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.

Nothing. It’s the best decision I ever made 😊

Long afternoons and evenings out unless we book her into kennels. That's a real tie.

During the winter having to clean her bloody paws every.single.time she goes outside so she doesn't walk mud and wet back onto our carpets. Drives me potty

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

It's incredibly common in the early days. I don't think we had an interrupted night for the first six months or so, and they continued until he was at least a year. As a puppy, he was up twice a night, every night. I was regularly up at 2am and 5am letting him out to the toilet! Luckily it was summer so it was never freezing cold

However he's nearly three now and will happily sleep until 9am or later if we leave him to it. He gets very annoyed when I have to wake him up before that!

I can't do broken sleep again. DD's baby year broke me a bit. Thus she's an only! So, that's one of my main drivers not to get a puppy.

Hmm. It can be done...or not.
I have a friend who got a dog as companion for their child. It has serious leg problems, has cost them a huge amount of money, various operations and they have never been able to walk the dog off the lead!
obviously that is extreme and unusual, but I suppose I'm trying to say, don't have too rosy a view on it, it might go fine and for many it does, but it might not. FWIW they love the dog and are happy, but they admit wouldn't have taken it on if they had known. Their world and imagined life of carefree hols with the pooch has not quite materialised.
It is not a rescue dog, but from what I hear, a lot have issues unless you get a) abandoned puppy or b) dog belonging to old person etc who can no longer manage.

HolyMerlot So sorry to hear this, and I empathise. My soul- dog was 4 when he was killed. I was in a bad way for a long time, and even now, 10 years later, I have times when the pain takes my breath away.
Dogs are incredible.
Earlier in the year when I had covid and could barely stagger anywhere my staffie (now gone) and my collie, who normally taps me on the head every morning at six to go for a walk, and whines insistently until I get up, lay calmly by my side for two weeks without any fuss over going for a walk. Their hearts are so big.

I’m very lucky if mine sleeps until 7am, it’s very rare.
He’s generally up between 5.30 and 6.30am, and that’s from a 10pm bedtime.

We didn’t really have sleepless night, but that’s because we let him jump on to the end of our bed at 4am! He stopped doing that at about 2 years old and since then (he’s 10 now) has slept downstairs. We’re up early anyway with the DC but left to his down devices would sleep 10-7.30ish.

most rescues rehome with kids 5+

bad points - the tying factor, days out,planning work around the dogs, breaks your heart when they die

good points - they are amazing companions, so happy, make you get out and walk, talk to people and make you want to see new places "to take the dog"

get the dog OP! you wont regret it

I think it's when they leave you tbh.

My Dog is 4 and wakes up if there is wind outside. He hates wind, so will get up several times in the night, get upset, beg to go into the garden, maybe he wants a wee? but then freak out and start barking hysterically - all at 3am. And sometimes try to do it again at 5am.

Other thing is vet trips - he eats lots of life threatening things, and even swallowed a grass seed by mistake one day, all leading to emergency vet trips. Now he needs two operations over the next 6 months (both cruciate ligament injuries).

I want to sell our house and split with H, but I worry about people coming to look round because Id have to take him out every time, plus you get a doggy smell. And then if we move to a new house, will the neighbours enjoy his 3am wind rants? Or the thud when he sees the postman and throws himself against the window trying to keeeeellll hum. (not a typo that's how my dog speaks in his mind) - not to mention H probably demanding access to the dog ...

Unfortunately one day we'll part ways. The hardest part about having any pet, but especially a dog as how loyal and close they are to you. The tying factor can be an issue but I have an excellent dog sitting service right across the road from me which my dog is very happy with. If possible she comes with me though, she's happier that way and I love to spend my time with her as she is my family too.

We don't have children for various reasons, so our dog is very much our fur baby. He is endlessly adored and pampered but deserves it as he is a rescue and had a hard start in life.

Worst thing about having him? My fear of losing him. All the other small inconveniences are lost in the joy and happiness he brings.

Ermmm...for us, he comes on holidays, days out... Happy going everywhere and anywhere, including to big cities and on public transport (we live rurally). He's a bit stubborn, likes cake and people and most other dogs. He's crate trained and sleeps well.

Worst thing? He barks if someone is near the house that he doesn't recognise. He gets muddy.

That they don't live long enough

Mud
And mud
And more mud
He's a Golden Retriever. Why did no one tell us they liked mud?

Mud and hair EVERYWHERE. I love him, wouldn't be without him, but at this time of year every time we walk in the house there's mud on the floors, up the stairs, on the carpets and on the walls, no matter how careful we are or how much we towel him off first. Then we have to shower him (he won't tolerate the hose) and he rubs himself over every surface he can, shedding hair everywhere like a canine tide mark.

I agree that small dogs are not always easier, we have a Labrador and she is so chilled!! We got her as a puppy and we have DD aged 8 and 6. She's so good with them both, she is a real joy in so many ways. Loves a 3hr + car journey, snoozes the whole way, loves her food and her walks. If I had to choose the most annoying thing of all the things (picking up poo, walking in all weathers, her insatiable appetite, the occasional chewed sock etc) then I would say it's actually her hair. I groom her a lot, I vacuum a lot, I wash all of her fleecy blankets that cover our sofas a lot! She sleeps well at night on her own, toilet trained very easily, rarely barks, is never aggressive, very social with other dogs of all breeds and ages, is always pleased to see us, is quite happy sat on her own for a couple of hours, has good recall and listens to basic commands like "sit, wait & no". We use a doggy daycare service a couple of mornings a week which has been invaluable, I highly recommend having this option for anyone going out to work, or very busy wfh and who will eventually need the care for weekends away etc. I had never had pets before we got her and I can honestly say it was the best decision we ever made

Picking up poo.

Also our puppy only gave us broken sleep for about 3 nights and then she was fine, it was not like having a newborn AT ALL!

You’re tied unless you can get a babysitter. If you’re at work all day you’ll need someone to come during the day too. Your dog will get sick at some point and it can be expensive, you need vaccinations too, probably flea or mite treatments as well as worm pills - my annual vet bill averaged about £500. Then you have the hassle of administering the meds - at 12 my dog now needs daily medication and a special diet. The dog will sometimes get an upset tummy and poop on the floor, probably at 1am, then you’ll have to wash the floor and give it a bath. It will cry during a thunderstorm and freak out all night after hearing fireworks. You‘ll have to check it over for ticks and wash its feet, bathe any injuries, pick seeds off its fur. It’s like having another child!

On the plus side I’ve never had my sleep disrupted unless the dog was ill or scared, maybe only a couple of times a year. In fact it was the dog who had her sleep disrupted when I was pregnant - I would go to the bathroom to vomit and she would get up to comfort me. Dogs are amazing but you have to be committed to caring for their needs.

As PP have said, definitely borrow a dog before getting on. Borrow my doggy is a great way of doing it. It's a huge commitment and BMD is a good way to understand how they will impact your life (both positives and negatives).

*one

Dog poo in the garden. Doesn't seem to matter how often you do it there's always one you missed just waiting for you to step in it. And when you take it out needing poo bags in every coat so you are never 'that' owner who doesn't clean up after their dog.
Dog hair, which gets everywhere.
Broken nights as they get older, which can be as bad as the puppy stage.

Having to walk it every day, even in the rain. Either paying for kennels (which can be very expensive) or finding someone to mind it when you go away.