I hope to retire soon and when I do, my goal is to get a dog.  We always had pets (dogs, cats, fish, birds, hamsters, even a little monkey), but then when I found myself alone and working full time, I felt it unfair to a pet to be alone all day. I am saying ‘pet’ as I like all of them, but I am thinking and wanting a puppy.

I want and need a small dog, but I also want it to be a ‘watch dog’.  I have a hearing problem, so I need a dog to help with that by alerting me.  I don’t want a dog who barks all the time for no reason, only when there is a reason.

I know that many people work full time and keep their dogs in a dog kennel all day. That is okay too as a dog kennel is the dog’s own little room.  Dogs adjust and don’t mind being in their kennels if they have some of their own things, with the wire kennels they can see and feel a part of all that is going on.  I should have done that long ago.  I have missed out for the past many years and really could have had a dog this way. But now moving forward, I need to find my little Gizmo.

Working towards my retirement, I have an online business, and of course, it is all about pets!

I am thinking a pug or bull dog.  My apartment is very small, but also I want a dog to sit on my lap, sleep with me, to put into a dog carrier (there are so many types to choose from) when I want to take him somewhere with me.

But then again, a mixed breed will likely be what I will end up with.  They need homes too and have just as much love to give.  I don’t think I would survive a trip to the shelter though as I’d feel badly for all of them, find them all so cute, and want to bring them all home with me. I would not be able to make up my mind, thus I have told my granddaughter that she’d have to go pick one out for me.

Do you have any suggestions? Anything that I have missed?