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.

We grew up with a family dog, much loved but it has put me off for life ever wanting one. I clearly remember the sheer amount of work required and will never subject my family to that again. I feel life is busy enough as it is, I can't imagine on top of a hectic day going to walk the bloody dog.
I often see people out coffee in one hand and a bag of shit in the other or waiting to pick up shit while drinking a coffee and think that is why I will never, ever get one.

I was thinking of it, but have seriously been put off by experience of a family member.

I am not sure I will get another dog after this one goes. The main reason for me is the f-ing weather. Just sick of the wind, the rain, the mud... She hates it too and looks at me as if to say can you not put the sun on?
Then there's her wet clothes, my wet clothes, trying to clean her feet which she hates, but which I feel I have to do because of the fear of Alabama rot.
There's a bunch of other things too, like food being discarded everywhere and the constant scavenging. Not her fault obviously, it's the filthy people who refuse to use a rubbish bin, but it is wearing.
Other dog owners. A big boisterous dog came running up to us the other day. She was on the lead as she can be reactive. Don't worry if she tells him off, he needs to learn, said the idiot owner. I told her that was her job and got a mouthful of abuse. One incident among many.
Costs are crazy as others have said.

The main reason though is the weather. Not just the everyday misery but I think if you live in the UK - and most of us are trapped here now thanks to BBBrexit - you need to get away for a couple of weeks for some guaranteed sun and that's not always easy with a dog.

Having said all that it's actually blue skies out there today which is great in theory but sadly it brings out all the idiot dog owners.

I love dogs. Well done to all of you who have the time and energy and money and space for them so I can enjoy seeing them on my walks.
I will have to wait until I am retired. Until then I am a cat worshiper 🥰

My GS was easier than my rabbits. He fitted in with my lifestyle, my holidays were camping. So I'd extend it to any pet. Having rabbits is similar to a small dog. A proper hamster set up is around £200. My DD needs the free child place when booking holidays, her dog is £350 to board.

I grew up with a dog (age 10-20) and have never had one since. My husband and I never had work schedules that agreed with having one. As we now have kids and I've got older I really don't want the hassle. Although we now both work from home and have the time to give I don't want to. The kids nag for one constantly but I think I'd honestly resent the thing. We have a 10 year old cat and she's enough in all honesty. I get why people have dogs and I love stroking the ones in the neighborhood and going out for a long run with the IL's one beside me but it wouldn't be fair on the dog if I owned.

I intend to do this after my lovely old girl is no longer with us. I can't go through the pain of losing another one once she's gone, but life without a daily dog walk over hill and dale come rain or shine is a miserable thought. I've been looking into the Cinnamon Trust and may sign up to that.

Totally agree. We on our 4th dog and he has tipped me over the edge; no more after this thing! He’s 2, a Springer, is such hard work for so little reward. If he was cuddly perhaps I wouldn’t mind the endless muddy floor, walls, appalling recall, blah blah blah. Cars filthy, house is filthy, grass is bare. Spent thousands training him. I think he’s a dud. DH and DC love him so he’s staying. Sometimes his enormous lips make me smile and I momentarily weaken, then he farts.

@blackberryhill

if you really wanted a dog, you could get an older rescue, you don't have to get a puppy.

Mine rolled in fox shit yesterday and then I had to spend two hours in the car with him stinking of death, which was nice.

Dogs aren’t easy but a sensible choice of dog and a well matched partnership is wonderful, and so so worth it! Most of the dog problems on here are people who have over faced themselves with too much dog for them, or have no idea about what dogs need. Don’t get a dog if you aren’t prepared walk it as much as it needs, train it, feed it decent food and love it!! Don’t buy a dog because you like what they look like without knowing nothing about the breed. Don’t buy a malinois and expect it to act like a bichon!

Housecats aren't!

Ours is 4. She’s absolutely adored and not that hard work. But we were naive I. Thinking we could wft and have a dog. It only works because the in laws have her 4 days a week in the day.

I can’t even think about her not being here….and don’t think we’ll ever get another one for that reason alone.

And don't think rabbits are cheaper, easier pets than cats and dogs. They aren't.

I've got 2 spaniels, and trying to keep my kitchen remotely clean is an ongoing nightmare this winter. 1 is on arthritis meds that costs £60 a month. Their food alone is close to £200 a month (special diets), insurance about £80, and we see the vet every 3 months for a medication review which is £75. I absolutely love the bones of them but they're a huge tie and we haven't had a holiday abroad since having them as the older one has got separation anxiety. It is like having 2 perpetual toddlers.

It makes me rage on here with the rehoming threads. I'd rehome DH and the kids before I rehomed mine - they're so bonded it would be horribly cruel.

I agree but got a puppy. I didn't want my child's heart broken in just a few years and you can't get pet insurance on older dogs, which I wanted to get for our pet. If it was just me I'd probably get older dogs so I can give them some great years in their twilight years, but it wasn't just about me. Instead I adopted two puppies who are having an amazing life.

Also, even if you know all that and they end up being your soul mate, best friend and true light of your life… puppy blues are real and there might be a time where they’re tiny that the only reason you don’t throw them out to fend for themselves is how tiny and cute they are.

you can't get pet insurance on older dogs

You can but it does tend to get more expensive as they age.

I generally like dogs and grew up with them. My lifestyle is suitable, but unless DH is totally on board and does his fair share, it's not even a question.

I'm put off by the 10% of "friendly" dogs and their feckless idiot owners. They're already a bloody nuisence and seem attracted to me, and I spend my walks and runs dodging them and being interrupted (including growled at and scratched in recent months- I was only taking a photo!). I don't want to put lots of work and attention into raising a wel-trained dog and then be a further magnet to every passing idiot.

Well behaved dogs are a joy, but there's too many idiot owners that ruin their dogs and everyone else's enjoyment of the outdoors.

So so sorry about your lovely girl!

I have to counteract this.

Mine weed once and pooed once inside.

Consultations at the vets is £40.

Professional grooming isn't necessary. I do all my dog's fur care myself.

Mine only barks if someone is at the door or she feels I am being threatened. She talks to me which is lovely and sometimes sings.

Your heart will be broken when they die though. I agree with that.

Even my vet told me that after the age of 5, it's pretty impossible. I got my puppies home and organised insurance the same day, before there can be any pre-existing conditions.

This 👆is my main issue with my dog. She’s a lovely dog but I suffer with SAD and it’s getting worse every winter. The 4 months is has basically rained non stop where I live. Giving the dog the amount of exercise she needs has been really hard especially when my mood has been so low. And I can’t just pop off to Spain for a hit of sun. Our lovely schnauzer is coming up to 8 years old, when she’s gone I won’t be getting another dog. The commitment can definitely feel overwhelming.

Your vet is wrong.

I agree, noone said that, but there's definitely an implied "if you struggle to finance your life now, you can't get a dog", because it's true. Even if you've priced up the cost and think you can just about afford it, something will happen like cheap food not agreeing with your dog (which is very common, because cheap dog food is crap), so your budget doubles. Noone deserves a dog that they can't pay for.