Don’t get a dog

@redboxer321 You’re deliberately being goady with your talk of backstreet breeding, KC breeding, dog breeding in general, and now BOGOF deals - just waiting on the ‘you should have adopted a rescue’ and you’ll have the full MN dog bingo card.

I don't know a huge amount about KC breeders you are right.
What I do know is that any decent one (and I think that dog breeding is a largely indecent pastime) would have a waiting list. They simply wouldn't have an unsold pup. They also wouldn't allow someone to take two litter mates, especially not as a last-minute thing. Perhaps you go a bogof deal, who knows? I'm also pretty sure they wouldn't sell a pup to someone who refers to the dog as it.

I can only hope that their lives are not as chaotic as your original post makes it seem.

Signing up to mumsnet was instrumental in my decision to neither have kids nor get a dog, not saying that in a sarky way but genuinely it’s been eye opening

I’m so sorry @strawberriesarenot . It’s the absolute hardest part of loving a dog. 💐

Yes you have read it wrong - It doesn’t the breeder persuaded me, because they didn’t, it was family who wanted 2.

And yes every word of my post is true in my experience, and not because they are 2 related dogs - just because they are 2 dogs. Pretty sure leads would tangle even though they weren’t related 😂

Im pretty sure I no longer care what you think of KC Breeders, as you clearly know not much at all.

Research the breed, indeed. We went for a 2nd dog 18 months or so ago - already have a perfect border terrier, absolute little prince who can do no wrong, but he loves other dogs and pined for all of those that passed by our window constantly.

I was worried that a 2nd border might be too much "terrier intensity" and they might become reactive, so - we researched low shedding, small, family dogs and also went on the experience of others who had similar.

What did we get? A cockapoo. Biggest mistake of our lives. He's more poodle than cocker so he has a super curly poodle coat and tiny teeth. £30 every 6 weeks at the groomer. Insurance for both just went up to £86pm. He is house trained but he digs, he eats his own shit, he barks at every sound. He constantly counter surfs despite multiple efforts to train him out of it. Yesterday he pulled a coat rack down. He ate a pair of Samsung earbuds. He's hypervigilant and starting to react to other dogs on the lead. He pulls like a train - I have 5 different no-pull gadgets (£80 in total) and had a trainer out (£120 an hour), no change. He drags the terrier around by the neck/leg/tail/any chunk of skin he can get hold of. I'm the only one who will walk him. Most days are spent with DH endlessly yelling at the dog "GET DOWN" "GET OUT" "LEAVE IT" "STOP IT" "NOOOOO". He causes arguments because DH thinks he needs discipline (that's the shouting) and I believe he needs direction, but he's still young and he'll calm down so cut him some slack.

But when the curly fool snuggles up to me on the sofa or in bed, comes galloping back the moment I call him even if halfway across a field, when his tail beats frantically when he sees me and he is so happily relieved when I come back from the bathroom, it's ALMOST worth it.

Um... "By the time it was ready to collect I somehow managed to be pursuaded into buying an unsold sibling"
Perhaps I'm reading it wrong?

You might want to read the rest of your post too where you describe your dogs as noisy, messy, a pack and not able to walk sensibly on their leads.

As for KC registered - doesn't mean a lot I'm afraid and actions speak louder than words.

We had 10 years of secondary infertility.

We got a cat because DS was really struggling with being a 'lonely only' child (no cousins or other children in the family or anything and I couldn't be his play mate constantly, he has autism so struggles with imagination and create lone play).

Our cat was perfect for him, literally has the patients of a saint and never complained to anything DS did to him, the two are thick as thieves.

Me on the other hand the damn cat screams at constantly, for the mildest issues like he can see one tiny spot of bowl through his biscuits... and he pukes so many hairballs CONSTANTLY. Non of the anti fur ball meds work and we can't shave him because he twists constantly when even slightly chilly (you wouldn't think he a bloody snowy mountain cat). His shouts are so loud like he has a bloody megaphone, how can a noise that big come out of something so small?

Agree OP. We have had two and our last girl had to be pts five years ago. Much as we love dogs we are not sure we want another one. They are too much of a tie (we love travelling) and life is just simpler when you don’t have one. We have a dogful life as it is, what with my DB’s Labrador who stays with us often,and our neighbour’s two dogs who spend a fair bit of time with us.

Mine died last year. I miss him and would dearly love another, but I can appreciate the freedom I now have. Also my circumstances aren't quite right for another. I'm thinking that I might foster rather than have my own dog when the time is right. In the meantime, I can start saving!

Agree OP. I regret getting ours massively

I think go in with your eyes open. I have a rescue because an older dog suited my lifestyle better. It's hard to undo bad habits, but it also gives you a lot of joy knowing they're able to do normal dog things, like run, that they've never been able to. There are some fab rescue dogs out there but there's also some extremely challenging ones. I think reputable charities are good at making sure your experience matches the dogs needs, less reputable ones less so. But I agree that you should think hard before getting a rescue and what you can and can't cope with - it's certainly not as simple as 'get a rescue' and I don't think its for everyone.

Agree op. They cost a fortune, necessitate endless cleaning, completely remove the ability to have a spontaneous night away and occasionally chew things that they shouldn’t. When it’s pissing it down or snowing and blowing a gale I can still be found trudging round the fields, because…dogs.
I worry about them constantly, particularly as they get older. I am literally a servant who pays for the privilege of serving their every need and providing them with world class medical care and they will, on occasion, shout at me loudly if I’m not fast enough in my serving duties.

However, entirely irrationally, they are also the greatest joy in my life, I love every single minute with the furry little feckers (and, clutch your pearls, they are all rescue and some of them are even….foreign 😱😱😱) They are of course all spayed/neutered at the appropriate time to prevent any unwanted litters and because pyometra is no laughing matter. Dog ownership is a privilege, not a right and I’m incredibly fortunate to have had every single one of my dogs. They are however undoubtedly an enormous commitment and if you can’t or won’t make that commitment? Don’t get one.

@redboxer321 @pavedwithgoodintentions Kennel Club breeder, recommended, and registered.
Nowhere did I say the breeder persuaded me - not sure where you decided that.

And yes, I use to bang that drum about litter mates 😂

That's what you get for going to a backyard breeder/puppy farm.
No decent breeder (not sure there is such a thing) would allow you to take two litter maters, never mind talk you into it.

My dog had fleas a couple of years ago, it was horrific! Also we visit Scotland often, where the ticks leap on her with gay abandon. So she has a Nexgard tablet every three months for all the nasties. I’d rather go without pet insurance than Nexgard. And I love watching the little beasties falling off her and dying!

This. There is so much hysteria around fleas and ticks and worms but if you monitor and manage them, you really don't need to use veterinary products as a matter of routine. As with any medication they come with side effects so should be avoided if possible.
I give my dog natural products and she does just fine. I have a tick remover but haven't used it since we left Scotland.

As for neutering, it should be done on a case by case basis. For most family pets it does make sense to neuter but shouldn't be done without thought. Nor too young. It would not be a decision I would find easy to make but that's one of the benefits of rehoming rather than going to a breeder - they are either already done or come with a contract to get done.

Could also apply to children!

both are now finding the constant vigilance and walking and managing (she has bitten several people/ other dogs) too much
@pearpporridge this is awful, the creature has attacked people, why has it not been euthanized?😡

I see quite a few people walking what looks to be imported stray dogs around here.
I can't for the life of me imagine why someone would spend money importing a street dog from another country, as if we don't have enough of the flipping things here.
I suppose they think they're doing something heroic like saving anendangered species🙄
Christ on a bike when we ever get rid of all these fu(king dogs everywhere🤬

People go mad and tell you to get a rescue.

Rescue animals are horribly hard work. They don't tell you how difficult they are!

Also don't get an animal in place of a baby.

Animals are not fur babies!

Hugely regret getting a rescue cat when we were going through infertility. He is nothing but trouble, stinks, makes mess everywhere and his constant whiny meows make me feel muderous.

I was a cat lover before getting this cat!

Agree and can i add the worry that comes with having one? I'm currently sitting worrying that our 14 year old girl has slept all day so far and isn't interested in going for a walk. I know she's conscious and able to move as she wakes periodically, stretches, does a few circles and makes herself comfy before going back to sleep but is she just tired after a busy day yesterday or is something wrong? So difficult to tell with dogs.

I have a friend who is a Foster parent for guide dogs. She has a guide dog that passed the training but couldn't cope with the actual job so they were allowed to adopt her. She's a golden retriever. We had retrievers for years. She is fantastically well trained and a joy to be around. I go and see my friend and have some retriever time now and again. Its lovely but doesn't make me want to get one again

Taking on a pet is a lot like having a child that will never grow past the toddler stage and always need care.
Not cats. You get a kitten and you have a toddler. A few weeks later you have a wilful child. A few months and you have a stroppy teenager that never becomes an adult.

Not to mention you should never buy litter siblings...