After dogs - anyone ever said no more dogs and stuck to it with no regrets?

[ThatsABitExcessive]

I feel a bit guilty posting this but anyway - I really regret getting dogs. I have two - 9 and 6 years old. The eldest is lovely, he’s an absolute breeze and spend most of his time sleeping but he completely destroyed our house in his younger years - pissing and shitting everywhere until he was 6 years old. He would piss up furniture and has ruined a coffee table, a dining room table and a computer desk doing this as well as ruining multiple flooring beyond repair. On top of this he ruined two sofas, two doors and the stair banister. Nothing has been replaced or repaired as there is just no point whilst he’s still with us.

Our youngest barks constantly, I can’t have windows or doors open as she’ll bark at the slightest noise. We have lovely patio doors onto the garden but can never use them. She doesn’t destroy things though and is a clean dog apart from the constant shedding. Dog hair absolutely everywhere, even upstairs where she isn’t allowed.

im getting to the point where I daydream about being dog less - clean tidy house, no holes in the sofa, no smell, patio doors wide open - has anyone else been through this? I love them of course but I’ll never get another. Everyone says I will - but I don’t think I’ll go back on if this time.

Another bug bear - fancy a quick weekend away? Kennels “that will be £100 please” costs more to put the dogs in kennels than the bloody break costs 😂

Im right there with you even though my dog isnt hard work. No destruction, no barking, easy going, hair is a nightmare but after 11 years im looking forward to being dog free. I know it sounds awful but getting a dog wasnt a sole decision but im now a sole owner as ex "cant have dogs" at his property and its easier to get my kids watched than it is the dog. I feel awful putting him in a kennel and hes not the most warming to other people, although not aggressive he wont settle, so dog sitters are out.

We lost our dog five years ago at age 15 (his age, not mine !). We adored him but he wasn't the easiest of dogs and since then we've been making the most of travel and days out without worrying about getting back. After we lost him we signed up to Borrow My Doggy and have been looking after a lovely dog one day a week during that five years. It's perfect as we get a dog fix without the commitment. I can't really see us getting another dog now.

Sharing a house with actual animals is a bit mad and feral really, when you think about it.

YANBU and I wish pet ownership would reduce, for many reasons. We definitely won't get more when these go.

what professional help did you seek to tackle these issues???

My parents. We had dogs growing up but their last one was really tough dog, when she passed they said that was the end of their dog owning and they stuck to it.

I knew this would come up 🙄 we’ve done our work (hence why eldest is no longer a nightmare). I’m not going into it and this post isn’t about that but yes, we’ve had professions in.

i had two - both died very very old - think over 16 and over 17 years. Kids have been asking for another... but we are apprehensive - we've just managed to go away without worrying about dog sitters etc.... i might cave in tho...

I love Scottie dogs, I’ve had two and then decided I didn’t want to be tied down like that again, so I got a cat. I’ve now decided that when she goes, I’ll go pet free forever. To be a good pet owner it requires time and effort and to always put their well-being as a priority. I now just want to be free to go off and do my own thing. It’s because I love them so much that I’ve decided I won’t have another pet at all.

also - towards the end it was heartbreaking.... im not sure i could do it again 😭

Yes! I was thinking the same thing just last night - looking at my beautiful sleeping dog snoring away on the sofa and I suddenly thought “isn’t it weird that we bring these wolf descendants into our homes” 😂 it is a bit mad when you really think about it

I really love dogs but we have not had one since our last was pts 7 years ago, it was very hard when she got old and had health problems and am just not sure we could go through that again. . Dogs are a huge tie and just make everything more complicated than it needs to be. We like being free to go away at a moments notice, go out for the day without worrying about the dog. We do actually get plenty of doggy time with our neighbour’s dogs and until recently DB’s dog who we looked after when they went on holiday, but he (the dog) was pts a few months ago.

as much as I look forward to being pet free - I’m absolutely dreading the end 😞 I hope it’s peaceful and natural and I’m not required to make any decisions 😢

Yes, I adopted a dog who had been abused. He had little quirks because of that and had long term health implications.
He died at 14 and I never replaced him.
Dogs are a big commitment and a lot has changed in my life. My children are older, moving out, I'm not so tied to the house etc.
I still have a cat though.

My dad did. Our last dog was lost very suddenly when I was a child and we were away on holiday
it’s been 30 years and I see him sit with his coffee and his hand goes over the chair arm to stroke a dog that isn’t there. But he said never ever again because he was so heartbroken (he pulled her out a van where the mum and other puppies had died and she was the only surviving)

he says he doesn’t regret it in retirement as he would have felt tied down with holidays etc, he misses the company but he can’t go through another loss

I have had three dogs over the years with max two months between them dying and getting a new one. However my current dog has spoilt me, she is so intelligent and is great and can’t be beaten. I am also getting older and can’t cope with a puppy, but don’t want to rescue as you don’t know backgrounds and there are young children in the family

so when something happens, and my dog is 14 this year, I won’t get getting another

My kids ask for a dog daily, and are desperate. I've always been apprehensive for reasons mentioned above. Also money is really tight and I don't feel we could afford it. Just get fed up of making excuses all the time.

I adored my dog from the moment we got her. In the decade she was with us she never put a paw wrong and was the easiest, most loving little soul. She came everywhere with us. If she couldn't come we didn't go.

Especially towards the end we made huge sacrifices to put her first but never begrudged that for a moment as she was worth it. Having her PTS was the hardest thing we've ever done.

Three years on and we don't have another dog. Life is definitely more free without a dog and with the love for one comes huge responsibility, worry and putting your needs second. I really appreciate the freedom and the lighter way I can go through life now.

All that said, if I could have our dog back fit, young and full of life again I would grab her in a heartbeat, dote on her like I did last time and enjoy every moment.

Def stick to your guns! My ex’ wife and kids were also ‘desperate’ for a dog and no doubt they were all over it when it was a gorgeous little puppy but once it started needing a more complex routine it seems everything fell onto him (and he was the one who after their last extremely loopy dog) didn’t want another one. A little while later he and his wife split, she moved out and the kids wanted the dog so it stayed with him. And these ‘desperate’ kids are 21 and 18 respectively and neither his DS or DD have any interest in the dog or walking it 😑. I feel a bit sorry for him and the dog as he worked a lot of nights and in the day and some nights it seems the dog was all alone. And his kids aren’t bad kids or anything but it’s just the reality!

Mine went through this and it was a phase. We live in a flat and it wouldn't have been possible.

I suggested if they wanted to walk a dog they could try Borrow My Doggy and find someone who needed help locally. They didn't.

they got a cockateil in the end.

Six years to housetrain a dog is crazy. It should not be that hard.

My Nana and Grandad never got another dog after there's passed. They said because they were in their 60s and also they could not face another heart break.
One of my neighbours lost a dog a few yrs ago, I thought they would of got another, but it's been 4yrs. Seems to be going on holidays a lot lately.
I have had dogs since being 5yrs old. I've only ever gone 1yr without a dog, as the house was just too quiet and I missed all the chaos, love and laughter dogs bring.
My oldest dog is 11 and my youngest is now 2yrs.

Me - 3 rescue dogs, 2 with special needs, one was completely blind...lived until they were 16, 18 and 19...one we lost after a traumatic surgical procedure at the vet, it was horrific and I can't even talk about it now. Lost the other 2 within 6 weeks of each other.... I can't put myself through the heartbreak again so no more dogs, despite the house being empty without my 3 musketeers.

Don’t make excuses! Just tell them the answer is no and the subject is closed.

My hound passed 8 years ago now. I got cats instead, much easier to look after.

I miss him like hell, but I couldn't replace him and my life just wouldn't work for a dog now.

I like dogs and grew up with them.

But I’d never have one. They are just too much of a commitment and I would hate to end up resenting them, which I’m almost certain I would. I couldn’t love an animal enough to make it worth it, to be honest.

I think a lot of people feel like you do OP.