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.

expensive and time consuming so you need to really want to commit, otherwise it's not fair on the dog. so it can be hard work.

and yeah, the loosing them is the hardest. I had 2 be put down this year - 1 in February and 1 last month. horrible.

The only bad point is the loss of spontaneity, not being able to go out for the whole day/weekend or on holiday without sorting dog care.

Personally I don't use kennels, don't like them, so very restricted as only one family member who I trust to look after them.

Other than that they are a complete joy to own

Nagging feelings of guilt if you anywhere without taking them too!

My dog is a happy, good natured girl. She’s not (too) pushy about human food, she’s playful but not toy obsessed, she likes all people and dogs and she’ll let you get on with things without getting underfoot as long as she can be in the room with you. She only has one flaw - she rolls in vile stuff. At least twice a month I end up having to give her a full shampoo and repeat outside - I had a mixer tap put in so the water wouldn’t be too cold . Cow pats, fox poo, dead creatures, even dog wee. She’s rolled in it all. She doesn’t just get ‘a bit whiffy’ either. She ends up looking like she’s been checking out contouring on YouTube. But with shit.

Some dogs never do this and some might only do it a handful of times in their lives, but you might get one like mine.

OH and while you are considering all this look at the places you would normaly go fro a family day out , can the hound come with you ?
shopping centre , theme park , some Nat Trust places aunty mable with the uncontrollable DCs / dozen cats etc Nope no dogs allowed
How much would you miss the days out there ?

They die and break your heart 😭
My dh really can't do that last journey to the vet. I hate it but have been there for every animal I have owned, talking to them to the end.
Absolutely the worst part of dog owning.

I don't think of dogs as children or let mine sleep in my room never mind my bed.
But they are dependents, who rely on their owners for everything.
Some people don't like them and that's fine. Choosing to get one and then ignoring it's needs is selfish laziness. (talking about your kids here)
If you have a fractious relationship with your teenagers it might not be a good idea to introduce another flashpoint.
On the other hand cheekiness can be rewarded with "cleaning the back garden"
I highly recommend adult rescue, a toilet trained dog makes for a much happier home!

Cost

And the heartbreak when you don't have them anymore
Heart splits in two

But worth it

They don't live for long enough even 15 years is too short.

The very worst thing is when they are old and in pain, and give you that looks to say 'let me go now, I've had a blast, but I hurt now' and you have to make that decision to call the vet.

Things I never knew about dog ownership

Mine both eat dog poo when on walks

If they eat grass it can get stuck coming out meaning you have to grab it and pull - there is no way of doing this elegantly 😂

Vets bills are massive

Insurance is worse!

Boarding them if you go out or away is a huge cost

Things I've learnt

They love you unconditionally 🥰🥰

God this thread is making me cry again

We have 2 dogs (8 year old and 3 month old). We got the 8 year old when she was 4 from a rescue centre, got puppy from a breeder.

Think it’s easier to get a puppy if you already have a dog in the house as puppy learns from the other dog, our 3 month old puppy is already toilet trained and sits waiting for her dinner, this is partly due to training but mainly by him copying older dog.

I would recommend a rescue dog as there are so many needing homes especially after lockdown. The only reason we got a puppy as a second dog was because we were advised that our older dog would adapt to a puppy easier than an older dog.

With regards to the bad parts of owning a dog, holidays are the main one for us, we are lucky that my parents will have the dogs when we are away and we also try to find dog friendly breaks in the UK. You should consider how your situation will change over the next few years, if your dcs are likely to be heading off to uni at the same time for example what impact will that have on how long the dog will be left alone.

I rehomed a Labrador. He left my house permanently hairy for 12 years. He rolled in poo as often as he could. He got excited and knocked random people and me over. He emptied the bin as often as he could. He ate random things and had to be operated on when he got blocked up. He stole food and was an escape artist. He ruined all my furniture when I first had him. He stole balls of random dogs and wouldn't give them back.
And when he wasnt being naughty he was delightful and even if I knew how much trouble he was I would still of had him.

Dogs are quite disgusting in many ways. Mine literally eats shit , not fussy what but partial to cats and horse. She also sniffs out Fox shit and rolls in it which means she stinks. They also shit all over the garden and you have to clean that up. VET bills, the last one was £750. You also can't go anywhere without planning who's going to feed and walk the dog, even for one night. Holidays are kennels, add another £27 a day to the bill. Depending on the breed they will need exercise, every day. Some dogs are expensive to buy in the first place and pedigree animals can come with their own problem. They don't live that long either. I paid a small fortune for one and he only lasted 10 years, by comparison we currently have two horses over 30 years old. Dogs can also chew the furniture and dig holes in your garden - I looked after my sisters dog for a week and it wrecked the fence. Personally I prefer horses. But that's just me. My neighbour has a woofly dog, Alfred from Heartbeat type. He's a sweetie and no trouble at all. Research the breed and be careful whom you buy it from. Remember, it's a commitment, as much as a child is.

I was a committed cat person (and still am) but I adore our dog.

She’s a reactive rescue with some issues and she’s wonderful. She’s improved our lives no end.

Yes, we have to walk her but I enjoy it. Yes, she costs us money we could spend elsewhere. Yes, we have to pick up poo. But they’re nothing compared to what she brings.

The only downside is she won’t live forever. She’s brilliant and my best pal.

I am blessed that mine doesn't like getting wet or muddy...

I have friends that have to hose their dogs down after virtually every walk!!! Big muddy puddle, white dog goes in, brown stinky dog comes out 🐶

They are restricting in that you can't have long days out without them and have to provide care for them during holidays.

But I love my dogs to pieces. The love I have for them outweighs any negatives - I wouldn't change them for the world.

The food stealing - ours learnt to break into the fridge until I put child locks on it. Among the things she consumed (on separate occasions, while we were out) were a frozen fish pie which was supposed to be defrosting but never got that far, a tub of Flora, and a bottle of sunflower oil - she pierced it with her teeth until the contents ran all over the floor and then licked it all up. With predictable consequences.

There's bad points? 🤔

The only downside is my dh wants me to only have 2 not 10

A dog is 24hours a day 365 days a year. They are expensive: flea treaments, vaccinations, food, treats, equipment, harness, leads, training classes, castration/speying, insurance etc.etc.

Constant grooming: ears teeth, paws, eyes, daily cleaning of pawprints/dog hair, picking up poos, anal gland attention. Daily walks: not because you fancy it every time but because you have to, whatever the weather. Behaviour issues: barking, biting, jumping up, seperation anxiety, destructive behaviour, chewing, toileting in the house.

No spontaneous trips out/weekends away. Not fair to leave them for hours each day. Maybe lifetime medical conditions.

And sometimes there are upsetting walks due to your dog being attacked by another, or disappearing after rabbit or squirrel or cat, or running into a road.

I've had dogs in the past and loved and enjoyed them so much. But decided not to have another now for a couple of reasons.

Dog hair in every meal
The destroying of multiple beds
Time wasting-should be working but dog needs a cuddle
Injuries-I panic and think an x ray is immediately needed!
Kennel fees are crazy and I hate leaving them
They ruin your garden
They die way too soon 😢

My dog threw up all over the kitchen yesterday. It was like those fake plastic vomits had been dropped around the room. I spent my coffee break mopping. He’s an old dog but still a chewer and there’s nothing he won’t eat.

I have a miniature dachshund and a black lab.

When we got them as puppies it was like we had a newborn again... DH and I totally sleep deprived, lie in resentment, etc.

The sausage barks at everyone. She occasionally still poos on the floor at night even at 3 years old (if it's raining outside). She is likely to develop back problems and I worry about this.

The lab sheds like a mofo... I use a hair glove on the sofa and cushions and hoover every day to keep on top of it. Neither dog are allowed upstairs or in beds.

When we do go abroad it adds about £5-600 to the budget for a minder to have them.

They get health problems...the lab has conjunctivitis this week and the tube of drops the size of my little finger cost £61

They need a walk everyday.

As already said, you can't just go out for the day without a plan. I have never left either of mine for more than 4 hours and that has happened once.

BUT

Walking them is the only exercise I insist my 14 year old DS does which is great for him.

Running and walking them is one of my life's great pleasures.

They adore me and I them.

I don't have a dog because my work is not dog friendly.

I do wonder though. If I got a dog, would I become a 'MN dog nutter'. The type that values the dog above human life (sometimes including their own children). I'm never completely sure if that is all dog owners or a subset.

Dogs are wonderful. But don't get one if you don't have the time or commitment.