fandomsecrets | [ SECRET POST #2329 ]

⌈ Secret Post #2329 ⌋

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I want one, but how do you know when you're ready?
I'm currently share housing with some people and their dog so probably not now
I'm low income but I only have myself and two bunnies to support, which I'm on top of all the time. Even med emergencies
Maybe if I got my own place? I'd be renting obviously, but would that work?

How do people know when their life is stable enought to get a dog? :( I've wanted one for so long

As a general rule, if you have doubts about your stability (real doubts like wanting to be mobile, drastically changing careers or going back to school and not being sure of how you'll handle it, not being able to predict how much time you'll have at home, not have much control over your living situation. I don't mean worries about "oh, but what about [unforeseeable catastrophe]) -- then don't get one.

When you're really sure of your security and stability, that's the time to start thinking about it. You really do not want to be in a situation where you have to give up your dog. Unless you run across a specific dog you want to adopt, you can always, always wait to get one later without any consequences (and the wait will only make the eventual having sweeter), but you can't go "oops, this was a bad time to get one" and just undo it without getting hurt.

I'd say that very best way to know what 'stable' means is to ask friends and to observe friends/family members/acquaintances who have dogs to makes suggestions, ask them what was most difficult for them when it came to adding a dog to their life, what mistakes they made that they'd recommend you avoid, stuff that you can't really think of on your own. If you can get someone with a dog to really talk at length about it, that's a good start.

Also, get some books about dog owning that are rated highly. And go ask the advice of experts (make sure it's a expert who isn't trying to sell you a dog, btw), if you can get in touch with any.

The more information you have about dog-owning from people who have actually been through the experience, and the more confident you are that you're able to predict and/or control your future, the better.

These sound good, I'll have to ask dog owning friends. Most seem to have their own places rather than sharehouses.

I think most of my concerns are around the future? I mean I'm working a minimum wage job that I rather hate, but I'm not in any kind of dire financial situation. Even went on holiday recently. But then there's fears like what if my landlords sell the house and I have to move, or real estate company changes their mind about pets or...any kind of things like that :s So scary! I'd hate to put a dog through that.
But then I've done fine with the rabbits so far, it's been 6 years of independent living with the rabbits in tow? I've handled that and I look after my housemates dog+cat all the time.

I'm just so nervous since it's such a big decision (and was exactly the same when it came to adopting the second rabbit x_x tiny little lives are my responsibility! nervousness)

a dog is, in terms of commitment, just behind a child

except that at some point you can just talk and reason with the child once they're older :V

what I mean, is that the dog will need to learn over the course of months where to pee, where to poo, how to behave, boundaries (don't climb the bed, don't bite the furniture) not to bite people or other animals, how to go on walks, etc.

also they get sick, so be ready for emergency vet visits/calls/house-visits, to clean up vomit, diarrhea, plus cost of vaccines and those things for parasites

also also, if you get a puppy they will bite EVERYTHING as they're teething, and no amount of discipline will make the biting stop (it will help make it decrease, but not disappear until the teeth have finished growing/coming out), so get anything you don't want bitten (shoes, carpets, clothes, furniture, electrical cables, EVERYTHING) either out of the way or super well covered so they're out of reach

also, expect the dog to sometimes bump into things, so don't leave precariously perched or hanging objects that might fall and break or hurt the dog

and that's not even getting into the whole "feeding them, bathing them, giving them clean water, a sleeping space, pets, playing, affection" side of it, so, yeah, be ready to get into the mindset that you're taking care of another living creature that depends on you for guidance, love and support

op

I don't mind any of that! I expect it, like a large version of my sometimes destructive rabbits /resigned but fond sigh
Although I do intend for an older dog because I need to work and would worry way too much about leaving a puppy at home (because small baby animal? It was/is stressful enough with the baby rabbit!)

My biggest concern is am *I* ready? Because I'm probably going to be renting for a long time, maybe forever! I have no desire to move anytime soon, but is it okay to get a dog in that kind of situation?

Then I worry about what happens if my job fails me or something :C

ayrt

good!

well, in that case, it totally depends on the owners of the place you are renting, and how open they would be to a dog (well, if they let your rabbit in, they are probably okay with animals?), run the idea by them, just in case

i don't know about your money situation, but is it possible to save some money so that in case things go wrong you could support yourself and your pets long enough to find another job?

These are the questions to think about:
1) Do you have the space for a dog? Smaller breeds do fine with apartment living, but anything bigger and you're going to want to make sure you have the square footage to accommodate it.
2) Do you have time for a dog? Puppies require a lot of time and energy to train. Even if you go with an adult, you're going to need to spend some time with it to get it used to the way you need things done, and you need to make sure you're going to be up for taking it on walks every day.
3) Do you have the money for a dog? My parents once adopted a dog that ended up being allergic to beef meal, and the only food we could find that wasn't made with it was Science Diet, which is rather expensive. You have to be sure that you're financially secure enough to deal with these types of issues - not just food, but supplies, toys, and medication.

Dogs are a rather large responsibility. If you have any doubts as to your ability to care for one, it's best to hold off. You can always volunteer your time at your local shelter as a dog-walker or something, that way you can still be around them c: (FWIW, I want a dog, too, but I know I'm not nearly in a good enough position to adopt one. I do encourage you to go for it if you're confident in your ability to swing it, but it doesn't do the dog any favors to be adopted and then sent back because you found out that you couldn't handle it.)

Well I've got my housemate's dog to tide me over, but sometimes I look at her and wish so badly to get my own dog.

I would certainly wait until I got my own place. I don't want a huge dog, but I think two dogs would be too many for this house, even with the backyard.
I would certainly take some weeks off work to help the new little buddy to settle in and I'm pretty sure I'd be able to keep on top of the money barring any thousand doller emergencies (one I could handle, maybe 2 but after that eeek)

Maybe I should hold off, until I get my own place at least. I've never had my *own* dog before and it seems like such a huge step and so much responsibility! Like having a child! And I'm me, I'm not entirely convinced I'm an adult yet x_x;;
I'm sure I could look after it, my rabbits are all happy and healthy even with their once a year med emergencies. But my own place first, even renting, might be best first so it's somewhere quiet for the dog.

aaahhhhh it's such a big step

[ SECRET POST #2329 ]

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