Looking for a Dog Breed

[Dr. Strangelove]

Pure breds often have genetic defects, because of what amounts to inbreeding. Mutts' don't.

[davelin]

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seriously. don't get a dog. get a goldfish or something. dogs need space. they need the outdoors. dogs that are confined to condos without much access to regular outside excercise are basically status symbols. if you love dogs, you wouldn't subject it to this. if you don't love dogs, but want the status of having a dog without being able to provide it with its basic needs, then you are a tool.

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Who said anything about not providing it with basic needs? Can someone who lives in a condo/apartment not provide a dog with basic needs? Again, I'm asking which type of dog would be suitable for a city environment.

[bogey]

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seriously. don't get a dog. get a goldfish or something. dogs need space. they need the outdoors. dogs that are confined to condos without much access to regular outside excercise are basically status symbols. if you love dogs, you wouldn't subject it to this. if you don't love dogs, but want the status of having a dog without being able to provide it with its basic needs, then you are a tool.

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your way overreacting

[Entity]

I don't know where you live, but whereever it is, investigate local Dog Parks (some places call them Dog Runs). They're great for the dogs.

I have a Belgian Shepherd/Border collie mix, but we live in a house. He's a 100% indoor dog, but we do make sure he gets plenty of exercise.

Rob

[RunDownHouse]

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Pure breds often have genetic defects, because of what amounts to inbreeding. Mutts' don't.

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Properly bred purebreds shouldn't have those problems (or have them as often), and you can get the papers or info or whatever from a reputable breeder. But what they do have - thanks to inbreeding - is certain favorable characteristics, such as intelligence.

[NorCalJosh]

a lot of mutts are also a lot less tempermental.

when you go ahead and factor in the cost, and then look at t he fact that your local pound puts 500-1000 dogs to sleep every month, there should be absolutely no reason for anyone to ever go to a breeder. if you love dogs, you should consider keeping one from getting killed, not overpaying for a couple pieces of paper that say your dogs parents are brother and sister.

[Crveballin]

[maldini]

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Pure breds often have genetic defects, because of what amounts to inbreeding. Mutts' don't.

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this is not true. i always pick pure breds. that way, you can pick one that fits your temperment requirements and lifestyle. if the breeder is large, you can often get pretty specific regarding barking, aggressivness, intelligence, etc of each line they have. most arent this big though.

i vote a small, yappy dog. a bassett is too big IMO. you need a dog under 20#. only a dog that can get tired running around a couch is appropriate for a condo. you never take a dog out as much as you intend to.

and say goodbye to your DINK lifestyle. get used to rushing home after work to let the dog out. no more str8 to happy hour or dinner after work. no more spontaneous trips to the beach or new orleans or whatever.

and you should never EVER pay more than $500 for a dog. you can get a pure bred w/o having to shell out show dog type prices. anyone that plays $1k plus is vain or not knowledgable IMO.

[GrunchCan]

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seriously. don't get a dog. get a goldfish or something. dogs need space. they need the outdoors. dogs that are confined to condos without much access to regular outside excercise are basically status symbols. if you love dogs, you wouldn't subject it to this. if you don't love dogs, but want the status of having a dog without being able to provide it with its basic needs, then you are a tool.

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No.

Not all dogs are the same. Some require a great deal of excercise and space, and are in fact completele unsuitable for apartment life. Greyhounds, pointers, setters, many hounds, and many other breeds are examples of dogs not suited to city/apartment life. In fact there are breeds that will literally go insane if they live in a small space. But to say that all dogs are unsuited for apartment life is simply wrong. There are many breeds that live very happily in a small space, and in fact prefer to not go outside much at all.

My sister is a vet tech at an animal hospital in Chicago. When a puppy recued from owners who were abusive through neglegt was recovered and needed to be adopted, my sister recommended me & my wife to adopt her. The vets reviewed our living conditions and interviewed us before considering adoption. It wasn't even our idea in the first place. It was, in fact, the vets who had to convince us to adopt the dog. Not becasue there were no other potential parents, but becasue the vets felt the dog's quality of life would be best in our care.

At the time, we lived in a 550-sq ft condo in Chicago's west loop area. We had no yard, no fenced in area where the dog could run, and no immediate plans to move. Anyone who lives in the area can attest that there is precoius little green space. The vets decided that this environment was best for the dog.

Now, to be sure, having a dog is a much bigger responsibility than most people realize. They need excercise, attention, love and play. They need other dogs to play with in many cases. We were fortunate to have a car, and were able to drive to a big dog park in the nearby west suburbs (only a 10 minute drive) several times per week, where Kita could run until she was ready to drop.

Our dog is a miniature American Eskimo. This breed is not a high-excercise breed, but it is also not a sedentary one either. She does need excercise. But we make adjustments in our lives to make sure Kita is happy & healthy. For example, even as I write this, Kita is having an all-day play date at Dog's Day Inn. She loves it there, and when she comes home she is tuckered out and sleeps for a day.

I'd have more to say, but I want to go get my dog.

[GrunchCan]

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and say goodbye to your DINK lifestyle. get used to rushing home after work to let the dog out. no more str8 to happy hour or dinner after work. no more spontaneous trips to the beach or new orleans or whatever.

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This is so very true. I thought I knew it when we got Kita, but I didn't. I used to get a beer until 7:00 on Fridays with the gang after work. Not anymore.

I'm not complaining (usually). But it is important to realize that having a dog is a big responsibility.