Thinking of getting a dog for emotional well-being

[Cokeacola]

But I’m also concerned about what stress a dog could also bring

what has been your experience of having a dog ?

I'm thinking Labrador, springer or beagle

All our dogs have been easy to fit into life here and they have brought great help to us and to children we have fostered.

They are distracting (in positive and negative ways) - good at total relaxation (you can learn from this) and they do get you up and out in wind/rain/snow (which though tough is actually positive in lifting mood and in getting life back in its right proportions).

However, they are not dolls - can can't pick them up when convenient and then leave them. You need to make a place for them in your routine just as you make a place for their basket and food in your house.

They are much easier to 'train' than children :) and much more forgiving when their upbringing is imperfect (due to willing but amateur parenting) and very loving (though not all like to hug and cuddle).

I used to be a dog walker for our local RSPCA kennels. Could you start with something like that? Springers and beagles are for experienced dog owners

Labs are lovely but eat you out of house and home (including eating the house!)

Getting a dog was more stressful than I ever imagined - I grew up with dogs my whole life but my mum & dad had done most of the "work" and I hadnt appreciated how much work it could be. Especially the first 2-3 years

Don't get me wrong, it's amazing and my Dd and the dog have an amazing bond.

My Dd is an age where can go out walking alone with her friends but o don't let her take the dog as she'd be too strong if she decided to pull.

So I'd take size into account when picking a breed. I have a lab and think it would take a fully grown adult/teen to hold her if she decided to pull/run

We have a now 3 year old black lab. The first 18 months were HARD, but we wouldn't change him for the world. He was headstrong, wanted to be in charge, just when we thought we had cracked puppyhood, adolescence hit at the speed of a high speed train. But we persisted, gave him firm boundaries and now we would not be without our gentle, loving cheeky boy. He is just a tonic. A dog is not a quick fix for MH - they take time and patience but in the long term they can be a support like no other.

We have a miniature poodle puppy. Just as we got her I had a bereavement in my family. I’ve been really upset but our puppy has been an amazing comfort. She’s been a dream to housetrain, she comes back when you call her and she’s always up for a cuddle.

The benefits of the unconditional love, companionship and necessary physical activity can't be under estimated but neither can the financial costs of food, vet care, holiday cover etc.
Lots of rescues need foster homes so maybe consider this as a taster to help you decide.
Please rescue and don't fund breeders. UK rescues are in absolute crisis with hundreds of innocent doggy victims of lockdown whims / cost of living crisis and IMO it's immoral for breeders to be continuing to profit whilst there are so many homeable animals needlessly suffering.

Have you considered getting a cat instead? They are really not much work at all, but love to cuddle.

I have a show cocker (not a slow cooker) he's 8 I've had him since he was a pup.

Puppies are fucking hard work and annoying BUT when he was big enough for proper walks the WALKS reduced my work stress quite a bit. Doesn't touch it now but that's not his fault it's my job.

From about 2 years old he's been a huge benefit I'm never alone and always needed. He is my shadow.

Really depends on whether the lifestyle changes required enhance your life or not.

Dd1 who is 13 has walked him alone for the past year but I use life 360 and It must be day time only.

Assuming you can commit to a couple of hours exercise a day and not leaving them home alone for more than four hours a day and have the time and energy to train them then great.

In terms of what age to let kids walk them alone I'd say older teenagers. Even if your dog is great they might encounter dogs which are aggressive to your dog and you don't want a child getting hurt trying to break that up.

Beagles are very hard work. I'd go with the lab. We'll I'd go with a rescue.

Those are very odd choices of breeds for someone who isn't 100% sure - what made you pick those?

We lost our elderly dog last year - he was 14. We'd had him 12 years so missed the puppy stage but it definitely added stress to our lives in terms of not being able to be spontaneous, paying for dog boarding, pet insurance (which thankfully covered ENORMOUS vet bills), and just the general day to day stuff like coming home to find out your kids left the bin open and now the whole downstairs is covered in rubbish or dealing with a dog when you all have a stomach bug and feel crap etc.

It’s not a good idea to see a dog as an emotional prop. There’s a lot of effort and stress involved in having a dog. For me it was worth it. But you can’t guarantee that there will be any benefit to your emotional wellbeing. Your dog could turn out to be difficult, unwell, or just a not very friendly cuddly dog. You’re still responsible for caring for him for life.
Children can lose interest in the practical aspects of dog ownership very quickly. Teenagers put their social lives first. As pp have said, you have to assume that the work will fall to you.

Our dog came in summer last year, she's a lovely dog, but needs plenty of exercise and play, so only invest if you've got time to invest in the dogs well-being too.
My DD is 14 but she doesn't take her out alone, she's a bit bouncy and pulley until she's had some time off lead to go a bit bonkers 😝
Tax paid with photo

Honestly I regret getting ours. He stresses me out really badly

I agree with @Alphabet1spaghetti2

I'm thinking Labrador, springer or beagle

that sentence is stress inducing! Not breeds I would choose for an easy life.

if you want emotional well-being I’d suggest smaller companion dogs -cairn, yorkie, shi tzu, toy poodle, bichon etc.

something that will sit with you, happy to have a couple of walks a day, with no great need for constant stimulation.

I would have to loved to have got a rescue but wasn't eligible, made several enquiries. It's not always that easy.

They're wonderful but hard work especially at the beginning. Our family dog was like a toddler! I couldn't realistically own one until retirement age.

Springers and beagles can be pressty full-on and stressful. A labrador might be better.

Are you up to full time commitment to walkies and poo picking even when it's dark, raining, you feel ill and your favourite TV serial is on? Can you afford the financial cost of food, vets, insurance, holiday kennels? Is your home absolutely pristine or can it take a bit of mud, hair, odours in its stride?

If you must, how about a rescue greyhound? They don’t demand loads of exercise and are mostly happy to chill. Plus lovely coats, like velvet, so there isn’t loads of shaggy fur to shed everywhere.

Definitely not a Springer!!!

Impossible to answer; it depends on location, the dog, the child, and how well trained and attuned they both are.

All those things are true and my rescue grey was delightful and waaaaaay easier than my spanner but she really struggled to be left alone even briefly and she needed a sitter even for a short time. We were very lucky in that we randomly met a chap who still raced a couple of dogs and he offered as hoc dog sitting (not free but v small fee) and she snoozed happily by his fire when we went somewhere.

No way I could have a grey working full time. My spanner is very used to me gong out to work and seems to cope well with it.