New Corgi for a New Life
Just a warning: this post is HUGE. I've broken it down into parts so you can read and respond to sections easily without feeling the need to respond to the whole thing. :]
Hey, everybody! I'm new to the site, and will soon be new to the world of dog ownership. I've only had cats growing up and have seriously wanted a corgi since I was 16 or 17, though I dreamt of owning one since I was 12. I'm 19 now (though I will be 20 by the time I can get a corgi), and a student at Virginia Tech. I'm moving off campus next school year specifically so I can have the opportunity of getting a dog.
Owner benefit: I've heard from a lot of people that college students shouldn't get a puppy. I disagree with that in my case. I'm an engineering student and have a LOT of homework to do. As such, I spend a lot of time in my room doing said homework. I'm not a party girl... I think the longest activity I do all weekend is play Dungeons and Dragons, and I can bring Waffle to that with no problems. I also have severe depression (and have had it for a while) and am finally seeking help. My medicine isn't doing anything except giving me insomnia... I was discussing the want and possibility of getting a puppy with my therapist. She seemed really positive and agreed with me when I mentioned how it would help me. The responsibility of taking care of a puppy would force me to get out of bed, go outside and exercise, be on a strict routine, and be mentally challenged but also immediately rewarded. So, Waffle would not only be a dream come true, but a treatment for this disease that's been plaguing me for years. Unlike medicine, it will actually work. Does anyone have any stories they can share about dogs helping depressed people function again? Just curious.
Expenses: Because I am a poor college student, money is kind of a big deal. I worked all summer at 7$/hr in a popcorn factory and managed to store $1000 in my savings account. This is and has always been specifically for dog purposes. I made an excel spreadsheet of all the things I would need for getting a dog initially. However, I am not sure of the biggest expenses at all. How much is neutering for a corgi pup? Shots? The corgi itself?? I snooped around the internet and guesstimated... Basically, does this expense sheet look right? If I forgot something IMPORTANT, let me know.
Moving: I can't move in to my apartment until August of 2010. As such, I really want to get my corgi in late spring/early summer so I can begin training him at my parents' house and he can be moderately well behaved and potty trained... It will be difficult (no, impossible) to return to my apartment every hour during classes, but doable every 3 or 4 hours. I was discussing this with my friend, and she brought up a slightly upsetting point. She has a friend who has a dog named Chubaca, not sure of the breed. Chubaca was a puppy that was trained at home and was brought up to Tech for living in an apartment. He was perfectly trained, but moving reverted him back to square 1--mostly peeing everywhere. Is this a problem for corgies? If so, or even if not, how can I minimize the trauma of moving and prevent this from happening? If it does happen, is there anything I can do to stop it besides getting super strict with the potty training?
Furry family members: I'm moving in with a friend from middle school and her roommate. They are both animal people, one studying animal science and one studying bio with intent to go to vet school, so of course they both want pets. VetSchool wants and is definitely getting a cat (I'm very happy about this!!), but AnimalScience wants to get a dog. She is unsure if she will be getting a dog, doesn't know what breed, and doesn't know what age. So, this is iffy but still a concern. Mostly, I'm afraid the other dog may ruin Waffle's training if AnimalScience isn't being very stern in making her dog a good citizen. I can eliminate the problem with toy stealing by keeping Waffle's all in my room... I also don't want them to eat each other's food. I don't know... Should I even be concerned?
Training: I'm really looking forward to training him and having that bonding time and control. I don't think I will be taking him to obedience classes... but I may if I'm having a hard time doing it on my own. (I watch "It's Me or the Dog" and am minoring in behavioral psychology... so I want to put my skills to the test before spending money.) Potty training, sit, stay, heel, drop it, leave it, etc are all basic and necessary. I was reading about "emergency recall training" on these forums and am definitely going to teach him that. Are there any other invaluable commands I need to teach him?
I think that's it. Of course I'll ask questions as they arise. :3
Hey, everybody! I'm new to the site, and will soon be new to the world of dog ownership. I've only had cats growing up and have seriously wanted a corgi since I was 16 or 17, though I dreamt of owning one since I was 12. I'm 19 now (though I will be 20 by the time I can get a corgi), and a student at Virginia Tech. I'm moving off campus next school year specifically so I can have the opportunity of getting a dog.
Owner benefit: I've heard from a lot of people that college students shouldn't get a puppy. I disagree with that in my case. I'm an engineering student and have a LOT of homework to do. As such, I spend a lot of time in my room doing said homework. I'm not a party girl... I think the longest activity I do all weekend is play Dungeons and Dragons, and I can bring Waffle to that with no problems. I also have severe depression (and have had it for a while) and am finally seeking help. My medicine isn't doing anything except giving me insomnia... I was discussing the want and possibility of getting a puppy with my therapist. She seemed really positive and agreed with me when I mentioned how it would help me. The responsibility of taking care of a puppy would force me to get out of bed, go outside and exercise, be on a strict routine, and be mentally challenged but also immediately rewarded. So, Waffle would not only be a dream come true, but a treatment for this disease that's been plaguing me for years. Unlike medicine, it will actually work. Does anyone have any stories they can share about dogs helping depressed people function again? Just curious.
Expenses: Because I am a poor college student, money is kind of a big deal. I worked all summer at 7$/hr in a popcorn factory and managed to store $1000 in my savings account. This is and has always been specifically for dog purposes. I made an excel spreadsheet of all the things I would need for getting a dog initially. However, I am not sure of the biggest expenses at all. How much is neutering for a corgi pup? Shots? The corgi itself?? I snooped around the internet and guesstimated... Basically, does this expense sheet look right? If I forgot something IMPORTANT, let me know.
Moving: I can't move in to my apartment until August of 2010. As such, I really want to get my corgi in late spring/early summer so I can begin training him at my parents' house and he can be moderately well behaved and potty trained... It will be difficult (no, impossible) to return to my apartment every hour during classes, but doable every 3 or 4 hours. I was discussing this with my friend, and she brought up a slightly upsetting point. She has a friend who has a dog named Chubaca, not sure of the breed. Chubaca was a puppy that was trained at home and was brought up to Tech for living in an apartment. He was perfectly trained, but moving reverted him back to square 1--mostly peeing everywhere. Is this a problem for corgies? If so, or even if not, how can I minimize the trauma of moving and prevent this from happening? If it does happen, is there anything I can do to stop it besides getting super strict with the potty training?
Furry family members: I'm moving in with a friend from middle school and her roommate. They are both animal people, one studying animal science and one studying bio with intent to go to vet school, so of course they both want pets. VetSchool wants and is definitely getting a cat (I'm very happy about this!!), but AnimalScience wants to get a dog. She is unsure if she will be getting a dog, doesn't know what breed, and doesn't know what age. So, this is iffy but still a concern. Mostly, I'm afraid the other dog may ruin Waffle's training if AnimalScience isn't being very stern in making her dog a good citizen. I can eliminate the problem with toy stealing by keeping Waffle's all in my room... I also don't want them to eat each other's food. I don't know... Should I even be concerned?
Training: I'm really looking forward to training him and having that bonding time and control. I don't think I will be taking him to obedience classes... but I may if I'm having a hard time doing it on my own. (I watch "It's Me or the Dog" and am minoring in behavioral psychology... so I want to put my skills to the test before spending money.) Potty training, sit, stay, heel, drop it, leave it, etc are all basic and necessary. I was reading about "emergency recall training" on these forums and am definitely going to teach him that. Are there any other invaluable commands I need to teach him?
I think that's it. Of course I'll ask questions as they arise. :3
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Owen's Mom on
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Owen hasn't really been too pricey himself, some of the things he has ruined have been ;). Some dogs are chewers. Keep that in account. Countless running shoes (my fault for running, taking them off and forgetting), bedding (his, we gave up and now he doesn't have any), socks, underwear, ethernet cable and now skirting board (trim). He goes through phases. Even though he is in the hallway when we are gone, he still manages to be sneaky when we are here. He is as sly as a cat about stealing a sock from my laundry basket while I folding! And alot of it has been our fault - like right now we are busy with the move, boxes being put up and I need to be extra careful about making sure he can't get himself in trouble (by chewing skirting board!)
He probably needs a trip to doggy day care to wear him out. You need Bordatella vaccination to take your dog to most doggy daycares, btw. The $20 for the day will be worth it during your finals! Even just one day should earn you a couple days of a more relaxed corgi!
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Permalink Reply by Rachael & Waffle on
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Hopefully Waffle won't be a destructo-dog! lol.
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Permalink Reply by Jane Christensen on
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Make sure he has lots of his own things to chew(Kongs with peanut butter) and when he has something he shouldn't replace it with a chew toy he can have this will help him learn what is his to play with and you are offering something to replace what he can't have!
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Permalink Reply by Buddy & Wynstan on
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You and I are pretty much going through the same thing, but moving will be sooner for me and will happen more often, I will be moving in December and then again in June, I will let you know how both of those go.
I too made an expenses spreadsheet but luckily found baby gates for 2 dollars each, and also found a couch cushion that I am turning into a doggie bed. If you have access, I would recommend going to Hudson's Dirt Cheap, you can find odds and ends that are really cheap. I found Kong toys at our local one for around 3 bucks and a FURminator for about 10 (also a brand new HP for 300 bucks, but thats not a puppy item).
Also, I too suffer from depression, family and friends have already noticed a positive change in my behavior and I do not even have my puppy yet. I also have long nights of Dungeons and Dragons and will update you on how they are during sessions.
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So, I looked at your profile picture and nearly melted from the cute. This website is a dangerous place sometimes.
I think over winter break I am going to check Goodwill every week and stalk craigslist for puppy items. We don't have one of those Hudson's stores anywhere up here to my knowledge, but we do have a newspaper and internet full of used items. I suppose that's one of the benefits of living in Virginia's most populous city.
I pitched the idea of Waffle being a rogue and my DnD group was like "...uhh." and they kind of played out how a night with a corgi would go, lol. Something like this:
"Okay Waffle, your turn."
"WOOF."
"What? I don't understand."
"*rolls a 20* WOOF."
"Alright! A nat 20, but... what did you use?"
"WOOF."
"Alright, Waffle used WOOF for maximum damage! The immense soundwave of the bark broke the silence of the night--and some shingles off a nearby building--causing the kobolds to fall to their knees and cover their ears. Deafened, they are knocked prone and are dazed as the terrible bark echoes in their head."
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I was thinking Bard, I figured Wynstan's howls, growls, barks, and wookie calling would help him cast through his music and lore speaking. Also, Corgis have to get some kind of charisma modifier, just look at them, who could really say no to them?
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Someone earlier suggested rogue and I didn't really put much more thought into it, heh. Bard works too! If I were a shaman or a beast ranger, he would totally be my spirit/companion. :D
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Permalink Reply by Alex on
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I think it's great that you did this much research prior to getting the pup.
We also did similar type of research prior to getting Kenji and it was worth all of the effort.
We pretty knew what we were getting ourselves into and was not surprised by the expense and responsibilities that comes with the territory.
On the flip side however, you'll get a new best friend.
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Permalink Reply by John Wolff on
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One thing I'll suggest is that physical activity, specifically anything resembling walking -- hiking, climbing, running, biking, swimming, soccer, blah blah blah -- is the best antidepressant I've ever found. Even better than a corgi. It has a HUGE physiological effect. I can be tired, depressed, hungry, angry, irritable after a bad day at work, and I KNOW that if I just get my shoes and running clothes on and run home instead of take the bus, I'll get home an hour later feeling happy, perky, refreshed, proud of myself, and won't have an appetite for another hour. You will need to do really brisk dogwalking to get that much effect, but a corgi needs a LOT of brisk dogwalking, and will LOVE to run with you, or play soccer, so if you establish this habit, the benefits will follow you throughout your life. And you will get outdoors a lot.
And you will build the bond of commitment and dependence to and upon each other.
I would voice this caveat, though: The scenario of a young adult starting out in life, getting a dog, and the dog eventually winding up with the parents is almost a cliche. It is very easy to underestimate the burden of time commitment and housing restriction. Lots of places don't allow dogs, young people tend to move often, apartments don't have yards, etc. It's almost like being a single parent. I would not take on the responsibility of a dog if I was by myself, I don' think. There have been times when my wife Lori has been gone for a week or more, and I've been surprised by how constraining it was to not have a partner to feed, walk, or care for the dogs if I have to work late or something. We've always had a lot of division of labor -- she does the morning shift, I do the evening. This is something to think about. I suggest talking to other young adults who've taken on a dog, asking for their experiences and suggestions. A dog is a family thing, and the smaller the family, the more intense the responsibilities and demands.
I caution you about scheduling this. It's not something you can put on your calendar. It's like fishing: you get ready, cast your lines or nets, and wait for the right partner to come along. May take longer than you expect or hope, but worth the wait for the right match.
I think the suggestion of getting an adult dog is worth considering. A puppy is a big project. Gwynnie was 6 months old when we got her, housetrained and very well-socialized; we just made out like bandits.
You are very right about happiness being something you create. And if you don't know where you want to go, or with whom, you'll likely end up somewhere else, with someone else. Our choices are not unconstrained, but we do have much control over our lives. That's the fun part.
And there is a great deal to be said about curling up with the fur friend at night. Wish you the best.
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Permalink Reply by Plato & Sula on
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Rachael, it sounds like you’d be a great dog owner—but I would strongly urge you to wait until your lifestyle is more settled (e.g. steady employment). I totally agree with John’s posting, above. I’ve had dogs as a kid and am a huge animal lover. I considered getting one while I was an undergrad, but I’m so glad I waited. My intention is not to be a Debbie Downer--I just want to make sure you weigh the “negatives” of dog ownership with being a young professional—which you will be soon!
My experience. I got Plato, my first corgi, during my second year of business school, and still found it to be a huge amount of work (I should add that business school is much easier and less time consuming than undergrad in terms of academic work). I found it to be a huge time/money commitment despite: (1) having my boyfriend to split the time/cost of caring for him, (2) getting Plato at 5 months when he was almost completely potty trained, and (3) having a dog walker AND doggy day care on certain days when our schedules were packed.
Expenses. I’m assuming your budget is per year. I think you’ll find that you’ll easily spend that entire amount in a few months.
• The Dog- Our corgis each cost between $1000- $1700. Plato was originally supposed to be a show dog so the breeder kept him for a while. However, he ended up not being eligible because of an undescended testicle. We were able to get him for less because he was an older puppy. Both dogs came from reputable breeders who belonged to the PWCCA/Mayflower PWCC. We actually wanted an adult corgi (that were done with their show careers), but none were available in our area at the time. If you’re getting an adult dog, the breeders usually have you pay for their neutering/spaying only. I would also encourage to you look into Rescue.
• Neutering/Spaying – In our area, this procedure can cost $300-$1000 (upper end if it’s complicated).
• Vet visits – I noticed that you only have the initial visit. The dog will need a regular 6-month checkup not to mention any other emergencies. Plato seems to always eat something bad or get injured—we easily spent $4K on medical bills the first year we owned him. Luckily his sister, Sula, hasn’t had any medical emergencies. They each have insurance, which ranges from $30-$70/dog/month.
• Dog supplies – Without going into the specifics of your list, again I would say that you’d be surprised at how quickly you go through toys/treats, etc. Remember—puppies destroy things!
In addition, some questions you should consider (the breeder will ask you this as well):
What is your schedule/lifestyle? Do you have a regular schedule?
Dogs need structure and regular exercise. Are you prepared to get up early and exercise your dog for at least an hour each morning, before class/work? Who will let the dog out in the middle of the day? What if you’re at work? Do you have time to take the dog out in the evenings—if not, who will? Your corgi will need a lot of exercise if you don’t want him/her barking or being bored all day. Plato is a lazier than your average corgi and needs about 3 hours of exercise each day. Sula is extremely active and sometimes requires as much as 5 hours of exercise.
Who will watch the dog when you are traveling?
• Weddings, vacations, class trips—do you have a reliable source that can watch your dog while you’re gone?
• In your senior year you’ll find yourself spending whole days at interviews—some employers will add interview rounds at the last minute—do you have someone to watch the dog on these days?
• Can you afford a dog walker, boarding or doggy daycare if necessary? Doggy day care can cost $35+/dog/day, Boarding can cost $60+/dog/night, Dog Walking about $25/dog/30 min. walk each day
Are you financially independent/secure? Do you have supports in case of unemployment or transition periods?
I’ve met way too many people who have to give up their dogs because they become laid off or can’t find employment. If you find yourself in this situation post graduation, how will you afford the expenses of dog ownership? What if your dog has an emergency?
There are so many extra expenses that are easy to overlook amidst the excitement of getting a dog:
• Rent – I noticed that you have a deposit of $100. In general, dog owners have to pay more for crappier apartments. Dog-friendly apartments are also scarce so prepared to pay for some great brokers if you are living in a city.
• Hotel/Travel – I love vacationing with my corgis if possible. If I have to fly, each dog can cost $150+ each way. In addition, finding a dog-friendly hotel isn’t the easiest. Your choices are usually spending a lot of $$ for a budget motel or staying at a high-end luxury hotel (which usually accepts dogs), but nothing in between.
Do you have experience raising dogs?
Even though I owned dogs growing up, I find caring for a dog a huge challenge (and mystery) at times. Corgis can be especially tricky because they are so smart. Given your questions regarding your roommate situation and housetraining, I’m assuming you’d be a first time dog owner. Definitely read up on more dog behavior books. Even better, spend time with dog owners and their dogs (“doggy sit” so you can get some experience beforehand).
Other questions:
• Does your building allow pets? If your dog is vocal, are you willing/could you afford to move?
• Will you be able to keep up with grooming (brushing teeth, trimming nails, etc)?
• Are you and your housemates willing to deal with the shedding?
• How/where will you socialize your dog?
• Will you be going through any major transitions (e.g. marriage, moving, having kids) in the next few years? How do you plan to incorporate your dog into these changes?
I hope you find the info above helpful (I’m writing this in a sleepy fog so let me know if anything needs more clarification). While it’ll be extremely hard to hold off on something so rewarding as dog ownership—I think you and your future dog will both be glad you did! Good luck!
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