Getting A Dog

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I recently met with the group of people that help support me in my day to day life (I meet with all of them 3 times a month). It usually some friends, one of the pastors at church I work with and my Community Mental Health worker.

Lately I have been feeling rather lonely and its hard for me to relate to people so they recommended I get a dog as it may help me feel less lonely and provide a way for me to interact with people.

I was wondering if anyone had any recomendations on a breed that would be good and any experience anyone has.

What is your experience with dogs?

I've always known that I am not a good caretaker for another animal, all by myself.

There's a lot of responsibility there, but lots of folks do it just fine.

Where would you be keeping the dog? In the house? Out in the yard? Both?
Where will the dog go the the bathroom?
Where and when will you walk the dog?
Do you have a yard, or is there a park where you can play with the dog or let it run?
Do you have the means to get the dog to a vet if there is a problem?

How you answer those questions will help determine what kind of dog you should get.

Dogs that are naturally herders (collies for example) will do better with room to run and time to do it in.
Retrievers, sled dogs, and others like them can be a bit hyper from what I've seen.

If you have ticks/fleas in your area, you might want an inside dog only.
Our german shepard used to bring in all kinds of ticks when we lived in Oklahoma for a year.
This dog also needed room to play around in and good long walks.
He loved the winters up in Alaska and would play in the snow all the time

Seems like many Aspies do well with dogs, cats, birds, etc.

Hope you find one that fits for you.

I've always been able to relate better to animals then people, and I don't think there's been more then a six month period in my life when I didn't have a dog. Recently I got a "baby" dog, a Minature Pinscher named Marty. I got him basically for my own therapy and because having something to turn my attention on helps me not be so withdrawn.

I'd recommend the book "Your Purebred Puppy" by Michelle Lowell to give you an overlaying idea of different breeds and what kind of dog would work best for your situation. I'm a proffesionally certified dog groomer, though not practicing, so if you need any help, just drop me a PM.

Labs tend to be gentle and loyal dogs, especially golden labs. You might consider adopting a dog that's out of puppyhood. Puppies are a LOT of work and demand patience.
Also, depending on if you're allergic to cats or not, cats are wonderful, loving pets. We just adopted two cats after not having one for three years and it's so nice to have them around again. They're very entertaining, very cuddly, and there's nothing quite like having a purring cat in your lap. Once they're litter box trained, all the nasties are in one place so they're quasi-easy to clean up after. But those claws...
That said, we also have a black lab mix who's 11 now, and we adore him. We adopted him also, and he's extremely sweet but just a tad hyper, a result of the previous owner or the breed he's mixed with (which we're not sure of). What wsmac said about herding dogs is very true:

We had a Great Pyrenees who really needed a lot more room than just our yard.

One of the things I've seen since moving to California is how well some of the dogs are socially around here.

I've seen more dogs that can walk up to a strange dog and get along without the fighting I've seen many other times.

It's not like there's a huge population of dogs here I see that way, but I do see it more around here than other places.

Oh, wait... when I was visiting a sister-in-law in New York (around NYU), they took their dog to a dog park and THAT'S where I saw the most well-behaved dogs EVER!

I wish more dog owners would take those little pups and start socializing them right off.
Seems to make them 'nicer' dogs.

My dogs are my saving grace. They keep me sane and for now, off anti-depressants.

I'd recommend adopting a non-puppy from the humane society or the pound. Find a breed/breeds/mix that will convene with your lifestyle--you can do a google search for "choosing dog breeds" or something, and a bunch of sites are bound to pop up.

Consider:
- size
If you travel a lot, a small dog might be nice so you can take her with you.

- temperament
Do you want a dog that'll make friends with everybody? Or do you want one that'll be loyal only to you? Does he get along with other animals? (Does this matter to you?) Does he bark at the drop of a hat? Or does he watch quietly while burglars raid your living room? Does she get along with kids? Does that matter to you? Does he growl at men but not women? etc.

- activity level
If you're a homebody, you might to avoid breeds that have lots of energy and need to be exercised twice a day. Conversely, if you're a runner, that kind of dog might be great for you.

- maintenance
Long hair or short? Purebred or mix? Purebreds tend to have more health problems than mixes. What will you do with him when you go out of town (some dogs are easier to find sitters for than others--or you can pay to board him).

- age
Some breeds don't mellow out until they're 3 years old.

- intelligence
How easy will she be to train? Do you *want* her to figure out how to unlock cabinets?


Dogs are great. Highly recommended. Don't get a puppy on impulse because he's cute, no matter how hard he is to resist. Do your research. And save a life--adopt!

[steps off soapbox]

If you can afford a good flea/tick preventative medication, this isn't so much of a problem. Our dog's on K9 Advantix, and while she picked up multiple ticks within a few days of our getting her, since we've had her on the medication she's not had any. It's not cheap, unfortunately (IIRC in the realms of $100 for a 6 month supply), but easily worth the price for not having to deal with any biting insects coming into the house. In areas with Lyme disease, this becomes a real human health concern, too.

Animal Planet have a breed selector guide that it might be worth your while going through.

I currently live in an apartment and they do allow dogs up to a certain weight.

There is a area a block north of here. Its not necessarley a park, but its not neccessarley a nature preserve but its quite large and would make a good area to take the dog for walks.

I think getting a dog is a great idea, although there are certain things that you will need to keep in mind.

-Dogs love open spaces where they can run aroung.
-They need to go for a walk everyday otherwise they will be very hyperactive at home.
-Dogs are very sociable and need lots of affection and attention from people.
-Some breeds have different qualities, such as some are more obedient that others, some are more prone to aggresivness, and some can be very placid etc.
-They can be quite expensive to take care of, vet bills, "booster" injections, food, toys, kennel (if the dog will be sleeping in one) etc.
-All dogs are prone to different health problems, for example...Rottweilers are prone to hip dysplasia and "hot spots", whilst fox terriors seem to have sensitive stomachs and can be allergic to a lot of foods etc.

There are many other things which I haven't written down as it will take too long. But if you are sure that you will be able to provide for a dog and treat him/her well...them go for it and get one

Also, adopting a dog from an animal shelter is a good idea. Giving a dog a new start is something that they will never forget.
Also take into consideration that you don't have to get a certain breed, you can get mixed breed dogs, aka mungrels. They are generally cheaper to buy initially and have learn't from experience that often don't have the certain problems associated with pure-breeds. They will love you just the same as one too, so don't be deceived by their appearance
All dogs love to be loved

I think getting a dog is a great idea! My dogs have always made me feel less loney, and the only thing I would recommend watching out for is that if they misbehave it can be very frustraiting. So I would reccomend watching or reading the Dog Whisperer (Ceasar Milan) He explains how dogs think. Once you learn that, not only can you get a dog to do what you want, but I have also found I have learned how people think as well. You can use the strategies he has about being around dogs, practice with dogs, and then use the same stratagies to feel more comfident around people. That could help you with the lonelyness as much or even more so than the companionship of the dog itself. As for a breed, any herding dog like a collie or shepard enjoys being taught new things and are great for a game of fetch in the park. But avoid "puppy mill" dogs- they are often bred badly and are hard to work with. I hope that helps.

I wouldn't recommend herding breeds if you haven't had a dog before & aren't extremely active (not even half herding breed) I wouldn't recommend Labs either for an even greater number of reasons. I suggest you simply check out the local pound (& rescues) to see what is available. Mutts on death row have a lot to offer a young guy like yourself. Rescues & pound dogs know when you've given them a second chance, they often make the best dogs.

get a dog its halfway between a human and an aspie so it will understand you better
[size=0]just kidding, if you hate on me for this and/or report this i will break your neck. may I repeat it's a joke. thank you.[/size]

I have never had a dog but I have a cat and it has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. I had no idea that anything could give so much love and that it really doesn't want anything else in return. There's no hard emotions to work out with an animal and it really does feel like you have the most undemanding friend with you all the time. Go for it. Goodluck.

I have owned dogs since I was about 14 and they've helped me immensely, they're my best friends and greatest source of comfort.
I just thought I'd post since someone mentioned a training book, which I've heard utilises the outdated "dominance" theory of training, I'm a fervent advocate of reward training, I've generally had 4 dogs at any one time over the years, and believe the "dominance" theory is total rubbish.
Start your training the minute you get your dog, that's not to say that you begin sit/stays off the bat, but lay your ground rules the moment the paws come through the door, if you don't want them on the furniture, don't let them on the furniture, etc, etc.
In regards to any useful books, I'm not quite sure what to suggest as tbh, I've not read a single book on training really, the one book I always hear rave reviews for is The Culture Clash by Jean Donaldson, in my experience dogs much, much prefer co-operation to any of the training techniques I've seen, I'm 27 now, if that gives you any ideas of how long I've kept dogs, and I've tried all sorts of stuff that's been touted as "the answer", I also worked for a number of years as a dog groomer too.
I don't want to sound like I'm bragging, but I get complimented a lot on how well behaved my dogs are, it's the one thing I feel truly proud of.
Another thing that I believe is that your dog will come to be what you expect it to be, expect good things of your dog, always reward for any good behaviour and maintain a positive relationship and I'm sure you won't have any problems.
I wish you Good Luck, getting a dog is truly like inviting an angel into your life, they'll make you laugh, cry and give you more support than you can ever imagine possible.

Bugs

women love animals! my mother has a dog and a cat, both of them i cant stand but i tolerate them

Pets are wonderful companions for people with AS. I have had them all my life and I think they are responsible for enriching my life in many ways. Good luck on getting a dog.