Weddingbee boards

I live in DC in a 500 sq foot junior one bedroom with my fiance and my 100lb mastiff mix that I got from the shelter on NY Ave.  She is the love of my life. 

She is also totally NOT high energy.  She likes walks (for the most part) and really does love playing with other dogs in moderation, but only lasts about 10-15 minutes. She prefers people to dogs but does have friends - including a rescued Great Dane on our block who she loves and is also very low energy. 

A working dog like  a husky is going to need more activity even if it's just mental stimulation.  It could not be crated for 9 hours a day and happy. 

I know my dog COULD go 9 hours without a walk, but I would never do that.  We have a dog walker - it puts my mind at ease knowing she'll have some companionship during the day, and the dog walker reports any issues (runny #2, she refills water, and also dog sits when we need it).  She is not crated at all, just kept out of the bedroom.

The Great Dane is left alone all day without a dog walker, though, and her owner says she's fine.  They are a wonderful low-key breed.  I have no problem with how big these dogs are because the bigger the dog, to me, the less energy they have to expell during the day.

Let me know if you have any DC-specific questions about dog ownership.  I have volunteered at the shelter for years, which is how I got my Lucy over everyone else that applied :)

Edited to include a pic of how I imagine she spends 98% of her day when the ottoman is pushed up to the sofa.

We had two English Bulldogs- they loved to play, but during the day they LOVE to sleep.  Plus they are soooo cute as puppies :)

I have the most experience with Washington Humane - and have never had a problem either volunteering or with my own dog other than minor health issues. 

I know about WARL, but I personally support the WHS because they are the city shelter whereas WARL is "no kill" because they pick the dogs they get.  WHS is full of pit bulls and breeds that WARL won't take because they want a higher adoption rate.  So that's why I personally prefer them. 

My friend who got her dog from Grate Dane rescue has had success, too, in terms of assistance from them with training and things like that.  I had an ex boyfriend who rescued Danes from them for years (his last Dane died when she was 16!)

I would STRONGLY consider adopting an older dog if you are looking for more calm - the shelters are full of adolescent dogs for a reason - they're NUTS.  Adopting after 1 year and a half or two is much better in terms of knowing the dogs real personality. 

WHS has adoption events throughout the city every weekend - they're listed on the web site - and a GREAT way to meet dogs outside of the shelter environment.

Great Danes. 

They're large, but fabulous apartment dogs - big loving couch potatoes! :) 

@Ryansgirl - you're definitely correct :) 

Danes are lazy - Annie is lazier than our girl and it's hilarious. 

@Terra: I LOVE merlequin Danes!

Pic is of Annie and Lucy playing.  Danes are great in that they are happy to be outside, but really aren't too active outside (like Lucy, but she's - we think - a South African mastiff and they're rare even to buy from a breeder, so we lucked out...the shelter listed her as a pit/mastiff mix...so not true!)

I disagree with dogs not being able to hold it - my dog doesn't pee during the night, and she's easily out for 10 hours between the last walk at night/first walk of the morning. 

We pay out dog walker in cash each week, and it's definitely a chunk of the budget, but the peace of mind is priceless.  I'm happy to share her info with any DCers because she's amazing.

I also think bulldogs are somewhat cute, but the expense to care for their health is more than any other breed of dog.  That is something significant to consider especially for a first dog. Danes also have very sensitive stomachs, which can cost you a good bit in terms of a special diet, but it's not difficult to remedy in a place like DC with such good food stores (and my dog walker is a doggie nutritionist so it is AWESOME when we need to change up Lu's food)

We have a shar pei. She is beautiful, and as long as she is walked everyday/ every second day she is a lazy guts!

@daydreamwanderer:

 Regarding your line "crating not ideal...."

Don't even feel bad about crating!!! I was SO anti-crating a dog until we crate trained our current pup and he just loves his crate! We give him full run of the house now that he's older (9 months) and find him in his crate when we get home (if he doesn't hear us first!!)

...but we have a dog walker to break up the day. He could probably go all day (I leave 8:30ish, FI home just before 4) but I'm a baby and don't want him to go all day! I go home 3x a week at lunch, dog walker 2x a week @ $13/visit!

As for the breed! I honestly wouldn't recommend any one breed....I have a Golden Retriever and am totallllly partial to the breed, but I know a sibling of our guy is just a nutcase and wired for sound all the time....our guy is a lazy pup! Energy when we/he wants, and totally cuddly lazy when we're either not home, or not around.

There are lots of breeds out there, and lots of ways to get a dog. We did a ton of breeder research (seeing as the breed we wanted can be pre-disposed to certain things) and wanted particular things from our dog. We waited over a year for him once we found the right breeder (they only have 1-2 litters/year) and he has been such an awesome pup. That said, our next pup will be a rescue, and we will lose everything we loved about our breeder, but hopefully be able to do a lot of positive work with him. Many dogs can suit your lifestyle, you just have to be willing to put the time into them when you are home/do have the time and not take advantage of the fenced yard and put them out there and consider it done, like I know many people do. Have fun researching and finding the right addition to your family!!

Also, why does your dog have to be crated? If you have a backyard why can't the dog just be free out there? I don't know of many dogs who would enjoy being crated, and if your leaving the dog alone for that amount of time then maybe a dog isnt the right pet for you?

try here

http://www.luckydoganimalrescue.org/

i have worked with them many times

@Miss Pinup:

if a dog is properly crate trained from the beginning, they love their crate!

Moments after I posted I have my guy running (bouncing!) around the house like a nutbar with a squeaky toy in his mouth!! -28 today with windchill, soooo the walks have been short and energy is a little higher than normal!!

Here is the link to WHS' adoption events (it can be hard to find on their site)

http://support.washhumane.org/site/PageServer?pagename=events_adoptionevents

I don't care if you crate, personally, but some rescues might - many breed specific and more private rescues are very particular about the every day living situations of a dog (I know this from Dane rescue, but like I said, Annie is left alone in the house all day without a walker and seems to be fine.  No crate b/c the crate would be huge, but she doesn't go out)

i have a french bulldog, and while she was insanely high energy as a puppy, now that she's 1.5, she sleeps 85% of the day.  (She's snoring/farting on my lap right now)

The great dane thing, to me, is questionable.  My future brother in law has a great dane and I've never disliked a dog more.  The thing takes up WAY too much space, knocks into me constantly, and i've seen it practically trample a baby. She is not a nice dog.  But...I suppose all dogs are different.  Shame this dog is so bad. 

@kate6214: yep, that's where Annie (our dog's best friend) and my ex's Danes all came from.  They're on point and VERY careful about screen the personalities of their dogs.