a friend of mine is moving into a house with 3 friends. This house allows pets and they (as a group) are considering (just considering) getting a dog (obviously it would belong to one person).

Clearly this does not sound like the ideal set up right off the bat but this friend is pretty responsible and would, with some training :), make a good dog owner i think. The four of them in the house (who are all close friends and could be trusted to watch the dog responsibly) all work varying shifts as well so there will be about 10 mins a day when no one is in, they are reasonably active and are moving next to a large park and are not ones for going out, they prefer nights in with friends. I am driving home the commitment it takes, the money, the responsibility, the need for a cohesive idea of training etc. This would be for after September time so they are taking a good while to consider it.

But my friend has never owned a dog himself, he's been around families dogs a lot though (of various breeds, from huskies to lhasas) and is great with my not so easy boy so is not clueless and i would make a point of being available to help with anything. I am wondering about breeds for him to look into, i think if he had a couple of breeds he was particularly interested in he'd focus on the details and really figure out if it would be workable and if not know what lifestyle he'd need before he could go ahead.

thoughts and suggestions?

I think sounds a good idea so longs the main owner realises that with any cute pup things can get chewed- that might not go down so well with housemates with nice mobiles etc and with toilet training everyone in the house would have to be 'up' for being a responsible animal carer.

I would recommend an older dog 8 months or 30 months maybe from battersea dogs home as the advice given on looking after the dog would help your friend in giving the best care possible.

On a suitable breed, if a rescue one is not wanted then research is to be done depending on size of the dog they would like it to grow up to be? If a small type maybe a border terrier bags of personality or a larger type a Labrador?... the list is endless, all depends on if everyone does not mind a big dog shedding lots of white hair everywhere :-).

Amount of exercise that this person had in one day to give a dog is a major factor too like boxers are fabulous but need lots of exercise. Best to leave guarding/working breeds alone for a first time dog owner IMO companion breeds easier to settle into most people route and if buying any puppy make sure it is seen with its mother not picked up from a pet shop.

Then having a good think about the money issue monthly costs can cost a lot-insurance, food, first paying for a puppy then puppy jabs, if going away then finding kennels lots of forward planning to do...This would be for 10 years or so- not to be taken lightly and really thought out first.      

My thoughts from a breeders perspective would be to advise them not to get a dog at this point in their lives and I would not let them have one of mine.  In a very few years at most this arrangement is likely to break up with the strongest possibility that the nominal owner will either set up home on their own or with a partner who is very likely to be in full time work.  If I was their friend I would advise them to leave it for now and just enjoy being single and free of commitments and perhaps volunteer at their local rescue for some nice dog walks or perhaps a bit of fostering if the rescue would allow it.

Sound advice there isabel

Hi,

Actually I think aslong as they've considered it from all angles then it could be a great set up.  I would probably get the ownership in writing etc.  For the person that is going to own the dog, pose the question to them what will happen when you all go your seperate ways - will you make sure you can take the dog with you, will you be able to provide care in the day by means of a dog walker if needed.  There's lots for them to consider.

You can never be sure how things are going to work out in the future, lots of couples get dogs and then split and rehome the dog, people get ill etc.  I think as long as they have really considered all aspects and are sensible and financially and all other aspects prepared for the commitment of a dog then it could work well.  It's great that they are waiting and thinking about things.  Would they be interested in a rescue, there are lots of rescues that have full history known and are only in rescue because of a change in circumstances or some that spend quite a while in foster to assess.  That way they could know what they are getting, with regards to temperament and exercise needs etc and as first time owners could miss the more challenging puppy stage.

I wouldn't want one of my pups going to an environment like this. On paper it sounds ok, but in reality who is going to take the responsibilty when something goes wrong? Who will pay the vet bills? The food bills? There are too many no-no's for me. I did at one point think that a cat would be better suited to their way of life, but the same questions crop up. I'm sorry, but think they are in cloud cuckoo land at the moment. They really should wait until they are all settled in their own homes before taking on a pet.

As joint owners/renters of the house they each share the decision to allow a dog into the home but I would say the decision of ownership should rest with one person only.  That person needs to be able to take full responsibility for the dog from purchase, through insurance and vet bills, food, exercise and training, for life.

The remaining two friends should be considered as a temporary resource to assist with dog sitting and exercise only.  When the partnership breaks down, as they each develop careers or love lives then the issue of dog ownership and responsibility will not then become a problem for any of them.

We have neighbours who made a decision to get a dog partly based on having a lodger to look after the dog.  When the lodger lost interest and got a boyfriend a problem started to develop in the dog and also in the humans relationship.  They have since ditched the lodger and got a dog walker but still have the problem dog...

they are thinking of getting a rescue so no pup problems, though i have emphasised that an adult dog can have bigger worries. i have suggested finding a specific breed and going through a breed rescue so they get as much advise and support possible.

we're in dundee to battersea might be out for them :)

if i had to pick a breed for him i would say an irish wolfhound, but i doubt that one would suit the current circs. a border terrier might be a good idea actually, i think he'd enjoy the cheekiness but its leggy enought o cope with the stairs (house is three stories)

i've explained how much insurance can cost and he was actually pleasently surprised, he thought it would be more. i've also talked about how he'll need to consider what he's doing after the next couple of years.

> or perhaps a bit of fostering if the rescue would allow it

that might be a very good idea actually, i will suggest it.

> On paper it sounds ok, but in reality who is going to take the responsibilty when something goes wrong? Who will pay the vet bills? The food bills?

the owner would. i've been thinking about it and is it really so very different from a set up of a family with teenage children? what i mean is there would be the dogs owner who was fully responsible for the dogs care, like the parent in the family would be. then there are three other responsible, trustworthy people to support the owner in caring for the animal but who will probably eventually leave (like teenagers).

i agree that there are issues that need to be ironed out but is a classic nuclear family really the only circumstance that can work for a dog? i personally don't believe so.

> i agree that there are issues that need to be ironed out but is a classic nuclear family really the only circumstance that can work for a dog?

Probably not but it has the highest probabilies of remaining stable so it is the only one I personally would consider and I think a lot of reputable breeders and rescue will feel the same so their choice as to where they can get a puppy may be rather limited.

i think thats a sad point of view to be honest, at least with regards rescues, i can understand it more from breeders. if someone is prepared and willing to put everything into caring for an animal who does not have a home what does it matter if they may move later on or some such so long as they work things out to care for the dog? people manage to work full time and have a dog, my partner and i do it successfully as do many other posters. as was said before peoples circumstance change for all manner of surprising reasons, if those reasons are not a surprise (eg. knowing that eventually you will be working full time and not have everyone on different shifts) you can plan for them and work it out in advance. 

i do fully appreciate such points of view and will pass your comments on to the friend in question, he's a good friend and an intellegent and responsible person so will consider them i am sure.

I personally would not home to full time workers either and I believe that is the case with many rescues.  Again, I'm sure it does work for some but there are high numbers of dogs in rescue simply because it didn't.
I don't think you friend is in as good a position as a couple might be in planning whether they can budget for a dog walker for instance as your friend does not yet know quite what responsibilities he is yet to take on in life.  If he has no partner he may find it difficult to even finance a suitable home on his own.  His whole situation is about the most unpredicatable you could imagine.

My first question is how long is this set up going to be for?  Surely not very long, only a few years maybe?  What will happen when one by one they move out due to finding a partner and settling down with them?

friends are very different then families.

And how reliable are these shift working jobs?  Are they all happy to arrange shifts around the dog?  What happends is a couple of friends get offerd longer/more shifts so won't be in when needed to help out with the dog?

Personally to me it doesn't sound like an ideal set up and maybe your friend would be better waiting till he settles down :)

>knowing that eventually you will be working full time and not have everyone on different shifts

If you know this will happen then thats a good reason not to get a dog in the first place! :)

probably for a few years and if they went their seperate ways to settle down the dog would go with the owner.

they are all reliable jobs and the shifts already fall in a very pracitcal way.

as i said i will pass on everyones concerns. i must say i am rather taken with isabels suggestion of offering themselves to foster. i think that way there is not the commitment concern and my friends lack of dog experience can be built on.

But the problem being the dog will pick who it likes best :-)  The dog might prefer one of the other housemates.  How is that going to affect your friend?  For example, in marriage breakups it is not just the children that suffer these days, dogs suffer too (yes it's a slightly different scenario but the principles would be the same).  They may legally belong to one person but have a better and closer relationship with another.  I'm sorry Astarte, I do believe that your friend is responsible as you say, but I also believe he is being selfish.  JMHO.

I am kinda leaning towards not getting a dog.  I saw it with Sonny, a marriage breakdown, and he suffered.  What is going to happen when they seperate?  All persons will be attached to the dog, and then their could be fights on who gets the dog (especially if all feel like they are the owner of the dog).  This is totally coming from the breeder in me, and who I would home my dogs too.  This set up, is most likely going to split up, and what happens then?  Would friendships survive a fight like that?  Would the dog be able to cope?  Especially a dog from rescue, who has seen worse days, surely a break up in the family unit, would put the dog back a bit. 

Cant they find a local older person prehaps with a dog that they could walk and assist with? My two ended up miles away after Uni, they then have to go and find accomodation that allows dogs, get a job. Its a great idea but they would be better befriending a person with a dog and help with exercising it, the local Social Services may be able to assit with identifying a need? We have a (company!) called In Touch which finds things like local firms to replace a tap washer, cut back hedges or dog walking! ect or Home Start for people with young children that need a hand, there must be loads out there that these young people could help with.

It sounds a good idea in theory but a dog may find it hard to keep up with 4 different peoples training methods....unless they were ALL willing to go to weekly training/socialization classes?

Also, what about the heartache when they eventually moce out and move on? Even with one clear owner it would be heartbreaking for the other 3

thanks for your thoughts guys, i appreciate all of your opinions and i have mentioned them all to my friend along with my concerns. in honesty they have obviously thought it through quite well (and still are thinking) and have good answers to the various questions that i (and you) have raised. they are all still quite keen on the idea and are looking at the possibility of getting a rescue greyhound or lurcher. i've learned a bit more about the set up and one of those involved is an experienced dog person, he would be the actual owner of the dog and has been wanting one for a while and seems to have considered the future in that his future plans would all fit around the dog. they are all already looking into insurance and my friend and i started a discussion on different foods (he insitgated), grooming tools etc on sat.

We all have different views on what constitutes a good owner or not, some of you won't home to families that work full time, some won't with young kids, some if they have not had dogs, or if they live in flats or whatever...i personally don't belive the perfect set up exists but that doesn't mean it can't work. anyway, as i say thanks for the thoughts, i will emphasise them again.

> Also, what about the heartache when they eventually moce out and move on? Even with one clear owner it would be heartbreaking for the other 3

they are all really good friends and i don't doubt they will keep in touch

> It sounds a good idea in theory but a dog may find it hard to keep up with 4 different peoples training methods....unless they were ALL willing to go to weekly training/socialization classes?

i'm certain they all would be willing to go, but if they can't all go together they would teach each others whats needed.