To ask if you regret getting a dog?

[Saladmakesmesad]

The plan has always been to get a dog when the kids weren't little anymore, and they're not little anymore. I grew up with dogs and know all the usual things people say (adopt don't shop, dogs are for life, don't get one during coronavirus, research the breed, all dogs are different, get insurance, don't leave it home alone for ages etc). I'm not trying to be dismissive I'm saying I've researched it a lot and am absolutely not rushing into anything at all. I want a dog very, very much and have done for years, but that doesn't mean I don't realise what a big undertaking it is.

But... when I talk to dog owners, they seem to be quite negative. Several told me recently that if they could go back, they wouldn't get their dog, as much as they love them. Another said once her dog dies, she won't be replacing her. Another said her dog recently died and life is much easier now, as sad as she is.

So, overall and even acknowledging that you love them, do you regret getting a dog? If so, why?

YABU: I do NOT regret getting my dog.
YANBU: I DO regret getting my dog.

Never wanted a dog. Was given a puppy. Am now completely gaga over this sweet, adorable little creature.

No way! I have three dogs and love them to bits.

I don't regret our dog at all. But as soon as she dies, we are def not getting another one. She had some issues that require some daily treatment plus that whenever you want to go on a holiday or anything like that you always have to sort out where to put the dog. Etc. You have to walk the dog, feed the dog, comb the dog,. And when the dog was little it used to dig up the yard all the time. I love our dog to bits. But it is hard work. I almost feel she is like an extra kid sometimes

I dont have kids myself but I imagine it's similar in a silly way, I have lost my freedom somewhat, he is a burden, he's a rescue with his own difficulties, but he has added a meaning to my life I didnt have before and i wouldn't change him for the world.

I have always had a dog or dogs in childhood and adulthood and was going to never be without a dog, but my last loved dog being elderly and with health problems, had to be put to sleep a short while ago and I had every intention of getting another rescue dog to love but as time has past I am now enjoying the extra free time I have as my dog was like having a baby or small child! Constant attention, the long walks, cleaning up and I don’t miss poop patrol! Maybe it’s because I never knew the freedom of life without a dog?

I think the main thing is to research the actual dog breed your getting to see if it fits in with your lifestyle
When our old dog passed away we were devastated. She was an English Bulldog a lazy slow plodding lump
She was very calm and the height of energy was lifting her head up for more food 😂

We got a french bulldog. I stupidly thought that they were a smaller easier version of the English bulldog. How wrong was that
They are nutters. Like a dog who’s been given a bad batch of speed having a bad trip .
They have terrier in them so they like to destroy stuff ( thankfully mainly the toys )
Stubborn hard to train and the zoomies they have are mental I have never seen anything like it and I’m a experienced dog owner of many years .

If I wanted a bloody terrier I could have saved myself thousands of pounds 😁 honest these dogs are absolutely crazy
However we adore him not a day goes by without laughing at him and he’s been great comfort during lockdown .
We have had to baby proof the house with stair gates but no regrets

I don't regret getting the dog, but in the first two years of having her, there were moments! Dogs can be left in the backyard where I live, so there's less of that rush home phenomenon that always seems to pop up on mumsnet. I won't be getting another for a long time, however, as I want to do a lot of travel once the kids grow up.

God no she's amazing. We have 2, the old one is 11 and is grumpy as fuck but he's still wonderful, the young one is amazing and I love her so so much

Dogs are really hard work and you're tied to them until the day one of you dies.
I would say do not get a dog.

I don't currently have one - opted for a cat which is obviously a bit less of a full on commitment.

I used to have a dog and as much as I loved him to pieces, yes, I did regret the decision. He was a rescue and had obviously been mistreated and he was lovely to people but really aggressive towards other dogs. It was so bad that I became afraid to walk him. I tried a lot of avenues to improve his behaviour and nothing seemed to help. Honestly he was a huge hassle and when he did eventually pass away, I was gutted because I loved him but my life was so much easier. I haven't had a dog since. That being said, I've got young kids.

My mother has a dog and feels the opposite to me. Her dog has made her life better. She enjoys all the looking after and I think if this one passed away she wouldn't hesitate to get another, once she had grieved. Her dog Is "easy", I would say. Very friendly and chilled out. She is obviously much older than me, so she is no longer working and doesn't have kids at home. I wonder if that makes all the difference in people's attitudes.

I completely and utterly adore our dogs and I can't possibly regret getting them. We have, however, decided that these two will be our last. DH and I will be about to retire when our two reach the end of their expected lives and we want to be able to travel whenever we want to with no ties. I'm not at all sure how that will be, a dog shaped hole in my life might be just too much to bear, but we shall see. Hopefully we've a good few years before we need to think about it.

Not at all. Yes she can be a bind when it comes to holidays etc but I have so much love for my dog the advantages of having her far, far outweigh the disadvantages

Do your research. What type of dogs do you like? I love staffies but mine was a bit too big by the time he got old (22kg) and it was hard to lift him in and out of the car. So I did a heap of research to find his replacement. The replacement had huge paws to fill as the staffy was the most beautiful dog - lovely nature, very intelligent, very obedient.

I wanted a smaller dog about 10 kg. Love frenchies, but ruled out early on due to cost. I did a whole heap of googling for 10kg, solid dog and reading through the results. I picked a few breeds and looked at the breed standards to get a clearer idea on the type of dog they were. After a lot of whittling down I settled for westies. I then went and met a few in person to see what the actual dogs were like. They seemed to fit the bill, so I researched and then contacted a few breeders explaining I'd eventually like a westie after my dog passed away, but wanted to get to know the breeder first. From that I settled on a breeder. When my staffy eventually passed away, I contacted her to let her know what had happened and that I'd be looking for a pup in about 9 months time and asked if she was planning any litters for around then.

Well everything fell into place and exactly 9 months later I brought home a little westie pup. OMD I knew from the minute he got home that he was exactly what I wanted. I love terriers and their mischievousness. He has the cheekiest little grin. He is absolutely perfect. I look at him and my heart sings.

So no, I don't regret having a dog. I'm not so enamored with the dog I got to be his companion. To be fair, she sounds like she had a rough life before me - I was her 4th home before she turned 3. She is a nice enough dog though and the westie adores her, so she's not going anywhere.

We all adore our dog and don't find her a bind at all. Although, she is an incredibly easy dog - only has a short walk, spends rest of time sleeping, doesn't moult/bark and very loving (whippet).

She definately enhances our lives, I love the fact my children have a great relationship with her - she's the first thing they want to see when they come home.

I think we have been lucky in choosing the perfect dog for us. Do your research.

No regrets and I have five!!
We've had up to eight at once with temporary fosters.

They do change your lifestyle but they don't have to rule it.
I see it as an enhancement rather than a hinderance. Yes some times I leave somewhere early to "get back for the dogs" but I'd rather do that and have five warm furry bodies cuddled up to me on the sofa that evening.

I don't like the puppy stage though. Only did that once. The rest came as adults.

Not to be militant but if you do get one please please consider a rescue

Sometimes yeah, if I'm being honest. Every single thing I do must be planned around the dog. Cinema. Eating out. Weekends away. Nothing is spontaneous anymore.

I finally moved out last year and had to move back home because the dog wouldn't settle and would howl any time I left, even when I went out to the recycle bin. He doesn't do this at my mom's house.

I've had to take night shift work to work around my mom so that he is never left alone for more than a couple of hours as daycare bled me completely dry so it's not a viable option.

I probably won't get another dog when he passes but he is only five 😬

I am hoping that everyone who answers here, say that they don't regret having a dog,or dogs.. I can't bare reading about dumped dogs, or dogs left on their own all day etc.

No regrets whatsoever, but I wouldn’t get another (at least for some time!) because of the complete devastation when he passed away from cancer. Its been 18 months and I still very selfishly don’t feel like I can do that again.

No regrets except for cost. We have a 7 year old lab / standard poodle/ retriever mix and he’s a lovely boy. Always been great with the kids, funny, affectionate but also mischievous. He doesn’t shed but does need grooming which is pricey. We can leave him for days out and he is happy to board. Only con is the cost of the above, vet bills etc but he’s had very few health problems. The kids love him. I feel like dogs make a house a home.

Yes and no.

Mine is currently on his back right up against me lying on my bed having tummy tickles. He is lovely and I adore and spoil him. He is simply a joy.

But I won't be having another dog after him. He was very hard work for the first 2 years. He costs about £4-500 a month with daycare when I work and the rest on top. He is a tie and when I retire I want to spend weeks away and you can't do that with a dog. I know I could send him to the boarders but I don't think that's fair on him for more than a week so we have cut back on our non dog holidays.

Never!

People regret when they don’t think things through.

I’ve got a small dog that is always with me. I can take him to work so never have to rush home or organise dog walkers etc...

I trained him properly so he never has accidents around the house or destroys things.

When I go on holiday there’s always a handful of people desperate to babysit because he’s a pleasure not a burden.

Before him I would have chosen a big dog. But they smell more, chew bones on the carpet, get dirtier, it’s not easy to cart them around and some require longer walks.

First year is hard work, and I thought Jesus what have I done.

But having a dog gives each day a special richness, gets you outside puts you closer to nature. They are sort of energy cleansers too, make the house feel like a home.

Best thing I ever did.

I love my 10 and 5 year old dogs but there certainly were times when they were younger that I had periods of regret.

I got them both as pups and I wouldn't do that again, sweet as pups are. Sometimes I say I wouldn't get another but could I follow that through and not have a dog in the house? Probably not.

I found carpets hopeless though and did have to change flooring.

You know yourself best, how will you feel about a possible 17 year commitment? How much will forseeable restrictions annoy you?

I know I'm a person who takes a while to warm up to change, babies, houses, dogs even holidays! So I just knew I would feel a bit chilly to begin with then get there but have to ride it out. But I knew the steady commitment wouldn't be an issue.

Do I regret getting them? No. Would I get more? Maybe, depends on the dog and what's happening in my family at the time.

I don't regret it, I adore him but yes, there are things I won't miss when we lose him

He's very needy (rescue and we think may have been abused), he's on you or under your feet constantly and he weighs a ton

He can't go into kennels (again, due to being dumped previously, he has a total meltdown) so if we can't get a dog sitter then we can't go on holiday

He costs a fortune in special food, blood tests and medication for his allergies which his insurance doesn't cover 😩

He's an old boy now and he stinks, his farts are unbelievable

He is a pain in the arse combined with the toddler, they pester each other constantly and get on each other's nerves but are also obsessed with each other so never leave each other alone

He hogs the bed. He won't sleep on his own bed/the sofa etc, has to be my side about where my knees are so I'm constantly scrunched up and uncomfortable

Still love him to bits though, he's had a tough life and he'll live out his days snuggled in our bed ❤️