Does anyoneo/did anyone regret getting their dog?

[AllergicToNutters]

And why? Just wondering.

Not for the most part, except for when, as others mentioned, we can't go away for the day, or kennel fees have to be added on to the price of a vacation. I wouldn't be without them though.

Our first dog was a dream so of course we thought we were experts. The second dog was much less of a dream, she cried all night in the crate and we had to give it up after a couple of months, but if she was left out of the crate then she would destroy things. My husband slept on the couch next to her for 2 years until she calmed down. You couldn't leave her in a room for a second without her going el destructo on it. She destroyed many many things. She pulls your arm off on walks. Last year I found out that she still has the crate anxiety when she is at kennels (for some reason I thought she might be over it now) so now we are stuck for going away as a family. She is 9 years old now, has been on metacam she was 3 ($$), is a very anxious dog. In the early days there were many times when I thought we had made a big mistake. HOWEVER. She has not been well the last few days, she stopped eating on Monday and then yesterday I discovered that she had bloody diarrhea, I rushed her to the vet and sobbed for ages until they told me she was OK. Cannot imagine being without either of our two now, and considering keeping our foster pup because she has integrated into our life quite nicely too, and since we can't go anywhere anyway....

Well it's the same as having kids, I guess - some people will tell you all kinds of horror stories if you tell them you're expecting a baby: the pain of childbirth, the sleep deprivation, the toddler tantrums, the teenage years, the huge expense and impact on your lifestyle, but very few actually seriously regret having kids (though they might have the odd moment of feeling like they do!) or could imagine life without them!

ephiny - that is a brilliant analogy. The difference seems to be that when you get a dog, you actually physically go out and 'buy' one. People don't need a dog to become a family. A dog enhances (hopefully) a family. Also, there seems to be a little tiny thought at the back of ones mind that if all goes wrong or we don;t enjoy it, we can always get rid of it. It is quite a scary thing to embark upon when you hear lots of different views. But all very very useful.

We have only had the monster for 6 weeks but already I can't imagine being without her & nor could DW (although she jokes about sending her back to the pound when she has rolled in something manky ). She has fitted into our lives so well and has come on so far in a short space of time I can see glimmers of the dog she will be in 6/12 months time when she has even more confidence.

However, the first week/10 days when she cried/barked/howled all night were pretty hellish & as she's not a pup she didn't tire out so all the advice to "let her cry it out" just didn't work! Once we gave in & brought her bed into our room she settled like a dream . She was v easy to housetrain but due to her ishoos she can still have "emotional wees" if she is upset/stressed which can be difficult.

I really don't understand why people make such a drama of getting a dog- you only get one if you want one, surely? They fit in round you, more or less, and you love them and they love you.

No, I don't regret getting my dog. I've loved all the dogs I've ever had.

LeBof _ I suppose peole make a drama of it because there are so many unwanted dogs in rescues. People think they want one/can manage one in their lives until their circumstances change etc. In my opinion it is a major life changing decision because it is such a long term commitment.

cazinge what breed do ou have?

also, so many seem to need rehoming at about 18 months. Makes me wonder what actually goes wrong.....

Kind of. The plan was to have puppy, then have baby. Kind of worked except we had twins, and the dog is another demand on my time I could really do without. Always having to walk him with a double buggy rather than a sling etc makes everything so much harder and on the rare days things go well enough for me to go to a baby group, I have to plan around the dog, which is quite isolating.
Am thinking of the end game, we'll be all done with the baby stage sooner and will hopefully have a more mature dog by then too...

I do, and I regret getting all my cats.

Because I love them soooo much and I am heartbroken when they die - I lost an adored 17 year old cat last year, I currently have one in the hospital, my dog had a massive seizure 7 weeks ago and we're terrified of the next one.

All of my animals are very elderly, that means I have 4 deaths coming in the not too distant future - I can't handle it.

Peeling - wow no wonder! YOu really do have hyour hands full do you think if you only had one child then life would be more pleasurable wiht dog? I deliberately waited until my two were both at school before I even contemplated a dog as I anticipated what a nightmare it would be any sooner. Well done though
Laurie - poor thing . did you have them all from pups and kittens? that must be hard. Our cat is coming up for 10 so hopefully a good few years in him yet. Mind you, he is a Miserable git, but we love him all the same

Apart from 2 of the cats, which I've had since they were 9 then yes, I've had all of mine since they were tiny. I had a rabbit that died 18 months ago and he was 12! All of my pets live long lives - not because I'm so amazing at looking after them but because we are very slothful humans and there's a a lot of sitting around enjoying ourselves, mostly with a cat on the lap

Thanks Allergic, twins are now 6 months and Giant Pup is about 20 months, so hopefully we're through the worst of it. Hardest was when it got dark so early and I couldn't get out of the house before 1.30 ish, getting easier now dog can wait till dh is home and one of us walk him in the evenings as well.

there is a mantra that I used to silently chant when I found myself in a particularly tricky phase of either of dc's childhoods, "and this too, will pass"

Same for dogs by the sounds of it it!
Mind you, we still have tricky phases, esp with the 12 year old dd

I?m on my 4th rescue dog (first two and present dog were/are Rottweilers, and the 3rd was a Bullmastiff cross) and I did sometimes regret getting the 2nd one. We just didn?t seem to gel and she was a sod to train because she seemed so independent and not as interested in me as everything else around. She was never socialised before I got her (she was a cruelty/neglect case too) so was a bit of a handful, regardless of the training I put in! I think she would?ve suited someone who was more energetic than me and interested in really exploring her abilities, perhaps working trials, but ultimately I did love her. My last 2 dogs have been the opposite of her, maybe because they?re dogs rather than bitches, and they were/are obviously into me. I absolutely adore the big handsome fella I have now, and he?s so sociable (licks strangers, but keep that hush hush, LOL). They all have individual personalities so I think it?s vital to be a good match. When this dog dies I would like to have a couple of years without animals as they are a tie, and I?d feel bad putting rescue dogs (who were strays then lived in kennels) into kennels while I go away as I?d wonder whether they thought they were being abandoned again.

AllergictoNutters she is v much a Heinz but I think Fox/Cairn Terrier x Rough Collie

I did wonder if I'd done the right thing in getting a dog a couple of years ago. He was the most gorgeous little springer/cocker cross I had ever seen. Our previous dog had died aged 13 years almost 2 years earlier so we thought we were ready for a new addition to our family.

In the early days, the dog would eat something new every day. He even ate a disposable razor once! He also ate socks, shoes, toys. He raided his food cupboard and stuffed his face until his belly looked like it might explode.

But, he died suddenly when he was 7 months old, no relation to all the things he had been eating, honestly!
I was devastated, my world fell apart.

3 months later, I got a new puppy. He never did replace the first pup, but he helped heal our broken hearts. As a result of losing my first pup, I've never regretted getting new pup. Even with the whole house covered in hair and his doggy smell, I still love him

We had a dog from Dog's Trust years ago. She was great, but my cat absolutely hated her (the dog was cat friendly - turns out my cat wasn't dog friendly). We ended up taking her back to the rescue with a very large donation, and at least we'd got her properly housetrained before we gave up.

So, no dogs for us until the cat's gone, I'm afraid.

I regret that whole episode intensely - the dog didn't deserve it.

OH YES! Mainly when the little bleeder destroyed all 3 pieces of my £1000 leather suite in one short sitting!

BUT, I absolutely adore him, I wouldn't be without him. He goes everywhere with me 5 days a week, and at weekends he is with DP and the kids! I bred him myself. He had a very traumatic birth, and was the big, stuck, 'this one will be dead pup. The vet extracted him, and handed him to me to see if he could be revived. He took his first breath laid across my chest, and from that moment on, he was mine. His toes were nearly severed when the vet pulled him out, and the chance that he might be a cripple was excuse enough, if I'd needed one, for him to stay with us. He has one sister, who lives with my best friend in the world.
I regretted getting his mother many times as a pup, but the same goes for her. She was my best friend, loyal companion, child's playmate and confidante. I miss her every day.

OM goodness! Those of you who have had hard times during puppyhood are so devoted to your dogs it makes me qutie teary. It really does sound as emotional a time as early babyhood. That is hard, it is bewildering, overwhelming etc. but the love you get back sounds as it is is dished out tenfold at least!

Kid and cat what heartbreaking stories. 7 months old kid? how for you all.
And catpuss - that dog was destined to be with you. I would have done the same.
springforward - bit concerned here as we have a large, unsociable, scared-of-everything- cat here. Oddly though, a friend brought her new 9 month old pointer x lab rescue dog here yesterday and he was Ok with it. he hissed but did not run away. Maybe there is hope for us here ..........

My 7 month old pup was neutered but died on the operating table. It is very rare for a healthy pup to die during the op (about 1 in 1000), but he was one of the unlucky ones.

My new pup, well nearly 2 year old dog, can keep his bits just incase he is another unlucky one. I was told that lightening never strikes in the same place twice so we should be okay to get him done, but that doesn't convince me so I am never taking the chance.

I do love my dog, but I don't know if I would have another if anything happened to her. She is a golden lab. lovely nature great with my dgs and other children in house my dd is a chilminder.
She has recently, last few months, started eating anything that is left lying around, chewing toys etc. didn't use to do this, she is nearly 8.

Also, it's not how I imagined it would be. The first couple of years were perfect could take her anywhere let her off lead recall not perfect but not bad. I used to take her to local park both of us made new friends, humans would chat whilst dogs played ran around it was great. Then one day as I arrived on park and she was on lead she was attacked by another dog, luckily someone came to help I didn't know what to do. Two days later just leaving the park she had been playing as usual with no problems, I had just put her on lead when same dog appeared from nowhere and attacked again.

I decided not to go to park for a while and walked her around the streets. The next bit sounds unbelievable but I swear it's true, I was walking in the street when I saw the same dog with owner, as I spotted him he started to let it off the lead I screamed at him don't let it off the lead (we are in the middle of the street) I was ignored he let dog off it came straight at us there was nowhere for me to go it attacked again and this time I kicked out and was bitten.

Now I cannot let my dog off the lead she shows aggression to other dogs, walking her is not enjoyable anymore, we can't take her out as a family. Yesterday we took dgs on an egg hunt at a local national trust property, loads of people there with dogs but we didn't feel we could take her, not fair to other dogs or her. I do feel her aggression is her way of "getting in first" but I don't know how to deal with it or how to improve her behaviour.

No I have always considered a dog to be rather like a child who never grows up and after many years without one, whilst my children were young, was really ready to make the necessary changes to my lifestyle for her. Yes she has been a lot of work as regards training etc and we made sacrifices in terms of holidays and day trips whilst she was a puppy but now a year later she has added so much to our family and is happily sitting at my feet with a chew probably anticipating her walk