What's a good "starter" dog for someone with a bit of a dog fear?

[NellyF1]

What's a good "starter" dog for someone with a bit of a dog fear and who is new to owning a dog?

Interested to know about the breed, gender, etc. that would be best.

Ideally not a very loudy or aggressive breed.

Also, how much does all the maintenance (living costs, food, vet, etc.) costs come to? Can he/she be left alone during the day from 9-5? How often must he/she be walked, is there risk of them pooping in the house unattended?

Tamagotchis still exist?

They do! I got my DC one each for Xmas a couple of years ago.

Tamagotchis still exist?

Not the ones that were left alone from 9-5 each day!

^true story.

A Starter Dog ??
Get a snake OP they can be left alone for more than 5 hours, but they still like a bit of company from time to time .

@VanGoghsDog

Tamagotchis still exist?

Not the ones that were left alone from 9-5 each day!

Genius

Do not get a dog.

You haven't the first clue.

Starter dog!
Left alone all day!
How much "must" they be walked!
Zero idea of house training
Zero idea of a sentient animals needs.

FFS.

There isn't one.

Please don't get a dog.

'Starter dog' implies that you'll practice on this one, fuck it up and then blame it so you can get rid of it in favour of the next fashionable breed that you see.

What living creatures want to be alone 9-5?

GarlicSoup,
I just had to google them, lol 😮

A "starter dog"?

It's a living breathing thing, not a gateway drug to a Rottweiler.

Don't like dogs - tick
Will leave it alone 9-5 - tick
Can't google basic needs of a dog - tick

I hope you are taking the piss and not real.

If you're real then don't get a dog. Obviously. Or you would be an absolute dick.

Milk, yoghurt, flour and water covered and in a bowl.

By starter, I didn’t mean it literally like I’m going up upgrade soon. I more meant it in the sense of ‘for beginners’ as I’d heard the term starter pets used for children.

I don’t claim to know much about it all which is why I was asking on this thread. If I knew it all, why would I bother making a thread?

One of my questions was what dog breeds would be okay being left 9-5. If the answer to that is none, that’s fair enough - no need to be rude about it.

Poop in the house. Yes if you leave them 9-5 Don't do it.

One of my questions was what dog breeds would be okay being left 9-5. If the answer to that is none, that’s fair enough - no need to be rude about it

None. Final answer

No dog can be left alone 9-5

@nellyF1

So you aren't going to get a dog now you've heard people's feedback, right?

OP I would love a dog. I even have a specific breed in mind:

But I can't have one.

Because my work dictates that I can't commit to giving it the company, care and commitment it needs.

I'll wait till I'm retired.

And no, as many have said, you can't leave a dog alone all day.

So don't do it.

This is what you need....

If you want a pet that is easy, go to the beach, wander along the shoreline until you see a pretty shell or rock, pick it up, call it bob and take it home to look after.
Sorted.

“Starter dogs” that can be left alone forever all day, are cheap to own, and come with their own kennel. Pretty good choice of make, and come in a variety of colours to match any home decor.

I’d start here OP.

Actually, and I mean this in all seriousness, a senior rescue dog might do well. When my dogs got old, they would happily sleep for a 9-5, as long as they had a pee/poo before and after. They didn't need or want long walks, but were all (surprisingly to me) tolerant of young dc. I realise it's a hell of a gamble, but maybe a 10+ yr old dog with known character would suit. And, callous as it sounds, would likely die on the same timescale as a hamster, should death be on the curriculum.

I’ll be honest I love dogs and have had many over the years all the same breed and at one time I had 3 ( 2 bitches( females ) and one male ( boy ) all from the same breeder .
They don’t live forever but their memories stay with us always .
Anyway I have a 10 year old little girl and she never knew my dogs but has heard many stories about them and wants a ( puppy ) even though we have cats .
She is 10 and I have said we will get a pup when I think she can look after it as a pup doesn’t stay a puppy long and they need a lot of care and love and socialising .
No animal is a Starter pet.

Forget any fantasies about getting a dog. Please - if you think Mumsnet is the place to research it when you are so clueless, there is zero likelihood of it being a success. The dog would end up in rescue because you didn't grasp what you were doing. They're not accessories, they're not cuddly toys. You'll end up with exactly the dog you deserve - an unhappy, possibly noisy, probably destructive, miserable animal, and if it treats you as badly as you intend to treat it by leaving it all day, you won't want to keep it anyway. You say 9-5? Does that include travel to and from work, or the hours out of the house? It's far too long - do you honestly not understand why?

ItsLateHumpty,
Yes my daughter had one when she was about 7 .
They are really cute and come in different colours .
Easy to look after as well .
Hahaha

OP, you would have been better off quietly nestling this question in on the litter tray. Dog frothers can sniff these threads out from a mile away and when they find them... well... they're like a dog with a bone, funnily enough. Dogs love humans. Dog people on MN hate humans.

In your shoes, I'd probably ask at dog shelters as the kind people there probably wouldn't link you to soft toys on amazon, and if they felt a dog wouldn't be suitable for you, they'd tell you appropriately.

I'm stunned that the majority here believe it's actually better for a person not to ask these questions in the early stages of considering getting a pet. Would it be better to think 'I have questions, so a pet isn't for me'? Or just to buy a dog and not ask for advice first. Those that think they're protecting the lives of dogs by tearing shreds off of the curious are ensuring that people will quickly learn never to ask questions before getting a pet. How do you think that will play out in the long run? Because I can guarantee it won't stop people from actually getting a dog. They will simply just not ask the right questions before they do get one, for fear of getting their heads bitten off.

I'm stunned that the majority here believe it's actually better for a person not to ask these questions in the early stages of considering getting a pet.

Or maybe a basic google search? I mean I dunno, if I was considering getting a real live animal to live with, I think I’d do some basic research on costs, leaving an animal for long periods of time, exercise requirements, and then come to MN to ask re breed / personal experience, etc.

But I’m pretty sure any basic research would tell you not to have a dog if you’re away from home 9 - 5 or that it’s going to cost you to hire some kind of daily help looking after your pet.

It’s not the asking for advice, it’s the absolute lack of any thought into owning a living, sentient, animal that will end up being rehomed.

I don’t own a dog, but I do occasionally foster dogs that are let down by poor owners and need to be rescued before being rehomed.