I'm pretty sure I'm going to get a dog in the next few weeks or months and need some help in selecting the right breed and what it would entail.

I'm a single guy living in a one bedroom upstairs house with pretty thin walls. Not working atm but this will likely change within a year or two but have lots of time just now. Don't really like smaller breeds like yorkies or westies so much, prefer larger ones. Having done my research it would seem a greyhound or lurcher would be ideal. I also wouldn't mind an American Bulldog. Are there any other larger type breeds that would be suitable?

What are the costs involved? How much would be a decent insurance plan for vet treatments and how much would food cost? Anything else I should know?

You need to factor in dog care if you're going back to work. Dogs are social animals and can't be left at home for long periods. Have you thought about getting a cat?

I don't really like cats enough and would only be getting it as it would be more convenient. Besides, I don't know when or where I will be working. Aren't some breeds 22 hour slobs anyway?

What are you planning to do with your dog when you're working? How long will it be left alone? Maybe getting a dog is not for you at this time if it has to be left alone for long periods of time. As someone else has pointed out, dogs are social animals and need lots of attention - not just exercise.

Great danes are fine for flats, they do not need much excercise at all. But they will eat a lot.

Lurchers are also fine, as long as they get a good walk before work and after, they should sleep the day away. But get a grown up one, puppies need lots of work.

There aren't any dogs that are 22 hour slobs. The best thing you can get is a toy dog. They're cute and cuddly, they just laze around all day, they don't need walking, you can go out all day and leave them, you can go on holiday and leave them, but, best of all after you've got them, they don't cost you a single penny.

My dog is a 23 1/2 hour slob. Retired Greyhound. He never asks to go out for a walk and sometimes runs in the other direction when I bring his lead out. He only comes out to humour me I think. Of course if you were working you would need to make some kind of arrangement, dog walker/family member helping, or something but they are extremely easy to keep, undemanding and very lazy.

Yes but they still need a walk and company.

My honest advice is dont get a dog based on what youve said.

Since i have a feeling you will anyway, the best advice would be go to your local shelter and foster a dog. If you still enjoy it a few months in then adopt it or adopt another dog. If the novelty wears off within a few months (which it will) then you only have to wait until another person adopts that dog and then you can carry on with your life.

I think some posters are being overly critical about me owning a dog based on my opening. Let me say that I am stressing the worst case scenario of me working full time away from home and being single, however at the moment I have plenty of time and would happily walk a dog a mile a day or more and a job may be a long way away. I'm just also thinking of neighbours who might be distracted by an energetic or barking dog.

From your opening post is a one bedroomed upstairs house the same thing as an upstairs flat with no garden?

If so then you really shouldnt be getting a dog, especially a big one.

No I have a small side garden and larger back one.

First up, what do you want in a dog? What qualities? What don't you want and are undesirable train for you? Theres over 400 breeds of dog, that's without all the 'designer' named ones around now, so you really need to help narrow down your search or you'll be there a very, very long time! Write down some question and and answer them truthfully, things like

Light, moderate or intense exercise?
Heavy or light shredder?
Calm and laid back, or bouncy and active?
Good with other people/kids/dogs/animals?
Coat type?
Low, moderate or high grooming?
Activity level?
Trainability?
What do I want a dog for?
Cost?(big dogs cost more food wise, meds wise, even accessory wise)
Pedigree, cross or mongrel?
Size?
Space you have?
Health?

If you answer these truthfully, you will start to pick out certain traits, behaviours, appearance and personality that you like and equally those you don't, and you can start to build up a list of breeds to look up in more detail.

The basic cost of a dog is:

The dog itself - varies between free to good home and over a thousand for certain breeds/ top pedigrees

Vet fees. - a puppy needs two lots of inoculations, one at 6-9weeks, one at 10-12weeks. This is then followed up a booster vaccine each year. Spot on flea& tick treatment is given monthly, and worming tablets every two months approx. These costs are for routine treatments without any unexpected bills on top.

Neutering - optional but usually worthwhile doing.

Insurance - again optional, judge if you think its worth it depending on where you live. I don't insure because I live out in the sticks where its quiet and prefer to save a bit aside each month or whatever in a separate vet fund. If you never claim the insurance, just think how much money you've given for nothing. On top of that, some are a complete rip off, not covering the very thing they need to be, not covering certain conditions/ breeds/ ages, not insuring a dog over 9 when they most likely will need it and so on. Read the small print very, very carefully.

Food - the bigger the dog the more it eats. Varies in price, but you should really opt to give the best you can, if you put rubbish in you get rubbish out, skimping on the food could cost you heavily in the vets.

Dog walker/ sitter - optional, but if its going to be in the house alone a lot of the time, its advisable.

Accessories/ essentials - food & water bowls, lead, collar, ID tag, toys, chews, treats, bed, crate (very useful to have), brush/ comb (depending on breed). All mounts up and needs replacing , some fairly often.

Grooming - depending what breed you go for, some need 6-8 weekly sessions at a groomers to keep the coat as it should be. These aren't cheap and quickly mount up!

Hope this helps gives you some idea of what to expect and need to think about.

Nothing wrong with getting a dog in a flat with no garden, you can meet my two and see how they have no problem with it at all. Lots of walks and they are fine.

My mate has a Labrador. He lived in a one bedroom flat for a while with it (now in a house with a garden). He got on ok, but used to be out every morning walking for two or three hours. Him and his girlfriend work shifts so there's always someone at home with the dog. That's the important bit really. All dogs can be left for a bit, but if you are thinking in the future that it will be just your responsibility to look after the dog and you plan to go back to work, then think again.

Which is why I said if the OP were to start work he would need some help.

I said it before you, see post 2.

Get a Greyhound, plenty of them need new homes. Lovely animals and low maintenance. Like others have said though, its a big decision and responsibility. Good luck

I'm not entirely sure an Ambull is for you. You need a lot of experience of dogs which are at least similar -presa, dogo, apbt, amstaff, corso- or the larger mastiffs before even thinking about owning a dog as powerful and wilfully stubborn as an Ambull. Great dogs, but if you're thinking of either a Greyhound/lurcher or the Bulldog, you're not ready for the bully.

agreed and if you want a large dog having never owned a large dog you would be better off going to a rescue and getting an older female to begin with, mastiffs and ambulls are great but the males especially when adolescence can be quite intimidating (I suppose is the appropriate word) if you are not used to it

Or a goldfish

Maybe the OP can get home at lunchtimes when he's working?

We have greyhounds and they are brilliant dogs. They love to snooze for about 23 hours per day They also love company and would not be great on their own. A lot of greyhounds are not to good with stairs to begin with, they generally havnt come across them before.

The pet insurance is approx £35 per dog per month. I would strongly advise taking this out as greys have paper thin skin which is damaged very easily. One of ours recently ran past a piece of wood which nicked her skin and cut into the muscle, the vets bill was about £700 in the end.

One thing that concerns me is the prospect of a job in a year or two. Please only get a dog if you can organise some sort of doggy day care when the time comes. Too many people get a dog, circumstances change and the dog ends up back in rescue. We are the 5th home for one of our dogs, people kept sending her back. Idiots.

A very sensible post.
Many people wanting to get a dog, should do this first. It might stop a lot of dogs being abandoned, people not realising what's involved in keeping and looking after a dog.The cost of food, vet expenses, etc.

Also colliewobbles said it better than I could.Very helpful.and sensible.

£35 a month???? I pay £12!!!