Any dog people decided to NOT live with another dog?

[StupidFaces]

I’ve been a dog person all my life, they’re my main interest. Everything I do is related to dogs.

However, I’m starting to daydream about having a clean house, being able to leave the patio doors open without a dog flying in and out barking and dragging mud everywhere … being able to just pack up and go away for the night without having to worry about dog sitters, having a FRESH smelling house …

So, to dog people … have you ever decided to not get another dog and does the novelty of clean, free and fresh wear off after a bit?

After I lost my last one I was never going to have another. Took about two years before I just had to have another. No regrets.

Our 17 yo lovely dog died a few years ago. We've decided to not get another at least for a few years. We have DC in early primary, one doesn't sleep through the night still at nearly 4, we both wfh but very long hours. Once the DC are a bit more independent we might. But easier and cheaper holidays (no dog sitting required), no vet bills, no insurance bills, less mud in the house etc are all quite nice in the meantime. Having said that as a family we are less fit and go outside less

Yup. Actually I was such a dog lover my dream was to have kennels.

I've not not had a dog for 5 years and have since had children. I honestly couldn't give a damn about having a dog. It's too much for us to deal with, they are very tieing, messy, at least my kids grow up they can deal with their own poop.

I actually think there's too many dogs around the place nowadays.

Maybe I'll change my mind again but for now, no dogs.

Yes me. My dog died 5 years ago and he was my entire world. But I haven’t got another one, partly because I know I got very lucky with my ddog and he was so easygoing, and partly because I still enjoy the freedom of not having to consider a dog into everything I do. I do have horses and cats though, and also work with horses and dogs, and until recently I was dog groomer, so I get plenty of animal fixes in my life! I think it’s like kids, once you have them you adore them and wouldn’t be without them, but logically they’re just a PITA 😂

That's exactly how I feel. I've outgrown the need and I really like a clean and calm house with my dh and kids.

Pets are so much harder than kids and I can't wait to be pet free! 😬

When my wonderful doggy departs this earth, I will not be getting another!

Yes me, just to have a bit more freedom for a while. I’ve never not had a dog so it will be strange and I might change my mind quite quickly.

I actually find dog ownership is a lot more stressful than it used to be. Most dogs used to be well trained and there was less of them. When you were walking with your dogs you could let them say hello to most other dogs and then move on. Now there are millions of dogs everywhere mostly on the lead so I have to keep calling my dogs back every 2 minutes and putting them in the lead everywhere we go which just makes walks unenjoyable now and it feels like a massive chore.

All being well we should have our dog another 10 years, seeing our children through to adulthood. I could see us being loathe to tie ourselves down by getting another, especially while still working.

Having said that, should the worst happen and ours not live out their days as planned, I could see us getting another if the kids are still in their teens.

We are currently dog free having lost our beautiful boy late last year. I’m gradually getting used to the awful silence when I get home. Yes there are some advantages of course and this is the first time I’ve had a full lawn in many a year but it’s not enough.

we are giving it a year and will then start looking. I need a dog.

We retired last year with great plans to travel, right about that time the dogs back legs decided to go, it is a long slow process, he is on Gabapentin three times a day and Metacam once, we only trust one person to look after him, she lives in a Duplex with too many stairs, when he was younger we put him into kennels once and he licked all the fur off his front paws as he was so stressed.

He poos in the house on a regular basis, thankfully solid so we just pick it up and dispose of it without a word, if it starts to get runny then we have a decision to make, because at that stage the situation will be unworkable, we won’t be having this conversation this time next year.😞

So the very long answer to your question, is no, when he is gone we are going start doing all the things we had planned, I about to hit 59 and DH is 67 this year, we don’t have mad amounts of mobile and up and at ‘em years left (maybe 10) and we are no longer prepared to tie ourselves down. Much as we love him.

I love all dogs but , after losing my beloved boy last year after 13 wonderful years, I just cannot face the heartbreak of the end again. However, I read a quote yesterday, by the wonderful Paul O'Grady, on the heartbreak of losing your dog and it really struck me. He said something along the lines of "You don't worry about the hangover whilst you're still at the party".

I clearly have the wrong kids because my dog was so much easier than my DC!

The lockdown dog-boom has also put us off. I want to wait until all those dogs that haven't been socialized properly and poorly trained are a bit older and calmer before I go dog walking regularly again.

I've always had dogs but we've decided not to have another, at least until the kids are teens.

We have two. When they go we've said we'll have a dog free 2 years. Won't get two dogs either. Can holiday when we want as our fantastic dog sitter can only take ours in the holidays as she works in a school. I'm a dog walker so can get my fix from my dogs & my son's dog.

Not a dog person but I kind of feel like this about our cats. I absolutely love them to pieces and I don’t think there’s a time that I’ve never not had a cat in the household. Dh wanted to add another to the brood recently as his friend has a cat that needs rehomed. At one stage I wouldn’t have refused, But now I just can’t do it.

I’ve decided once my Current 3 go (aged 10 and 8) then there will be no more. The full responsibility of their care relies solely on me whilst dh and dd just get the good bits. Although not as hard as looking after dogs, cats can still come with thier own challenges.

We have two currently who are 10 and could easily live another 7 years. We won't get another when they are gone to allow ourselves some freedom to travel for longer periods - don't leave them more than 3 weeks. We are very lucky that our cleaner also looks after them so when we are away she and her family move in! But they are defo a tie.

I think robot dogs will catch on quickly when they're invented!

I've already decided our current dog will be our last.. he's a black version on marley from marley and me.. caused nothing but damage from day 1, hyperactive, stinks, hair everywhere.. and I've always had dogs 😆 he's a lovely dog and I'd never rehome him, by by god he's hard work. Especially in winter months when there just seems to by mud absolutely everywhere.

I feel this way about my chickens - well chicken. I had four originally and now I'm sadly down to one old girl left I'm pleased they all had a wonderful life free range and happy. She's very spoiled and happy has plenty of company but I miss being able to buy plants without them getting eaten dug up and scratched at etc etc. I can't go away or holiday because of all my pets, I'm not having any more but one lone dog who is going to a perfectly trained cocker spaniel. Well thats my future plan anyway.

I've had 2 cats, both into old age (18). They needed minimal input in terms of day to day care, nowhere near like a dog. A neighbour would feed them for a week if needed. No walking needed and they weren't bothered too much about company. I won't have another pet though. If I had a young family I might but I value my freedom too much now and would resent having to plan stuff. It's not the cost, it's being unable to just stay out on a whim.

I can definitely see why you would want to be dog free.

I adore my dog but i am not sure we will get another when she goes. She is 11 now and as DH is retiring in 2 years i think we would like some freedom to go away as and when we please. I hope we get a good few years out of yet but no more after she is gone.

I have dogs and love them to bits. I hope they live to a great age. I don't think I'll have dogs again though, I want to try the freedom (especially being able to go away on a whim), and not being covered in dog hair...