Should we get a puppy?

[RoaKim]

Hello, new to Mumsnet here!
DH and DCs all want a dog but I don't like animals in the house at all as I like a clean house with no odours. We have a cabinet in the living room filled with expensive items like antique teapots and Swarovski ornaments which I don't want the dog to knock over!
I have been round to my friends houses (the ones who have dogs) and they all reek of that doggy smell and their sofas etc are all broken. We have a big garden and there is a place we can put the dog at the back behind all our flowers.
But can dogs live outside? In winter especially where it gets to as low as -15 degrees here? Are there any types of dogs that can withstand the cold?
Another thing is that DH has a very busy job that involves him being on a computer all day and he goes on a lot of business trips so the dog will get very limited exercise in terms of walks etc. DCs are only 5 and 7 so there is no way they will be able to manage it. The other DC is 14 but she does not like dogs either so there is no chance she would go and walk the dog when DH is not here. DH has always wanted a dog since he was a child and he says he will make time to take care of it. However I don't really think that is possible considering his job where there are many necessary business trips he has to make (usually on the other side of the world).
So that is 3 people wanting a dog and 2 people not wanting one in our family.
What do I do? Shall I say yes or not?
I don't want to get one but then have it getting bored and making a lot of noise in the garden.
Any advice appreciated!

There are loads of dogs who live outside, working dogs in particular. That said they are up and working most days, tend to have a friend or three in the kennel with them and are well trained, Fed excersised none of which sounds likely in your house.

I got a puppy last year and in the early days she'd take at least 3 hours of time a day, less now she's been trained and doesn't chew everything but they do smell. Dont do it !

[quote Suzi888]@MissLucyEyelesbarrow huskies require 2 hours exercise per day minimum.. She doesn’t have time to exercise the dog. They also require a lot of socialisation or you can get one very peed off husky.
Unlike a lot of people at least she’s sought advice before purchasing a dog, it clearly doesn’t fit her lifestyle.[/quote]
Clearly the OP shouldn't be in charge of a hot dog, let alone a husky.

But my point is that the pearl clutching above about how dogs can't possibly live outside in winter is as idiotic as the OP herself. Of course dogs can.

@MissLucyEyelesbarrow I don’t think anyone was pearl clutching to be honest. Living outside is one thing, living in solitary confinement with no exercise is another story.

hotdog made me laugh

[quote Suzi888]@MissLucyEyelesbarrow I don’t think anyone was pearl clutching to be honest. Living outside is one thing, living in solitary confinement with no exercise is another story.[/quote]
Two separate issues: (1) should this OP get a dog? No, a thousand times no.

(2) Can dogs live outside at -15 in winter? Several posters said they can't and that it's cruel even to consider it. That's nonsense- as long as they're acclimatised, dogs can have a great life outside. A well cared-for farm dog living outside in Scotland or the Alps has a far better life than some poor brachycephalic toy breed stuck on a sofa in the warmth.

No. Don't get one. Dogs can't just be left to live outside in the garden. That is a horrible existence.

@MissLucyEyelesbarrow

Working farm dogs aren't pets. OP's family are talking about getting a pet dog and you can't just shove a dog outside in the garden like an unwanted piece of furniture.

[quote Purpledaisychain]@MissLucyEyelesbarrow

Working farm dogs aren't pets. OP's family are talking about getting a pet dog and you can't just shove a dog outside in the garden like an unwanted piece of furniture.[/quote]
How many times? I know that the OP should not have a dog. I have said that several times. It's so tedious when posters keep disagreeing with a point that hasn't actually been made.

However several posters said that a dog cannot live outside in cold weather at all. That is wrong. To be very very clear, for the hard of understanding amongst you, I am not talking about the OP here. I am talking about dogs in general. Not the OP's dog. All dogs.

Dogs in general (not the OP's dog, remember? Other dogs) can live happily outside in cold weather.

No you can’t keep a dog outside, someone will report you I’d imagine. It’s cruel

I was disagreeing with this.

*If you live in the UK our climate is unsuitable for an outside-living dog.
*
I was disagreeing with this.

@Prisonbreak

You would consider keeping a dog outside in -15 degrees? Just awful. You should absolutely not get a dog, I already feel sorry for the poor pup

I was disagreeing with this.

I was not disagreeing with people saying that the wind-up merchant OP is unsuitable to own a dog.

I think you should get a dog .......... a cuddly stuffed one.

Fucking bonkers

God no

I wouldn’t if I was you. I really want a dog but DH doesn’t and I think you all need to want one and the ones that don’t trump those that do.

This does seem like a wind-up, but just on the off-chance it's not, no. Please don't get a dog, or a cat, or anything alive.