Do I want a dog?? Do you regret having one?

[Errors]

I love dogs so much! But I am very aware that they are a huge commitment that is years and years long and I don’t want to commit to having one unless I am absolutely certain I can be a good dog owner.

I can and do work from home most of the time, although there are days when I go in to my office - it’s very flexible.
I love getting out for long walks.
I have a 7 year old daughter who is very calm and loves animals
I have a small garden
I like to go for breaks away when I can fit them in
Weekends can be changed to fit around having a dog but I don’t always go to dog friendly places with my DD
The hair shedding and potentially being woken up early doors would bother me
I earn well and could afford to pay a dog walker if needs be - would get pet insurance obviously and vet bills wouldn’t be an issue
I wouldn’t get a puppy. I prefer medium to large breeds - would like to get a rescue if I can but don’t know if it would be better to get a dog whose background I am aware of if that makes sense?

Or should I just get a cat?!!

Talk me out of it please!!

I love my dog and definitely couldn’t imagine life without her but things are different now I have children. Before kids, I was able to go film days out, long walks with my dog. Now I can’t do that every weekend due to other commitments, it’s harder to balance making sure I’m meeting my family needs as well as all my dogs needs- sometimes there just isn’t a family & dog friendly place to go.

My dog is medium sized and gets on well with my children but that’s simply because she was here first and adapted well to the change. I think if I was to get another dog now then I’d have to take it slow and make sure it was the right dog for our family.

Do you know anyone who has a dog? Maybe to try out looking after the dog for a long weekend and then a working week to see how it goes?

No you don't is my answer.

I'd genuinely get a cat, even the best dog is hard work.

I love dogs in theory, could snuggle one all day but cats are much easier.

In my experience if you’re going to have a dog, especially a bigger one don’t underestimate the mess they make! Muddy paws, hair, dribble, scratching, chewing, toys littered about etc. you need to have a sense of humour about these things! Some are worse than others obviously but especially with an older dog, be prepared that you might get more than you bargained for! They’re worth it of course, if you put the work in but happy well behaved dogs don’t happen by magic. Do you have experience? Have you had a dog before? Are you willing to think outside the box and put in the time, effort and money it can take to fix any unexpected behavioural problems? As you say it’s a massive commitment, but worth it if that’s what you really want.

This post tells me you shouldn’t get a dog. It doesn’t sound like you truly want one so don’t.

I absolutely love my dog to bits, but if I knew then what I know now then I wouldn't have got him. He is great but such hard work and such a commitment. I thought I was prepared from all my research, but nothing can fully prepare you until you actually do it! He also costs a lot more than I ever expected as he has allergies and a few health issues. Just food, insurance and medication cost us £250 a month, and that's without dog walkers and other costs

Sounds like you really want a dog and you would make a good dog owner as you have really thought it through. Next steps would be talking to rescue shelters about the kind of dog you'd like, much like you've set out here so they can match you with a dog that would best for your household. A good shelter will tell you what the dog has gone through , if there are any behavioural or health issues etc. There are dogs that don't shed much and they don't all wake up early doors either.
There's no doubt they are extra work but they give you so much love it's all worth it, well it is to me. I hope you find the dog you're looking for 😎.

Yes, seems very manageable for you. I think dogs are good for kids too, teaching responsibility etc

I loved my dog, who we had for 14 years, and my husband and I still speak of him every day. Much as we adored him, though, we haven't got another dog in the five years since he died, and the reason for that is that he was a huge tie. We adjusted our lives around this, but after he died, once the worst of the grief had passed, we did feel a sense of freedom - not having to consider whether places we might want to go were dog-friendly, or be limited by the time he could be left alone. My summary would be that dogs bring joy to your life, but at a price.

I was firmly against getting a dog for years. I was more of a cat person and thought dogs were needy, noisy and annoying. I eventually caved and we got a dog as I knew my dh and dcs wanted one.

honestly, having a Dog is so rewarding. She brings us all so much joy. We are so happy when we talk to her or interact with her. She is just a nice, happy creature. Maybe we just got lucky but she is well behaved and doesn’t bark.

we have taken her on a couple of holidays with us. If you want to holiday without your dog just make sure you know of a trusted sitter or kennel to leave her.

but also cats are great too.

Why would you not get a puppy?

The brutal truth is that virtually all "rescues" are nothing of the sort. You are taking on an animal that was abandoned for a reason, and it's almost always because of the dogs behaviour. Recent changes to the Dangerous Dogs Act mean that your dog doesn't have to actually do anything for you to be prosecuted. It doesn't have to have bitten or attacked anyone, a person only has to think it might be likely to. So taking on a rescue is no longer advised, unless you want to risk a conviction with every walk or visitor to your home.

From what you describe, I wouldn't get a dog, your lifestyle just isn't suited.

We love dogs and have had two, last one pts 6 years ago, but have more or less decided we won’t be having another one. Too much of a tie, too much of a responsibility and it’s so bloody hard to lose them. My DB’s lab looks to be reaching the end of his life and I’m upset enough about that.

Thank you for the honest answers! There is a real mix here

I love dogs, and we’ve had them, but not any more, because you can’t go out for the day anywhere that isn’t dog friendly. And we never had anyone to leave ours with, so for holidays abroad that meant kennels - very expensive and around here need to be booked well in advance, which means no going away for a few days on spec.

Though having said that, we’re both retired and if I were left on my own (I hope not!) I’d have another - the not going out/away wouldn’t bother me. I’d get an older rescue dog in need of a loving home.

I will never get another dog again. I love him to bits but he’s so restrictive, he has several issues which various dog trainers have not been able to help with and which have curtailed our social life immensely. It’s not how I imaged having a dog would be at all.

Weve accepted how is is and work our lives around him and his quirks. I reckon we’ve got another 3 years with him, I love him dearly and will miss him terribly but will be ready for the freedom not having him here will bring.

I have a labrador and they are easy, friendly, undemanding dogs (I also have a jack russell/beagle - don't get one of those!). I don't think you can go wrong with them as family pets, although they shed a LOT so be prepared to invest in a good hoover and use it all the time. I'd probably go for a puppy from a reputable breeder (and puppy training classes obvs) rather than a rescue, as you have a young daughter. It's just easier if they come to you without behavioural issues that need fixing.

No op I wouldn't I love dogs too have had them when I was younger living at home with parents but even now 16 years since last dog passed my parents garden is ruined patches of grass that won't grow back from dogs.
The dog hair and smell we would have to sweep the floors two/three times a day bathing them when muddy and smelly etc.

The cost of having to put them in a kennel when going away on holidays, having to plan care if you're away for a night or two if you can't put them in Kennel.

I also wouldn't rescue a dog if you have DD you really can't tell what the dog is like and could easily turn and attack out of the blue but even worse when you don't have the dogs full history of why he was given up everyone tells tales of why they no longer want the dog even the rescue places trying to rehome them.

We got our Boxer dog from a rescue place he was lovely and loyal to us but we were lied too that he was great with other dogs super friendly he was great with our current dog at the time that was already here but he would attack other dogs when off lead like charge at them full force knock them on their backs etc we had to keep him on lead when walking him outside because he was a risk to other dogs.

Well I had 2 JRTs for about 18 years, when they were 10 DD was born. When the last one went I vowed I’d have at least a year off. DD was 8 at the time. We lasted 3 months, the got the latest as a rescue from the local council shelter. It was 2021, shelters were starting to overflow and we now have the most beautiful, lovely natured little boy. He was a stray but didn’t really have any issues - maybe we were lucky, maybe we just grew into him.
Yes I have to get up early and plan my days around him, I have to pay a dog walker twice a week, there is constant mud in the house, plus at least 13 tennis balls on the go at any given time but….I wouldn’t have it any other way.
DSis and I do reciprocal dog sitting and if we’re doing stuff at the same time our dog walker also boards. We have 1 UK holiday per year where he comes with, and another when DSis has him, when we go abroad.
IMO, if you really want a dog you will make it work. Sounds like you’re in a better position than most. Only you know whether you’re prepared to make the changes (I don’t even see them as sacrifices).

Can only speak from my own experience but I absolutely adore my dog, I wouldn’t be without him! He’s a Labrador and so loving, the puppy years were a challenge (but then they are with any dog) but he has grown into an amazing dog, it’s a bond I don’t think you can really explain!

Cat vs dog depends really on what you want out of a pet. A cat can be lovely but they don’t get you out the house like a dog does, a dog gives so much back and really becomes part of the family, we love our staycations with our dog & the days out hiking.

I love our dog (not as much as DH does!) but won’t get another, it just places too many restrictions on life. We now have a good dog boarder, but they’re not always available so we’ve sometimes been unable to do things we’d like (eg weekend at Center parcs when the DCs have an inset day).

If you holiday in the UK with them then you’re restricted to eating in pubs, which gets boring after a couple of days.

I wouldn’t get a rescue with a young child, the risk is too high.

I love our dog. She changed the outlook of our animal-phobic DD2 and is a great companion. I didn't ever want a dog but gave in after 13 years of badgering.

She's 11 this year and I don't regret having her but when she goes we won't have another. This is my choice, the rest of the family would happily do it again. As much as I adore her, It has been like having another toddler! I've spent much longer sorting care for her than I ever have with the DC. My DC are mid-teens and older and I'm ready to have my life back.

We have cats too, they're unlikely to be replaced either. We can nip away for a night and leave them though!

I wouldn't be starting from "I like medium/large breeds" - you need to be thinking about behaviour, care and exercise needs etc.

Disclaimer in that I've only done this with cats, but would you consider adopting a very old dog? They're usually much more mellow with age, and are given up by owners going into homes themselves.

Some still have so much love to give, and it gives me a real sense of joy to have given an old cat a new home. The brutal flipside is that you lose them sooner, but then you get a "break" from ownership.

I absolutely adore my dog, but I won't be getting another. She developed a very strong bond with me and howls and barks if I leave the house. Progress with trying to sort this has been very slow and this makes things rather difficult.
I certainly wouldn't be without her now, she really does bring me so much joy, but I won't do this again.

I love my dog, I definitely don't regret getting him.

For me the pros outweigh the cons.

I can't imagine life without him now.

I was the same, a cat lover, having been bitten by other people's dogs and strays as a child I was scared of them . I was overruled and it took a few weeks to bond with our first dog (my fault not hers) but bond we did & I became a dedicated dog lover, we are now on our 5th rescue dog who we adore just as much as the previous 4 . Mess can be cleaned up it's no big deal, but the joy & love they bring is immeasurable 😍