Tell me what you hate about having a dog

[Worriedagainmum]

As I really want to get one for emotional support, but I know it’s such a big decision

My dog barked to be let out for a no.2 at 5:50am today!

You can't stay away overnight spontaneously. That's the only thing for me.

The hair everywhere!

I love my dog. Really love her. But you don’t know what good or bad bits you’ll get of a dog.

So she was easy to house train, great with kids, doesn’t moult or smell, excellent recall. But she does do poos which need to be picked up, she resource guards beds and sofas so isn’t allowed on, she is bloody expensive with vet fees, insurance, food etc.

Hair and mud, clearing up dog poo. Barking. Extra worry and consideration when want to go out or on holiday.

More I love about having a dog though.

We keep coming back to not being able to go out for the day or overnight spontaneously. And seeing friends who have had massive vet bills. When it rains, the thought of getting a dog clean and dry seems no fun and then there is the wet dog smell.

These are the things I keep reminding myself!

The barking and the chewing. I haven't a sock to my name 🤣 he's now starting on my underwear

No dog right now, but had one most of my life. YY to the loss of spontaneity about going out. Getting up early to walk a dog seems to use up far more time than the actual walk warrants. And some of them eat shit. Like, literal shit off the streets.

They are a tie. No spontaneous nights or days out.

They are expensive when you add up all the insurance, flea/worming, grooming, boarding, food etc.

Having rushed him for emergency surgery this week I am having to be with him all the time until he recovers (this isn't the first time).

They eat and roll in anything and I mean anything (the more disgusting or rotten the better).

Overnight stays/long days away have to be planned more carefully.

Finding dog friendly accommodation/places to eat etc are difficult (although I think it’s getting better).

There always seems to be a muddy towel, from cleaning dog feet after a walk, on the floor. DH can't understand the point of picking it up when it will be in use again in a few hours time. It drives me crazy!

Muddy paw prints.. not being able to leave anything lying around that might get eaten!!

It is the walking to be fair. We do an hour a day and it can get too much over Christmas and when I’m under pressure with life. And if I’m not well. we never miss a walk but you need more than one person to help really. The only alternative is to get a toy dog that doesn’t need so much exercise.

then there is holidays…

You need some sort of back up in place that you can rely on.

having said that all the other stuff is brill! I love my dog.

So the negatives of having the dog. As others have said holidays, you need to arrange kennels or alternative which are an extra expense on top of the holiday. Mine licks her legs a lot, it sounds like nothing but gets really annoying when you've been listening to it for half an hour none stop. Wet dog food stinks. Picking up poo and then carrying a bag of poo half a mile to the next bin.

I love ours dearly

things that are difficult though

1. Being spontaneous - even something as simple as if both of us need to stay late at work or there's a massive train delay and we're in the same place
2. Going away and having to always find somewhere that is dog friendly then making sure wherever that is, the dog doesn't ruin it
3. Not being able to go overseas easily
4. The constant training - we went away to see family and couldn't take the dog and he stayed in kennels and he's come back as if he's never walked on a lead before. So back to the beginning again!

Also we have no grapes/raisins/dark choc in the house because he is a supreme food stealer and can sniff out contraband from a mile out

Very very tying. Can't go out for more than 4 hours. Holidays are pre expensive or driven by taking him
Poo in garden and it never feels really clean anymore in the house.
But I adore him and he gives more than he takes

They're more tying than children, they cost a fricken fortune, they can make you feel guilty AF and when they go, they break your bloody heart.

You may have a dog that ends up causing you more stress. The things I dislike about our dog:

• he is reactive to other dogs
• holidays are tricky as you can’t always leave them alone if you want to go somewhere without dogs
• he prefers my husband

There’s honestly nothing I hate about having a dog.

We are lucky in that we always have family on hand if we need him to stay somewhere. We are also lucky that he’s never given us a moment’s bother. He’s not a digger or chewer. He doesn’t moult or smell and he’s as happy to go for a 10 mile walk as he is to do a quick 5 minutes down the lane.

He did have fleas recently. That’s the most annoying thing I can think of, and that was sorted in no time.

The smell. We have two dogs, and I only notice how doggy our house smells when I walk in after being away for a bit, then I'm overwhelmed with horror. I have spent as much on candles, floor cleaning devices, Febreze and sundry other anti-dog-smell stuff as I have on their insurance. Which is significant.

Also, as well as the hair, mud, etc, mentioned above, there is also the niggling feeling that they might not be happy and you can never ask them. Their eyes are apparently programmed to make you feel guilty about something. Are they looking sadder than normal? Is that a limp? Do they hate me for getting another dog? Can they tell when we're going on holiday? Do they really like the kennels or are they just pretending to make me feel better?

Basically, no matter how hard my brain reminds me that IT IS JUST A DOG STOP THIS INSANITY I have to fight not to give them a human personality and accompanying emotional landscape. This might just be me. I WFH so they're effectively my office mates.

The tie- it’s less of a tie now but you have to think, ooh I need to be back in 4/5 hrs max for the dog whenever you leave AND factor in you’ll have to potentially do a very long walk before doing so.

I would urge anyone getting a dog to write down your comings and goings for a month- then write down what time you get up (and actually get up if you plan to get up an hour earlier / walk in the rain and the cold) factor in exercising the dog. Look at your budget, it’s not just food, can you afford a dog. Get insurance quotes, know that they can cost you hundreds a month.

My Lab eats Forthglade dog dinners £60 for 24 days when the food is on offer, has arthritis so £60 tablets, £160 Librela, £100 pain relief - this is every four weeks, he is 12 now though. He had a leg op when he was 5 he was insured but still had to contribute thousands. I love him so much and probably will get another but I am fortunate we can afford it.

(Anyone claiming benefit can get free PDSA treatment so that may be worth looking in to- you have to fall in certain postcode areas though.

Having a pet is fast becoming a luxury item.

My dog...She's intense. She follows me around everywhere..sometimes feels like having a stalker. I need my space!

When I was younger I thought animals were great for human mental health (and my own kids certainly gain loads from having pets). But now I'm a middle aged mum, the anxiety and stress of being responsible for yet another "person" far outweighs any mental health benefits. Don't get me wrong, I love my pets, they're great company etc, but I'm always worrying that I'm not looking after them perfectly (despite having had pets, and looking after them fine my whole life!) and there's always the fear of a major accident/illness.

Mine is sitting here farting like a bastard.

He has to go out for a walk even when it’s pissing it down, even when you’re really busy with other stuff or tired after work, even when you have the flu or vomiting bug or extreme depression and anxiety.

Holidays are a pain - it restricts where you can go and/or you have to book kennels

He has to have expensive food or he shits everywhere. Also insurance, vet plan for annual injections, worming etc etc. Costs a bloody fortune.

And don’t get me started on expressing his anal glands.

Dog hair
Dog smell on carpets and furniture
Dog farts
Them following you round everywhere and getting under your feet
Needing let in and out all the time
Having to walk it when you can't be arsed
Chewing your favourite shoes
Tipping the bin over and strewing rubbish all round the house
Pulling on the lead
Jumping up at visitors
Barking
Dog vomit
Picking up dog poo
Not being able to stay out as long as you like
It's awful when they die.