House dog?

[primitivemom]

Prepared for flaming... I'm thinking about getting a puppy, I'm disabled and we live in a flat. Is there such a thing as a house dog? We are talking about a very small lap dog type, could we train puppy from early on this way?

Meant to add, I have agraphobia and can't go out. Pup will primarily be my responsibility

Hmmm. They all need walking every day. That's unavoidable.

Would someone else be walking her, or would you be willing to pay a dog walker (daily!)?

Hi OP, no flaming from me The vast majority of dogs will need some exercise so unless there's someone who could walk him/her for you or you could afford a professional dog walker your options are going to be pretty limited. It is just possible though that one of the rescue organisations might have an older dog which doesn't need much exercise or maybe one with health issues or behavioural/anxiety issues which make outside exercise difficult or impossible. It wouldn't be fair to a dog of any size to train it as a puppy to be a house dog but you might find something suitable if you're prepared to take on an old dog or one who couldn't exercise. There's quite a few rescues on Facebook who specialise in 'oldies', that might be a good place to start looking. What would you do about toileting though?

When you say house dog, did you mean it never leaving flat? Does your flat have access to a garden and is someone able to exercise the dog?

I think they'd be more suitable pets if it was for a house only situation and puppies need a lot of time/energy invested on training & socialisation to try and raise a well adjusted adult. If you look at www.thepuppyplan.com/ it gives some idea of whats ideal.

A few dogs maybe due to health reasons, walks being either very stressful or high risk to others are deemed better off as house dogs exercised in a garden etc if they are otherwise happy at home, for some the alternative maybe PTS though.

Are you hoping owning a dog may help with the anxiety?

You say "we" so do you have a partner or relative that could walk the dog? Dogs do need to get out at least once a day. We have a miniature pinscher, only stands 10 inches, so very very small. I thought she was a chihuahua when we fostered her, but upon adoption we got her papers and my ignorance was corrected. She didn't go out until we fostered her at 6 months and she doesn't like walks too much. When i take the other two (large breeds), she will come to the main gate (about 3 minute walk) and then she'll turn back for home. She never comes with me unless I am willing to carry her. But I don't know if this is typical of the breed because they are farm dogs, so probably not. She was socialised as a house dog. My other two can spend all day on the farm but the one and only time she went, she spent the whole day lying under a tree looking miserable. Home is where she likes to be. I would say research the breed and maybe adopt an older dog because like people dogs have different personalities. You might find a dig like mine, who is a loyal and loving companion.

I think it's cruel to never walk a dog and would never consider a dog in this situation. The odd exception might tolerate it but it seems very sad to me.
You would need a garden at the very least so it can go to the toilet and sit in the sun on nice days.

How would you socialise it with other dogs and people? Training classes? Vets?

It would be different story if you had someone to walk it once a day or could afford a dog walker? Even tiny dogs love a run in fields and need to burn off energy. They also need mental stimulation, remember small dogs are exactly the same as big dogs inside and need the same training/socialisation as any other dog.

Personally its not something I would ever consider. Maybe a house cat is a better option?

If the puppy never got exercised just think how bored and destructive it would become. It would go stir crazy poor little thing. Sorry, I think it's a terrible idea and I really hope you change your mind about this.

No. Some things you can work around, you can litter train a dog, etc, but the fact is that dogs need the stimulation of being outside. They need the smells, the sights, the exercise, the interaction with other dogs and humans etc. Unless you are planning on getting a dog walker to come at least twice a day, then no sorry.

If you live in a flat and can't go out then what about house training?
I'm sorry but I can't see how this would work. What about a different pet?

Have you thought about a pair of rats? Very intelligent

Youd be better off with a housecat. If you get a neutered tomcat, he'd probably be a total lapcat

You might find an older rescue dog who is happy to be indoors a lot - but not all the time, it will still need to be walked at least once a day, and taken out for toileting every 3-4 hours

Under no circumstances get a puppy

Yes to the rats, fantastic pets.
No. No. No to the puppy. Sorry.

How about a Siamese cat?

It's basically all the affection and interaction of a dog, with none of the walking...mine even played fetch with me.

definitely a siamese. And definitely get a boy. They are almost always cuddlier and soppier. Girl cats are hunters and usually want to be out more, but neutered boys are almost always happy to stay in in my experience

Get guinea pig instead!

Definitely no to the idea of a dog in that set up.

Definitely not a dog of any kind - and I'd be wary of getting a cat too (our oriental boy would be miserable if he couldn't get out to patrol his garden and he likes sitting on the wall at the front talking to passers by)

However if you want interaction with an animal you can train, a rat would be great

OP, a Ragdoll is a breed of cat that they say is very like dogs in its personality. And because they're a pedigree, they live indoors.

Not all ragdolls do live indoors.
Cats with certain medical conditions do have to though.

My mum has a Ragdoll housecat but there is nothing dog like about him , many Ragdolls are not lap cats and can be quite aloof - very friendly but only on their own terms .

I would say it would be very unfair on a dog to get one if you cannot ensure it has proper access to an outdoor area for toileting, exercise, socialisation, etc.

Dogs need proper and regular socialisation with other dogs and people if they are to not become neurotic and snappy, which unfortunately some smaller breeds are already very prone to being. Plus there's the added question of how would they keep their claws down? Walking naturally files them down to a manageable length- trying to cut claws on a non co-operative animal will not be simple.

Cats can be amazing companions- some rescues have cats who, for some particular reason must be kept as indoor cats.

My dog is small, just under 5 kilo in weight. There is no way she would stay sane without her daily walks.

We usually have a 40/50 minute, some times longer walk, early afternoon and generally a short one later, and she loves to be off lead running for her ball in the park when the weather permits. We also do training throughout the day.

Don't make the mistake of thinking that small equals little need for exercise. Many small dogs have high energy and even if they don't have a need for a lot of long walks, they need the mental stimulation that getting out and seeing the world around them provides.

You cannot keep any dog locked up with no access to the outside without it becoming deeply unhappy and neurotic. Please don't do it.

Ok, maybe not a Ragdoll then, but some other cat who possesses dog like tendencies!
I've owned a Ragdoll in the past, and they almost certainly should be kept indoors. They have little survival instinct, if any, and aren't very bright.