Should we get a dog yet??

[Sparrow91]

After a series of blazing rows with DP tonight we need your help to decide.. do we get a dog yet or not? We have agreed whatever MN majority is, is what sticks, but would both like to go through our arguments for/against.

Her view:
We have just placed DP’s house on the market today with the aim of moving about half hour away to a new house. We have always agreed that we want a greyhound, from a rescue, and we were looking for a bit - but this was all before we decided to move. DP thinks we should now resume the search and get a dog before we move. My POV is that this is unfair on the dog, especially when we will likely be stressed, and the dog itself myself feel some of this, and fear is suffer from separation anxiety, especially if a house move is in the first 6 or so months. I am the only one in the house WFH at the moment, DP’s job cannot be done from home.

His view:
My partner is currently in a situation where she will be working from home for the foreseeable future. I feel a rescue dog will be in a much happier place living with us and having the company, love and daily exercise everyday. Furthermore I suffer from anxiety and depression and I know a dog will significantly improve our life as much as we can improve its. I see her POV about moving house however, I feel we will be the constant in the dogs life and the house move isn’t something which will happen in 2020.

YABU - you should wait to get a dog until you’ve moved house
YANBU - you should get a dog now

If you read about the rules of most rescues they do not let you regime if you plan to move and they do follow up visits too. This is about what is fair on the animal

Rescue not regime

If you have "blazing rows" over perfectly normal issues such as whether to get a dog now or after a move, perhaps it would be better to not inflict that kind of atmosphere on a rescue dog that's been through enough already. Also don't expect a dog to improve mental health problems. Dogs can be very challenging, particularly rescues.

If you have 'blazing rows' over whether or not to get a dog then I dont think you should get a dog at all tbh. Dogs hate arguments and greyhounds are very sensitive. Especially ones that are straight out of a racing kennels.

Get the dog.

Oh, no: blazing rows. Don’t get the dog.

It's incredibly naive to think that getting a dog will suddenly decrease stress and anxiety.
They can be bloody hard work and extremely stress inducing.
Blazing rows..aye great environment for a new dog

God no!

Your view is putting the dog first. His view is putting himself first.

Like some pp, I love, dogs, build my life around dogs, have formally studied canine behaviour, and feel bereft any time I do not have a dog. I would still wait until after a planned move before asking a dog to settle into a new life with me. To do otherwise would be to prioritise my own desire to have a dog sooner, rather than consider what is really best for the dog.

Surely if you can’t agree on a major life change affecting both of you then you default to not doing the thing.
There is no ticking biological clock about getting a dog. Defer especially as it’s the one not thinking it’s the right time that would have the most to do with the dog.