To think that you should only get a dog that suits your lifestyle and home

[CeliaFate]

Four of my friends have got a dog in the last 2 years. They're all big dogs, completely untrained. They jump up, drag on the lead, bark incessantly and are a complete pain. My friends live in small houses, with young children and work full time.
They love their dogs but moan about their behaviour constantly.

Why in the name of arse didn't they do their research and pick a dog that was more suitable?

AIBU?

Or just train their dogs?

I agree that it's about the training, and it doesn't sound like any of your friends should have a dog. Or possibly even a pet.

They love their dogs and treat them well in their defence. But one has a tiny terraced house and the biggest, slobberiest dog ever. He comes and sits on the sofa next to you and drools. They don't mind it. boak But I just don't understand why you'd make your life more difficult just to have a dog that you like the look of, rather than one you can live with less stressfully.

Training is simple and effective. I have two dogs (one border collie that was DH's mother's, a Dalmatian and we had a husky that was DH's from his adolescent years that died about fifteen years ago) Dalmatians are a bit stupid but are lovely and easy to train and the border collie is just a lovely but much more intelligent.

Training is simple and effective? Really? I had a Jack Russell and I think we tried everything to get him to walk to heel. He just couldn't get it. In retrospect he didn't suit our lifestyle- and if that is the case no amount of training will help.

But they are not treating them well if they are not training them, like with children, it isn't enough to feed and play with them, they need socialising and manners to be able to live in the world.
Not the drooling, that's just part of a dog.
But jumping up, barking and general lack of training? Unfair to the dog and other people.

It's all about researching to find a breed that suits your lifestyle rather than picking a dog for looks. We wanted a small, low energy, sweet tempered dog. We got a cavalier King Charles spaniel after months of looking.

Yup, training. My lurcher loves practising new things, in fact 10-15 minutes of brainwork tires him out more than a 2 hour walk. Which is quite handy as we have a small house and he's a fairly big chap so no room for bouncy, overexcited hounds.

Yup, training. My lurcher loves practising new things, in fact 10-15 minutes of brainwork tires him out more than a 2 hour walk. Which is quite handy as we have a small house and he's a fairly big chap so no room for bouncy, overexcited hounds.

We've got 2 12 stone Cane Corsos and a 9 stone American Bulldog, they fit in our lifestyle though, although they do cost a bomb to feed but wouldn't change them, it's not fair for a big dog to be in a small house

I agree. My friend has a pointer. I can't bear it slopping over me and sniffing my crotch. They work ft and are away a lot. Small car too.

Why????

I wanted a dog all my life but didn't think it was at all fair or practical to get one while DH and I worked full time.

So, at 40, when I got my long awaited pfd, I was determined she would be suitable and brilliantly trained so she'd be a pleasure to live with...Things didn't quite go to plan, and she turned out to be a completely nutty, nippy puppy who grew into a nutty, overconfident, independent, high maintenance mare! But she has a very sweet nature and loves everyone so we do love her.

So OP, YANBU, but sometimes the best laid plans...

But what I don't understand is why you'd stack the odds against yourself? Don't get a Husky and be surprised it needs a lot of exercise, don't get a Beagle and expect it to recall from an interesting scent, don't get a Collie and be surprised if it makes it's own entertainment if you don't give it something constructive to do.

But what I don't understand is why you'd stack the odds against yourself?

Yes, that's exactly my point. Why make it harder for yourself?

If they are happy to have their dog slobbering on their furniture that's up to them. I don't like animals on furniture, but some people do.
I have a big dog in a small house, but she'd is well trained, gets plenty of exercise, and is rarely left.
I don't personally think anyone should get any dog, big or small, unless they have time to be with it and train it though.

If you are not willing to train your dog then you should get a cat. There is no breed of dog that does fine with no training.

YANBU at all OP. If you want a pet you don't need to train, get a cat.

YANBU. I like dogs, but can't stand to be around untrained dogs. One of my sisters rescue dogs is a huge American Bulldog x Staffie and he was a nightmare at first, but she has trained him and he no longer jumps up at people, pulls on his lead and he listens to instructions.

It's really unfair on a dog not to be trained, as it can't be much fun getting told off all the time.

Dogs wouldn't suit my lifestyle so I have four lovely cats.

I don't think it's fair to bring a dog into your family and then leave it alone while you're out at work all day. Dogs are inherently social animals - though I did have an incredibly cat-like Cairn once. I've desperately missed having a dog for years because my lifestyle (work, housing, then babies) made it completely impractical. I've been a persistent dog borrower from friends and neighbours to compensate. Now I'm working from home, in a decent-sized house with a big garden, I've just got to wait for DD to get a bit bigger before the doggy-shaped hole in my life can finally be filled.

Yanbu. I'd love a dog, something small like a beagle or pug, but between kids and uni and dh's working hours we just don't have the time for what would essentially be another child.

I also think pet insurance should be a requirement to have a dog. My cousin has a staffy which is better behaved than my ds but she can't afford pet insurance. Which is fine until the dog needs treatment for something.

YANBU

It's just common sense. Which is becoming increasingly uncommon....