Tell me the bad points about owning a dog

[ItchyScratch]

I do love dogs.
I had one through my youth-teens.
But never since due to lack of money/ time/ having young kids.
I’m in a better position now though.

My children (young teens) are desperate for one.
They are hitting me with all the good points about owning a dog and begging me all day long.

Please tell me all of the bad points about owning a dog so I can thoroughly consider this.

I have a puppy and a five year old, at least one of them is irritating me at all times. I now have two people watching me wee/poo. Puppies will wee/poo every thirty minutes, if you don’t watch like a hawk they will stand in their own poo.

Holidays if you like to go abroad.
The additional cost of dog sitters really ups the budget.
I love our dog, that is the only down side.

Puppy stage can be brutal, bitey little shark teeth, then they hit teenage arsehole stage where recall goes from 100% to zero overnight (still waiting for that to sort out) they are a tie if you want to do days out.

But then you get this. I wouldn’t be without her.

But only get one for you, you will have the bulk of the training and responsibility, assume the kids will be useless and any time they’re not is a bonus.

Where do I start....?
Bitey puppies, piddling & pooing puppies, chewing your furniture puppies.
Embarrassing behaviour, hair, smell, walking wind, rain, shine.
Bad breath, hair everywhere, fleas, worms, picking up poo.
It goes on.
I've always had dogs & wouldn't be without them as the good outweighs all the bad points for me.

Far too much Fur
Constant Noise
Destruction of your house
Poo and wee inside
Poo in the garden

Honestly though we have 3 big working dogs, but it is off season so they are bored. Plus one is only 1 yr old, and one is very old, so its tough times. Generally they are great.

There are no bad points.

We love our dog sooo much. Provides entertainment and exercise for our teenagers too.

HTH

It's just the picking up shit. If it weren't for that I'd get one, but you'll have to pick up turds every day for ten plus years. That's 3650 bags of dog poo.

Had a few laugh out loud moments to your replies there. Very honest but funny.

Any experiences from adopted dogs?

IF I did cave- I’m not sure if it would be a bought puppy or a rehomed older dog.

Their lives are too short and the whole family will be absolutely heart broken when it's time to say goodbye.

No spontaneous days out without planning if you can take the dog or arrange for someone to let it out

Working your time around four hour slots so you can get home for the dog

Smelly breath and farts!

Ruined lawn

The good does outweigh the bad though!

They smell and your house smells
Had ddog for 5 years and has just decided she is scared of being in her crate so now sleeps in my room 🙄
Took ddog on holiday, she cried every 45 mins in her own crate that we brought with us so slept with DH and barely ate the whole week.
No more days out have to take the dog with you
You have to walk/exercise/entertain them regardless of the weather
The DC will leave home before you
They die and leave you heartbroken 😢

@Medievalist
Totally agree as this is TOP of my list of reasons I don’t want a dog.

The one dog I owned had to be put down at 13 with a tumour and that was traumatic.

Sometimes I don't want to go out because I get too upset leaving them? Very negative loving something so much that you will most definitely outlive

Picking up poo.
And like any pet owner - your house will smell.

You will never go on a holiday again.
You will end up sleeping in a different room from your OH because he wants the dogs on the bed.
Your house will smell of dog.
Your clothes will be covered in dog hairs.
You will argue with your family about who's turn it is to take the dog out/feed it/change water bowl/brush it
You will not be able to sit on your sofa because the dog is taking up all the room.
Someone has to pick up all the poo and that means you.

Apart from that, they're great.

Lots of hair if they are big shedders, you have to be prepared to walk them come rain or shine, summer and winter, be able to fund occasional vet bills and know your heart will be shattered into a million billion tiny pieces when the time comes.

Mine has a long term health condition that requires medication every 12 hours which requires a bit of planning but it still wouldn't put me off having another dog.

Holidays he mostly comes with us or he goes to the dog sitter, well aware of the cost before hand.

I really can't think of any bad points!

I have adopted an older dog although she is more springy and energetic than the two year old. Both are rescues though.

Omg their paw smell, you know the popcorn / digestive smell when they're sleeping? Heaven.

@nunnun I take my dog abroad. We went wine tasting in France last year!

Hair, everywhere. Don't get a white dog. Training.. Walking no matter the weather. Planning days out around the dog. Ditto holidays. But having a crazy nutty furball who loves you unconditionally outweighs the hard work.

Our dog died in February. We keep considering getting another one.
For us our life is definitely easier without a dog but It is also not as good.

Vile smells
Atrocious mess
Bringing in rodents or other gross stuff
Drinking out of toilet bowl or trying to eat own poo or vomit then trying to lick you
Destruction of furniture, shoes etc
Fur manages to get absolutely everywhere
Lawn ruined

Other cute “dog things” can get annoying after a while eg humping or barking at the postman daily

Bloody hair, bloody everywhere

@nunnun why no holidays?

All the restrictions and hard work of having a child except they won't bring you tea in bed one day