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.

@Lifeomars · Today 13:10

I would never ever get a dog, it is almost the same commitment as having a child of course a dog does not grow up and hopefully leave home. I would hate to have to go out every single day come rain, snow, wind, hail or heat to walk them because of course you must do this for them. I would puke when I had to pick up the poo because of course you must do that for the sake of other people.

I don't even like dogs very much even though my family has one when I was growing up, I hated the fur, that "doggy" smell, and the barking. She was a very nice dog but I learnt at an early age that dogs were not for me. I do like and have had cats but now I am pet free and it's good. No expense, no worry about their health and well being.

A lot of my family and friends have pets and I do like spending time with them and hearing about their antics but I know myself and I know that I do not want a pet. I am not heartless, I abhor and detest cruelty to animals and I think that for many people having a pet truly enhances their lives but it is not for me.

100% this! ^ We have a cat - almost 17 - and have had cats for 25 years. Our last cat died 3-4 years ago, and when the one we have left is gone we will have no more. No more pets - no way. We love our kitty, but she is old and clingy and a bit toddler-like now, and we now feel restricted by her. Never used to feel this way about our cats, but we have done this past couple of years.

It will cost a fortune to put her in a 'cat kennel' if we want to go away for 2-3 weeks, as the prices have tripled since around 2018, and we can't do it anyway, as it would just be cruel to do it. Since our last cat died she has been very needy and clingy and she would react very badly to being farmed out to a cat hotel for some weeks. A cat sitter is an idea, but again, our cat would be angsty and worried and anxious and upset, (with a stranger in the house,) and again, it would cost £££.

I know dogs make good companions for people, and there are some very sweet and friendly, well-behaved dogs, but I am not even a billionth of a percent tempted to get one. Never have been, even though my family had dogs when I was a child. FAR too much of a tie, and noisy, whiny, and smelly. And despite some people saying their house doesn't smell of 'dog.' Yes it does, it really does. And with vet bills becoming farcical and horrific now, there is no way I would be forking out multiple 1000s of £££ in vet bills. Nah fuck that shit!

I cam think of some pretty horrible people who are someone's sons and daughters who are locked up in prison now, who haven't benefitted society at all.

In fact they are a drain.

Here's a photo of mine.

What a beautiful dog @WickedSerious! Gorgeous colouring. Way to destroy the whole point of the thread! 😂

I really should look into volunteering as a dog walker.

What a beauty @WickedSerious. Such a pretty face and soulful eyes.

Don't be fooled by those big,sad eyes;she's a nutcase.

A very beautiful nutcase, though. 🥰

I couldn’t give a fuck about anyone else
I see you strongly conform to the dog owner archetype!

I’ve got a chocolate Labrador- all I can say is mud, water, stealing t towels, sitting on me (all 34kg), constantly starving hungry, dribbling and moulting. But, complete and utter devotion, brilliant fun, she makes me laugh every day and I wouldn’t swap her for the world!

Absolutely!! I do have a dog and we gave it years of thought and then only got her when we were ready as a family to dedicate and commit our time to her. Unless you have people to help they restrict everything you do, including days out that aren't dog friendly.
Having said all this, ours fits in our lives perfectly as we spend most of our free time, walking and going to beaches and I work from home so she rarely spends much time alone.
There are so many dogs that are given up because people don't realise just how difficult it is. Definitely needs a lot of thought before getting a dog and finding the right breed to suit.

All very true but the love and enjoyment you get is immeasurable.We have had 4 over forty years the last one taken too young and it did break our hearts and the main reason we haven't got another .The worst part about having a dog is saying goodbye.

We have a lovely rescue dog but he is very big and both he and we are getting older. Initially, my husband said that when the LRD goes, he wouldn't want another as he couldn't imagine another dog as lovely as this one. However, recently, he's started saying that he would think of another one.

Fine, I said, but I think we should get a smaller dog. We can barely lift this one into the car as it is and we're not getting any younger.

However, he's of the opinion that a dog is not a dog unless it's a 'proper big one' - not ferocious but Retriever/German shepherd size.

I'm just hoping he sees sense!

I could not live without my dogs. Have 2 German Shepherd’s and an Akita and they have helped my mental health like no doctor ever has. I’m 60 so I’m not one of the ‘new depressed!’
There is no price on the love you get from them and though they can be expensive they are cheaper than psychiatrists!

Many rescue dogs come house trained, so it’s not always the case that they will poo and wee all over the house, and having a family home is better for them than being in a shelter.

Not RTFT but we have a 4 month old cavapoo puppy. We had no idea what to expect except that it would be really hard work but so far she is no work at all. She’s toilet trained, she sleeps in her crate from the time we go to bed at 10 ish until I wake her at 7 ish, she will happily sit on my nap and snooze all day. She gets a walk on the school run so probably an hour a day total. An occasional wander up to the park so she gets used to being off lead and can get to know other dogs. I can leave her for around 3 hours in a pen and she’s absolutely fine, just snoozes. She is utterly loveable and is adored by us all and all our friends and anyone we meet in the park stops her for a run. We genuinely are slightly concerned that we are doing something wrong because it just seems a lot easier than I expected. Maybe the teenage years will be harder? 🤷‍♀️
I’m not actually smug though, the newborn (baby) stage for me was an absolute nightmare.

Hear, hear!

I wouldn’t have one if you paid me. Cold, rainy, windy early morning walkies? I’ll stay in my warm bed, thanks. 😂

As a dog owner, I love that you know yourself and you know what you want. The world would be a better place if people had this much clarity and didn't get dogs that didn't fit into their lives.

I agree with OP. And there are plenty of organisations such as Barking Mad who need people to look after dogs in their (the hosts’) home while their owners are away. I would advise to do that first. A bit like grandchildren - love them and hand them back.

Have some mogs instead. Loads need rescuing and normally are very low maintenance

I have a dog and kids and would actually recommend not having kids. Our pooch has been a dream since the off. Not a spot of bother and trained properly from the off. Kids still in training 🤣 On a serious note, too many careless people wanting dogs and not able to put in the time or have the money to back it up. It is a huge undertaking and not to be taken lightly.

UK Dog fouling is one the council's biggest problems now.

With 12 million plus dogs in the UK, nobody here took into consideration the devastating effect and upset to wildlife and farm animals. Fatal dog attacks have surged to a record high in the last two years, dog attacks up by 66%. Ludicrous that anybody can own a pet with no understanding of their upkeep, their well being or the costs involved. Set the criteria to a much higher standard to own a dog, dogs must be leashed and trained. One dog per household, an owner's passport. £3000 pound bonds to cover the dog welfare during its life, the bond staying with the dog to cover rehoming vets etc

It’s all true. We have 3, two adult Toy Poodles (no trouble really) and an 11-month-old Weimaraner. She is gorgeous, but so heavy and strong, with no concept of personal space, or her own strength. I have many bruises! My lovely lawn is completely trashed to the point that there is no point in addressing the damage until she no longer feels the need to run full pelt everywhere. The mud over the past 5-months and ongoing is driving me to distraction. She is the best family/house guard as she misses not a single sound and barks like a bugger at anything near the house 🙄 She is now clearly approaching her first season and is feeling very hormonal. She is manic for part of the day and crashed out exhausted for the other part! She brought in a freshly killed (still warm rat from the garden today (feeling very uncomfortable about how many others might be out there 😳) and when she drinks, her jowels hold onto part of the water, then she comes to me dribbling and drooling. Despite all of this, I love her so much. Here she is enjoying a walk 😫😩 And another one of her all clean and beautiful a few months ago.

They are absolutely worth every penny

One dog per household, an owner's passport. £3000 pound bonds to cover the dog welfare during its life, the bond staying with the dog to cover rehoming vets etc
IF ONLY
Unfortunately they are all so in love with their creatures that they dont give a damn about the problems caused by them.

Completely agree - it’s the second biggest commitment you’ll make in life only to having a baby, and I say that because at least you can leave a dog alone in the house for a couple of hours!

We lost our beautiful girl last month after 10 years and she’s left a space in my heart I’ll never fill.. we said we wouldn’t get another until we’re much older (husband says he’s not sure if ever) due to the emotional strain, vets bills (we spent thousands in the last year, and had pretty decent insurance!) and responsibility, but already I see why many people have a new dog less than a year later. They bring all of the love and joy to your home ❤️