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!!

@mydogisthebest we must have different perceptions.

I stand by my view that using various deodorising substances on dogs' coats can't be good for their health (skin and respiratory system). This is not 'bullshit'

And yes, some breeds smell less than others but the homes they live in do keep a dog smell no matter how clean the dog, their collar/coat or the house are. Some smell stronger than others and some can be very unpleasant. But it's just something dog owners have adjusted to.

I'm not a dog hater, have lived with dogs since the age of 5, I can't imagine life without dogs. Our current home is what you might call minimalist In design with lower percentage of soft furnishings compared to a standard house, very efficient ventilation and easy to clean surfaces, precisely because I am fighting a constant battle against dog smells which I can't smell myself but I guarantee they are there.

You get that doggy smell more when they haven't been spayed/neutered, it makes a massive difference. Keep their bedding clean & clean your house properly it's not difficult.

No, you are wrong. Some dogs do not smell and therefore the houses they live don't either.

There are so many different breeds and their fur or, in some cases, hair is different.

You have not been to a home which has every single breed of dog in the world living in it so, sorry, but your comments are bullshit.

As I said, my MIL said our house did not smell and she would definitely have told us if it did and would have delighted in doing so. She liked to comment when we had cats that our house smelled of them. We have never used deodorising substances on our dogs except shampoo when we bath them and that is not the frequent.

I have an extremely good sense of smell and some of my friends who have dogs definitely do not have houses that smell whereas some do. Most of the friends whose houses do not smell have the same breed of dog so no coincidence...

Agree! Mine has lovely soft silky fur, no flaky skin, and the groomer and vets always say she’s in lovely condition. Probably helps her shampoo costs four times mine and lasts half as long. In fact I usually look like a scarecrow! Regular baths for mine each week as she enjoys splashing around in muddy puddles.

Some folk just like to criticise anything relating to dogs. In fact there’s a big CON to the list - the ignorance of dog haters (of which the same two or three regularly crop up on MN).

A lot of dogs give so much joy to life - so do cats. They’re a massive rock of support in difficult times and are truly part of the family.

Currently on my sofa under my literal pile of dogs. All different breeds, large and small, old and young. All rescue. Happy to confirm you are quite wrong.
Out if 40+ we’ve had, probably 30 have been absolutely fine with no issues, health or behaviour wise. The other 10 or so we knew had issues but have been able to resolve them without spending thousands on training or hours and hours on training.
And no, I don’t agree “it’s fine” to buy a puppy because so many come from puppy farms. Don’t believe me? Have a look at Many Tears Dog Rescue. They have hundreds of dogs, most in a terrible state, most ex breeders, most of the people who bought puppies from those dogs thought it was fine. It’s not.

Is a chickapoo a cross between a poodle and a chicken?

I call my poodle my little chicken. Does that mean she a chickapoo?