Quote:
Originally Posted by camile  I have read this entire thread with great interest and you have made a few good arguments for getting a puppy and several ppl have, if not made an argument against it, indeed given you great advice and food for thought. This is what I have concluded.
First, and maybe most importantly, you have made several asumptions that you state for a fact. Namely, you give yourself a couple of months to potty train your puppy at home. This process takes months not weeks, somtimes years, so if you get a puppy, please do not assume no matter how diligent you are during those weeks, that it will happen on schedule.
Secondly, you also assume you can shake a can of pennies at your puppy and it will just shut up. I have been trying to use this method and many others on one of mine and she even barks at whatever method I am using to stop her from barking!
Furthermore, you say, due to class schedule, you will be coming in and going out several times during the day, I think you said every hour. I think this will cause great stress on any puppy. It will never know any stability or security. Dogs do not understand real time. You can go get mail and when you come back they behave like you have been on a long voyage. The point I am making is this, your puppy will find it very difficult to "settle", and this causes neurotic behavior, then barking will be the least of your concerns.
Being a student, you will need to study some time. Time will become a top commodity, have you considered that just when you are trying to digest some really important facts and your puppy needs you for whatever, are you going to be able and willing to stop, really stop, and go out with him or clean up a mess or stop to take care of countless other whatevers? Remember, he will not know or care that you have a test in the morning. You will have to give up a lot of time that you would otherwise use to do other things for this puppy. It is a living, breathing being and as such, a big responsibility and commitment, very much like a child would be.
I have only touched on a few of the issues envolved in owning a puppy. Any kind of dog, at any age presents it's own needs and problems. I'm not trying to deter you from getting a dog, even if it sounds that way, I am trying to help you to understand that things don't just take care of themselves or happen the way we plan. You will find this applies to every aspect of life.
You appear to be a bright young man, maybe because I have two sons, I never thought you were a girl, so think about it and stay on this forum. There are many ppl here who have great expertise and very willing to help. Read all you can, keep asking questions. We see many ppl, young and not so young, make terrrible mistakes because they did not think things thru and the dogs are the ones who suffer. Prevention is the best cure. You won't have to be here long to find pple pulling their hair out and ready to throw the dog under the bus because they thought owning a puppy was just soooo cute, then discover it's a lot of work and that cute puppy isn't soooo cute when it just ate your favorite pair of shoes or poo'ed on your bed and kept you up all night crying and aternating with barking and throwing up.
Owning a dog can be one of the most rewarding adventures in life. Whenever you decide to have one, make it a rewarding experience for the dog as well as for you, it is one and the same. Good luck with your decision and if you do get one, good luck with it as well. I look forward to reading your posts and learning more about you, it is a pleasure to have you on the board. |
First...what she said above!
Next, you sound like a really nice young man who's thoughtful of his interest and to take the time to research before jumping in head first (like so many of us have...
) but, take it from those of us who are keying you into the fact that owning a pet, a Yorkshire Terrier at that...is an undertaking that even some of us have our days where we question our decision.
It's similar to starting a family...let me ask you this, would you be ready to adopt a human baby right now in your life? Because, this is nearly the same scenario & responsibilities that you can expect to have in your life with a new puppy. It's life changing.
As for the financial aspect of just the purchase of a Yorkie, can you realistically afford to spend a
minimum $1000 dollars today? It doesn't end there...it's just the beginning, starting with the first Vet appointment within the first week of acquiring your new Yorkie (minimum
$100). Then, there's the next few months of Vet appointments for your puppies required vaccinations not to mention by 4-6 mths your puppy will need to be spayed or neutered (another
$500 easy).
Have you done your research on the Hereditary Diseases that these little dogs are prone to? Ask around here and see what others have had to spend to care for their Yorkies when they get diagnosed with Liver Shunt, Legg Perthes, Collapsed Trachea...just to name a few...prepare to have put aside in savings at least a
"few" thousand dollars. My 3 yr old Yorkie was just diagnosed last week with the latter...very sad!
I'm not trying to rain on your parade...believe me I'm not nor is anyone else here wanting to do that either but, for those of us who do rescue work and see the multitudes of Yorkies that need to be re-homed just because someone didn't take into account everything aside from that little fluff of love...our jobs would be so much easier.
I guess what I'd be asking myself if I were you...and I don't recall if you stated your age but, based on the fact that you're in college I'm guessing very early 20's...why do you think you're in need of a pet such as a Yorkie?
I worry that you might be feeling lonely at school and needing that unconditional love of a puppy. I hope not but, this was the case of my first adopted Yorkie...who actually did come from a college student.
Whatever you decide is what was meant to be (in my belief) but, I hope your education wins out and you find something else to fill that need...have you ever thought of volunteering at an Animal Shelter? There's a place that's always guaranteed to be filled with lonely hearts just waiting to give you love...an endless supply of it!
Good luck with your decision and if you do make the decision of pet ownership, I sense that you will have all your ducks in a row and be a responsible one at that! Just so ya know...we'll all be expecting lot's of
pic's, too!
ps. My oldest son graduated UCI w/Bio degree...great school! What's your degree going to be in?