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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Should I get a dog?

59 replies

mayaknew · 07/07/2020 21:00

Desperate for a dog so I torture myself looking. Found a gorgeous spaniel for rehoming

Pros:
Perfect time - dh not working (covid not eligible for help long story) and I'm working partly from home
Doesn't cost £££ like buying from a breeder
Gorgeous puppy
Spaniel so dh can take along when climbing
Did I mention gorgeous puppy?
Monthly outgoings should be manageable
Dd1 (15) has been asking for one since she could talk

Cons
Still upfront cost when we are down an income
Still a big commitment to make
Would prefer a hypoallergenic dog spaniels are shedders.

YABU - don't do it!
YANBU - go for it!!

OP posts:
IDidntChoseThePondLife · 07/07/2020 22:10

Actually @GingerAndTheBiscuits I have been over there reading July and June puppy threads, it sounds like you've had a tough time. Well done for still sticking with it all Gin.

Original poster
mayaknew · 07/07/2020 22:16

OK ill try and answer all the questions

Rehoming because the owner passed away

The dog is already house trained

Wont need day care when we go back to work my i can come home for my lunch and in about a year so will dh be able to so we can take turns

Financially will be hard for next year but that's not unusual for us and in a year will be fine

I cant imagine why you couldn't take a dog climbing? Dh climbs regularly has climbed dozens of munros ds has been climbing since he was 5 and they constantly meet people with dogs. Infact a picture came up on my Facebook feed today someone i know is away up Ben A'an today with their cavapoo.

Did i get everything?

OP posts:
Original poster
mayaknew · 07/07/2020 22:18

Also not from a rehoming centre being rehomed privately. Still for a fee though

OP posts:
SimonJT · 07/07/2020 22:20

How long is there between you leaving the home and coming back at lunch time? What if the dog cannot cope alone and does need doggy daycare, do you have funds available to cover that longterm?

2bazookas · 07/07/2020 22:25

I cant imagine why you couldn't take a dog climbing? Dh climbs regularly has climbed dozens of munros

That's hillwalking,not climbing. Duh. Dogs can walk; they can''t climb.

Climbers use crampons, pitons and ropes and go up (or fall off) vertical rocks. Dogs can't do that.

RedDogs · 07/07/2020 22:25

What is your working situation going to be beyond the short term? You're both at home/mostly at home at the moment but how long will that last? Can you afford to factor in the cost of a dog walker/daycare if or when you're all out at work/school during the day?

I have spaniels and I also used to climb quite a lot, I'm not really sure how the breed means anything for climbing though. I used to bring mine if we were doing some easy bouldering up on Dartmoor when we lived in Devon, but they were all a bit older, very well trained and there were 2 of us so we could take turns to keep an eye on them. I couldn't take them along if I was top roping etc. Mine also shed hugely and pretty much continually, but there is no such thing as a 'hypoallergenic' dog, just some breeds that are low/non-shedding.

All puppies are gorgeous, but it is a massive, long term commitment so you need to be certain it's right for you and the dog (especially if they are already bouncing from their home at a very young age, that's a huge upheaval for them). Also beware of dog-buying scams if it is an internet advert and not an actual rescue organisation as a pp said - demand for puppies is insane at the moment and scams are absolutely rife on Facebook/Pets4Homes etc.

Reedwarbler · 07/07/2020 22:26

How do you take a dog climbing?
Teenage children, however much they want a dog, will be off to uni/leaving home before long, so can't be relied on to help with exercising etc. even if you can persuade them to do it in the first place.
What will you do with the dog when youre not wfh?
Puppies are very hard work and can drive you to drink.
There is no such thing as a hypoallergenic dog. Having said that, we have a non moulting breed, which is great, but she does need brushing regularly and costs £38 every 6 weeks at the groomers.
Dogs can be very expensive to maintain. Routine vet stuff isn't covered by insurance, and then you have an excess to pay if you need to claim.

FOJN · 07/07/2020 22:28

I cant imagine why you couldn't take a dog climbing?

You don't say how old the puppy is but the link below should give you some info about building up exercise duration. When fully grown I've no doubt the dog will love hours in the outdoors.

www.thekennelclub.org.uk/getting-a-dog-or-puppy/general-advice-about-caring-for-your-new-puppy-or-dog/puppy-and-dog-walking/#:~:text=Puppy%20exercising,developing%20joints%2C%20causing%20early%20arthritis.

otterlielovely · 07/07/2020 22:28

It seems some posters can’t distinguish between rock climbing and climbing up a hill Hmm

RedDogs · 07/07/2020 22:30

Just saw the update, discount what I said above about climbing then - that's hillwalking you're talking about, not climbing, hence the confusion!

tabulahrasa · 07/07/2020 22:30

How long would you both be out of the house next year?

Welfare guidelines are that dogs shouldn’t be alone longer than 4 hours a day... that’s total, not 4 hours broken by a visit then longer...

JamesArthursEyelashes · 07/07/2020 22:31

How long is there between you leaving the home and coming back at lunch time? What if the dog cannot cope alone and does need doggy daycare, do you have funds available to cover that longterm?

Good questions. We have dogs and one can’t be left much at all as she gets upset and barks. Obviously that’s not fair on her or the neighbours. We only got dogs because I work at home most of the time and when I can’t, my partner can. Basically someone has to be home or the dogs come with us. Not ideal but you have to plan for it.

ChewChewIsMySpiritAnimal · 07/07/2020 22:33

Id look for an older rescue if anything. They come with a different set of issues to consider but at least you're out of the hell on earth that is puppyhood.

worryworryworryworry · 07/07/2020 22:38

We have a five month old Cocker and he's largely been an absolute dream! Slept quietly during the night from 2/3 nights in. No accidents in the crate. He did however keep weeing on the kitchen floor for ages but I think we've got that one cracked now!

He trained easily for recall and we can trust him off the lead (we did have outside training for guidance and then continued it at home).

He does need a lot of interaction and exercise but it's a pleasure to do. He doesn't shed at all. He's super friendly and tries to please most of the time 😂 But he's hardly ever on his own. There's always one of us around (I wfh and my dds have broken up for the summer holidays). We take him absolutely everywhere with us unless we really can't and then he's crated with no problems. I'd say go for it!

Original poster
mayaknew · 07/07/2020 23:02

Would be 3 hours then dd would be in 2 hours after that. Thats unlikely to change long term. We also have a relative who lives 5min walk who could help in an emergency.

If everyone considered all these things no one would have any pets Confused don't get me wrong I appreciate all the info I'm sure I haven't considered everything.

OP posts:
SimonJT · 07/07/2020 23:03

Someone not considering those things shouldn’t be getting pets

JamesArthursEyelashes · 07/07/2020 23:09

If everyone considered all these things no one would have any pets

They would, they would just be better prepared. So many animals end up getting rehomed because people don’t consider everything. It’s a big responsibility that people don’t take seriously enough and the animals are the ones to suffer.

JamesArthursEyelashes · 07/07/2020 23:11

But yes, if some people put more thought into it, they wouldn’t get a pet and that would be a good thing.

MrsEricBana · 07/07/2020 23:21

You lost me at climbing tbh but no I wouldn't leave a young spaniel at home while I was at work, which will be the reality for you next year. Some people do though.

k1233 · 08/07/2020 00:41

I've never had a horror puppy stage. Mine don't bite, but my oh my have they been full of beans. My westie was a little dervish. The cocker and I would take shelter on the couch for our morning coffee and he would run around like a whirlwind. He was wild. At around 11am he'd crash under the couch and cocker and I would be super careful not to wake him up. If we were lucky he'd sleep till 2pm then be off again being wild. It's so wonderful watching them have fun and be cheeky. I took 3 months off work when I got him and it was a fantastic time.

For sleeping, my westie was crated at night until he learnt bedtime was sleep time, not pounce on sleeping person / dog time. That could work with the cheeky frenchie above. I just used the cat cage and he was next to my bed so I could put my fingers in if he got upset. Now he's a free sleeper and is very good - well, jumps on the bed, sleeps on my pillows and at times smack in the middle of a king-size bed meaning I can't roll over LOL

vanillandhoney · 08/07/2020 06:16

Wont need day care when we go back to work my i can come home for my lunch and in about a year so will dh be able to so we can take turns

Oh dear. You will still need someone to take the dog out! Unless you can come home, eat your lunch, take the dog out for an hour and get back to work in your lunch hour? You can't leave a spaniel all day and just pop home for ten minutes over lunch! What happens if you work late or want to pop to the pub? What happens on a Saturday if you want to go somewhere that's not dog friendly?

Your answers are incredibly naive. Don't get a dog - you very clearly have no idea about the level of care they need.

vanillandhoney · 08/07/2020 06:21

Would be 3 hours then dd would be in 2 hours after that. Thats unlikely to change long term. We also have a relative who lives 5min walk who could help in an emergency.

Isn't your DD fifteen? She's not going to want to come in from school everyday and walk the dog is she? And what happens in three years when she moves out? Who will look after the dog then?

I mean this kindly but you've clearly got no concept of how hard dog ownership can be. My dog can't be left for longer than a couple of hours - what will you do if your spaniel is destructive and eats your house when left?

And people not doing their research is the reason so many dogs end up in rescue. People think "aww cute dog" and don't actually think about the long term. Say goodbye to day trips that don't include the dog. Lots of beaches don't allow dogs. Holiday lets won't let you leave the dog alone either. So factor kennels into your plans too.

Pogmella · 08/07/2020 07:00

@mayaknew you really can’t leave a young dog all day and just pop in at lunch. We ended up occasionally doing that with my last dog when she was 14 because she slept all day- we did pay a dog walker to come in in the morning though.

With DDog the cocker we only got her because DH’s job in higher education is work from home 3 days a week during term time. I then work from home the other two and as it’s HE not school the terms are a lot shorter (really it’s Oct-Mar he has to go in and rarely 9-5 when he does)

I’m sorry if you both have conventional 9-5 office based jobs usually a puppy might not be the best thing to happen at this stage of life- but you could always look for different work or price up a career break of some form? DDog is 4 now and I think she could be beginning to handle some longer stretches at home so you probably need a 5 year window of being more home based.

Pogmella · 08/07/2020 07:02

Also- what are DD’s long term plans? As others state, not sure she should be a key player as obv teens are sometimes fickle, but also if she’s off to uni or moving out in 3 years that might be an issue.

My mum couldn’t visit me much at uni as couldn’t afford a dog sitter and a hotel and uni buildings were very clear in no dogs ( Sad )

Gatr · 08/07/2020 07:31

I know it always seems harsh when people say you cant leave a dog but lots of dogs do genuinely struggle with more than 4 hours and its cruel to get a dog where you know they will be left for long stretches

Its tempting to down play the time a dog is left, eg say your working hours are 9-5, realistically though by the time you add on commutes, stopping to get petrol (dropping off kids etc), the occasional food shop very rarely would they not left for at least 9 hours. You then got home, need to cook dinner etc so how much time is actually spent interacting with the dog? Its easy to think well its left for 9, but im home the rest but realistically most people have significant time commitments so by the time they are met (eg 1 hour for getting ready, 8 hours for sleeping, 1 hour for cooking dinner/ eating, 2 hours for shopping) often a dog is expected to sleep all day while we are out, then sit quietly all evening, then sleep all night.