Angry re dog

[Dogmadlove]

We are a family of 4. We have a 3 bed terrace house with an ok size garden. DH is adamant we can’t get a dog. He says the house is too small 🙄. I think it will have a calming effect on our 2 boys and family. How can I convince him??

Totally wrong of you to get a dog when you’re both out of house all day. Dogs are uber social creatures and crave company. If you plan on leaving the dog along for large chunks of time it’s utterly the wrong thing to do.
ita very likely they would howl allot like my old neighbours dog did when it was left and it drove us crazy.

Garden?
You plan to chuck the dog out in the garden while you are out at work?

I have similar house, I have large dog approx 50kg and a small dog. House doesn't feel too small. If the small dog was big then it would be but large dog is super chilled.

Oh I missed the being out all day bit, in that case then I wouldn't get a dog at all. A cat will be better.

This is a dreadful reason to get a dog. At 11 and 8 the kids just need training 😂

Bit like having children then presumably 🤔Apart from the vets.

I wish I had another baby rather than getting a puppy!

Unless you are willing to pay for a dog walker every single day YABU.

You both work full time and it is not fair or right to have a dog sat at home alone for 8+ hours a day.

Dogs are hard work. Do not be fooled into thinking this cute little furry thing will turn up and just makes your children behaviour better.

The first 3 years are extremely testing and not for the faint hearted.

I think you’re wanting this for the wrong reasons.

While you both work FT your plan for a dog would be "garden or dog walker"?

You can't leave a fdog in your garden unaccompanied all day, or even a few hours. The dog will be barking and your neighbours will be unhappy about that.

Plus where are you finding a dog with parenting skills to explain yo your children they have to stop fighting?

You both work full time and you want to get a dog to train your children not to fight?

Riiiiiiiiight-o.

Totally baffled as to why your husband wouldn’t be on board with this genius plan!

Wow you sound lovely 🤨

Calming affect? Have you met a dog?

If your kids fight a lot its possible the dog will nip one of them. They can tell when fighting is play or real, and they often don't tolerate real fighting.

It's far more likely that a dog will exacerbate things.

A dog is not a substitute for parenting.

Your kids fight a lot, a dog isn't going to stop that at all, but the dog would likely be upset by the fighting. You and your husband both work full-time and it sounds like your household really wouldn't be a good fit for a dog. You don't have the time to put in, your kids fight a lot, and you expect the dog to calm the house and that's just not going to happen. Dogs need an investment of time and care, they're not a nanny.

You both work ft, can't train your kids, but you want a dog? Sounds like a wonderful idea.

Dogs pick up on the atmosphere in the house. If it's a high energy, unpredictable family with a fair bit of aggression flying about, chances are the dog will express some of that himself. Calm dogs are more likely to come from calm families. You are likely to be introducing a third "problem child".

We have a ridiculously small 3 bed - 3 cats and a cocker. We do just fine

Don't do it. My dog is now 15 and I will not get another. Incredibly tying for starters and 15 years is a very long time. You will likely have the dog much longer than your children living at home.
As for calming down the kids, it's not going to happen. If any of mine even raise their voices slightly, the dog joins in. It makes a fall out such a harder situation to manage.
The ultimate reason. You both work full time. They can't be left for that amount of time.
Only get a dog because you want one, have wanted one for a long time and make sure you're not going to get bored of it. Sort the kids out, drastically reduce your hours from work and you might be more prepared.

@Dogmadlove
I work FT and have 2 dogs- it's a lifestyle choice.
Weekdays:
My day starts at 5am I get up & dressed, have a cup of coffee and then it's out for a walk with the dogs. Granted, it's lovely at the moment, daylight, nobody about ect. But the cold, dark & wet winter mornings are a different matter.

Back home about 6ish... have breakfast, get DC up ... basically just a normal morning.

Leaving for work 7ish.
DH works shifts (6am-2pm /2pm -10pm) so he will either pop home at lunchtime to le then out or he'll quickly walk them round the block.

I'm home around 4:30... so I'll take them out for a longer walk straight away, again in winter it willbe getting dark ... . That is followed by training class in the evening 3x week (7-8pm)
Weekends are easier if we don't go to competitions or shows.

Now you might think that all the training isn't for you, but I think to get the most out of a dog, training is essential.

Also, my DC are older teenagers, so can be left at home or even walk a dog unsupervised. They can boil some pasta or potatoes for dinner if I am running late.
The dogs don't care if I am tired or feel unwell, they still need to go out, if you are unlucky they don't careaboutthe weather either they just want to go out for their run ...
in other words, don't get a dog, they are lovely creatures but very time consuming!

Get a guinea pig or rabbit instead of a dog

The size of the OP'S house is not the real issue here...

It's not about the size of the house though, that's missing the point.
We had 3 giant breed dogs and 6 cats in a 3 bed end terrace, but we managed fine because I was home all day with them. I could walk the dogs, play with them, they weren't left to bark.
It's not just about space, it's about time and lifestyle. The size of house is irrelevant if you're putting in the effort to socialise your dog and go for walks.
Dogs need your time more than anything else.

Please do not get a dog, you haven't thought it through at all. I disagree with your husband about the house being too small, but your reasons for getting one are ridiculous. It won't distract your boys from fighting, it will just give them something else to fight over. The dog will need exercise, playing with, and stimulation. Your plan is to shove it in the garden or resort to dog walkers when it isn't needed to stop your sons frighting. Honestly you make it sound like a board game that you can take out when you need it and shove it on a shelf when you don't. Your sons need to learn how to live together and how to resolve disagreements without fighting.

A dog is a BIG commitment. To look after them well you need to walk them twice per day EVERY day. You need to have someone home with them most of the time or you need to pay for pet sitters. Your holidays either mean coughing up a fortune for a dog sitter or you go on vacation where the dog can go.