Do any of you regret getting your puppy/dog and why?

[Duckegg271]

We’re trying to decide if dog life’s for us. I’m finding that everyone in real life says how wonderful having a dog is. I’d like to hear the reality though or is it like having kids-bloody hard work, exhausting at times but you’d never be without them?

Aw lovely stories Springerock and Spinneyhill!

Never. They’re part of the family. Yes they have to be considered if you need to go out for the day or away abroad, so it makes life easier if you have family or friends around that will have them or can pop in for them. Or you need to find reliable dog walkers/sitters or kennels.

Our last dog was a real friend, we all loved and felt real grief when she died. We have a pup now and yes he’s hard work, but so much fun and I enjoy the training/socialising.

Ultimately it’s a lifestyle choice. If you’re fairly outdoorsy and don’t get too worked up about a bit of dog hair and muck, you will find it less stressful.

I rehomed a small dog, she is wonderful, settled, loyal & although a bit nervous, she will come when called & sit when asked. She is absolutely no effort, some days she wants a walk, others she doesn't & is happy with her own company if we're out for the day.

My DH brought a giant breed puppy home & she only listens to him (even though I'm the only one to feed, play & care for her every single day), destructive & hyper, regardless of the number of walks/play/training she has in a day. She frightens everyone that comes to the house because she's so boisterous but means absolutely no harm.
I would never rehome my dog, I don't think I'll ever own a large breed again & certainly have no interest in a puppy. Having a baby was genuinely less work!

Thankyou for all your honest replies. You’ve given me lots to think about!

A family member has a rescue dog. It’s terrible, barks, aggressive etc.

We won’t visit her with DS (a toddler) and she struggles to leave the dog home alone for long as it goes nuts (understandably).

Christmas / family gatherings have been tricky the last couple of years since she got this dog as the dog is there at the big family gatherings so me & DH say we will only visit with DS if the dog is locked away but it goes mental and barks the house down. It’s unpleasant for everyone.

She can’t walk it off lead, or take in into cafes etc.

If she has kids herself while she still has this dog she’s screwed.

All dogs are restrictive, but this particular dog especially so due to its behaviour.

Agree with the puppy time! Hard work! Could you consider fostering? Then no long term commitments if it doesn’t work out & often support given by the rehoming charity?
I waited till my children were older so DH & I didn’t need to drag them out too for walks!! I couldn’t imagine my home without a dog! My DH wasn’t so sure but he now refers to her as a life saver - his mental health has improved as regardless to how he feels the dog still needs a walk!
I have also got (2) amazing dog walkers this enables us to still do overnight things/holidays and days out with planning!
I found them before I even got the puppy so I could work it all out.
Life has changed I know DH & I love the time together walking her 😊

I adore my dog and am so glad she is in my life and wouldn't want to change anything. I did find it surprisingly difficult emotionally for quite a long time after I got her even though she wasn't a puppy and she was very easy really. I suppose it's just the reality of getting to know the real sentient being who now lives with you and are expected to love rather than just the generic idea of a dog you had in your head. I do often find myself rushing back from places early because I don't like to leave her alone for more than 4 hours so they are a tie although a delightful one. Also suddenly you find they're getting old and somehow they've made you love them so much that the thought of being without them means you can't breathe (I'm sure I would have thought this was well over the top pre dog!)

DH and DC would love us to get a dog but I've vetoed it while we live in London (even though we have a small garden).

I said - and this is true - it's because they'd trash the lawn and I'd be the one who ended up doing all the walking, picking up the endless turds (yuk), cleaning up all the hair and mud etc. around the flat.

But honestly it's because I just don't like most dogs very much

After much nagging from the children (10 and 8) and lots of discussion over about 18 months-2 years we made the decision to re-home a dog. We found her on a facebook site run by volunteers who put poodle X owners in touch with potential re-homers. We were able to meet her and her previous family 3 times before we took her home and felt pretty confident from the outset she was for us!

We are a fairly active family in that we enjoy going for walks/ National Trust places at the weekend and we have two dog friendly parks within a couple of minutes from home. I work part-time as does my husband and we rarely need to leave her and if we do its never more than an hour or two. She gets 3 good walks a day and a bedtime trip around the block.

She chooses where she sleeps on the end of my bed mostly and follows me everywhere just generally hangs out with us.

I always wanted a dog though so I am a little bit in heaven even though I am 46 - I have a little pal who doesn't complain if I want to go out for a walk unlike the rest of them . And I do have to admit I love her little furry presence at night time.

So happy we got her, she brings such a lot of fun to the house and has fitted right in! The boys inevitably got bored of walking her but I expected it and wouldn't have re-homed a dog based upon the premise that they would be caring for her.

I've had my dog since he was a puppy (he's just turned 6) and while I absolutely adore him and can't imagine not having him, if I'd known how difficult it would be I wouldn't have gotten a dog.

He is a Jack Russell so very high energy, demanding, stubborn. He can be a right arsehole when he wants to and life would be a lot less restricted without him.

I never regretted getting my two but towards the end of their lives, a lot changed in my life and suddenly I had the sole responsibility for care of two elderly dogs. It completely restricted me socially at a time when I needed to go out and make new friends post-separation.

They were PTS November 2017 and May 2018 and whilst I do miss them, I don't miss the lack of freedom. I'm still restricted to a point as I have an elderly cat who I have to get back for most nights but she doesn't need walking and it isn't the end of the world if she isn't fed at 6pm every night!!

If I did get another dog, I would phone a dogs home and ask for the oldest and/or longest termed resident there. I think!

We are getting a puppy soon. Not a rscuetbe ause we are getting one bred for emotional assistance/therapy for one of my DC.

I grew up with a dog, from a puppy so I do know what we are in for. I don't think it will restrict us massively. Dd with ASD can't cope being out of the house for too long anyway. I can't really think of anywhere that we go as a family that we couldn't take a dog. We spend most of the time outdoors, national trust places. Our only holidays are camping and we have family who would very keenly dog sit.