[Breeds] What dog is right for me?
- How long can you exercise your dog each day, on average? What kinds of exercise are you planning to give your dog regularly? I am in the process of becoming much more active, so 1-2 hours daily between my girlfriend and i could easily be achieved.
- What breeds are you interested in and why? My girlfriend and i love golden retrievers, she loves them from the cute videos on Facebook and such. I love them because I had one growing up and he was an amazing dog.
- What role is your dog expected to fill and how do you envision your dog fulfilling that role? I want the dog to be my best friend, along with exercise buddy, and whatever other fun things we decide to do.
- What experience do you have owning dogs? How about training dogs? I have had multiple dogs throughout my life growing up. Although i was not the primary care taker at all times, I was given chores daily that pertained to grooming and taking care of the dogs. My girlfriend has no pet experience.
- Do you have other pets or are you planning on having other pets? No
- Do you have children or are you planning on having children? Do you often have children as visitors, such as nieces, nephews, cousins, or friends' children? Maybe in the next 5-10 years, my younger sister may visit occasionally. She is 10.
- Do you rent or will you be renting in the future? If so, what breed or weight restrictions are on your lease? I will be renting a 1000 sq ft apartment in the next month. The only restrictions are on pitbulls and dogs over 100 lbs. There is a dog park next to my complex.
- Who lives in your household and who will be responsible for taking care of the dog? My girlfriend and I. The dog will be mine in the event anything happens to us.
- How often do you have visitors to your home? Rarely.
- Do you have a preference for rescuing a dog vs. going through a knowledgeable and reputable breeder? No preference, i see the vast benefits of both.
- Do you want a puppy, a young adult (1-3 years), an adult, or a senior? Why? Puppy, i want a dog that can grow with us and knows us for the entirety of its life.
- What size dog are you looking for? Mid - Large sized dogs under 100 lbs.
- How much barking is too much barking? As long as it doesn't disturb the neighbors it doesn't matter.
- How much shedding do you think you can handle? Shedding is acceptable.
- Are you open to trimming your dog's hair, cleaning ears, clipping nails, or doing other grooming at home? If not, would you be willing to pay a professional to do it regularly? Yes, i will groom the dog a few times a week and take him to the groomer roughly every six weeks depending on season.
- How do you feel about slobber? What about farts? Slobber is a no go, however farts dont matter.
- How eager-to-please or independent do you want your dog to be? Eager to please is a plus in my mind but not make or break.
- Is there any behavior you can’t accommodate? Aggressiveness
- How important is being able to let your dog roam off-leash in an unfenced area? Not important but a plus.
- How long do you have to devote to mental stimulation each day? I spend most nights and weekends at home so as much as necessary for the dog to be mentally healthy
- Where will the dog be kept when alone and where will the dog sleep? Kennel
- How often and for how long will the dog be left alone? We are both full time students with part time jobs, however our schedules are flexible and we will be able to be home throughout the day to let the dog out.
- If needed, could you hire a dog walker, pay for doggy day care, or come home during lunch to take care of your dog? What is the general location in which you live? Yes, my family would also be accomodating for any vacations or trips we made.
- What is the average temperature of a typical summer day where you live? A typical winter day? We live in ohio so summer days can be as hot as 100 degrees and winter can be well into the negatives.
- On a scale of 1 to 10, how prepared are you to care for a dog and prioritize its well-being over your career, entertainment, or other life choices for the next 12 or more years? 8
- Are you aware of the costs associated with dog ownership on an average annual basis? Have you budgeted for additional emergency veterinary care and/or pet insurance? Yes, we will have emergency funds saved.
Posted May 29, 2016, 7:16 PM UTC · edited
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