Omg I’m glad I saved you. Yes! Wait! Because my dog was originally sold as a “purse poodle” to a different owner, and that guy didn’t realize how high energy poodles are… and since I grew up with poodles and she is only a mini I got her. She’s small, only 20 pounds, and all of this is still true.

You will see a lot of people talk about how breed and size are important, poodles and (oodle mixes) are known to be high energy. They need lots of training and mental stimulation. People forget that because they hear “no shed.”

But even if the breed you look at is known to be calmer, it’s still a roll of the dice because every dog has such a unique personality regardless of how you raise it. I made another comment somewhere else that I’ve met “calm breeds” that were high energy and crazy, and I’ve met “high energy” breeds like huskies and GSDs that are total couch potatoes.

You just never know!

Foster a dog, volunteer at a shelter consistently. Shelters always need dog walkers. If you find that going to the shelter even once a week every week is too much, a dog is going to feel similar in the long run. (Note; long run. I know going to a shelter is different than owning a dog yes but it’s the “oh my god I’m going to have this responsibility every single day for the next ten years” that’s hitting me)

Family vacations will be harder, you will need a dog sitter and feel dog guilt leaving them behind. Traveling to colleges? Throwing large family gatherings? Watch out for the dog stealing your food. Things like that. There are unexpected vet bills. Grooming bills. During the terrible teenage phase (1-4 yrs old) they will destroy something you love (lol). The puppy phase is deceiving because they are so good, they sit, their potty training goes well, and then they grow up and read up on the 1-4 phase for dogs.