To be terrified of getting a dog?!

[Pullyers]

To be clear I LOVE dogs, I'm not terrified of actual dogs. I'm just terrified of the change to our life. I can see so many positives and we have all the basics covered ie I don't work, can afford it, v suitable lifestyle etc. Just something in the back of my mind a bit like terror! What if getting a dog feels like a mistake, we couldn't rehome it obviously so would just have to suck it up. Is this apprehension normal? Any advice?!

It’s totally normal to be apprehensive. It’s a huge change and a puppy is a massive amount of work and commitment and can be very frustrating at times especially when they just won’t calm down 😂

I had a serious wobble bringing dog number three (yeah I’m all in) home in the car—I was looking at him and I was like WHAT HAVE I DONE?? But once he was home and the other dogs adored him the second they laid eyes on him I was completely fine and love him to death. He’s been a wonderful addition as he’s so different from the others and so much fun!

As long as your certain, have done your research and are prepared for a long haul as they grow up you’ll be grand OP.

*Oh and lurcher is the only breed you need

You spelt greyhound wrong 😉*

You both spelt beagle wrong! 🤷🏼‍♀️

FWIW I took on a little puppy who was being abused at 8 weeks - hadn’t been looking for a dog right then. It was fine, she is now 10 & lying under my duvet now. 2.5 yrs ago was looking to rescue & tried 2 dogs on foster first basis - both went horrifically (but they were 1.5yr old dogs with existing issues). Then I found our beagle boy who was 4. He came into our home as if he’d lived here all his life. With the first two fosters, I knew straight away it was the wrong decision, but I tried for 5 weeks. With this guy, I knew I had made the right decision. When I heard his background, I knew I couldn’t not take him. He’s lying under the duvet on the other side.

I think it’s completely normal (or more sensible) to have doubts. Everything is manageable, and (prepares to be flamed) but should the worst happen & you cannot cope, your breeder will take the puppy back. But I doubt that would happen. 😉

Ha ha dusty I must admit that I would love to add a greyhound to my family one day. Might teach my scruffy lurcher a bit about dignity and poise

That’s a lovely post Island so sorry about your dog.

After my very negative post from three days ago on this thread, all of the posters telling me what utter shits some dogs are in adolescence (especially spaniels, it seems!) is really helping me see the light at the end of the tunnel!

I think the main problem for us has been an issue with day time walking - a retired family member was very insistent that he would walk the dog every day when we were at work, and we very foolishly based our decision on getting a dog on that promise (a daily dog walker wasn't affordable) but that just hasn't worked out at all. The stress of me CONSTANTLY changing my shifts at work at very short notice so I can dash home to walk him has caused me quite a lot of stress and TBH, I think that's (completely unfairly) tainted my feelings for Vestidog and perhaps made our other problems with him seem worse.

I'm working on resolving that problem, and still constantly working on his recall so perhaps we'll come out the other side after all .

Great to see you giving this so much serious honest consideration Pullyers. I grew up in a house where we always had dogs (and cats) and from age 25 have never lived without at least one and at times, three dogs in my home. There are so many good comments here, puppies are such hard work, so demanding and need so much input, like children, to help them grow up ok.
You've decided on a lab and it sounds like you found a good breeder. Start training classes as soon as your pup can leave the house. Find a reputable group run by experienced and properly qualified folks. Be prepared for everything your pup has learned to go out the window when the teenage years arrive at about 10 months.

Be prepared to love your dog in a way you don't expect, that is totally and for ever. I've just had to help my six year old dog leave this world because he had cancer. My heart fractured but its repairing itself because we had such good times together. He was the most difficult dog I ever shared my life with, despite coming from a reputable breeder, being well socialised etc etc. I learned so much from him, and as the sadness diminishes, I'll have such great memories.

MsVestibule so glad you are feeling better. Lots of us have been there and it's so hard but once you start to see an improvement it does help. You can always pop onto the general chat thread as well as lots of us 'off load' on there