thinking of getting dog, have 4 dc 10 yrs - 17 months, big garden but no fence...

[ErnestTheBavarian]

We have toyed with getting a dof for a while, but I am put off by the amount of work (which will mostly fall to me). Dc would LOVE a dog. I had dogs as a kid. Dh innitially against, but now v. positive.

Logisitcs of what to do with it if we go out - we have a big garden, but no fence. Should we wait 2 years till we move, then have our own garden fenced (we currently rent) or is this a daft reason? Do not want to pay myself, wil be ££££.

Other than that, ds been very down, and I know lots of exercise will be good for him, was thinking dog would be perfect for getting him out walking it, with me, plus special friend to talk to.

Was thinking something small, mongrel, from rescue place.

Thoughts?

Oh, yes. Dog is a goood idea. That was the turning point for our DC, when we moved down here. They settled so well once we had Daphne.

Ours in not a lot of work, she sleeps most of the time. After the first couple of weeks of wiping up wee and poo she was trained then it got a lot easier.

Could you ask your landlord about the fence? Maybe you could split the costs. Or put up a very simple one?

You have to have a fence. And tbh, if you're put off by the amount of work involved, don't get a dog.

Lots of recent threads on here where people have had to rehome because they underestimated what was involved.

can you fence off an 'exercise area'? But make sure he has his daily walks etc. Jus an area you can pop him into for plops etc?

bbj, don't worry, I'm not underestimating the work at all - I am all too aware as we had dogs when I was younger, and also realistic enough to know that after the honeymoon period, 99% of the work caring for it would be down to me which is why I'm not rushing into it.

Dh is keen. It just occured to me today about the fense, and the conclusion seems to be this would be necessary. I'll look into the fence, but I think it'll be very expensive, and we're def. moving in 2 years, so I don't want to spend loads of money on a fence for this big garden. hmm, Might have to wait a couple of years then.

OP - I know, but it's a big difference between having a dog when you were younger and being the one who looks after the dog, plus 4 dc
Mind you, if you are mad enough to have 4 dc...
Would be wise to wait till toddler is a bit older too, tbh. Unless you're going for five?

Not THAT mad

I don't know about the price, but I know that an acquaintance with a very large and unfenceable piece of land had an 'electric' fence which was basically a piece of wire laid around the perimeter, and then a special collar. Her dogs got a small shock if they went near it. They had to be trained to it like you would train stock to a normal electric fence, but once trained it seemed to work just fine, and I would imagine it would be something you could take with you when you moved.
A UK version of the same thing is here, costs £150 which compared to vets/food etc for a dog isn't that much!

Ernest I read your other thread and do feel for you at the moment. A dog could be a good help but you have so much on your hands it would be best to make it as easy as possible for you. I think you may find it hard if you cannot let the dog outside unattended for a few minutes.

I personally hate the electic fences and think they are cruel. I had a dog behaviour case when a spaniel was terrifed of airplanes and whenever he heard one he ran terrifed. It came back to the fact that he received an electric shock from the electric fence you mention as the airplane flew overhead. It took many months to get him over the fear.

A slightly older dog may be empathic to your son than a young pup who tends to just charge about but that would be your decision. I think fencing off a bit of the garden so the dog can pee etc may be best. My dogs have access to a paddock but if I put them outside they stare in the french windows to come back in to be with us!

Wish you all the best and you sound such a great Mum!

I think (as with any stock) you do have to train them carefully - the collars make a noise before they give a shock, and you train the dog to the noise rather than the shock.
I suppose I don't think they're cruel any more than a normal electric fence is cruel to cattle - tbh my dog had a few shocks off of normal electric fences when he was a puppy out on the farm before he learned how to deal with them (duck!), as I imagine many country dogs will have done . . .

minimu

Anyway, I guess the fence issue will force us to wait 2 years. I just realised the side along the drive also would need doing. Seriously it would be way too big and expensive a job, and some of the boundries aren't clear.

It would be good, but expensive enough without these additional costs. If it was our own home that would be different. We might have to be out by April 2011, so 17 months time, though max 2 years, so I think we just have to sit on it.

Takver, That does look interesting, and probably would be our only alternative option, will show dh if he starts on again about a dog. Not sure I'd feel safe enough without a big fence.

I had thought I could get away with a 3/4 fenced in garden and a big hedge but our pup thought it was a great game to disappear under the hedge. Our neighbour's garden has lots of broken glass etc in it. I paid £250 to have rabbit wire put around 1/2 the garden and it was the best money I spent early on. It means I can let her out alone but actually she is now reluctant to go out without one of us.

you have a 17mth but have no fence?

how does that work?

Seeing that you rent, how would your landlord feel about having a dog in the property? and then there is the fence issue.. I do however think that a dog would do wonders for your DS. Yet I would be inclined with your fense/ moving issues and having 4 dc with a 17 month old.. I'd hang fire until your settled into you new home.

However.. you could see if your local PAT dog could help you out. With the more theraputic(sp) side of a dog for ds.

Or if you have a friend or relative who owns a dog that DS could help take care of and form a bond with.

If your in my area.. I'd be more than happy to 'dog share'

think owner would be ok, they had a cat (we have a cat - that's ok isn't it?)

Our garden has got a mixture of hedge, bushes, trees and 'woordy' bits all around it, so the boundries are clear. A dog would have no problem just running out, a child could easily push their way through the trees, as the older ones do as a short cut, but they are quite thick and bushy, so it's never been an issue for the toddler, who's only been walking a couple of weeks.

Ernest
You could come down here and have a shot of Daphne. She is very empathetic. She runs over to the DC when they are crying and licks their hands (and wherever else she can reach)

She looks and sounds absolutely gorgeous ML

welcome to our 10.5 stone great swiss

That's not a dog - it's a pony

where is he??

well I have 6 dc aged 11yrs to 18 months...(Yes,we are THAT mad LOL)and we got a dog 3 months ago, and it was the best thing we have done in ages!DC love her...although obvioulsy 95% of the work falls to me...but she is just great! Soooooo worth all the hard work.
Thinking about the garden issue , you maynot need as much fence as you think....a small fenced area may be OK..our doggy doesnt spend that long in the garden on her own...she does havelots of walks though,andoff leadrunning roundand playing ...soreally only goes out in the garden a few times a day andnot for long ...in the summer she was out there more...but mostly we would be out there too...and she just wouldnt run off...sometimes she comes out on the front garden with me when i am gardening and she just potters round by me...even though not fenced off at all...but it is on a very quiet cul-de-sac,and obviously I wouldnt leave her out on the front on herown... but just saying thegarden issue may be able to be got round..would partly depend on how much doggy would be walked...how old s hewas...temperament etc...

LOL Bella....typing would be much better if DH hadn't dropped my laptop and broken my spcae bar LOL

He knocked you up 6 times and wrecked your laptop?