To wonder would I regret getting a dog?

[Phuquocdreams]

Dh has been talking about getting a dog. I’ve been saying no because of the amount of work, and how it can tie you down. I don’t think he appreciates how much work it is. But then, just for the hell of it, we did some of the quizzes to see what breed of dog they would recommend, and I fell in love with the look of one of the breeds recommended. And now I just can’t stop thinking about having a dog bouncing about the place...and it would be lovely for the kids to grow up with a dog. But...the extra work. And responsibilities, and being limited in our activities...does anyone here regret getting a dog? Deliberately haven’t put this in the doghouse so as to get a wide range of opinions.

Thanks all for all your advice. I might reassess in a few years time, but right now, as I thought initially before getting carried away by dreams, our lifestyle isn’t compatible with a dog. And being so unsure about the additional work, mess etc - it’s not fair to get a dog. I really think my dh has underestimated the work involved or the length of the commitment required.

@Phuquocdreams probably the sensible idea, I'd missed you both work etc. One day hubby

I really think my dh has underestimated the work involved or the length of the commitment required.

He's not alone. I don't think anyone realises how much work a dog is until they have one as an adult and are fully responsible for it. Growing up with dogs doesn't really give you any insight into what it's like to care for one full-time!

We thought for two years before we got our dog and we had lots of criteria that had to be in place before we brought him home. Once those criteria were in place, we then started to look for a breeder (we always had a breed in mind). We read the books, looked after people's dogs, talked to people with the same breed and it was still a massive shock when we brought him home!

Don't get me wrong, I love him and wouldn't be without him but he's a lot of work. He sheds (and he's not massively high-shedding so far as dogs go), he's expensive (chews, food, jabs, flea/worming) and he needs a lot of time and stimulation. He gets two walks a day, everyday. Three days a week he goes to daycare (another expense!). He still needs brain games everyday, someone to play tug or fetch. He goes to weekly training class which is great for him, but involves commitment and expense (again!) on our part. On his walks he rolls in poo (and eats it), rolls in the mud, jumps in muddy puddles, barks at other dogs and pulls on the lead (he's only young).

I'm really glad you're reconsidering and I don't mean that in a bad way. I think everyone should reconsider dog ownership several times before going through with it! It's a long commitment, you need to change your entire lifestyle - days out, the school run, toilet training - you need to plan how you're going to cope with all of those things. You can't just spend the day at the zoo without considering the dog, for example.

Rescue dog here. House trained when adopted and small amount of chewing first few weeks only.

Primary aged children. Rescue was fine for us. No real problems at all but rarely left other than for very short periods eg school pick up.

We pay for daycare if we are going out for any length of time. 2 hours absolute maximum and that rarely happens. Sometimes, a relative will call in instead.

All our plans have to factor in what we'll do with the dog.

Insurance and vaccinations etc have to be paid for.

Have to pick up after dog in garden and walk more or less all weathers.

It's just my opinion, but if not completely sure about it, don't get a dog especially if you will be out a lot. Also, rescue where possible. There are so many poor dogs who need a home.

I love my dogs but they a VERY hard work. No lie ins. Can't leave them for too long. £100 a month for dog walker to come. Twice a week. They are expensive.

Puppies are cute but absolute twats.

People can be overly negative about getting a dog. If asked you could reel off in 5 seconds flat all the reasons not to have DC. Shits, pukes, squawks constantly, wreck house, a tie, very fucking expensive, affect career - but the positives outweigh the negatives. It's the same with a dog - good and bad.

People can be overly negative about getting a dog.

I think people try and be realistic. So many dogs get rehomed and stuck on selling sites because people can't be bothered anymore. There are so many teenage dogs in our local rescues - presumably because people didn't realise how much work it would be.

If my negativity stops one person getting a dog they can't really commit to, then that can only be a good thing.

I’m always shocked people are shocked at the amount of care any animal needs. You’re bringing a living creature into your home that has no means to look after itself. Growing up we had every sort of animal hamsters, guinea pigs, dogs, cats, budgies,hens, stick insects, rabbits. It was made clear from day one once you have a pet you see to their needs first then your own. Needs include, physical, mental and emotional needs. Dogs are a part of the family, look on them like another baby, a baby who isn’t allowed to go in many places. In my opinion dogs are 100% worth any sacrifices you make. They are so loyal and loving so long as you take care of them properly

Respect to dog owners and their commitment this thread brings me out in a cold sweat.

It's been interesting reading this thread. So thank you for it OP.

I adore animals. When i moved to the countryside we already had 2 cats, they came with us. Then we got 2 dogs and lots of guinea pigs. We thought about ponies for the kids (but stuck to riding lessons and borrowing other people's instead). Love animals. We all had fun - BUT

I wouldn't have dogs again now. I feel i can admit it to myself after reading so many others saying the same here. I felt a bit guilty thinking it up to now!

It's 10 years since i had a dog and about 5 years since the last guinea pig passed away. I looked after my dogs very well (the Great dane and min dachshund) and they were normal healthy happy dogs that got to a good age for their breed ect. No unusual problems. I enjoyed the walks across the fields. I enjoyed their company around the house. The kids loved to play with them. But now they're gone the house is cleaner. I don't have to gag every day picking up poo. I don't have to wash down the patio every day or two. Or inspect the lawn for shite. I don't have the worry at holiday times or weekends away. I don't have the vets bills. I don't have smelly pet beds and food bowls around the kitchen. I don't have paw prints everywhere and the smell of wet fur when it rains. There i've said it!

We still have cat/s. They're so easy in comparison. Even as country bumpkins dogs are hard work. Much more so if you're at all house proud.

I honestly think it just depends. I find cats way more ruinous to a nice house and lifestyle: litter boxes are gross no matter how much you clean them, random pukes on the carpet, one of ours likes to scratch the carpet even though she has plenty of other stuff to scratch so we now have ruined new carpets, the other one eats cables, so phone chargers, laptop chargers, etc., we've been woken way more times in the night by the cats than the dog ever has, they shed like crazy... I could go on but for my own sanity I'll stop. Owning cats has cured me of being a cat person, that's for sure!

It really depends on what your lifestyle is like and what your priorities are. I find our dog so easy, but she isn't destructive, she sleeps downstairs all night without a peep, she doesn't have accidents, she isn't messy, she doesn't shed anywhere near like the cats do. But other people will have the opposite experience.

Our lifestyle already suited having a dog - we haven't had to substantially change anything. We still go away on holiday - my parents look after her and she loves it there (and they love her), so actually it's the cats that cost us money there -, we now go on extra holidays to cottages etc. with her where we can do walking, we never really did stuff that involved being out all day that she couldn't come along to, we enjoy walking and being outside, we aren't anal about house stuff so don't mind wiping up muddy pawprints on the floor. But if our lifestyle was radically different, then a dog wouldn't be a good choice at all. So it really just depends on the individual and the dog themselves.

Thighofrelief But children grow up! Hopefully, at a fairly young age they're using a toilet, don't shed much hair and eventually learn how to use a hoover 😬 you can take them pretty much anywhere and, if they're old enough to be at home alone, you don't have to run back every four hours or so. It's very different.

So it really just depends on the individual and the dog themselves.

Yep, and I also think the breed people choose has a lot to do with it as well. If you pick a high-energy breed but aren't willing to put in the work required to keep it busy and exercised, you're going to end with a dog that's badly trained, pulls on the lead and is destructive when left alone.

Crosses like cavapoos, cockerpoos and labradoodles are also becoming increasingly popular which I don't think helps matters either. They're all mixes of two high energy, working breeds - of course the resulting offspring are going to be bonkers!

Also does it simply boil down to know yourself, assess your limits honestly? For instance I know it takes me a long time to warm up then I'm loyal to the death. I was like that with both my kids and my dogs, I just can't switch on the love straight away. I didn't give up on the dogs (or kids) because I know it's not them it's me.

Also think about are you very houseproud, do you enjoy walking, are exotic holidays very important to you, is your work stable, is your housing stable, have you got a credit card, can you afford insurance, are you patient.

If asked you could reel off in 5 seconds flat all the reasons not to have DC. Shits, pukes, squawks constantly, wreck house, a tie, very fucking expensive, affect career - but the positives outweigh the negatives

Well, yes @thighofrelief - which is why people should think long and hard about having children as well!

Presumably, even for total dog lovers, there is such a thing as 'too many' dogs - even if you have three and love them all, you would find that, say, twenty dogs would be too much time, energy, money, commitment, hair, etc. So everyone has their "number of dogs which would be too many" ceiling. For some people, that number is one. So they shouldn't get a dog.

(The same is true of children...)

I'd love a dog too but am worried about the barking at night. I see so many irritated Facebook posts about dogs 'left' to bark all evening/night. I don't want to be on the receiving end of that.

Send I agree, there is a dog (and DC) ceiling that each person can cope with. But i do think the thought process of dogs and DC should be similar. I know that sounds insane obviously they are different but the commitment should be there. I couldn't give up on a dog any more than I could give up on a kid. There are negatives but massive positives - just as there are with children.

I seem to be in the minority but I find my dogs very easy to keep. They are spaniels so they get plenty of exercise but they will happily do without should we not be able to take them out on the odd occasion. They never wake us up through the night, never toilet in the house and they would happily sleep in till 10am if we let them. Compared to having a human baby they are an absolute doddle. Yes they make life harder in some respects and they are a big expense, but they are 100% worth it for all the love and laughter they bring to our family. Couldn't be without my doggos!

It is good you are being cautious though OP, it is a big decision and it sounds like waiting a few years may be the right thing for you just now.

Mine is a spaniel too @MonicaGellerHyphenBing ! Such a wonderful breed.

We used to have two working cockers, but our older girl died a couple of years ago at the ripe old age of 15. They were both super easy dogs though (and yes, laughter is guaranteed with spaniels in the house - mine makes me laugh multiple times a day!). Our remaining girl is just incredibly good-natured, laid back, adaptable, silly, and gentle. And a gigantic thief of socks, teatowels, bras and pants. I can't imagine life without her

I haven't read the whole thread but getting a pup was the best thing I ever did. No regrets, he is no more hassle than the kids and he answers me back a lot less!

Its not easy, but he is so lovely, he can be left for most of the day and causes me no problems, he gets on with the cat, the kids love him. We do more long walks than going to activities that cost money so we are all healthier and I don't go to soft play centres anymore.

I actually had a dog as a teenager but that’s v different to having one as an adult. Also I think standards are higher: he was a border collie farm dog and we left him alone sometimes in a way you just wouldn’t do now; there was no picking up pop because he would just go in the fields, and no worry if he didn’t get a walk because he was able to run around anyway. Very different to a city dog in modern times! My dog obsession has lay dormant for 20 years, I really did used to be obsessed, I could name any dog breed at all - think I’ve reignited that over the last few days! What’s clear though is that all the dog breeds I would be interested in (JPs, mini schnauzers, border terrier - any terrier - spaniels maybe) all need a lot of attention, love and exercise. I guess most dogs do - and those that mightn’t (eg pug) aren’t healthy, or too sensitive (greyhound) so really - it’s not the time. Maybe some day, or maybe it will never make sense.

I have a Japanese Spitz, they need a decent amount of exercise, not just a quick stroll and they can be stubborn. He also takes a great deal of grooming. I've adjusted my life to fit around my DDog since getting him, so don't get a dog if you aren't willing to do this.

My recommendation is to get a young rescue dog about 6-18mthsthats already housetrained and a bit more trainable. Puppies are awful. Cute but such a lot of work

My recommendation is to get a young rescue dog about 6-18mthsthats already housetrained and a bit more trainable.

I also think this would be the best solution if the OP really wants a dog--but with the caveat of, be careful about the dog's background. My sister's rescue dog couldn't be left in kennels due to pining because he was traumatized, he pulled on the lead non-stop so could not be walked by someone pushing a pram and so on. You want a really bomb proof dog if you have got young children. Frankly, though, a dog-sharing scheme sounds like it might be the right way to go!

My dog doesn't like walks. If I show her the collar and lead she runs away and tries to hide. If I get her out of the door, she leads the way to our NDN (who love her and give her treats). If I get her to the field where we walk dogs, she chooses the shortest route. She's happy to race round the garden though.