Is it actually fun having a dog?

[moreanimalsthanhumans]

We have recently got a puppy and training started etc and he is very good really. But I've only ever had cats and guinea pigs so it's very different. Hubby and daughter really wanted and do do a lot of the work, but is it really going to be easier? More normal? People seem to have lots of problems and issues with their dogs, it makes me worry about what I have agreed to..

[ChrisPrattsFace]

I adore my dogs, I have lots (double figures) and each of them comes with something irritating.
But I can honestly say even with the few issues some of them have - I love and enjoy being a dog owner!
Maybe I’m lucky?

[BlueMerchant]

I haven't found it fun yet....I'm a year and bit in....it hasn't got any easier either.

[Noonemournsthewicked]

Getting a dog has made me realise how hard work the cats are.
The dog has a busy schedule which helps a lot. We actually only personally walk him 3 days out of 7 at the moment but this changes during school holidays.
I love walking with him and he's not an arsehole like the cats are. He sleeps through from 10pm til 7am unlike the cats.
This morning I'm ready to rehome the bloody things.

[Floralnomad]

I’ve had fun with my dog from the outset but he is the dog love of my life ,the only time it’s not fun is when he is ill and I have to worry about him .

[BiteyShark]

It is a roller coaster with my dog.

He was a pain in the arse puppy and teenager.

I do have fun with him now but equally he still causes stress and worry as he is often ill or injures himself and I have to manage all of that whilst working.

Do I regret getting him? No as he is bloody lovely and makes me happy mostly

Would I do it again? Honestly as much as I love him no I don't think I will be getting another dog.

[OverFedStanley]

My dogs are fun - they are a large part of my social life. We compete in many dog sports most weekends and train in the week. Most of my friends are connected with dog activities so the dogs are central to my fun.

I am also a bit of a training geek so love spending time training the dogs.

Without the sports I love to be out doors and so walking gives me a huge amount of pleasure so yes my dogs are fun

They equally do need a lot of time and effort but for me it is a fair compromise to what we do together.

[TanMateix]

I have had very well trained dogs and they were a pleasure to have around. I have a totally untrainable one these days, since I accepted her as she is, and love her as she is, we are having a great time. It is plenty of fun to have her around, I never know what she will come up with next but it is almost always good enough to make me laugh.


...I also have a theory that I may be more relaxed and softer with age, the other dogs were like my kids, this last one is like grandchild... she does all these stupid things and I still look at her thinking... isn’t she great? 😁

[FATEdestiny]

I started really bonding with and adoring my dog from her being about 18 - 24 months old.

She's 3 1/2 years old now and there is no aspect of her I don't love. But that definitely was not true for the first 18 months.

[DrCristinaYang]

Yes, I have a miniature schnauzer who is 11 months old and I have loved having her.
It's such a good sense of comfort and company when otherwise I'd be in the apartment alone.
I find that because I've been consistent in training her and I am home a fair amount I haven't had any issues with behaviour etc.
She gives me so much entertainment and I love getting cuddles from her. 💗

[Hairyheadphones]

My dog is about 15 months old, I love her so much as does everyone in my
household - she brings us so much joy and happiness.
Perhaps we are lucky as she isn’t destructive or aggressive. Also there is generally someone at home so she’s rarely left alone, we also take her to the park a couple of times a day so she can run around usually with other dogs.

[SpamChaudFroid]

My dog is fun. He's still an arsehole, but even when he's run through the house smearing and smattering blood everywhere, (from a tiny cut on his ear after he ran through the brambles) causing it to look like a scene from American Psycho I couldn't help laughing. Crying about getting bloođ out of the soft furnishings though.

[thewreckofthehesperus]

Hard work but I dont think I've laughed so much in my life since I got my two. Both are 2yo now and they've definitely settled down alot more the older they're getting. The first year was very demanding indeed. Training helped and so did reminding myself this was the puppy years, in fact I remember my boyfriend saying to enjoy the time they're so dependent on you because you'll miss it when they get more independent and tbh he was right

[Diddleysquat]

I have loved having my dogs since the day they came home as tiny puppies (not all at the same time!). Barely an hour goes by when I haven’t laughed or smiled at their antics. They are my hobby, I am training them in agility and scentwork and when they are older I will compete. I love walking them and am lucky to live in an area where I can let them run and run.
Sometimes it is hard having three dogs, I can’t leave them in the car if we go out, day care is expensive, I can’t leave them at home for more than three hours without all hell breaking loose. On balance it is worth it.

[Branleuse]

I love having my dog. Shes wonderful, but then I purposely went for an older calm rescue dog that didnt have loads of problems to begin with. Puppies are no fun unless you can devote all your time and energy to them and have got nothing else to do

[GrumpyMiddleAgedWoman]

TBH our older dog is quite hard work (quite neurotic about some things, and we have to work around them) but he's very affectionate and will home in on anybody who is feeling miserable and in need of comfort.

The younger dog is bloody brilliant. She was a very jolly puppy who housetrained fairly quickly and didn't chew too much, and has grown into a very jolly and confident adult dog. I do a lot of training with her, which we both really enjoy (most of the time), which has built a really nice bond: when I'm getting stuff together to go to training, she notices and starts to frolic about and get excited.

Having the dogs obliges me to take exercise that I might otherwise dodge, and even when I dread a walk (dark, horizontal rain etc) I almost always come home in a better mood than when I set off.

[Puppywithattitude]

I'm 18 months in and don't particularly find it fun. Dh loves it, he thinks it would be easier if we had 2 so that dog 1 would be less needy.
I may have told him to drop dead.

[FunInTheSun2019]

Dogs are hard work, they rely on you every single day of their life.
But I would never be without my dogs, yes it's hard, but to me it's so true that they are your companions. There is nothing better than being snuggled up with our log burner on at night, having cuddles from my two lovely dogs!

[Nobhobs]

We love ours more than anything. It was difficult for a few months but can't imagine our lives without him now, it helps he's a massive goof and we spend most of our time laughing at him gets us out walking daily which we genuinely annoy and made us feel more of a family than a couple. He's only 14 months and I can't remember life without his constant company and laughs.

[babysharkah]

My dog is absolutely fun and he's very easy going. However he does now have diabetes which needs very careful management, strict 12 journey feeding / injection schedule, glucose testing etc. It's hasn't made him any less fun but it is hard work and we really can't be spontaneous anymore. Holidays will from now on be where we can take him with us, going out for dinner etc needs to be managed time wise etc. I have to set an alarm for 7 on the weekends to keep to schedule. Not to mention the £££!

[Nobhobs]

It's not all roses though, we got a £120 emergency vet bill this morning as he decided to inhale a poo bag!

[MaMisled]

I got a puppy then another 11 mths later. One was a dream. Clever, knowing girl. The boy was, still is, aloof and stubborn and ignorant. . I seemed to cry alot over them. I was exasperated and embarrassed by their behaviour but training was very time consuming and slow. However, we'd fallen totally in love with them from the start so just ploughed on. From about 8mths the girl was very trustworthy and the boy became easier around 16mths. Seven years on and life with them is joyful. We walk alot....like alot alot. DC are grown and life revolves around the dogs. What we feel for them is similar to how we feel about our DC. Unconditional.

[Sipperskipper]

My dog is so much fun. He was a nightmare puppy for nipping / jumping all over other dogs despite training classes etc. He started to calm down age 3. At this point we didn’t have children though so I was able to dedicate lots of time to training and very long walks.

He is 7 now and so much fun, he is just absolutely lovely. My DD is 2 and they are the best of friends. I can’t imagine life without him.

[Pipandmum]

I have two and never had any real issues with them. They’ve always been fun and lovable - never went thru a ‘teen’ phase. The only downside is having to walk them in the rain! And muddy prints and sand everywhere when they go to the beach.
I don’t know if it’s my attitude or what. But I’ve had three dogs and six cats in my lifetime and other than when my elderly (23) cat became incontinent they’ve been a joy. We have rabbits too and they are the most low maintenance pets ever - yet I had two friends who said rabbits were a huge hassle!
If you stress the dog will. Do not overly fuss with it, be firm with training and he/she will be fine.

[Astella22]

Got my doggy last year and he’s hard work at times but we have developed a really strong bond. It’s clear he loves me and I love him. He is still a pup and in his ‘gangly’ phase but we exercise him every day. I could tell u by just observing him for 5 mins if he had been out for a walk that day so I think exercise is key to a calm loving dog. I couldn’t be without him now.

[mycatisblack]

Nope, I'm definitely still a cat person.
We have an 18 month old mixed breed that DH says is still a puppy. He's grown much bigger than we expected (both parents are farm dogs from the same farm but different breeds) and he still tries to chase the 2 cats and the chickens so he has to be kept away from them. We've paid for a trainer to do two 1:1 training sessions and after the second session he said we should try to get him re-homed. He pulls and is unpredictable at times on the lead. He has improved a fair bit in the last 6 months but I still regret getting him. DH loves him though.