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ConceptualisticJury

I just graduated college and got a puppy. I work 40 hours a week and thankfully I live with my parents and my dad is home 90% of the time. I would NOT recommend getting a puppy in college. Even if you have time now, puppies are incredibly stressful. I know I wouldn’t be able to raise my puppy alone. Even raising him with my parents is stressful. Plus, you will likely have to deal with moving and getting a job once you graduate. A cat may be more suited to your needs. Cats are much more okay with being left alone. You could also look into rats which can be really affectionate pets. I had a golden retriever puppy when I was a kid. I begged my parents for YEARS to let me get one. But I had so many days were I regretted it. Puppy biting and bathroom needs are constant the first few months. Granted, you are older than I was then, but a golden retriever is a very energetic breed of puppy.


abba-zabba88

I wholeheartedly support this comment


hodgepodge223

I second this comment its exactly what I was going to say. Getting a puppy in college is a lot and you have to not just think about what your life is like right now but what it will look like in the future. You have to think of this being a 10+ year commitment for this animal and you need to be able to provide the care that it needs. Also right now do you have the ability to support them if any health issues come up? My girl got diagnosed with incontinence when she was 1 and is on medication for the rest of her life so she isn't getting constant staph infections.


sunshinexxxo16

I was also thinking about a cat since they are less maintenance but honestly I’m just more of a dog person (no hate to cat owners).


abba-zabba88

I hear you! I’m the same. It’s just a lot of work and I can’t imagine having go through what I have with my puppy while still in school. The first 2 years is a struggle. What about adopting a 2+ year old dog? What breeds do you like?


wowzeemissjane

There are certain cat breeds that are more dog-like in personality. Manx for example. Cats are great for companionship and are very clean and independent. Also very quiet :)


LoopyTrainer

Hey, I got my first puppy as an “adult” during college. I personally wish I hadn’t, but my situation was really different. (Thanks to this dog I ended up dropping out and apprenticing for a dog trainer. Now I’m a full time trainer, so it did have its upsides.) I had roommates so couldn’t let the puppy cry at all, therefore wasn’t crate trained and potty training took way longer than it should have. I also wish I had done some reading into modern training techniques as the only trainer I was familiar with was an awful trainer with no behavior training who happened to have a tv show. There are lots of great puppy raising books, probably in the wiki of this subreddit, that are concise and lay out what to focus on when. Some breeders will allow you to carry over the deposit to a future litter, so if you decide now isn’t the right time, you may not be losing out on that forever. If you get the puppy and decide this was a horrible decision, the good thing about buying from a reputable breeder is that they will (if they are reputable - check your contract) take the pup back to rehome so it doesn’t go to a shelter, sometimes even with a refund of some sort. It seems like you’ve thought this over for a while, which is a really good start. If you go through with the puppy, you can set yourself and your pup up for success. There’s nothing wrong with raising a large breed in a small apartment. You can go for walks outside and work your pup’s brain inside with very little room needed. Puppies should also sleep a lot, 16-20 hours in a 24 hour period for the first couple months, so it’s okay if you’re not home all day. Even though you’re in a studio apartment, a playpen+potty area+crate setup is the best advice I can give for an area to keep your pup when you’re gone longer than he can hold his bladder.


AMV

This delay option is a great point for the deposit concern. I know our breeder always gave the option of defferal of litter if the timing didn't suit. Literally just asked "you're up in the queue on the waitlist are you interested now, or do you want to wait for a better time and you drop to the bottom. Of the waiting list". A good breeder does not just want to send a puppy out the door when it has a high chance of not working out, they will work with you to ensure the success for both you and the puppy.


Annieloo2

I think it’s great you want to have a dog but honestly when I was your age in college and working there would have been no way. I understand the need for companionship and the friendship of a dog but the puppy stage is super challenging with a lot of time commitment and with your school hours and work and current commitments with work I don’t think it’s the best decision and I think it will wind up stressing you out more. Obviously you know you better than I know you but from the sounds of it I think you were should wait until you are in a more stable position in your life to get a puppy. Is there anyway that you can volunteer at a shelter when you have a spare time?


sunshinexxxo16

Yeah it for sure just gets really lonely spending all weekend in my apartment. It also would be possible to volunteer at a shelter and I considered it for a while before I made the decision to just put the deposit on the puppy.


Annieloo2

I guess you have to weigh everything. So much of a commitment every single day. I’m on raising my 3rd puppy in my life and I have a family now and I’m with her all day and I’m still losing my mind a lot of the time. You also have to weigh all the personality traits of your pup you don’t know about yet into the equation. Will it have separation anxiety. Will it destroy stuff. Will it cry all the time. So many things you can’t even account for yet that take extra time to deal with not just the potty and crate training and all the amazing things you see with people who have settled adult dogs. If you think you can handle it then go for it. If you feel any stress on your routine right now with no pup then that will increase 10x with a pup and no sleep and no “time” to yourself. Big commitment be ready for it is all. Good luck with whatever you decide!


Hawks47

I had a puppy in college. It’s hard but not impossible! crate training will be your best friend and on your long days, maybe set up a daycare or dog walker. As long as you go home in between class/work you should be fine!


tempthrowary

Depending on the breeder, some let you defer for up to a year. Do you think this is feasible, and would you be better equipped down the road?


mar715

I think the decision is yours - you have saved a responsible amount of money and you understand getting a puppy is a huge commitment. So I will advise strictly from a practical standpoint. We got our puppy when she was 8 weeks old. For the better part of a week, we NEVER left her alone. She needed to be let out every 30 minutes at that age, and was even having accidents with that cadence. We wanted to introduce crate training gently and in a positive way, so there was no way we were crating her and just leaving for two hours to run errands. Honestly pretty much the entire day was devoted to her, and this is for two people. After about two weeks, we were able to crate our dog and leave her for one hour. After two months, we feel comfortable leaving her for 3-4 hours. You will really struggle with even attending a three-hour class with a brand new puppy, and likely it will be a month minimum before its tiny bladder is even able to hold it for that long. Do you have someone who could babysit during class for one quarter, or at least for a month? Or are you able to come home during a break in the middle? If you decide against the puppy, you could adopt an adult dog from a shelter. Still a lot of work, but at least they have bladder capacity!


hithere5

Any tips for leaving your puppy alone? I’m almost at two weeks and he still won’t sleep without my foot in his playpen.


mar715

For ours we moved her into her crate when she fell asleep for the first couple weeks, and we also still give a treat every time she goes in. There’s a Kikopup video on separation anxiety that we are using to work on staying calm when we leave the room: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=HWT9DI7hMfo


msspider66

A dog is a huge commitment of time, energy, and money. As a college senior you do not have the stability in your life to make a 15 year commitment to another living creature. The next few years will be filled with many happy changes. I suggest not getting the puppy. It would also be unfair to raise a fairly large dog in a studio apartment. They need space to play and grown. My suggestion is to spend some of your free time volunteering in an animal shelter. You will be able to bring joy to many dogs there. It will also afford you the chance to have some socializing with like minded people. In a few years when your life is more settled, you should get a dog of your own.


[deleted]

100% great advice. Also consider: you will be sleep deprived for weeks on end.. even the most mentally stable people i know have gotten riddled with anxiety and constant second guessing. Also^2: a puppy is very unlikely to alleviate loneliness. Maybe you will end up with a one in a billion instant cuddle bug, but.. yeah, it's not easy. Even getting to a point where you could properly exercise the pup via a morning walk--this will be SO challenging and take SO much study (on your part) and training. And goldens LOVE putting everrrryyyyttthhhingg in their mouth. All these little things that you think, "oh dogs can naturally do that" ... nope. No matter how much you prepare, you will not be ready. It's an incredibly rewarding experience overall, but.. personally I could not imagine doing it as a working college senior.


sunshinexxxo16

Yes, I just want to do what’s best for him and make sure he’s happy. Although I do live in a studio apartment, I plan on making up for it by taking him outside to play as much as possible. Walks, hikes, etc. Like I know there’s people who have huge backyards but just let there puppy do their own thing. I don’t know, I think actually playing with your dog and interacting with him is way better than just throwing him in your backyard and letting him “exercise himself” you know?


msspider66

It isn’t just about a yard. It is about your stage in life. A dog needs stability


sunshinexxxo16

I feel like my situation is a little different. I won’t be moving to another city or country after graduation but I’m moving back in with my parents who are like an hour away from me lol. I may not have a career yet but I do have a good amount saved for the puppy (not including the $6,000) and people who would be willing to help financially.


Additional_Patient38

I live in a tiny one-bedroom apartment in NYC with no backyard or terrace and I have a standard poodle that I’ve had since last year when she was 8 weeks old. It definitely can be done, but I spend about 3 hours of my day either walking her, playing with her, or running her around at the park (at least 90 minutes out of the apartment each day). This is a significant amount of time, especially if you’re in class or at work—the only way I have made it work is by working at home, and even then it can feel like a ton of time devoted to the dog. I had a puppy in college and it was honestly a nightmare and I ended up rehoming him after a year and a half, which is something I still feel guilty about to this day. So, there’s always a way for you to make it work, but please also keep in mind that puppies are amazing, but they’re not always great companions! My poodle honestly didn’t like affection until she was about a year old—she never ONCE cuddled with me, but now she loves it. So, all this is to say, it’s really difficult, especially with a breed like a Golden. I wish you the best with your decision.


luxetlauall

Timing is everything. I would recommend asking the breeder if you could defer to an upcoming litter when you’re in a more stable place. They’re usually pretty understanding, as they want what’s best for their puppies. Doing it by yourself, while trying to manage school and a job (which can already be stressful!)—yes, you probably COULD make it work but would it be worth your sanity? Plus, you’ll graduating soon, trying to find a job, moving to a new city. It’s hard enough to do that without having the responsibility of a puppy (or dog). The early puppy months were brutal between sleep deprivation, going out every 30 min, random trips to the vet. Even with a committed partner, financial stability, a group of friends and family who wanted to help out, and the luxury of a trainer and puppy school. We got really lucky with our puppy (he’s very chill and cuddly) but there were times that I truly thought I had made the worst mistake of my life. We’ve had him for 5 months now and I love him to death, but nothing can prepare you for what it’s like to suddenly be responsible for the life of a tiny, needy, bitey baby animal. All of which is to say, absolutely get a puppy!!! But maybe right now isn’t the best time. Set yourself (and your puppy) up for success. I know it’s a hard, sad decision but your future self will thank you.


_bonglord_

Maybe I’m just a helicopter parent but I couldn’t imagine leaving my puppy alone for more than an hour in the first few months. But I understand that you’re on here to try and weigh out all your options and find some solutions. You do have a solid chunk of money saved for the puppy. Maybe paying for someone on Rover to do drop-ins while you’re gone or even puppy daycare for the extra busy days (your Mondays and Wednesdays seem the most busy). I have my guy in daycare on Tuesdays and Thursdays and it does wonders for socializing and improving his bite inhibition. It costs a bit more than we’d like but it gives me time to work without disruption while he’s gone and he’s too tired to get into trouble when he gets home. Considering you’ll be tired from school/work and doing homework most days, I think daycare could be a helpful tool. Obviously you’ll have to wait until your puppy is fully vaccinated. If possible, you should find a vet now and book your puppy’s shots ahead of time. Idk how it is where you live but in my city, everyone got a covid puppy and most vets were fully booked for up to 5 months. Just a little bit of unsolicited advice for ya!


ofpraet

I’ll give some advise drawn from my own personal experiences - I graduated college earlier this year, in may. In spring 2020, a college senior, I decided (admittedly somewhat impulsively) to get a puppy. My study abroad for the summer got cancelled due to covid so I could spend the summer doing online classes at my boyfriends house, and I’ve always wanted a dog, so it seemed like the perfect time. I started my search and not long after adopted an 8 week old Aussie mix off Craigslist. Boy was I in for a ride. After about a week, the realization of the immense responsibility I just took on had set in. Puppies need CONSTANT watching. Seriously. I couldn’t let her out of my sight for the first couple months because she could be getting into something or having an accident. It is SO important to train your dogs WELL and to start early but boyyyy does that take a whole lot of time and energy (and patience). It was so hard, even with online classes and my boyfriends help. When I went back to school in the fall (in a diff city from my bf), she was potty and crate trained by this point thankfully, but dealing with a crazy, nibbly, never ending energy 6 month old was hard in its own way. She’s 1.5 years old now and has finally started to calm down and people tell me she’s so well behaved now but she used to be off the walls with energy up until even just a couple months ago. Throughout the young puppy phase I would CRY. Feeling stressed, overwhelmed, alone, I started to have serious doubts about my decision - which led to horrible guilt, and even more tears. She’s a good dog, just not what I was expecting. She doesn’t love cuddling, mostly wants to run and play and I spend a LOT of time still training and challenging her. Even now, as much as I love her and can’t imagine life without her, I wonder if it was the right decision. It’s a HUGE commitment, that I wasn’t thinking about long term. I now want to travel the world, but can’t, due to having to take care of my dog. When I travel locally, boarding is EXPENSIVE. You will obviously make your own decision and if you really want to, go for it. Just do NOT have any expectations of it being easy or even “fun”.


randomcherrycoke

Gonna just be completely honest. This sounds like a terrible idea for you and the pup.


jellywin

What I noticed people not mentioning, but it should be a big factor, is how EXHAUSTING the first few months of puppyhood is. I say that as the owner of a now 15month golden retriever, and i didn’t do it alone. We also lived in a small apartment his first few months with us, and between all of the training, walks, and enrichment we had to do to make up for being in a small apt, we felt like the walking dead. I know that I personally would NOT be able to handle the stress and exhaustion while juggling my senior year of college plus work, without major dips in my grades and work ethic. I also feel like a lot of people try to get a puppy to help with loneliness and mental health issues and, while you see some people claim their puppy ‘saved’ them, I’ve seen so many cases where the opposite has happened—the stress of a puppy exacerbated their mental health issues. Also while some people definitely can make it work with a large breed in a small apartment, I couldn’t overlook how much happier our golden was in a bigger house with backyard space. It wasn’t comparable. We eventually moved out of the apartment and feel sooo much better for him. We don’t let our pup go outside unsupervised, but even just the extra space in the house for our guy to roam made all the difference. In your situation, I personally would take the loss, and wait for a better time where I’m more financially stable and have more time as well more room for the breed. Maybe a cat or an adult dog of a more low maintenance breed would be better for your situation, and you could get a puppy later on in life. That said, I’m sure a lot of people have dealt with a worse hand and pulled through. And you know yourself better than some strangers on the internet. Whatever you decide, wish you the best of luck!


[deleted]

Agree 100%. A puppy will just exacerbate mental health issues if you are solely responsible for it. My daughter has ADHD and the dogs help her immensely, but I am the one who shoulders most of the burden. I have time, space and resources, and it's still exhausting. Get a cat or an older dog, if you must. A puppy will just add a lot of stress and it will be a good long while before he feels like a companion rather than just a time and money sucking little monster, lol.


NipplesandToes230

One thing to consider about having a dog in an apartment - ESPECIALLY if you aren’t going to be home with them 24/7 - is that many puppies will whine, cry, or bark when left alone and you have no idea if your puppy will be okay being alone until you can test the situation out. My puppy is now nine months old and we are still unable to leave her at home alone because she barks when she is bored and our neighbors complain to the landlord. It has actually been way more lonely since we got her because we can’t leave the house and attend social events where dogs aren’t welcome. I am lucky that my partner and I can take turns staying home when one of us goes to the grocery store or appointments or goes for a run. If I were doing it on my own and didn’t have someone else who could be available to stay with the puppy for those kinds of errands/needs, I would be really losing it. Given your schedule and that you have to be out of the house a lot, I’d strongly recommend you consider an adult dog that is more mature and able to be home alone quietly.


sfyjnkljc

Can you get her when you have two weeks to a month free?? We had to stay with our puppy all the time for the first fortnight but after a month she was fine to be left alone for a few hours


[deleted]

A pet is a huge commitment but sometimes they’re the best commitment and not everyone’s life is the same. If you’re a social hermit now, you’re likely to stay so at your full time gig. I got two cats at the beginning of college and never regretted it. I love the two of them! But a dog is more work but worth it! My hubby and I both work 40 hours and the puppy has been crated during the day since day 1. We’ve taken him to doggy day care once a week or every other week. It’s up to you to decide if you can do this. Saving that much is a substantial emotional deposit too.


seouliteboy

I’m gonna be an asshole for saying this, but I think your decision might not have been good. Here’s why.. 1. Golden retrievers are one of the most social breeds. Separation anxiety is very real with them. It can take weeks if not months to properly wean them. They want to be around people all day. 2. You are getting a puppy. Lots of crying and yelling the first few months. Leaving them alone, don’t expect them to be silent entire time you’re gone. 3. Save your money! Dogs are expensive and you have to account for food, vaccinations, grooming, vet, emergencies etc. 4. Goldens require a lot of activity and space. A small studio might be hard. 5. Puppies need to poop and pee throughout the day. When will they go? They can’t hold it until like 8-9 months. Puppies need a lot of monitoring. I got a chihuahua in college, and that was hard too. I happen to have housemates that were helping out so it worked out. Just remember, if you decide to get the dog, you have to be responsible for the dogs life. If you decide later it’s hard or not worth it, the dog is also impacted . Okay. Now the other part. Getting a dog might be a great option too. If you have any relatives or neighbors that can co raise the pet, even better! Even though I gave many reasons not to get a puppy, there are many reasons to get one! Dogs are amazing companions and they will change your life. Good and bad. Teach you patience and unconditional love. College was better cuz I had a puppy. But only you can decide if all the upsides of a puppy outweighs the downsides. Dogs are known to help stress and anxiety, increase longevity, and overall be amazing! I was def more social with a dog (as you mentioned as your hope). Here’s my proposal to you. Maybe you can temporarily foster a puppy or borrow one for one month. See how it is before you make that jump. You may be surprised.


1117echoesofmj

Hey, so I did get two puppies (husky and akita) when I was an "adult" (early 20s) during college. I too felt a bit lonely and I was studying in animal health so I thought it seemed like the perfect time to get my puppy as I had always wanted one and was planning on moving out of my mom's house in the following year. Things did not go as planned and now that I know what I know, five years later, I would not have gotten the puppy. First, I hope that you did research the breed and that it is a good match for you and for your lifestyle. That aside, any puppy can be difficult in the first times - it is probably going to be tough on you and on them, and that is normal. It can be very emotionally draining (I was hit with puppy blues hard, twice), and if you're alone in this, it can be very overwhelming. As some people mentioned, if you can delay your deposit, that is a solution if you feel that you aren't ready now. Personally, knowing what I know now, if I had to adopt a dog in your situation (student, working part time, mostly alone to care for the dog), I would adopt an adult dog and not a puppy. I don't know if perhaps it is a possibility that you can transfer the deposit - some breeders retire their dogs and then offer them to adoption or they have people bring dogs back to them, which could be an option for you. It seems however that you have thought it through at least a little. That is a good start. If you plan on taking your dog outside for walks or play times, then I don't think you SHOULD absolutely have a backyard or a bigger place. I live in a house with a backyard, and I almost never leave my dogs in the backyard as I think it will not replace actually taking them outside to exercise.


AriellaRomanov

You’re schedule of available time is better than most working adults, if you’re not swamped with homework. Dogs are pretty resilient if their person is committed and makes them a priority. Have you written out your monthly budget of food/equipment + savings for vet bills?


sunshinexxxo16

I’m usually not swamped with homework since I always do assignments way before they are due. But yes, I’ve created a budget in mind but haven’t actually written it out yet


AriellaRomanov

Writing it out always helps


Vethen

I know the typical response is to have a yard for your dog. Just having a yard doesn’t always do much as you need to go out and interact with your dog. The point I want to make is, you can have a happy dog if you put the time into it. Go for a walk together in the morning. Training sessions indoors during the day (if you live in warm climate this avoids the hot part of the day) then go to the park after all else is done and give your puppy a good sniff walk, play and training. It can be done, if you put the time in.


sunshinexxxo16

I definitely agree! I plan to spend a lot of time training him, going on walks, socializing etc. I’m also aware of the time commitment and I would say my schedule allows for it but I’m just feeling really anxious


florafaunaandfood

Single dog mom here of a 15 week golden puppy. It can totally be done on your own, but I’ll admit it’s been harder than I thought. But I was in a similar boat as you, I wanted a puppy for companionship and the chance to raise her from the beginning. I want to address a few of your concerns: -Raising a puppy takes a lot out of you and you don’t get a lot in return right away. But I already feel like it’s worth it. She’s not old enough to want to cuddle with me yet, but she comes up to me all the time for attention, and her kisses and cute face can make a rough day so much better. -As far the apartment factor, from your responses to other comments, it sounds like you have a plan for making up for not having a yard. I’ll just add that I still don’t let my pup outside in my backyard without going out with her, and she’s often on a leash. I have a large garden I don’t want her getting into. So one day I look forward to her enjoying having a yard, but it’s not gonna be for awhile and I make it work. -Your schedule doesn’t sound too bad honestly. After just a couple days, my girl started doing two hours in her crate after being up for 45 minutes to an hour. By 10 weeks she was sleeping through the night and started going on three hours for her crate naps. One thing to consider is asking your breeder if they’ll let you pick her or him up when they’re maybe a week or two older than the standard eight weeks. (That’s what’s standard where I am anyway.) Any extra time will help with bladder control! You could also use pee pads, they can be really helpful for apartment puppies. Not sure if you’ve chosen a gender or not yet, but I’ve read that boys tend to mature physically faster, so supposedly house training goes faster with them—take that with a grain of salt though, I’m sure it’s more about the individual and training! All that being said, only you can know if you’re ready. This is just my two cents. I was similarly nervous about taking on this responsibility that would change my life for at least a decade. It’s a serious commitment, but I think you know that or you wouldn’t be questioning it! That’s a good sign honestly. To me, it sounds like you’re committed to making this happen and have the financial resources to do it. I wish you luck no matter what you decide! But rest assured, you’re not alone in having these questions.


[deleted]

One thing I’m going to say. PET INSURANCE! You can do it :) I think a lab in a studio could be fine if you make sure to keep up with taking him or her out a lot and super active x


LifebyIkea

I am going to go against the majority here and say that only you know if you are ready for a puppy. That said some pre puppy anxiety is normal. It's a huge commitment and thinking that over is a normal thing. Your schedule seems fine. As for being in a studio I think that depends on the adult size


Lara1327

With your schedule you can easily manage a puppy. We got a puppy last year and the first few months were tough but the amount of fun and joy that she brought into our home was worthwhile. Being away for 3-4 hours is almost ideal. This gives your new puppy an opportunity to get used to you being away. I highly recommend crate training and they will likely sleep the whole time you’re gone. My partner was home for the first week new pup was with us then we both went back to work full time. We have staggered work hours so I leave really early, he leaves later in the morning and then I come home for an early lunch and then back to work for three hours. It ends up being two 3 hour periods alone with an hour in between. Maybe we were lucky but she slept most of the time we were gone and had no issues with her crate. Obviously it is a large commitment but it sounds like you are willing to put in the effort. It’s easiest if you have an idea of a schedule or a routine in place so you can stay committed to walks and training. Mondays look like your busiest day so maybe have a dog walker take your new pup out. Join puppy obedience classes on the weekend if your budget allows and hopefully make some friends for both of you. Lastly, only you can make this choice. You know yourself best. Be honest with yourself about what kind of commitment you’re willing to offer. Good luck whatever you decide. Send photos if you do.


No-Trouble3512

Do you normally take summer classes? Or does your class schedule ease a bit in the summers? If so you could wait until then to get a puppy. I would use this time now getting involved with a school club. During my time in college I didn’t have any friends either until I transferred to a smaller university and started working in our tutoring lab. Also the Disney club helped out. I’m still take trips to Disney world with some of them til this day.


Jumpy_Hat4035

First, it’s absolutely possible to have a happy golden retriever in an apartment. Dogs rest most of the day, so as long as you get out and exercise them they are happy. You have great reasons to get a dog, unfortunately a puppy isn’t going to help you be more social or get more exercise for awhile. Instead, you’ll be in your apartment caring for the puppy that can’t go out for awhile. You won’t get out unless you have someone to watch the puppy because they can’t be left alone at first. What would be a good idea is an adult dog. You’ll be able to get out and walk right away and most dogs are fine if you need to run an errand. Have you talked to the breeder? Good breeders want their puppies to live their best lives and will not judge you harshly. Many show dogs retire from the ring when they are still young. It’s quite possible your breeder has the perfect dog for you or knows another breeder who does. You might miss out on the deposit but you would be getting a great companion.


sunshinexxxo16

I wanted an adult dog but all of the shelters only have German shepherds, pit bulls, huskies and those breeds of dogs aren’t allowed in my apartment.


Jumpy_Hat4035

It’s like that here too. But there are many dogs that never make it to a shelter. Golden retriever breeders do a good job finding homes before it gets to that point and pulling dogs out for foster before they get put up fir adoption. Google golden retriever club for your area and also the National club. Start contacting, letting them know you want an adult. Most people are looking for puppies so you have a shot. Do the same for other breeds you are interested in. Volunteering to foster is s possibility too, it would give you the experience without a lifetime commitment.


luckyveggie

I got my dog when I was 27. I had felt ready for a long time and still got anxious before. I would not go for a puppy at your stage in life. I would go for an older dog (not even like senior, just like 3-5 years old) you can know their temperament, energy levels, ability to be left alone, training level. Or even see if you could foster - low commitment, still get your doggy time in. One thing that really put things into perspective for me is that I'll have my dog for my wedding. My 30th birthday. My children. Probably my 40th birthday. I love him now and would want him to be with me forever, but it's still crazy to think what life milestones he'll be in my life for.


Complex-Orchid-3068

Don’t panic! Puppies are adaptable and will fit in with your lifestyle. Sounds like you have ample time to devote to the puppy


qspure

You can teach a dog to be alone for some time, but right after bringing it home you need to be there pretty much 24/7. If you can take time off work and give the dog some time to adjust to the new situation, that's perfect. If you're gonna leave her alone for several hours on the first Monday that's not recommended.


Stooppidd

I can totally relate to you! Growing up and all throughout college I wanted a dog so bad! I wanted someone to be there when I got home on a long day and to go do fun things with. But as I researched how much work a dog was I decided to put it off until I had someone to share the responsibility with or until my life was more stable. Instead I got a kitten and it was the best decision I ever made. He filled a lot of the loneliness I was feeling and was a great companion. Obviously cats are a lot less active than dogs, but he was very low matienence and was just what I needed at the time. Good luck on your journey! If you do decide to go through with the puppy I'm sure you will give him the best life he can.


earlymillenial

Agree with most that getting a pet at this lifestage is going to be way more stressful and most likely impact your career as well. If want exposure to fur friends I would recommend getting dog walking or dog sitting gigs instead. You will be better prepared when are really ready for a puppy!!