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!

[IfYouGoDownToTheWoodsToday]

Also think about when they get older. Ours is 14 and she has always been lovely.

But her personality has changed in the last year, she's like a very grumpy old lady! She also wakes up at 5 every blooming day. Its getting a bit wearing to say the least.

[Blobby10]

I have two ageing labradors and whilst they have been a huge amount of fun over the years, now the children have left home for college/uni and my husband and I divorced, their care is all on my shoulders.

I am very fortunate to be able to leave them with my parents during the day whilst at work and they will also have them evenings and weekends if I want to go out but I feel guilty about this for both dogs AND parents!!!

Poo picking up, doggy mess in the house (worse now they are older), hairs, smell - all that is manageable but what gets me now is the total lack of spontaneity in my life. I can't even sit in a pub garden for the afternoon and let is meander into the evening cos I have to get back to walk and feed the dogs. Spontaneous nights out are a no-no and if I DO go out, I have to be back before midnight to let them out again.

Please please please think long term and whether any changes to your lifestyle as your children grow up will affect your doggie ownership! If I knew then what I know now, I probably wouldn't have had dogs, despite the fun they have been,.

[Hulder]

Greyhounds do not need lots of exercise! Similar breeds may but an ex-racer will likely go for a short walk, feel it's done for the day and then want to laze around on your sofa until dinner time.

They are notoriously lazy.

If you are interested in greyhounds, start a greyhound thread as they are pretty different idle compared to the typical chews everything, slobbers everywhere dog.

[Oblomov17]

We've all always wanted a dog. Ds's are desperate. But I don't think we are going to get one. I fear a lot of it will fall to me.

[winglesspegasus]

all of the above reasons
consider using a professional trainer and let all fam members participate/since you havent done this before.
especially a child who hasnt been raised with dogs or cats for that matter

also greyhounds are one of the fastest creatures on land.
being hounds they also like to track interesting smells
and once they want to go they runrun run and are gone gone gone
pretty good fence jumpers
talk to a local trainer that can address your experience/requirements(lots of smooth coated dogs out there)
all puppies chew (they are teething and doing what comes natural again training is important) most all dogs shed to some extent.
if you want a larger dog consider a lab/still have shedding but they are lovable loyal idiots easy to socialize and adore kids.

[pottered]

if anyone's on the fence, borrowmydoggy is a nice idea - my dog used to be borrowed.

What would really be ideal is a dog share with someone that lived reasonably close to you!

[InDubiousBattle]

Another thing i never even considered (not having a dog myself) is that even if you decide not to bother with the expense of kennels, find suitable accomodation and take your dog on holiday with you, you might not be able to go to the beach. Apparently loads of beaches don't allow dogs in season.

[1nsanityscatching]

They are hard work, you end up walking in wind, rain, hail and snow, you pick up their shit, they roll in and eat other animal's shit, they bring loads of mud in with them and shake it all over the walls and floors and they destroy their toys and leave stuffing everywhere.
BUT they love you when you are grumpy, miserable or happy.They greet you as a long lost friend even if you only nipped to the loo. They are a fantastic source of comfort when you are sad and they give you a reason to smile and laugh every day and it just isn't home without the dog.
Do it OP the rewards outweigh the bad bits 100 times over.

[CMOTDibbler]

I would like to point out that many of the greyhounds and lurchers in rescue are not there because they have issues, but because they are a by product of the racing and hunting 'industry'.
And though some greyhound/lurchers are very prey driven (and may have been forced into that through the way they are trained through starvation), its more that they can run fast enough to catch things if they choose. A MNetter posted that her toy poodles had killed a cat in her garden, so no dog should be left unattended where the cats can't escape - my cats have safe spaces even now

[SummerMummy88]

I have a dog, I love him to bits but he is very tying, you can't just wake up and fancy a full day out because you have a dog who needs walk and company. Want to have a mini break in the uk... lots of holiday cottages charge ridiculous amounts extra for dogs and then you can't do much but go on long walks when you are there, no meals out on holiday either because you Can't leave the dog alone in many of the cottages. I love my dog and glad I have him but when he passes I will not get another one.

[winglesspegasus]

dh calls dogs the ultimate optimists
ah theres my human i love you i love you
gone 5 minutes or 5 days they still love you

[LadyinCement]

Dogs are a tie, but they are also a marvellous excuse as in, "Oh, sorry to be leaving so soon, got to get back to the dog," or "Love to come, but can't leave the dog."

[Hulder]

CMOT absolutely. Parents' ex-racer was not remotely interested in a run about once it knew it was going to get 3 full meals a day. I

It also wasn't bothered by cats that were dog-experienced and made friends with a neighbour's cat - sadly mine have limited experience of dogs so would run away from it which triggered the prey drive so dog visits to my house came to an end.

Friends with greyhounds have had similar experiences - minimal shedding, daft as a brush, need an enclosed space to do any running off lead as recall limited to none but not all of them even interested in a run, all of them interested in a lot of lazing about on sofas.

[Oliversmumsarmy]

I do know an ex racing greyhound who lived with cats. He was an ex racing greyhound because he didn't chase the bunny. Cat was his best friend

[1nsanityscatching]

Summermummy we take ddog away four or five times a year around the UK. Lots of dog friendly cottages and never had to pay extra and we eat out every day by checking the local guides for pubs and restaurants that accept dogs. We find that the further North you go the more dog friendly it seems to be. We went to Dumfries area and ddog was welcome everywhere pubs and shops alike.

[SootSprite]

Downsides to having a dog in the family:

Your feet will be very warm in the summer when they decide that your feet actually make a good base to lie on.

They fart, then look distraught when you laugh at them, making you feel guilty.

You won't be allowed to cry alone, they will always push their way in for a cuddle.

You won't be able to move around the house if there's a thunderstorm (or fireworks) as your dog will plant themselves firmly into your lap and shake for hours.

You will no longer be able to enter your house in an aura of calm as they will excitedly run to greet you (even if you've only been gone a couple minutes).

Your guard dog will inevitably turn out to be a total wuss as you end up with a seven stone Rottweiler on your lap, shaking because there's a spider on the floor (I'm looking at you SootDog).

😂🐶😍

[BarkeepersFriend]

They don't live forever, the net result being heartbreak (speaks from experience).

[shinyredbus]

i have two - they are small though so not that much of a problem - my issue is when we go away and the shedding. I knew all of this before i bought them though so its something i accepted.

If you were to get a greyhound/lurcher type the thing would be if you could commit to the long walks they need daily - and if you had somewhere near you where they could run around. If you are in a city - are there parks nearby where it would be safe for them to exercise? They need a lot of running - my friend has two and is out about 4 hours a day, thats her biggest commitment. Food as well - the costs are high if you want good quality stuff. Vet bills, insurance, and boarding/housesitting if you ever needed it.

Other than that - dogs are wonderful to have and a great companion. Wouldn't be without my two

[LightDrizzle]

I love dogs and have one currently and others in the past.
They cost more than people think: insurance, annual vaccinations, vet bills (insurance has excess amounts), kennels or petsitter, quality food etc. Chronic ear and skin problems are surprisingly common and really add up.
They are also very tying. People tend to remember they need to pay for kennels/sitter for holidays, but forget that days out pose a problem, unless they are dog friendly. Relatives move, and have their own commitments so even if they are lining up with offers to sit, they may evaporate when when you come back with a specific date.

Puppies are very demanding, for that reason, I have only had one dog from a puppy, and it was when I was off work with my eldest daughter. Both subsequent dogs were two years old.

For me it is very worth it, but I wish more prospective owners were like you, and really thought and enquired about the downsides of dog ownership before going ahead.

Oh and I nearly forgot, - my dog honks! Absolutely reeks, no matter what I do. I was determined not to have a doggy smelling house and that's gone out of the window with this one. She is very healthy but is just a sweaty, greasy beast!

[Sunshinesuperman]

There is a lot of poo picking, every holiday is more expensive, it is much harder to be spontaneous, they may bark or be destructive, they are expensive to feed and care for, you may need to adapt your garden. My DC love out dog dearly, I rather wish we had just stuck with the cat.

[tabulahrasa]

"I would like to point out that many of the greyhounds and lurchers in rescue are not there because they have issues, but because they are a by product of the racing and hunting 'industry'."

Realistically rescue is the only place to get a greyhound from...

Good breeders are very very few and far between, they're actually listed as a rare breed because so few are registered - that's because most of them are from sporting backgrounds.

[user98765797837]

They do cost a lot.... initial payment for them, insurance, injections, vet trips, flea and worm treatments.
They smell... not only the "dog" smell which gets so much worse when theyre wet, but they have smelly breath and fart a lot (and burp)
They like to lick you...A LOT...with that smelly breath mouth I just spoke about.... mine chooses to do this mostly when they have just licked their privates and/or bottom
They are embarrassing.... They will choose the best place to do a poop...usually right outside the school gates/cinema/shop doorway. They will decide when great aunt comes to visit is the perfect time to start humping everything in sight.
They need to go out come rain, shine, hail, snow, hurricane, flood, whether you feel up to it or not (yup even when you feel like you're dying and just want to stay wrapped up in bed)...usually when you are feeling rubbish or it's throwing it down is the time that they decide to take forever to do their business.


BUT .
.
.
..
........They can be so loving and funny.... it sort of makes up for all the rest of the stuff...lol.

[scaryteacher]

Get a cat, far superior, don't need walking, can be left during the day and can have litter trays.

[EnidButton]

They'll break your heart.

[EnidButton]

Get a cat, far superior, don't need walking, can be left during the day and can have litter trays.

...and will do their shits in everyone else's garden so you don't have to deal with it.