I found a compromise for me and my hubs. Husband is concerned about the size of our apartment and keeping an animal inside. I understand we live in a small Boston apartment but if we wait to get a dog until we move, it'll be a minimum of 4 years before we get one. So we would compromise by getting a smaller dog (but not too small) and making sure that its comfortable with spending time outside on our deck. Our neighbors dog (a big gorgeous black lab) spends a lot of time on the deck and we are getting it redone now so I think it should be fine. To address my allergy issues, I wanted to get a dog that is hypoallergenic. Turns out, there is really no such thing. As Wikipedia says
The significant allergen for most people is a protein found in the dog's saliva and dander, produced by the sebaceous glands.[2] "Even if you get a hairless dog, it's still going to produce the allergen," Dr. Wanda Phipatanakul, chair of the Indoor Allergen Committee for the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology is quoted in the newsmagazine U.S. News & World Report as saying.[3]How hypoallergenic a particular dog is for a particular person may vary with the individual dog and the individual person.[1]
I know from personal experience though that there are dogs and cats that don't drive my allergies wild. Our neighbors have a little Maltese that doesn't give me allergies. So I'm convinced we can find a pup that works for us. The I like the best is a goldendoodle (golden retriever and poodle mix). You can get a miniature one that only gets to about 20-30lbs which would probably be the best option for us.
I also found a Massachusetts breeder that is not too far away - Massachusetts Goldendoodle Breeders. It kind of kills me to buy a dog because I'd much rather adopt a puppy from the MSPCA which is down the street but my allergies don't really make that an option. I'm still considering heading down there and explaining myself to see if they'll call when they get a puppy/dog that could work for us. Plus puppies from a breeder are expensive (~$1300)!
Wherever we end up getting a puppy, I need to start saving money for one. My shopping addiction needs give way for my puppy obsession.
Given all our dog related issues, do you think its a good or bad idea to get a dog?
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awww, so cute!! A puppy is a GREAT idea! And we got both of our dogs from the humane society, so of course I'm a huge advocate of getting a puppy from there, but you never really know what you are going to get, so for your situation with your allergies and needing a specific size dog, etc, I think a breeder may be the better option. That way, you are sure of what you are getting. SO EXCITING! :)
ReplyDeleteYay! I'm for the puppy! That goldendoodle is ridiculously cute. Will the MSPCA let you "borrow" a puppy for a few hours at a time to see how you react? The downside of a puppy is training it- you have to be there ALL the time. Every time I talk to my brother now, he's yelling at the puppy for eating something or peeing on something- I get tired just listening to him!
ReplyDeleteI have allergies too and you need to know that with a goldendoodle (or any poodle cross), it could have hair more like a poodle or more like the other parent is was crossed with (golden retriever). I have allergies to and I called the local animal shelter and asked if they get any standard poodles. They told me they rarely get pure poodles, but they do get lots of poodle crosses because after a year, the puppy's coat turns into it's adult coat - which may have the characteristics of either parent. At which point people who bought the poodle cross thinking it was ok for their allergies suddenly find themselves allergic to their dog. We ended up getting a Standard Poodle from Pendragon Poodles. She is fantastic. http://pendragonpoodles.com/index.php?pg=adopt&subpg=litters
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