To ask your experience of getting a dog?

[DefrostingBuble]

I have wanted a dog for years and finally my DP was in agreement this year so after much research I went on a waiting list for a puppy.

Everyone I know, knows how much I have wanted one for years. I have three children - two are not bothered one way or the other and the youngest is as bad as me with wanting a dog!

The breeder has contacted me (there’s been regular updates, it wasn’t out of the blue), to say someone has dropped off the list so there is a puppy available from February and I can visit next week if I would like.

Now I am this close, I am getting really anxious that what if it’s the wrong thing to do. I am an over thinker with anxiety issues anyway.

I just wanted to hear your experiences of bringing a puppy into your family - good or bad! Was it as you expected? Harder/Easier? Better/Worse?

I know only I can make the decision but would just love to hear your stories.

I have a puppy, she’s adorable but very very hard work....and her bark is the loudest I’ve ever heard in a dog, irs ear splitting.

Having dogs is amazing. The best thing ever. Puppies not so much! They are extremely cute, obviously, but when they are stealing the loo roll and ripping it up all over the carpet for the tenth time that week, it gets kinda old and the things you thought you would find cute, ie the stealing of the loo roll, start to wear on you and lose their hilarity.

I wanted puppies as I didn’t want to deal with ‘issues’ (had to have a rescue put to sleep when she bit the vet and he insisted she was a danger so didn’t want to go through that again).

I got two siblings in the winter. It was hard, much harder than I imagined, but I don’t have any regrets. They have grown into the most gorgeous dogs, loving, hilarious, endlessly entertaining, I could watch them playing for hours. DH and I often talk about the ‘puppy days’ and wonder how we for through it but we both agree entirely that it was worth it as we now have two perfect hounds 🐶 🐶 ❤️

We got a puppy a couple of months ago. I wasn’t keen, I love animals, but dogs are one of my least favourite animals.
It’s been exactly as I imagined, he’s cute, but irritating at times. I enjoy going for walks and the children absolutely love him. I don’t mind spending the time training or caring for him.
I do dislike my cat not sitting in my knee in the evening as the dog is there, the extra cleaning and being followed around. I also find not being to leave him for more than a hour frustrating.

Personally Not with young kids for sure, you just won’t have time to devote to dog for training, attention and walking. And don’t fall for the “we will help look after him” - they won’t ! You will be doing it all I assure you.
How about volunteering to walk a friends dog every day for a month and see how you feel after that?

They are hard hard work. But if you are truly into it then it will be the best thing ever.

We currently have a 14 week german shepherd and 80% of the time he is great but the other 20% is hard hard work.

We are crate training which is going well now, but was horrific at first.

He is also very bitey but we are slowly getting there.

Also best thing we even done was buy the door training bells for toileting. Only took him a few days to get the hang of it, but now he rings the doorbell we he needs outside so no more accidents!

and her bark is the loudest I’ve ever heard in a dog, irs ear splitting.

I remember when I got my old collie dog first as a little 8 week old puppy. I couldn't wait to see him as a grown up dog and couldn't wait to hear him bark.

Then he started barking and all I wanted was for him to shut up 😂

We got our puppy in January and to be honest I’d never willingly do that again, it made house training so much harder.

I had a friend with a slightly older pup so that was a help but I was very stressed at the beginning and I think that’s extremely common. Don’t expect DC and puppy to be an easy mix and don’t expect all your expectations to happen.

My puppy hated his crate. He hated being alone so followed me everywhere. He was easy to train in some ways and hard in others.

But we adore him and he’s 12 now.

Oh, and the barking!! I was definitely not having a dog that barked. It’s a bit like saying you will never have a child that has tantrums.

Puppy? Hell!

But adult dog, much better.

My puppy was amazing, we all fell in love with her straight away.

Nothing in the house was destroyed, she squeaked/whined for the first few nights for a couple of minutes when she needed a wee but then slept through. She hasn't and I don't think will enter the teenage years, she does as she is told and is super chilled out.

She is makes us laugh, completes our family and was one of the best decisions I have ever made to get her. She is only 10 months old and I am considering getting another one!

Holidays and days out haven't been a problem as we have a great dog walker/sitter.

I honestly don't know why people find dogs so stressful. Maybe they pick breeds that are hard work.

Our puppy is nearly eight months old now and honestly it’s been the worst decision of my life. I would never do it again and if I could turn back the clock I would make a different decision. But it’s not her fault and she’s here now so we’re committed to making the best of it and giving her a good life.

Hoping things will get better as she gets older and is less needy. Currently mourning my loss of freedom hugely - and I don’t mean going out all day with no planning - just simple things like being able to go upstairs without a dog crying and scrabbling at the staircase to get to me. Or just having an hour on my own. It’s utterly draining and I feel like I’ve lost myself all over again. Just like when I had children. The children adore her but I feel like I’ve given up my life again so they can have a dog.

On the plus side the walking is good. I do like that bit. But obviously I could do that without a dog.

im a cat person. Always have been.
I got my first dog last year, a strong, super hyper XL bully dog because my ex wanted him. He use to pee, poo and jumps up at people. He is super strong I sometimes find it hard to pull him back because he wants to play with every dog he sees and doesn't realise he is intimidating and strong.

I absolutely love him, he is a year dec 27th I would not give him up for the world.

If you want a puppy its a 20 year commitment. Like a child, even my moany old cat has accepted him.

They are expensive but I would say get a small dog first.

Sorry to add, puppies are just hilarious they will make you laugh for days especially if you have a cat who they're scared of lol
I get so much entertainment out of him and my cat, people would think my dog would bully my cat its the opposite

A lot of people seem to have a dog then when that dog sadly dies say 12-15, years later
They don’t get another

I got my girl in may, abs she is a joy. She is 5 and came with her loving nature. We are working on basics like sit, but she can be stubborn but as long as there is good she will do it eventually! I love her bark, it’s muffled and sounds like she is underwater!

First of all: get a rescue dog.
Second of all: puppy's are like another baby. And you will end up doing all the walks and grooming and feeding etc. So dont underestimate it. Also: puppy's will chew and destroy your entire house so bee beware 😊

Oh and they are a 12-15year commitment and you need a backup for when you go on a holiday. I love our dog a lot. But boy she feels like an extra kid. And we are not getting another one when she passes

I'm on puppy number 5 in my life and every single bloody time I forget about how hard it is, doesn't help that I still have two big ones still.

OP not bothered to reply?