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.

Walking in all weathers

With the last dog it was being tied down for days out holidays etc. Current dog is much more happy to come along too. So it's just a question of going to dog friendly places . Luckily we live in a v dog friendly place and she has a pet passport so she come aboard with us

Making the decision to pts. One of the hardest things I’ve ever done

When they are old. DDog has dementia and it is worse than having a baby at night. She has reversed her sleep cycles and keeps us up a lot. Plus she keeps peeing around the house and gets very stressed so behaves very erratically.

Having long days out. It’s just not worth arranging a sitter 1 day so we can have a day shopping, nice meal, evening in the city etc. We’re keen motorcyclists but we go separately now for the same reason.

But we would not be without a dog. Current is our second and fourth in my lifetime (DHs fifth). They go everywhere with us. We now exclusively holiday in UK so dog can come too. Lots of weekend breaks all over the country. Get them used to the car early!

Losing them. You live a life with others you learn to cope with their needs, their unique ways... but dogs, they give 100% and they die too soon.

It's like going through the toddler stage permanently.
Love my girl to bits though.

From experience you're going to struggle to find a suitable rescue dog to when with a 7 year old. I'm going to upset MN and suggest that you might be better off with a puppy from a specific breed and reputable breeder.

The worst thing is the tie, no more lie ins - they need to be let out for a wee. They need walking regardless of how stormy it is outside.

If by any chance you are in Manchester OP please consider a foster / adoption from this amazing rescue
In answer to your question; losing the spontaneity of being able to go out on a whim(especially if dog has separation anxiety).
Having said that, for our family the benefit far outweighs the restriction

I love my dog to pieces and had him 10 years now.
I love going on holiday but it always makes me feel bad, I don't like leaving him. We went to Florida for 2 weeks and it absolutely killed me to leave him.
He will be 11 soon and I just know I won't want to leave him to holiday. I normally put him in the kennels and he doesn't/won't eat as he suffers from anxiety when I'm not there.

Losing them. No other downside compares to the sadness of having to say goodbye.

She eats stupid things (recently chestnuts) then vomits. I think stepping your bare foot into a luminous yellow pile of cold dog puke at 6 in the morning is probably the worst thing.

Having a dog 🐕😂

Following this thread with interest as we're considering getting a dog.

It seems the most recurrent "worst thing" is

1. Saying goodbye to them.
2. Being tied.

I'm trying to concentrate on the posters who put, "nothing".

Don’t get me wrong I love my dog. But if I’m honest I do look back on my pre dog life and think, ah, life was so much easier then.

Same with kids though eh?

Your DD is 7, OP and that sounds ideal. Mine were a little older when we got our dog and despite the promises and the written puppy pledge we’d drawn up, within a few short weeks of having our puppy the novelty had completely worn off. They were at school, they had homework, they got into other stuff, they were bored of walks. Nowadays I can’t even be bothered asking them to come out for a walk with dog, as their faces of doom say it all. They’re 13 and 14.

That left me and DP to do everything for dog. Everything.

If you’re ok with that, you’ll be great!

Have a good think though. Are you ok with that?

@MagentaRocks

I can’t even go to the loo without mine whining at the door. Can never watch a tv programme without being interrupted. Can’t lie on the sofa without him climbing all over me.

But, I wouldn’t be without him. We went for a lovely long walk in the woods this morning and he was so tired when we got back he slept lying on me making gorgeous little content noises. He is excited to see me all of the time, even if I have managed a quick shower and left him for 20 minutes.

He sounds adorable, what breed is he?

Have had 2 dogs and 2 cats. Loved them all, but all had various downsides. The cliche about not being just for Christmas is v true. They are not a toy and you must invest a lot, you should get a lot back.
Downsides- definitely a tie. If you like holidays, spontaneous days out etc, it is an issue. Please don't get one and just stick it in day care all week, like some I've heard off,there should be someone there for most of the day (up to about 4hrs alone, but depends on bred/personality etc)
Be prepared to be heartbroken when they die too.
Yes upsides companion, devotion, funny!! Good for exercise and meeting people (apart from those that hate dogs of course) no filters - when they are running through the woods or on a beach the sheer uninhibited joy is like when you were 3 again!

Mostly when they come to the end of their lives. Yeah they're smelly, grubby (mine likes to swim and roll in muck), tying, expansive but they make incredible companions for adults and children alike.

Waking up with joy of going on holiday that day. Then realising you haven't called the kennels.

Fucking fireworks.

It's a really small thing but our dog needs two walks a day and so I always have that second walk before I feel I can relax. If I were having a pyjama day I'd have to get dressed at the end of it.

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

I've had dogs all my life and none of them has woken me up at night unless they've been unwell. My little boy curls round my head on the pillow when I settle down to sleep, and is still there when I wake in the morning. As soon as he realises I'm awake his tail starts wagging like crazy, beating against the pillow 🐾🐾

I know it has been said before, but definitely days out. You can’t leave them for more than 4 hours in total, without getting a dog walker, so all days out have to be dog friendly. No zoos, museums, indoor activities, and a lot of indoor cafes or restaurants are also a no go. Luckily mine travel really well in the car, so we can take them on holiday with us, but your activities do get quite limited.

The other thing is the training. An older rescue might be better, but it took months of training before I wasn’t worried that my dog was going to jump up or embarrass me around people. Dog teenage years are 12-18 months, so you can’t really relax until they are past that.

Having to get them to go outside to do a wee before you can go to bed.

My DD is nearly 7 and also an only. We got our puppy this week. We had a dog but had to have her PTS when DD was 2 and only now am I ready to have Another dog.

Already we have all fallen in love with Ddog and it is the best thing ever.

Dogs can be a tie but there are ways to work around this with dog walkers and dog sitters. Everything else is fine really - I even enjoy walking the dog early in the morning in ALL weathers.

As PP have said, losing your dog is THE worst thing about having a pet. That final goodbye really is heartbreaking.

@TibetanTerrier. He has a lovely smile!! Thanks for sharing 🤗