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).

😂 couldn't have put it better myself.

I've always had a dog and not always the same breed so I think the breed and dog's personality can play a part.

My last dog was more like a lazy cat, could leave him for hours if needed, totally chilled most of the time we didn't know we had him. However had s lot of very time consuming health issue.

My current dog is a massive dick head in lots of ways, can't be left yet due to us not having a safe (and by safe I mean no wires etc) room to put him in so we. Still crate him if we need to pop out. He's still far too interested in getting up to no good. He is however a beautiful dog with the most loving and friendly personality so we forgive the other stuff.

For me the worst part is they can be s tie. The mess they can make of your house (hair and muddy paws etc) and the cost if they have a health issue.

The above would never put me off getting one though.

Oh, I really want a parrot! A lady I met recently was telling me all about her African Grey... it recognises her friends and says what they like to drink ("Sarah! Gin and tonic!" etc), and although it has freedom of the house it shits only in its cage. Plus it will likely outlive her! She did say it gets in a snit if she's away for too long and sometimes shits on her when she gets back.

@Tanfastic Irish setter by any chance?

Is it called Chanelle 😂

they are long lived - 40 years. this one is the blue/yellow sort. Feathers and dust everywhere. likes the owner but not his wife. Bird poo, feathers, dust, nuts and seeds everywhere. Loves company. you cant leave them alone for long. beautiful creature but....

😆😂

Holidays abroad or without my two elderly Labs are on hold now until they eventually die. I can't handle the stress and worry of leaving them and want to be around to catch the shit that falls out of one of their arses without them knowing. I can't explain that to dog sitter.

We camp and have just bought a caravan.

I cannot stand not being able to go on a proper holiday, or a day out.

If you take them with you , where you go and what you do are severely compromised.

You literally can't leave them at home for more than 4-5 hours maximum.

Finding a dog boarder is virtually impossible due to the number of people that now have dogs after lockdown, so if you haven't got an immediate and reliable relative or friend to look after them, then you need to get the dog booked in first, and that defines when you go on holiday.

Vet fees.
Agreeing to have a dog put to sleep when s/he reaches the end of their life is very hard too.

We have two, one 7 year old mastiff and one 6 month old sheepdog.

Puppies are a blooming nightmare, they are crazy and they need to go out constantly, even over night. They need lots of training and socialising which requires a lot of time from you, and they can be prone to chewing (though our sheepdog never has 🤞).
They can’t be alone for long at all, we have an agreement with my parents and they have them if we are out all day/overnight.

They also cost a lot between food, insurance etc..

I do, however, say go for it! I love our dogs and wouldn’t change a thing, it’s brilliant for the kids, they all play together in the garden and snuggle up together in the evenings. They’re great company and our older dog is so relaxed now that he’s the best snuggle buddy.

Haven't read the full thread so apologies if I'm repeating, but I'm going to attempt to dissuade you by mentioning the best thing about dogs.

The best thing about dogs, or certainly mine, is their utter unquestioning adoration. If my dog were a human, I'd have him arrested as a stalker, but as a dog it's the most lovely life affirming thing to be so worshipped.

So how is this an attempt at telling you not to get one? I'm not telling you not to get one, I'm saying postpone it. Because when children are young, they too adore you like that. My son says he remembers sitting on the top of the stairs and crying if we went out, then it flipped and he'd reduce at unfettered gaming and devices and late nights. They listen to you, you teach them stuff, they want you to throw balls at them. Children that is.

What you need to do is relish and cherish these adoration years with your children and then replace them when a dog when they become mouthy ingrates. As Nora Ephron so brilliantly put it “When your children are teenagers, it's important to have a dog so that someone in the house is happy to see you.”

There's a reason why women always buy cockerpoos as their youngest child hits y6 and it's not (just) perimenopause.

My son would rejoice not reduce when we went out...

Oh and another great thing about dogs and teens is that they unit an atomising family unit. You go on walks together, communicate through them, contact those that live away with pictures of the dog doing something stupid.

My bad experience having a dog - my poor boy was attacked by a vicious dog who was off lead and unmuzzled (pitbull-type dog that ran across, pinned my boy down and ripped at his throat and chest). My boy was lucky to survive but he is still very much traumatised a year on. The therapist we saw said that my boy will likely always have PTSD as a result and gets very nervous of dogs he doesn’t know. You can train your dog up to the hilt but it’s other dogs and dog owners that can ruin your dog’s personality / behaviours.

I haven't read all the pages so apologies if it has been said.
I wouldn't assume you will be able to take the dog to all dog friendly places (pubs,parks) as your dog might end up being reactive(no matter if is a rescue or a fancy breed one) and you wouldn't be relaxed if the dog is constantly barking/agitated.

We have a rescue and though he goes to puppy school twice a week and plays with all dog sizes...he is reactive to some dogs on our walks...so we wouldn't be taking him to a pub for example, in case there are other dogs there and it would disturb people.

Saying that we live for our dog and we would have more dogs if our professional lives allowed.😂

Got it in one! It was my husband and daughter that wanted one. He now works abroad and she's a teen who'd rather be eaten alive than leave her room so getting her out to walk the dog is impossible. And I have 5 children so could really do without the extra bother. I do have a cat though, she's fine.

I wouldn’t have a dog with small children because they are so limiting on days out like theme parks , farm parks , zoos etc

I'm not going to convince you. I adopted a one year old Spanish rescue dog, so we missed the bonkers puppy stage. He housetrained in 3 days, has never chewed, is happy to be left snoozing at home for a few hours if we go out. Getting an adult rescue meant I was able to seek out a dog with the temperament that would suit us so we have a very laid back boy who is mostly delighted to snooze on the sofa and doesn't need a huge amount of walking to be happy. He's a delight and has been a real comfort to me while I've been undergoing chemotherapy and recovering from that.

You just need to think VERY carefully about what kind of dog would suit your family. If you don't want to have to adapt your lifestyle too much, get a low-energy, low needs dog, not a bloody cockerpoo or other working breed who will constantly need you to make up jobs for them to do.

Border terrier

If you get a defective one like mine, it will be terrified of literally EVERYTHING!! The smaller something is the more my dog is terrified of it - even ants

But I do love her to death because she loves me just as much as I love her. She follows me everywhere and she's my baby.

They're the best! Our dog has brought so much love, joy and humour to mine and my children's post-divorce lives.
Ok, that's not what you asked. The puppy stage was one of the worst of my life. Our dog is quite an entitled breed which happens not to be the brightest and the toilet training took FOREVER. His separation anxiety is no picnic either.
Still wouldn't change him though I'm lying in bed listening to him snoring, and the cuteness of it is like music to my ears. If ever I get another partner, he's in for a treat!

Adore my dog. Met lots of new friends. Never feel lonely. But it’s a lot of responsibility and cost. I pay a dog Walker, he’s got expensive food due to allergies, he costs me at least £300 a month. Not sure id get another dog.

Not being able to spontaneously go out for the day to visit art galleries, museums and the like. Not being able to take foreign holidays (we've got our first one planned next year, but I'm sure I'll feel guilty throughout)... Other than that it's wonderful having a dog in our lives.