Hi All,
Interested in getting a puppy/dog for our family home. The main concerns I have is whether its suitable for an apartment and the type of breed would fit in with a younger child around. Which breed of dog do you recommend for those things and i'm open to adoption, for an older dog like 1yo. So i dont need to go through potty training, chewing cables etc.
I'm in Sydney so good places to buy/adopt would be appreciated.
If you get one of those take out pet health insurance.
Would suggest personal health insurance then liability insurance before pet health insurance.
why? Never heard Frenchies and pugs being aggressive towards people
@liongalahad: https://www.rspcaqld.org.au/blog/fact-check/french-bulldog-b…
People will stop breeding then if the demand goes away. Such a horrible thing we’ve done to these animals.
@DryScissors: I'd never get a dog from these breeds, I don't even find them particulary cute. But I have never ever heard them being aggressive and requiring personal liability insurance when getting them. I would suggest to get that with a large breed such as German Sheperd or Rottweiler, if they flip they can be potentially lethal, surely not for a Pug.
@liongalahad: Referring to owning some breeds like German Sheps.
Heard from plastic surgeon that 80% of his cases result of this breed.
@IanC: I'm well aware and that's why I keep a pepper spray in my pocket when walking my two little dogs in the park, if a shep or another big boy seriously attack them, or me, I will not hesitate to use it (hoping it would stop him and knock him out)
Bad breed suggestions for a newb uneducated dog owner. These breeds require a lot of extra care outside feeding and walking.
Frenchies also cost a fortune.
Ridiculous $$. I've seen $10k. No dog is worth more than $2k ever.
@[Deactivated]: When 1 dog can do the job of 2 people on horses or quads the high price of working dogs pays for it eaisly pays for itself in wages alone.
@[Deactivated]: You're paying for the training and expertise. I got my kelpie for free. And I got my border collie for the price of two chickens.
@Muzeeb: Ha. Exactly what my man says. But then he grew up somewhere where dogs just ran around the streets etc. Prices are ridiculous tho, but on the plus side maybe it turns more people to adoption. (The cynical part of me just thinks it turns more ppl to breeding tho)
@Muzeeb: Why? What an odd thing to say. It provides 10+ years of joy. The "appropriate" price is limitless really.
People spend $100k on cars. They spend $2-5k on metallic paint/leather seat add ons, etc. I know what is the more justifiable expense.
Every second dog in eastern suburbs Sydney is either a Pug or Frenchie. The demand is high, guess where the prices are…
Or you could not perpetuate the continued existence of an animal with a host of health problems due to inbreeding. Putting looks above the health of a breed of animal is shameful.
Go to your local animal shelter (RSPCA, Animal Welfare League, etc.) and ask them.
You will get heaps of good advice plus find a dog who will love you for saving them from Death Row.
People who bought on impulse when the lock downs started are starting to regret what they did and dump the poor dogs.
I thought about this, but we are in lockdown, so pretty sure thats not one of the reason to leave home.
Look up their website and read up their processes. Some require individual applications for dogs and some work with you to identify the right dog.
Contact them directly. They know the situation and can really guide you through the process if you’re after a rescue.
Give them a call. There are several breeds suitable for apartment living that don’t have health issues like those noted above. They will be able to provide you with some advice and you can then take that info and do some more research.
I thought about this, but we are in lockdown, so pretty sure thats not one of the reason to leave home.
We got our Dog from the RSPCA (Hunter region, NSW) during last years lockdown.
They weren't taking on-site dog hunters, but you could look on their website and choose a dog. They called and asked questions, then brought the dog to our place so we could meet. They had a number of other animals in the van they were taking around to other homes.
At the time, though, they had a 40 minute drive radius they would take an animal. Luckily, we fell just inside.
A dog is a commitment for a very long time, waiting an extra couple of weeks to make an informed decision is a good thing.
Yep. Considering our family dog is 18.5 years old and still going! She's blind and deaf but apparently has a strong heart and still puts up a fight!
@chartparker: What breed of dog is she and what have you done to keep her alive so long?
I have a Koolie/Kelpie that is 11 months old and she is just perfect. I'd love for her to be around as long as possible. I considered getting her really good food but when I worked out it would cost me more to feed her than myself and my partner I scaled back to some still expensive but more reasonable food.
This is a great idea in theory but also can be disastrous.
I have always had dogs growing up, thought I knew most stuff about them. Decided to rescue a dog with my partner a couple years ago. Didn’t know what we were doing and long story short we are stuck with an extremely neurotic dog that limits our lives so much. If we didn’t love him dearly he’d have been put down ages ago. Getting him has been easily the most challenging thing I have ever done despite how rewarding it can be at times. This is all without mentioning how expensive he is!
I wouldn’t wish this on my enemy and nor would I suggest it to someone who has never owned a dog.
I don’t know much about dog adoption but for cats, all the medial and mental issues should be disclosed prior to adoption (simply to avoid unwanted surprise and possible surrender which further traumatises the pet). If the shelter you got the dog from didn’t mention his issues and doesn’t agree to take back their rescue if it becomes overwhelming for the new family, something is wrong with their practice.
Totally! Hard to know though when you have only experienced good dogs. I thought he was just untrained.
Curious if you don't mind sharing what kind of neurotic condition your dog has and what he does everyday.
Madly dog and people aggressive/scared due to abuse as a pup. We can’t leave the house with him. He takes drugs three times a day so we can train him, which we do, and he’s getting better in many ways but it’s very slow.
It’s a pain to even toilet him at times, if he’s scared of something it might take half an hour to calm him enough to take a dump.
@bmerigan: Yeah I think the shelter environment is not conducive to seeing what a dog is properly like, anyway - so I'm not here to throw blame around on any one party.
@jrowls: Some shelters are really poor in that they don't provide a great environment for a dog with mental issues and sadly some of those same shelters will put down the dogs after a certain number of failed adoptions.
There are some that do a fantastic job though and are much more open about what to expect, what to do, and are happy to take back animals if it doesn't go to plan.
Sucks it sounds like you dealt with one of the former :/
@buckster: Yeah that's totally right mate, and look it is what it is at the end of the day. I wish our dog was not the way he is but we still love him so swings and roundabouts. I think if you're experienced and know what you're doing, a shelter dog can be great.
I would 1000000% not recommend it for a beginner or someone who wants an 'easy' dog experience - you might get that, but equally you might get a dog even worse than ours (and they exist).
@jrowls: Yeah, definitely a lucky pupper to end up with you guys though given how you're doing what you can!
Small dog with low exercise requirements, i.e. toy breed not a terrier. But what's your work situation? If you're keeping a young dog cooped up in an apartment all day with no stimulation, you're basically asking for trouble.
Currently working remotely, not sure when will need to return to office. Have flexible work arrangements.
Interestingly I recall a Harry’s Practice episode from years ago where they listed a few medium-large breeds that also have low exercise requirements. Greyhounds were one.
The key part is low exercise requirements, regardless of size. Many small dogs actually need more exercise than larger.
You’re bang on though that young breeds will have more energy.
Not a "Toy" Poodle if you will leave the dog alone regularly.
Indeed, poodles are one of the most intelligent dog breeds, they aren't suitable to be left alone all day
Yeah, have one and another small dog, the other dog is of no consolation on those rare occasions they are left alone, a neighbor had 3 opposite the the park and they howled and cried so loudly so often as they were alone most days while their owners worked
It varies. If left alone our poodle x will sleep pretty much all day. But he sure takes out his energy on us when we get home…
Greyhound (or smaller greyhound breeds) is a better dog to leave alone. They do nothing.
I'm a dog person, but you may be more suited to a cat given living arrangements. they are far more independent
.
op: im after an xbox or ps5. which one should i get?
itt: get a pc
It's a good point. No dog should be cooped up inside 20 hours a day IMO.
that's like, your opinion, man. IMO the pet trade shouldn't exist but i'm not here enforcing my beliefs on OP
4 hours a day outside is plenty! Walk a dog for 4 hours and they’ll be dead to the world
That's a site that they recommend to check for rescue animals
Also the RSPCA website.
Keep in mind, you need a small dog for an apartment, not medium or large
Yes, im mainly considering small dogs.
Some popular breeds for apartments are cavoodle, toy poodle, pug, beagle, corgi, shih tzu, fox terrier, maltese
I wouldn’t have thought of beagles as apartment dogs, they love roaming around and digging in the garden.
Greyhounds are medium sized dogs and are one of the breeds most notorious for chilling all day. Also Great Danes. It’s incorrect that only small dogs will have low energy.
Energy levels/breeds is more important than size.
https://www.readersdigest.com.au/pets/dr-katrina-warrens-top…
A lot of apartmant strata bylaws have a weight limit for dogs fyi
Many might, but not all.
And in those cases yes, you would only look toward smaller breeds, but it’s still very important to pick the right one, not just any that adhere to the weight limit, as many smaller breeds have a lot of energy and need more space.
Italian Greyhound.
Or a whippet. They get their mad running done and then they sleep on the lounge for the rest of the day
things to consider:
probably suggest a cavoodle - cav bred with toy or minature poodle, depending on what size doggie you want, and how much space your apartment has you can go with either.
other things:
Should have mentioned, that it can't be too yappy. Some neighbours can be rather sensitive.
Is there any dogs that don't shed too much?
Not a very small dog breed, but definitely not big: Italian Greyhound or a Whippet.
They need some good exercise every day, but if they get this, they're generally pretty relaxed indoors.
I have 2 IG's and can confirm they are definitely not noisy. Pretty small, around 5-6 kg adult size
Amount of excesise is not a lot to be honest, you can walk them twice a day for 15-20 minutes if you train them to be off leash ( so they can run freely and get tired), and that's it, they sleep the rest of the day
I would not recommend if you are not prepared with pretty intesnive house-training
Definitely get health insurance as they are prone to breaking legs, and it can be financially crippling (8k+ per broken leg)
Also, prepare to give up any personal space as they need your presence and contact 24/7. And definitely better to have a second pet if you work full time, they just hate being alone.
Look up hypoallergenic dog breeds. Poodles and poodle crosses are often recommended for allergy sufferers as are some terriers.
Greyhounds are pretty laid back so long as they get a good walk.
Cavalier King Charles Spaniels (these are crossed with poodles for the cavoodle) are amazing with children.
I wouldn’t go for a beagle as they are really strong, love digging and (IMO) stubborn. Some terriers were bred for tunnelling and chasing down rodents/small animals.
Really though, you need to do your own research.
that's a problem, small dogs tend to be a lot more annoying than larger dogs, both their barks and how often they do it.
most people will not recommending to have dog and leave it alone 9 hours ago (even just few days a week)
I agree.
Most people who care for the dog wouldnt let it get that bored for 9hrs a day - next thread my dog gets bored and ripped the lounge and everything apart…
… some people have them for fashion statements and dont spend any time with them.
Especially locked inside a small apartment and not be expected to bark and chew cables
We have a pembroke welsh corgi pup (18 weeks old now) in our 2 BR apartment. We have a LOT of dog owners in our block. We decided to crate train our pup as we don't have a dedicated laundry area and we decided it was suitable for the living situation and potty training schedule we had. Would suggest a smaller breed of dog
We keep him in a play pen area and crate when we can't supervise him. When in our lounge we do allow him now to roam around if we keep a close eye on him. First thing I did was drop by the neighbours and let them know that we have a pup on the way and apologise for any noise disturbances. You are gonna have some sleepless nights ahead.
Another idea if you have a balcony area (THANK GOD we did) for potty training. We use Potty Plant and get it delivered every week.
A few other things, though there are HEAPS more:
- You have a young child, so fur-baby is no different, lots of patience.
- Puppy proof your apartment - no loose cords around to chew, keep chemicals away, plastic bags, choking hazards, electronics etc etc that are within puppy distance
- Get a slow feeder bowl - so they don't wolf it all down in 2 seconds flat.
- Stimulation and exercise is key to hopefully avoid some destructive behaviour.
- Meals times I use partly as training and obedience training.
A corgi pup! X)
they are such a cute and lovely breed, hope everything is going well for you guys =)
Sure is! Though he is a cheeky boy
We setup an IG #a_corgi_named_bowie
Adorable! Puppy times are so precious 😭❤️ they are only smol for a short time, and those puppy fur
And the blue eye X) it can give out some cute Derpy vibe of a husky when doing its wide-eyed game 😂😂
Avoid purebreed dogs unless its important to you, my dog is a purebreed and has genetic spine calcification disorder. Spine disk bulged out and had to have a surgery a few years ago to fuse the spine. Horrific experience. I didnt know at the time. Some breeds are healthier than others obviously, so you can look at that.
I'd recommend a Miniature Fox Terrier, great apartment dogs once they're grown up
One good walk a day, great with kids, very few genetic health issues with long lives, and generally pretty intelligent
The more intelligent the worse they'll be at living in an apartment - lower boredom threshold
Not nessesarily true, you can make that intelligence work well for dogs that are happy to play by themselves using toys and puzzles
Sure you can mitigate it but it is going to be harder work than if they are less intelligent
Definitely adopt if you can. Pretty much every organisation that re-homes dogs will be able to advice if that particular dog is suitable for your apartment and with kids. A dachshund might suit if you’re home a lot (they get lonely) https://dachshundrescue.com.au/resources/ some greyhounds actually make great apartment dogs as they sleep a lot as long as you’re committed to daily walking and can access a park where they can run off lead. https://greyhoundrescue.com.au/
Some other sites
https://www.awlnsw.com.au/
https://www.adoptapet.com.au/
Also consider fostering before you adopt to see if it’s right for you. Dogs are a lot of work, you’ll need to consider things like pet sitters for holidays, walking even when you don’t feel like it and vet bills.
Super curious to know what the neg is for, only because I was browsing through other responses. The neg without comment is always weird in a forum that is anonymous, on a post that I don’t think is too controversial?? If the person negging wants to make a point, surely they’d be best to comment.
I didn't neg and don't know who negged you but, I might have a guess.
In my experience, dachshund's are scent hounds and therefore, pretty bad in apartments. Also, I've also read they're pretty temperamental and yappy so, not the best choice for the OP.
As for the other things you've written, I see absolutely nothing wrong and I agree :)
https://www.dogzonline.com.au/breeds/puppies.asp - Look here if you want a purebred. This page is also not a bad place to start research.
I personally have two purebred shih tzus (off Dogzonline) but I wouldn't recommend them to young kids right now as they're fragile dogs and will compete for your attention. However, apart from grooming, they're easy to deal with, don't shed on your furniture, don't yap (they have a good bark though), generally live for a long time and do apartment life well.
Also, you can't get around potty training. Even with an older dog, you still need to help them adjust to a new environment.
Get a rescue, don't go to a breeder.
Greyhound.
Perfect apartment dog, they sleep 20+ hrs a day. Are very placid, particularly with young'uns. Adoption of toilet-trained mature dogs that don't require much exercise each day, couple of 15-20 minute walks and that's it.
They are incredibly quiet and they rarely bark. Ours has barked less than 10 times total in the 3 years we have had her. They are low shedding, some don't shed at all, gentle and affectionate breed.
The adoption programme will match one to your exact situation, be it full-time/part-time workers, other pets in the house, young kids, small apartments, large yards etc.. there's a perfect match for everyone!
https://www.gapnsw.com.au/ for NSW - but there are adoption programs in all states.
yup, im looking for whippets, basically the smaller version of GreyH
Whippets do have a bit more energy than greys. But certainly have the same amazing personality.
Don’t have as many options to rescue them though.
Agreed. Will never look to another breed.
Greys are goofy operators at times but very amazing companion animals. They also are happy to wear outfits which is great. The Instagram greyhound community is also awesome, particularly in Perth.
Pros
Barely need to walk them
Ready toilet trained mostly
Will sleep on the couch for basically all day
Don’t get that “doggy” smell
Extremely low shedding
Can wear cute long Johns
Saves an already living healthy dog from being murdered
May or may not be able to sing (roo)
Cons
You will likely get one and then a few months in want another, and another
May steal your spot on the bed and rest their head on your pillow (but look cute doing so)
May look at you like it knows exactly what you want it to do, but blatantly ignore you (mostly in the context of asking it to move where it is snoozing)
I fully support the greyhound option but please be realistic about the cons for a new pet owner.
While they make absolutely amazing pets, they can be reactionary to other animals, generally can't be let off the leash, may need desensitisation training and may need help adjusting to life in ways other dogs do not - Having never dealt with the realities of domestic living.
With that said, they are the best, most affectionate dogs ever in their own weirdly adorable little way.
Yep, agreed 100%. They are the opposite of yappy and loud; beautiful personalities, they super sweet and usually very well behaved (although they have an 'independent' streak).
Other pros are they are one of the cheapest way to get a purebreed (if that matters to you) and unlike other breeds aren't prone to have particular major health issues.
English Mastiffs have a good temperament, don't shed much and like to sleep most of the day.
but that is big breed, right? i think whippet is more suitable
not that one JV, i dont feel comfortable living with that many males.
this one google.com/search?q=whippet
Please don't get a pug or frenchie, or pretty much any dogs having a flat face.
This article compares a pug's skull with a terrier's skull. Pug's skull is terribly deformed. They tend to suffer from breathing difficulties, eye trauma, and back, knee and hip problems. These health problems can affect the dog's quality of life and can cost thousands of dollars in corrective surgery.
I would recommend adopting an adult dog so that you don't have to spend too much effort in training the dog. I adopted three dogs so far, when they were around 2 years old. They learnt about their new home and routine very quickly.
My dogs are small ones, 6-7 kg each, but they are very active and need daily walks, as well as space to stretch their legs. Whenever I bring them to my parents' place in an apartment, they get bored very quickly and just want to go home.
I agree with above comments suggesting a greyhound. They are gentle and quite happy to be a couch potato.
Good luck with searching for a new family member :)
Bafranz on 01/10/2021 - 12:07 Comment score below threshold.
