Getting a Puppy

**capitalcityguy** · 12-20-2011, 08:00 AM

Not to pile on, but this is for your own good.

DON'T DO IT!!!

Are you going to pay to board the dog whenever you want to go away for the weekend or visit family? The problem most young dog owners have is they can't afford to board their dog and thus the bring them along assuming (hoping?) everyone else wants to see they dog, have their dog poop/pee in their yard, shed on the carpet/furnature, etc. Guess what, they don't (whether they tell you that or not).

**Cydkar** · 12-20-2011, 08:09 AM

Originally Posted by Cybyassociation

I've been wanting/thinking about getting a vizsla forever but I realize that I just dont have the time commitment right now. Plenty of kids live in the neighborhood that would be able to let her out...problem is, those kids are also my students. We'll see what this spring brings as I might not be coaching track this season which should give me some spare time.

Vizsla's need a time commitment. They are awesome dogs but can't be cooped up in a house all day. You better dedicate an hour/day to run it/let it run or it will be miserable. I LOVE dogs but haven't had one for 15 years because they are a TON of work. Many people have dogs but don't think about how miserable the dog's life actually is. Sitting on your lap for an hour or two is not a fulfilling life for a dog. It makes the owner happy.

**CtownCyclone** · 12-20-2011, 08:15 AM

Originally Posted by capitalcityguy

Not to pile on, but this is for your own good.

DON'T DO IT!!!

Are you going to pay to board the dog whenever you want to go away for the weekend or visit family? The problem most young dog owners have is they can't afford to board their dog and thus the bring them along assuming (hoping?) everyone else wants to see they dog, have their dog poop/pee in their yard, shed on the carpet/furnature, etc. Guess what, they don't (whether they tell you that or not).

This right here. My girlfriend does not understand this concept. When I told her she couldn't bring her dog to my parent's house for Thanksgiving because (for a myriad of reasons) they aren't dog people, you would have thought I told her to drown the dog and then shoot it for good measure.

**2020cy** · 12-20-2011, 08:16 AM

We had a friends daughter that wanted a dog. She borrowed her parents dog for a week and brought it home in 3 days.

**ribsnwhiskey** · 12-20-2011, 08:19 AM

To the OP. Don't.

**BCClone** · 12-20-2011, 08:24 AM

Originally Posted by Cydkar

Vizsla's need a time commitment. They are awesome dogs but can't be cooped up in a house all day. You better dedicate an hour/day to run it/let it run or it will be miserable. I LOVE dogs but haven't had one for 15 years because they are a TON of work. Many people have dogs but don't think about how miserable the dog's life actually is. Sitting on your lap for an hour or two is not a fulfilling life for a dog. It makes the owner happy.

Very true. Grew up with vizlas. Great farm dog, very protective and loyal. Almost split personality between owner home and away. NEED to be in open area to run, darn dogs could run for hours and never tire.

Picked up one from a guy in town who had to get rid of it because it ran, always came back but had to burn off that energy. These are not town dogs so I hope you live on an acreage.

**Ficklone02** · 12-20-2011, 08:36 AM

1. Wait 'til you graduate and are more settled.
2. Get a real breed, I can recommend from personal experience German shorthairs are awesome dogs.

**chuckd4735** · 12-20-2011, 08:39 AM

If you have about $100-$200 in extra cash each month, if you think you and your GF will last, and if you have time to care and play with the dog, I dont see any reason not to do it. If you answered no to any of those questions, you may want to wait until you can say yes to each of them.

**wxman1** · 12-20-2011, 08:39 AM

So what I have got from this thread and it's pretty common sense (to me at least) is to make sure your mature enough to have thought about everything. Yes it can be a lot to handle but if you think though everything you will be fine.

My fiance and I are picking up a golden that she is giving me for Christmas today. If I was buying it would I have done it, probably not. However I figured it out a few weeks ago and imo we have done a great job of figuring out the costs of shots, food, toys etc. Hell I shopped around for all that stuff to make sure I was getting the best deal. We will take him to get his shots the same place we take her cats, Blairstown (it's on the way between CR and Ames so it works out pretty good) it's $20 there compared to $120+ in the Ames or CR area's. Were going on a cruise with her family this spring and before we even got the dog we made sure her roommate would take care of it. Guess what we actually have a bunch of friends offering to take care of him when needed. We are fine with and look forward to taking him for a walk.

I guess the point I am trying to make is that if your mature about it and think about everything you will be fine, just make sure you are both committed to it and have a clear set of rules. Cat's are great they take up next to no room and are very self maintaining. Dogs just give you something more.

**timappelgate** · 12-20-2011, 08:43 AM

Bad idea. Get 10 dogs instead.

**troutslayer** · 12-20-2011, 08:43 AM

Like someone else said on here, it is good practice if you plan to have kids in the future. But make no mistake, it is like having a baby around the house. Trust me, I've raised kids and dogs. Not that that's a bad thing, but it can be hard work.

**chuckd4735** · 12-20-2011, 08:45 AM

Originally Posted by troutslayer

Like someone else said on here, it is good practice if you plan to have kids in the future. But make no mistake, it is like having a baby around the house. Trust me, I've raised kids and dogs. Not that that's a bad thing, but it can be hard work.

I hear having kids is easier. If that's the case, I'm going to own my kids.

**BCClone** · 12-20-2011, 08:46 AM

Generally finding a vet in a smaller, more rural, town can save you plenty of money. Many can board your pets for a reasonable amount. They get walked and let out after-hours also. Sometimes the short drive can save you a decent amount.

**wxman1** · 12-20-2011, 08:48 AM

Originally Posted by BCClone

Generally finding a vet in a smaller, more rural, town can save you plenty of money. Many can board your pets for a reasonable amount. They get walked and let out after-hours also. Sometimes the short drive can save you a decent amount.

that is exactly what my fiance and I are doing. Hell we looked at Nevada and it was considerably cheaper than Ames. Just look around you will find some prices that are a lot better on the wallet.