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Everyone wants to get a dog! Help with pros and cons please

36 replies

SecondhandRose · 22/01/2005 09:43

I can't stand the thought of picking up poop in the garden or anywhere else or the kids walking in it.

I worry about going on holiday and being out all day.

I wouldn't mind so much if it was a little dog as he'd need less exercise, take upless room and perhaps he could have a dog flap.

What about when they go for walks and get all wet and muddy, what do you do with them then when it's time to come in the house!

I am not completely barmy honest! Doggy advice needed please.

OP posts:

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charleypops · 24/01/2005 11:16

I've got a tortoise! He's at my mum's house. Had him 30 years. He's lovely

SecondhandRose · 24/01/2005 10:05

How about a tortoise? !!

OP posts:

charleypops · 23/01/2005 23:47

Hi SHR - This is my advice:

It is vital you go out of your way to socialise a puppy with other dogs and continue to do so otherwise you could easily get a dog that goes into meltdown (agression, or fear aggression) everytime he comes across one, which is very stressful for everyone.

IMO, a dog's personality is largely determined by genetics, so really check out the parents' temperaments. There is a series of about 10 puppy tests that can indicate what type of temperament the dog will be likely to have and I'd do these before selecting a pup in the future.

We love our dog, a lab, to bits, we feed him chicken, he sleeps on the bed with us and, as long as he gets at least an hour and a half of off lead exercise a day he's very laid back, probably because we're laid back with him. Dp works funny hours and often doesn't get up until nearly midday, Ddog sleeps on the bed until dp gets up - no freezing early mornings for us! He is fine left on his own for a few hours and doesn't utter a peep (we leave football on the tv for him). He has the complete run of the house, sits on the sofa etc and that suits us fine but he's not a dominant dog, if he was, I imagine we'd have to impose a lot more rules to show him who's boss.

He can be a pain in the arse, and is a huge responsibility and a tie, but we have a lovely very doggie lady who can look after him for a few days if we want to go away somewhere we can't take him.

I agree that the dog's care will probably be down to you, so if you don't have a fundamental love for dogs, it's going to be a real burden, the dog will be unhappy and probably display unwanted behaviour as a result.

Lucy5

mears · 23/01/2005 23:16

My kids want a dog but we got rabbits instead

We had a dog when I was a child, however, reasons for not getting one....

House smells of dog even though you think it doesn't
They are too tying - can't leave them to go away weekend etc.
If working, not fair on dog IMO.
Shit in garden sticks to feet and is trailed through house
Hate clearing up shit
It breaks your heart when they die...and they do.

polly28 · 23/01/2005 23:09

don't do it.If you are worried about picking up poo and dealing with muddy dogs there is no point in getting a dog.

I'm probably nt in the best frame of mind to answer this as I've just cleaned the kitchen floor that the dog had diarrhea (sp?)all over and trampled all through the house...nice!

lilsmum · 23/01/2005 16:31

3 simple words ......DONT DO IT!!! lol, my 11wk old lab pup is currently chewing everything and trying to bonk everything very annoying, i am living in hopes it will stop soon, but doubt it!!!

suedonim · 23/01/2005 15:24

If you're having any doubts - don't get a dog!! Ours is hard work and demanding and it's the last thing I need. I said to dh yesterday that once this dog goes to the Great Kennel in the Sky he's not to let me have another dog, no matter how much I beg. As he rightly said, there are so many lovely dogs about but they all have the same disadvantge - they leave piles of sh*t behind them.

miranda2 · 23/01/2005 02:10

Don't do it!
We got one a few years ago to make us take exercise. Worked fine until we had kids.... Now I just feel guilty all the time about how few walks she gets. Plus it is a real pain having to organise for them to be looked after when you go on holiday. At least a cat can be left with biscuits and the cat flap for a weekend!

Tortington · 23/01/2005 02:03

dontdo it - they are like kids in that they look cute on the telly - its when you get them home the shit begins - literally

lucy5 · 22/01/2005 22:17

My sister's dog used to do this and then she found a dog whisperer, they had three sessions and he explained about dog psychology and he's never chewed since.(the dog not the the man hahaha)

Newbarnsleygirl · 22/01/2005 22:14

I cry at the RSPCA adverts!
I love animals. When our dog Oliver ripped the sofa last month it was a bit like the final straw for us and both dh and I mentioned giving him away but everytime I thought about it I got so upset and I could'nt imagine him living anywhere else. I think it would break his heart.

lucy5 · 22/01/2005 22:10

Sorry, I made you cry NBG. I dont usually talk about it. Some people don't understand how you can grieve for an animal.

It wasnt meant to put anyone off. The positives far outweigh the negatives. You put in alot but you get so much back.

Newbarnsleygirl · 22/01/2005 22:02

Lucy5 you have just made me cry that is soooo awful

As much as our dog has been an absolute s*#t he has an amazing temprement and is wonderful with dd. He doesn't have a vicious bone in him. Just a destructive one!

CQ, how have you trained your dog not to mess in the garden or have you always walked him to do his business?

Branster · 22/01/2005 21:49

if you think of all the practical and negative aspects of having a dog, you'll never get one.
maybe you'll just fall in love with a dog or puppy one day by chance and then you'll have one, otherwise if you plan it on terms of inconvenience, pluses don't outnumber the negatives.
as it happens, small dogs don't necessarly need less exercise. on the contrary, very large breeds are not bothered about exercise. but still, you'd need to walk the dog whatever breed you choose, unless your garden is the size of a park.

do you actually want a dog yourself or is someone (i.e. the kids) pestering you to get one?

oh lucy5, this is such a sad story...

lucy5 · 22/01/2005 21:13

The other thing to take into account is the emotional element. We got a pup who we all loved including dd then aged 3. The dog managed to escape one morning unbeknown to us and followed me down to the bus stop. Unfortunately he was some way behind me and I only saw him from the other side of the dual carriageway where he was mown down before my eyes. It has been six months now and I still grieve for him everyday. My daughter still asks for him, only the other day she asked if the faries from heaven could bring him down just for a little while. I grew up with dogs and i never thought I could become so attached so quickly and I still feel incredibly guilty.

CelluliteQueen · 22/01/2005 20:59

By the way, my dog won't do a number two in the garden. She gets walked twice a day and she waits til then so no problems with DS in the garden.

CelluliteQueen · 22/01/2005 20:57

SCR, if you are out all day then I don't think it's fair to have a dog.

I had my dog 18m before DS was born and yes, she was bloody hard work when she was a pup but it has paid off now. She is so affectionate and so wonderful with DS and I can't imagine being dogless.

But I do have a great suggestion: I also do voluntary work for The Cinnamon Trust "the national charity for the pets and the elderly". They are such a wonderful organisation and help elderly, disabled and terminally ill people to keep their pets by arranging day to day dog walking, short-term fostering of pets whose owners go into hospital and re-homing pets whose owners have died. I have my hands full with 18m DS, my own dog and 3 cats but it gives me a great deal of satisfaction to know that my help allows a person to keep their best friend. (I walk a dog for an isolated housebound lady who has nothing in her life but her dog).

For many people, this is an ideal way to be involved with a dog but without all the commitment involved.

By the way, their website is Here

northstar · 22/01/2005 20:48

I sat down today to tell ds 2.8 that we were going to have a new baby in the house soon, and his just looked at me like i was mad and said "no mummy, we get a puppy". He says he'll help me with a puppy but not with a new baby, and i was getting to the stage of maybe thinking about getting both - but now, thanx to this thread im NOT.
I think if we do decide on a dog when children are older i will go to the rescue home and interview all prospective candidates thoroughly

Newbarnsleygirl · 22/01/2005 20:40

This is for the benefit of your children.
I never had a dog when I was a child because my mum would never let me have one but if I'd have known then how much looking after a dog needs I would never have asked!!!
Picking up dog poo is not pleasant especially when they've eaten something that hasn't agreed with them!!!!!

SecondhandRose · 22/01/2005 20:30

Well, I think that's my mind made up then!! Think I'll just offer to dog sit other people's when they go away. Both neighbours have dogs so they might be glad of it.

I'm going to print this off and get them all to read it!

OP posts:

Newbarnsleygirl · 22/01/2005 18:03

DON'T DO IT
Your family will thank you in the long run!
We bought a dog 4 years ago. He has cost us thoushands of pounds worth of damage.
This is what he has damaged;
3 carpets, 2 of dh's suits, 3 pairs of my shoes, god knows how many of his own blankets, chewed the wire on our new dyson hoover, ate batteries which then cost us in vets bills, chewed through a bottle of bleach and the list goes on.
Eventually we bought a cage for him which he went in when we went out however in august last year we moved and decided to leave him the run of the house as he had grown up a bit and thought there would be no problems. He was great until one day last month we had gone to work and when we had come home he had chewed and ripped our NEW leather sofa, scratched at the wall, it's that bad he's scratched right down to the steel support and he's scratched the black seal on the upvc door!
Thats not including the amount of c*#p and pee that he has done in the house and how much he has cost us in vets bills.
But we love him.

redsky · 22/01/2005 18:02

I think you are right to be cautious about this. I eventually gave in to pressure when youngest was 10 and old enough to help with everything incl cleaning up yukky messes, regular walking, grooming, popping him in the bath tub after a muddy walk etc etc. Did LOADS of research into suitable breeds,visited dog shows etc to talk to owners of diff breeds. We've now had our Tibetan Terrier for nearly 2 years and not regretted one single minute! This is not a 'popular' breed - but is perfect for our circumstances.

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fostermum · 22/01/2005 17:48

mine is great while im with him but if i go upstairs even to put washing away he poops,been ok last week though just a puddle,now trying to stop him leaping up at things he can jump vertically upwards from a stand still,like a kangaroo,bless him

misdee · 22/01/2005 17:45

star is as well. tho she has been clean and dry the last 2 mornings (it is like potty training a child!!!)

fostermum · 22/01/2005 17:44

my older dog wont go in the garden at all but doobie wont go while in the fields.pritty fond of kitchen floor too!

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