To ask you to tel me all the shit things about having a dog?

[ProserpinaProserpina]

Two preschool DCs, small house, large garden. I’m desperate for a dog. DH works from home in a workshop in the garden. Dog would spend most of the day with him. We’ve both had dogs before and live an active, outdoorsy lifestyle. I can’t think of any occasions that we go out to anywhere that a dog couldn’t come, and there is very rarely not someone home. I work 3 days per week but like I say, husband is around. I’m happy to do evening walks as required, dog could have the run of the garden all day every day, and DH has a very flexible (read: easy) schedule which would allow the dog to be walked as much as needed.

DH is happy with whatever and does absolutely adore dogs but is more pragmatic than me. He’s very much of the ‘if you want a dog, we’ll get one but it won’t be easy’ attitude which I’m a bit worried might bite me on that arse when things are difficult.

So please, tell me all the shit things about having a dog and why it’s a terrible idea to have a dog and children so that I can make a truly informed decision (ie. Not do it).

We loved our dog, had from a puppy til pts at 13. Would we get another dog, no, for the following reasons
such a tie
destroy your home as a pup, we had ripped up vinyl floor, chewed up spindles on the landing, chewed shoes etc.
hoovering needed every day
expensive, vets, insurance, grooming, food etc
holidays you feel awful leaving the dog, kennels and such aren’t cheap
even wanting to go out for a day, needs planning.
the mess a dog creates, our dog had an oily coat, every where he laid you could see the mark on the wall.
puppy days are really, really tough
when they get old, you are often up during the night to let them out for toilet.
the trauma when you lose them, isn’t something you would wish on your worst enemy, it’s so heartbreaking.

Now the snow has gone I have found soggy dog poop 🙄 I love her, I really do fucking love her.

Expensive to buy
Difficult to get a rescue dog when you have young kids
Poo/wee potentially in the house, definitely in the garden
Mouthing/biting
Jumping up
Destroying toys/furniture
Walking every day in all weather
Training every day when pup
Expensive to feed
Vet bills
Children pulling/falling on etc
Constantly having to watch/separate kids/dogs
Early wake ups from dog
Barking
Attention seeking
Dog hair

doesnt need to be a pup plenty of older dogs need homes then no puppy chewing etc may be easier with children

Picking up their shit. Thankless and grim.
Or their vomit.
Dog hair, slobber and the dog smell. Your house will smell, even if you don't notice.
Walking them in all weathers.
Not being able to do anything without considering the dog.
Having to leave wherever you may have gone without the dog, because you have to get back for the dog.
Paying sitters, kennels, walkers or asking other people to look after them if you want to go on holiday.
Your children not actually enjoying having a dog in their home.
Having to be in the room with dog and child at all times, just in case.
Vet bills.
Ongoing costs like worming, deflea treatments, grooming.
May be difficult to train.
And on and on. And I have a dog.

Mine pisses on the floor.

Get a dog! Some of my happiest childhood memories are tied to pets we had in our family.
I saw the most adorable golden doodle today and it took me right back.
There are no shit things! Get a dog!!

I guss you wish you didn't have a dog, then?
(Thought not!) 😻

the trauma when you lose them, isn’t something you would wish on your worst enemy, it’s so heartbreaking.

Okay, one shit thing. But even that will be a sort of ‘practice‘ for your children for the bigger losses to come.

They are lovely while they are healthy but elderly dogs can need a tremendous amount of care which can be incredibly limiting. And then as others have said , it's unbearable having to make the decision if they have to be put to sleep... 🙁 ( all a bit raw for us as lost our dog just last week...)

Your house will stink. You won't think it does, and people will tell you it doesn't, but it will, and it will hit visitors as soon as you open the door.

Hair, cleaning up after them, cost of keeping them, exercising them, no one taking responsibility so you end up doing all the above.

Vet bills.
The anxiety about their health as they get older.
Limiting time out the house to no more than 4 hours or so.
Coming home to a puddle if you were 5 minutes late home.
If you have them as a pup, say goodbye to phone chargers, shoes etc.
Picking up poo.
Reading comments on MN about how dogs should be illegal and that dog owners only want a dog so they can feel powerful over an innocent creature.
Feeling like the worse person ever when you accidentally stand on their paw.
Having to say no when they beg for your chocolate.
Their short life span.

Someone I know has a parrot. Everything bad about a dog x 2 with a parrot. Like a dog and a small child in one feathery package

We invite people into our company and dogs into our solitude, and their loss is heartbreaking.

Oh great, you have turned me into a snuffling emotional mess at the keyboard.

Thank I have DDog to roll her eyes at me and turn onto her back to have her tummy rubbed...

The quickest way to reduce myself to random tears is to think that one day I will have to say goodbye (she is only 3 and in perfectly good health 😂)

Sorry @Sigma33 but it feels like the best way of describing the whole experience! And you are right to hold onto and live every moment - I lost one and have a new one who is almost 3 and I feel the same as you. Look at her every day and think I can’t believe one day she will be old. Makes it all the more well, life, in a way. But what can you do except live every single day…this is what dogs give us and why few regret the rainy walks and sniffing every tree. Cos there come a day you’d give anything to stand freezing and frustrated while dog sniffs/plays/refuses to do what you want. Bloody heart thieves I tell you…

Exactly. Every time she manages to find something disgusting to roll in, the gap under the fence in the park and stands the other side looking at me and refusing to come back, when our holiday has to be planned around dog-friendly places...

You've reminded me to give her an extra cuddle. She has given a long suffering sigh, she likes an early night and is fed up with me for still being awake long past bed time! But she's waited up with me curled up on the sofa, and will now follow me up to bed to snuggle down for the night. She might even lick my feet when I take my socks off 😂

Take a look at the current cost of dog food , vet bills, annual vaccinations and boarding kennels. You'll be shocked.

She hasn't licked my feet. She has tucked herself up in bed while I brushed my teeth and is giving me reproachful looks for a) going to bed late, and b) faffing around taking a photo instead of tucking her up under the duvet

The only downside for me is that I will outlive my dog. And I know my heart will break when he goes. I’ve been through it before. It’s just the worst when they die.

I’ve had a Springer since he was 10 weeks. He was an utterly demented puppy, far beyond the average pup. He ate everything. He chewed everything. But after a huge effort we had him toilet trained within a fortnight.
He needs a lot of exercise, a trip around the block on a lead is not enough, this guy needs serious offlead hard running for at least 60 minutes every single day. Rain, snow, ice; he needs to get out.
I’ve never walked so much in my life and the bonus is I get loads of fresh air every day. Lots of dogs are destructive because their owners CBA giving them the stimulation they need, so bear that in mind.
I wouldn’t be without my best friend.

I have a little cocker spaniel who is currently tucked up my arm, he likes to bury his head right into my armpit if he can, and he is happily snuggled in, quietly snoring at times.

The other spaniel (cocker/springer mix) is stretched out asleep on the floor, also dreaming away. What’s not to love?

Yes, I did have to put a head torch on earlier and we all headed out in the cold, but it turned out to be a lovely walk we’d never have had if not for the dogs.

Apart from DC’s and DH, they are the absolute lights of my life and I’m so grateful for them, every day. They have enriched every part of the DC’s childhood and made our family a better one.

Of course, there are loads of downsides! But the good outweighs so much, in the same way it does with having DC.

Ours hates the rain and will poo inside if she can when it's wet - we have to force her outside
We've had issues with the youngest dc, she thinks she's above him in the pecking order so there have been small growling issues when they're playing - it's taken time and patience to teach dc how to behave with the dog and the dog with the dc so this doesn't escalate
Dog was a lockdown pup and can still be a bit scared of over enthusiastic other dogs
She loves her family to bits and has separation anxiety so we can't leave her longer than 2-3 hours max

She is the best thing we have ever done 🥰 my friend lost her dog last week and I wept and wept at the thought of being without ours. She's a real part of the family

Dogs are disgusting. Slobbery, desperate creatures who have no place in civilised homes. 🤢

With this logic you could make the same case about most men...