^Do^ I want a dog? And if so, what sort?

[NotQuiteCockney]

DS2 is nearly three. I am home most of the time. I quite miss having a dog.

Pros:

• company, particularly for running
  
• kids would love one
  
• I really miss having a dog
  
  Cons:
  
• we do travel, what would we do with the dog then?
  
• dogs not welcome in playgrounds etc
  
• faff of walking, picking up poo, etc etc
  
  And then of course, I don't know what sort of dog to get ... I don't want purebred, and I waver between big (good at running) and small (portable, less poo) ...

[mamazon]

you can go onto the kennel club websitye and they have a page where you fill out the form and it gives you examples of breeds that would be best suited to you.

if you are unsure about getting a dog though i would say you probably shouldn't get one just yet.
wait a while until you are absolutly certain it is what you and your family want.

[CountessDracula]

yes of course you do
dogs are marvellous

You can get dog sitters for when you are away
Re playgrounds, they can stay outside

HOWEVER
If you think walking a dog is a faff
then don't get one!

(picking up poo is like worrying about changing nappies, becomes second nature in about a week and keeps your hands nice and warm on those cold mornings )

[NotQuiteCockney]

I don't think I want a purebred. Ok, I know I don't want one. I want a cross of some sort.

I am not about to get a dog in a hurry.

[admylin]

The picking up of poo would be teh thing to put me off most and then having to get the dog looked after if you go abroad although for a fee you can usually take them to kennels.
Just think though, every poo your dog does for the rest of its life, has to be scooped up by you! I didn't mind scrapingthe poo off my babies bums but dog poo is altogether something else!

[Tortington]

don't get a dog - your life circumstances may considerably change in a couple of years. a dog will lat for at least 12 years.

whilst on holiday you will have to board the dog - unless you have a family member to put upon - and the kennels costa fortune.

vets fees etc.


if you decide to get one after all, please go to the NCDL or similar. Pure breeds are rubbish, give a dog a home.

[twinsetandpearls]

To be honest I would wait until ds was a bit older before getting a dog especially of you are going to get a puppy or get a rescue one which may have unpredictable behaviour.

We have a dog, it belonged to dp before we were together and it has taken me about three to four years to accept having a dog and ours is a nicer dog than most I have met.

We have a lifestyle that suits a dog, we do lots of camping and we go fell walking at the weekend but even then I ahve times when I regret having him - for example our garden is wrecked, if we go abroad or to a hotel we have to rely on people to look after him and as a springer he needs about 2 hours a day which means me walking a dog at 5 in the morning.

[NotQuiteCockney]

I used to scoop up poo when I had a dog before, it was ok.

I think I mostly like walking dogs, but the early morning/late night stuff is a faff. We do have a bit of outdoor space that could be ok for a dog toilet, I guess.

I would have to take dog training classes, too, I think.

[CountessDracula]

why are purebreeds rubbish
my dog is certainly not rubbish! She is gorgeous and gentle, just because she is not a scruffy mutt why does that make her rubbish???

[CountessDracula]

in fact she is on my profile looking not at all rubbish

[MellowMa]

Message withdrawn

[NotQuiteCockney]

Purebred dogs are not at all possible. I can do rescue, or maybe looking at the local vets for a recommended dog.

I do suspect DS2 is a bit young. DS1 is nearly 6, and can be relied upon, but DS2 is unreliable and strange, and could traumatise a dog.

I'd worry about a rescue dog maybe not being ok with kids, anyway ...

[CountessDracula]

not at all possible?

I have never heard this sort of thing before!!!

[NotQuiteCockney]

Our garden is ok. Depends if the dog can jump. Four-foot fences.

We definately will be having dog obediance classes, anyway, my parents' dogs were always v badly behaved, and I'm not doing that.

Personally, I couldn't do purebreds, not when there are plenty of mutts out there looking for homes. Nothing against anyone who has a purebed, but it's not for me.

[MellowMa]

Message withdrawn

[CountessDracula]

awww
cutie!

[NotQuiteCockney]

OMG, is yours a visula? Or is it a Rhodesian Ridgeback? My parents used to have a redbone, which looks a lot like a visula.

[NotQuiteCockney]

Hmm, I guess I should talk to the rescue place, and think about it some more.

I mostly get around by bike, which isn't very dog-friendly, but I do like to run and walk, both of which are dog-friendly.

[CountessDracula]

no a Ridgeback, she is my first baby

Do you mean Hungarian Vizsla? No they are too much like hard work for the Draculas!

[MellowMa]

Message withdrawn