Quote:
Originally Posted by llwhiteoutll
I've always wanted a dog and I think I'm at the point where my work is stable enough that I can seriously look at getting one.
I've considered where I live and it seems ok. I have a detached house (smaller backyard) and am close to a large off leash area and plenty of walking trails. No neighbor concerns with getting one either.
Costs don't seem to be a major concern, I'm assuming that the cost of care for a medium sized dog is around $300ish a month? Food, health insurance, regular checkups at the vet, toys.
My main issue is work. I'm out of the house from about 630AM to 500PM. I'm concerned that 11 hours is a long time to leave a social animal by itself, especially during the day. Is 4-5 hours of waking interaction every day, plus weekends enough and/or fair to a dog?
I was thinking about adopting from the SPCA, with preference to Goldens, Labs or a similar sized dog
Are there any things that you'd recommend thinking about before going further?
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I haven't read all the posts yet, so hopefully I don't repeat too much others have said.
Most people work jobs and are gone all day. My schedule is similar except I don't leave until 7:30. What I would say with that kind of a day is get an adult dog. Puppies can't handle being alone that long, either potty-wise or training-wise.
The breeds you are interested in would be easy to find in a rescue. There isn't really the SPCA. There is the Calgary Humane Society and the City's Animal Services, but there are also many rescues that are foster based. AARCS is a big one in Alberta. The rescues should have a good idea of the dogs' personalities and be able to point you towards one who has the right personality for your lifestyle.
I think your cost estimates are reasonable, but I don't have pet insurance. I basically self-insure. I have savings that will cover any unexpected medical bills and I like being able to make the decision (and keep the money if I don't need it). However, if you aren't disciplined about saving or your couldn't handle a big bill right away (for example, the dog breaks a leg a couple months after you get him before you have the savings) then insurance is the way to go.
A couple things to think about. It would be a great idea if you could plan to get your dog and then take a week's vacation right away, to help with the adjustment. If not, at least try for a long weekend. There are also dog walkers you can hire to come in and take for a walk part way through the day, if needed (for example if you had to work late one night).
I have a couple dogs of my own and have fostered about 65 dogs for a couple different rescues in town.
Good luck in your search!