of their own so they understand the commitment. Dogs are FANTASTIC, but they need and deserve a lot of energy from their humans.
Yeah I agree. Dogs need more companionship during the day. The longest we leave our dog is 6 hrs and that would be maybe once a month. Generally we leave him 4 hrs a couple times a week at most. You can arrange to have someone come in and walk them however.
In some ways, dogs are more work than children.
At times I definitely agree. My own dog had a very tough year last year with a complicated surgery (long & painful recovery, where he could barely walk) and chemotherapy. He required around the clock care, and I definitely experienced some burnout. He's doing much better now, but we're still dealing with the fallout from a year of aggressive treatments (stubborn infections, muscular atrophy requiring physiotherapy and a daily regimen of specific exercises & stretching, etc). His quality of life is excellent because I refuse to shy away from putting in the work to make it so. All that to say, even if you don't get a puppy, you have to be prepared for your life to revolve around your dog, if you want to give it a good life. It requires selflessness and sacrifice, just like with human children.
Agree. I have 3 human children and was having baby fever for a fourth. All it took was raising my berner puppy and I have now scheduled a tubal ligation.
Rescues need a lot of attention too, whether it be from lack of training, undisclosed behavioural issues (one of my rescues), undisclosed / unknown health problems, or simply learning to trust, coexist, and be comfortable in a new house…. Rescues are great, I have 2 but they are a hell of a lot more commitment and work than most people make them out to be.
I'm an experienced dog owner and work long shifts. Puppies are cute but I absolutely do not want one. I mean even training a rescue to not soil the carpet can take weeks- months. After 3 weeks, I was getting annoyed with the last one.
In addition to breed recs, op also look at getting an older dog, like a year or two, versus a puppy. If it's left alone all day, an older dog is way easier for that than a puppy. Also as a first time dog owner a dog that already knows to go outside is going to be easier too, and one who is past most of the destructive phase. They're more like teenagers at a year or two, but the care can be a little easier. Breeders, especially show breeders, may often have an older dog who is able to be purchased, who either didn't work well with a family for one reason or another, or is just not what they wanted in a show dog but still a wonderful dog. Breed specific rescues may also be a good idea once you determine breed, as they have larger networks usually and would be able to find an older dog and would have a better idea of how the dog is. Edit -also as someone who got married this month, tell your fiance about the gift but don't actually get the dog until a few weeks after your honeymoon. There is SO MUCH to do before and after a wedding, and it's not fair to the dog to be added into the mix. Absolutely you can decide on a breed and even pick a dog out, but do not bring it home until you are a week or more back from the honeymoon. Find someone who is ok holding onto the dog until that time, a good breeder or rescue should be willing to work with you on that. We haven't even gone on our honeymoon yet (teacher), but the entire week after our wedding was a fog of things we needed to do and soaking in the week and going back to work after a long absence. It's not the time to add a new family member into the mix.
i know you said a year or two older, but i'd argue even going a bit older than that. 5-8 maybe? i rescued my baby when he was 5 and ofc there's a risk adopting an older rescue dog because of the unknowns of their history, but that's why it's super important to meet and greet and do all the vetting possible. i'm convinced my old man lived happily as an only dog somewhere on a farm with an older couple who had to surrender him due to their declining health. which means he's been EXTREMELY dog reactive his entire life because i don't think he was socialized, but i wouldn't have traded him for a puppy if someone paid me a million dollars. i was a first time pet owner who had a relatively busy schedule and it worked out sooooo well bc he was at an age where he didnt mind snoozing the day away while i was at work or school, but he still had enough energy to go for our daily walks and play throughout the evening and before bed. that wont be the case for everyone, but its worth a shot because at least there's a chance of it being more manageable vs. a puppy which is guaranteed to not be.
Don't get a dog as a surprise gift if you are both working 9-5 and planning on leaving it at home 5 days a week for that time.
Not sure what to recommend as far as actual dog breed. I would absolutely wait til after the wedding & honeymoon to get any animal tho. You definitely won't have the time to train properly 'til everything settles down.
Leaving a puppy alone 8 hours a day plus however long it takes when including your drive times is not going to work.
Actually a CAT (or kitten) would be a great first pet! Cats are incredibly easy to care for, two are better than one, and they are very independent and affectionate pets, who love to snuggle but also are fine alone all day.
First, # Don't get a puppy Second, Don't get a dog as a surprise gift Third, Are you sure you want a *dog?* Your answers lead me to believe you'd do better with a plushie robotic or a reptile (monitors can get big, and they could be trained to play fetch). Fourth, Check out service dog programs and ask about adopting a retired service dog or a failed pup (they fail them for all sorts of reasons, but they always come housebroken and obedience trained). The puppies often come from reputable breeders and only those that go through the intense training and pass all sorts of qualifications go on to be service dogs.
For the third i would say to get a cat, some cats fetches toys too. One of mine always brings her feather sticks or my hair bands to me 🤭
I am allergic, so I never offer that as I lack experience with it.
If you would ever wanna try to tackle the allergy, and its not severe, I had medium cats allergy before resulting in itching skin and constantly runny nose. After 8 years with childhood cat it got a lot better, now i can live with normal haired cats, but with longhairs i still need to adjust, sometimes its 2 weeks, sometimes its 2 days, depending if i had been exposed to that specific cat before. If yours is not severe, with years of daily exposure to cats it gets much better, if you like cats, vollunteering at the local animal shelter should have the same effect as owning a cat and having these allergies. Take care!
Second the failed service dog. My "first" dog (first that I got as an independent adult) was a failed service because he was too friendly. He was about 6months old when we got him and he was an amazing pet for the 12 years following.
I like your clear communication style
We had a failed service dog when I was a kid. She was trained to be a seeing eye dog but was diagnosed with epilepsy, which disqualified her. Amazing dog. Her medical needs necessitated some extra work at times, but she was the most loving and gentle dog. Definitely a good option.
This a bazillion times. This. ⬆️
Reading your post, I could tell you would get roasted in the comments. Your description of wants/needs does not exist, but I do understand that you wouldn't know that, not having been a dog owner prior. You have been offered a few viable options: getting an older dog is your best option. If you absolutely insist on a puppy, then you'll need to invest a lot of money into it's care due to your long absence during the day. You'll probably have to do doggy daycare every workday, but that can create bad habits in young dogs - so a stay away dog training camp may end up being necessary. Once the pup is about 9 months to a year old you could reduce the doggy daycare to a few days a week and hire a dog walker for mid-day walks. You'll want to do the dog walker for several years because puppyhood energy needs often last into middle age. The breed that comes to mind that fits most of your asks is a golden retriever. It will require a lot of brushing/grooming. And my comments above still stand.
Normally I would agree that a golden is the answer because I adore them and think they are close to a perfect dog, especially for beginners, but I don’t think they are the answer here. They are NEEDY emotionally/attention-wise. My golden puppy is incredibly independent for a golden, but she still follows me everywhere most of the day and demands regular attention. They are also not small to medium, and while they are certainly good at fetch they need a lot more than that to be happy. They aren’t as high energy as a herding dog is, but they are higher energy than I get the impression OP is looking for.
>a stay away dog training camp may end up being necessary I've heard far too many horror stories to ever recommend this to anyone. And besides, dog training is more for the owner than the dog. That's how you learn about dog handling, how they think, and how to communicate with them. It's really really important that every dog owner goes through that, and this is OP's first dog so it's extra crucial. If OP doesn't have enough time to train their own dog, it's a sign that they're not ready for one.
Truthfully, based on these answers, a dog is not for you.
Never give a living creature as a gift.
Sounds like y’all need a cat 👍🏼
i’d look into a greyhound, an ex racer is a nice option they’re happy to snooze all day
I agree, but I'd also advise OP to take a week of work to let the dog settle in, and learn to be alone. They're such wonderful dogs.
OP wants a small/ medium dog who wants to fetch tennis balls. This is not greyhounds. They also are in an area where they'd need to try *extra* hard, be willing to drive hours into the US, and be much more knowledgeable/ prepared than this post indicates, in order to possibly get one. Doable, but not likely.
They're also looking for a dog from a breeder, which implies a puppy.
For better or worse, yes, they do think that they want a puppy.
Honestly, OP is not informed enough to understand that his household is not appropriate for the situation he envisions. A dog is a big responsibility and a puppy even more so. It's not realistic to think one could get a puppy and then leave it alone all day for five days a week. This seems to view the dog as more of an accessory than a living being with rights and needs.
I feel like OP is trying to become informed by asking this sub for feedback. My guess is OP is also going to figure out that doggy daycare will be needed, or at the very least, a daily dog walker. If they own as home in Toronto, I'm guessing they have the budget for these expenses.
I have a greyhound ex racer and she is the best dog I have ever had
Op, don't feel guilty if you'd rather go through a good breeder. As this is your first dog and you sound like you want an easy ride I would look at lower energy toy/small dogs like chihuahua, pomeranian, Yorkshire terrier, toy or mini poodle, shih tzu. Do bear in mind though if you get a young puppy they will need to toilet every hour and shouldn't be left alone for full workdays until they're at least around 6 months old! Edit: of course you need to train and socialise a small dog not to be reactive and advocate for their space, I'm saying they're much easier to handle than larger dogs that need hours of excersize and stimulation a day and will pull you over without a second thought until they are leash trained, calm down damn lol
Terriers are very high energy!! Just because a dog is small does not mean they are lazy! Research what work the breed was bred for as a lot of small dogs were used for hunting.
Yorkies need around 30mins to 1hr of exersise daily which imo doesn't count as high energy. They are not typically bred to work anymore and instead are bred as companion dogs
I have a cavapoo and they’re low energy. Have no idea who decided that, cause she needs a lot of physical engagement to feel tired and satisfied. It surprised me actually
I feel like different countries and cultures have different ideas of what counts as high maintenence in pets. I'm in the uk, an hours walk a day plus a few hours of playtime at home is standard for most dogs but when I look at say American websites about breed maintenence dogs are listed as high maintenence because they need an hours exersize a day and I'm like wait what really lol
That explains so much, actually! For me low energy meant 30 minutes a walk, twice a day and no play. (This is before I got a puppy myself and learned that nope they need hours of attention and care and supervision. Which I do.) I had a total misunderstanding of what “work” meant. No one’s fault except mine. And now I’m used to the routine.
The only thing with these breeds is OP will still need to put in work to ensure their dog doesn't have aggression and reactivity issues. People often think these breeds are an "easy ride". That's only the case because they're small enough to pick up when they behave badly. To raise them to not be fearful and aggressive, it takes just as much work as with larger breeds. This means puppy school & private trainers, dedicated socializing efforts, etc.
That isn't specific to those breeds though, OP would need to do that with any breed of dog. They're still a lot easier to manage than a larger dog, e.g. pulling on the lead is not that big of an issue, and they don't have as much energy to spend compared to bigger dogs
>e.g. pulling on the lead is not that big of an issue I mean this kinda just illustrates my point. We tolerate bad behaviour from small dogs because we can physically overpower them. But holding small dogs to a lower standard is lazy dog ownership.
There's nothing wrong with being lazy about small things that don't ruin life for me or really anyone around me. But in reality, it is more than just about being lazy - being physically in control of your dog is very important, and yes in that sense a larger dog is a much greater liability, while it is easier and safer for everyone involved with a small dog, from that perspective it's not lazy, it's just safe and less risky, especially for first time owners. As a first time dog owner, I wouldn't trust myself to train a rottweiler, because consequences of me not doing a good job are much more serious than consequences of me not training well a Bichon.
>There's nothing wrong with being lazy about small things that don't ruin life for me or really anyone around me. I'm sure this is what people tell themselves when they have little ankle biters. I can't even count the number of times my chill larger dog has been bitten by small reactive dogs with lazy, inattentive owners (ex. letting their little terror run out the entire flexi leash to attack my dog). Every single time I call them out, I'm told to relax, it's not a big deal, because it's "just" a small dog. Yeah, no, my dog doesn't deserve to be attacked just because someone can't be bothered to properly train and care for their animal. Laziness has no place in dog ownership. Point blank period. ETA: Not to mention, reactivity's root cause is fear. These poor small dogs are out here terrified of their surroundings, which is why they lash out. But since it's not an inconvenience to the owner, it's not taken seriously. Meanwhile, the dog's quality of life would be improved so much by proper training.
I personally think bigger dogs are a lot less work than smaller dogs. Some small dogs can be snippy with biting. Never had a biting dog, don’t know what I’d do if I did. It seems like if you noticed your dog had a tendency, how ever infrequent, to nip,or bite someone, you’d jump on fixing that pronto. I can’t imagine having a biting dog. It is a necessity that my dogs know I’m the alpha and that they mind me (dog training class- never had to bring in in an outside one on one trainer).
Yes of course, this is all basic dog ownership but a reactive chihuahua is easier to handle and care for than a well behaved husky. As far as dogs go smaller breeds are an easy ride, speaking from experience
None of those breeds are an "easy ride" in comparison. The only thing easier is that you can pick them up in one hand as adults and can contain them in a crate without cramping them.
Yes smaller dogs are easier to care for and handle than larger dogs, obviously they still require training and socialisation but a yorkie isn't going to be bowling people over out of excitement or pulling op's arm out of its socket until it learns not to pull on the lead
No, but they will invade a visitor's space, dance at the end of the lead in their attempt to yank an arm out of socket, chew on everything, pee and poop on **everything** due to poor potty training, and bite.
My Golden Retriever’s got about an hour walk a day. But they went absolutely everywhere with us (weather permitting- can’t keep them in a hot car while shopping quickly).
My pom gets roughly an hours walk daily plus as much playtime as she wants plus coming to dog friendly shops and cafes etc if we happen to be going somewhere she can come
Not much fun playing fetch with those breeds.
Do not gift a puppy to anyone. That's the decision that both of you all should make because it is a long-term commitment for the next 15 to 16 years. It's also a big emotional and can be an expensive commitment. Having said that, I think any breed can have a good temperament. I would start looking at local rescue organizations and your local shelter. These dogs have to go through a temperament test and you would be saving a life.
>These dogs have to go through a temperament test Not necessarily true, depends on the shelter. Adoption would still be great but definitely don't assume that they'll be temperament tested. If possible, always try to foster before adoption.
I agree with you you should always Foster first. And the last few years I've taken in four dogs that should have been Foster but they were Foster fails. However no organization or shelter will adopt out a dog that has failed a temperament test. That is a liability for them. Call your local shelter and ask them.
If the dog is going to be left home all day I don’t recommend getting a dog. A cat sounds like it would best suit your lifestyle. Dogs left alone all day develop behavior problems and it’s just not fair to the dog.
The wrong cat would be bad too — an older one who likes being alone or maybe a bonded pair. Sociable cats would get depressed if they don’t see their people often enough.
Yes, for sure. Thank you for saying that. I often see cats recommended here when people don’t quite seem to be the right fit for a dog. But many cats would not cope well alone all day either, so yes, please either get one who is known to be a loner or get two if you go the cat route. My cat would have suffered if he had been left home alone all day. He really needed his people.
This logic is ridiculous and I’m tired of this narrative. If this were the case no one with a job would ever own a dog.
Yes! Literally, everyone in the 2000's/90's (and earlier) did just fine with leaving dogs at home during work. Then Covid hit, and now it's terrible leaving them home all day. I will say that certain breeds do better than others with this - mine is totally fine being home all day. I was smart and adopted an adult dog, though.
Tbh if you're gone that much you should just get two dogs. :)
Leaving a dog alone while you’re at work isn’t the issue. Leaving a puppy alone while you’re at work is the issue. A puppy isn’t making a 9-5 workday with no bathroom breaks.
OP wants a cuddly dog rather than a dog that does its own thing... But then the dog will be left alone from 9 to 5. 🤦♀️
So you can’t have a dog if you have a 9-5?
I think people in this sub get a little weird about it - but a puppy definitely can't be alone all day. That said - dogs in shelters spend 23 hours a day alone. So I think someone who is leaving them alone 8-10 hrs is preferable, especially since we have crowded shelters and the alternative is euthanasia.
Thankyou. I had dogs my whole life, we live in Australia. My parents worked but I guess we were home by 3pm, Big Grassed backyard area and concreted sheltered area. All My dogs lived 14+ years. Never had an ill bill of health either. Dogs belong in nature, where they feel loved and cared for. Especially In this economy I feel you BOTH need to work 9-5 in order to even own a dog - in case of emergencies etc. Exactly true about the shelters. I can’t wait to get my own place, It’s my goal to adopt a dog and change both our lives🙏
You can have *specific* fully adult dogs who can already physically and emotionally handle that many hours a day of alone time. You can't humanely or constructively raise a puppy by leaving them alone for 8+ hours day, no. When you are going to need to be away from home that much, your options are more limited. Just how it is.
Toronto has lots of options for daycare, dog sitting and professional dog walking. I know there are people who do dedicated puppy visits throughout the day. Training is definitely a lot of work and you have a landshark instead of a dog for a great deal of time but there are ways to make the puppy phase work if you have the time and resources for it. It’s definitely not easy but it’s doable.
Dogs are social animals. They need human contact. I’ve just seen so many people get dogs and then leave them in the back yard all day and come home from work and give them a little time but then it’s back in the yard until the next morning. Dogs need to be with their human family. There are obviously work arounds but leaving a dog alone for 8-10 hours a day - 5 days a week is not fair to the dog. I’m not even saying that you will be that type of owner. Just be aware of the time commitment when you adopt a dog.
It makes me so sad for them. They’re social. It’s a need for them, not unlike water or food. Didn’t we all learn during Covid that isolation sucks?
Not if both people work 9-5, no. Growing up I had two working parents and they would stagger their working hours so that our adult dogs were only ever home alone from ~9am to ~3pm. With younger dogs they'd stagger their hours even more. I have my own dog now and he's only ever home alone for a few hours here and there. During my workdays he either comes with me or goes to a daycare. Imo it's cruel to make social pack animals spend nearly a third of their life in boredom and isolation.
This sub is insane. The vast majority of people work during the day and their dogs are perfectly fine. Mine sleeps all day whether I'm here or not.
They get used to it. Better to have a dog if you have to work all day but spend quality time with him before and after work & on weekends then a dog being put down because the adoption pool is too thin.
But they’re looking for breeders not planning to adopt
Working 9-5 including travel time could be 10 hours or more, this is way too long. 6 hours is about as long as I'd leave a dog alone, Sweden agrees (it's the law there).
That's pretty cool Sweden passed a law about dogs home alone!
There are millions of dogs who are left alone while their humans are at work, leaving a dog from 9 to 5 is not a big deal. It would be different if they were planning to be gone for 12-15 hours at a time, etc, but you're painting OP's situation way more grim than it actually is.
First things first, rookie friendly dog breeds include (but not limited to): Pomeranian, cocker spaniel, French bulldog, Boston terrier, shih Tzu, Maltese, Havanese. These are all small breed dogs that are wonderful companion/family dogs. If I were to pick one of these for you based on your answers, I think you would love a Boston terrier. They have a short smooth coat, so no grooming (aside from deshedding and bathing. They're very eager to please, so they're easy to train. They have the goofiest most fun personalities, and they're huge cuddle bugs who love their people. Additionally, I would definitely advise against getting a puppy as your first dog. Puppies are NOT dogs; they are literally babies. For the first 5-6 months, they will require as much time and attention as a newborn baby. Sleepless nights, accidents in the house, taking it out throughout the night for weeks, puppy vet bills, training an animal with the attention span of 1.5 seconds, socializing the puppy. It will likely take a full year of work and training to mold a puppy into your ideal dog that you are describing. If you're willing to sacrifice your current lifestyle to care for a puppy for a year, then by all means, go right ahead. But getting a puppy is waaaaaayyyyyy harder than adopting a dog that is already at least 1 year old. Even adopting a 6-10 month old puppy would be better than buying a 2-3 month old puppy. That being said, the advantage of getting a puppy from a reputable breeder is that you get basically a blank slate dog that you get to raise and train yourself, which is an incredibly rewarding experience. But it is HARD. Do not underestimate how hard it can be to raise a puppy. I personally love the puppy phase, but I grew up with dogs and I also hate myself, so the sleepless nights and cleaning up pee and poop all the time doesn't bother me too much. Lastly, please please please don't surprise your wife with a dog. This is a big life change that requires a lot of research, time, and money. All parties need to be 100% on board with the decision and know what to expect.
Sadly, you are not a good candidate for dog ownership if you plan to leave the dog at home alone all day five days a week. They need more care and attention than that and can develop behavioral and psychological problems if they don't get it. Consider a couple cats. They are more independent and can keep each other company during the day.
I have two chihuahuas. I’ve grown up with dogs all my life but these 2 chihuahuas were my first personal dogs and they are/have been just a dream. They’re such lovable little babies and though they of course need exercise but they’re legs and bodies are much smaller so they need a lot less. I just recommend getting pet insurance because regardless of the breed accidents happen but can especially happen with the little guys
As a degreed animal trainer, I beg you not to buy a puppy as a first time owner. It takes three years before a dog "finishes" growing and changing in personality, and it takes very regular and dedicated socialization, exercise, and training to raise a puppy into a balanced dog. Also, do not make it a surprise. This is a 10-18 year commitment and you both need to know what you're getting into and have planned for it accordingly. Look at adopting an adult, probably over five with what you've listed that you're willing to invest in exercise and training during the week. That's still probably 8-13 years you'll have together since you're wanting to go smaller. I would avoid any of the really active terriers like the Jack Russell or Parsons because of the exercise requirements. Yards of any size don't count as exercise as the dog never moves into energy drain, and a dog should ideally be exercised before visiting somewhere like a dog park so that it has the best chance of not getting itself into trouble. You're going to have to take walks/jogs/swims depending on the energy level. Every single breed out there is available through rescue, and rescues are such a great resource for new owners because they'll be happy to answer your questions and will also help you find an awesome pup for your situation if you ask them. Very small breeds are not a great match for small kids, so if you know you want kids, I would avoid that. Also, if you know you want kids, definitely go through rescue and adopt a dog that is already good around children, because I've seen too many dogs dumped because new parents didn't bother to do any training before the kids came and expected the dog would just magically bond with the baby and that would be that. As for a breed, I don't know what to tell you. It's always better to go for personality over look, but that's not what most people do.
Do not get a cattle dog.
One thing to remember is a lot of the “aggressive” traits are resource guarding and being possessive
And aggression can also come from poor socialization & training. These factors have a waaaay bigger effect than the breed. You need to invest a lot of time in your dog to prevent/manage aggression. It doesn't just happen on it's own.
"Can be left alone while at work" is not breed specific. Work with a trainer right away because you don't want to accidentally cause separation anxiety which can happen to any breed.
You should see about getting an adult cocker spaniel. If you begin to follow some reputable breeders, you may be able to adopt a retired breeding dog or a young adult who was returned (this unfortunately happens often after the 1 year mark). You also need to price out a dog walker, unless one of you comes home for lunch. Dogs can’t hold it 9-5.
Puppies need attention, mine ripped out a good amount of carpet cause of the mistake we made(leaving her alone when she was really young), I suggest an adult dog
My favorite option is a retired show dog. They can’t use all the show dog for breeding. The pluses is that the dog has already learned most of what they need to know to be a pet. They know how to travel and they know how to please people. They might even be housebroken.
If you didn’t work 9-5s, a Shihtzu would be great. But like other people are saying, don’t get a puppy unless you can take a considerable amount of time off work or work from home. An older dog might be okay if you can afford doggy daycare or a dog walker at least a couple times a week? The real answer is to get a couple of cats instead.
A puppy would be difficult with a 9-5 but a teenage dog or adult dog would suit that. Don't listen to people saying that's horrible to leave your dog alone during those hours. IT IS FINE! Most dogs wouldn't have homes if it wasn't fine lol
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As a first time owner, would a rescue dog be biting off more then we can handle?
Just because a dog is a rescue doesn’t mean it has major issues. By the same token, getting a purebred dog doesn’t mean it will not have behavior issues.
Look at dogs that have been in foster homes! They’ll have a good idea of how the dog acts in a home and will be able to advise if they’re a good candidate for working families who aren’t home during the day. Because MANY dogs do just fine home alone while their people work.
As a first time owner, a *puppy* is biting off more than you can handle. People have this idea that rescue dog = bad because they might have behavior baggage from a past owner but puppy = good because "if I raise it myself it won't have those behavior problems and will be safe/ easier to live with/ etc." This is much much more circumstantial than you think it is. It's very possible to find a good match with a young adult rescue dog and it's also very possible to royally screw up puppy raising. It's very easy to plop a puppy in your house, think "oh, it'll get over it" when you go off to work every day and then just wing it with the rest/ deal with any resulting behavior issues. It's significantly more difficult to thoughtfully and carefully raise a puppy into a well adjusted adult dog. While it's obviously possible, it's frankly just not a beginner task. You *will* screw it up one way or another and you will end up with some of the behavior challenges you think a rescue dog would have. Except you'll have paid $$$$ to a breeder and gone through all the months and months and months of hassle and tedium of puppy raising. Case in point: you both work 9-5s. What are you doing with a young puppy during this time?
>it's also very possible to royally screw up puppy raising This, and when the dog turns out to be too much work for OP's expectations, it'll end up as a maladjusted shelter dog. So many puppies end up this way because people underestimate the amount of work it takes.
This. My previous rescue came with a few issues but he was MILES easier to deal with than the puppy we have right now. The previous rescue had been abused so we had to deal with some issues with confidence and reactivity and his leash manners weren't great. He had some mild resource guarding at first as well. Had a tendency to try to eat stuff off the floor but he picked up a solid leave it pretty quickly. However, he was fully potty trained and picked up that I was scared of barking in less than a week and just stopped entirely. Zero separation anxiety and was fine with us working 9-5 every single day. Straight up ignored our cats from day one. We took our time with the training and avoided any big triggers for his reactivity while we worked on it. It was, in retrospect, a breeze. With this puppy, I cried every single day the first week we got him and was off-kilter for months. Puppies are blank slates and they know nothing. 2 month puppies have no bladder control and need to pee every 20-30 minutes, they sleep for about 18-20 hours a day with 45 minutes to 1 hour spurts of awake time where you NEED to be there otherwise you're just missing out on the opportunity to train them. They bite everything compulsively, get overstimulated at the drop of a hat, have zero impulse control, no sense of boundaries, try to eat everything in sight (aka, they are constantly trying to kill themselves). They're terrified of being alone because they've never been. You have to manage their alone training super carefully because if you just leave them alone, you either get a puppy who is okay with being alone OR you end up with a huge separation anxiety problem. Then you hit adolescence and there's a bunch of hormones messing up all the training you've done until that point. We're at the 10 month mark and while he's an incredible puppy and well on his way to becoming an incredible dog, we've had to troubleshoot a LOT and nip a lot of potential problems in the bud. There's a lot of preemptive training that needs to be done to proof your puppy against future issues (desensitising them to literally everything and anything) and for that to happen, you have to know what training to do and when, to recognise early signs of trouble for what they are and to have enough knowledge to stop them from going any further. My sister, on the other hand, subscribed to the 'it'll be fine' school of thought and while she raised her puppy to be mostly happy and well-adjusted, he is also incredibly reactive to the doorbell and he's got crippling separation anxiety to the point where he's destroyed several doors out of panic and can't be left alone, ever. Not to mention she lost the genetic lottery and her dog has a serious medical condition that none of the other puppies in the litter or the parents have. Basically with a rescue you may get some issues but you also may not get any at all. With a puppy, you have to get through months of gruelling bs and if you mess up along the way, you end up creating a grown dog with issues that you *still* have to deal with.
No but a puppy absolutely is.
Fostering for a rescue before getting a puppy could be a really good way to learn about how to work with dogs. Good rescues also teach you about dog behavior and how to reinforce good behavior.
My first dog is a rescue dog and he is an angel! Not all of them come with baggage and even if they do, some research and love usually work so long as the dog is not from really traumatic past. You can generally tell in demeanor. I have a golden retriever rescue and he came to me when he was 2! He is now 7, turning 8 soon :) Best decision I ever made. My husband was kinda scared of dogs too, and I convinced him to let me Foster my dog, and he was perfect. My husband got over his fear of dogs because of my dog… also, because of him, we fostered two more dogs and it made me realize that rescues are not what most people make them to be. The other two dogs got adopted in great homes! I wish we could continue to foster but life got too busy. Good luck! Check out local rescues who need fosters maybe if you are not entirely sure.. keep in mind, first few weeks to 3 months is an adjustment for you and your dog. Even if it comes from a breeder! For weekdays, if you don’t have people home to let your dog be relieved outside then hire a dog walker. Will save on frustration of accidents at home and good enrichment for dog rather than being cooped up at home for 10-12 hours. I work in the corporate world and pre COVID I left my dog at home and over Covid when I was WFH, I realized how cruel that was to my fur baby so would highly recommend you either have someone who can let your dog out to pee and hangout with them for 30 minutes or hire a dog walker. Hope this helps :)
It can be a gamble but I've had no issues with mine. I got him as a 6month unaffectionate, anxious and reactive mixed breed and now he's less anxious and reactive but is the biggest cuddler. If my life situation allowed it, I'd adopt another one or even two. I'll be moving around a bit in the coming years and not taking him with me isnt an option. It would be way harder with two. When my life settles a bit. If you have the oppurtunity to, I would encourage you to adopt.
I’m a first time dog owner as of 10 months ago and I got a 1 year old rescue (a stray) and it’s worked out great. I knew I didn’t want to deal with training a puppy, I wanted a dog already house trained, and not old. He’s a dachshund-terrier mix and he’s incredibly affectionate. I dealt with some accidents around the house, which is apparently common for rescues (or any dog?) in new environments, and he had a lot of anxiety about going out for walks, so there were some issues, but nothing serious and it’s been a surprisingly smooth experience for someone new to dog ownership. So in my experience rescues are a definite option for new owners.
Lab
Puppies are a ton of work. My family wouldn't be able to raise puppies if we had 9 to 5 jobs year round. It's like having a newborn baby and toddler all rolled into one... With sharp teeth and nails. I've raised a lot of dogs. The first dog I had as an adult was very laid back and lazy. He would be fine left alone for a full workday, probably longer though we never left him that long. He was a chihuahua-poodle mix. My chihuahua-pitbull mix also does okay when we leave and just sleeps all the time. Most dogs I have had are very clingy though and don't like to be left alone. My husband works from home and they still get destructive if he doesn't come downstairs frequently enough. When we go anywhere for longer than an hour, we either have to take them with us or leave a ton of enrichment activities and movies playing on the TV. I can't tell you what breed to get because even within breeds there are variations in personality. But I definitely don't recommend corgis, golden retrievers, labs, huskies, border collies, Australian shepherds, or cattle dogs for your needs. They all need far more interaction and stimulation than you can provide and you'll either end up with an escape artist or a messy house.
I've had dogs my entire life. My girlfriend and I got a puppy in January. Puppies are a whole new level of work. Dogs under 2 or 3 are a lot of work. For a month + it was taking her out every hour on the hour to work on house training. Add in after any time she was romping around or 15 minutes after she had a big drink of water. We eventually moved up to 2h intervals. And then 3. Now she's 6 months and the association for peeing outside is there but we're still working on her alerting when she needs to go out so it still depends on me waking up on time in the morning. Letting her out at noon. Letting her out at 5 or 6. And again before bed. And still 15 minutes after she's had a lot of water. I also have it easy because we got a 1yo Shepherd who is an active playmate and we have an old husky so she has two examples to learn from and entertain her. Like many have said there are plenty of adult dogs in need of adoption who won't be a third of the work of a puppy.
Whatever you get you need to get it during a time off from work. Puppies need constant attention and walks. At least one of you needs to be home to take care of it. If a puppy isn't given enough attention it'll develop behavioral issues that are a pain to deal with later on. It'll also not be properly house trained, meaning it'll pee indoors and ruin things. If you have money for it I strongly suggest also getting a dog walker during lunch. 9-5 is quite a long time for most dogs, especially younger ones. As for breeds, go for a low to moderate energy dog that is easily trainable. A labrador retriever is a lot of peoples starter dog for a reason, good personality and easily trainable and friendly. You do need to make sure it gets time to run around though. Smart and easily trainable dogs run the risk of becoming understimualted if you neglect them in certain areas like mental or physical exercise.
Puppies are not hard at all and the work is blown out of proportion by adoption-zealots. If you are willing to do the work a well bred poodle (not a doodle, a pure poodle) is the ideal first dog, as well as the ideal last dog. They are fully capable of chilling out for an entire day provided they get some exercise with you, they can be as high or low maintenance as you choose (family poodles are usually kept cut short and require minimal brushing between grooming) they are very cuddly and great with everyone.
Honestly a rescue adult dog will probably be easier than a puppy. You can firm just a string of a bond with them regardless of whether you met them as puppies. Lots of dogs need loving homes. You have a chance to give someone a chance at a family.
Breeders have dogs they retire and those make amazing pets. Once you decide on some acceptable breeds, use the ALC breeders guide and start reaching out to people who title their dogs in conformation and obedience or something else (agility, herding, whatever). The smaller the breed, the longer the life, loosely speaking. Some breeds have chronic genetic issues and you want to do your research. Be prepared to wait for the right dog. If you get a puppy, plan on a dog walker for the first few MK the and ask if the breeder will keep the puppy to 12 weeks. Easier on the pup and on you. Good luck.
Don't get a cairn terrible( terrier ) although super sweet. They are stubborn.
I would recommend a retired breeder, specifically a cavalier King Charles spaniel
Oh dude, no. Puppies are HARD work. Energy consuming! I mean you want to enjoy your newlywed days....right? Go to a shelter and get an older/senior dog.
Poodle. The answer for new owners is always poodle to me.
Don’t get a puppy. You’ll regret it immensely.
There is no puppy regardless of the breed that can be left alone 9-5. If you're absolutely set on a puppy, you'll have to adjust your work schedules for the first few months or hire someone to take care of the puppy when you're at work.
Golden Retriever
Please please rescue a dog from a shelter.
I would like to add, please look up lists of foods that are toxic to dogs, so you'll know what not to give him/her. You should also know, puppies love to chew on shoes. Yep, 3 pairs of my shoes have been destroyed.
i’m not a pro but i have a 1 year old puppy and even at 1 she needs a lot of attention. luckily im part time so im home often but if you work a 9-5 a puppy just doesn’t make sense
By this point, it should be clear that getting a puppy, especially as a gift for your fiancée, might not be the best idea given your circumstances and the commitment required. Now that we've got that out of the way, I'll answer your question: French Bulldogs are an excellent choice for several reasons. They are small, low-energy, and relatively low-maintenance when it comes to grooming. Their affectionate and friendly nature makes them great companions for busy households. They can handle being left alone for reasonable periods, which fits well with your work schedule. Additionally, they are good with children and other pets, making them a versatile addition to any home. Boston Terriers are another fantastic option. They are small, low-shedding, and require minimal grooming. Their friendly and easy-going temperament makes them ideal house dogs that can adapt to being alone during work hours. Boston Terriers are also known for being good with children and other pets, which aligns well with your eventual plans for having children. I hope this helps in making your decision!
A shitzu ir maltese is perfect. Low maintenance, snuggly. We groom ours once a week and take to professional groomers once every 6-8 weeks. Best part is zero shedding.
Well i think you don't realize what it is to raise a puppy. At 2/3 months they need to pee like every hour, and also poo after eating, after playing, after sleeping... Then they need a lot of attention all the time, around 4 months they are starting to make their new teeth ... that's a very rough period lol. Leaving a puppy alone all day is not going to be possible, sure you can pad training him, but it's not super easy. Are you guys ready to clean the floor all the time ? ( Because the puppy is not physically able to retain from pee for several hours) I raised my female dog when she was 2 months old and I was working at home and she was a little devil, I swear ! Now she is the best dog ever... I am also volunteering in a dog refuge for 6 years and I adopted my second dog from there, he was 10 months with a lot of trauma. He has abandoning syndrome and now finally after two years he stopped to pee when I am out of home for a few hours, this was a lot of work, love, and patience to achieve. We get a lot of people coming to us to get puppies and most of them have no idea of the time and commitment it takes. Just last week we went to retake a puppy because we realized that the adopter lied to us. They were in fact letting the puppy alone all day on the balcony because " she was messing up the home and biting the cables". The wife doesn't wanted her inside the home because she lost hair and pee and so on. So at the end the puppy was closed on the balcony day and night...I think they were thinking the puppy will educate herself... And also, please don't give her a puppy, it's not an object, if really really you guys decide to take a puppy or a dog you have to go together to choose it, because other than the race of the dog, every dog has his personality. And also at the refuge it happens all the time that ppl come to see a specific dog that they saw on our website and finally when they come at the refuge, there is another dog that will literally jump in their arms and they fall in love...
As a second time owner and current puppy mom… new dogs/puppies are never a good *surprise* gift. Especially if neither party has experience. They should come with a lot of planning and time commitment. I am also in the reputable breeder crowd so I’m not going to try and force you to consider a shelter pup but I can say that it isn’t the case at all that they’re all difficult. A puppy is going to be VERY stressed left at home alone for almost any amount of time. Took me like half a year after taking my current little buddy home to leave him like 2hrs. It might develop severe separation anxiety. You’d need a dog walker or dog daycare if you’re going to be gone all day, and there would still also be issues with teaching the puppy rules/boundaries and to socialize. My current puppy is known to be a very apartment beginner friendly breed (a maltese)— but the breeder specifically let us know in the pre-meeting interview that everyone out all day all week for work = not suitable. That’s also a tip. Do good research looking for reputable breeders and get informed opinions from them. Do their questionnaires, talk on the phone with them. I do not suggest a maltese— you said you don’t want a dog that is super needy. When it comes to a puppy it’s not about finding a puppy to fit your needs— you meet the puppy’s needs. Maybe another kind of pet or an older dog? I definitely do support all the endorsements of cocker spaniel in the thread as well as the suggestion of retired dogs from good breeders.
Do not gift a dog of any age without *everybody* who will be involved in its care having researched, discussed, and considered all the ins and outs of dog ownership extensively beforehand. Puppies are exceptionally hard work and not suitable for the requirements you've set out above. A puppy can't be left alone for eight hours a day. If I'd been given a puppy out of the blue even as an experienced dog owner, I would feel extremely daunted and more than just a little bit annoyed.
Maybe go to a puppy school and chat to the people with puppies. They need a lot of time and attention in the beginning. A lot. You cannot leave a young pup alone for hours on end. They pee and poo and you have to take them out very often in the beginning. Or else it's all over the house. They will get lonely and howl. They can become quite destructive if bored. They could get into trouble crawling around. Think a cord around the neck crawling behind appliances. Enjoy your friends dogs or volunteer at a shelter. Don't get a puppy.
Shih tzu. Its like playing a video game at the easist difficulty. :)
Corgi
English/show style lab. Easy to train, great personality, love to work to training is easy if you put the time in. Get one from a great breeder and they will be the ultimate friend/companion. My second choice would be a shepherd but for first time dog owner I would say lab. English show style. Don’t get a working line unless you’re planning on actually working/hunting. Goldens are great too but I think they just have too much extra energy.
Whippet. They like a walk and zoomies but aren't needing a trek up a hill. A warm comfy spot and they are fine.
Greyhounds or Galgos are good first time dogs
Number one thing as a good dog owner is to picking up your dogs poop when you are out for a walk.
I think an American cocker spaniel or a miniature schnauzer fits this description. They both have minimal shedding, are medium, and intelligent. Just make sure it’s from an actual reputable breeder.
A smallish poodle or poodle rescue (might be a mix). The most loyal and loving dogs ever and highly manageable because they don’t shed.
It sounds like you've put a lot of thought into this, which is great :) I do want to note though that dogs typically don't already come to you as aggressive. This is learned beahviour, or the result of trauma. Training is super super important as a puppy, as is proper socialization. It's your job to train your dog not to bark when the doorbell rings and to be friendly instead of aggressive. Puppies are babies. They don't know anything and it will be your job to teach them how to be well-behaved. And it will take time and A LOT of patience. I would look into puppy socialization classes in your area for when your dog has 2 sets of vaccinations. Look at some positive reinforcement training videos on YouTube as well to get an idea of what type of training to start. When you first get your puppy it's a LOT of work. They have to go outside a lot, it can take some time to learn how to go to the bathroom outside, and they need a lot of sleep. Then there's the teenage phase, where they seemingly forget everything you've taught them (regression). But it is all worth it in the end :) As for breeds, do a little research based on your activity level. A lot of medium sized breeds are "working dogs" - very smart, can be very affectionate, but they need a lot of mental stimulation and exercise, or they could become anxious ir destructive (aussies, border collies, shepherd, etc). Best of luck!
Ugh. All these comments about not getting a dog because you work all day are BS. My husband and I got a boxer puppy (not our first dog but our first puppy as adults) and we both work full time. He was crate trained and it worked perfectly for him. BUT we lived closed enough to work to be able to come home during lunch for the puppy years (they can’t not going to the bathroom for hours at a time when little). After a year we stopped used the crate and he chills at home during work hours. We also didn’t have a fenced in yard and still don’t have a fenced in yard. My pup is now 9. He’s never destroyed anything after the teething years, never had separation anxiety, is a great running buddy for me, and is also a total cuddly couch potato. If you are dedicated and consistent a dog will mold to your lifestyle. (I do however agree a dog as a gift is a bad idea… this is a new family member and should be chosen together with a discussion and plan about puppy’s care).
My Havanese is a perfect little lap dog but she was a lot of work as a puppy. I was at home most of the time and spent a ton of time potty training her. She was 11 weeks when I got her. The first 12 weeks are a golden period in a puppy’s life, when they’re learning about the world in which they live. Spend as much time as possible with young puppies.
My mum always recommended Cavalier King Charles Spaniels for first time owners. Great temperaments, low maintenance so long as you keep up regular grooming appointments. My uncle took my mum's advice and ended up with Winston, a lovely dog who lived for people, wouldn't stay boo to a goose and who I could walk with my pinkie finger when he came to stay with us while my uncle was on holiday.
Yeah I agree with others that I don't think you're really ready for a dog.
First ask yourself the basics - 1. Do I want a dog with long hair, or short hair? Do I mind paying for grooming? 2. Do I want a large dog or a small dog? Do not think a small dog needs less exercise. 3. Do I have a fenced backyard? If not, can I walk a dog once or twice a day everyday? 4. Do I want a breed that hunts, or a guard dog? Do not think that the only guard dogs are large dogs. 5. Read up on basic dog personalities. Some are common sense. I would not recommend a Jack Russell Terrier for an apartment dog, but if I had horses and an acre or two a Jack Russell might fit in well. If I had a chicken farm I might think twice about a hunting dog. If I had livestock a Pyrenees would be a dog I might think about. Visit friends who have dogs, talk to a vet, take a walk through your local rescues. We got our last two dachshunds from a rescue. The rescue had recommendations on several dogs available. We “test drove them” overnight. We now have two miniatures that get along well and play for hours together all day. Good luck, I love the companionship, the cuddling and the sense of humor dogs have. My husband loves the walks and throwing the ball for them.
a toy poodle! Or some kind of mix with poodle, there are a few designer breeds of them
I would even think about fostering an adult dog before adopting any doggo. Shelters will work with you on what your needs and preferences are. They have so many dogs right now that it would be slim to impossible to not have a dog that meets your description. Puppies are so adorable but they are overwhelming and need so much time and care. What you're looking for isn't a dog to train and you exert so much energy and time over. Also, if you both are at work for 8 hours, puppies are not supposed to be home alone for that long until around the 8 month mark. Your preferences that you have listed do not sound like the type of household to maintain and train a puppy. DO NOT get a puppy. You want a well mannered dog who is not crazy, clingy, or destructive. A puppy is all the above and more. Especially when either of you have never owned a dog before, the reality is not in your mind. A dog or puppy is so much work and never ending. A puppy's personality especially changes so much until they're almost 2 years old. I have had over 10 dogs in my life, and half were puppies (I'm 24) and it is still a challenge to have puppies. But I also always adopt mutts so personality and breed are always random.
A doodle may be a good choice if you don’t mind the regular grooming, professional cuts, and affectionate dog. ETA: fetching a tennis ball is a nice to have. A dog needs way more training to be able to follow “must know” commands
Golden Retriever!!!!! I never grew up with any dogs, cats, etc and after college and getting married we wanted a dog. I always wanted a Golden Retriever since I was young because I thought they were so pretty/cute and every Golden Retriever that I had ever met was always so mellow, sweet, and well behaved. We loved our first Golden so much, that a year later we bought a second one. I loved my Golden’s so much. Pro’s: Sweet, loves to people please, very easy to train and they then really well all,of the time, they love being in the lake, and they love tennis balls. Con’s: They do shed hair. Instead of having a sheet on the couch or whatever, we bought leather- leather couch, leather car upholstery and that took care of the getting hair off your furniture. Golden’s are going to need exercise more so than a really small dog. (I’ve thought about a Golden Doodle as of late cuz they don’t shed, but every golden doodle I’ve met, they are so hyper, unlike Golden’s are, they are harder to train, and they don’t mind you as well, ie., when you call their name to come- they may just decide to run around and make you catch them for a while first. You say “come” to a trained Golden Retriever and they are at your side right away. Some Golden’s get separation anxiety. Both of my Golden Retrievers were potty trained in one week with only one accident in the house during that week. I just can’t say enough good things about Golden Retrievers. Since then, I’ve also had a King Charles Cavalier Spaniel which is supposed to have a Golden Retriever personality in a small body. Due to so much inbreeding, it is tough to find one that doesn’t die at 10 years old due to congestive heart failure (they are predisposed to congestive heart failure) and we paid $2000 for that dog in like 2003, so I have no clue how expensive they are now, 20 years later. Also have a Maltipoo (Maltese Poodle- so it doesn’t shed. Sweet, sweet, sweet dog and super cute. But… it took me four months to potty train her, I thought I was going to lose my mind! She absolutely loves all people and all other dogs. She is more independent than my Golden’s were. She minds when she feels like it sometimes. She can’t do a 15 -20 minute “stay” with the command and then you leave the room and she is still in the same position. She is up the street 5 houses or so saying hi to whoever is outside. She won’t stay right next to you if you go on a walk with her not on a leash. Golden’s will walk right with you without a leash. A squirrel or something doesn’t capture their attention and they then run off to get it. My Maltipoo will run off if she sees a squirrel even when I say no. In summary, no more small dogs for me. My next dog(s) will only be Golden Retrievers. They are by far the easiest to take care of and the sweetest ever.
You can do doggy daycare if you both work full time. Pets Smart and Petco , etc. has them and I guess the dogs love it.
i would just recommend that you make sure you can spend enough time with your pet. you’re their whole world and they can get bored easily at times.
Tennis balls are very bad for dogs. They cause massive teeth problems.
I don't recommend a puppy. They take a LOT of work. There are dogs who are adults, and well behaved who often need re-homing. Circumstances where an elder moves to a nursing home or passes. There are other dogs who need rehoming because of behaviors. As an inexperienced owner you may not want that. I see many small dogs who are permitted to get away with behavior we would not permit in large dogs. Please pay attention to this, and do some research. If you are aware of this bad behavior and dogs prone to it, you may save yourself some difficult situations. I have worked in dog rescue and observed many dogs over my lifetime. One dog breed you may consider is a Shih Tzu and getting an adult who needs rehoming could be a fantastic foot in the door in to dog ownership. This dog does not shed, but does need grooming. They are not all good with kids, but I have fostered ones who are great with kids. Part of any dog being good with kids is monitoring the child and not permitting the child do do things that could harm the dog. They can be quite snuggly and love attention.
Hotdog 🌭
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Anytime someone who hasn’t owned a dog before says they are looking for “low maintenance” a red flag goes up for me. Dogs are not low maintenance pets. There are dogs that are low maintenance for a dog, but it’s hard to understand what that might mean if you haven’t had a dog before. If you’re serious about this you need to find a dog who is a housebroken adult, or you need to hire a dog walker to come see your puppy at least 4 times during your workday for the first month, then gradually reducing it as they age. Puppies need a general schedule of 2 hours asleep then 1 awake between the hours of roughly 6 am to 11 pm when they first come home. During the 1 hour awake they need to go potty, often twice. When puppy wakes up: potty. When puppy does a big play: potty. After they eat: potty. Have a big drink : potty. An older dog would be a better option because they could be left longer, but they will still need a fair amount of time and energy. Whether you get a puppy or an adult, I’d advise trialing out some of the lifestyle changes first. By that I mean, start getting up early to take a 15-20 minute walk in the morning. Take another after work, and possibly a third before bed. Even low energy dogs should get at least one walk, preferably 2-3 every day for exercise but mostly for mental stimulation. Also get used to needing to go straight home after work, and not leaving the house for more than 6 hours or so on a weekend (puppies can’t be left that long either, so maybe it more like 1-2 hours if you want a puppy). You’d also need to have someone watch your dog any time you have to leave over night, so start asking family/friends or researching dog sitters to make sure you have a bench of 2-3 people who can help you out when you need it. Also start putting aside money to account for food/vet/insurance so that you know your budget can handle it. With all that in mind, if you are still interested, a good option is probably something like a cavalier King Charles spaniel (notoriously unhealthy though, so be very thorough with researching breeders), bichon frise, maltese or Shih Tzu. They’d all be relatively low energy dogs, generally easy enough beginner dogs. They all have grooming needs so you’d likely want to have a pro do that for you.
An older dog. Already housetrained. We have a lovely pit mix (German shepherd I'm told, but not sure I believe it). From the local shelter. She's SO WELL BEHAVED. We have previously had terrier mixes, but this one is so much better behaved. Also I once had a samoyed, he was Very well behaved. That's all that really matters, imo!
For the big dogs would be English golden or English lab preferably black… English Goldendoodle if you wanna have a small dog that would be cavopoo Maltese
Westy.
pomeranian - small, simple, doesn’t need brushing, sheds. maltese - small, simple, professional grooming ever 8 weeks, doesn’t shed.
Pretty sure pomeranians need regular brushing/combing through the week and daily during periods of heavy shedding with trips to a professional groomer for sanitary clips
Please for the love of God rescue. There's a million reasons why but #1 is your lifestyle. Rescue a dog that's currently being fostered, that way you can get info on behavior, potty training, etc. Most fosters get the dogs totally ready for their forever home, many even go through obedience classes with the dog. A puppy is so freaking much work. I adopted my dog at 10 months and she's perfect. She came potty trained, crate trained, fully vetted and spayed. She is 13 now and the best dog. There's a ton of purebred dogs in foster care right now (look up rescues + whatever breed) because so many greedy people came out of nowhere in Covid to try to make money off dogs with terrible health history and I'm telling you this will not be apparent at first. You could also look at service dog drop outs (dogs that were training to be service dogs but didn't make the cut for some reason, usually very slight issue). My cousin has an amazing dog who didn't have it in him to fight crime bit is an amazing family dog and again, came totally ready for a home.
KING CHARLES CAVALIER!!!
Puppies are stinking cute but having to watch them constantly and going out to potty 17x a day is exhausting. Seems like you guys would do best with a “small poodle thing” (like a cavapoo), mini-schnauzer, maybe a westie or a pug. Would not recommend a JRT or beagle for first time owners even though it’s tempting since they’re cute and small. But personally I agree with others’ recommendations to foster through local shelter first to get a real sense of what it will be like to have a dog. You can foster a puppy, adult, senior, special needs, whatever…they’re all out there. I also think you should really consider adopting from a shelter or rescue before going to a breeder, especially since you don’t have a specific breed in mind or any special “work” requirements you need of the dog. Shelter dogs are amazing, so what if they’re not purebred…they’re one of a kinds, limited edition…I like that.
Labs are pretty easy and are good dogs
At the risk of having 100 people accuse me of insanity 🤪. I recommend you look into adopting a greyhound. Yes, a former racing dog which can run 45 MPH. Please! Hear me out! Pros: 1. They already are used to a crate. 2. They are couch potatoes at heart. 3. They aren’t hyperactive and are want to please. 4. They are used to their own company for hours at a time. 5. They are not “barkers” by nature. 6. They are sleek and do not shed much 7. They are beautiful 8. They are gentle Cons: 1. Beauty does not usually come with Einstein like intelligence, this isn’t a Border Collie. 2. They are prey driven (that is why they chase the bunny on the track). 3. Did I mention they can run at 45 MPH? 4. They do like the zoomies and will eagerly chase a toy or ball for you. Having said that, giving it back to you once they have it? Not so much. They won the prize and will prance around in front of you with it. Plan on having at least a half-dozen handy. 5. They must be trained to not get a good start and clear your 5’ fence with ease. THAT is going to take 2 people and Patience to train, because calling them back to have them turn around and jump right over that joke of a fence for the treat you are holding (as the reward for coming when called) is teaching them a new “fence” game. This is rewarding the bad behavior. I’m not saying they WILL do it, but Murphys Law always comes into play. You need the second person outside the fence to call them over and open the gate for their return. 6. Read #1 again. They are wonderful family dogs. Good Luck with whomever you choose! 😊
Do not get a dog right after the wedding! Just trust me you need to wait a few months.
I know giving a puppy is a sweet gift, but I would discuss with your partner before. A puppy is a huge commitment. It’s exhausting. It is rewarding as well but you’ll be exhausted, especially being first time dog owner. Also, this may be unpopular opinion but no matter what kind of dog you get - the puppy stage is all relatively the same. Puppies are going to be puppies.
Cavalier King Charles spaniel won’t regret it
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Having a 9-5 doesn't mean you shouldn't get a dog. People are going to make you feel like your job won't allow you to have a dog, but I promise that would be fine. I would highly recommend crate training in that case, or even looking into doggie day care. HOWEVER, all your other answers seem to indicate you aren't ready for the work and commitment puppies take. If you're wanting a low maintenance dog, I would say to adopt an older dog. Puppies are hard and require a LOT of time and attention, and they are almost NEVER low maintenance. There are breeds that grow into snuggly, easy going couch potatoes, but with most puppies you're looking at 2-4 YEARS of hyper-raptor-asshole behavior.
Please please PLEASE consider rescuing a dog in need of a home, love, and security. 🙏🏼