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Author
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Topic: Question For City-Dog Owners...
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Everlong
Knowflake Posts: 504
From: Southeast Florida
Registered: Nov 2003
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posted November 28, 2004 01:53 AM
 
Hi! My first post in the animal forum =). Okay, so, onto my question:I'm going to be moving to Madrid in about a year, and my granny and I have decided that we want to get a dog when we do! The thing that I was wondering about though- walking the dog. I had a dog when I was a kid (a Yorkie  ), but we had a yard, so we never had to walk it. Of course, being a big city though, we would be living in an flat when we moved to Madrid, so I would have to walk it everyday. Yeah, sort of foreign to me- how many times a day do you have to walk them? Is it easy to get them on a schedule? I'd probably like to get an Old English Sheepdog, they're adorable and big and cuddlyful. We'll have to see how big our apartment will be though, Scottish terriers are really cute too. IP: Logged |
Eleanore
Moderator Posts: 794
From: North Carolina
Registered: Aug 2003
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posted November 28, 2004 11:46 AM
Wow, that's so exciting! I hope everything goes well in Madrid. I've heard Spain is a beautiful country. 
As to the doggie ... well you really need to know what kind of space limits you have before you choose a breed. If you're going to adopt from a shelter you still need to take into consideration their size, mix (if known), etc. There are actually plenty of dogs that are fit for living in apartments. The amount of exercise needed really depends on the breed and your living conditions. A dog from the toy group would usually be ideal for small spaces and low exercise requirements. But check out other groups as well ... a whippet is actually very comfortable in an apartment setting provided enough exercise through walks, etc. If your dog won't have any space at all to really run around and play indoors, then 2 walks a day at a minimum, morning and evening, should be okay. Again, it depends on which dog you own ... 3 walks might be better, and you have to consider how long the walks will be, as well. The following link is to a great website that introduces you to different breeds. You could then do research on the ones you really like to have a better idea of which dog would you suit you and your grandma best. http://akc.org/ ------------------
"You must be the change you wish to see in the world." - Ghandi IP: Logged |
Nephthys
Moderator Posts: 1568
From: California
Registered: Oct 2001
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posted November 28, 2004 07:38 PM
Everlong,Welcome to Heathcliffe's Corner!  I definitely agree with Eleanore ~ it depends on the breed, however, with no yard no matter what breed you get, you would have to take him/her out at least 3 times a day to go potty. Definitely *don't* get a sporting breed, as they require a LOT of excercise and activity. I also would not recommend a large dog with no yard. Good luck~ IP: Logged |
Everlong
Knowflake Posts: 504
From: Southeast Florida
Registered: Nov 2003
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posted November 29, 2004 01:40 AM
Yeah, I read up on it, and you guys are right- a sheepdog would be miserable cooped up in an apartment. We'll probably just end up getting a small dog like a Yorkie or a Scottish terrier. I would get a cat, but I'm allergic  .Three times a day? That's not bad- I could take it twice a day, and then my granny could take it once- thanks for the information, guys  . Madrid has a lot of parks, and hopefully we won't be living right in the center. IP: Logged |
zoso
Knowflake Posts: 73
From: Nevada
Registered: Sep 2004
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posted December 01, 2004 07:08 PM
Get a cat . . . just kidding.My roomate just got an Aussie puppy and he is a handful even though he is the smartest and most well-behaved dog I've met. We walk him at least five to six times a day (especially since we're trying to potty train) and now that it's winter, it gets a little frustrating when neither dog or human wants to venture out in the cold. But, I recommend a very trainable and intelligent dog, like from the herding group. They seem to know what is expected of them. For the sake of your neighbors, DO NOT get a yapper. Small dogs tend to yap in the most annoying way, even though they are great indoor dogs. And personally, I think it is cruel to get a huge dog when you have limited space. Or a dog that needs to run everyday when you don't have a yard or at least a park nearby. Best tip: Think of being a dog and living in your new place with every condition in mind--space, attention, activities, day to day routines, food supplies, human interaction--and consider how you'd feel. Not as a human, but as a dog. Arf! IP: Logged |
Nephthys
Moderator Posts: 1568
From: California
Registered: Oct 2001
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posted December 01, 2004 09:21 PM
Welcome zoso! and thanks for your great advice! IP: Logged |
Randall
Webmaster Posts: 19835
From: Columbus, GA USA
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted December 02, 2004 10:43 AM
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"Never mentally imagine for another that which you would not want to experience for yourself, since the mental image you send out inevitably comes back to you." Rebecca Clark IP: Logged | |
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