Has anyone ever regretted getting a dog?

[jt2345]

Just that really!
I'm thinking about getting a puppy and have been thinking for a while.

I have grown up with family dogs and know how much of a responsibility they are.

Just wondering 😀

X

I adopted ddog 8yrs ago tomorrow and he was 4 when i got him and hes now 12. i do not regret getting him at all. He genuinely saved my life at times when my mh was spiralling before i had ds. Have now got dpup ( was family members dog) who is almost 18 months old and holy fuck i was not prepared for doggy teenageness 🙈 she is gorgeous and i love her but i cant wait til she chills hopefully in her 20s 😂😂

Ours is 13 weeks and honestly she's completed our lives. She's a lively and feisty terrier and dc are still learning, but although it's been hard it's been a great learning curve for all. I've had dogs so was under no illusion it wound he easy and was well prepared . They aren't just cute cuddly balls of fluff and need intensive and on going training from day 1. If you can prove that then it's a huge enhancement to your lives

This thread is essential reading.

Yup, but only since the children came along. I now say to all of my childfree friends who are considering getting a puppy not to do it if they are planning on having kids. Having kids first then making the dog fit in around the family when they are older must be infinitely easier than expecting middle aged dogs to accept the changes that come with babies. And they are so expensive, literally hundreds of pounds a month for insurance and dog walker, and hundreds of pounds throughout the year for kennels fees. Costs that weren't an issue at all when we we both worked FT and didn't have childcare to pay for.
And the dog fur, the barking at the precise moment the baby is falling asleep, having to get everyone out no matter the weather for walks, having to shut them away when the kids are eating. It's exhausting.
But they honestly want for nothing and are VERY well looked after. I just wish we had them at a different time in our lives. I don't think I'd get another dog until I retired.

Mine has definitely had a negative impact on my mental health.

No, never regretted getting my rescue for a minute and I've never owned a dog before, However, I'm glad we waited until the children were teenagers. there's no way on earth I'd cope with a newborn and a dog.

All these posts are fantastic and should be read by any prospective dog owner.

I have nothing to add though as having my dog has bought complete and utter joy and I couldn’t love having him any more than I do.

Every bloody day! I didn't want him in the first place but was talked into it by the rest of my family. I'm not a pet lover. Then I split with my DH and I'm left with the dog. Messes the house, is really annoying and costs me a fortune. I rejoice when he's not in the house; I feel like a weight has been lifted from my shoulders. Just don't tell the dog because he thinks he's adored 😄

No! I have always had dogs and hope if I live to 100 I shall still have dogs! They are great companions, so much fun. I just don't see them as hard work. Having a puppy, watching them develop and learn is so rewarding. I love long walks with them, throwing a ball for them, watching them swim, discovering new places with them. They give me a purpose to get up and out in the morning, whatever the weather, and for the children when they were younger it gave them independence; they could go out by themselves if they had one of the dogs with them. They are an integral part of our family. The hardest part of having a dog is when it dies.

We had our current dog before kids and I have had two babies since. He's adapted, but I suspect that getting a dog when you already have kids is probably better as that's all the dog knows. BUT you have less time to train it and less energy to get through those tough first few months. I'd personally not consider it until your children are 7/8. Oh and then it sort of depends who will walk the dogs, Will you have to take the DC? Will they be happy in the rain. I know I go on about rain, but I don't mind solo dog walks in the rain, but it takes so much longer and is so much wetter with DC added.

No not at all, I can't imagine life without him now.

It helped that I was in the right place to get a dog, practically and emotionally! My dd was the right age at 13yo, I was able to work from home part time, my mum offered to help out.

He was hard work as a puppy and tiring but so cute and loving it was okay. Plus I think we were lucky, our puppy was easy to train and has a great temperament.

Definitely no regrets, I love him so much!

We got our little puppy on a whim just before lockdown (he was 12 weeks and desperately needed a home) and reading this thread I think we just got very lucky with him.

First few weeks where a struggle with toileting. But he's cracked it now. He's kind, never once been aggressive with us or others. He's funny and loving. Walks off the lead. Really obedient, only needs telling once or twice and he just knows that a behaviour isn't acceptable. Or chewing wires, not going upstairs, not chasing cats. Just slotted straight into the family and we adore him. Granted only been 3 months but he's ace.

Yes, I got a beautiful puppy when my children were 3 and under 1.
She was faultless but had a lot of health conditions. I ended up alone and it was hard juggling the children a job and the dog especially as she had a lot of time in the vets and medication. She was never unhappy but I always felt guilty as she didn't get what she really deserved.
Also the children never really bothered with her. They were too young. We walked her daily but it was a hassle especially in the winter. Getting everyone ready and going out after they had been to after school club and it was pitch black, as it wasn't like I could nip out alone.
Unfortunately she got a uterus infection (pyro or something) and after a walk one day she started to fit and after hours in the vets they decided the kindest thing to do was put her to sleep. I held her whilst she went it was horrendous.
I was devastated. Genuinely gutted and felt not only grief but I felt guilty for days that I started to view her as a hassle when in all honestly she was there for me in dark times and she did love me. I came to terms with it she was loved and never neglected at all and sometimes unfortunately life just doesn't work out how you think.
After a couple of weeks it was almost as if a weight was lifted and life has been so much easier since. In terms of housework. Cost. Time keeping. Everything really. I don't think I would have a dog ever again.
Sorry if that sounds cruel or hard to read for anybody. I loved her a lot but I do regret getting a dog. The responsibility is immense.

Nooo, ours is a wonderful member of the family BUT I regret the time of year we got her - late October, when it was cold, wet and windy and every three - four hours day and night she was needing to go out for a wee (the breeder recommended it to stop accidents indoors). I was shattered, it was like having a newborn baby but outside in the rain. So I would always get a puppy in the summer in the future!

Yep I regretted getting my dog. Researched extensively and grew up with dogs etc etc. Didn’t matter - I was completely unprepared.

He was completely hyper all the time and barked at everyone/everything. I had to jump out of bed at 5am to take him outside because he’d start barking - then he’d bark once I put him out so I’d have to stand outside with him (even in pouring rain/freezing cold). The neighbours complained about the barking (didn’t blame them) and dh was grumpy because it woke him up and he had to go and do a long day at work. After a while we were snapping at one another because we were so tired. We have 4 dc’s and honestly, having a newborn was nothing compared to having a puppy!
He escaped from the garden several times (got through the tiniest gap) which was very stressful. He tried to bite the postman several times and would snap at anyone who came near him - I was terrified of him biting someone and could never leave him tied up anywhere or leave him alone with the children which was exhausting. I took him for long walks twice a day but he would still come home and then pee all over the house. He nipped my youngest two dc’s. In the end I was in tears all the time and felt very depressed. I was very lucky in that my aunties friend, who is a very experienced dog owner offered to take him. The relief was huge. But also the guilt - I felt like such a bad person.

I realise now (he is doing great) that I did the right thing but it was difficult at the time. Luckily the kids were happy for him to go too as they struggled with his behaviour. I cried my eyes out when he’d gone wondering if I’d done the right thing but if it taught me one thing it’s that I clearly shouldn’t have a dog as a pet! We have 2 cats now and they are blissfully easy! Will never get another dog as I just wouldn’t take the risk of the same thing happening again.
He also got covered in mud every time we went out and needed regular brushing/grooming (which he hated) but those things and the twice daily walking weren’t what bothered me - it was the lack of any control over his behaviour. I tried to train him and took him to puppy classes but it just didn’t work and with 4 dc’s to look after I couldn’t give the time it probably needed.
I have several friends with dogs too who say they wish they could turn back time. My bf knows everything that happened with my dog yet still, against my advice and knowing my experience, went ahead and got a puppy. She is now massively regretting her decision and said she can’t believe she’s been so stupid. She also paid £1k for the dog and is now possibly being made redundant - so there’s the financial side to think about too as the cost of food/Insurance/grooming isn’t cheap.

Frequently! I would never have actually got rid of her though. I took her in and she was a member of the family for good or bad. The turning point didn't come until she was about 4 and my DH was critically ill in intensive care. Every night, once the children were in bed, it was just me, my darkest fears and the dog, she was just there for me. There for crucial company, never leaving my side, through the long, lonely nights. It dawned on me that somewhere along the line, she'd just morphed from an irritating, over-exuberant young dog into my calm best friend. So now, no, I don't regret getting her. She's one of the best decisions we ever made (now... I say that now..)

Yes I do as much as I love our dog she’s a massive pain in the bum much of the time. She’s utterly neurotic (wasn’t always we did all the training etc) she doesn’t like strange people or dogs, barks at everything, once she knows you she’s fine but she’s a pain to walk, doesn’t like the rain will literally sit down and refuse to move if it rains. Mostly it’s people coming to the house we have to make sure we lock her away.

I don't regret getting dpup BUT even though I love him more than anything, can't take my eyes off him etc dog ownership is not what I thought AT ALL. I genuinely thought that once they've had a walk and a feed you can leave them snoozing in the kitchen while you go about your day - erm no. It had never occurred to me that you have to consider them constantly and that going out at all is nigh on impossible unless you can take them or someone is home. Having said that, he doesn't do some negative things I expected e.g. never woke up in night as a puppy, doesn't chew anything he shouldn't, doesn't wee/poo in the house, doesn't growl at other dogs etc. So for me it's all wonderful except that he needs to be welded to my side which is wonderful but SO restrictive.

Yes. Ashamed to say it but if I could turn back the clock, I wouldn't have got a dog. Got her for my daughter who is absolutely obsessed with her and she's now nearly 3 (the dog). She's been a lifesaver for my daughter during lockdown but she has taken away the spontaneity and much of the joy in our lives. We used to love going into london for days out - can't do that, no galleries, no eating out, no shopping. She stops everything and I still miss TG one things. I am bored of going on long walks every weekend as a day out. No variety whatsoever. She is a sweet dog and adores us all and we treat her very well but we definitely lost something the day she arrived. She's made our works very small.

^world. Not works.

Oh & I had a newborn baby - 4 dogs 2 horses 1 cat 1 goat - a husband who worked away all week - no central heating & no family nearby either 🤨

We love our rescue but she is hard work now she is elderly and has dementia. When she goes I've told dh i don't want another dog.

I love my boy dearly, but what a pain in the arse. We also have 2 girls who are no bother really, but our boy growls at the kids, nips their feet, we can't have visitors over cos he goes mad, he smells, he howls and cries, they have to be separated when they're fed or they fight, they have to be separated when we eat or they fight, he is so jealous of any attention the others get. All 3 dogs brought up from pups in exactly the same way but he is a nightmare. He's a complete pest but he's loyal, he sits and waits for me, he greets me wildly every morning, I love him to bits, don't regret really, not all the time anyway but won't get another.

You can’t appreciate how other people’s circumstances might differ to your own? I care for my dog and carry on but there is no shame in saying it didn’t work out. For us. It’s not the dog’s fault. But it’s not mine either. I’m sensible enough to realise after two years of trying that the dog deserves a different kind of life. It’s not disgusting. Just a sad story.