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.

Please be careful going down the road of considering a dog to be "bomb proof".

They are animals and as such will react unpredictably occasionally. I constantly see photos of children smothering the family dog in kisses and cuddles and the dog just looks so unhappy and uncomfortable. Or photos of children with their head near the dog while it eats or sleeping in its bed or crate. That dog could so easily snap and bite the child and the dog would be the one that suffers.

If you want a dog and young children together the most important thing is letting the dog have its space and teaching the child to leave the dog alone unless it invites attention or initiates play. Don't let your child invade the dogs space or interrupt it while it eats, sleeps or has a chew. It puts undue stress on the dog and it's not fair.

I can take anything off my puppy but I'm an adult and can read his body language when he tells me he's unhappy. You can't place that kind of responsibility on a child. Dogs don't like sharing food as a rule and don't like being woken up - they might tolerate it but it only takes a toddler treading on a tail or paw to make them snap.