Hello fellow dog lovers!
I've debated whether to post on here for a while but have decided I really need the advice of some seasoned dog owners to help me decide what to do...
Bottom line is - I have wanted a dog my entire life. Literally. It's all I have ever wanted and I am the biggest dog lover you can possibly imagine, and yet I am now in my 30's and still have never owned one and it genuinely breaks my heart! I realise this sounds a tad dramatic, but that's the honest truth.
I guess I'm hoping that if I give you my full situation, you can tell me whether my 'dog dreams' are just pie in the sky and not going to happen for me... or whether I am actually in a position where I could be able to finally get one!
I live with my husband and 3 cats - no children and none planned! My husband works full time (1min walk away from our house so feasibly would be able to pop home in his lunch hour to give the dog a walk etc), and I work part time Mon - Thurs, and am out the house in total for 5 hours each day (including commute). I do only work term time though so I get 14 weeks of holiday a year which would mean lots of time spent at home through the year.
As previously mentioned we have 3 cats aged 2, 2.5 and 6... the youngest one I'm confident would adapt fairly quickly to a dog and she's pretty fearless! The other 2 are definitely more 'nervy' and I genuinely have no idea if it's something they'd just come round to eventually or not?!
I've wrestled with myself for years about getting one and have always wanted to make sure that I only get one when the time is absolutely right! But is the time ever completely right? I don't know if there'll be a better time than this. Yet I do worry about the cats and the fact it would be left alone for a few hours each day... I have 2 retired parents who live 20mins away who I know would come and help out and take the dog out for walks and provide company etc but I can't expect them to do that every day...
I am also keen to know if I'd be able to get a rescue dog as I have heard that they won't allow a dog to go to a home where the garden isn't completely enclosed? We live in the country and whilst we have a huge garden, it backs on to woods and fields so it is impossible to get it secured completely...
If anyone is able to give some advice/opinions I'd be really grateful! Thanks in advance and sorry this is so long!!!
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The doghouse
Am I finally in a position to be able to get a dog? Advice needed!
41 replies
EssGeeEmm · 29/12/2016 19:38
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