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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think owning a dog is not as hard work as everyone makes out?

139 replies

FidoAndHisBone · 08/05/2012 21:28

I had a dog until I was about 25 and I found it pretty straightforward. I lived abroad and often where I lived people don't keep their dogs indoors but mine was.

I suppose the hardest part was not being able to leave him alone, I didn't ever leave him alone for more than about 3 hours but to be honest that was the only difficult part, apart from when he had to be put down, that was devastating.

I am now married with 3 DC and we are planning to get another dog but every single person I've mentioned it to (funnily enough none of them dog owners) has told me what incredibly hard work it is... I am a SAHM so will spend most of my time with him and I love long walks. Obviously I am more than happy to put the time in to train him too!

OP posts:
mangomadness · 09/05/2012 18:52

I have a basset and an otterhound, and have a small Victorian cottage. Mine run around the garden playing rather than in the house too much. Today I had to physically pull the otterhound off the settee to go outside, much more of a couch potato breed than people think. However greyhounds are the best for first time owners in my opinion, we used to rescue them. My husband had never had a pet before he met me, and I landed him with two houndy hounds! However it's only worked because I've always had bassets etc, along with other breeds, otherwise I think he'd have struggled with his idea of a dog and the reality of a stubborn basset. Especially as when he met me I had a lovely lab.

Booboostoo · 09/05/2012 18:56

Dogs are exactly like children, they radically change your life but for most people it is a change for the better. A puppy is not quite as difficult as a baby but there are many similarities, e.g. sleepless nights, toilet training, socialisation, etc., so you need time and patience. Very similarly to babies, what kind of puppy you end up with may be down to luck, some sleep through with no problems, some howl for weeks on end, some settle with a chew, some take your house apart, some are chilled out with little exercise, some are hyper after 3 hours off the lead, etc. If you are interested in training, socialising and exercising a dog, the experience can be incredibly rewarding and enriching - if not, it can be a nightmare which is why there are so many dogs in rescues.

MissBetsyTrotwood · 09/05/2012 19:02

There's a pointy hounds love in thread over at The Doghouse gafhyb . Wink

Original poster
FidoAndHisBone · 09/05/2012 19:14

Our youngest DC is 20 months, do you think a dog is out of the question because of this?

OP posts:
batsintheroof · 09/05/2012 19:24

I don't think it's a problem at all Fido- were you thinking about a puppy though? If you wanted a lab type dog you can get failed guide dogs. I think you have to wait some time though. The only issue with labs/retrievers is that they are INCREDIBLY inbred. The incidence of hip dysplasia and other health problems is high. You have to make sure both the parents have been tested for good hip scores and even then you have to expect the worst :(

batsintheroof · 09/05/2012 19:26

BTW retrievers have even more health problems than labs

KitchenandJumble · 09/05/2012 19:28

My dog is definitely not hard work. He is lovely. We've had him since he was a puppy, and though his ancestry includes energetic breeds (border collie/Australian shepherd mix), he is not one of those bouncing-off-the-walls types. He loves his walks, he adores playing fetch, but he is also quite content to spend a quiet evening inside.

He was ridiculously easy to housetrain, and he very rarely barks in the house. I wish I could say that this was down to my superior dog-training skills (ha!), but in fact he just is this way. We adore him.

I wouldn't say that a dog is out of the question because of the age of your youngest, OP. I think you mentioned a golden retriever or lab? Both breeds tend to be wonderful with children.

Original poster
FidoAndHisBone · 09/05/2012 19:29

We were thinking of getting a lab/retriever crossed with a poodle. A friend has one and it is an amazing dog, he also seems to have less health problems than the pedigree labs I have known in the past.

OP posts:
bamboobutton · 09/05/2012 19:30

i think ya a bit u. grown up dogs are a breeze.

puppyhood, on the other hand, is a massive chore of socialising, house training and general behaviour training. i really cannot be arsed with that at the moment which is why i am waiting until my youngest has started school before i commit to a dog.

clam · 09/05/2012 19:34

Hmm, hard work? Well, I'd say yes, in many ways - must have walks whatever teh weather/state of your hangover health, need ttime and effort put in for training, some types need grooming a lot and, regardless of breed, they will tramp mud and dust through the house no matter what. Mine makes more mess by dumping his toys around the place than both kids put together.

I knew it would be this way. That's why I resisted the idea for so long. But at least I have dh and dcs on board for sharing the load, otherwise I'd be pretty fed up.

On the plus side, he is pure, unadulterated affection, companionship and loyalty. He's never in a grump, he just loves us, whatever we're like. And we've had a load of fun with him.

PorkyandBess · 09/05/2012 19:37

Our one year old dog is easy, always has been. Perfect in the house - had a bit of a nutter phase off lead at around 9 months, but is great now. He has never chewed anything or been a pest. He's happy with a 15 minute walk on the lead or 2 hours off lead, haring around. He barks at sirens, but that's it.

My mil's dog (same age) otoh, is a complete pain. I can't leave her alone for 5 minutes as she'll find something very bad to do. She is really very naughty.

batsintheroof · 09/05/2012 19:38

OP this thread www.mumsnet.com/Talk/the_doghouse/1460340-How-much-did-you-pay-for-a-labradoodle-golden-doodle in the doghouse may help you out a bit!

Labradoodles do still have health problems, so I'd still ask for hip scores. The main problem is that the puppies from this crossing come mainly from 'back yard breeders' who are just after a quick buck. The parents may have had many litters already and the welfare of the adult dogs isn't a consideration.

There is the Labradoodle Trust if you wanted to go for rescue though.

EdlessAllenPoe · 09/05/2012 19:38

", he also seems to have less health problems than the pedigree labs I have known in the past."

. cross breeding is absolutely no substitute for hip scores on both parents. doodles get hip dyplasia also.

don't be suckered in by 'hybred vigour' - tis a myth.
how inbred any dog is will depend on the care taken by their breeder - same goes for x-breeds. there are some extremely inbred x-breeds about.

an adult lab to rehome would be a better known quantity in terms of health and behaviour than any doodle puppy.

BusinessTrills · 09/05/2012 19:40

Being responsible for a creature that you can't leave alone for more than 3 hours at a time doesn't sound particularly easy or straightforward or "no hassle really" to me at all!

batsintheroof · 09/05/2012 19:45

I leave my dog for up to 5 hours. Depends what breed/age you get.

poppy283 · 09/05/2012 19:49

My parents have a dog that my sister thinks is hers (she lives there too) and maintains that the dog should be afforded the same respect and consideration as my Dd (21m). Actually more, if we are at parents' house, because it's the dog's house too.

Not sure what my point is, perhaps that people are a lot harder work than dogs?!

gafhyb · 09/05/2012 19:51

Thanks Betsy - will have a look

Have fallen in love with a lurcher on the Battersea Dog home website

birdofthenorth · 09/05/2012 20:01

We've had two labs for 4.5 years and FIL still took me aside this weekend to point out how much easier out lives would be without them!!

Yes, they were hard work as pups, and yes, walking them as well as a newborn/ toddler in the rain isn't a great laugh, & yes, I sometimes come home and find they have shredded a box of Weetabix. And they have cost us a small fortune in insurance, food, vet bills & occasion kennel trips- but I wouldn't be without themSmile

birdofthenorth · 09/05/2012 20:03

PS one of my labradoodles is fit as a fiddle. The other has had hip problems from day one.

Original poster
FidoAndHisBone · 09/05/2012 20:06

birdofthenorth - Oh no, that must be tough for the poor dog. if the parent lab/retriever is hip scored does this mean they are less likely to inherit problems?

OP posts:
batsintheroof · 09/05/2012 20:16

You need to get poodle hip scored as well- Hip dysplasia is also common in poodles. Good hip scores reduces the chance of problems in the puppies but genetics isn't that simple. It is just rife in many breeds now, but especially lab/retrievers. It's a sliding scale not a yes/no thing and environment plays a huge part too.

Original poster
FidoAndHisBone · 09/05/2012 20:37

batsintheroof - should I ask for both parents hip scores then? If my dog does get hip dysplasia will the treatment be covered by insurance? Thanks

OP posts:
FartBlossom · 09/05/2012 20:40

Thanks for this thread OP. We want a dog at some point once we're ready. I was going to put a thread up asking for advice on the dog section of MN, but Im not sure I need to now. We just need to get a gate for the back garden to make it secure.

I want one that is a couple of years old and I really enjoy walking. Even really heavy rain doesn't put me off. Once you're wet, you're wet. I go for runs now and when Ive finished I tend to walk for longer on the way home just because I want to carry on walking.

I was thinking of going to the dogs trust so they can match us up with one great for us.

Original poster
FidoAndHisBone · 09/05/2012 20:41

FartBlossom - from what I can gather on this thread a greyhound would be the dog for you!

OP posts:
FartBlossom · 09/05/2012 20:44

DH will be pleased with that. I dont really care, but I dont want a small yappy thing.

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