I love poodles! I’m thinking of adopting a teacup poodle. I live in a one-bedroom apartment by myself, and I work full time. I am gone for about 5 hours in the morning, come home for lunch for an hour, and am gone again for 3 hours. Would the poodle get too lonely with me gone at work? Is an apartment ok for a small dog like this? What kind of health problems do these dogs have? What is the average life span of a teacup poodle? Would I be better off with a cat?
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November 5th, 2009 at 5:58 pm
I think it would be a great match! Teacup poodles are great companions. They do bark quite a bit though.
Check out this sweetheart – http://search.petfinder.com/petnote/disp…
There are litterally thousands of dogs listed on http://www.petfinder.com and they all need people like you to love them. Search by your zip code and breed you are interested in and Im sure you will find a guy or girl to love.
As far as the dog getting lonely, sure they do but they get used to a routine and usually sleep while you are gone. Leave the radio on, a few toys, some water and they will be just fine. Its great that you can come home for lunch. You’ll get quite a greeting Im sure. These adopted dogs are used to so little. When a friend like you comes along, they will be thrilled just to have a warm place to sleep and some food.
Good luck with your new friend!
November 6th, 2009 at 12:42 am
yes,a teacup poodle is good for you
November 6th, 2009 at 5:17 am
PLEASE don’t get a “teacup” anything!! They are a scam and have more health problems. Being gone that long, a puppy may not be the best choice for you, unless you have somebody to watch it during the day. You might be better off with a cat. I have a cat that acts just like a dog!
November 6th, 2009 at 5:56 am
Do more reasearch with books, magazines, email “Toy Poodle” breed clubs, speak to breeders, groomers, and people who own that breed. The internet is a good start, but be thorough in order to acheive the whole picture.
“Toy” breeds are not the same as “Miniature” breeds, they are smaller and are becoming more and more popular. They can evern be taught to use a litter box at home.
I agree that crate training is the more traditional (and sociologically speaking for a dog) and better way to go, but a litter box is fine as well.
If you live in an apartment or condo, a cat or small breed dog makes much more sense that a large breed, but you’re right to question the genereal personality of each dog breed.
Poodles are smart, generally good tempered dogs (taking into account they are socialized and trained properly). People sometimes have a tendency to carry them everywhere and treat them as babies and this produces a dog who generally fears (and will bite at) everyone but his/her owner.
They also require regular grooming and if they are to be left at home alone for even a few hours at a time, they will require stimulation. Toys, a t.v left on, a radio playing, food and water all provide stimulation. A dog walker stopping in once a day also helps to pass the time. Doggie Daycare is also available quite readily now, and if you take your dog 5 days a week, most businesses will give you a discount on their services.
(Dogs who don’t receive stimulation when their owners are not around for extended time periods often develop Separation Anxiety, your vet can give you more info on this condition, but it basically consists of unwanted, and usually destructive behaviour, on the dog’s part.)
I hope this helps!
November 6th, 2009 at 9:30 am
small dog = small blatter… So be careful because a dog that small will PEE all over everything if it isnt let out enough.
November 6th, 2009 at 11:13 am
Not familiar with poodles, but IMO smaller dogs don’t seem to be able to hold it for long periods of time. Also, need to make sure it’s not a yapper, again IMO most smaller dogs tend to do that. If you do go with it, be sure to crate train the dog, maybe even opting for an older(1+ year) dog. IMO, I’d go with the cat.
November 6th, 2009 at 6:04 pm
A mini poodle (wrongly refered to as toy) is a good dog for an apartment. Dont worry about leaving him/her. Get a good crate and train your dog for it.
November 6th, 2009 at 7:06 pm
I really don’t know much about poodles except that I think they are one of the less attractive dogs….sorry. I would say go for a cat. I am a cat person, so maybe this is a biased opinion, but I DO love dogs, they are just much more care. I know dogs get emotional when you don’t spend much time with them…plus you have to worry about taking it outside, hiding your shoes…etc. With cats, you clean their litter box, feed, water and love them. They are so much more independent….and do not forget to spay/neuter!!!
November 6th, 2009 at 11:04 pm
Dude, do some research before you even consider adopting an animal. I don’t mean any offense here, but it sounds like you don’t know very much, if anything about this breed. Look it up online. You should be well versed in the proper protocol for your prospective pet’s healthcare before you ever even adopt.
November 6th, 2009 at 11:58 pm
cats are good ,they can amuse themselves playing in the shadows for hours
November 7th, 2009 at 3:56 am
So after work and on the weekends you stay home? It’s very hard to train a dog while you work full time. It will need lots of your attention when you are home. Yes, it will be lonley without you there so many hours and again, you won’t be staying in all the time after work. Cats can survive on their own for days if you want to go somewhere for the weekend. What will you do with a dog? It’s expensive to board it and they can get sick while there. I’d do the cat thing for now.
November 7th, 2009 at 6:53 am
I think you should get a cat. A dog will really need you to spend a lot of time with it, especially in the beginning. Poodles are smart dogs, and the smarter a dog is the more trouble they are likely to get into if you leave it alone.
November 7th, 2009 at 7:34 am
You seem like you are gone a lot during the day. Maybe you should get a cat. To be fair..they don’t demand as much attention
November 7th, 2009 at 8:09 am
Personally, I don’t love cats. They are standoffish a lot of the time and don’t come when you call in the same way a dog does.
First, poodles are okay. Anything sold as a teacup is more prone to health problems, because they have been bred and rebred for size. Look into teacup and be ready for vet bills.
Next, if you get any dog, look up KENNEL TRAINING and go with that. Don’t let anyone talk you into paper training or you are teaching the dog it’s okay to go in the house. Then you have to train them again. Stick to the kennel training guidelines 100% and you can do it! The smaller the dog, by the way, the harder to housebreak.
Lastly, if you give your dog lots of love when you ARE home, and toys to play with while you are gone, go for it. Don’t buy two dogs so they can keep eachother company…they don’t really need it. It’s fine, but not necessary. LOTS AND LOTS of folks work full time, don’t even get to come home for lunch, and their dogs do great. Dogs are super.
If you really worry about the dog being lonely, make sure he gets toys…pretty soon he will choose a favorite and be sure it’s there for him. You can also leave the tv on while you are out, for voices in the house for him.
November 7th, 2009 at 8:15 am
There are plenty of people that work full-time and have a dog. It takes commitement and time for them to be trained, but the reward always out weighs that. You have to ask yourself if you are ready for the responsibility and as mentioned before, there are expenses involved if you decide to go out of town. If I were you, I would research the breed entirely and see how they are when left alone. Good Luck!
November 7th, 2009 at 8:25 am
Do you like cats? They are certainly less trouble. They use a litter box without training. They clean themselves every day. They never bark. And they don’t eat as much as dogs. Every cat has a totally unique personality and are believed to be slightly more intelligent than dogs. I have 3 cats and have formed profound relationships with them. Cats can live to be 14-22 years, if you take good care of them.
November 7th, 2009 at 10:02 am
I think you would be better off with a miniature poodle. A teacup is just a runt version of the miniature, and with it’s small size comes short lifespan and health problems.
I have a dog and work about the same schedule as you. I think it will be fine.
November 7th, 2009 at 1:31 pm
A cat may be better. If you do get a poodle, you have to consider the grooming costs. It should live about 10-15 years.
November 7th, 2009 at 1:53 pm
A tiny dog like that can be taught to use a litter box for the bathrooom. They make a puppy john or pee pads. You are home for lunch and only gone for 5 hours at time. A dog can handle that. Most people work full time and have dogs do not come home for lunch.
Tiny breeds are long lived. I have a freind who had a toy poodle that was 19 when she passed and one that was 17 and he died accidentally not from natural causes.
I think a poodle would do fine with your schedule.
Good luck.
November 7th, 2009 at 6:45 pm
Dogs need a lot more attention that a cat I am a dog lover but if you are gone 8 hours a day in total i would suggest a cat or fish not a dog . We have both a cat and a dog plus 6 kids and the dog is much more demanding than the kids!
November 8th, 2009 at 12:23 am
I love dogs. I love cats.
There are practical and impractical aspects to both.
Cats can love you as much (or more) than dogs.
Get 2 cats.
They are low maintenance and will keep each company.
You will thank me early in the morning when the weather is bad.
November 8th, 2009 at 1:08 am
Any T-cup puppy needs your full attention,as they’re very small dogs .They’re great for appartment dwellings,because of their size,but need supervision to make sure they eat good and need to be feed often,because they eat very little at each meal.This type of pet isn’t suggested for families with small children.Go to http://www.breeders.net and it will have the other info you need on this breed.Just click on breeds and choose the breed you wish info on.
November 8th, 2009 at 6:05 am
Poodles in particular need a lot of attention. The grooming for a start will not do itself, these little dogs need a thorough daily grooming to prevent them becoming matted and you can’t provide this when you are at work. Sure you will think to yourself ‘I can do it when I come home’ but you know in your heart, the last thing you want to start on when you come home from a hard day at work, is brushing a dog.
Dogs need companionship and lots of attention, they aren’t like cats who can survive pretty well on their own company. If you work long hours it is unfair for a dog to be alone in the house all day. They can develop bad habits from being left alone, such as incessant barking and howling, which are problematic to get rid of and your neighbours will LOVE you for it…
A lot of the poodles we groom at our shop have clicky joints and heart problems. Not to mention the skin conditions and also they are prone to cysts and fatty lumps.
I would seriously reconsider and urge you to think about issues such as the dog being left alone for hours on end, the boredom it will suffer and ultimately how you are going to have any kind of relationship with the dog when you are out most of the time. Dogs need constant attention and if you aren’t there, he certainly won’t get it from himself.
November 8th, 2009 at 12:49 pm
Dogs do get very lonely when you leave him alone for that amount of time. My dog is a year and a half, and I have difficulties leaving her at home, even though its only for 3 to 4 hours at a time. Dogs don’t understand that you will be home eventually, they only understand the present, that you aren’t there right then.
Poodles (of any size) are prone to cataracts (which can cause blindness), skin allergies, ear infections and runny eyes.
The average life span of most small dogs is between 12 to 16 years.
Apartments are okay for small dogs, but 8 hours may be too long for a dog to be alone, and since puppies can only typically hold their bowels for an hour per month they are old, (so a 3 month old could go 3 hours, a 4 month old 4 hours, etc.) you might be better off either getting an older dog, or a cat.
Good luck!
November 8th, 2009 at 7:24 pm
If your adopting look for a mature dog that has spent the day home alone before dont get a puppy. Poodles can live for a long time up to 16ish. If you get a mature dog youll most likely be aware of any health probelms up front, but always expect vet bills not matter what type of pet you get. If your still thinking about a cat I would say dont rush out and get a dog because having a cat and a dog is completely different. Cats are very self sufficient compared to dogs and require nowhere near the time and energy.