Angry re dog

There appears to be several reasons you shouldn't get a dog. None of them are the size of your house.

You are absolutely clueless, do not get a dog, you will make its poor life a complete misery.

Dog will not calm down children. If the dog is calm and quiet they will ignore it most of the time, if it is hyper and playful the dog will feed off them, they will feed off the dog and it will be chaos

If your DH doesn’t want a dog then don’t get one. It’s a big commitment and not fair on the dog if it is not wanted and ends up having to be rehomed.

Then, with all due respect, your friends are thick as shit. A dog is not the answer to your parenting skills and is just as likely to make things ten times worse anyway! A dog is not a bloody toy to amuse your kids. It's a living sentient being that needs time, training, feeding, walking and a personality all of its own. It will also at some point get sick too. Listen - a dog will not make your life easier. It will complicate it in ways you hadn't even thought of. You've got to want a dog because you actually want a dog and for no other reason.

You can’t just leave a dog in a garden all day.

They could be stolen, get out, be barking all day and just because they’re in a garden rather than a house it doesn’t mean it’s acceptable to leave them all days whilst you’re at work.

I don’t think you really know what responsibility comes with having a dog and you’re wanting one for all the wrong reasons.

Sort out your child’s behaviour rather than thinking getting a dog will magically fix them.

A dog is a BIG commitment. To look after them well you need to walk them twice per day EVERY day. You need to have someone home with them most of the time or you need to pay for pet sitters. Your holidays either mean coughing up a fortune for a dog sitter or you go on vacation where the dog can go.

Please do not get a dog, you haven't thought it through at all. I disagree with your husband about the house being too small, but your reasons for getting one are ridiculous. It won't distract your boys from fighting, it will just give them something else to fight over. The dog will need exercise, playing with, and stimulation. Your plan is to shove it in the garden or resort to dog walkers when it isn't needed to stop your sons frighting. Honestly you make it sound like a board game that you can take out when you need it and shove it on a shelf when you don't. Your sons need to learn how to live together and how to resolve disagreements without fighting.

It's not about the size of the house though, that's missing the point.
We had 3 giant breed dogs and 6 cats in a 3 bed end terrace, but we managed fine because I was home all day with them. I could walk the dogs, play with them, they weren't left to bark.
It's not just about space, it's about time and lifestyle. The size of house is irrelevant if you're putting in the effort to socialise your dog and go for walks.
Dogs need your time more than anything else.

The size of the OP'S house is not the real issue here...

Get a guinea pig or rabbit instead of a dog

@Dogmadlove
I work FT and have 2 dogs- it's a lifestyle choice.
Weekdays:
My day starts at 5am I get up & dressed, have a cup of coffee and then it's out for a walk with the dogs. Granted, it's lovely at the moment, daylight, nobody about ect. But the cold, dark & wet winter mornings are a different matter.

Back home about 6ish... have breakfast, get DC up ... basically just a normal morning.

Leaving for work 7ish.
DH works shifts (6am-2pm /2pm -10pm) so he will either pop home at lunchtime to le then out or he'll quickly walk them round the block.

I'm home around 4:30... so I'll take them out for a longer walk straight away, again in winter it willbe getting dark ... . That is followed by training class in the evening 3x week (7-8pm)
Weekends are easier if we don't go to competitions or shows.

Now you might think that all the training isn't for you, but I think to get the most out of a dog, training is essential.

Also, my DC are older teenagers, so can be left at home or even walk a dog unsupervised. They can boil some pasta or potatoes for dinner if I am running late.
The dogs don't care if I am tired or feel unwell, they still need to go out, if you are unlucky they don't careaboutthe weather either they just want to go out for their run ...
in other words, don't get a dog, they are lovely creatures but very time consuming!

Don't do it. My dog is now 15 and I will not get another. Incredibly tying for starters and 15 years is a very long time. You will likely have the dog much longer than your children living at home.
As for calming down the kids, it's not going to happen. If any of mine even raise their voices slightly, the dog joins in. It makes a fall out such a harder situation to manage.
The ultimate reason. You both work full time. They can't be left for that amount of time.
Only get a dog because you want one, have wanted one for a long time and make sure you're not going to get bored of it. Sort the kids out, drastically reduce your hours from work and you might be more prepared.

We have a ridiculously small 3 bed - 3 cats and a cocker. We do just fine

Dogs pick up on the atmosphere in the house. If it's a high energy, unpredictable family with a fair bit of aggression flying about, chances are the dog will express some of that himself. Calm dogs are more likely to come from calm families. You are likely to be introducing a third "problem child".

You both work ft, can't train your kids, but you want a dog? Sounds like a wonderful idea.

A dog is not a substitute for parenting.

Your kids fight a lot, a dog isn't going to stop that at all, but the dog would likely be upset by the fighting. You and your husband both work full-time and it sounds like your household really wouldn't be a good fit for a dog. You don't have the time to put in, your kids fight a lot, and you expect the dog to calm the house and that's just not going to happen. Dogs need an investment of time and care, they're not a nanny.

It's far more likely that a dog will exacerbate things.

If your kids fight a lot its possible the dog will nip one of them. They can tell when fighting is play or real, and they often don't tolerate real fighting.

Calming affect? Have you met a dog?

Wow you sound lovely 🤨

You both work full time and you want to get a dog to train your children not to fight?

Riiiiiiiiight-o.

Totally baffled as to why your husband wouldn’t be on board with this genius plan!

While you both work FT your plan for a dog would be "garden or dog walker"?

You can't leave a fdog in your garden unaccompanied all day, or even a few hours. The dog will be barking and your neighbours will be unhappy about that.

Plus where are you finding a dog with parenting skills to explain yo your children they have to stop fighting?

Unless you are willing to pay for a dog walker every single day YABU.

You both work full time and it is not fair or right to have a dog sat at home alone for 8+ hours a day.

Dogs are hard work. Do not be fooled into thinking this cute little furry thing will turn up and just makes your children behaviour better.

The first 3 years are extremely testing and not for the faint hearted.

I think you’re wanting this for the wrong reasons.

I wish I had another baby rather than getting a puppy!