Don’t get a dog

[Manyandyoucanwalkover]

Dogs are really hard work. They don’t come house trained, so expect to have wee and poo all over your floors. They will eat stuff they shouldn’t and then they vomit. They can be very noisy, they bark and they whine. Some keep you awake half the night. The vet’s bills are horrendous. £75 for a consultation, then medication on top of that. They need regular medication for worms, ticks and fleas. Many dogs need trips to the dog groomer, factor in about £50 every six weeks. This is for 10 years or more. Then they break your heart. 🐾💔

Please don’t get a dog, unless you have thought about all the above.

Hear hear! I have a 5 month old puppy, my third over my lifetime. I'm exhausted. My house smells. My radiators are covered in wet, muddy dog coats, my coats, leads, harnesses. He's cost us £450 at the vets already. I can only leave him 20 mins so far. He needs swaddling like a baby. He poohs all over the lawn and one beautiful rug. He humps my arm. He's chewed sooooo many things. He barks at everything. Hes endless hard work. And he's not a teenager yet! I love him enormously but having a puppy is not for the faint hearted!

Nor a housecat. Particularly if pedigree,and even more so if rescue.

They are hard work and agree with all of the above. We got our first dog last year and he’s now 9 months old. We spent a long time debating the cost, restrictions of having a dog. He’s generally very good now we are getting past the early puppy stage, he doesn’t bark although he whines for food!! Was fairly easy to toilet train and sleeps all night no problem (think we’ve just been lucky). There’s often someone at home due to our schedules but he’s been left for a few hours on the odd occasion that we’ve all been out with no problems at all.
we’ve had 1 vet trip for something he ate and shouldn’t have. The cost of vets, regular flea/worming treatments, insurance, food etc is a lot though but really glad we have him and he’s fitted in with our family perfectly

All of the above, people need to think really hard about this, it can be for 15 years ... That's a long long time

I'm not. I'm too lazy and selfish to look after a dog properly, so even though I love dogs, it will never happen.

It’s all true. However, they are the meaning of life.

So so true.
Very much like children. They are hard work especially in the early days, curtail your freedom, ruin your house and your bank balance, make you responsible, need fresh air at least 2 hours a day, lots of patience, teaching, cuddling, washing and feeding.

They will break your heart but bring you joy.

YANBU and I say that as an owner of two gorgeous rescue dogs.

They're worth every penny and every minute spent walking round a cold wet park, in gale force winds but you have to be prepared for everything you've said in your OP, plus the cost of pet insurance.

So basically don't get a pet if you can't be arsed to look after them, or if you expect them to be free to keep

This is me.
I hate going out in the rain

They follow you around all the time and get right under your feet. They bark at the postman and anyone walking past the house. Some get jealous if you stop to fuss other dogs in the park and sometimes gob off at little fluffy dogs.
They eat your shoes and never feel guilty.
They sigh and sulk. Especially if your legs are in the way and they can't sit on your brand new heated throw you got for Mother's Day.
They mither the rabbits but they are a bit confused by the New Guinea pigs and just ignore them.

They make you miss them as soon as you leave the house. Don't get a dog it's too emoticonal!

I have a miniture daushaund she's nearly 1 she's a joy , doesn't bark is more tolerant and loveing towards my toddler than you could expect from a childcare proffesional she's perfect but I agree her vet subscription for injections and check ups, her insurance that I have the highest possible due to possible back problems etc and her butternut box for food , plus special winter coats , groomer as she's long hair is monthly and almost as much as a hair dresser , we haven't done puppy training as we have actually been blessed with an angel that needed very little training and by 3 months was better behaved than my children 🤣 she does do a wee at night on a puppy pad but neither myself or her want to go out in the cold at night but without resources getting a dog or having a baby is the most irresponsible thing you can do x

That's 42

My darling girl did all those things, and the ĺast of them today .
Would trade the next ten years of my life to have her back again .

Ours settled very quickly, the only issue is if we go away levels as another layer of costs. He’s a joy in the house, sits at my feet as I work from home, can’t imagine life without him now.

What breaks my heart is when people have a dog but are out of the house most of the day. So incredibly unfair 😞

I agree 100% I'm at home with my 3 year old amd waited for my little winnie until I knew I was home enough and also have holiday sitters for her , she can be spoiled at nanny's house or if we are in the UK for a weekend it's dog freindly , I hate kennels or strangers as dog sitters

strawberriesarenot I'm so sorry for your loss x
Nothing compares to the love of a dog , their unswerving devotion and just pure joy of being but saying goodbye is the hardest thing.

@Fromthebirdsnest Aw Winnie sounds like a lucky dog! ❤️
Do you have no plans to work though as your little one gets older?
That's what I think is tricky with dogs; it's a very long-term commitment.

Cats are a breeze compared to dogs!

@Manyandyoucanwalkover Don’t disagree with anything you’ve written. But my god, do they fill your heart with such an unbridled joy and the purest love! They make every sleepless night, chewed up bit of clothing or furniture, miserable muddy walk in the rain, toilet accident that has to be cleaned up at 5.30 am and astronomical vet bill for something minor worth it and then some.

I can truly say getting my first dog (Fiona) 7 years ago opened my heart to a kind of love and openness that I’d never allowed myself to feel before. Equally the loss of my second dog Logan 2 years ago broke me in a way I’ve never experienced before or since, including the deaths of grandparents, uncles etc.

I’m blessed to have 3 at the moment and, whilst its hard work at times (especially with the latest rescue Dave who is only just 1 and still finding his feet since we adopted him in October), I honestly wouldn’t have it any other way.

L-R: Fiona, Dave & Stanley, who’s lust for life is infectious and who make me feel like the most important person in the whole world every time I reenter a room!

I'm very lucky to be able to wfh if i did ever need to but I have 4 children including 2 teens and I'm decidedly at home until high-school with my youngest I'm very fortunate and by then she will be an old lady and I'd be wfh and there would be an older child around and we are hoping my mil will move in our annex in the future and they can be golden girls together 🤣

I say this to friends frequently who talk in passing of getting a dog now they have kids. It’s really not as simple as they think it is. I love my dogs but they are a big commitment that many people just don’t seem to understand.

42 dogs? ;)

Even with pet insurance, you end up paying for most vet consultations, as there is an excess. Vet fees are now very expensive. A recent consultation for an eye infection cost us £135. As well as monthly worming, tick and flea treatment there are the annual vaccinations to pay for. When you first get a dog, you will need to get them spayed or neutered. It cost £800 for a spay at our vets.

Having a dog is really expensive these days. Please don’t get one if you haven’t got plenty of money to spend. I haven’t even mentioned the food bill!