What's the worst thing about having a dog?

[Blankiefan]

I've never been a pet person but recently have been toying with the idea of a dog. DD is an only and is 7. She could do with a bit of companionship but it'd be my dog I think. I'd expect to do the looking after/ training/ walking. I'd only consider a smallish dog but ideally a rescue dog and not a puppy. I don't know if this is an idealistic view (Do rescue dogs always come with emotional baggage?)

My plan is to wait another year or so to consider it and also to see how life pans out. Currently both DH and I are at home all day and anticipate this continuing (each 2-3 days per week) but I'd like to see that play out.

I'm only at the start of thinking this through but thought you all might be able to give me some stuff to consider over the next year.

Sleep disruption sounds less than ideal tho. How common is that?

I have 2 and other than very early days when they were puppies and needed to go to the toilet, the only time they disturb us is if there's a storm with thunder.

We have a rescue, she had been used for breeding and hadn't been socialised but she was house trained, non destructive and pretty well behaved. With time and patience we worked on the socialising and she can play with other dogs and really enjoys it now.
The worst thing is probably the worry, I was pretty confident in my mother's instincts with the dc but with the dog I never know whether she is simply under the weather or on her last legs. We love her and can't bear to think of losing her. She's eleven now so that worry grows as she gets older.

When they die, they break your heart.

This x 100

Reactivity is a huge risk with rescues. We are incredibly active and imagined our two coming everywhere with us. They can't see other dogs with out lunging and barking out of fear. It's a very complicated issue that takes a lot of training to overcome. No more walks in the park, tourist attractions, holidays for us. Walking at 5am to avoids other people.
We do so much less now than we did before.
I love them so much and wouldn't change it now but if you are going for a rescue, an older dog with known history would be better than younger/unknown history/dog from abroad.
Good luck!

It’s such a common mistake to think small dogs are easier

Most small dogs I know are terriers, or cockapoos who bark loads and are very demanding

Whereas the goldens, the lurchers and other bigger dogs are often a lot more chilled and easygoing

You sometimes have to give attention to the humans at home rather than the dog.

You’ve got to not mind going for a walk every single day , for us twice a day for an hour each time, unless you get a dog that doesn’t need much, dog hair unless you get a breed that doesn’t moult much, expensive vet bills , even basic worming, yearly inoculations add up, that’s without them getting a stick stuck in their throat or getting an unexplained limp. Doggy day care or a dog walker for when you need it is expensive too, it adds up. Food- they’re bound to need an expensive variety. Unless you want a pain in the neck you have to work really really hard when they are a puppy to get a well trained obedient dog. That is so worth it. Do lots of research to see which breed suits you and have a consistent training strategy. Some dogs do things like beg at the table, jump up at people they meet, bark a lot. Not good. But do your research, work hard and you’ll have the most wonderful friend. And yes to the pp about the awfulness of them passing. Gut wrenchingly awful.

My rescue has lots of issues, my other dog we got as a puppy is hard work but not in the same league. It's great to give a home to a rescue dog but I don't think I would again unfortunately, there are so many unknowns. The barking at random things (rescue) is stressful, and his sometimes ott reactions to things. Holidays are difficult as kennels won't take him (he's too barky/stressed) and parents elderly so can't have him, they would look after other dog no problem. Both same breed.

The house permanently smelling of dog farts 🤣 My two Staffies never stop! Have just come back from a motorhome holiday and they stunk it out!! Love them more than people though.

Our greyhound/lurcher has a very sensitive tummy, so occasionally if he has too much of anything except his special food, he gets the runs and poos on the (wooden) dining room floor. That is very disgusting.

All the other issues of taking an unknown rescue from abroad ironed themselves out over the first year. I had massive anxiety - actually like a resurgence of pnd - during the first weeks after he arrived. He was so wild and I loved him so much but I wasn't sure I could manage. But I've loved all the going out in all weathers, enjoy training him... he's still a bit of a twat sometimes but he's our twat.

Do wish his digestion was more reliable, though.

iguanadonna - do you give your ddog veg? Our Lurchers have veg every day. One rescued had never had veg and had a dodgy tummy until we completely got her eating the same as our ddogs. She is fine now. Amazing condition coat.

My rescue has been with us 18 months. She has started eating poo . Shes a collie and my 6 year old adores her but as a breed they are very highly strung so wouldnt recommend as a first dog. I dont leave my daughter alone with the dog.

I would look at whippets. Calmer and less hair to moult.

The very worst thing is when they die and leave huge great gaping hole.

I would say the only thing is getting them looked after if you want a day out. Holidays are quite easy because you tend to get into a routine about who has them (family, kennels etc) but Legoland on a Sunday for instance is trickier. Many dog walkers don’t work on the weekend.

Other than that, it’s fabulous if you have a well trained and easy going dog who is happy to be left for 4-6 hours at a time. If you can get a dog like there is literally no drawback, and it’s life enhancing in the most uncomplicated, joyful way.

Clearly the inevitable pain of losing them.

They are angels and real blessing

The sadness when they reach a ripe age and leave us 😢😢😢😢😢

They die .

I have 5 dogs. 2 small terriers, 3 huge breeds. The smaller ones are harder work than the big ones! Mud, poo, dog hair in bed even if you don't let them upstairs, and they're quite destructive when they're young. Although my youngest dog is only 6 months old and he's been perfect so far!

Also a note on rescue dogs, I think they usually only allow them to go to families with children over 12?

@SimonJT

You sometimes have to give attention to the humans at home rather than the dog.

Yes this ! They are just a joy. But as others have said, when they die, they leave a huge gap 😢

I second @demelzalala and @InsanityRocks

My 1.5 year old puppy died unexpectedly and through avoidable circumstances on Christmas Day 2019. It sounds drastic, I've never been somebody affected by depression/anxiety/suicidal thoughts (I've had a very lucky, easy life so far), but I was ready to throw myself off a bridge. I went to a horribly dark place for a few months. Even now, I can be functioning absolutely fine and back to normal for weeks on end and then the grief will hit me like truck while I'm folding the washing, or doing the dishes, or hoovering and I crumble into a blubbering mess.

When they die 💔

Imagining life without her. It breaks my heart that she's not going to last forever.

Stinky poop, having to go out on days off. Having to leave no food anywhere ever.

I love my dog and I don't regret him for a second, but he is a HUGE commitment and a big tie. The big things to consider are:

• walking. You need to be prepared to commit to (at the very least) daily walks no matter what the weather. So even if it's pissing it down and blowing a gale, and you have a streaming cold, the dog needs a walk. Some dogs can skip days but others will go bonkers without two walks a day. This is easier if there's two adults as you can divide it up between you so you both get time off.

• days out and holidays. Dogs can't be left all day so if you want a day out to say, the zoo or a theme park, you need to consider dog care. Lots of daycares don't open at weekends and walkers will need booking several days in advance at the latest. For kennels, you're looking at weeks in advance. Basically, you need to plan in advance or bring the dog with you, which isn't always possible.

• what will you do if you get a dog, who, for example, has a negative trait like separation anxiety? Or who is reactive to other dogs? Or gets car sick? Or takes a year (or more) to toilet train? I think it's important to consider how you'd deal with the really shit things as well as the great bits of dog ownership.

I love my dog but he has severe separation anxiety and we've had to change our lives to accommodate him. It's a huge commitment and lots of people wouldn't bother, and would simply re-home. Just think about the bad bits as well as the good.

There's a website called borrow my doggie or something like that, so you can give it a try
DON'T assume parents will look after dog in reality, DON'T assume you can take them everywhere, even self-catering.
Perhaps think about life pre-children and what you have gained/lost since

Nothing.