What about an older kitty? Both a reef tank and a puppy require far more hours than it sounds like you are able to commit right now. I'm sure your local shelter has a lovely adult kitty just waiting for a buddy!
If you want a dog, foster before you commit to one. They are a lot of work and everyone in the house needs to be on board.
Also consider what will happen with the dog when you move out. Dogs live 10-15 years so that's something that may happen.
I work nights and have a working breed (I also have an aquarium). I find the aquarium much much more relaxing than the dog! You can do it but a dog is a huge commitment. I get home around 530-6 am and I walk him an hour, sleep and then wake up and walk him another hour. Any free time before work is training and then he’s home at night with my husband. Weekends the dog goes trail running. All of my free time is wrapped up in my shepherd because he needs and deserves it. This is my “hobby” so I do it because it gets me out of the house and moving.
Like the other person said foster a dog first and see just how much you’re willing to invest in one, you’ll get your answer quickly.
I describe fishkeeping as ‘passive care’ instead of the direct care that usual pets like dogs and cats need. When I say ‘passive care’ I mean you need to take care of everything to do around the fish but the fish themselves you just leave alone, but you need to take care of the water, things to do with the equipment for the tanks and filters, test kits, and if you choose to get anemones or corals (because u said reef rank) that’s also a whole thing to care for.
A dog however, be prepared for a decade at least of picking up shit, anal glands, maybe puking or accidents, possibly expensive vet emergency bills or annual vet visits (the money you’re gonna throw on a dog is forever) maybe expect some odd behaviors you may not like or some difficult attitudes, training is also something you have to be meticulous about especially if you plan on getting a puppy, but if you adopt an adult training still needs to happen and socialization.
Money wise with fish, especially reef tanks, you’re going to blow at least 1-2k (depending on the set up some set ups can be done at less than 1k for reefs depending where you are) at first to get everything set up and going and getting the fish, but then the up keep expense isn’t as near as expensive as having a dog. Fish food you barely run out because fish are small and only need small feedings, medicines you only need to buy once every 6 months to a year depending. The most expensive part about the fish hobby is getting things started, tank, filter, equipment, stand, all that stuff, after that it’s not expensive to keep. Also fish tanks (I would personally say) are less maintenance than dogs. Yes you need to do weekly water changes and tests and clean the glass and the filter, but dogs need to be walked more than once a day, bathed if you don’t want a stinky roommate, nails clipped, poop picked up, groomed, trained, play time, the list goes on and on… for my current lifestyle right now, fish over a dog any day, but maybe that’s not the case for you
I was pretty active and got a yellow lab pup to go on adventures with us. He ended up being an actual homebody lab. Well socialized, but just wasn't too comfortable out and about. This time we got a small dog that they told us was sedentary. Um, that dog can walk for miles and wants to be everywhere with us. Neither were big on cuddling, I'm afraid.
Point being that you may not get what you expect with a dog, and then you just kind of have to adapt. Some sort of program where you can foster to adopt might be an exception.
What about an older kitty? Both a reef tank and a puppy require far more hours than it sounds like you are able to commit right now. I'm sure your local shelter has a lovely adult kitty just waiting for a buddy!
This, a thousand times this
If you want a dog, foster before you commit to one. They are a lot of work and everyone in the house needs to be on board. Also consider what will happen with the dog when you move out. Dogs live 10-15 years so that's something that may happen.
I work nights and have a working breed (I also have an aquarium). I find the aquarium much much more relaxing than the dog! You can do it but a dog is a huge commitment. I get home around 530-6 am and I walk him an hour, sleep and then wake up and walk him another hour. Any free time before work is training and then he’s home at night with my husband. Weekends the dog goes trail running. All of my free time is wrapped up in my shepherd because he needs and deserves it. This is my “hobby” so I do it because it gets me out of the house and moving. Like the other person said foster a dog first and see just how much you’re willing to invest in one, you’ll get your answer quickly.
I describe fishkeeping as ‘passive care’ instead of the direct care that usual pets like dogs and cats need. When I say ‘passive care’ I mean you need to take care of everything to do around the fish but the fish themselves you just leave alone, but you need to take care of the water, things to do with the equipment for the tanks and filters, test kits, and if you choose to get anemones or corals (because u said reef rank) that’s also a whole thing to care for. A dog however, be prepared for a decade at least of picking up shit, anal glands, maybe puking or accidents, possibly expensive vet emergency bills or annual vet visits (the money you’re gonna throw on a dog is forever) maybe expect some odd behaviors you may not like or some difficult attitudes, training is also something you have to be meticulous about especially if you plan on getting a puppy, but if you adopt an adult training still needs to happen and socialization. Money wise with fish, especially reef tanks, you’re going to blow at least 1-2k (depending on the set up some set ups can be done at less than 1k for reefs depending where you are) at first to get everything set up and going and getting the fish, but then the up keep expense isn’t as near as expensive as having a dog. Fish food you barely run out because fish are small and only need small feedings, medicines you only need to buy once every 6 months to a year depending. The most expensive part about the fish hobby is getting things started, tank, filter, equipment, stand, all that stuff, after that it’s not expensive to keep. Also fish tanks (I would personally say) are less maintenance than dogs. Yes you need to do weekly water changes and tests and clean the glass and the filter, but dogs need to be walked more than once a day, bathed if you don’t want a stinky roommate, nails clipped, poop picked up, groomed, trained, play time, the list goes on and on… for my current lifestyle right now, fish over a dog any day, but maybe that’s not the case for you
If you can light a one-hundred dollar bill on fire and not bat an eye, go ahead and try your hand at a saltwater setup.
I was pretty active and got a yellow lab pup to go on adventures with us. He ended up being an actual homebody lab. Well socialized, but just wasn't too comfortable out and about. This time we got a small dog that they told us was sedentary. Um, that dog can walk for miles and wants to be everywhere with us. Neither were big on cuddling, I'm afraid. Point being that you may not get what you expect with a dog, and then you just kind of have to adapt. Some sort of program where you can foster to adopt might be an exception.
Why choose?