Any dog lovers out there decided against getting another dog?

[MackEndSea]

I’m a dog lover and have had dogs all my life. I currently have two but suddenly I find myself fantasising about the time when I have no dogs. A clean tidy fresh smelling house, no obligation to go out for walks in all weather, no dog shit in the garden, no kennel fees, no having to book a simple night away weeks in advance to ensure the dogs have kennel spaces …

Apart from all this I find the number of idiotic dog owners has increased massively in the past few years - dogs off lead with no recall … only takes one bad experience for your puppy to morph into 12/13 years of “reactive dog”. Do I really need that stress in my life?

Any dog lovers decided to go dogless and not regretted it? / gone back on it?

Kids are all growing up by the time these dogs pass kids will have left home and I want to be free to do stuff.

This is exactly where we are at. We have two at the minute and I think I will miss having a dog desperately but I want a few years at least to be free.

DM has, she’s 81 now and immobile. MIL has two, a puppy and an older dog. She’s around 74.

When our dear dog passes I definitely won't be getting another. She's 7 so I don't want to wish her life away but she's expensive and we can't make any plans without first considering her. She's terrified of fireworks and she's not nice to other dogs (although fortunately a small border terrier so little risk of anything) so walks are always stressful and lonely. I love her dearly but never again for me.

This is basically where I am. DH, not so much.

I have told him that I won't be getting another dog when the current ones (3&4 but lower lifespan dogs so 8-10 is the best we are likely to get) go because more than the spontaneity which I also miss I mainly don't want the headspace and worry they take up.

So if we have another it will be all his.

Realistically I should not get another dog when my old labrador goes - the last of three I had with my late husband. I am 69, waiting for a hip replacement. Instead, after consultation with my sons, I now have a very young bouncy labrador boy. My sons take turns walking him while I have the pleasure of his company - if anything happens to me, they will decide who will take him.
He is hard work, sheds hair, chews everything and my house will never be clean
But I will never be lonely.

That would be me. We got our lovely boy after pleading from DD for years. Stupidly I waited till she was 14 and I thought safe to walk our local commons. Within 2 years DD was at 6th form college and gone for 10 hrs a day, then at uni then left home.
I have walked and loved the dog who died last year aged 15 1/2. Despite pressure from doggy friends to get another, increasing disability means I find the walking two hours a day just too much, especially in the winter.
It's been lovely to be able to out for the day or go away without worrying and making arrangements and paying for care.
A month ago DD came home (asked first) with a rescue cat she'd found living under one of the buildings where she works. DD lives with me some of the week as commuting is easier. I think we have a cat now😂.

I wish we’d started with dogs earlier….50 when got ours and she’s 4 now. Can’t imagine life without her, but no, don’t think we will get another one. We are lucky that the in laws will have her at the drop of a hat, including overnight and holidays. And that’s her second home. But they are getting on now….