AIBU or is DP- getting a dog

[coralpig]

Trying to be as objective as possible in this post as DP thinks I'm being unreasonable.

DP and I are a young couple, we're in our mid 20s, getting married this summer and just bought our first home. We are lucky enough to own it outright but we don't have a lot of disposable income- we're still studying so we live on his student loan and my PhD stipend which runs out in 18 months. I'm not on track to finish on time so potentially looking at up to a year with no income or very little income - whatever I can get from ad hoc teaching.

DP is 2 years off qualifying as a doctor so going into a stable career. I'm trying to become a lecturer but I'm certainly not guaranteed a job anywhere in the UK, let alone where we're currently living.
We both work and volunteer part time so generally out of the house until the evenings and I travel most weekend. We have small pets.
That's the context.

DP really really wants us to get a dog within a year and has researched dog breeds that are compatible with 9-5 working. He's desperate. He thinks we can afford it because we don't have rent/ a mortgage to pay.
He grew up with pet dogs and loves them.

I love dogs but I don't think we can. My arguments are that we don't have much money, we should build up savings as we hope to start a family in 3-4 years. We also don't have jobs yet and may have to consider moving.

I also don't think it's fair on the dog as we are so busy and our home is quite small.

DP thinks I'm being really unreasonable and keeps bringing it up. AIBU?

YAdefinitelyNBU. You really are not in a situation to get a dog. I'm a vet and a qualified APBC behaviourist and trust me, there is no breed of dog that is 'compatible' with being left alone all day every day. Dogs need human company. It is tantamount to cruelty to leave them on their own for hours on end, a walk at lunchtime isn't enough. Is your DP also prepared for you never to go out together in the evenings or at weekends to anywhere that you can't take the dog? No rescue or good breeder would rehome or sell you a dog/puppy in this situation.

My DP and I have 2 dogs, and it can be hard juggling them with everything else in life. It works for us though because he is self employed in a very outdoorsy industry so is either at home with them or out in the field and they go with him. They are 3 and 5 and have no issues being left but the longest we will leave them in one go is 4 hours, and not every day.

In case your DP comes up with it, getting more than one dog isn't the answer either. Yes dogs can be company for each other, but they need human company, exercise and mental stimulation. You would end up with two bored, lonely, potentially destructive and noisy dogs. I see it all the time in consultations.