Probably posted a thousand times before, but - tell me the truth about owning a dog

[Gorran]

We've thought long and hard for a good few years about getting a dog. We are a family of four - me, sahm, husband, works ridiculous hours, daughters aged 7 and 4 living in the 'burbs of London with lots of lovely parks around.

Looking at a small breed, we're not fussy, and quite keen to get a young rescue dog/puppy if possible and is not a stupid idea?

We like to go away 4-5 times a year. 2 proper holidays and then a few weekends/midweek breaks in school hols. Have family who would look after the dog, or we can afford to kennel - but would rather not. For at least 2 breaks/holidays we could take dog but obviously for a foreign hol we could not.

So - tell me, would you get a dog in my situation? We all want one, are fairly well informed (I think) and not going into it blindly, as I said above, we've thought long and hard about it and are now actually looking at rescues, thinking about breeds etc.

Does anyone regret their dog? Why?

Thank you so much for any advice you can give.

it's bizarre isn't it. I have read this thread and I still can't see the advantages outweighing the disadvantages at all.

I guess it's like DC really. On paper, there is no real benefit to having children. They cost you money, restrict your choices, smell, make a mess, disrupt your sleep etc etc. But there is still the overwhelming desire for a lot of us to spawn. Because you just bloody love them, I guess.

Good point Chickens.

Oh god I forgot the farts...... DON'T GIVE THEM CHEESE!!!!!!!! Just a warning...

God, yes. Dogs love cheese. It's like dog crack. But the after effects are horrendous. Evil farts and explosive poos. Yet still I stuff the kong with primula

My dog is lovely. She is a rescue, and I'd say she was 'medium' sized, we got her at about 1 year old, and she was house trained when we got her. She has no interest in chewing anything other than food, and is happy to lie in her basket literally all day and night. She goes out twice a day for a very short walk to have a pee and then a longer walk. She is just as happy though with two quick trips to have a pee though if it's a manic day as long as she gets a few decent walks a week. She does, admittedly, shed quite a lot of hair, but not much worse than my daughter, and at least the dog hair doesn't clog up the shower. With 4 kids I am vacuuming pretty much constantly anyway. We have no dog paraphernalia other than a basket and 2 bowls. She is great company, and quite happy to snuggle up on the sofa, or sit mournfully looking at you until you invite her up. She is really bouncy when we go out for a walk, and loves to play fetch, would play it until she collapsed in exhaustion probably. She is friendly and gentle with our kids, all of them have clambered over her as babies. I got her when I was going insane stuck in the house on my first mat leave, and she was my reason to get out of the house every day when my DD1 would never ever nap in her cot...
In short, she is the perfect family dog. They do exist. Get one :)

We live in Putney with DH always at work, just like yours. I have a 6 year old, a 3 year old and an 18 month old. Our puppy is 3 months old. I am a SAHM like you.

Have a look at what you do every day over a month before you gt a dog, Which things can you do with the dog, which things cant you do. make a list. i cant go shopping as dog cant come in. i cant go to coffee with my friends as dog cant come in. I cant go to playgroups. I cant take the puppy on the school run as dog cant come ib.

All the things I do are difficult to do with the pup. Instead I go now to Wimbledon Common which is lovely but every day, for ever?? think it through. Be sure. i have so much more to say but have to go to bed. puppy wakes at 6 every day.

We got a puppy a few weeks ago. He was perfectly behaved, slept all night and looked adorable.
However we felt so so shackled to the house. I saw my life disintegrating in front of my eyes. I had read threads on here about puppies so I thought I was prepared, but I reality I wasn't.
People say it is like another child,but I think it is worse as they never leave and go to school..you have to get back to the house every few hours for the next 15 years.
We realised early on we weren't the best owners for such a fab dog and the breeders rehomed him for us. I can't tell you the stress we had at the time. For making a bad life decision. I think everyone is in a better place now.
Please think very carefully about it. I was amazed at my reaction. I had planned everything so carefully yet still felt this.
No ore impromptu days or afternoons out, no more working in London, no more lie ins.... I am sure many people take to it but I am sure any don't too.
Good luck with your decision

My retired greyhound is relatively easy to look after. I had the initial 'shit I've got this doggie life I have to look after'.Then, How do I do it? What will it eat? How will I keep it safe? Never had the 'how do I cope?' phase, though.

Rescue knew she'd be ok with being left at home on her own for 4-5 hours at a time. She doesn't smell (but yes the farts.......). Was lead-trained and house clean already.

My priorities have changed. I can't just go out after work for drinks. I have to go home/not stay long. Choose dog-friendly pubs now. I sometimes have to deflate doggie because of the expectations that she's built up. (eg: she's misinterpreted that a coat being picked up means she's going out for a walk) This is the hardest thing for me. The happiness and then the sadness when she realises she got it wrong:(

All dogs have their issues.You have to be prepared to work at it. How dogs turn out/ how easy they are is a combination of nature (individual and breed) and nurture.

i must be v lucky with mine as i have never had most of the problems listed

i would say you really need to think about the time you have to give to a dog - at least an hour a day every day.doesn't sound much but it really is - every day too even if the weather is cold/rainy/boiling hot and you don't really feel like walking the dog.

One of the criteria for us buying our house was that it was conveniently situated for dog walks.

I seriously cannot believe some of the inconveniences people are listing on here. Can't go to playgroup or for a drink with your friends? Don't you have a house you can leave it in? Or a dog crate? Or a kennel? Bloody hell. Dogs aren't that difficult! They're quite happy being left on their own for a bit, they don't melt! If they can't be left on their own they clearly have ishoos

i still go to toddler groups, meet friends for coffee etc. he is fine on his own for a couple of hours and happily lounges on the sofa when i'm out. i take the dog to the local shop where he is left literally outside the door and the bread/milk and cashier is right in front of the door (so never out of my sight). we go to the park. we take him on the school run twice a day.

Ahhhh - the inconveniences apply to the puppy stage....

ours has a crate - he goes in it for up to 2 hours at a time in the day - so I can go out and at least feel I have a life... .....he is small, he needs to poop and wee - he will not do that in his crate, so we need to give him opportunity.

He is now 4 months so is getting easier. dogs are not always that difficult, puppies are!

Mine are fine being left alone for short periods of time. The greyhound has ishoos and cannot be left completely alone, but is fine being left with the other two dogs.

My issue is that I am lazy and forget about the bin frequently on occassion. They like bins. I also sometimes forget to leave their raggy rope out, so they improvise with bits of washing or toilet roll.

The greyhound can reach everywhere in the kitchen and has a penchant for stealing peanut butter, bread, cereal, flour, eggs, cardboard and anything else that could possibly be eaten if it is not locked away -see above for lazy explanation-.

It is my fault not the dogs, when I am organised they will happily be left alone without destroying the house.

The hair, mud, paw prints (have you noticed that they show up more when your floor is clean?) and doggy smell and paraphenalia cannot be helped, but you learn not to notice it. We also have actual tiwgs and pebbley shit for decor, kindly donated by neighbourhood children for the dogs , not to mention all the neighnourhood children who call round frequently to visit the hounds. They don't much like the terrier

Full days out must be organised in advance so that they are dog friendly or you can arrange for a dog walker. I am lucky in that my dad walks his dogs in the middle of the day and will happily come for my three to take along with his own.

Blimey.

Even I'd be put off getting a dog if I read this - and I currently have four.

It's not all bad. Yes, they make a mess and bring in mud; but so do we. They need insuring and a bit of money spending on food and routine medical stuff - but so do we.

Mine don't smell. At all. I wash their beds once every week or two and we towel them down pretty well when they're wet. If they roll, they get a bath.

As puppies they do destroy things I'd rather they didn't but on every single occasion it's been my own fault. We've left things on the floor or in easy reach every time. Until a dog is about 18 months old, they can't be trusted to do the right thing. It's not fair.

None of them would dream of stealing food in the house and know exactly what's expected of them - wherever they are; be that the park, a shop, a pub, someone else's house, in the office - whatever.

I can't imagine life without them; they are the most trusting, kind, intellegent creatures who give so much more than they take.

All they really want are a couple of walks a day, food, water and cuddles. It's not much to give in exchange for the joy they provide.

at this thread.

Yes on paper there isn't much going for dog ownership is there.

The reality is (for me anyway) my quality of life, fitness and general happiness levels are immeasurably better since getting a dog. She gives me full in the face straight out joy everyday, and also a gentle simmering level of happiness that is difficult to explain to non dog owners.

The fur, the mess, the eyewatering expense, the smell, the embracing of looking like a farmer on the school run (wellies and waterproofs become your no 1 clothing investment priorities), the time ties, the ALWAYS having to factor in 'what happens to the dog'... all worth it for me and my family.

Saying all that some of the above will be different if you get a breed of dog with low-level exercise needs, not necessarily a small breed though.

Bear in mind OP that not all of your friends and family will like dogs. Some may be allergic (my DH), others slightly scared (my DD), some will find the concept of animals in the home to be unhygienic (me! Sorry). Do consider whether any of these might apply to folk you like to welcome in your home, or with whom you might all like to stay.

My friend wanted to visit us on holiday but couldn't come in the complex bc of her dog as they were banned outright by the complex owners. I think you would need to get used to that sort of experience.

In all politeness I fail to believe that four dogs do not smell. They may not smell much or they may not smell to you. To a non-dog owner, I suspect they do smell.

And when you are not feeling well and have to take to your bed, shivering, you have a ready filled hot water bottle that doesn't need re-warming every few hours.

I found this function to be very useful lately, coupled with my Dad who came to walk them for me, while I hugged my sick bucket.

It's the lie in bit that gets me - do you have to get up to let them out for a wee? Does this necessarily have to be 6am? Could you get round this with a dog flap? Once I am up I dont' care about smells, walks etc (v similar with children, don't care if they puke everwhere, changing vile nappies etc but hated my two years of enforced 5am wakings)

Mine do not get up at 6am to wee, although when Whippy was a pup she woke at 3am and then 6:30am without fail for the toilet. This stopped after a while.

The greyhound will sleep until 11am if you allow her to, she gets very annoyed at being woken up for early morning walks if I have to go somewhere after the school run (usual walking time).

On a weekend they're left until 10am before we let them out to wee, although they do their last wee at about midnight or later, so it's not that long really.

i forgot to let ralph out last night, he woke me at 1am as he needed a wee. usually he goes out about 9pm, then 8.30am when oon a walk.

Now that Jas is 7 months old and a bit more sensible, I'm allowing DS to let him out for a wee at the weekends. The travelling/days out thing just has to be factored in to the cost tbh. DH is Irish, and we travel back to Eire several times a year. Our dog will have to be boarded, and we just have to suck up the expense. Same with any holidays abroad. Days out haven't been a problem yet, but I'm hoping to be able to come to an arrangement with a friend to pop in and let the hound out if we're gone for more than 4 hours and I'll have to walk him before and after. It's all doable, and best to not think of the whole 15 years all at once I find

9pm and 8.30am totally acceptable. Oh goodie, my last excuse has gone ...

Both of mine are adults and will lie in until 9am without needing a wee but very occasionally one of them will get it wrong or be ill and wake me up at 3am for a desperate wee/poo.

They can both be left for 4-5 hours during the day no problem so long as they have a sufficient walk before and after but this had to be taught - girl wolf had severe, destructive separation anxiety. Until you've had A Bad Dog it's hard to appreciate just how debilitating behavioural problems can be.

I am going to have to return to full time work later this summer and will have to factor in either dog walking at £15 per day, five days a week or the increased cost of renting a property where I can put up proper kennels and runs outside (with a high initial cost). These costs will apply for at least the next ten years.