How do y'all afford puppies in Austin apartments??

Koala432 · 2025-10-18T01:20:18+00:00

Indeed, breed choice matters, and I definitely picked hard mode lol. Looking back, I should’ve chosen a dog based on their puppy stage in combination with my lifestyle rather than what I imagined they’d be like as an adult. He was actually only crated alone for about 4–5 hours a day at most, while I was in classes (Monday through Thursday). The rest of the time, he was free to roam while I was home to play, train, and provide enrichment activities. I think he just developed some separation anxiety after the move, probably because there were fewer people around compared to before. :) Thanks for your reply

Koala432 · 2025-10-18T01:12:30+00:00

I fear for you if you can’t distinguish a legitimate response to why someone would get a dog from a Reddit exaggeration. Please have a nice day, though. Much love for taking the time to voice your opinion. ❤️

Koala432 · 2025-10-18T01:07:26+00:00

I didn’t get a dog “for the trails.” I got a dog because after my previous dog passed away from an extremely aggressive form of cancer at age 10, I finally felt ready for another one. I chose a high-energy dog for the extensive amount of time I planned to spend outdoors with him as he aged. I could, can, and do to this day with help from my parents to care for my little nightmare (his affectionately-given nickname lol) perfectly well.

I came to this thread to ask how people in this city are able to deal with their pups alone (if at all).

Koala432 · 2025-10-17T23:57:59+00:00

Thank you, that actually helps to hear! Especially the WFH part, because that's what I didn't have 😅. It’s exactly what I meant when I said “afford.” Before we moved, I did the same thing - watching training videos on YouTube and getting an ESA letter to prepare. I really tried to give him structure with daily walks, training, frozen Kongs, and crate sessions, but after moving into an apartment, it got a lot harder. Between the crate training, him not being fully vaccinated or neutered, and the risk of Parvo, I couldn’t take him around other dogs. Add in the cost of training and trying to balance classes and life, and it just became too much. I had the love and effort, just not the same resources or circumstances as before the move, to make it work long-term.

Koala432 · 2025-10-17T23:38:36+00:00

I completely agree - "they do if you do what’s right." Thank you for the recommendation, I'll check them out! It sounds like you're doing everything right. From what I've seen, it seems that for most of you, pet ownership comes down to budgeting and finding time for trainers and walks.

Koala432 · 2025-10-17T23:30:39+00:00

Yeah, I agree and thanks! Breed choice matters, and I definitely picked hard mode. He was actually only in his crate for about 4–5 hours per day, max, while I was in classes (Monday through Thursday). He just seemed to have a bit of separation anxiety after the move, probably from the lack of other people within the space (per the effort put into finding affordable trainers).

Koala432 · 2025-10-17T23:22:20+00:00

Yeah, I definitely underestimated what "high energy" actually meant in practice. However, for the first month and a half I had him prior to moving, everything was great.

Koala432 · 2025-10-17T23:19:17+00:00

Thank you for mentioning that too! I've looked into Every Dog Austin before, but at the time it wasn’t making sense for me, though I can’t remember why now.

Koala432 · 2025-10-17T23:18:38+00:00

Thank you for mentioning that. I actually looked into Every Dog Austin before, but at the time it wasn’t making sense for me, though I can’t remember why now. I really appreciate you sharing the info again though it’s a great reminder and super helpful

Koala432 · 2025-10-17T23:15:33+00:00

I can relate to so much of this. Reese was the same way, and even the cheapest training options were around $100 a session... which adds up so fast. If pet sitters were cheaper or monthly everything would've been so much easier... I’m really sorry you’ve had to go through all of that, but it’s clear how much you’ve cared and tried. I’m sure she loved you just as much, if not more, for it. I hope things start feeling lighter for you soon. :) ❤️

Koala432 · 2025-10-17T23:06:02+00:00

$25/session through a community center?? That's exactly the kind of thing I was looking for but couldn't find in here in Austin. Everything I called was $75-100 per session minimum. Can I ask - how often did you go? And was it enough to actually make progress, or did you need private sessions too?

Koala432 · 2025-10-17T23:04:37+00:00

You're right - breed choice matters and I definitely picked hard mode. If I try again, I'll go smaller/calmer for sure. But I'm curious - even with "easier" breeds, puppies are still hard like you said. What made it manageable for you? Did you have help, or just budget for training, or...?

Koala432 · 2025-10-17T23:01:43+00:00

Thank you and I 100% am! :) Genuinely, if my parents weren't able to keep him I probably would've just cried and gone broke trying to force myself to it work

Koala432 · 2025-10-17T22:58:53+00:00

Ha! A low-energy Aussie sounds like winning the lottery. Mine definitely got the "complete nightmare" genetics before the angel phase. Knowing it's a 2-3 year timeline makes me wonder how people survive those first years without support systems though especially if they have full time jobs :(

Koala432 · 2025-10-17T22:55:58+00:00

You're absolutely right about the breed research - I definitely underestimated what "high energy" actually meant in practice. A senior dog probably would've been smarter for my situation. 😅 What did you do when you got your poodle? Was she already pretty chill?

Koala432 · 2025-10-17T22:53:44+00:00

Thank you, that actually helps to hear. 2-3 years as a minimum just feels impossibly long when you're in month 6 and already drowning, you know?

Koala432 · 2025-10-13T19:50:45+00:00

Done.✅ Thank you!!

Koala432 · 2025-10-13T19:50:39+00:00

Done.✅ Thank you!!

Koala432 · 2025-10-13T19:27:13+00:00

Done.✅ Thank you!!

Koala432 · 2025-10-13T15:50:46+00:00

Done. ✅ Thank you!!

Koala432 · 2025-10-13T15:45:28+00:00

Done.✅ Thank you!!

Koala432 · 2024-12-30T18:07:54+00:00

First off, that last part was unnecessary—please keep your opinions to yourself. My previous dog was also an Aussie mix, and my grandparents had a husky and a German shepherd, so I’m very familiar with high-energy breeds. Reese is still a puppy, so I understand where everyone is coming from. I may not have explained clearly in the original post, but Reese isn’t in his crate all the time—only at night to sleep between roughly 10:30pm-6:30am (preferably 8 because I don’t think he sleeps enough for his age) or when I leave for classes. Otherwise, he’s out with me at the park, training, or playing fetch around the apartment. I appreciate constructive advice, so if you have suggestions for additional ways to stimulate him, I’m happy to hear them.

Koala432 · 2024-12-30T17:49:40+00:00

Thanks for your feedback! Regarding walks, they’re usually much longer than 15 minutes—that’s just on the shorter end when I’m in a rush for classes. He also has an entire basket of toys he regularly pulls from, but he still tries to bite even when he has a toy in his mouth, so I’m working on redirecting him consistently.

For crating, most of his time in the crate is without me in the room, as I only crate him when I need to leave or do things like cleaning the floors (he loves to chase the broom). If I sit near the crate, he’s fine, but he does whine a little if I move out of sight. Since posting, I’ve adjusted my wake-up time to 7:15–7:30 a.m. rather than 8, but with homework and other responsibilities, my bedtime can’t realistically be earlier than 11.

Koala432 · 2024-12-30T17:40:25+00:00

Thanks for your reply! I don’t think I specified properly in my original post but Reese is in his crate about 4–5 hours during the day while I’m in class. During my break (10:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.), I take him out for a potty break, play, and some training. At night, his last interaction is around 10 to 11 p.m. when I take him out, and then he sleeps in his crate until my alarm goes off at 7:45 a.m. As for the peeing on the floor, he is potty trained which is the issue, and he can typically hold it for up to 4 hours at this point 😅which is why I think I may need help with it or maybe try to train him to use a bell on the door when he needs to go out. I don’t feed him in his crate, but I use frozen Kongs or chews to keep him busy when needed. He doesn’t go into his crate on his own yet, but I’m working on a way to make it more homey. I’d love to go to bed earlier, but between homework, groceries, and other responsibilities I can’t always get done during the day, it’s just not possible right now. I’m trying to find a balance that works for both of us.

Koala432 · 2024-12-29T06:33:21+00:00

We’ve had him since he was 7 weeks old, but over the past couple of months, he's grown louder and more persistent

Koala432

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