Your Opinion

edited July 2009 in General
Don't get me wrong, there's nothing I want more than a Shiba Inu.
But I'm going to be a junior in high school next year and i'll have to study for SATs and I'm taking 3 AP college courses plus I'm playing lacrosse, and it seems that Shibas take a lot of work.
Do you think that i will have enough time to take care of a Shiba Inu?

Comments

  • edited November -1
    NO
    NO
    and NO
    I would suggest waiting until you are WELL out of college. Your life is going to be only getting busier for the next 5-10 years. Possibly longer depending on your chosen career.

    Getting a shiba now would be a catastrophically bad idea. I cannot convey that enough. If you need further explanation I will gladly go further. But honestly, getting a shiba is like having a child. Do you have time to raise a child? Then you don't have time for a shiba. Or any other dog for that matter.
  • edited November -1
    Um, I don't think you have time for a dog, shiba or not.
  • edited July 2009
    I think if Shibas are something you really want to pursue, make it a post-college goal. I'm currently completing my post-grad work (have bachelors, taking required classes for graduate school) and my time really has to be budgeted. In high school I definitely would have screwed up a dog, there isn't any time! As an undergraduate I had even less time, and the time I had I wanted to spend out not in with a dog. I got my first shiba my senior year (5th year of college) and it was rewarding and ridiculously hard at the same time... Now that I'm preparing for graduate school, I have a LOT more time and even MORE stability than I ever had before.

    I would advise you to wait, and make the shiba inu a future goal to work for. It is worth the wait!
  • edited July 2009
    Working with college students who have had to leave their dogs at home or who try to get one while in school, I would offer the following (and I am assuming you are planning on college as you are going to study for and take the SAT's):

    Is it you getting a shiba or is your family going to get a shiba? Often my students' families end up taking care of the dog while the student is in college. It either becomes a point of contention or stress or becomes a family dog and no longer "theirs".

    College can be a crazy time and the demands can be pretty stressful. If you live on campus, you will typically NOT be able to bring the dog. If you live off, you may encounter the same problem. I helped sit for room-mates animals when I was in school. I would say one did ok with their pets, but the other was a horrible situation.

    It is as Jessica said, "do you have time to raise a child?". Dogs take lots of time if you want one that is well-behaved and happy. Many college students do not have enough time for themselves, let alone for an animal. Also, if you are living off-campus and are going to have room-mates, you HAVE to factor that in. One friend of mine's room-mates fed her pug beer and french fries when she was gone. They thought it was funny and would do no harm to the dog.

    Another factor to consider is budget. Many college students live on a pretty tight budget. Will you have enough money to provide for yourself and the animal?

    Your career choice should also factor in. My pre-med friends know they will have some travel during med school. They have NO LIFE! They are also at the mercy of their residencies. Even in the visual arts, my professors truly expected 3 hours outside of class time for every one in class.

    If you are planning to continue sports in college, it typically only gets busier as well... Here is an example of a schedule I had in undergrad:
    up by up by 8:00am for 9 am class...9:50 head to work...11:00 head to next class...lunch at noon...class at 1 pm...work until 3 pm...practice until 5 pm or so...dinner at 6pm...homework till finished (between midnight and 2 am for me...crazy visual arts student :) ). Somewhere in there I also went to other athletic events to support friends, did midnight movies, went to the occasional club, hung with friends, and had meetings for my sorority, business club, art club, and a bunch of other stuff.

    During season, I typically had 2 games a week and at least one on the weekend. The closest team we played was 30 minutes away. The farthest was 8 hours. We were gone for several weekends. This is also something you will have to consider.
  • edited November -1
    Well, my mom would've taken care of the dog when i go to college.
    but never having any dogs before, my mom and i are both wondering why are dogs so much work?
    call me naive, but i thought that you need to feed the dogs, take them on walks, brush them, go to training school with them and love them and that's about it.
    are mature dogs easier to take care of then puppies?
    does training take a long time?
  • edited November -1
    but never having any dogs before, my mom and i are both wondering why are dogs so much work?
    - because they have a heartbeat and depend on you, like a child, forever and always

    call me naive, but i thought that you need to feed the dogs, take them on walks, brush them, go to training school with them and love them and that's about it.
    - well, yeah, but no at the same time. Its a full time job - every single day.

    are mature dogs easier to take care of then puppies?
    - not necessarily, sometimes they require a lot of "catching up" work depending on their background

    does training take a long time?
    - it never ends if you are doing it right!

    - - -- - - - - -
    Has your mom considered a cat? That you can visit when you come home from college here and there?
  • edited November -1
    I would say no. Dogs are a ton of work and a huge responsiblity. It's the same as having a baby except that the baby really never grows up. Everything you said takes a lot of your time and it already sounds like you have a full plate. Getting a shiba is a 15+ year commitment. Its not just feeding, walking and cleaning them. They need constant attention and supervision. They can be pretty crafty and get into things you don't want them in.

    Mature dogs can have their own set of special needs and training can last the whole life of the dog. It's not like you go to 6 classes and your dog is perfectly behaved.

    Only you can make the final decision but since your asking it sounds like you already know the answer.
  • edited November -1
    OK, pawning a dog off on anyone just because of college is not fair for the dog and is a lame excuse, wait until after college. They ARE alot of work, how much time and attention does a child require?...well a dog should get the same amount of dedication. It is a living, breathing creature. And YES! mature dogs are easier then puppies. BUt a dog no matter how old will get lonely if you dont have the time to spend with it. Dogs are either family members, or they work, either way dogs are part of your life, not an accessory.
  • edited November -1
    I was thinking about suggesting a cat also, like Tsukitsune.
  • edited July 2009
    Thank you everybody for your honest opinion.
    I think that the worst thing, besides not getting a shiba right now, is getting one then not having enough time for her.
    I think that i will stay a part of this forum and wait until after college (depending on my career choice) to get one.

    Tsukitsune- we already have 2 really skittish cats... that are terrified of me.

    and another question that my mom was wondering about- How do people work and still have a shiba?
  • edited July 2009
    EDIT: Then you know, multiply the condition of your cats times like 1000. There's your shiba.
    what I wrote - [Cats also require a lot of work, but I think are a good step to dog ownership down the road (as cats live quite a long time and require many of the same things a dog does). Check out your local shelter for a cat, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised. Talk to cat owners, your chosen vet and the shelter manager about what is required.]

    -----------------------

    http://www.soyouwanna.com/site/syws/rightdog/rightdog.html

    I like how this website puts it:
    "Next to getting married, having kids, buying a house or running a country, caring for a dog is the biggest commitment you'll ever make. You know why: because a dog is a living thing. Dogs feel pain, fear, loneliness, joy, love, and loyalty. Dogs also occasionally feel the need to shred Gucci loafers. It's all part of the dog-owning experience."

    Its all so freaking true, too.
  • edited November -1
    by the way - many breeders, reputable anyway, would probably also tell you to wait. Stability, long term stability, should always be a factor to a prospective puppy home.
  • edited November -1
    Dawn and I both work full time jobs. When we got Katsu from the breeder we took two weeks off to help her get acclimated to her new home. We've hired a dog walker and enlisted the help of friends and family to make sure she got out enough when she was being house broken. We crate her during the day but since our hours overlap she's not alone all the time. As soon as we come home she's out and about, pretty much any where we go she comes with us. Our life now revolves around the furry little devil we've taken responsibility for. Obviously people can work and have a Shiba, otherwise no one would own a dog. Just be honest with yourself about how much time you have to devote to you dog. If you go to school, do sports and after school activities, and then work a part time job you'll never be home. Plus you have to hang out with your friends. Assuming that your mom is going to take of your dog isn't fair either, than it's really your mom's dog and not yours.

    Does your mom understand what kind of a dog a Shiba is? Is she prepared to be manipulated and ignored by such a cute animal?
  • edited November -1
    I was more than 1000 miles away from home when I was in college and my family had the responsibility of maintaining our 3 dogs. Given that these were working farm dogs that had been suddenly forced to live in a suburban setting and small yard, they fought of course and nobody at home walked them while I was in school in Montana. They family couldn't cope and so dumped one at a shelter and didn't tell me until later, and so I never fully trust ANY of these people with the care of my animals after that.

    As I really missed my dogs but knew I couldn't care for any long term while doing irregular clinicals and early/late rounds in the hospitals while in school, I intermittently house sat for people on their ranches and cared for their dogs/cats/horses as my schedule allowed so I got part of my animal fix that way. One of the shop keeps in town who I had known for several years also had a tiny ranch in the boones and they brought their little shop dog, Charlie with them. Charlie stayed with me in my dorm sometimes and went around town with me. He was great! That isn't necessarily something I would expect from someone out here in Seattle, but it was really nice to be able to borrow a good friends dog for a hike in Big Sky Country every now and again.

    Maybe you could meet up with some people who have dogs while you are in school and offer to pet sit or dog walk for them to gain some good dog experience?
  • edited November -1
    I admit it, getting a Shiba Inu senior year of high school was a horrid idea, but I figure Toby is doing great at home, and my parents are taking care of him. Boy, was I wrong. My parents never bothered to tell me Toby escaped dozens of times while I was at college, and my dad blamed it on 'the wind blew open the gates', even though our gates locks are very impossible to open unless they're pulled open by the latch. Toby has no manners and doesn't listen to my parents, he only obeys me.

    I won't be getting anymore dogs until I am out of college and have my own place.

    The way I see it, when I am done college and I am ready to move out, Toby will be older and more mature so he won't be destructive like a puppy, but he is almost 2 years old and he still chews everything and anything he can grab with his mouth.
  • edited November -1
    Yeah, i guess I'll wait...
    We might still get another dog... one that is maybe a little less difficult to take care of.
    Thank you everybody! I'm glad i asked, because i wouldn't want an unhappy shiba.
  • edited November -1
    I'm 17 now and my family and I are waiting a couple years until I'm done with my most hectic years to get a shiba/shikoku. I'm the dog's main caretaker. I just graduated junior year and I'm going off to be a senior, but I still think I won't have enough time now, and at my school, I'm only going to have 2 classes next year, plus 2 community college classes (I'm getting everything done early since our school doesn't offer AP courses). We have a miniature pinscher right now but he's basically maintanence free, but shibas (i've heard) are much more work.
  • edited July 2009
    I'm late to this but I guess I'll put my two cents:

    Lots of people don't really understand how much work it takes to raise a dog responsibly and well. In addition to training and daily exercise, for example, when I tell my friends that I really can't go up to NYC this weekend because I have to stay home with the dogs, I'm really not joking! They are just like little kids, and if you're going to go away then you need to get a pet sitter or board them, and short notice mostly means that you end up nowhere. This applies even if you expect your mom to take care of it when you're busy. What about when she's busy?

    If you want to take a vacation, you have to think about shelling out a few additional $100s to either board or take them with you. If you won't be home for 8 hours a day, who's gonna let the dogs out? We live in an apartment so we can't even really take day trips unless we can hire someone to come by (we don't have family around, either).

    Another thing is cost.. dogs cost a lot of money. You want to give them the vet care they need, for one. Then you need to make sure you have enough for emergencies. Then the daily things like food, toys, etc. Even if raw is pretty affordable and one of the best diets IMO, then you need to take time to shop and probably need an extra freezer. When a dog gets older sometimes they get even more expensive in terms of special diets or needed prescription medications.

    Last thing is as you know, time. You can give a dog the bare necessities such as vet care, exercise, and food, but you won't truly make him or her happy if you just don't spend enough time with them. I won't say that it's not possible that you are able to do all this by juggling schedules and working something out with your parents, but it's something to think about very, very carefully. I had 2 dogs throughout college and added one more after college.. it's a lot of work and a lot of money. Unless you're as much as a homebody as us, you'll also very much miss going out with your friends, too...
  • edited November -1
    It is not that we are suggesting that you and your mother wait to get a shiba. We are suggesting you wait to get a dog. Deciding to get a dog knowing that your life is as busy as it is and is only going to get busier is not only an unwise decision it is a selfish and irresponsible decision. Things worth having are worth waiting for and doing adequate research PRIOR to doing them

    Might I suggest you volunteer at your local shelter and spend some time with those dogs to get a better understanding of what is required. You will also meet many many dogs that were dumped (and will likely die) there because their owners didn't realize how much time, work, and money dog ownership require.

    I am not trying to be mean. But I work in shelters. I have watched hundreds of good dogs get killed because their owners didn't have time for them (regardless of breed).
  • edited November -1
    We consider the dogs children, with the exception that you CAN kennel them and most people frown upon caging your kids up :)

    In all seriousness, kenneling a dog for 8 hours a day is just as unacceptable as leaving your 5 year old locked up in his room while you go to work all day. My partner and I are lucky enough to usually have overlapping schedules, and also lovely neighbors and --as a last resort-- reliable services in town that can do afternoon breaks. We consider our situation pretty much the bare minimum of attention that dogs require, and we do everything we can do make sure the time we DO get to spend with them is quality and progressive. I would consider someone with commitments like yours as having inadequate time to care for a dog.

    There ARE, however, many many pets that require less attention than a dog and are as equally rewarding. I've cared for many a rat in my day, and while it takes a little bit to overcome the creepiness factor, they are VERY smart little creatures and can learn basic tricks and commands. They also happen to be very clean, quiet, and if they have a friend with them they require minimal attention every day. If I felt confident that my shibas wouldn't eat them, I would have rats again in a heartbeat. Consider the alternatives to dog ownership, and you may be surprised to find a pet that fits you perfectly.
  • edited November -1
    I bought a siberian husky my junior year in high school. My plans altered and I ended up leaving for college two weeks after I finished my junior year. I was fortunate that my parents treated Gorky as I did and loved on him as much as I would have. I spent a total of six years out of that house before I was able to take on my dog. I was fortunate to have him almost 8 more years, but I missed out on a lot with him.

    With my shiba, someone is home with her 95% of the time. The most time that she is left completely alone is about 3 hours - while I'm at church on Sundays. Shibas can be sneaky, but they are totally worth it.

    I would recommend taking the money that you would be spending on the dog (anticipated vet check-ups, shots, bedding, food, pet deposit, etc) and putting it in a savings account. It will give you a very nice cushion for when it's time to get your dog.
  • edited November -1
    I brought home Pong Pong when I was going into my junior year in college (summer time). I was commuting that year so I thought I had plenty of time to handle a brand new puppy. Oh boy was I wrong.. I was working full time hours at my job and always had to either wake up extremely early or be late for work. Thankfully, my parents had the flexibility of leaving work and checking up on her. When school started, it was even worse because I couldn't come back to take her out since it's half an hour trip one way. My parents helped me out a LOT by taking her to work with them and basically potty training her for me.

    Long story short, the first year of Pong's life consist of being with my parents more than me. Granted, my parents weren't the most experienced (she's addicted to human food, learned how to beg, an excellent escape artist and toy finder, etc etc), they were still able to take care of her more than I could.

    Now that I'm living on my own (school's done), it's still takes up a lot of time. Even with Jon, it's hard to put aside time to walk the dogs. When ya get home from a long day, you don't really want to do anything except veg out in front of the tv. But your dog's day just started since he/she probably slept while you were gone and expect you to entertain him/her. Also, I have roommates who are home all day that can let the dogs out to do their dirty business.

    On weekends when you do have free time, you feel guilty if you aren't doing an activity with your dog(s). They stare at you..with their puppy eyes!!

    Like LJ said, money is also a big issue. Most of us here are big on the best food for our dogs (which is like 60-70 bucks for a 30 pound bag) and the best vet care for our doggies. Pongy and Jada recently got into rat poison and that emergency visit cost us 500 bucks. Then the follow up a month later which was today, was $214 as Jon informed me. Imagine a $700 expense that isn't even part of their routine checkup and shots. IMAGINE what you can BUY with 700 dollars!!

    I'm not going to say don't get a dog now since it would be awfully hypocritical of me. But if you have a great support system such as parents or friends who are good dog caretakers and have the funds to get a dog and take care it, then consider all of the responsibility and time YOU have to put into it.

    I would definitely ask someone who already owns a dog to allow you to dogsit for a week or a month and see if you still want a dog now.
  • edited July 2009
    ok, thank you for all of your opinions. i don't think we're going to get a dog... and i've wanted a hamster, but we have hunter cats. <:0
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