New Pet? (NWR)

SugarFoote

I love animals. LOVE THEM! I already have a pet rabbit but FI and I are considering getting a pet "together" (We don't live together and wont until after the wedding). A couple weeks ago we adopted a kitten from a local shelter but thanks to my brother-in-law we no longer have him...RIP Cheeto...

We are looking into purchasing an English bulldog puppy but I kinda want something a little more different...

I was looking online and found this!

A BABY HEDGEHOG!

In case you don't know what an English Bulldog looks like...

But I think they aren't so cute when they get fully grown...

Yeah, this post is completely random but I thought I would get another opinion on our pet selections...

ashlidie

English bulldogs are quite expensive and rare, there are usually only like 1-3 in a "litter" and are often not purebred.  You also have to follow them around to wipe their butt cuz the poo doesn't just fall to the ground... (I have raised dogs for a loooooong time)

Cats are low maintenance, but they can make a small place smell pretty easily.  They also have a tendency to attack curtains haha but are very funny to watch and the cuddly ones are really cool too.

The hedgehog is very cute... But I know nothing about them. 

I'm definitely a dog person, so that gets my vote, I just hope you know they are a responsibility because this breed is a little more hgh maintenance than others.  And I think they still look cute as adults but I mean, they are BULL dogs lol.

SugarFoote

...I don't really want to follow anything around and wipe its butt...lol. I've been doing a lot of research on the hedgehog and they seem somewhat low-maintaince (maybe not as much as cat). Im just worried about if it would smell really bad though. Because I have a friend who owns a farrett and no matter how much she bathes it, he still smells and I don't want a smelly animal.  FI isn't sold on the Hedgehog...He claims it "looks like a prickly possom" lol. But he also isn't a fan of cats either. Apparently he was "attacked" by one as a child. So he's not really too sad about the whole Cheeto thing...And I just want something different, so we pretty much are lost on this one.

sparkles776

Bull dogs also have a lot of problems. Their body proportions are weird and a lot of times they have hip problems starting at a young age. Also, this past weekend my cousins english bull dog passed away and he was only 5, he overheated at the groomers and his heart stopped.

SugarFoote

That's so sad!

sssdee

Out of curiousity what happened to Cheeto? And does the new pet (regardless of what you get) have a possibility of meeting the same fate?

Having a dog is like having a child - You can't leave them home unattended for hours, maintenance (grooming, vets, walks, etc) and could be costly with food. If you are getting a puppy, you will also need to house train it to not have accidents indoors, not to chew up everything and anything etc.

Having a cat is a little more carefree. You can leave the cat home if you and the FI want to get away for a weekend to a friends house or a hotel! Yes, their litter can stink a bit but cleaning the box fairly often will dissolve this (Or like me, invest in an automatic scooping litter box and you can get away with cleaning it every 3-7 days!) I have our cats box in our office that I am in every day in the evening so it ensures I change it frequently as I dont want the odour in my office.

Coming from someone who has both a cat and a dog, It is definitely something to think over and make sure you guys are ready for that commitment (It might be easier to make the decision to bring in a pet when you both are living together as well)

Hope that helps. If you have any questions dont hesitate to ask!

JennLax

Have you ever owned a dog before?   They require A LOT of work, especially puppies, and can not be left alone all day while you are at work.  Make sure that you have the resources and time to devote to a dog before you purchase one.   Breeds such as bulldogs are predisposed for weight gain and will need lots of long walks.

Hedgehogs are adorable, yes, but require very specific socializing training.  Hedgehogs that are not handled at least an hour a day as a baby will grow up unhappy and scared of their owners.  Please do research and learn proper training techniques before purchasing a rodent. They are more work than people think. 

I'm a pet sitter, so let me know if you have any more questions!

ashlidie

ditto sparkles, I forgot about all that too, I know people who were "lucky" to have their bulldog live 9 years.  I mostly raise labs and they usually make it to a solid 15.

chickadee52287

I saw that same picture of the baby hedgehog on facebook! lol So stinkin cute!

SugarFoote

I have owned a dog before. We had a chow and had him since a puppy (my grandmother's chow had puppies...) But that was when I was little. He stayed outdoors and lived 13 years. That's the only dog I've ever had. The house FI and I are looking at has a large fenced in yard, and even if we don't purchase this one, we do intend on having a fenced in yard (preferably back yard lol).

I don't think I want the bulldog anymore. They seem like they have too many issues...

blferguson1s

Are you opposed to a different breed of dog? There's a ton of different ones out there. I would recommend adopting if you're comfortable with it. Rescue dogs can be some of the very best. I have 9 dogs (7 different breeds), and we rescued 3 of them. They range in age from 3ish (I'm pretty sure one of mine is 3) all the way to my 15-year-old shih-tzu.

Just something to consider.

Chels&Jimmy

FI and I love animals, too! Currently we have a Yorkshire Terrier, a corn snake, and two lizards. FI actually had an Old English Bulldog when we met, but his crazy bitch of an ex-girlfriend took him away.