Why does everyone put you off having a dog?

[sweetkitty]

If its that bad then no one would have dogs. We are thinking of getting a dog next year but whenever I mention it to anyone I get a cats bum face then a list of reasons why I shouldnt get a dog it will need walked that's a hassle/sheds hair/holidays/days away/chewing/vets fees/bite the DC etc

Even on here people will ask for advice and be told they shouldn't get a dog.

I know people are being realistic I grew up with 2 dogs I know how much work they are but it seems everyone hates dogs. Everyone is trying to put me off getting one.

It really depends on how your lifestyle is before getting a dog. If your out all day everyday, are a complete clean freak and dont have much patience, a dog would change everything.

For me it wasnt much of a change. I work from home and enjoy my own company so dont tend to be going out lots. Plus I really dont mind him getting a few hairs on the couch cushions every now and then.

The biggest struggle for me was the young puppy stage with all the biting, chewing, and accidents in the house. For a month or so we had to keep our eyes on him non stop. Renting a new place was quite difficult too.

If all the things people have told you dont put you off and youve done your research then go for it! I dont regret getting my border collie at all, he keeps me company and he just adds even more love to the house. I cant imagine waking up everyday and not seeing his excited little face.

It is a big commitment getting a dog, and can restrict your lifestyle and be a hassle and expense. I wouldn't have a problem with someone saying that, because it's true! There's also a difference between growing up with your parents' dogs and having dogs of your own as an adult, in that you have all the responsibility and expense.

People might be going too far with the negativity though. If you know what you're doing, and you're confident you can offer a good home to a dog, then I wouldn't try to put you off!

I think it's the case that every dog is different, LeBFG, and people not taking that into account are the ones who get into trouble and end up ditching the dog weeks or months (or even bloody days) down the line.

My own breed of dog needs walking for 3+ hours a day, grooming every single day if you are to keep even vaguely on top of the hair in the house, training every day in a vain attempt to mould them into something resembling a household pet and many of them require a specialist diet often involving raw food. Oh, and they very commonly suffer from separation anxiety and can't be left alone.

And people still go out and buy puppies of this breed because they're cute and fluffy, look ridiculously cool as adults and it can't be much different from the elderly mutt they remember from childhood, right?

I'm glad your form of dog ownership works for you and is nice and easy but I'd regard it as neglect to walk a healthy dog only a couple of times a week, regardless of breed.

Oh, for goodness sake toboldygo - neglect - really? You know my dog I suppose? I would say more, but can't be bothered so my very first for that comment.

If you actually read my post, you'd have seen that I emphasised the right sort of dog. I, too, get pissed off seeing young couples in flat buying staffs or the like. But, given the right dog for your needs/requirements, they can be joy and source of lifelong happiness - they aren't neccessarily daily binds to the degree some people make them out to be - unless that is the sort of dog you want or dog-owner you are.

LeBOF is that you?

Sorry CF - I never realised my NN was so close to such a famous reg! Good luck with the search

Ahh no worries.

Yes, really. Excusing reasons of serious illness or injury (dog or human) I consider it neglect not to walk a dog every day. Not cruelty, just a sort of benign neglect.

Like Boldly, I also think it's better to walk a dog daily, except in very extreme weather conditions. It's slightly different for say working dogs - my friend's farm dogs don't get a "walk" as such, but they are busy all day.

BGf, you are very lucky that you have a healthy adult dog with good behaviours and no grooming needs. When your dog becomes older, things may change.

We have three greyhounds, rightly considered as a low input breed. However, we do groom them regularly (not every day) and they also have baths occasionally. In addition, there are daily walks, runs with DH, training classes from time to time. One is v elderly - she has been having weekly hydrotherapy (factor in time and expense of this, driving to and from appts). Now she's had a stroke - we have to spend a long time each day feeding her and clearing up afterwards (both her and the kitchen). Different meds morning and evening, to be cunningly inserted into a food of choice so she'll eat them. She has regular vet visits (more time and expense). The other two are wormed and de-flead regularly, have annual boosters and nail clips at vet. Don't forget the extra housekeeping - even short haired dogs do leave hair everywhere, track in muddy paw prints, leave poo in hte garden that needs picking up, extra laundry for dog beds and blankets etc etc. We feed raw so there is some extra time spent there on preparation and cleaning (not much). The old girl had an accident in the night so that needed cleanin up when I got up this morning. None of this is particularly time consuming by itself but taken together it really adds up, especially when I remember the ease of housekeeping before dogs (we don't have DC).

We often see threads on here about the joys of puppy hood (weeing, chewing etc) but we don't see so much about the other end of the story, when people have elderly dogs, yet eventually many of us will have older dogs that will (like older humans) need extra care even when they are still enjoying a good quality of life. It's right we should be sharing this with prospective dog owners.

It really upsets me when we see threads like the one on here at the moment where people are wanting to dump a dog after it started having continence problems.

I cannot imagine not walking a dog daily either tbh-I didn´t think dogs that didn´t need a daily walk existed!

Emphatically agree with toboldlygo - I think it is crap not to walk your dog daily (with the occasional exception when ill etc). They may be a breed that does not have massive exercise requirements but nevertheless they derive huge satisfaction from sniffing strange scents, chasing squirrels, meeting other dogs etc. Most will be bored and under stimulated at home all day with the same old,same old

I missed the bit about not walking dogs daily. Of course, many dogs will cope perfectly well with this, but that doesn't mean it's in any way acceptable or ideal and it's certainly not something to tell someone who is considering dog ownership.

I don't find my dog hard work because by and large the things I have to do for him are either insignificant or enjoyable. I love walking or running with my dog, I love stroking and petting him, I love letting him sleep on my bed (tsk tsk I know, dreadful!). Feeding him, ensuring he has water, taking him to vet for injections and checkups, working, de-fleaing, are hardly massively onerous. Pickung up shit isn't something I relish I admit but it's not a big deal.

The problem is that if you don't really want a dog or particularly like dogs, all those chores will seem way too much effort.

I always thought that at least one walk a day was the basic minimum you'd expect to commit to when getting a dog . Obviously there are some exceptions as people have mentioned, where it might not be possible or necessary. But for the average family pet dog, surely going for a walk every day is just normal? I thought so anyway.

I agree with Scuttlebutter about elderly dogs, we have an old boy with wobbly back legs and some continence issues, so we have the same issues - cost of hydrotherapy and medication, cleaning up messes in the house etc. It's not ideal, but we manage because we love him, and because he still has a good quality of life (he seems bright and happy and not in any pain, enjoys going out for his short walks and having a sniff around, meeting other people and dogs etc). Haven't seen the thread about wanting to get rid of a dog for continence problems, suspect I would be though.

I had 3 indoor cats for years and now have one moggy and 4 DC, house proud well that went out the window years ago. Am used to the shedding hair.

I think the daily walking would be good to actually get me out the house and into the fresh air (and rain)! I loved nothing better than walking the dogs when I was younger.

We have a large enclosed garden as well and I'm not precious about the grass or flowers. Oh also got told don't get a bitch they'll pee all over your garden and ruin the grass!

DH runs marathons so would love a running companion, I'm wanting a smallish dog, doesn't require hours of walking but loves a good walk and run.

I know a rescue dog would be a good thing but I would prefer a puppy I can mould myself without any behavioural problems, that will be find with the cat (once it knows who's boss) and the DC. Definitely a part of the family.

Love my dogs!!!! Love my horses!!! Both are hard work, both 24/7/52/365 but I would not be without them. Put the work in you get the rewards in the long run.

Agree with you Ormiriathomimus Obviously everyone here lives in cities and have their dogs trapped indoors all day. In that case, I would agree that walking every day, or multiple times a day is pretty important. Dogs clearly like walks, but do they need it? With the exception of some breeds, dogs don't need walks like they need food and clean water and drugs when they're ill.

Everyone also seems to just read the last post. I was initially pointing out that dog ownership needn't be as full on as some posters on here were insisting. I then countered the (IMO) extreme list of time-consuming daily chores: walking, grooming, training and feeding - with what I do, to point out the range, not as a recommendation. The only one of the four points people seemed to disagree with was the walking. Well that's fine. You are entitled to your own views on this. But please don't make out this is neglect! If I don't tick all your boxes of what makes an ideal owner, I still have a happy dog, he has a fantastic life and I will nurse him through his declining years if I'm lucky.

sweetkitty - I have just started running again and I take my dog whenever I go, and walk him the days I don't. But make sure your DH has plenty of off-road routes to run - I have tried running with dog on lead and it's disastrous! One or both of us will end up injured!

Indeed - my dog tripped me over when running with her on the lead. Off lead running only for us

LeBfg - actually we dont live in the city (perish the thought), we live in the New Forest and my dogs are not in all day, they have the run of a large garden. However, I wouldn't deny them the daily stimulation of the fresh sights, sounds and scents of a daily walk

HMC 'I think it is crap not to walk your dog daily... Most will be bored and under stimulated at home all day with the same old,same old'

My dog comes from a flat where he was never walked, LOVES sofa time, not interested in other dogs, loves visiting human friends. Where I live, we have 9 hectares of field and woods plus agricultural fields opposite where said dog can roam if he so wishes. Where I live, there is only one walk (right to roam has not reached SW france) - there are no other dogs, no squirrels and it's pretty boring. I didn't want to say all this early on, but now feel it needs to be said. You don't know my dog and what he needs.

And frankly, if you're into animal welfare, the point of taking a dog for a walk twice a week instead of seven times is pretty low down by most people's priorities.

Orm and hmc - take a look at canicross, it's possible to train your dog to run consistently ahead on a lead and actually pull usefully on a run. :)

I still think it's crap not to walk a dog at least once every day and won't be convinced otherwise. Just because the dog can cope with it doesn't mean it's fine. Like I said not cruelty, nor even necessarily a welfare issue, just one of benign neglect.

With the exception of those very rare dogs who have had such an unhappy start in life that leads and walks fill them with fear (most of whom come to love walks, eventually) a walk is the simplest thing you can do to bring a bit of joy to a dog's life.

What thread about continence problems?

I'm not trying to convince you not to walk your dog how you see fit. But I do and will continue to object to this bandying of the word neglect. You might prefer the phrase 'benign neglect' (whatever that might mean) to make it sound less bad toboldygo but it's clear that you just mean neglect.

If I walk the dog 5 times a week, is this neglect? three? Was it beamed into your head somehow that that 7 times a week is fine? What's wrong with 14?

This tick-box approach to keeping animals is annoying actually. It sets expectations: so I've heard new, fresh owners saying - oh, I really need to run a bit more, the dog'll get me out and about. Even for people that walk regularly may slowly feel the resentment of 'having to do it' not for the enjoyment anymore...just to reach the magic number! If you lead your life and your dog fits happily into it - then have a dog and enjoy him.

Benign neglect is a specific term, not the same as plain neglect - "a policy or attitude of ignoring a situation instead of assuming responsibility for managing or improving it."

It is my opinion that a daily walk will improve the physical and mental health of any dog who receives it.

It's not an arbitrary magic number, I just think that leaving the house and garden at least once every 24 hours is the bare minimum for any dog. I don't think this is an unreasonable expectation to impress on new/wannabe owners.