Being a dog owner is the best thing ever?

[skinnylov]

I have never been a huge animal person, but after getting two puppies (after lots of begging and pleading from my daughter), at the start of may I have enjoyed it so much.

I honestly look at them as two other kids and am enjoying dog ownership much, much more than I thought I would. The pride I feel when they learn new commands and the love I feel for them when they're cuddling up is unreal.

Today I took them a five mile walk and they were mostly off lead, they were amazing, didn't run away once. Recall great and I was just so so proud.

I have suffered with anxiety and depression and they get me out of the house every day and other dog walkers stop and chat. It has been amazing for my mental health.

Of course they're not perfect, they are messy and they bark and they don't always follow commands but my god I am enjoying this experience so much

When we first brought them home I was so regretful thinking I'd made a massive mistake for weeks, now I couldn't imagine my life without them.

I feel they are like kids, hard work but worth it. I have two cats and have never felt this pride and enjoyment from them (although I love them dearly of course).

I love my dog, she makes me so happy. Best thing I did.

But this is MN which is the place for dog haters.

I agree dogs are the best !
I volunteer as a dog walker at a rescue shelter. Sadly most shelters are currently full due to people giving up their lockdown pups.
So if anyone is thinking about getting a dog, please also consider a rescue dog.

He’s a very anxious dog. Genetic anxiety.

We’ve spent thousands on a behaviourist which has helped but it can’t cure it, it just helps us manage the symptoms really. Walking him is tense and stressful. He’s particularly fearful of strangers, which makes it hard to have friends and family over. We can’t get a babysitter and go out for the night. We can’t put him in kennels or leave him with a sitter and go on holidays. It’s hard even to have tradespeople over to the house. It’s isolating and depressing.

Rehoming him isn’t an option, he’d be so terrified and the suffering it would cause him would be immense.

I was prepared for poo, wee, hair, expense, responsibility, work and loss of freedom but I wasn’t prepared for living like this. I miss my friends and family. I feel sorry for my children not being able to have friends over.

But my situation isn’t typical and I’m glad dog ownership brings joy to other people.

It just comes across that way as anonymously online is the only place you can express anything other than adoration for dogs without being cast out as a weirdo which is what happens if you mention IRL that you’re not a dog fan.

YES!!
We are on labs 3 & 4 - both a year old and honestly they are the light of my life.

I love them so much, love how the teenage DD’s love them like siblings, love how they love us, love walking them, love it when then do their thing (my girl is super intelligent and does loads of tricks, my boy is super handsome and is winning rosettes the show ring!) ☺️☺️

I don't believe in love at first sight, but the second I set eyes on our labrador puppy, at 8 weeks old, I knew I would defend him with my life, and that he would be our ultimate best pal. He has had his moments, but he is now the most loyal, gentle, loving 2 year old imaginable, and I love him so so much.

I would never have a dog in my house and can’t understand the love for them so yabu but I’m glad they make you happy

I agree, too, I really wouldn’t want to cope with that myself! (I have 3 cats, who I love dearly and that’s enough for me.)

But I love enjoying other people’s puppies!! 😃

YANBU! Dogs are incredible creatures who can teach us so much about life!
I rescued my beautiful collie nearly 20 years ago-she changed my life completely. She rescued me. Dogs live in the moment and are very humbling animals. Ironic it took a dog to teach me humility. She is the reason I met my friends and DH, she was my shadow and always there to support when my mental health defeated me, when my ex abused me, when life and humanity was just too much.
She loved me unconditionally and made me laugh with her great honest heart and kind soul. You're never lonely with a dog, they're such gentle lovely animals who just want to please you.
I honestly have never understood people who dont like dogs. Yes they slobber, poop constantly, smell awful, shed hair, cost money and are an emotional and physical tie but its a small price to pay for unflinching friendship and love.
We have two dogs now, one a rescue (please adopt dont shop!) and they truly make a house a home.
They're family and I love them as such.

I love my 3. Three such unique personalities and I love each of them like they are my children. Right now the 2 huskies are shedding like crazy and I am vacuuming twice a day. But I happily do it for them. And my American bulldog/pitbull is so loving and affectionate his noise doesn’t bother me.

That's wonderful. There is nothing like the relationship between humans and animals. I'm so glad you are enjoying your pack.

Absolutely adore my furry bundle of love.

for those saying they smell and do big poos, try raw feeding them, it’s a game changer. Commercial dog food is full of allergens for dogs and causes smelly coats, health issues and big smelly poos

Hi OP,

I totally understand this. I have 2 dogs, one 18 months, one 3 (both rescued in the last year and a half) and they have literally changed my life in the best way possible.

This. The distance, plus the heat at the moment - way too much for pups that are less than 4 months old.

I’m not a dog hater. I lost my amazing girl 6 months ago, miss her every day. No way would I have been walking he4 for 5 miles, at such a young age, in this heat.

YANBU to ask if dog ownership is the best thing ever.

YABU walking pups that far in this heat. Sorry, but I disagree with what your vet said.

Out f interest, what breed are they? As that will make a big difference as to how quickly their bodies mature.

Were they rescues or from a breeder? Because most, reputable, breeders won’t let littermates be homed together.

Dogs are amazing - I adore my two. I’m really glad that yours have brought you so much joy.

I do agree with other posters that it’s too far too young and not wise for dogs to be out much at all in this heat.

My almost 8 month old lab hasn’t been anywhere near 5 miles yet.

Depending on where OP is it might not have been that hot yesterday, in the NW it was only 12 degrees at 7am when I took Ddogs for a walk.

Same here - DH was well trained by his boyhood cat.

He didn't really want a dog, but acquiesced because everyone else did (and of course he knew I'd be the one taking the real responsibility)

And the furry one has wormed her way in to his affections, and he wouldn't be without her now. He changed jobs recently and even takes her to work with him sometimes (where she loves it because she gets spoiled rotten)

Yes, they're a lot of work, but to be honest I can't think of many things that matter that AREN'T a lot of work.

It's their absolute lack of guile that gets me. Zero pretence, total authenticity and love. When DDog is happy and being hilarious there's nothing like it – pure, unadulterated joy. He's big and old and clumsy and yet even through his arthritis he plays like a puppy, rolling on his back and trying to jump like a goat.

And when I'm feeling wobbly or down, he picks up on it so quick. His big head pushing underneath my arm and resting on my lap is the greatest comfort. No need to talk, no need to justify anything or explain how I'm feeling, he's just there, without me ever having to ask.

It's one thing to feel emotional connection with people, but to feel it from another species is a different kind of meaningful. And dogs – especially when you really understand them and know how to read them – are genuinely something special.

I think (understandably) people who don't like dogs or don't feel comfortable around them don't spend time with them, so they don't get to see or experience what you're now starting to connect with, OP. It's not just a hairy smelly housemate – it's a very pure, unconditionally loving soul who demonstrates, in every moment of every day, what it is to be a true friend.