thinking about getting a puppy, advice?

[blue mountain raider]

hi, its been 8 years since i had my last dog (golden retriever). im thinking about getting a golden or husky puppy. the thing is i live in a condo and have school and work obligations. i know that puppies **** and piss everywhere and 90% of my place is carpeted. am i being realistic getting a puppy now?

i could lock the dog in the washroom which has tiles when im out but i think its too mean for the puppy. plus what's to stop the dog **** and piss on carpet when im home? best way to toilet train the dog ASAP? thanks.

[icecold2021]

ive had two husky pups.. they are a handful and shed insane amounts of hair.

they need tons of exercise, three 20 minute walks a day at least to keep them from being hyper inside... and not just walking but running and playing while outside.

some advice, no matter how well you train it. NEVER, EVER let it off the leash in an area that isnt completely fenced off,

any husky owner who tells you different is just plain lucky they have never lost their dog.

[felix]

It's hard to own a dog while living in a condo. You'll be on the elevator several times a day, and some condo residents don't like dogs (i heard some condos allow residents to force you to take another elevator if they see you waiting there with a large dog).

Maybe a ground floor unit would be easier ... as it would have walk out to front walkway, etc.

Also when they get old, they might have cushing's disease or something where they can't hold pee and will make a mess before you get to walk outside (yes i know cushing's can be treated, but just an example they may have bathroom problems when they get old just like humans).

[IronMac]

With your current situation, best thing is to just get a stuffed toy and be happy.

[felix]

My sister helped her friend adopt a puppy who ended up being caged during the day while he's at work because otherwise the dog would scratch up the wall in his condo. Apparently he doesn't like being left alone. Might be a rare case as our dog doesn't do that. But I guess this is why cats make a better pet for apartment/condos (no need to walk it, litter box garbage can be thrown down the chute).

[deep]

Condo plus school PLUS work PLUS PUPPY??! Seems like a recipe for disaster to me, to be honest.

Also, listen to icecold - he knows what he's talking about. Friends of mine got a husky in university, and couldn't figure out why they (we!) spent 6 hours tracking him down every time they took him off the leash. At least he helped keep me in shape!

[Hambone]

School, work AND condo? No dog for you!

Seriously, do yourself and the dog a favour, don't bother yet. And the fact you even considered locking the dog in the bathroom makes me question if you should ever own a dog.

[almostfreeman]

Dogs are pack animals and need companionship. If you are going to be away for most of the day it's probably unfair to the dog to be left alone for such an extended period.

As for your selection of breeds for condo living ... completely unsuitable.

[dhamilton]

...and don't get a Husky in an apartment. That's just cruel. They are outside dogs and LOVE to spend as much time outside as possible. My family used to have two Husky's and both would spend their days outside in a dog pen. They have an incredible amount of energy since they were bred to pull sleds (and therefore need a lot of energy to pull a sled all day long).

Golden's are better for apartment living between the two, but they still need a lot of exercise. Even better, only get a small dog in an apartment, or a low energy dog.

[thelefteyeguy]

check the condo rules...some restrict weight of the dog...that also could determine what type of dog you get.

[Phr3sh]

It sounds like you have enough responsibility already, why add a dog into the equation? Focus on doing well in school and progressing in your job. Then once you have your school finished and maybe move into a better suited environment a dog would be much more practical.

[ChromeSushi]

i could lock the dog in the washroom which has tiles when im out but i think its too mean for the puppy. plus what's to stop the dog **** and piss on carpet when im home? best way to toilet train the dog ASAP? thanks.

Not to be excessively harsh, but this shows you are clearly not ready for a puppy. There's no 'ASAP' in training a pet. If you think you're ready for a dog maybe go for an adult dog. Then you can be more sure if its personality suits you and your living situation.

And this is just a personal rant, but don't just get a goldie or a husky because they are popular. And like many people have said a husky of all dogs is completely out of the question for someone in a condo or someone who is not very experienced with the breed. Please consider getting a dog from the humane society or a rescue foundation. Buying a dog from a pet store or a breeder is essentially condemning another dog who really needs someone.

[UrbanPoet]

get a maine coon kitty.
You can teach em tricks!

[aimfox]

dont get a puppy, usually they ended up abused

[KorruptioN]

dont get a puppy, usually they ended up abused