How Much Work Is A Dog?

I am seriously considering getting a dog. I live alone in an apt. building in a city. A nice dog park is less than a mile away. I don't travel. I was thinking a dog might help keep me company, as I have few friends or family. I am thinking about getting a German Shepherd puppy. How much work is this going to be?

I would not get a German Shepherd if you live in an apartment. They need a lot of exercise and a lot of training. I would find a reputable rescue shelter and look for a dog no bigger than about 20 pounds whose personality and temperament matches up to you and your lifestyle. There are so many great dogs desperately needing to be rescued. Sometimes the rescue shelter will even have a trainer there and you might be able to take classes. If not, I highly recommend you watch lots of YouTube videos on dog training. The more training you do up front, the less work you will do later. And don’t fall into the trap of thinking your dog needs company and then start getting more dogs. Just get one that you can train to take lots of places with you and it shouldn’t be too much work. It gets to be a lot of work when you have behavior issues and when you have more than one dog.

A lot. My sister dropped a german Shepard puppy off on us when she was a teen and then left. It was horrible. It took three of us to take care of him.

Agree with Lily Mop.

I would search on the internet for a bread that goes with living in an apartment.

Small dogs tend to be yappy and hard to train. I'd go for a medium sized dog. A German Shepard need an experienced firm handler. Go to a good shelter that will work to match you with the right dog for your needs. They can help you find a dog with a calm personality to go in an apartment.and who would be easier for a first time dog owner to train. Do consider an older dog that is already potty trained they will be so grateful for being adopted and less likely to chew up your belongings while being trained.

I agree with the others. Big dogs and apartments are not a good mix. It's not fair to the dog.

LilyMop had a great idea about a rescue dog. You could look for a mature dog that's already housebroken. So many grown dogs end up put down or languishing in shelters because everyone wants a puppy. I have adopted two grown dogs over the years. They both were/are great dogs.

Thank you so much, @LilyMop, @Emily Fox Seaton, @Nammu, and @lizardlady! I had not really thought about the size of the dog vs. the size of the apt. Thanks for pointing that out. We have a very busy rescue community here and I will look into that--that's a great idea. I would have no issue with adopting a senior dog--that would be great for me. I do not need a puppy. I know they can be an enormous amount of work. And I am not a dog expert. Thanks again for taking the time to provide valuable feedback. I do appreciate it.

I'm gearing up to get a German Shepherd in the next year or two. Shepherd puppies are notoriously difficult; they are 'land sharks' (bite a lot) and are very sensitive and easy to mess up. Or so I've heard. Here's some info based on the research I've done.

The first thing is to look at and consider breed restrictions. I don't know where you live, but here in the USA, German Shepherds are banned from most apartment complexes. Check yours. I live in a state that's pretty dog friendly and I still have to hunt around for houses that allow shepherds.

Having a shepherd in an apartment would be hard but not impossible, assuming that your appartment isn't super small. It isn't ideal. You'd need to really, really make sure he's well exercised and mentally stimulated. These dogs generally need around 3 hours of exercise a day to be at their best. They won't complain if you give them more, but you need to make sure you're not over exercising puppies. I haven't done much research on this b/c I don't want a puppy, but look into it. You can hurt their joints. Older ones (>5 years) would probably require less exercise, around 2 hours. Again, they'd probably love to have more. Shepherds enjoy puzzles and generally like to have 'a job', whether this is helping you with dishes, finding a treat you hid, getting training, etc. They are NOT easygoing like golden retrievers or labs, and are very intelligent and need training and to be engaged with.

Simply put: dogs are kinda hard work depending on the breed. If you're looking for low maintenance, don't get a shepherd. These dogs are often brought back to shelters for being 'too much'. They're like having a dog on hard mode. If you want easy mode, steer away from the working dogs.

Also, if you care, Shepherds shed. Like a lot. Like 98% more than most dogs. This has me seriously bummed lol.

If you're looking for a low energy dog, here's a list: Low-Energy Dog Breeds | Purina

If you plan on staying in an apartment for a long time, a medium or small sized dog would probably be easier.

Rescue dogs are available in all breeds and sizes. All over the country and local areas.
Good dogs big and small.
Lots of care, feeding, exercise, and
Kisses. They need a yard, and people, and are unconditional in their love for you and to you, always happy to see you no matter what's
Happening. Don't be mean to them, ever.

Wow! Thanks so much for all that detailed information, @SoSorry7735! I had no idea these dogs required so much exercise. When I think of that kind of exercise commitment, I think more of a Vizsla or Weimaraner or something. Guess the whole German Shepherd idea wasn't exactly totally thought through.

My building is very pro-dog, but they do say in their literature that 'no aggressive breeds' are permitted. Whatever that means. I suppose I should get that list and then I can start looking for an appropriate breed. Thanks again for all the info--I really appreciate it.

Thank you. No, I would not be capable of being mean to any dog. Even a mean one. I just love dogs.

Hey bpcyclist I think it would be awesome for you to first volunteer at a dog shelter so that you will be around dogs. You can read to them, take them for walks, and absorb their unconditional love. Then, you wouldn't have to worry about the costs incurred as a dog owner and the time commitment required at home. Dogs are not stationary animals like cats are. Cats don't care how long they're left alone but dogs care. Dogs can develop anxiety and will destroy furniture and your apartment or act aggressive when they are just lonely and anxious.

If you're willing to create a schedule around having a dog (daily walks, feedings, play time, dog park visits) then go for it. Can you apply for a service dog for your MI? That may be even better. A service dog that senses when you're about to have an episode and can help keep you calm.

But having pets is good for the soul. That's for sure. I'm very pro-pet. Decide what kind of commitment you can offer a dog. A dog is for life.It's not something to be returned when it doesn't work out. I know people do that all the time, but if you know you can't consistently be there for a dog because of hospital stays, then don't do it. Just volunteer at a shelter. Small steps. See how that goes.

Edit to add: You could also adopt elderly dogs or register to foster dogs. If you foster dogs, the shelter will reimburse you for dog food and medication.

So, your options are:

1. Foster a dog.
2. Adopt a small dog.
3. Adopt an elderly dog.
4. Apply for a service dog.
5. Volunteer at a dog shelter and don't adopt a dog.

Thanks very much for the input. I hadn't considered fostering. I am totally fine with a senior dog. And I will definitely look into the shelter offerings here. I do think I would no doubt qualify, given my illness severity, for service animal, but I know they can be extremely expensive. Will have to look into that some more and see what's involved exactly. Thanks again for the input!!

bpcyclist:

here's some info for you about service dogs in Oregon:

How can I get a service dog? - oregonlive.com

cci.org | Homepage

Portland, Oregon chapter of service dog organization:

cci.org | Cascade Chapter

Contact page for Cascade Chapter in Oregon:

Survey - Contact the Cascade Chapter - Canine Companions for Independence

Oregon Laws on Service Dogs and Emotional Support Animals | Nolo

https://droregon.org/wp-content/uplo...ce-Animals.pdf

If you have to raise the money, you can do a Go Fund Me or something like that. I bet people would donate to your Fund page for a service dog.

Hey, that's awesome, SB. Thanks a million! I will dig into these and see what's what. More to follow...

You may also be able to hire yourself out as an in home animal carer when the dog owner is on vacation?

i.e. the people are gone, but you come by 2X a day to feed/ water/ walk their dogs. Check that their home is not broken into.

Based on:
Dog boarding Portland Oregon Prices

Boarding

• Dog: $39.00 per day*
• Your two (2) dogs in the same run: $34.00* per day, per dog.
• Cat: $22.00 per day.
• Extended Stays: Special prices may be arranged for boarding periods exceeding 30 days.

You could make your rates a little bit competitive and the owners would have peace of mind that their pets are in their own home and won't contract diseases elsewhere, which despite the regulations at kennels can occur.

It’s a lot of work but it really does help with anxiety.
Here are some of the pitfalls(I have a house with a yard, dog park a few miles away)
It is a lot of work because they need to be exercised and poop scooped unless you live by a wild area like a forest, where no one will step in the lovely surprises.
If they are untrained you will need to do that.It is hard to tell in the shelter how much training they will need. A large city shelter may not be honest about their level of training. Why be totally honest if they mite save the dog’s; life.
Yes, do volunteer at a shelter to learn about dogs.
Research the various breeds.
If you want your dog to run beside the bike or jog with you, you do want at least a medium size dog. I just rescued a terrier/poodle mix that can walk at least a mile in warm weather and jog if I am wiling to risk my knees
Some dogs shed a lot and some don’t. Grooming needs vary widely.
An adult dog may be potty trained,but senior dog means old and you
want to go through the heart ache of medical problems and normal passing away when you have only had your pet for a few years.

The pluses are that mine is very funny and cute. They make you laugh.
They adore you . Mine sleeps with me and I find that comforting, good for anxiety.
He is very smart. He is not one of the stubborn breeds. He wants to please me.
However, we are training him and it can take a while.
My cat can tell when I am really upset and comes close to comfort me.
My young dog cant tell yet when I’m down but will because he is very smart.
I personally would stick with cats for apartment living,(with the house he can just go out his dog door to the yard if I have to skip a walk for some reason)
if you dont mind taking a dog on a potty walk on a cold morning, go for it.
You could offer to take a neighbors dog for a few days as an experiment.
Cats are not just aloof blobs if you give them great massages or whatever they like
My cat actually alerts him if my ex has low blood sugar. Amazing!
A pet is very helpful for anxiety, but go slowly and get the right one!

Thank you for all this--it is very helpful! I do love cats, but I really feel like a dog would be better for me with this illness. More interactive,at least more than the cats I have had in the past. We shall see...