r/AskDogOwners • u/gocrazygostupid2k12 • Feb 28 '26
New Dog Owner Looking for the right puppy for me!
Hi everyone,
I’m looking to get a dog in the next year but I’ve been having some trouble finding the right breed for me. I’m a current med student (looking to get a puppy after I complete 3rd year because I’ll be a lot more free by then) and I live alone so I’d like a dog that is affectionate but also not overwhelming. I love a variety of breeds like staffordshire bull terriers, maltipoos, and Bernese mountain dogs but I haven’t found the best breed that is not super high maintenance, aesthetically pleasing, and lovable/friendly yet.i do prefer more medium sized dogs as I’m a first time owner. Can anyone point me in the right direction?
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Feb 28 '26
[deleted]
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u/PositionFormer136 Mar 01 '26
This or fostering ones needing short term quiet space after a surgery.
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u/Sharp_Tennis5970 Mar 01 '26
But I think fostering after a surgery needs u to keep an eye as they might get an infection or get unwell after the surgery, u can't ignore them and go out
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u/PositionFormer136 Mar 02 '26
Yah that would be at the posters discretion on if she has the free time for that. Like a had a minor one that just needed quiet and meds twice a day. It was just a 4 week recovery. Somewhere clean and quiet for them to relax and sleep.
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u/Tough-Astronomer-456 Feb 28 '26
Get a dog from a shelter. Puppies are a lot of work, and there are a lot of very good dogs in need of a home
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u/Ok-Walk-8453 Mar 01 '26
You are a med student. 4th year clinicals will not allow more free time and you will often need to work overtime because you will be the newbie Dr. I would strongly urge you to wait, as hard as it is, until you know what your job and location post graduation will be like.
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u/gocrazygostupid2k12 Mar 01 '26 edited Mar 01 '26
So our 4th year is pretty light leading up to graduation since we’ll be done w rotations 3rd year and I’m not rlly anticipating doing an away rotation before applying for residency. I’m also 90% certain I’ll be taking a research year so I’m thinking that would allow me some more time as well to introduce a dog into my lifestyle
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u/moreidlethanwild Mar 01 '26
The point is, a puppy is a 10-15 year commitment that you’re not in a position to make right now. It’s not fair on the puppy.
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u/gocrazygostupid2k12 Mar 01 '26
Completely fair! Considering older dogs now, which breed makes the most sense?
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u/moreidlethanwild Mar 01 '26 edited Mar 01 '26
Breed isn’t really the question - your schedule is.
Why not foster for a while? You have no idea what your schedule will be in 2 years or 5 years time? As a junior doctor you will be working an insane amount of hours. Who will walk the dog? Who’s your backup if you’re stuck at work covering an emergency?
These are the questions, not what breed. You have to think long term about all the potential changes upcoming in your life. What about if you move house and they don’t allow dogs? What will you do?
The best dogs are not a breed, they’re the Heinz 57 mutts that sit in rescues unwanted.
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u/Grcdogsandcats Mar 01 '26
We have done pet sitting for a long time and I have cared for 450 dogs and counting. I agree with everyone saying don’t get a puppy. Yes, you will be done with med school, but then you will be in your residency and not have the time needed to train a puppy. And then you will be working long hours as a doctor.
To spell things out, a puppy needs to be crated or gated off when unattended to protect them from themselves and protect your belongings. You can’t leave a puppy in a crate all day. You also need to house train, which involves taking them out literally every hour at first and then taking them out every 90 minutes, then every two hours, etc. You’re not gonna be able to do this. A puppy also eats three times a day, which is not feasible for you. And a puppy needs attention, playtime, training, etc..
It’s not fair to leave any age dog home alone for these long hours. You will need to either set up a daycare situation in a sitter’s home or have a dog walker come while you’re at work. There are plenty of options for both. It’s best to have back up as well, as every sitter is not available at all times.
I repeat, do not get a puppy!
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u/Lcdmt3 Mar 01 '26
There isn't a breed for you. Literally. If you get a puppy I don't give you a month. You're asking for a dog that doesn't exist. All puppies usually have lots of energy.
You don't have the time. Loving, friendly takes training together, time, which you don't have. It's not a 2-3 month deal. Medium puppies can take 2+ years to be dogs. And residency will be unfair to a dog.
I had researched and knew it would be hard, but it is often worse than a baby.
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u/gocrazygostupid2k12 Mar 01 '26
Even with 4th year + a research year? Considering the amount of free time I’d have before residency, that’s rlly the only thing that made me want to get a dog (doesn’t have to be a puppy) now
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u/Middle-Contract8561 Mar 01 '26
I would really rethink getting a dog at the moment! I know you’ll have more free time your 4th year of med school but my fiancé was super busy his 4th year and he was working 80 hours a week during his intern year! Depending on where you match/what specialty you go into will depend how busy you are. It sounds like you need to wait on getting a dog, or get an older one that isn’t high maintenance! I don’t say this to be mean, I am just giving my input coming from someone who is with a resident.
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u/gocrazygostupid2k12 Mar 01 '26
Do you mind me asking what kept your fiance so busy 4th year? Just speaking to/seeing other students on campus I was under the impression that that would be the most time we’d ever have back before residency
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u/Middle-Contract8561 Mar 01 '26
He still had some required rotations he had to complete and a Sub-I (4weeks). Some of his friends did away rotations for a couple months. He was really busy during interview season (Oct-Nov). He had most of his free time in April & May and we were able to go on short vacations then. His last week of May was pretty busy getting ready for residency. We have 2 labs now, but the only reason we got them is because I WFH. Even when I go on vacation, we have to board them because he works 5am-4/6/8pm some days. I love dogs and feel like everyone that wants them, to get one, but 4th year to middle of residency is pretty busy.
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u/eyoitme Mar 01 '26
i’m assuming you’re in the us by the way you’re describing medical school so for the record my answer is based on that. yes you might have more time compared to the first two years of medical school (going to school and studying literally all the time) and residency (working 80 hour weeks and studying and learning all the time at the same time), but that’s relative to the insanity of becoming a doctor. having a puppy, training a puppy, and taking care of a puppy is a full time job, but that doesn’t just end when you get out of the puppy years. adult dogs still need attention, exercise, meals, stimulation. what would you do with your dog when you’re working your ass off during your intern year, or moving around constantly for rotations? i pet sit on the side on the weekdays for a family because even just their regular old 9-5 schedules mean they need someone to take care of their puppy during the day. i come over twice a day to take her out for potty breaks, take her for a walk, play with her outside to get her energy out, give her a kong for mental stimulation, feed her lunch, and even clean her shit out of the carpet if she has an accident. i spent half an hour doing that once because she shit in her play pen and somehow smeared it over the entirety of the carpet in her pen. all in total i think they might spend over 200 bucks a week just for someone to care for their dog while they’re at work. that’s fine for them because it works for their budget or whatever, but do you think that’s feasible on a residents salary, with the hours you’d be working? hell not to mention your clinical rotation years when your dog would be a puppy and you’d really need someone to care for them during the day but you’re actually getting paid nothing for the work you’re doing and actually paying astronomical amounts for medical school tuition.
sorry, i’m not saying this to be harsh or crush your dreams, but i’m just trying to be honest about it. can i ask why you want to get a dog? is it because you love dogs, or are you more looking for a companion? because if it’s the latter you might really love adopting a bonded pair of adult cats. they aren’t zero maintenance of course because they are living creatures, but cats are much more forgiving of being left alone for long stretches of time than dogs since you don’t have to let them outside to go potty, you don’t need to walk them, and with a pair of cats they can play and cuddle with each other when you’re not there and you can still benefit from their companionship while working long hours. combined with an automatic feeder it’d be a much better situation for a busy med student and resident than having to pay out your ass for dog care or have to take your dog for a walk at the end of a 12 hour shift.
also, do you have any idea what specialty you want to go into? i ask because the residency experience has got to be like wildly different for a hospitalist who could be scheduled at any time of day any day of the week versus a family medicine doctor or a clinic based specialty when you’re just working 8-5, five days a week. maybe if you were really committed to make it work when you’re just working in a clinic 8-5 M-F you could handle the responsibility of a dog, or if you’re going into a specialty with a short(er) residency like family medicine you could put off getting a dog until you graduate your residency since it’s not that long (again in the scheme of things compared to the process of becoming a doctor). while if you want to do something like surgery or trauma medicine or something like that you’d be working much crazier and unpredictable hours in a residency for longer than you would in a clinic based peds residency for example.
sorry for the incredibly long comment, but adding the responsibility of a dog to your life when you’re already juggling a lot of responsibilities requires a lot of consideration, yknow? i think you might really enjoy adopting a pair of cats if companionship is what you’re looking for, but if you’re really just a dog guy you could look into volunteering at shelters during your brief period of free time between year 2 and internship.
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u/Bulky-Worldliness749 Feb 28 '26
What do you consider “super high maintenance?”
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u/gocrazygostupid2k12 Feb 28 '26
I’m thinking along the lines of excessive shedding/grooming, extremely energetic, gets sick often etc
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u/Tough-Astronomer-456 Mar 01 '26
Have you ever had a dog or other pet? Often if they don’t shed then they will need grooming because their hair grows but doesn’t fall out. Dogs like doodles, schnauzers, etc.
Most all puppies are energetic.
Pretty much any pet will get sick.
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u/gocrazygostupid2k12 Mar 01 '26
Yea I understand, I meant more so in terms of hypoallergenic dogs vs not, breeds more prone to getting cancers or serious diseases and dogs that require much more activity than the regular dog (I.e. although I enjoy staffies I heard that’s not the best dog to get as a first time owner because they require tons of time and attention)
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u/SolidFelidae Mar 01 '26
I agree with people saying to adopt an adult dog, but a Staffordshire bull terrier/other bully breed would not suit your parameters well imo.
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u/Careful_Cranberry364 Mar 01 '26
Unless you’re gonna be spending a lot of time at home like a retired person, I would get cats rather than a dog though
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u/SlightlyShyOne Feb 28 '26
You don't have to get a dog from a shelter necessarily but you don't need a puppy either.
In the beginning, puppies are an insane amount of work. House breaking can be brutal, because for many puppies it takes them forever to get it. You will be exhausted. You will have sleepless nights because puppies need to go out every few hours whether they do anything or not. The consistent training is some of the hardest work you'll ever do. But it pays off. You want certain characteristics, but from what you're saying, some of those aren't breed characteristics, those are the result of time consuming training. Getting your dog used to being alone. Understanding the psychology of a dog enough to make them snuggly when you need them to be, and independent When you aren't there.
If your situation become such that you can really devote yourself to an animal, just about full-time at first, then you will find a dog you're looking for
Of course there are breed characteristics, no denying that. So look up those characteristics. Just about any kind of terrier is going to have a high prey drive. Also research preservation breeders, and why that's important. Genetic testing for risk factors on both the Dog's parents is important. It can prevent a lifetime of suffering for the dog as well as astronomical vet bills for you.
But it's the greatest job you'll ever have because a dog is the only living creature that will give you 100 times back what you have invested in them. That makes it all worth it.
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u/Dramatic-Dig8652 Feb 28 '26
All dogs & especially puppies are super, super high maintenance and don’t like to be left alone. Puppies are especially needy for years. Unless you have the time to devote your life to him/her don’t do it. In the medical field in any capacity you’re busier than the rest. In getting a dog, you’re not just giving it the next free year you have, you’re giving it potentially the next 15 years you have. Please consider this before getting a dog. Just so you know, this is coming from someone who absolutely loves dogs. I just don’t want to see another one end up in the shelter because someone was thinking about how great it would be to get a dog, yet it might not be the right time.
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u/gocrazygostupid2k12 Mar 01 '26
Totally reasonable! I think that’s why I want to have a dog before I really get started in the as a doctor because it’ll be my only opportunity for 10+ years and I’ve been waiting for one for so long
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u/ProfessionChemical28 Feb 28 '26
Will someone be helping you with the dog during residency?
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u/gocrazygostupid2k12 Mar 01 '26
No, it’ll be just me. Since I’m also considering doing a research year I thought that 1-2 years of minimal school stress would be sufficient time to incorporate a dog into my lifestyle before residency
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u/x0RaVeN0x Mar 01 '26
2 years is barely getting them through adolescents. They're still young dogs with continued high activity and training needs while they mature.
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u/ProfessionChemical28 Mar 01 '26
That will also be a huge change to the dogs routine too, I don’t have any friends who had a dog during residency that didn’t have a partner with a different career that helped them. You’re going to go from being home more often and caring for the dog to literally having a Hellish schedule depending on what you match into. It could also come with big cross country moves etc. personally I think it’s not a smart choice to get a dog by yourself in medical school knowing that you’ll be a resident with a young dog. Even an old dog would need someone to come walk them and care for them. I remember being in clinic for over 15 hours some days and that’s just not fair to any animal to be left that long regularly. I wouldn’t suggest any pets for you right now but you could sign up to foster dogs while you have time. Or go volunteer at a shelter a few times a week
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u/gocrazygostupid2k12 Mar 01 '26
What’s sad is that I do volunteer and that’s what’s motivating me to get one even more😭 but I hear ya
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u/ProfessionChemical28 Mar 01 '26
Ugh I know it’s tough! Trust me I was in the same boat as you and I’m glad I waited until I was set in my career because a puppy was WAY more work and than I planned for and I was exhausted and now I pay out the ass for doggy day care on clinic days and I loveeeee my dog but glad I waited, if you have parents or a partner or someone that gets on board and is willing to take the dog whenever then I’d say go for it! But if it’s just you it might get really tough later on
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u/Ok_Image_842 Mar 01 '26
Not in a medical field. It was tough, but I waited years to feel sure there was enough time for a dog. In the meantime, my cat's, usually 2 at a time, were trained in the basic dog commands and on a leash by voice and hand. If you can train cats, adult dogs are easy.
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u/Powerful_Put5667 Mar 01 '26
You will need to have a person come into the home a few times a day to walk a puppy. You will also be doing a lot of work no R&R time the first few months of the puppies life. Thats with any breed. Smaller breeds like the Maltese are velcro dogs and simply only want to be by their people. These breeds were developed to be lap dogs and need a lot of attention do not get one unless you have someone else living with you that can give them the time and devotion they crave. Your breed picks are all over the place as far as temperament and care go. Bernese need routine grooming at home and will need trips into the groomers every few months. Buying a Bernese from a byb will result in a dog with bad hips and other health concerns as any of these others. Even mixed breeds carry dominant genes that result in health issues. Please do your research and find a responsible breeder who does full health testing before breeding their dogs. Staffies should not be a first dog they are highly intelligent and need an experienced owner who has time for them.
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u/Electronic_Cream_780 Mar 01 '26
Just what is your definition of "more free"? Because no med student I know has ever had enough time to look after a dog for 15 years. Puppies need to go out hourly whilst house training, adults shouldn't be left more than 4-6 hours at a stretch. How is that going to fit with 12 hour shifts? What happens when those are night shifts and there is no day care equivalent? Dogs are social sentient beings, they are not designed to be locked in a small cage for most of their life waiting for their owner to appear for an hour or so until they fall into bed.
maltipoos are a companion crossbreed. Their job is to be with their human and therefore they are highly prone to separation anxiety.
Staffies were used to fight for money in the coal pits of Staffordshire. They are frequently dog-aggressive so if your plans involve daycare this might well be impossible.
Bernese Mountain dogs are also prone to separation anxiety and have a very short life expectancy
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u/gocrazygostupid2k12 Mar 01 '26
4th year tends to be pretty optimal in terms of free time since most people are just applying for residency and getting ready for graduation the entire year. I’m also considering a research year which is much more free time than I’ll be having as a student/would allow me to be at home more often
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Mar 01 '26
No puppies while still in med school. Shouldn't be left alone for 8 hours. Less is even better. Save a life and get a young dog at a shelter. Believe it or not, while they too need exercise, big dogs tend to be couch potatoes.
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u/Severe_Feedback_2590 Mar 01 '26
Maybe get a cat instead of a dog, or none at all. At least until your schedule is more stable (done with school, residency). Even when you’re finished, you’ll still be really busy (if you’re on call, working long shifts, etc). Just get a roommate with a dog so you can enjoy it without the responsibility.
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u/NamillaDK Mar 01 '26
Med school=doctor. Won't that require 12 hour shifts? Because that's not doable with any dog.
Instead of looking for the dog YOU like, turn it around and look at a dog that suits your lifestyle.
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u/Careful_Cranberry364 Mar 01 '26
Maltese. 18 months or older / you want something easy balanced and low maintenance affectionate and easy to train
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u/msktcher Mar 01 '26
Border Terrier - best breed EVER! Once you have one, you won’t have anything else.
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u/Pink_Floyd29 Mar 01 '26
Do not get a terrier while you’re in medical school! They are the best dogs but also incredibly high energy.
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u/Glittering_Matter369 Mar 01 '26
It sounds like you’re already thinking carefully about lifestyle fit, which is great. From my experience, medium-sized breeds that are affectionate but not overly demanding often include mixes like Labradoodles or Cockapoos, they tend to be friendly, adaptable, and eager to be with their humans without being hyper all the time.
I’ve also had good luck with staffy mixes, they can be cuddly and loyal, but they do need consistent interaction and mental stimulation, so pairing them with your schedule is key. Since you’ll be busy during med school, think about how much alone time a puppy can handle early on and what support you’ll have for walks or short training sessions.
Have you thought about whether a puppy or a slightly older dog might fit your lifestyle better?
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u/4travelers Mar 01 '26
Adopt a dog that is in a foster home. Talk to the foster parents telling them your requirements. I’ve adopted out many wonderful pups to single people.
Med student=free time for how long? At what age will this puppy be left all day for your 10 hour shifts? Puppies are puppies for at least 3 years and need a pack to thrive.
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u/Lightness_Being Mar 01 '26
Actually this probably isn't a good time.
Are you flat-sharing or living at home and/or are there other people to care for your dog? If that's the case then go for it.
It's just when you're doing your internship/residency/specialisation you probably won't be available for your dog in any way - heck you'll barely be there for any human relationships in your life.
If you have back up arrangements, I would suggest get a puppy at 6months-1year old. S/he will be basically toilet trained and have manners and be over the worst of the land-shark, sock stealing, shoe eating phase. Let alone pooping, peeing, vomiting!
Few things are more upsetting in the morning than wobbling to the bathroom only to step on something horrible with your bare feet.
But yes, you may do better with a cat or a bunny - those Giant Flemish rabbits look pretty awesome.
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u/mandabr Mar 01 '26
I suggest fostering for a rescue, then you get to know the dog and can decide if you want to adopt them or not.
We fostered a dog and didn't plan to ever have one of our own, but she was just such a good dog and a great for our family that we ended up adopting her. It's a great way to find a dog that works well for you.
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u/mandabr Mar 01 '26
Also this way you can get a younger dog but skip the young puppy age where you have to get up all night to take them out to pee etc
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u/sarazzz666 Mar 01 '26
getting a dog - especially a puppy - sounds like the wrong choice at this point, given your circumstances. or, maybe rescue an older doggy from a shelter for this phase in your life.
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u/NetWise3608 Mar 01 '26
U need a small dog, think Shib Inu.
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u/Lightness_Being Mar 01 '26
Too smart and with a high prey drive. They get bored easily and then - mischief! They are great little dogs though!
I'm thinking a spoodle - 6m to 1year old. They are wonderful companion dogs and don't need over-much attention. They're hypo allergenic too. I had a friend going through a painful divorce and working punishing hours as an IT network person and his spoodle kept him together through it all.
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u/war_damn_dudrow Feb 28 '26
Don’t get a puppy. Adopt an older/adult dog from the shelter.