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Original poster

Any dog lovers out there decided against getting another dog?

32 replies

MackEndSea · 24/12/2023 19:33

I’m a dog lover and have had dogs all my life. I currently have two but suddenly I find myself fantasising about the time when I have no dogs. A clean tidy fresh smelling house, no obligation to go out for walks in all weather, no dog shit in the garden, no kennel fees, no having to book a simple night away weeks in advance to ensure the dogs have kennel spaces …

Apart from all this I find the number of idiotic dog owners has increased massively in the past few years - dogs off lead with no recall … only takes one bad experience for your puppy to morph into 12/13 years of “reactive dog”. Do I really need that stress in my life?

Any dog lovers decided to go dogless and not regretted it? / gone back on it?

OP posts:
FiddleLeaf · 24/12/2023 20:25

Similar really. We had two dogs and one sadly died last year. Our remaining old boy won’t be ‘replaced’ once he heads off to doggy heaven.

I’d like a break from the responsibility & the dog hair although our cat is super furry too!

I will definitely have another rescue or two in future but maybe in 10 years or so.

tiredandolderthanithought · 24/12/2023 20:23

We had two, one died recently and were left with a 4 yr old. We won't get another though as I want flexibility as I get older

Radiat · 24/12/2023 20:22

I love mine to pieces, but he will be my last. I already tear up when I think of him leaving us, and he’s not exactly ancient yet 😅 He also costs a small fortune in ongoing care costs. I don’t regret him at all, but I won’t be getting another dog.

Houseplanter · 24/12/2023 20:20

We won't have another. I often want one desperately but I know I really only want my girl back.

A puppy would not fit in to our lives right now and it wouldn't be right.

Still heartbroken though.

DramaAlpaca · 24/12/2023 20:14

We've decided not to have any more after our current one, who's now 8 and the doggy love of my life. He's going to break my heart when he goes and I can't do it again.

Also, DH and I are approaching retirement and want to be able to do things like go away at the drop of a hat, which of course you can't when you have a dog.

ErrolTheRednosedDragon · 24/12/2023 20:05

Our dear old boy died last year, and we're almost sure we won't get another. He was over 16, and quite hard work physically for the last year or so (had to be carried on the stairs, and really didn't like being out of sight of me after he went deaf). We're over 60, not sure I could manage that in my late 70s. And also DH is retired, I will in a year or two and we want to travel. No family nearby.

Ilikewinter · 24/12/2023 19:58

Sort of, we were doggy free for 7 years and spent that time travelling extensively..... then in 2021 DH got a permanent WFH job and got lonely .... now we have a 2 year old ddog. Whilst i wouldnt be without him this one will be our last!