Life Expectancy? House Size? Which breed for me?

Hi everyone I should probably mention that if I do go ahead and get a dog or a puppy, it probably won't be for at least a year yet. However, I figured that since it would be my first ever dog, it's probably not a bad thing to start preparing now!

I'm mainly interested in the toy breeds and smaller dogs because I'm a very small person and I don't think I'd have any chance of coping with anything much larger! I've really fallen in love with Schipperkes, Shiba Inus and Chihuahuas and I'd probably be looking to get either a puppy or young rescue.

However, what does worry me about the smaller breeds is their life expectancy and whether it is less than that of a big dog because they're so very small. I've just lost my childhood cat and It's probably the most heartbreaking thing I've experienced after losing my dad so I don't want a breed that only generally lives for 6/7 years. I've had a look online and all the breeds I'm interested in are said to live up to about 15 years of age but I'm reluctant to trust everything I've read on the internet!

I'm also interested in how big your house should be for one of these breeds. I currently live in a 3 bedroomed house in the countryside which was fine for 2 cats and I figure should be fine for a dog but what about university and living in a shared house or apartment? Would it be wiser to wait until after university to buy a dog or would it be okay to keep a dog whilst living in a shared house provided it had a space of its own to go to and got the amount of exercise it needs? I wouldn't be out for very long other than going to uni and working, would this be okay? Has anyone had experience doing something similar? At the end of the day, If I have to wait a couple of years until I'm out of uni I would rather do that if it was better for the dog than rush into getting a puppy only for it to be miserable and have problems settling in.

Sorry the post was so long but dogs are so very different to cats and I really want to make sure I do everything right if/when I get a dog.

Personally i would wait until after uni, a dog can really tie you down, when you want to socilaise etc, but if you are more of a home person, i dont think size of property matters, as long as your dog gets enough exercise etc.
Hope that helps

Thanks very much for the quick reply I'm definitely a homely person as I'm not a big fan of crowds at all so prefer to stay in! Also the degree I'm doing is an arts degree so would involve me spending a lot of time at home working on pieces for my course. I was worried about how much space the dog would need rather than being tied down by it but if you don't think that a smaller house would be a problem then that could mean one problem solved

No problem at all, we live in a two up two down tiny cottage with a postage sized back garden, we have two labs and a very active young collie, plus we usually have a foster dog too, with no probs, but we do spend a lot of time with them, exercising etc.

Hiya

Toy breeds tend to be the total opposite to Giant breeds; assuming no health problems, they tend to go on forever! my Grandmothers old Toy Poodle went on until it was 20 years old.

I take it that you are in Uni accommodation now? as a perpetual student myself, I guess you are (or will be if you are not there yet!) popping in and out all the time so if you go down the puppy route, you'll have to plan it very carefully and have the support of your friends and family. Otherwise, you may find it difficult juggling both work, Uni and the pup. Although most toy breeds generally make relatively undemanding adults, all puppies are hard work and demanding of your attention. House breaking toy breeds can be quite challenging too.

An adult rescue might be a better idea, although I doubt you'll find many Schipperkes and Shiba Inus in rescue. A rescue might also be not so accommodating to your situation unfortunately.

Depending on how long you have left at Uni, it might be worthwhile waiting until you graduate so you can put a more solid routine in place for a dog.

It is the opposite, usually, the smaller the dog, the longer they live. The care and individual variation make it hard to say. Here is one of the best studies I have seen, http://users.pullman.com/lostriver/breeddata.htm

What will you do with the dog while you are at the uni? If you are away from home, it can be difficult and more expensive to find a place where you can have even a small dog.

We have a small university here, and I sometimes take my puppies to their events. We frequently are besieged by dog starved students that had to leave theirs at home.

Sorry I have to agree with the others, I think if you are going to be going into shared accomodation it is probally best for you to wait untill you've finished Uni before getting a dog.

I have 2 Miniature Pinschers (toy breed) 1 of them actually belongs to my 15 year old daughter, she brought him up from a pup, trained him etc and he's legally in her name. But she has been told when she goes to Uni that her boy is staying with us, because she couldn't guarantee his safety in a shared household, there is just too much risk.

Hi everyone thanks again for the replies!

Labradork: I'm currently not in uni yet, just finishing my first year of A levels with at least 2/3 more years of living at home (I have to do an art foundation course before my uni degree as well and I'm staying home for that to reduce costs!) so I had considered getting a puppy before I go to uni with the idea that I can spend more time training and socialising him/her now and then maybe the move will be less challenging.

With regards to getting the help of friends and family, I'm hoping to attend either Hertfordshire or Wimbledon which would mean my closest family would be only 20 minutes away and would probably be more than happy to help out should I need someone to baby sit (although of course I'd have to double check first!).

I had considered a rescue but I suppose like you said, there is unlikely to be a lot of schipperkes and Shibas in rescue as most unwanted dogs will go back to the breeders. I'll keep an eye out though and visit any I might find to see what happens

Labman: Thank you very much for the link, it has been bookmarked and I'm having a read through of it now!

Regarding accommodation while at uni, my aunt has a house that she rents out to students that I would be able to live in fingers crossed with a pet, as long as she doesn't have any tenants at the time. Failing that, I have enough money saved up to 'buy' a small flat or apartment or rent somewhere more expensive that would allow pets. However, this is my main concern if I do end up getting a dog before I go to uni.

Minihaha & Bugzy, thank you very much for your replies!

At the minute, I am more swaying to waiting until after uni like both of you suggested, even though the information I've just posted makes it sound like I'm not! Whilst I know I probably could manage a puppy while at uni, I'm very worried about it having a detrimental effect on the puppy. The only thing that is possibly swaying me at the minute is if I could own my own appartment but I won't know for definite until closer to the time of uni and then I think it would be too much having a little puppy while starting my first year of uni.

It's disappointing to think that I've got about 6 years ahead of me before I get a dog but if that's what is best for the pup I will have to do it!

Speaking as another magpye. I waited until I was in my third year at university before getting Selkie. By then I was in more stable accommodation and had a settled routine. I knew that life after uni could get hectic and figured actually the last year, plus a break after was actually the best time for me to get and settle with my new dog. Before that, however I volunteered at my local dog shelter and walked the dogs every weekend and some evenings, so I was able to help out and get my dog fix all the time I was at Uni

Getting a dog in my 3rd year did mean that all my decisions after Uni were coloured by the dog in my life (what sort of job to get, where to live etc), but I knew that my life was never going to be right without a dog in it, so I didn't hesitate and have never looked back! ..

Good luck with whatever you choose and I'm sure you can get your dog and puppy fix on here until you have a little monster of your own

Honestly, with what you are describing, and bringing an adult dog with you to Uni, I don't see a problem. You seem like you are willing to put in the work, research all your options and do whats best for the puppy. I'm a homebody too, and had pets all through Uni with no problems. I had an apartment (flat) to myself that I rented that allowed pets. I really enjoyed the company and we did lots of fun things together, training, hiking, playing, swimming, even volunteering a the nursing home up the road. If you do it right, and as you say, live in housing where you know the pet would be allowed, or your own house or flat, I think it would be fine!

Hi Magpye and Muttzrule, thank you for the replies! It's really good to hear of your positive experiences with having dogs while at uni because it gives me more food for thought

Magpye: I think getting a dog in my 3rd of 4th year is definitely something I would consider although my main concern is like you said, what will happen after uni as I'm not entirely sure at this point where I will end up. I'm very keen to help out at a local shelter and I've applied to foster cats this summer as well so volunteering instead of owning a puppy is definitely an alternative I would be keen to look into

Muttzrule: Your university experience sounds ideal, haha! If I did get a dog I'd be very much interested in doing the same sorts of things as you said that you did as I like walking and training is something I'm interested in. Just out of interest, do you think a small breed such as a Shiba or Chihuahua would be interested in training? I've heard that they can be very intelligent but that that can mean they get bored very easily.

first of all i think you need to realise that a shiba n a chi are completely different! just because they are small it doesnt mean the same. and just because they are small doesnt mean they wont be trained. a chi makes a wonderful dog if its treated like a dog and not as a handbag accessory that you see nowadays. they will respond well to training because being a companion dog they will do so much to impress you. however tey do have problems with snapping and fear if you mollycoddle them and treat them like a toy rather than a dog.

can tell you much about the shibas because ive not had experience with them.

Hi Clo, thank you very much for the information on Chis! I hope I didn't cause any offense by comparing them with Shibas, I realise they're very different to one another and that both breeds being small doesn't mean they will behave similarly

The fact that they're companion dogs is very much a plus for me as a companion is really what I'm looking for (I am definitely not interested in having an 'accessory'!) but regarding the snapping, are they more likely to be 'snappy' if their parents are? I realise a lot of how a dog behaves is down to the owner and how it is treated (Like you said, not coddling them and treating them as a dog, not a toy) but should I avoid buying from a litter if the parents are snappy?

Every dog can be trained the basics (to some extent!) but you also have to work with the breeds capabilities. I don't know the first thing about Shiba Inus, apart from the fact that every one we have ever come across has always been on a lead. This may indicate to me that recall may be a difficultly for them. I don't know any Chihuahuas so can't comment on them.

If you are interested in training then there are certain small breeds that you could look at which often excel in that area. Papillions spring to mind, as do Shelties.

...oh, and of course I'm going to be a little bit biased here, but Yorkies would be perfect for everything you described.

yeah i think thats the same with any dog though, if the parents are nervous or timid then it gets passed on. although a lot is to do with rearing them too. i wouldnt buy from parents that are snappy. from experience ive noticed smooth coats seem to be worse than the long coats.

vicky on here has shibas so maybe she could help you with how they are temperment wise. and dont worry no offense taken

ooh we have papillons chinese crested are also quite good for training... good at agility just like the paps are

Thank you for the reply! I'll have to have a read up on Shelties, Yorkies, Chinese cresteds and Papillions too as they're breeds I hadn't considered before! I think maybe a trip to the library sometime next week might be a good idea

Again, thank you for the information! I'll be sure to avoid litters from snappy parents and check out smooth and long haired chis to compare tempraments I'll also have a look around the forums and see if I can find Vicky or any info on Shibas