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

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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!!

My dog fitted in to the family from a puppy.

I love my dog so much - it’s a huge tie and you need to prepare for that. And the expense.

Food, anti flea treatment and other sundries including grooming cost around £250-£275 per month. We’re up at 6.30 for the first two hour walk. Then another 90min walk in the middle of the day. Then tea time run around the block.

Id never put her in kennels as I know she’d be very unhappy as she’s very sociable and likes to have human or animal company. So if we go away she goes to stay with family or with a home sitter (where stays at theirs for a week - and it’s a wonderful woman who loves her like her own).

She’s well behaved as we did intensive training courses when she was young - that was a few hundred pounds but very well spent.

She’s an absolute joy to have and has changed my way of life and her happiness is infectious. She really is such a bundle of love.

But please don’t get a dog if you’re precious about your home or other material goods as damage does happen and you need to just accept that. Or if you’re not prepared to put in the work training, and reinforcing it day after day, or think that there might be times when works too busy and you won’t manage the walks. An unstimulated dog is a happy one, and a destructive one. If you get a working breed you need to give them a job to do.

Getting my soul dog was the single best decision I made in my life.

Ooh- my cat has a nightly dump at 2am and then gets poophoria (like euphoria but after the little tray visit - apparently it’s an actual thing)! So we then get a lot of noise with her racing round up and down stairs with her toys, then she sits half way up the stairs singing the song of her people for a good 15 minute or so. And occasionally if I over sleep she tries to suffocate me with her tummy pouch.

You’re lucky if yours is quiet!

Ah yes - the home grooming. I’m sure my house does smell of dog but mine doesn’t smell too bad as she gets daily brush time with spritzes of doggy spray and a proper bath one a week (more often if it’s very wet muddy weather). She’s a spaniel though and they have more sebaceous glands so more likely to be a bit whiffy.

A neighbour has lots of spaniels and her house smells before the door opens. Dogs don’t really look like they’re groomed more than a groomers visit every few months.

I do appreciate when dog owners accept that their dogs smell, and therefore their homes smell. This is obviously a smell that many people happily and willingly tolerate, maybe they even like it, and clearly the pros outweigh the cons for them. I also believe some people just don't have a good sense of smell, and others, like me, have a keen sense of smell, in the same way some of us have good eyesight, and others don't. But to the OP - you will likely have friends, if not yourself, who will note that your home smells. I really don't like going to houses with dogs, as I find the smell really intolerable.

I find it comforting but I don’t think it’s overpowering - I’ve a friend with a sensitive nose and she doesn’t mind and says it’s fine (and she’s very vocal and would say). She’s happy to sit and have a brew in the kitchen - which is not covered in fur as we mop and clean every day, and due to the daily brushies there’s no obvious shedding. I can wear a black dress and sit on the floor with the dog and am not covered in her fur. However if the cat sits on my knee I am instantly covered in her ginger fur. So a lint roller is a friend if you have a cat.

It doesn't matter how much you wash, brush and spray a dog, the house will still smell of dog.
Most dog owners tolerate the smell or become less aware of it.
Also, I'm not convinced washing a dog with shampoo on a regular basis is good for their coat. And I suspect most sprays are not good for a dog's health, probably very irritating to dogs. Even if these are products formulated for use on dogs. We are exposing them to so many unnecessary chemicals already (fabrics coatings, exhaust fumes, room deodorisers etc).
It is not a winning battle, homes with dogs will smell of dogs no matter what.

I've had my dog for 9 years.
The days of spontaneously being able to go out for the day with dc to theme parks, going out to the theatre or cinema in the evening when you've been at work during the day, holidays abroad without worry, those will all go.

You'll be constantly checking for dog friendly beaches,dog friendly cafes/restaurants, dog friendly cottages and the commitment to walk in all weathers

Would I change any of that? Not a chance.

The reward you get in love and companionship is priceless. Life will be very different and you'll have to stay one step ahead when making plans. But certainly not bad.

I adore my dog, so do my kids but I won’t be getting another until later in life (if ever). It really is a tie. It depends if you have family who can help I guess. Not just holidays but having to make sure you’re back to feed - walk the dog.

I have a dog walker, as i’m in the office most days. That costs me between £250-300 a month. Insurance is £75, and rising as he had glaucoma and is going blind, and from next March we have to pay a 20% co-payment. Essential to have insurance in my experience, i’ve claimed well over £10,000 in the 7.5yrs i’ve had my dog. Grooming is £45 every 7wks and he’s on a particular food I can’t changed due to some mystery illness. So full price that’s £21 for 6 tins.

So he costs me a small fortune. He is worth it, but my youngest is 17 next month, and I want some time in my life where I can go travelling without needing a baby or pet sitter. I also currently have 2 dogs to care for as my close friend is sadly dying from cancer. Getting a dog can and is wonderful and I have such a close bond with my dog, but don’t underestimate the tie, and cost!

Never. The thought of picking up poo in sideways rain...no thanks!

I have two dogs, I became dog obseesed after the first one.I had never had one before.No young children, I have my daughter and a dog walker during the day.
Both dogs are the type you zake to a doggy hair dresser, one is from a dog home.I feel the dog from the dog home, is so grateful to have a home, but they give me so much as well.
I personaly like getting up early so I like that even in winter.
They are a lot of work, so not sure if I would be happy if I had young children.

Other idea, could you take care of a friends dog sometimes? Or regularly, I have a friend who has her friends dog 2 days a week.
When her husband works nights.
Good luck

We adore our young dog (working line labrador) but she has completely changed our lives. She is out twice a day for an absolute minimum of 45 minutes each time, no matter the weather, and we also spend a significant amount of money on gundog training, obedience classes, as well as fun activities for her like scentwork classes and mantrailing. We have also spent hours training and socialising her in various scenarios, and this will be ongoing for a few years yet. I mostly work at home but I have to be out of the house two days a week for around 5 hours at a time and we will still get a dog walker on those days.

We live in the country so she has plenty of enriching and varied walks; we are also child free so can dedicate the time to her. I'm not sure she'd be such a good dog if she didn't have all of this time invested in meeting her needs and drive to "work".

I'm not trying to put you off but if you do get a dog, I would advise you pick the type of dog very carefully. I know of a few people who have got working cockers or "poo" dogs thinking they will be perfect family dogs, but they've ended up with anxious, boisterous dogs who haven't properly had their needs met.

I think you sound like you'd make a good dog owner!

There are limited dogs in rescues that they will rehome with kids.

I adore our dog, as do my kids, he fits well with my WFH job but I’m very aware that other jobs later in my career may not be so dog compatible, In didn’t think so much about that. WFH works really well with primary age kids, when last one goes to secondary and I might look at my work options dog will only be 6.

Don't do it. I did it as a single parent and it's so tough. Found myself constantly saying 'got to get back for the dog' - shopping trips/meals with friends - anytime you leave the house. I had a dog walker for my WFO day but felt really guilty leaving him. I also didn't go for a new job in my local city that wanted 3 days a week WFO. I think owning a dog is a two person job, wait until your dd is a teenager.

Clickbait

Nooooo don't do it.

When people (usually dog haters) absolutely insist that ALL houses and people with dogs smells it makes me laugh but also makes me angry as it is absolute crap.

Yes quite a few dogs smell doggy but not all do. Depends on breed. Most of my friends have dogs and some of their houses smell doggy but a lot don't and they are friends who have the same breed.

If my house smelled of dog my lovely MIL would delight in telling me. She told me often enough when we had cats that she could smell them. In fact she has said a few times that she is surprised our house does not smell when we have dogs.

Absolute bullshit

Newsflash - Dogs smell doggy! It's not by default an unpleasant smell - it depends on your taste. If you like dogs, it's quite a comforting smell and not overpowering if you keep your house generally clean. I used to like burying my head in my dog's long coat when I felt sad and smelling his doggy smell. We bathed him about once a month to get rid of general dirt or as needed if he'd been somewhere muddy and got filthy, so any smell was his natural scent.

I like both cats and dogs, but I have the same idea as you. I will only raise them if I have enough money. Animals will shed their fur, just like humans lose their hair. Go ahead and raise one. I support you.

Rescues are full because of morons getting dogs that aren't bred to be pets because they have a false idea of being able to change it into something that it's not, rescues are full of rubbish breeds prone to resource/dog/stranger/small fluffy aggression or dogs that need an unreasonable amount of exercise. I wouldn't go anywhere near a rescue as someone wanting a pet, they're fine if you're into training and helping a dog but alot of people just want a pet and it's fine to buy a puppy instead of taking the risk that a rescue dog has been badly raised/bad genetics and have the next decade of your life ruined once you get attached to it. Even experienced rescues can't guarantee that a dog isn't masking issues in foster placements/kennels.

Agree. I have actually only been in one house which was a terrible overpowering dog smell and that was many years ago. They had two bouvier's in a small house but TBH I think it was just lack of general cleaning etc. Most houses don't smell. I had a two bedroom flat for a while when my marriage broke up and carpet cleaned it weekly. My friend who doesnt like dogs would comment on how amazed she was it didnt smell of dogs. And to suggest people with dogs clothes are dirty is just nonsense. I would suggest that if the poster is being genuine about being able to smell dog to that extent, she is extremely sensitive to smell and is in a minority. Most people don't smell it and certainly not outside the house on people's clothes! Obviously you do have to clean more, and I have found it much easier now I have a house with a utility room, but as I have said my dogs give me back far more than they take. My child can be a pain sometimes! But she gives back more as well :D

I think a lot of people don't realise that different breeds have different types of fur and that makes a difference as to whether they are likely to be smelly or not. Also, obviously, how much the houses are cleaned, what sort of flooring there is, what the settees are made of etc.

Unless the people who insist all houses smell have been to homes of every single dog breed in the world (obviously they haven't) they are just spouting nonsense.