Should i get a dog?

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cloverleaf1985

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Hi, i'm a newbie in this area of the forum and i'm looking for advice.
I would like to get a dog (was thinking Jack Russell size) but i live in a flat.
I am still in the early stages of consideration so just want some opinions!
My plan so far would be that he/she would sleep in a dog crate in the hallway overnight, on my days off he/she would tag along with most things i get up to, on the days that im at work either mum would be home or he/she would go to a friends house to play all day with their border terrier (provided they got on) or i'd pay a dog walker to visit at say lunch time. He/she would also be walked minimum twice a day and let out to pee before bed etc.

Does that seem ok or do you think it's cruel to keep a dog in a flat?
Thanks in advance
 
I'm probably not the best authority to help with this, but I wouldn't see why not, so long as you take it out for sufficient exercise and it has enough space to move around. Some people don't let their dogs upstairs, so I don't see how this situation would differ from a flat? Have you considered an older smallish rescue dog?
 
I don't see a problem with owning a dog while living in a flat, providing you choose a suitable breed.

I highly doubt you would be able to get a dog from a rescue though. All the rescues I've visited in the past have insisted on a garden, plus direct access to said garden.
 
This issue really gets my goat and the RSPCA never get any money from me for their short sighted and quite frankly stupid attitude to rehoming, no wonder they are full!! Yes shock horror I work full time and have two dogs, but they are walked for 1/2 hr twice a day then taken to the farm on 11 acres with the horses for two hours a day, the rest of the day they have the run of the house and the garden but choose to sleep in that time. I have no children so I can take on problem dogs and happily do, but I wasn't a good enough a home!

The owner is far more important than a damn garden!!! I would rather see a dog in need of a home with a resposnible kind owner in a flat than I would see it in a huge garden of a person unfit to be a dog owner. Providing a dog can be let out during the day by someone what's the problem?

There are rescues out there that are much more receptive to your circumstances, I have in the past found the Blue Cross very good with a much more modern attitude. After all how many mothers stay home with their children until they go to school these days! We all have to work and live where we can afford. I have seen dogs living on the street with their owner better cared for than some pedigrees sold to unsutable homes!

Pick a breed or type that suits your circumstances and go to breed rescue or smaller local rescue centres and get to know them. It's crazy that resuce centres will turn suitable people away and force them to buy a puppy????
 
I don't see a problem. I used to live on the third floor of a large block of flats. Two of my neighbours had dogs - one an elderly mongrel who'd had a stroke, the other a bouncy boxer. Both dogs seemed perfectly happy. As others have said, you just need the right dog. I think some of the smaller rescues would consider you, especially if you can pay for a dogwalker.
 
Small dog in a three bed flat- i think that would be fine! Our two dogs (they are a bit old now but have been doing this their whole life) are perfectly happy sleeping all day and being walked in the morning and evening. We have even spied on them during the day and yes two fast asleep dogs!

I echo the thoughts about rescues, they can be funny but there is no harm in approaching them.

Also couple of pointers on breed and age- we got my Springer as a pup and she chewed the house up until she reached the age of four... so i would advise a 4/5 yo. As for breed nothing wrong with a x but would go for something thats a bit calmer and not to crazy if its got to spend time by itself. (Border terrier or cocker spaniel?)

This website is brill for finding rescues http://www.dogsblog.com/ can search by breed etc.

Good luck with it all!
 
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There are rescues out there that are much more receptive to your circumstances, I have in the past found the Blue Cross very good with a much more modern attitude.

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LOL. I'm afraid the Blue Cross is one of the worst for rehoming. I had a friend who went there looking for a dog. She was offering a huge 5 bed house, giant garden with 6ft fencing, someone at home 24/7, and guess what? They said no, she couldn't have a dog from them. Why? Because she had a cat. Said cat was 18 years old, she'd had him from a kitten and he was used to living with dogs, but still they said it was an unsuitable home.

Rescues are unbelievable these days, it seems most of them would rather see a dog PTS than homed with someone who doesn't have a garden or leaves it home alone for more than a couple of hours a day
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I once sold a GSD puppy to a lady who lived in a flat in Hackney, London, with no garden ! She provided loads of references, had an allotment a little distance away she spent a lot of time in and was at home all day with her dogs. I bet a lot of rescue places wouldn't have homed a dog to her but that pup had a long and happy life.
Try some of the smaller rescues, imo they are more prepared to be flexible and look at the home as a whole, just not the fact that it may not tick all their boxes.
 
I am a dog walker and walk a dog (lab) who lives in a one bed flat. She has a great life. Walks from her owners, walks with me and a wee green at the back for emergency middle of the night wees!

Honestly, this dog has a great time. She's as quiet as anything in her flat - one of the neighbours once said they never ever heard from her and didn't even realise she was there until they met her in the stair!!

I think the fact you are thinking about it and making a plan means you wil be a great dog owner - I hope you find one to suit you!
 
i think it is fine so long as you are sensible with your decisions as stated

Something like a border terrier, maybe a westie or something? (depending on attitude....) mongrels are fab!!! although personalities can vary!

If you keep to your exercise schedule etc with him/her think you would been fine!
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not all dogs require running into the ground and constant attnetion and exercise all day!
We have dogs at uni who sleep upstairs with us, get exercised when back from uni, stay asleep all day then get free run in the afternoons and evenings etc and all 3 are happy, healthy and fabulous puppies!
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(if I do say so myself!)

Just ensure you plan what you want from your dog, and what you can honestly achieve with care and time etc and this will help choose the right dog for you!
Some charities will consider you but you may have to look a bit harder for them!
 
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