Does anyoneo/did anyone regret getting their dog?

[AllergicToNutters]

And why? Just wondering.

lovebeing - that is so . Poor dog. Poor you! Thank goodness she has you as her family. I bet there are others who would have rehomed her for being a bother. What a vile dog owner who lets his dog off lead to attack again and again. It's beyond belief. I bet you can get her over her fear aggression with proper help. YOu should look up a trainer/behaviourist who could help you all. It would be worth the money to get that freedom back imo

I've never regretted but there are times when I wonder why I choose to subject myself to dog ownership. Mainly when they've emptied a bin bag all over my freshly mopped floor or rolled in dead things or ate all the bread I was planning on having for my supper after work that I was sure I hidden well enough from them.

When I found out my Grey had a home I knew I would miss her but I was looking forward to just having my two again for a while, who are too small to reach bin bags and food cuboards. I was looking forward to a wee break between foster dogs.

I lasted a day before I was Googling for cat friendly dogs in need of foster homes

I don't just want a dog/dogs. I physically need them in my life. I cannot imagine anything bad enough to make me want to rehome them. They could eat my whole house and piss all over the empty foundations and I'd still adore the little buggers.

I dont regret getting my 8 year old cocker spaniel but I now have nearly 2 year old JRT and although I do love him there are days (like today) where I do regret getting him...
I wish I'd just stuck to one dog

Definitely don't regret getting DDog as I love him to bits and wouldn't change him for the world, but I wouldn't get another once he's gone. A dog is such a bind.

Never.
Although there have been days when she has exasperated me, exhausted me, irritated me and depressed me.

But the days she has brought us laughs and warmth and fun and love have far out numbered the others.

Allergic, our vet has a behaviour specialist and we are going to see what they say.

We have been trying really hard ourselves but feel we need professional help. When we walk and see another dog we talk to her quietly a hand on the back of the neck helps then lots of praise when we pass the dog if she has been good.

The worse thing is when we are on a park and we see a dog off the lead I usually try to take her away then kneel at her side talking calmly again lots of praise if she is good. If the other dog approaches I will ask the owner to call their dog away. Unfortunately often the owners want to talk about the problem and offer advise whilst their dogs are running around us getting my dog more and more agitated.

I would love to get my old dog back especially now we have our dgs who is desperate to run around on a park with her.

lovebeing - good luck. she is lucky to have you. Hopefully, you will feel lucky too once her issues are sorted

I do occasionally regret getting our rescue dog, yes. I am an experienced dog owner and at times even I find him exasperating, but then we do a bit of training or he looks at me with his gorgeous brown eyes and I'd never be without him. He's unbelievably dog aggressive. I can't walk him anywhere there could be off lead dogs, he goes mad when dogs or people pass the fence and wants to kill our neighbours small dog. For these reasons I have to have him on a lead in the garden so I can train him to ignore passing dogs/the neighbours dog and it is a PITA. He's not reliable with people he doesn't know round the house and although he's bitten one dog (I nearly killed my DH over that one) the only reason he hasn't bitten more dogs or even people is down to careful management. We can't go anywhere, he could never be left in kennels. He is improving all the time though, but it's taken a lot of hard work and money.

I'd never for a second regret my Goldens though and having them just shows the difference between having a well bred, well socialised puppy impaired to the exact opposite.

The people on this thread who are having problems though, there are lots of really dreadful so called behaviourists and trainers out there and any behaviourist can only do so much, the onus is really on the owner. Things like lead pulling can always be solved, but it takes an awful lot of time and effort and is absolutely painstaking sometimes.

I had a dog as a child and I am very broody for another one now. DH has told me he will leave if I get a dog though. However, I am almost tempted! LOL

the trade off could be worth it cece

Well not me but I regret dh's dogs. Constant noise and mess and escaping past visitors, poorly trained, everything left to me to sort out. I dread to think what his house looked like before I picked up the slack. He is the worst dog owner I've ever come across and doesn't seem to understand the responsibilities of having pets. Buys the most expensive food and takes then to the vet regularly but "forgets" to pick up their mess, "hasn't got the time" to train them to walk well on a lead and allows them to regularly trash our belongings. It sounds heartless but I don't want the dogs, they make my life so much harder and in all honesty, we don't have the time for them but crap though he is, it would break his heart to rehome them. I don't know what to do anymore.

oh no. for you McFluffster. ARe they young enough to still be trainable?

Jrts are ex husbands. I am not a dog person. I walked them,fed them. And inherited them when he moved out. He did come round for visits with them and brought them bones. Dp is not a dog person either. By choice we wouldnt have them. Plan was when old dog who is 14 died we would persuade ex to take in other dog. Unfortunately the dogs survived the ex. Despite this they are part of my family and would I never think of rehoming them anywhere else,DD wouldnt let me !

Low spots: the toilet training. Got so fed up with everyone telling me their puppies only ever wee'd in the house once and then "got it" after one raised eyebrow.
Him chewing ds's brand new passport, one of my dad's valuable cricket almanacs, my parent's sitting room doors (!) 3 shelves of dd's dolls in national dress from around the world ( forgave him those) and numerous shoes.
The constant mess - muddy pawprints (cream carpets!) shredded sticks and keep finding odd socks and pairs of knickers on the lawn!

That said, I wouldn't swap him for the world (although I wouldn't mind getting that passport back).

I know this is an old thread but I am supposed to be looking at puppies this morning and all I can think is the reasons why not to get one. I have wanted one for years. But now I'm on the verge of backing
Out. Help!

I have never regretted having my dogs... they have brought joy and happiness to me even though they were and still are a handful at times.
Only thing I am not looking forward to is when they get old.
Will be tough.

I have had Dog1 for 2.5 years, and Dog2 for 1 year. I have never, ever regretted Dog2. I regularly regret Dog1. The difference? Dog2 was bred by a responsible breeder, who socialised and exposed her pups to everyday life. He came home with us at 8 weeks, slept through from day 1 and greets everything with enthusiasm and curiosity. He's a dream. Dog1 was probably puppy farmed, and came to us at 13 weeks. We were told he'd been socialised. Bollocks, say I. He was terrified of normal household noise and pee'd every other step. He is a loving, gentle dog with humans, but is unpredictable with other dogs. He is highly strung, afraid of the car, the hoover, being left, dogs bigger than him. He light chases, shadow chases, barks at random scariness, paces, gets stressed easily. We have had behaviourists, trainers, various vet consults (anal gland issues as well as constant attempts to maim himself in inventive ways). I've worked and worked, cried more tears than I can count and made myself ill trying to 'fix' him. There is no fix. He copes better than he did, and I hope this will continue. He is fiendishly clever and very high energy. It's an exhausting combination. He would have been happier as a working dog, I'm sure, but I do the best I can to keep him stimulated while trying to teach him some calm. I love him dearly, and his welfare matters to me hugely. But he is a burden, he restricts me in many ways, and DH can't and won't ever really warm to him. Dog2 is just, well, easier. He enhances our family, is happy to come along on day trips, stays close by, recalls immediately, is happiest snoozing on your feet or stealing your socks. Both dogs are adored by the DC, and the feeling is mutual. I suppose the main difference is, when I look ahead at their life span, with Dog1 there is a mild sense of panic. With Dog2 I don't want to contemplate him leaving us.

Bugger. Zombie thread.

No never.

I don't recognise all the moaning about how hard it is on here. If you went by MNetters advice no one would ever get a dog because it's just massively stressful and tiring hardwork.

I've had four dogs and never regretted any of them. Can't imagine life without a dog in it.

Sorry. I didn't know if I should start a new thread or not. Thanks for your replies.

Miserable moo, I think it is important yo choose wisely.

So choose a dog on temperament, and from a recommended bona fide breeder.

Some people choose their dogs fir cute looks or even on colour, but you really want to know if the type of dog would suit you.

Just make sure you do lots of research!

I wanted a collie, buglad I changed my mind as would nog have been right for us ( i live thrir besuty and intelligence, but a neurotic dog that keeps going 24/7 and needs to "work" was not going to be ideal). We ended up with a lurcher, from a breeder who we did not know but we knew some of his dogs, all bred for house pets, on temperament.

She naps between walks so I can still work from home.

I am not saying wveryone should get the sane dog as me, just to do your homework and get as much info as you can.

MN the doghouse have been helpful too!

Sorry, typos all over the place! Am sick and on phone...

I have had times when I've despaired with Jess. She's a highly strung, unbalanced little thing. Very barky and pacey. I've since learnt that the line she comes from is known for this, with one particular stud dog in particular.

So my advice would be to ask to see the whole pedigree chart from the breeder, going back 5 generations. They should be happy to show you this.

Then find a breed specific forum and ask for advice. As this is sensitive you'll have to ask people to PM you breeders they would particularly recommend or ones to avoid.

Also check out the coe for the puppies, again you can do this on the KC website. For miniature schnauzers this should be about 5 or 6%. My puppy was high at 17.9%. (This score indicates how closely related the 2 parents are. The lower the better.)

Always use the KC assured breeder scheme as a starting point.

If possible find a breeder who has children, or where children visit regularly.

Good Luck!

Just realized this is an old thread, but sod it going to reply anyway as it seems to have resurrected.

I am utterly In Love with my dog and have never regretted having him - had him from 8 weeks, he's now 9 years old. When I met DP he had 2 dogs of his own, (one of which sadly died in my arms with me cradling him), so I had to get used to being a one-dog woman, to living with 3. It was lovely!

I can honestly say that my dog has never been a problem, he's so gentle and easy going, a dream to train, and just fits in to my life. He's a German Shepherd, and I do think people should do lots of research on what breed type they want before they get a dog. Different breeds have different needs, different energy levels and different health issues.

A lot of the comments on here show that people perhaps aren't prepared for the lifestyle change, or maybe don't really want the lifestyle that a dog brings but are persuaded into it perhaps by a partner or children.

Yes, the house is messier, smellier, and I've given up on ever wearing smart black clothes because of the hair. Yes it's a bind, in that you can't leave them all day - but I do equate it to having kids. You don't resent the difficulties children bring because you love them. Same for the dogs.

I really do think that if you don't think you'd like the hassle, the bind, the mess then you're not a dog person and it's probably best for you (and certainly any potential dog you might have) not to get one in the first place.

(I'm not being judgey here by the way, it's perfectly legitimate not to want those things and I respect people who say they don't want a dog because of those reasons)

OP said something upthread about why so many rescues have 18 month old dogs. It's because people fall for the puppy stage, then they stop being cute and reach the bolshy adolescent stage. The novelty wears off and they get rid.