Dog broody. Is this a thing?

[KateGrey]

Is being dog broody a thing?! I was never broody for kids but I am for a dog. I have three children, two have autism so I’m not sure adding to my life with a dog is a brilliant idea but that doesn’t stop me looking. It’s like a bizarre need. Has anyone else ever felt like this?

Oh god yes. I spend hours looking on rescue websites, and browsing dog equipment. I can’t have one right now, but in a few years, when I retire, I’ll be down the rescue like shot.

Definitely! We now have an 11 month old beagle

OP, my son's autistic, and its been really good for him, all that forced interaction. go for it!

MIL gets this regularly, one rescue dog will pass and she'll say no more, I can't go through it again (she's great and has rescued dogs with multiple physical and behavioural issues), weeks will pass and she'll start talking about a charity thing she been to relating to dogs or a new rescue that the shelter can't re-home because the needs are too demanding, before you know it PIL have a new dog with an eye missing, or aggression issues etc. She's talking about short term fostering now as she's just retired , FIL knows he'll end up with a house full. Dog broody is definitely a thing. I got cat broody last year, DH was reluctant to get another, so we had a baby 🙈

No.

Well, maybe a bit.

You want to give birth to a dog? You are weird.

Yes! We lost our dog in August and my DP and I (and the kids!) were so desperate for another dog that we are awaiting our 2 rescue pups from Bulgaria... they are due tonight!! It's been the longest wait ever and we all keep saying how long the days are just waiting for them to arrive.
Dog broodiness is deffo a thing!

Both my children are autistic. Our dog has been fantastic for my very highly strung and anxious youngest. When she kicks off he tries to distract her make her laugh by grumbling and making whistling noises and pushing up against her. He gets between her and the person she's shouting at and really tries to pacify her, we actually call him The Dog-tor. She adores him and doesn't want him to be scared so if I say that he might get scared if she keeps screaming and shouting she tries very hard to rein it in. Having a dog has been brilliant for the autistic people in our family.

@CarolDanvers oh no don’t say that. It makes me even more tempted.

Yes it's a thing. My dog is getting really old now. I know I will go to pieces when I lose her. To the extent I've made my DC promise the bully me into getting another dog asap when it happens.
I've been dog broody whenever I haven't had one around.
My nephew is autistic, best thing that ever happened was when his family got a dog. It made a massive difference to his life in really positive ways.

Do it!!! Best thing I ever did but to echo PPs defo make sure to research the right type of breed for you,it can make a huge difference. Good luck & post pics when it happens! 😊

It's a thing! I'm cat broody atm.

Dog broodiness is a legit thing and it doesn’t go away 🙈 only thing that cured mine was getting a dog

Yes. I was dog broody from a very small child. Got my first dog as a teen and as an adult in my late twenties. When my last dog died a couple of years ago I was going to have a break for a few years, but it became quickly apparent that to have a good quality of life, I need a dog. A dogless life made me feel empty and lacking. I think some people just need a dog in their lives.

Definitely a thing.

Dogs have evolved to live with (and rely on) humans over God knows how many millennia. It makes sense that we would have evolved to need them too, on some fundamental level.

Absolutely. DH often reminds me of the day I cried for several solid hours because I wanted a dog so much, I was totally desperate for one. I had to wait 7 years til we were in the right place with working arrangements to be able to manage it and we finally got one. She's a rescue and has lots of issues so dog ownership is not what I naively thought it would be (ever tried to find a dog friendly pub with no dogs in it?!) but I have been smitten since day 1, she's the light of my life, I can't imagine life without her.

I also volunteer walk at our local rescue, which I'd really recommend if you want to get some dog time, it's a lovely feeling that your'e helping them and playing a part in their story, it makes me so happy when I go and a dog has disappeared from the walking list because it's gone to a new home.

I might look at volunteering at a rescue as well. A few people on a Facebook have mentioned what a tie they are but we don’t tend to go far and mainly outdoors as that suit the kids better. Oh god now I’m even more tempted. I hope it would enhance our lives. I wonder if it might benefit my eldest who is 10 to have a companion that she can talk to as carrying the weight of having two siblings with autism is quite hard for her.

I'm always dog broody. I'm on my 4th rescue and realise I'm always going to have a dog. Getting the right temperament is important, but a good rescue will match you with a dog that will suit your experience and requirements. They bring such light and love into a home.