If you could go back, would you still have got your dog?

[Soubriquet]

I love my dogs to bits.

I really do

But if I could go back 2 years ago, I wouldn’t have got them.

They are very restrictive in what you can do. You can’t be spontaneous. You always have to consider the dogs.

The cat couldn’t care less but the dogs need you to care.

They need to be walked and loved.

And you have to clean up their mess when they decide to destroy something.

I have committed to these dogs and I will give them 100% but when these two pass away, we have decided no more dogs.

[LochJessMonster]

No. He is my everything and has changed my life so much. And he is the most well behaved boy I could have asked for. Happy to be left alone during the day, clean, non destructive, quiet.

But no, I didn't imagine the restriction he would have, how it would effect pretty much every minute of my life. I can't be spontaneous. I can't go out for drinks after work. every holiday, I have to add £200+ for kennelling fees. The dog hair on every single thing.

I might think about short term fostering in the future.

[catspyjamas27]

I was quite naive about dog ownership. Ours brings a lot of joy but is hard work. Such a strong boy and very destructive. He's caused a lot of damage in the house. I don't regret getting him and I will probably have more dogs but smaller, easier to handle ones I think!

[pumpkinpie01]

We have no regrets getting our dog we have had her since she was 6 weeks old and is now 10, I dread the day she goes as she is so lovely. She can be let off the lead no problems, she ignores all other dogs. She really is no trouble. We are lucky thou in that we never have to pay for kennels as my friend has her and if we are out all day we have some teenage neighbours that love taking her out and we give them a few quid.

[Soubriquet]

Beware...small doesn’t mean easier

I have two chihuahuas. The smallest is about 2.5kgs so very diddy

They are however a right PITA at times

They have to bark at everything

[missbattenburg]

I don't regret getting him but if/when I come to do it again I am definately bypassing the puppy months. Nothing under 2 years old for me from now on.

[doodleygirl]

Yes, without a doubt.

She has cost us a small fortune and we never seem to go more than a few months without another vet bill. We have to plan our lives with military precision but the joy she gives us all including wider family and friends is priceless.

I didnt really like having a cleaner/lots of holidays/spontaneous nights out anyway

[Celebelly]

Yes without a doubt, but I wouldn't have got the cats and we won't get any more after these go.

[Oliversmumsarmy]

Never really came across the restrictions, if anything we have more restrictions with our cats than we did with ddog. She came with us everywhere. Just another member of the family.

If we went on holiday we would get a place that took dogs or we would put her in kennels.
She loved kennels because she got to share with another dog.

We collected her once and she was so sad at leaving her friend behind.

[Soubriquet]

I think I’ve noticed it more since I’ve been ill.

I have had a really bad virus for the last week and half, and the poor dogs have not been walked.

I’ve just been too ill, can’t afford a dog walker (not that they would go anyway), and my dh refuses to walk them as again they refuse to go with him in the first place.

This means, that one of them at least is a bit pent up with cabin fever.

[MadCap]

No, I wouldn't. I love him very much, but I don't trust him. He's bitten me and another lady. As a result, I've spent a fortune on behaviourists, private fenced fields for exercise, chemical castration, etc. We can't have guests due to his aggression with strangers so the kids can't have their friends over.

It's taken a severe toll on my mental health, when I wanted the dog to help with my mh in the first place. We're at the end of our tether really.

[Floopily]

Yes. She's anxious and reactive, can't be kennelled, doesn't like strangers or other dogs and can't be left alone for more than an hour or so. Nothing at all like what I thought dog ownership would be; can't go on holiday, having visitors is difficult, can't take her anywhere with other dogs in close proximity, daycare has not been a success, hates the car. On behaviourist no 3 and we've spent quite a bit of money on her issues. I could go on! She basically likes being at home with me and DH, and going to the park in the pissing down rain when there are no other dogs there. That's pretty much it! She is such a darling though apart from all that, obedient, clean, non-destructive, so loving and very keen always to follow the rules and be a good girl.

I wouldn't change her for the world and having her has enriched my life in so many ways even with everything I've described above and all the logistical issues it causes . She's the light of my life and I will be beyond devastated when she's gone.

[Soubriquet]

Ah yes forgot about the biting

I am anxious with our biggest one. She is perfectly fine with me, but wary with everyone else

She has actually nipped my niece twice so now we have to be so careful with her

[missbattenburg]

There is a MASSIVE difference between how easy a chilled out, friendly dog is to live with vs a nervous, reactive one.

Those with the former have a much wider range of options available to help them. Kennels, dog walkers, dog sitters, friends, family, taking the dog with them on trips, walking the dog anywhere nearby etc.

Those with the later have almost none of that and my utmost respect and empathy.

[Mrsjayy]

I have a rescue we got him at 7ish months he is bloody hard work we considered returning him twice and PTS once he was biting , we have spent a lot of moneytrying to sort his behaviour he is 7 now and I love him but never again and we wouldn't have got him if we had known.

[littleblueorchid]

I have 8 dogs and I couldn't be without them or just dogs in general. They are our family interest too. Seems quite easy atm as we used to have more than 8

[Mrsjayy]

I know a woman who used to breed chiuahua's she likened them to land sharks

[pumpkinpie01]

Sounds like we're really lucky with ours ! She doesn't even cost us much either.

[BiteyShark]

I love my dog and am glad I got him but there is a big BUT.

I didn't factor in looking after him when he has been ill. I can afford all the daycare in the world as I work but that is useless when he hasn't been able to go during his numerous accidents and illnesses. What I really need is a 1-1 dog nanny when he can't go to daycare

He is almost certain to be my only dog. I am glad though I didn't leave getting one until I had retired as I think I would have resented some of the restrictions whereas now I am restricted in what I can do because of work (e.g. no extensive holidays abroad).

[MissShapesMissStakes]

I would have this exact dog again. He’s our first ever dog and so far he’s been amazing and much easier than expected.

I don’t think I would have another dog though. I worry that we’ve been lucky with this one. I can’t imagine how stressful it would be if the dog was nervous, reactive, aggressive etc. They are very tying but I don’t mind with this guy. He will sit in the cafe/pub, can be left for a while, is good on walks (except pulling on the lead half the time). He will lounge about with us, or play crazy games. We don’t go abroad anyway, we enjoy the outdoors - we haven’t had to change our lifestyle much.

Hope this all lasts!

[Crimebustersofthesea]

Yes but he's an incredibly easy dog (mostly!) and we're pretty lucky that my in laws adore him and happily look after him when we're away.

[Soubriquet]

Yeah my old dog, although he was a bugger, I was able to take him everywhere.

Even on a soggy holiday with me. Though he used a dog pushchair most of the time

These two, no chance. They bark at everything and littlest one freaks out at the most stupid of things. Biggest one wouldn’t be safe around a lot of kids who would be desperate to stroke little one.

Therefore they have to stay home when we go out

[GeraldineFangedVagine]

I have wanted my own dog for my whole life basically and now I have one it’s a dream come true, I absolutely love her. She’s well behaved, can be left for a bit, has never destroyed anything or made a mess in the house and absolutely loves me back. I would definitely get her again. She’s a greyhound and I hadn’t considered them before, but now I would have a whole pack of them if I could. She has made my life immeasurably better.

[rookiemere]

No - absolutely no chance, but then I pretty much knew that would be the case even before we got him as was pushed into it by DH and DS.

He is very well behaved for a 15 month old, chilled in between walks and friendly to everyone and a handsome boy. He is also huge - but as others have said it's more temperament than size that is the main thing.

DH had owned dogs before but either he didn't recognise how much his exgf did in looking after him, or naively thought that I would pick up more of the slack than I have as he now says he definitely wouldn't own another.

For me it's the expense and curtailing of freedom when we should be having more now that DS is a teen. To be fair there are aspects of dog ownership I do enjoy - it's lovely getting cuddles and taking him on a walking holiday, but I think our borrowmydoggy have much more fun than we do. I would definitely sign up for that when we are dogless as it would be great to look after a dog for a few weeks when their owners were on holiday, but be able to hand them back for vet bills and long term care.

[weegiemum]

I have a doodle. He's really well behaved, great in the house and out, good with dogs and strangers, best friends with the cat, ignores the guinea pigs! We did train him but I think a lot of his easy going temperament came from his mum, who we met several times and who was really chilled out with us picking up her puppies to choose one.

But my dh only tolerates him, agreed to get him last moment on a whim (and the whole family shouted "YES!!!"). So while we are both around and together there will be no second dog. However, if dh died I'd get another dog. I wouldn't get another husband! My labradoodle is "my" dog (though he officially belongs to dd2, he's with me all day) and I love him to pieces!

[Poochnewbie]

I probably won’t. I love my cocker spaniel girl to pieces. She brings an incredible amount of joy. We love walking her and taking her on holiday. However, we got her when ds was just turned 2 so our lives were already restricted and we were (still are) unable to be spontaneous. The places we go for days out usually allow dogs so she comes with us. Our holidays are camping holidays so again, she can come.
I think once the kids are grown and we have more freedom, I might find having a dog more restrictive. I also did not realise just how much mud and mess there would be...but again I have a toddler so the house is never going to be clean and tidy anyway.