What's it really like owning a dog?

[RubberDuck]

Have been seriously thinking about getting a rehomed greyhound over the last couple of weeks and am at the beginning stages of research. Realistically, we won't get one until ds2 is a little older (he's 3 now, and I'm not sure he would understand about leaving the dog alone while he/she ate or giving the dog space while asleep etc - so not really fair on the dog) but as I've never ever owned a dog before I'm finding it hard to imagine what life is like with one. I really need a place to ask some VERY silly questions

I'm a SAHM and we go camping for our main holidays so the dog won't be "alone" in the house very often, but assume if we go out for the day that a dog could be left safely? Or would I need someone to pop in so it could relieve itself?

If we do go away for a week or so but the dog is used to having me around all the time, would kennels be really unfair for it?

I'm asthmatic, so wouldn't want the dog upstairs, but I understand that greyhounds are really loyal and want to sleep in the same room as their owner. Would it be really cruel to keep it downstairs?

Do you have to "baby" proof everything or are small toys around (like lego) not a problem? I can see a dog having problems stepping around the toys (hell, I quite often do!) should I be thinking even longer term and waiting for a bigger house/kids are teenagers?

We have carpets not hard flooring - is the house going to stink?

How on earth do you transport dogs about in the car? We have a Nissan Almera and 2 kids - are we even going to FIT a dog as well in it?!

I'll probably think of a whole new load of silly questions in a bit

WANGLE!!! Fantastic news, your harvey looks the spitting image of mine - is he blue/grey?

Sorry haven't read everything - we got our dog when my youngest was nearly 3. She knows not to be nasty to the dogs, but our greyhoung has only gotten annoyed twice, and snapped. Did not bite! She is very patient, and will just walk away if she is bothered. In fact, it seems to "bother" her to have any noise around, so she often is on her own in another room.
Our greyhound doesn't smell!!! I worry about that and routinely quiz friends!!! We don't have much carpet though, and me and my hoover spend alot of quality time together!!
The dogs are definately wonderful, and I wouldn't be without them, but it was very hard training out first dog (the greyhound - we got her as a pup). It was harder than i thought it would be and took much longer!!!
But, only you can make the decision. I find it is just like kids - you end up loving them so much that the bad stuff seems not so bad!!
Good luck!!!

(reading wangle's blog and feeling a bit misty eyed He's lovely, wangle... )

Purpleduck - he is black and white. Apparently nobody wants black or black and white ones so there are always loads needing homes. DH would have loved a brindle one but we could have been waiting for ever!

And even better he seems to like DD!!!!!

wangle, his markings look identical to my dog's!!

I wouldn't put you off a greyhound because they can be gentle, loyal pets and there are plenty out there that need your love.

However it may be worth looking at all breeds to get you eye in. When we bought our first dog (a year before DD was born) we went to Discover Dogs, which is part of Crufts in Birmingham in March.

They have a stand for every imaginable breed and knowledgeable people to give you advice.

We chose a Shiba Inu because we wanted a dog which could cope with being alone for long periods of the day and who had a big dog personality in a small package. We then bought a 9 month old from his breeder who had decided he would not be top show quality. We love him but he certainly wouldn't suit everybody - particularly as he is a hunting dog and is virtually untrainable.

This is our routine:

1. He sleeps in our kitchen in his large cage at night. We use vet bed which we buy in bulk from Crufts - much cheaper than buying stuff from a pet shop. He doesn't have access to carpeted areas of our house.

2. He stays in his kennel (which include a sleeping bench area and small rubber floored run)from 7am to our bedtime (around 10pm).

3. He is taken for a walk after breakfast and again before he has his tea when we get home from work. He also gets let out in our dog proof garden for an hour in the morning
   and the evening plus about 30 minutes at lunch time.

4. He gets fed twice a day with a treat when he comes in at night. He eats dry food but we give him human type food such as cold pasta, potatoes, meat scraps etc as well.

5. He travels with us in a smaller cage which we bought at Crufts to exactly fit the dimensions of our car boot. I guess we may need a different one when we change our car but this doesn't happen very often!

6. When we go away he goes to a kennel which he absolutely loves. It is the high light of his year because he gets to run around with the other dogs and loves it there. We did spend a long time researching the best one in our area - personal recommendation is the best way.

7. You have to factor in his trips to the vet for innoculations and he will need regular (quite expensive) worming and flea treatment on a regular basis which you can do yourself.

8. We insure him and have already made two expensive claims (one for an operation on his patella) which mean we are in profit for the rest of his life!

Overall he works into our schedule and he is a very happy dog because he knows the routine.

Thank you for all this invaluable advice - you have all really been very helpful

Can I now ask another daft question? You know when they say a dog's diet can be a complete dog food plus table scraps? What exactly do they mean by table scraps - just scrap bits of cooked meat... or anything you have left at the end of dinner including veg, pasta etc? I assume that you don't want them to have too much of that kind of stuff? Aren't dogs naturally carnivores?

A good complete food is fine. I wouldnt give table scraps although some dogs do well with raw carrots and other raw veg as well as the food.

We use a complete food and I must admit mine often get titbits

When I open the fridge they come and sit one either side

Well that's what I'm worried about - greyhounds are supposed to be binraiders ... getting nervous

Greyhounds are used to have table scraps as when they are in racing kennels they get alot of them. Harvey will eat anything - he's very partial to veg (cooked haven't tried raw!). He loves cheese. He can't eat pasta (makes him sick) but our other one could.

He doesn't raid the bin, he will try stick his nose in but a firm 'no' and he won't try it again (well that day anyway lol). He does try and steal of our plates BUT that is a training issue and he is getting better.