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

I adore my dog but he is bloody relentless. A Velcro spaniel so I can’t even go for a wee without him tagging along. It gets a bit annoying after a while. He hates anyone coming to the door and gets stressed so chews his bed, he constantly whinges for no apparent reason, costs me an absolute fortune in food, insurance and medication.
Then there’s the endless walking in all weathers.

He’s currently asleep on the sofa beside me all cute and cuddly but give it half an hour and it’ll be like having a toddler on speed again.

As well as the smells, the hair, the poo, the expense, having to walk in the cold and the rain and the fact we don't go abroad because he is too neurotic for kennels (rescue) he has aslo decided I am his person and hates for me to be out of his sight. Which is typical of his breed, but a bit wearing when you are the object of devotion. He likes the rest of the family too, but makes it obvious I am his favourite.

I love him to bits, and wouldn't be without him, but I think he will be my last dog when he goes.

picking poop up, having to consider him if i want to go out all day/for the weekend if he can't come with me.
the cost of the food/vet fee.
the late night wake ups if he needs to pee.
the barking at squirrels/pigeons/people walking past the house
not being able to answer the door without making sure he is shut in.

i love him to death, but i 'inherited' him from a parent, and honestly, i won't get another when he is gone.. i prefer cats.

honestly, I resisted for years. We finally got one 18 months ago and he is just everything. Yes, there is a cost (which is considerable once you get a half decent insurance policy in place and feed them right) and yes, and in my house we're a bit lazy at the weekends so sometimes come down late to pee and poo but that's our fault, not his.

He is an amazing friend and companion. He is sweet natured, makes me laugh and is always, always happy to see me. Really happy. Like knock you down and run around like a nutter happy.

I love our dog, she's pretty well behaved and doesn't moult so no hair to clean up but she is an added complication. So any plans I make I have to factor in ddog as well which means what could be an easy task is much more difficult. Other than that I sometimes hate walking her when it's really cold and wet, I hate it when she wants to get up at eight o clock on a Sunday when I could have a lie in and her barking at anything that passes the window drives me potty at times.

I don't hate anything about having a dog. I even find that old dirty dog smell comforting. The hateful thing is when they are very ill and when they die. All the rest is wonderful.

Definitely not being able to go on holiday as much as we'd like. They are a big tie.

The way she stinks (and I mean STINKS) when she's wet.

Still love her though

Two things.
Washing Fox shit off their necks.
When they die.

I think if you are considering a dog for emotional support you are right to think carefully about the stress of having a puppy or a 'new to you' dog. I love the very bones of my dogs, but for ddog2 I am his emotional support human as he has worries about things and as a pp said, you can't ask them about what is worrying them.
They are a tie, expensive (something will always need a vet visit at the worst time), need a lot of input to get and keep a well rounded dog (for instance ddog2 loved lockdown as we were all safe in the house and has taken a lot of getting reaquainted with the big world of people again), they don't always want to obey your rules, bring in mud, dirt, hair and slobber (in varying amounts depending on dog), and at some point you will get dog poo on your hand

Yes to the lack of spontaneity. My dog brings so much joy to my life and is pretty easy going. Having him in my life brings way more pros than cons but there is no getting away from the fact that we have to plan ahead if we want to be out of the house for longer than 4hrs at a stretch.

Another thing is the training. Thankfully, I enjoy it and have a biddable dog but it’s important to understand that training is a lifelong task with dogs. They don’t just learn the manners or the task and that’s it done, fixed in, forever. You have to spend their lifetime reinforcing that behaviour, positively.

Yes, the walking in all weathers, in the cold & dark (unless you get a dog who doesn’t like that kind of thing). Mine doesn’t seem to notice and so we are out in all weathers. Get good waterproofs, would be my advice!

The insane neediness of one of our two. She's improved, but I think we need to gently work on it.

Housetraining is horrible while it lasts.

Also, the sanctimonious attitude of some dog owners if you do something 'wrong' - feed them 'wrong', follow the 'wrong' training philosophy etc - can get a bit wearing.

The pluses outweigh the minuses though. We both get loads more fresh air and exercise than we would otherwise, and I enjoy training the dogs as well.

We've been invited to a family party at the other end of the country - only 1 of us can go because we can't leave the dog (an elderly dog who wouldn't cope in kennels)

Even if we drove down with him, we wouldn't be able to leave him alone in the hotel room (he gets anxious & has also started having accidents)

Usually my mum would look after him, but she's going to be at the party too.

That dh seems to think him going to London for work on a non workfrom home day should be no problem for dear dog ane he can just be alone... as his dog did when he was a child. (Dear your mum was a sahm). No dear he needs doggy daycare

Perhaps that's more a dh problem the dog issue is if you usually work then ad hoc is harder.

I've had dogs for the last 15 years. I can say the single worst thing is not being able to go away on a whim, whenever you feel like it, whether that be a long day trip, weekend or longer holiday. It's incredibly tying.

Our youngest dog is 8. Once we lose him we won't be getting another for a good while as I want to have complete freedom to do what I want, when I want.

Not being able to go out for more than half a day unless it’s somewhere you can take dogs but ours is a reactive rescue so even ‘dog friendly’ places s to ok aren’t suitable
fog hair everywhere, I’m every single nook and cranny even upstairs where he has never been
clothes coming out the washing machine still covered in hair
dog smell
dog poo all over the garden
constant sound - either barking or gnashing on a bone or clip clacking of claws on the floors
not being able to put any food out anywhere not even on the kitchen side without it being eaten
not being able to walk through a door without the dog trying to come too
fear dog might go for someone one day
dog drool
mud and probably poo on stuff no matter how often you clean
expense of food and insurance and vets
fear of something happening to them
fear of them escaping
smell
hair
bot being able to have people over has some people don’t like dogs and it’s not very relaxing haveing drinks and nibbles with a dog jumping on you every 5 minutes
glases of wine etc being knocked over by tail every 2 minutes

Not being able to go out for more than 4 hours maximum.
Not being able to go in holiday as I have no one to leave him with.

Having a dog in a very dirty passion. You will stink, your clothes will stink, your house will stink. And walking about with poo in my pockets is a no from me.

My problem is my dog wants me for emotional support all of the time. he follows me everywhere, even into the toilet and from room to room. He is petrified of fireworks , hairdryers, gunshots etc. We can no longer have arguments , raise our voices or swear as he doesn't like this and gets upset ! He has very rarely been shouted at but does not like any kind of conflict going on not that it ever happens regularly. Sometimes he even gets upset if there is just raised voice banter going on without anyone getting angry at anyone else. Having said all this he is a lovely loving dog and I wouldn't be without him even though he is hard work. Our other dog is a lot easier but so naughty, stealing stuff etc.

Yes definitely the holiday issue. I don't like leaving my nervous dog with anyone after the last time we went away and he came back with terrible seperation anxiety and fleas which took months to get rid of. We left him once and have not been abroad since. We just holiday in the Uk and he comes everywhere with us !

They break your heart when they go

Mine is terrible I the car, whines and barks, so we can’t even go away here.

I don’t hate anything about him, he’s wonderful and is a massive emotional support but I do dislike it when he comes in from a muddy walk and shakes all over the walls, which I then have to clean 🙈.

When you find dog snot/ear wax up your white walls an wardrobes when they shake/sneeze but it's worth it

The holiday situation (though since getting her, weve usually holidayed in the UK and brought her with us), picking up poo, and having to walk them daily even when it's freezing. But the bond between us and her is so strong it makes it all worthwhile.