Why do you have a dog?

[pinkglitter12]

Ok this might seem strange but it's a genuine question. I've been wondering for a long time why people choose to have dogs.
I understand there's dogs that support disabilities but wouldnt another human be better instead?

The cons

Picking up smelly poop.
Being tied to the house.
Vet appointments and fees
Dog smell
Extra cleaning
Commiting to walk daily, I personally dont think this is a bad thing but I'm sure it would become an inconvenience now and then.
Unpredictable behaviour
Fleas/worms/mites
Smelly dog food

I'm struggling to find the pros

Encouragment to exercise

I grew up on a cat street and the only dog on the road was a bull mastiff that barked at me and tried to jump the fence every day as I was walking to primary school. All my experience with dogs have been awful, standing in poop, getting dog diarrhea splashed all over me whilst pushing a pram, being chased and bit.

Genuinely curious why people have dogs?

She's cute. She's loving. She gets me out and about when I would otherwise be glued to the couch. Training her is a fun and rewarding hobby. She's very calming when I'm stressed.I've actually connected a lot with my neighbours because they all love making a fuss of her, so she's actually improved my human social life a lot too.

She's a bedlington terrier, so she doesn't smell bad or shed, which means I don't have to actually do a lot more cleaning, actually. Picking up poo twice a day takes literally seconds and bothers me not one bit. Yes, insurance and grooming is a bit expensive, but when you consider how much joy I get from her, it's a small price to pay.

Of course babies poo, vomit and stink, a lot longer than dogs, but we still have them.. I've had cats (apparently) since I was a baby,dogs since I was 13..I was an only child, not from choice for my late parents, they were my family. There was only a couple of years living in a London flat with first h when I didn't have a dog. I can't imagine life without one. Well,we always have 2, did have 3, mostly border collies,so damn clever! My oldest is 10, when she was a puppy, I got a virus,(ended up in hospital) she laid quietly on my legs,it was uncanny. DH was at work,DS bless him, did 80 mile round trip to come and look after her. They make us laugh daily,get us out and exercised, chatting to people,my dgks adore them, and they adore the kids, older one "chats to the kids", not us. They came with us to collect both of the last puppies,it was special.. the youngest is just 2, she knows everyones name, she'll bring me a ball I say "no, give it to John or Jane" and off she goes. We got farm stock, not working, they eat cheapest supermarket food, and 3 have lived to almost 18.same vet for 25 years,he said whatever we are doing keep doing it,it obviously works. They are also great guard dogs.

I read recently that dog owners are likely to be happier generally in their lives for the following reasons-
Petting a dog/cat releases dopamine
Having a close bond with an animal as above
Regular exercise increases dopamine and fitness levels
Regular increased exposure to sunlight, and nature throughout the year especially in the morning which correcta our serotonin clock (I think?!)
Regular small interactions with others (hello, What's yours, beautiful colours etc) increases mood and sense of connection with other humans (as opposed to my DH who just tends to commute on trains, avoids all contact and tends towards social anxiety so doesn't get the benefit of positive interaction)

The reason I first got a dog was because I thought it would be cute
The reason I got more afterwards was because I could see it was good for me for so many reasons!

My main reasoning is for the exercise, if you have a dog you have no option but to go for a walk every day. I love walking once I get going but it's very easy not to bother if you don't HAVE to. It's also a bit of a hobby finding nice places to go for dog walks at the weekend and I find it hugely satisfying to put in the effort to have a well behaved and well looked after animal.

Unconditional love. Lost my beautiful girl in April. Still devastated.

The thing about dog haters that start threads like this is the fact that they imagine our dogs are just a poor substitute for a human. They are convinced that loving our dog makes us incapable of forming relationships with people. It is quite absurd. I don't think of my dog as a human any more than I think of my husband as a dog... 😏

Because the love and happiness they provide is wonderful

I have a Bedlington Terrier too! Amazing dogs!

They are great companions and very lovable, loving and cuddleable. I've got a young spaniel, she's funny, fun loving loyal and ensures I get out of the house for a really good walk every day. She's a talking point wherever we go, so I'm guaranteed to meet other human beings for a chat. I've enjoyed seeing the results of hard (ongoing) but enjoyable training, having raised her from an 8wk old pup. She is soft and beautiful and I love her!

They are the sweetest, aren't they? Bloody energetic though! I'm constantly exhausted!

Glad I read you comment before I posted mine, because you've written what I wanted to say but much more politely...

Because she’s the only person in my house who eats her tea without complaining, acknowledges I exist, enjoys days out with me and never answers back!

To be honest, I find animals less emotionally draining than people 😳

DDog1 is good company. She seems to get a lot of people talking when we're out in public... usually about when their grandparents had a Collie on their farm. On the farm, she is generally more useful than another person, because the sheep and cows take her much more seriously than they do with a person on machinery!

DDog2 is lovely, but when out in public, people tend to give us a wide berth because her breed isn't really known outside of farming circles. I fell in love with a Huntaway on another farm, and wanted my own, partly as company for me, and also for my other dog, as I am not given to having the zoomies and playing chase or ball in the garden. However, given her incredibly loud bark, she's very useful for scaring away stray salespeople and Jehovah's Witnesses that make it this far out into the countryside!

I live alone. Covid would have been unbearable if I'd got home from the stress of dealing with terrified members of the public to an empty house. She's always pleased to see me, she's always 'there'. If anyone knocks on the door (or, to be honest, passes within thirty feet of the house) she's at the window telling them they'd better not break in. If there are 'noises in the night', if she's not barking or alerting me then I know it's something harmless. If I'm ill she snuggles up to me.

For those on their own you can never overestimate the power of good it does just having a living thing around you, interacting with you.

I got my dog from the Dogs Trust because I didn't want another human. My partner had died the year before, my adult children didn't visit much and I was desperately lonely. Not quite suicidal but heading that way. Since I got her, the requirement to walk her every day has benefitted my mental and physical health, we have explored new places together, she makes me feel like her most important person in her world (until someone comes along with food or my middle son comes home in which case I am just the food provider and shit picker upper! )

But when its just her and me, she brings a joy into my life that I wouldn't otherwise have. And its actually quite nice to walk across fields in the pouring rain with mud up to your elbows..........................!!

I'm certainly not an avowed dog hater, grew up with pet dogs, and used to walk a friend's dog daily for a long period, and I think that's a fairly accurate summation of the cons.

she was the reason for happiness every single day - not just some days

I think you totally miss the point of what I'm saying, which is that if you are a dog lover you don't necessarily view any of these as negatives. I note that you do not, however, take issue with her saying there are no pros to dog ownership...or mention actually having a dog yourself...🤔That is pretty telling.

Sigh. I'd be interested in your idea that 'dog lovers' are without exception peachy keen on picking up dogshit and unexpected vet bills, or the considerable extra cleaning required by many breeds.

I don't have a dog myself because of those cons. The pros wouldn't be worth it to me.

Simply being tied to the house more than I would want would far outweigh the advantages of having a dog for me, now that DS is older and more independent. Friends with dogs lead quite restricted lives that wouldn't suit me at all. One with nervous dogs only ever goes to the same rental in the same place, 40 miles away, on holiday because it's dog-friendly and hers can't cope with kennels or be left alone for more than a couple of hours. I want to stay out for the evening or go away for the weekend at the drop of a hat. I've done with the part of my life that involves any period out of the house being done with one eye on the clock because of the babysitter/childminder. A child is gradually moving towards independence. A dog isn't. That wouldn't work for me.

That doesn't make me 'anti-dog'. I grew up with beloved pet dogs. I'm fond of friends' dogs. I went as a support with one friend last month to have her old dog put to sleep, because she was heartbroken. I was very attached to the friends' dog I walked daily for years and sorry when they moved away (though to a place where the dog has far more freedom and company).

I can absolutely see that for many dog owners, the pros outweigh the cons, but some dog owners acknowledge the pros but say they won't get another dog when their current one dies, because it is a considerable cost in various ways. Are they also 'anti-dog'?

Ooh another dog hating thread! We’ve not had one for ages!!!

others have said more succinctly what I wanted to say except a few years ago I had a broken shoulder needing surgery and I was in agony after, off the scale pain, couldn’t sleep or anything. My dog sensed it, I swear. Every so often she’d offer me a paw as if to say ‘ it’ll be okay mum.’ It was so reassuring. I will never forget it.

Well I got one because I thought they would be fun and nice for the kids. Now I realise they are lots of work and similar to having another child except I will have to do everything for it for longer!

However I love him so much I don’t mind. The unconditional love we receive in return is worth it.

My dog keeps me sane! I walk in nature everyday, which is a joy, calming and exercise. I get out of the house. As an empty nester i have someone to care for and provide structure to my day. I now know loads of people in the area and have made lots of friends with other dogs owners. Unconditional love and gentle undemanding companionship. Laughter and cuddles.

@PasDevantLes
"Peachy keen" would surely imply that these are the positives of dog ownership, which clearly they are not. Nor did I claim them to be. I merely pointed out that it is generally dog haters that actually make these absurd lists of twenty zillion reasons why dogs are vile.

No, you said doglovers would 'not necessarily view' picking up dog poo and expensive vet bills etc as negatives. I don't think that's true. It's just that the positives outweigh them.

Putting aside the fact that this is obviously a goady thread I just can't understand the supposed con 'Being tied to the house'. One of the key reasons dog owners live longer is the amount of extra exercise they do out walking with their dog. My dog came everywhere with me - walking in the hills, work (gardener) and the pub. I was only tied to the house with her when she was dying and it was my privilege to be there with the dear old soul.

Vet appointments and fees - it's just an additional cost based on what you enjoy like buying alcohol, fashion or vaping, a total waste of money for some but a justifiable expense to others.

Extra cleaning - not necessarily, but everyone eats toast and that makes a helluva mess in the house. Also - don't be a lazy git.

Commiting to walk daily, I personally don't think this is a bad thing but I'm sure it would become an inconvenience now and then. - Everything is an inconvenience now and then, it doesn't stop you doing it and rarely is a nice walk in the fresh air a waste of time. You always feel better for it.

Unpredictable behaviour - a well trained dog works like clockwork. They live to please you, follow your commands and are literally no trouble at all. The joy you can get from a contented trained dog can't be underestimated. People are much more unpredictable, sometimes even posting bullshit OPs.

Fleas/worms/mites - my dog never had any of these and preventative measures are easy to come by.

Smelly dog food - decent dog food smells good enough to eat.

Picking up dog poop - after the first time you genuinely don't notice and if you buy decent dog food the poo smells better than most public toilets.