Tell me about having a dog.

[roaringwater]

I'm hoping that someone can be very patient and answer my potentially very stupid questions about having a dog.

We (me, DH, 3 x teen DC) have never had a dog. Recently, we have been giving serious contemplation to it, largely encouraged by DS1, who is 15 and very outdoorsy. I had a family dog as a child but this feels a very long time ago now.

So we live in a large-ish family home - we have a small garden but we are right on the very edge of suburbia and big open fields, waterways etc are quite literally at the end of our road.

DH & I both work quite long hours but I am a teacher so this is offset by substantial holidays. The kids are out from 8.20am until 3.15 (although from Sept 2020, DD will be at college 10 mins walk away so much more flexible).

If (and this is a huge IF) we got a dog, the idea would be to get an older rescue dog rather than a puppy. Locally, there is a very active greyhound rescue society so this might be an option.

However, obviously there are so many considerations and there's probably a lot of things I haven't even thought of.

I'd be really grateful to people who can describe their dog routine - especially people who go out to work and especially people with teenagers.

(And please be kind. I know it's a massive responsibility, which is why I'm doing research rather than rushing into it. I get that working families aren't ideal, and this will probably prove to be the deal-breaker).

Thanks in advance

Hopeful bump

It’s one those things that is different for every dog. Things to think about

1. You may get a dog that doesn’t like being left alone. Some dogs cope fine. Others don’t. So dog walkers or day care would have to be thought of. 2. I have never and I know lots of people never leave their dog for more than four hours. I have always used this guide line. In my opinion leaving a dog any longer is mean. How can they go to the loo!
2. What will u do if u all go out for the day.
3. Having children around to pop in only works for now. Children grow up and a dog can live for over 15 years. So that works for now. But what happens when the kids are not around ?
4. Walking. Would need to be walked before you go to work. If your leaving it all day a long good off the lead run would be better. Do u have time for this in the morning.
5. Cost. Man they are expensive.
6. Training. I used to train mine every day. Didn’t miss a day. Do you have time to train when you get home from work. You have to train a dog for good behaviour.

Holidays and weekends/long days away - who will look after the dog (and the cost)

Training - a must

Behaviour - I know we love dogs but a happy pooch is one that has rules and isn’t treated like a pampered human. Can you all be firm and consistent?

Vet bills - wow they can be high! Think about insurance.

It’s own space - have you a room or corner where it can have its own little area?

Allergies - silly, but has anyone in the family had any allergies to pets?

I love dogs but it wouldn’t be fair on one for me to have one now.

I think that's too long to leave a dog on its own. Also the teenagers may (or may not) be in & out and happy to help now but what about when they all go off to Uni?

By the way DH & I work full time but I was part time until recently, it's been great with 2 teens at college/school as they are not in full time so around a lot for company/walks. But my youngest is off to Uni next year so we'd be stuck if my Mum didn't live with us & the dogs weren't all getting old.

We have a rescue Swiss shwphard. She is 1.5 yo. The biggest pain is the shedding. The eating shoes newsletters etc, although in fairness th at is much improved. Man is the Hoover getting a workout.

I work 5mins away so I can go up to her at lunch. She gets a short walk in the.mornings by Dh and at lunch by me and then a longer walk by me and ds in the evenings. She is my shadow. Everywhere I go she follows. I won't leave her outside in a run as I'm afraid she.would be nicked. We all adore her but honestly it's like having another child in the house with the amount of attention, training to obey, feeding, cleaning up, etc. Wouldn't be without her though. She is so worth the effort

She must need loads of exercise though!

It’s a long time to leave a dog tbh. Also if your DC are already teens, they will leave home and you will still have dog., does this fit in with your future plans? Despite what you DC are saying now the novelty of walking dog may pass quickly! Dogs are fab, we loved ours to bits, we had him for 7 years before our DC arrived, and we lost him (PTS) at 13, heartbreaking to lose him. As much as we love dogs, they are such a massive time commitment. I think you are being sensible to really consider whether it’s the right time for a dog. Good luck with whatever you decide.

Thank you all. Yes, I think you're correct about it being too long to leave a dog. I know there's walkers etc but that bumps up cost and complexity yet further. Thanks for the reality check though.

It’s a shame - but worse for a poor dog that doesn’t have the attention is needs.

Everyone’s on about that site Walk my doggie. Worth a look?

I work and have a dog. We outsource dog care by using daycare.

The bill for daycare this month was £380 and I work from home at least one day a week so this would have been a lot more if it was 5 days a week.

With some dogs you might get away with just using a dog walker in the middle of the day but you won't know if they can cope with being left long periods of time until you have them.

Also factor in the time needed to care for them before and after work. DH and I act as a tag team in the morning and evening as stuff still needs to be done but the dog also needs to be cared for (wants company, training, feeding, grooming etc).

Factor in insurance. False economy to skimp on insurance as even simple conditions can run into thousands. A severe episode of D&V was over £2000 to treat my dog as he required admissions and tests.

If that doesn't sound off putting then the benefits of having a dog around the house can be great

I worked somewhere where one colleague brought her dog in (by stealth). The boss wasn’t keen so it was one day a week... then it got more and he decided that he did actually like dogs and the dog ended up lounging in his office beside his desk (and he would chat the the dog and take him for walkies).

Dh and I work full time, but due to dh’s shifts, there are only 3 days a month when the dogs are left alone for 4 hours or more. However, the neighbour takes them in to her house on those days. I think you’re very sensible to consider an older dog. Individuals differ, but greyhounds often can’t be let off the lead due to the risk to small furries/smaller dogs.

With an outdoorsy teenager, I’d say you want something that would accompany him on bike rides/walks, possibly a spaniel? Not sure a greyhound fits the bill if you want something that has good recall/can go off lead. Scruffy terrier possibly ideal and common enough in rescues. If you have a breed in mind, look at specific breed rescues.

Having a dog is the best thing, but be prepared to consider kennel fees if you go on foreign holidays, insurance, whether you want to vaccinate or titre test, finding decent food (avoid anything available in the supermarket). Do you want something non-shedding/low maintenance coat? Lots of breeds that aren’t designer crosses don’t shed.

Be prepared to have the dog bond with one person in particular and ignore the breed specific chat, all dogs are individuals. Prepare to love it as much as your dc!

Having an older rescue dog is mostly miserable hard work trying to undo whatever he has had done to him, which the rescue may or may not be able to describe. There are occasional good moments. Only do it if you would be happy to do literally all the work yourself, for 10 years.

We have a rescued greyhound although she was never a racer. I'm also a teacher and so I have a dog walker come around lunchtime everyday.

I would recommend greyhounds as family dogs and they don't actually need or want much walking generally although obviously this varies. Mine is more than happy with her lunchtime hour walk and a little walkies around the block to do her business in the morning and evening. She sleeps a lot and has never had an accident indoors.

Greyhounds are usually couch potatoes and want nothing more than snuggles, love and a warm place to sleep. Mine doesn't beg or bark and is quite happy sleeping when we are out but loves to be sleeping beside us when we are in!

I am very much against getting a 'rescue' when there are young children involved but as your children are teenagers, an older dog might save you all the puppy pooping and puddle tasks as long as it can hold on when you're not there.

However if you do get one, try to find out whether it has shown any signs of destructiveness, given that it will be left to its own devices most days. Chewing, ripping and scratching were the biggest problems that a friend of mine had in a similar situation.

I have read the replys you have and feel they are quite negative wanted to tell you my experience as hope will be helpful. We rescued our greyhound / lurcher a year ago and it was the best thing our family has ever done. We have three teenage children and we all adore him his an absolute delight. He had a bad history and he took a while to settle was very nervous but we gave him his space and after a few weeks he came out of his shell and he is now still very quiet but so funny. Greyhounds are adorable and surprisingly do not need loads of excersise His first walk is before my husband goes to work early in the morning about 20 mins he does his business then. If my daughter is home from college early around lunchtime she does the same again but if no ones back till 3 he is fine. He loves the sofa and sleeps the day away as most greyhounds do. So 2 walks a day and at the weekend we take him for longer walks/runs which he loves. Having a dog is a massive commitment but we love having him and if you do rescue it’s so lovely knowing you have given one a loving warm home. There are so many waiting in kennels for their chance of a family and they are so grateful when they have somewhere warm to rest their head. Hope this gives you something to think about. Best wishes. Happy to answer any questions

Don’t rely on the DCs looking after the dog. They may step up or they may find it all too demanding, so you need to ask yourself whether you and your DH are committed to having a dog.

Some dogs may be Ok being left alone while you work full time but many, many won’t. The dog may bark non-stop and annoy your neighbours, or trash your house. It also means that you need to spend time with the dog before and after work. It would be too much to ask for the dog to be alone while you were at work, then alone in the evening while you did a non-dog friendly family activity and then alone at night because you don’t want it in your bedroom. A solution to these problems is doggy day care or a dog walker, but it does add to the costs.

Georgia2001 lovely comment nice to hear a positive story
I have a rescue dog and he is a lovely family dog. He was a puppy when I got him, he had a bit of a bad start to life. He settled in so well and is part of the family. It is a bit difficult when going on holiday, but we just go where we can take him too. Had a dog walker for a short while when I was out at uni all day, that worked really well
Maybe you could borrow someone's dog for a week see how you get on

The reality is that any dog needs a daily good walk and it is hard to fit those around the working day. Every day, foul weather and fine the dog need fresh air. We got an older rescue and occasionally she is left for about 5 hours. No matter how tired we are, we have to take her before we go and when we come back. Teens cannot be relied upon once the novelty wears off.

It is doable if you can get a dog walker during term time.

Really Concider the breed of dog you get. There are so many greyhounds, collies etc in rescues because people do not realise how active they are. I can take my collie out for an 8 hour run and after 10 mins sleep she’s rating to go again lol.

Numberonecook I had collie preciously. Was a gorgeous dog but yes endless energy! That’s why we decided a greyhound was best for our family now as they don’t have anywhere near them energy levels and love to snooze on a warm comfy bed x

Dogs can be fooking hard work (especially puppies). They are a MASSIVE commitment and for the next 16 years, everything you do, everywhere you go, every holiday you want to take, you have to consider your dog's needs. They can and do cost a fortune in vet's bills so I'd highly recommend insurance, which is also extremely expensive later in life.

That said, they are worth every second and every penny.

I lost my 16 year old Collie x GS a few weeks ago and I miss him terribly. I got him at 14 weeks old from a rescue and he was the puppy from hell, mainly because I had no idea how to control him but all through his life he had severe separation anxiety (he'd been badly abused when he was tiny) and in his later years used to cry the second I set foot out of the door until the second I got back. But, he was a dream dog once he got past the puppy phase. He was loving, loyal and incredibly intelligent and obedient. I'd have him back in a heartbeat but he was suffering from cancer and various other ailments and I couldn't bare to see him suffer a minute longer. Saying goodbye was one of the most difficult things I have ever done, but it's part and parcel of having a dog (or any other animal) as you already know.

If you do get a dog, make sure you and your family can make such a huge commitment and dedicate yourselves to walkies in the rain and snow (hundreds of times). If you decide it's an emotional, physical and financial commitment you can afford to take on, then enjoy every second. They are very much part of the family and you will learn a new dimension of love.

Oh, and rescue dogs are awesome!