To ask if there's any good reason to *not* get a dog?

[homeworkinghubbard]

I've been thinking about getting a dog for ages, and I just want to ask you all if your collective wisdom might come up with any reasons for not getting one. We had loads of cats when I was younger, but I've never lived with a dog before.

I'm either at home or occasionally (a few hours, once a week) in a nearby office so I'm mostly about and have time to train it, my youngest child is 5, we've got a garden, we don't travel much and generally just within the uk, thinking about a greyhound-type for quietness and gentleness... is there anything I haven't considered? Is it very expensive? And if we did get one, are there any good breeders or is it only moral to go for a rescue?

Thank you for some cooler heads!

[Twooter]

Greyhounds are lovely. Not the best off the lead though so think about whether that will be an issue. Too prey driven.

[Sparklingbrook]

Dog slobber
Wet dog smell
The lick your face
They eat their own poo then lick your face
You have to carry their poo after scooping it up, still steaming. You have to do that in the pouring rain too and in the dark using a torch.
The expense
The endless walking
You have to let them get in your car after they have been swimming in the river then rolled in the mud.

Cats are the way to go.

[Foolytoo]

We were the same we over thought getting a dog for ages. We finally did it and I can't imagine life without her.
She's a rescue so toilet training didn't take long at all as shes 1.
We have a large garden and we take her out to garden 4 -6 times a day. One of those Times we will spend playing with her, throwing her ball for some exercise. We take her on huge long walks around 3-4 times a week depending on weather. She hates the rain and will just go out for the toilet and straight back in when weather is miserable which is perfect for me!
Shes so cuddly and happy all the time and I just love her. We hoover once every two days and keep her brushed. We bathe her around once a fortnight and we don't think our house smells, zoflora is great for misting everywhere too. But maybe I'm just used to the dog smell??
I wish we had got a dog sooner. I was brought up with dogs and they are lovely companions ❤
From my experience they are nowhere near as hard work as people warn you or go on about.

[Branleuse]

theyre a real bind.
Something might happen which makes your dog be unreliable. We were spoilt with our first dog , but the second one is lairy, unreliable with other dogs since she was attacked and now we have to be so careful on walks with her. Its really stressful. I wish we'd never got her

[HouseworkIsASin10]

Holidays and weekends away are a pain to organise if you don't have family to dogsit.

Kennels are expensive. You're looking at an extra £300 or so for a 2 week holiday, so don't forget to factor in that cost. Taking into account drop off the day before you go away and pick up the day after you get back.

When your elderly dog becomes incontinent and needs to go out to wee at all hours of the night. (Or pees in the house and the stink)

I've always had a dog and love them, but your life does become restricted.

[LadyinCement]

There are a million reasons to not get a dog. Yes, the hair, the food, the walks, the mud, the insurance bills...

But I look at my hairy boy asleep on my feet and I know I truly love him... and he loves me. The dcs adore him. He really is the heart of our home.

If you are an inexperienced dog owner (as we were!) I'd not recommend a rescue. There are obviously lovely rescue dogs, but most of the ones in rescue centres have landed up there because they have "issues": they're a difficult breed/cross, they bark a lot, they are old, have not been trained etc etc.

I would recommend looking on Champdogs for a local breeder. For a family pet you really can't go (much) wrong with a labrador. They tick all the boxes. Nearly every breed has some minus point.

[Redhead17]

Vet bills, going away for one night or longer is a pain, they stink, they eat home work ()

[thatwouldbeanecumenicalmatter]

Not had a dog but wished more people were like the OP and actually gave the negatives serious thought.

From DH experience of greyhounds in his office, they are massive trip hazards - apart from the daft 20 minute sprint they need a few times a day they are practically horizontal. Apparently their farts are the worst, they're tall enough to pinch lunches from desks but despite this I swear other than income the only other reason he goes to work is that there's dogs to play with

[FairyDogMother11]

It's expensive, feeding them decent food, insuring them, vets bills. This week I've spent nearly £70 on a five minute vet consultation and a weeks worth of anti inflammatories for a poorly foot. My excess on my (already expensive) insurance is £100 so wouldn't bother claiming it. This is the second time in three months. We have two greyhounds and they actually do shed quite a lot, I hoover twice daily. I only planned on getting one dog, so I'd also like to warn you about the separation anxiety which is very common in greyhound types which meant we HAD to get a friend for our boy. He chewed, he wet himself, he cried, my house was a state whenever I went out to the point where I didn't want to go out. I was at the end of my tether. Advice from his kennels and a few other greyhound owners? Get a friend. So we did and that has cured it but our outgoings have over doubled as his friend is older and her insurance is triple his. It's hard work, but I wouldn't be without them!

[Badbadbird]

Even the best trained dog will be destructive if they get bored. Greyhounds need a good amount of exercise each day.

If you must get a dog consider one from a shelter.

[Soubriquet]

They are a massive commitment

We have one. Just got a puppy 2 weeks ago. Sometimes it is very hard work when she's charging around biting everything or pinching toys and legging it but I would be without her.

She's so loving and loyal and gives me a good reason to get out of the house everyday whether I like it or not

[FairyDogMother11]

Also as a previous poster has said they're not good off lead. We can't let either of ours off lead so walks tend to be a bit longer than they would if we could just let them run.

[Bluebeedee]

Greyhounds need LOTS of exercise. When I looked after my parents dog (similar breed) I realised that all the places to walk dogs around here ask for dogs to be kept on leads, and we had to drive out somewhere so he could have a proper run around.

I love dogs so not saying you shouldn't get one, just breed/amount of the exercise they need is something to consider

[CakeAhoy]

They occasionally attempt to eat your children.

[homeworkinghubbard]

Thank you again, everyone! Lots to think about. I really like the idea of fostering too - that might be a great introduction if it's available round here.

[Whiterabbitears]

I've grown up with dogs and like them but they are hard work and a massive responsibility. Going by my upstairs neighbours these are reasons NOT to get a dog.

1. Leaving it alone too long, they can bark and howl for hours on end, disrupting neighbours and causing stress to the dog.
   
2. They need proper training because they if they don't they can be badly behaved and annoying.
   
3. You can't go on holiday or a weekend away unless proper arrangements are made which can work out expensive.
   
4. They need regular vaccinations and vet check ups which can also be expensive.
   

IMO these are all important factors which need careful consideration, I think too many people get a dog on a whim without understanding their needs. Like my sodding neighbours!!

[MissisQuigley]

Vomit stains are IMPOSSIBLE to remove from carpets, they start off orange and then go black!

[OneFlewOverTheDodosNest]

Do you still have cats OP? If so I wouldn't risk a greyhound as they never lose the chasing / hunting instinct even if raised with cats from a pup. There was a really upsetting story on here about a MNetter who came home to find their dog had killed their cat despite them living together happily for years.

[getdownshep]

We had a lurcher, he was brilliant with humans. Wanted to kill every other living creature though which made walks a nightmare.
I have two smallish dogs now and I love them but these are going to be my last.
As others have said,vets bills as they get older and insurance gets very expensive, grooming £35 every 6 weeks, can't go out for longer than 3/4 hours or I have to get a dog sitter.
My dogs don't shed or smell but they can be yappy if not supervised in the garden.
My friend has a cat, she has a timer feeder and can swan off whenever she feels like it,much easier!

[homeworkinghubbard]

OneFlew No, no other pets.

MissisQuigley

[GinGeum]

One gosh, that's terrible. DP thinks I'm ridiculous for keeping the cat and dog separate if ever I pop out, because they completely ignore each other these days. But you just never know.

[bigsighall]

You just never really know how they'll turn out ... even puppies.
We have 2. One is lovely lovely lovely and I wouldn't be without him.
The other is a massive pain in the ass and if I could turn back time I would!
Barks all the time, allergic to everything, won't sleep, totally neurotic, steals everything, wrecks everything, escapes and runs off all the time, no one will look after him when we go away (without bribery!!) He is 12. It's been HARD going. I would think we were bad dog owners if it wasn't for the other angel!!

[Foolytoo]

OP, silver fox dog rescue are looking for foster people all over the UK, check out their Facebook page xx

[pottered]

vomit stains, destructive puppy phase, never being able to put a plate down without your dog trying to clean it, never being able to load the dishwasher without your dog trying to clean it, the feeling of constantly being followed, hassled for an hour before each mealtime, all weather walkies, dog wakes you up for bf even if the children can get their own.
Your neighbours and other parents on the school run watching you try and scrape poop from the pavement.

The death of any kind of 'the white company' home. the expensive vet bills - my dog is worth his weight in gold.

I love my retriever, he's a lovely, lovely dog. But there are some drawbacks!

[pottered]

oh yes, a family member has greyhounds - they hate all cats, and other dogs - hers are rescue ones, and all breeds vary a lot of course.