Anonymous wrote:

Re: the don't get a dog b/c you are gone so much posts - are you telling me that all the dog owners I see in the city stay home with their pets FT or PT? I doubt it. That's not really a compelling reason -

Right. So when you see other people doing the wrong thing, there's really no "compelling reason" for you not to do the wrong thing too, right?

And PS: I am PP and for the privilege of boarding my dog I paid $400 for 8 days. And will need to board again at Xmas.

Dogs are not cheap and for some people the work that goes into it is not worth it.

We got out dog back from boarding a month ago with a severe intestinal infection, cost us $300 for appointment, meds and check-up.
Now it looks like the bacteria is back so I will be shelling out again.

So OP, if you are not ready for a commitment and the expense, I would hold off on that. Dogs get sick and old, just like us, and the costs increase as time goes by.

Thanks everyone. Think I posted twice b/c I didn't think this one went through, so sorry for the repeat.

We can't get a cat b/c I and other members of my family are deathly allergic. Yikes on the dog-walking costs. Not really feeling $65/night for boarding either.

Re: the don't get a dog b/c you are gone so much posts - are you telling me that all the dog owners I see in the city stay home with their pets FT or PT? I doubt it. That's not really a compelling reason - the need to walk and board seems more compelling to me. And I hadn't even thought about the aging/meds/special food costs.

You may want to consider getting a cat or some other type of pet than a dog that requires less maintenance/attention. We have a dog, lab now for 11 years old. We love her, she's great with kids, but she doesn't get enough attention or exercise b/c DH and I both work full-time. If I had to do it all over again I wouldn't have gotten a dog and she will be our first and last pet most likely. We can't afford dog walking and we don't board her (stress on her and too expensive), we usually find a friend to stay or neighbor but it's always a pain to plan a trip and then stress about finding a dog sitter. It's expensive, her RX dog food is expensive, vet bills are outrageous, and keeping up with vacuuming from the dog hair is crazy. We do love her but like I said when her time here is up we won't be replacing her for a very long time if ever. We were young, no kids, married a short time - so call me stupid and ignorant of the cost and upkeep of having a dog.

We live in the city and pay about $300/month for 5 30-minute walks a week. We also pay someone to stay at our place when we are out of town, which is $65/night. I have taken my young healthy dog to Dog-ma on Capitol Hill for boarding, which is less expensive. I also took an older dog who needed meds and a calmer environment to the Olde Town Pet Resort, which was more expensive (maybe $100/night with the meds?) but worth it for an older dog.

Getting a dog should be fine. Definitely get a dog walker.

We use a dog walker. We have a nerdy little junior high girl in 8th grade who comes over after school. She walks the dog, plays with it, and then hangs out for an hour or two doing her homework and talking with the dog (we put up a nanny cam at first). We pay her $5 a day but usually give her $30 on Fridays just because she's reliable and the dog likes her.

When we travel, my single BIL house and dog-sits (the nerdy girl still comes after school).

Agree - do not get a dog. You are not home enough to care for a dog. This is not fair to any dog.

If you do get a dog, you definitely need to consider getting an older dog. This would be hard circumstances for a puppy.

Don't get a dog, please. I think it is so cruel to leave a dog alone as much as you are planning. You are gone nearly half the day + another 8 hours or so you will be asleep...plus, I'm sure you will still spend time outside the home to run errands, go out to eat/movie/concert, etc.

Forgot to add our dogwalker's website:
http://lesstalkmorewalk.com/dog-walking-dc

Where do you live? That would help with recommendations.

Anonymous wrote:My DH and I are considering getting a dog. My two biggest concerns are A) we are out of the house from 7:30am until 6pm every weekday, so would we need a dog walker and B) boarding when we go on trips.

If you have a dog and you live in the city, do you use a daily walking service? How much does it cost per day/week? Who do you recommend? And when you board, who do you use and how much does it cost per day?

TIA

Have 2 dogs. Walk costs $18 a day. When we go out of town we pay the dogsitters to stay at our house. It's expensive but we live in a neighborhood where having the dogs stay at the house reduces the likelihood of break-ins considerably.

My DH and I are considering getting a dog. My two biggest concerns are A) we are out of the house from 7:30am until 6pm every weekday, so would we need a dog walker and B) boarding when we go on trips.

If you have a dog and you live in the city, do you use a daily walking service? How much does it cost per day/week? Who do you recommend? And when you board, who do you use and how much does it cost per day?

TIA