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Originally posted by angeleyes
I haven't owned one in a long time. I think this may give me piece of mind after the break in and the insomnia it has caused... but I have a few questions:
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Do it! You'll love it and I really think it will help.
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1) I don't want it to eat my cat (how hard is it to make them get along?
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It is very unlikely that a dog will injure a cat. It is far more likely a cat will injure a dog - assuming your cat is not declawed. If you have an adult cat, and a puppy dog, the cat will assert authority immediately. Additionally, dogs are very afraid of a cat's nails. The nails could cut an eye and dogs learn very quickly to be
cautious.
We got a dog at 10 weeks, then a month later, a 6 month old cat. Worked perfectly. Cat was older more mature, bigger. Puppy was new and learned. They didn't really get along, but 2 years later they're starting to get along, chase each other *yes both ways* and play together. Goofus and Gallant kinda action. Clumsy and Conniving.
Best analogy is if you had stepchildren and they had to deal with natural children. Territorial, etc, negotiated truce.
But it does work.
Cats are manipulative little bitches though.
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2) I live in an apt. It's almost 1000 sq feet so it's big(ish) but I have it so crammed with furniture that the poor dog wouldn't have a ton of space.
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You don't want your dog running around inside, so don't worry about space. He needs a place to lie down with you while you are on the computer or watching TV. Cross off Boxer. They need constant exercise. A German Schephard or Rottweiler could be okay. Surprisingly, Great Danes and Greyhounds are great couch potato dogs, but not super defensive. Look on AKCs website for characteristics of breeds.
If your apartment has access to a backyard patio you can easily put in a doggie door and he can have exercise in the yard if it's fenced.
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Is this fair to a dog to leave him/her trapped all day in a small apt?
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8-10 hours a day, inside, is not cruel in my opionion, as long as you walk him in the morning and spend 30 minutes playing with him at night.
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The pet would be spoiled rotten when I'm home and I would adopt from a shelter but I also can't afford to have the dog rip up my furniture and crap all over the place. (I work long hours, so I can't walk him/her during the day and I don't know if they have "dog walkers" in my area).
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You don't need to hire a dogwalker. You'll have to put 5-15 hours/week into training your dog for the first 3-6 months. It's just like a kid - only you don't go to jail if it dies.
You'll be fine. Think of how happy that dog will be compared to living w/ white trash family tied up in the sun next to a Chevy Nove on blocks with primer, or getting the death needle from the humane society doctor.
Get one!