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Keeping a dog and being in the Navy...

I

incubus852

Member
pilot
So I found a stray dog I'm considering adopting. Would this be a bad choice, considering the fact that I'm going to be deployed several times during my career for very long stretches and constantly moving?

What do people do with pets during deployments?

I tried to search and couldn't really seem to find anything specific. Any past threads regarding this would be appreciated.
 
When I was married, the dog was no problem. (the wife, there was the problem)

Now that I am single again, my dog lives at my parents farm. He likes it much better there. More ducks to chase.
 
I've got a dog. Granted, I'm just a lowly SNA (this is the interwebs version of the shifty JO salute, arms and shoulders shrugged when anyone asks a hard question), but he's not too bad to take care of while i'm here in training. I just make sure to take him for a long walk before I try to study, so he leaves me be. I've got a fiance though, so unless you plan on marriage or your parentals can take your dog, i'd think long and hard about adopting one....unless its a reaaaaallllly old dog. Deployments could be an expensive proposition with a dog in a kennel, and who really wants to pay to put their pup in jail for 6-9 months straight?
 
I am a little biased on this question so bear with me.

Make sure you know what you are getting into are are willing to put in the time to do what needs to be done. Also make sure your roommates are on board. They will have to deal with it at some point.

So, my former roommate found a chihuahua and took him in as a stray before I started living with him. He never really had a dog and didn't know how to treat/take care of him. After we started living together, he decided to get a new puppy to take care of the first dog who was scared of the world. Needless to say, he didn't know how to raise a puppy either and me and my other roommate ended up taking care of both of them. It got to the point that he would leave for the weekend and not even ask us to take care of his dogs.

Don't be that guy
 
yea I understand completely. The dog isn't a puppy and is already house broken and well behaved. I've had dogs my whole life and worked in a kennel in high school, so I'm prepared to take care of him.

It's mainly deployments... what do people do? Long-term boarding would be pretty pricey, and I don't want to dump him off on some friend.

Anyone with a pet that's been on deployment wanna chime in?
 
I'm married and have a dog. Even with two people to watch him, my dog spends a lot of time home alone. When I'm deployed, my wife has to alter her schedule to make sure the dog isn't at home alone for 12hrs straight. There have been plenty of times that the Pagshund has had to go to dog day care due to my wife's schedule.

When I was single I thought about getting a dog. In hindsight, I'm really glad I didn't. Dogs are a lot closer to kids than you think. You're going to have to make a lot changes in your lifestyle to take care of a dog well. Otherwise, it's not fair to the dog.
 
I have 2 dogs currently (they are ridiculously spoiled). During the week, I have a dog walker come by daily, sometimes twice if I have a long day. When I have duty, they go to the kennel which is doggie day care 24/7, and open for drop-off/pickups from 0600 to 2000. When we finally come home on those days, it's nap time for every one. Living like this is a little pricey, (and I"m not a deployer currently)

When I was doing workups, I only had one dog. He was such a good boy that the officers' families were lined up to "babysit" when I was out of town for the weekend or away for workups - these were the families that wanted dogs, but couldn't due to their housing situation or whatnot. When I deployed, he stayed with another O who had a dog. When that O deployed, I took his dog for 6 months.

So yes, you can have a dog on active duty, but it does take a lot of money, time, and effort to ensure that it's nice dog that people want to be around, to build a network of dog people EVERY TIME YOU MOVE, to find a nice enough kennel just in case those two things fall thru, and to make sure the dog is happy and healthy.

You might consider seeing if a local rescue will sponsor the dog, and you can foster it until it gets adopted.

Rugger
 
I wanted a pet very much the whole time I was in the Navy but made a conscious decision to wait until I was married. In the 9 years I was in the Navy I moved 7 times, 4 across the country, went on eight deployments and spent almost two years overseas. I wouldn't want to do that to a dog if I were single. My advice, wait.
 
What type of dog are we talking about? A small one is much easier to manage. If it's a large breed, find it a good home with a large backyard where it can exercise all day. Simply walking a large breed a couple times a day is not enough---it WILL shorten its life.
 
C420sailor said:
What type of dog are we talking about? A small one is much easier to manage. If it's a large breed, find it a good home with a large backyard where it can exercise all day. Simply walking a large breed a couple times a day is not enough---it WILL shorten its life.
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Sticking a large breed in the backyard is probably the quickest way to end up with a poorly socialized, unhealthy dog. Walks on (and off) a leash, interaction with humans and other dogs makes for a healthier, happier dog.

My boxer does fine with absolutely no backyard to speak of. Locking your dog out back and thinking he's fine because he's "in his natural environment" is a lazy owner's excuse.

Bottom line, if you have the time management skills to study, PT, and own a dog...go for it. I'm a happier person with my dog around. I waited till I got settled in at advanced to bring him down here with me, though. Primary might be a little soon to get one. Wait till the end when you've got a firmer grasp on how much time you have every day to dedicate to other pursuits besides flying.

note: My dog is full grown. I wouldn't be able to deal with him as a pup right now. Something to think about, as there are plenty of full grown dogs that need a home.
 
incubus852 said:
So I found a stray dog I'm considering adopting. Would this be a bad choice ....What do people do with pets during deployments?....
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Naaaa ... no problem-o .... just marry a really, really ugly woman.

Then you can have the best of both worlds: a dog that can take care of itself when you're deployed ....

Just sayin' ... :)
 
scoolbubba said:
Sticking a large breed in the backyard is probably the quickest way to end up with a poorly socialized, unhealthy dog. Walks on (and off) a leash, interaction with humans and other dogs makes for a healthier, happier dog.

My boxer does fine with absolutely no backyard to speak of. Locking your dog out back and thinking he's fine because he's "in his natural environment" is a lazy owner's excuse.

Bottom line, if you have the time management skills to study, PT, and own a dog...go for it. I'm a happier person with my dog around. I waited till I got settled in at advanced to bring him down here with me, though. Primary might be a little soon to get one. Wait till the end when you've got a firmer grasp on how much time you have every day to dedicate to other pursuits besides flying.

note: My dog is full grown. I wouldn't be able to deal with him as a pup right now. Something to think about, as there are plenty of full grown dogs that need a home.
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No, I would never lock a dog outside. I've just seen to many people buy large breeds, keep them cooped up in their apartment alone all day, and only "walk" them twice a day. By walk I mean take the dog out front so it can shit, and then bring it right back in. Absolutely horrible.

I have a Newfoundland at home. We walk him once a day (a long exercise walk), and he can enter/exit the house as he wishes to play/lounge out in the backyard. Now and then I take him down to the beach and go swimming with him. He loves that.
 
A4sForever said:
Naaaa ... no problem-o .... just marry a really, really ugly woman.

Then you can have the best of both worlds: a dog that can take care of itself when you're deployed ....

Just sayin' ... :)
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Actually, I think he meant "two dogs that can take care of each other..."

Actually, too bad you can't take dogs on deployment...some days it'd be the only friend you have!
 
Well, I know how at least one Chair Force couple handled their dog on deployment: they left the dog tied to the front porch of base housing at Eglin. :eek:

The neighbors left him there for two days thinking someone would come for him, then they took him in. His owners had packed up and gone on deployment and never returned or asked for the dog. Apparently, this was not the first dog these folks had abandoned.:icon_rage

He's a good dog and my daughter likes him, but every time I pay that nonrefundable $200 pet fee when I rent a house, it's a kick in the junk. Why don't you see if he wrecks the place before you charge me? Or at least give me my $$ back when he doesn't. Also, finding only "pet friendly" rentals can be limiting, even if you only have a 30 pound beagle.
 
MasterBates said:
When I was married, the dog was no problem. (the wife, there was the problem)

Now that I am single again, my dog lives at my parents farm. He likes it much better there. More ducks to chase.
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I fully understand. At least a dog is loyal; I never saw one lick another dogs johnson....unlike my ex.
 
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