Page 5 | To wish I hadn’t got a dog

Ihatemydogbmnamechange · 2022-09-17T22:41:53+00:00

Before people say what a horrible arsehole I am, I didn’t want a dog but gave in to years and years of pressure from everyone else in my family and now I am stuck with a dog who is ruining my life. still a puppy but is showing some possessiveness around food and I wish with all my heart I had never got him. My daughters are so happy my wife is happy but the dog can be awful to them too. i hate everything about having a dog. when is it ever going to get better z ive sat and cried tonight becssue i wish I could go back in time

WhileMyGuitarGentlyWeeps · 21/09/2022 19:08

YANBU @Ihatemydogbmnamechange You need to get your dog rehomed. You will never get to like them. Not the dog's fault, but he will ruin your life.

WhileMyGuitarGentlyWeeps · 21/09/2022 19:08

Agree @BooseysMom Sadly, although we always had a family dog when I was growing up and I loved them very much, I could NOT be fucked with them now. Your house always stinks, (yes it really does!) you never have a clean home, you're tied to them, you have no spontaneity, they cost 1000s of £££ in vet fees (sometimes 5-figure fees,) they yap yap yap, bark, bark, bark incessantly some days, they demand attention all the time... Also, you have to walk them - I see the 3 women in my cul-de-sac with them and they go out to walk the dog at 7am-7.30am every day. AND they're out 8 and 9 at night, no matter what the weather is like. Could NOT be arsed with that.

Plus all that bloody dog hair, AND they regularly jump up strangers. I went to someone's house a few months ago, and they had seven dogs. Fucking SEVEN. All different shapes and sizes...Their garden was small, and there was nowhere close for them to run free. They hardly ever take them all for walks, they just let them run around the house and small garden. And they ALWAYS jump up you when you go to the house and run around like the Tasmanian Devil. Because they have so much energy, because they are rarely walked far.

Cats for me only. Soooo easy to look after, and so chilled. And even then, after 25 years of having them, when our last one (aged 15 now) has died, we won't have any more. As easy to look after as cats are, they are still a bit of a tie and an expense. Nowhere NEAR as much as dogs though!

SO many people have become dog owners this past decade, who are not fit to look after a fucking goldfish. They're right up there with MALMILS/lycra clad cyclists, and people who drive 4 wheel drive German cars.

WittyCoolUsername · 21/09/2022 19:11

My husband really regretted getting our dog. She chewed everything, took ages to toilet train and was an all around pain in the arse idiot. She's nearly 2 and is (mostly) lovely now. Pups are hard work. They're a bit like kids.

BooseysMom · 23/09/2022 13:09

WhileMyGuitarGentlyWeeps · 21/09/2022 19:08

Agree @BooseysMom Sadly, although we always had a family dog when I was growing up and I loved them very much, I could NOT be fucked with them now. Your house always stinks, (yes it really does!) you never have a clean home, you're tied to them, you have no spontaneity, they cost 1000s of £££ in vet fees (sometimes 5-figure fees,) they yap yap yap, bark, bark, bark incessantly some days, they demand attention all the time... Also, you have to walk them - I see the 3 women in my cul-de-sac with them and they go out to walk the dog at 7am-7.30am every day. AND they're out 8 and 9 at night, no matter what the weather is like. Could NOT be arsed with that.

Plus all that bloody dog hair, AND they regularly jump up strangers. I went to someone's house a few months ago, and they had seven dogs. Fucking SEVEN. All different shapes and sizes...Their garden was small, and there was nowhere close for them to run free. They hardly ever take them all for walks, they just let them run around the house and small garden. And they ALWAYS jump up you when you go to the house and run around like the Tasmanian Devil. Because they have so much energy, because they are rarely walked far.

Cats for me only. Soooo easy to look after, and so chilled. And even then, after 25 years of having them, when our last one (aged 15 now) has died, we won't have any more. As easy to look after as cats are, they are still a bit of a tie and an expense. Nowhere NEAR as much as dogs though!

SO many people have become dog owners this past decade, who are not fit to look after a fucking goldfish. They're right up there with MALMILS/lycra clad cyclists, and people who drive 4 wheel drive German cars.

@WhileMyGuitarGentlyWeeps Thank-you for posting in agreement with my comments. It's funny how you change when you grow up. We had about 7 dogs when I was growing up. Dogs are pack animals and my DM took the role of pack leader. They were rigorously trained but much loved. They were my best friends. Now it's like I'm a totally different person. The smell really offends me, the cost is way above what I'm willing to pay. I mean when I was a kid growing up on a farm, we would go and choose a pup from a neighbouring farm and it was only £20..those days are long gone. I do worry that DS will never have the sort of bond and friendship I had with my dogs though. I suppose it makes me feel better when I think of the negatives.

KarmaStar · 04/01/2023 14:34

Ok ,think this through.the poor dog was dumped probably due to the very problems you are finding.there are many unscrupulous idiots breeding freely for profit not giving a slightest damn about the dogs welfare.the French bulldog is one such over need dog.
Have you had her thoroughly checked out by your vet?
If not please do so.
Then go back to basics with training,I know you didn't want to but for your children's sake,please give it a try.After every meal or drink,when she wakes up,when she is sniffing the floor and circling,lift her outside and put her in the designated toilet area and say wee wee or whatever.the very second she performs praise her heartily good girl for wee wee so she knows she was good to do so.ignore all indoor toileting.I always got up at 2/3am and took a pup out for a wee.(It's no fun I know but very much worth it).
You have to watch her all the time whilst training,it's exhausting but if you put the hard work in she will very soon learn.
try to bond with her,begin basic training for commands if you can,some breeds don't take much to training.😀always,always reward within two seconds of good behaviour.
you can do this.
also consider a dog behavioural consultant they are excellent to give you confidence.
never punish a dog.
Good luck 🌈🐕🐾🐾

CristinaNov182 · 04/01/2023 15:06

It will get better when your puppy grows into a dog… just as with children

in the meantime suck it up, read how to train him/her now so you get a well behaved dog in the future. Even without training the dog will lose most of the energy they have now.

But as you have kids take all of them to park as much as possible and have them run and play with the dog till they’re exhausted. All of them will sleep better for it.

BrieAndChilli · 04/01/2023 15:38

i am in your position, my husband and kids wanted a dog for years and even though i do not like dogs, am not a pet person at all i relented and agreed on the provisio that i was not goiing to be lumbered with the care of the dog.

I hate having a dog. I wont say I hate the dog as he is a living creature and of course i wish no harm to him but

I hate

The fact that we can no longer go out for the day unless it is dog friendly so no day out shopping, no theme parks, no last minute trips to london, no museums or festivals etc etc.
The fact that the house always smells of dog
the hair that infests every single square inch of the house, even upstairs where the dog has never gone. Clean washing comes out the machine with hair on it.
constant noise of claws clip clapping on the floor or gnawing on a bone
cant sit with wine classes or snacks on the coffee table as they will get knocked over or licked or eaten
cant leave anything in the lounge without the risk of it being destroyed
dog poo all over the garden
constant noise of people saying no, leave, sit , stay all the bloody time
cant invite peopple round for drinks etc as the dog would just be bounding all over the place
the glass doors and windows constantly covered in slobber and marks
mud marks everywhere
the constant fear that he might go for someone at any time as dogs are essentially unpredicatable
the fact that any walk (and only DH can walk him as he is strong and reactive) is just a stress of tryinig to control him and avoiding the judgement from other people

unfortunately he is now here and i couldnt in all conscience send him back to the rescue home. We have had him for 10 months and he is now 18 months and although he is lots better than when we first got him alot of the above things will never change as they are just part of having a dog.

I cope by hiding away upstairs alot of the time as it is too much of an assualt on my senses to spend too much time in the lounge. I find late evening the best time as he has calmed down a lot by then and DH is around to control him. Day times i tend to watch stuff on my ipad in bed rather than sit in the lounge.

CristinaNov182 · 04/01/2023 15:52

@BrieAndChilli thank you, your post convinced me to never get a dog. I also thought when the kids are older will get one. You should find a solution to be able to still go out without the dog, it’s too much to restrict your life to dog friendly places only. Is there no family or even a dog center or dog walker to take it too? I’ve seen on FB lots of dog minders and they do flexible hours.

we have a cat and it’s so easy, just clean the litter bucket once a week, flush her poo daily, feed her and have a cat sitter or take her to family while on holiday. Easy. And enjoy cuddles every evening. Think Weill stick with that.

AffIt · 04/01/2023 15:58

WhileMyGuitarGentlyWeeps · 21/09/2022 19:08

Agree @BooseysMom Sadly, although we always had a family dog when I was growing up and I loved them very much, I could NOT be fucked with them now. Your house always stinks, (yes it really does!) you never have a clean home, you're tied to them, you have no spontaneity, they cost 1000s of £££ in vet fees (sometimes 5-figure fees,) they yap yap yap, bark, bark, bark incessantly some days, they demand attention all the time... Also, you have to walk them - I see the 3 women in my cul-de-sac with them and they go out to walk the dog at 7am-7.30am every day. AND they're out 8 and 9 at night, no matter what the weather is like. Could NOT be arsed with that.

Plus all that bloody dog hair, AND they regularly jump up strangers. I went to someone's house a few months ago, and they had seven dogs. Fucking SEVEN. All different shapes and sizes...Their garden was small, and there was nowhere close for them to run free. They hardly ever take them all for walks, they just let them run around the house and small garden. And they ALWAYS jump up you when you go to the house and run around like the Tasmanian Devil. Because they have so much energy, because they are rarely walked far.

Cats for me only. Soooo easy to look after, and so chilled. And even then, after 25 years of having them, when our last one (aged 15 now) has died, we won't have any more. As easy to look after as cats are, they are still a bit of a tie and an expense. Nowhere NEAR as much as dogs though!

SO many people have become dog owners this past decade, who are not fit to look after a fucking goldfish. They're right up there with MALMILS/lycra clad cyclists, and people who drive 4 wheel drive German cars.

Me too!

I grew up with dogs (my family bred and trained working Labs and spaniels) and, while I still love dogs and enjoy spending time with them, I am very much a cat person as an adult and have no desire to own a dog.

I do, however, continue to care very much about dog welfare and find posts like these, where the OP has clearly done no research into owning a dog, deeply frustrating.

TheChippendenSpook · 04/01/2023 16:06

Hopefully things have improved three months on.

BrieAndChilli · 04/01/2023 16:22

I don’t restrict myself to dog friendly places I and the kids still do that but it means DH can’t come at the same time. We also can’t go and stay with MIL like we used to as she also has a reactive rescue dog so the 2 wouldn’t mix well!!

things like dog walkers and sitters are expensive so would add to the cost of the day. the dog went to kennels when DH went on holiday recently and he destroyed 2 of the dog beds so we had to pay £50 to replace those.