[WaterPKMNMaster]

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.
I'm sure that's the case, but I don't think I was ever under the assumption it would take only a month or two to potty train it. I said earlier I didn't mind picking up its poo or cleaning the carpet until it was potty trained. I practically vacuum everyday anyway, so taking out a stain or two isn't going to kill me.

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!
I was just posting that as one of the methods I have read about. I'm sure there are other ways to quiet it down. But yeah, this could be a problem if the dog keeps barking all the time.

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.
I just looked at my schedule for next quarter and it turns out I have very little holes in it...

/// MONDAY (01:00-05:50)=================
11:00-11:50: Literary Journalism
12:00-12:50: English 28A

/// TUESDAY (09:30-01:50)================
11:00-01:50: Film 101C
06:00-08:50: Film 139W

/// WEDNESDAY (01:00-05:50)==============
11:00-11:50: Literary Journalism
12:00-12:50: English 28A

/// THURSDAY (09:30-01:50)===============
11:00-01:50: Film 101C
03:30-06:20: Film 117A

/// FRIDAY (12:00-02:50)=================
11:00-11:50: Literary Journalism
12:00-12:50: English 28A
01:00-01:50: Film 85C Discussion


Being a student, you will need to study some time.
Lol.

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 also juggle a very large Pokemon website, PokeBeach.com, and school. I have become very adept at juggling 10 different things at once. You should see how last week I had to study for finals and update my website with a whole bunch of news that was coming in. It wasn't easy, but I balanced out both just fine. Sometimes it does get hectic but I always have time for both, especially since I'm not really doing anything else.

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.
Thank you for that.

Originally Posted by John Stelting

Wait until your out of school and can afford the high costs of a pet.......


If you get one now...... I will guarantee you'll be looking for someone to sell it to within a month................

Who says I can't afford one now?

And no offense but that last line is a little rude. I'm not a heartless idiot. I don't know what kind of people you've encountered, and I'm sure you've encountered a lot of colorful characters, but when I commit to something I commit to it.

Originally Posted by bdb

As I said earlier, it's not that he's a college student, it's that the apartment lease says NO dogs allowed. There's been discussion that small dogs are allowed "unofficially" but the fact is that he is going to sign a lease that says that dogs are NOT allowed.

I just think that's a recipe for disaster. And the dog will end up the loser.

Yeah, this is my concern right now. Don't worry though, I won't buy it if I don't get triple confirmation I can have one.

Originally Posted by miabella

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.
Actually yes, I would be, other than the fact that I would never leave a baby alone by itself in a room for a few hours a day. With dogs you can do that though.

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).
Money isn't an issue with me.

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!
Aw, I'm sorry. Did you get it from a good breeder though? And I have only briefly read about the diseases they can get. One of the reasons we were never allowed to have one was because my mom's dog died of cancer and she has been afraid to get one ever since.

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.
UGHHHHH!!! I'm not going to abandon it or sell it or anything! Like I said, if worst came to worst, which it would not, the dog would simply go home to my parents and brothers.

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.
[b]I'm 20 turning 21 in October. Yes, I do want a Yorkie as a sort of companion. I don't see much wrong with that.

ps. My oldest son graduated UCI w/Bio degree...great school! What's your degree going to be in?
Film and Media and Literary Journalism. I hate bio, lol.
[/quote]

Originally Posted by Buster

Just be aware that a dog cannot be left alone for long periods of time, and know that yorkies can be VERY LOUD barkers (not all but I can tell you that mine do!).

Just looking at my schedule above it doesn't look like it will be alone for more than 3 hours at a time.