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.

We had exactly the same thing. It used to make me . Once we got her though,they all fell in love with her. It is hard work, but totally worth it.

Benign neglect: 'The term is today more widely known as a variant of laissez faire policy, wherever it is considered that a lack of regulation and/or investment will improve (or at least not hurt) the interest of the 'neglected' group.'

The term is erroneously used as a perjorative term.

OK - so 7 times a week at least, is that right? 6 is thus neglect. And so it's ok to keep a dog indoors for the rest of the time? My very own much-loved sister took a dog, a spaniel of all breeds, and did this. Religeously walked the dog twice a day, ran frequently too. She also worked full time. The dog was indoors away from any human or animal contact for the rest of the time. She did this for two years before realising what a shit life it was leading. I would, and did, use the word neglect for this, despite this being applied to my sister.

Good grief, not taking your dog for a walk at least once a day???

The poor thing :(

What your sister did is wrong too - dogs need companionship and walks. If you can't (or won't) provide both, then you really shouldn't have a dog.

If you have an easy-going breed, then yes, it will fit into whatever lifestyle you provide it with, but it would be much happier and healthier if you look after it properly - and yes that means at least one walk a day - ours has 2 or often 3.

people who love dogs try to put you off because they don't want you to get one, then realise it was a bad idea and put it in rescue.

people who don't, just put you off.

Get a rescue greyhound, they are brilliant and low-maintenance dogs. Or a rescue staffy - lovely friendly beasts.

Sorry, to OP, our dog has brought unimaginable joy into our lives, but he was much harder work than we expected.

When he was a pup, one of us had to get up with him at about 5am to play with him/let him out into the garden for a pee.

Well worth it, but having also grown up with dogs, I was surprised by how much harder it was a) having full responsibility for a dog myself, and b) the fact that expectations of dogs have changed since the dogs of my childhood were around and therefore much more training and effort is needed now than was when I was a child.

Nope, it was used correctly. If you think it's incorrect to use in this instance then fine, what you're doing is plain old neglect, by your own definition. Is that perjorative enough?

Whether it is ok to leave a dog alone all day is a whole other issue and nothing to do with what was being discussed. I am saying - in case I haven't been clear enough so far - that walking a dog once per day is the minimum I, and many others, consider essential for the health and wellbeing of a dog and is not an unreasonable expectation to press on those who want to own a dog.

Saying that a dog can get by with only a couple of walks per week is at best misleading and at worst harmful.

If you want to discuss the problems involved in keeping a dog when you work full time/leaving a dog home alone etc. then start a new thread, I'd be happy to discuss the issue there. Neither situation you have described sounds ideal - I'm quite sure a dog would prefer to have company at home AND regular exercise.

Apologies for thread hijack OP but it was making me itch to have people suggesting that dogs don't need regular walks on a thread intended for people thinking about having a dog!

I really am a bad owner by your judgey standards and shouldn't own a dog. Better off he stayed in the flat then. Ho humm.

I don't know. I too grew up with dogs, I adore them and have been pestering DH to let me get one for years. So when a friend asked if we'd care for her small dog whilst she gave birth to her newborn (for 6 months) we thought it would be a good idea. I secretly thought that this was my chance to convince DH to let us get a dog.
Doggy has been here for nearly 4 months, and it's been one of the worst experiences of my life. He isn't happy here, poor thing, and though he's stayed before now and has previously been lovely with my children, this time he'd lunged for my toddler within a week of arriving. So I have to keep the dog and the children in separate parts of the house. He hates walks (though I do still take him) and pulls back towards the house. He pees on poos on the floor in the house at least twice a day- There have been times when I've taken him for long walks where he hasn't done his business at all, and he shits on the floor as soon as he gets in. I've taken him to the vet: There is nothing physically wrong with him. He's just a very unhappy dog. He is lovely - gentle and soft with me. He's just depressed. I have told his owner and she refuses to take him back before the time we discussed originally. :( :( :(
It sound so stupid because he's only a dog, but I have honestly never felt so low as I do now, because of the dog. I have cried and cried and cried over this. The house stinks of shit so I can't have friends over. The children are banned from one part of the house because he is there. It's really bloody hard.
So I think, because of my experience, that people are just trying to get you to really think before taking on a dog. I know he's an extreme case, but there are extreme cases out there, and poor little sad dogs like this one who is a massive burden.
:(

Nowt wrong with a dog in a flat if they're getting lots of walks.

Ahhh, so now we get to the nub. We shall never meet on this one tobodlygo and I suggest we leave it there. I could in no way think my dog is better off indoors for 22 hours a day rather than where he lives now. Unfortunately he can't speak for himself - if he could I'd bet my life savings he'd agree.

The thing is LeBFG its not just toboldlygo who disagrees with you, its everyone else on the thread who has commented, every animal welfare charity I have ever come across, every shelter and rescue organisation in the UK too.

If you went to any shelter and told them that you'd only walk your dog twice a week, there's no way on earth they would allow you to adopt one.

Are we all wrong? or is there the teensiest, tiniest chance that you are?

To the OP, I think some people don't like dogs and will try to put anyone off, and other people just want to be sure you know what you're letting yourself in for. It can be a steep learning curve at the beginning, as you can see from many threads on here. Having said that, I love my dogs. They have changed my life for the better in many ways and I wouldn't be without them.

I also think a dog should be walked every day. I know some people have large properties and expect their dog to get its exercise in the garden, but dogs don't really do this; they are lazy, like people. Dogs that don't get taken for walks daily are at much greater risk of obesity. A walk is also good mental stimulation for them.

I don't think anyone should go into dog ownership thinking they don't have to walk their dog every day.

LeBfg, linking two threads together, I think you'll find your dog's behaviour improves if you take it for more walks, even if it's always the same walk. Dogs like doing the same walk and will still find plenty of interesting things to sniff etc.

You would not be prosecuted for only walking your dog two or three times a week. Basic requirements are food, water and shelter. Then stimulation but rarely are people prosecuted on lack of stimulation if ever.

I think dogs should be walked daily, I also think cats should be allowed outside (same difference surely?!) however I'm not naive enough to think that in reality this happens to every dog.

Dog eared, I feel sorry for you and the dog. It will know youre happy and I'm pregnant but could not imagine re homing my dogs for 6 months.

OP perhaps look at helping in your local rescue centre for an hour or so a day. You'll learn loads about dogs, get used to training, cleaning etc and may eventually meet your new family friend. As I said I love my dogs, but they are a lifestyle choice a huge huge commitment and if what you've read on here doesn't put you off (I always think horsey people are bad for disagreeing lol) then you'll have a long happy life with your hound.

A dog in a shelter is better off there than in a house with 9 hectares of land, a large field, two walks a week and a family that think the world of him?

Where I live, I am the ONLY owner to walk my dog AT ALL. I'm viewed as a crazy, sentimental animal nut. And for all those other dogs - are they damaged, un-social, showing any signs of neglect? Not a jot.

I've seen loads of dog-owners in the UK - all doing the 'right thing', taking their dogs 'for a walk' - in parks about a hectare, the same walk day in day out. All the owners claiming to do the 'responsible' thing. Give them the badge, please do, I really don't want it.

Dog eared sorry deleted half a sentence!! It will know youre not happy and may feel abandoned!! It's not good it's snapping at your dc?

Should also read prosecuted over lack of stimation alone. There have been cases but very extreme. As I said not right but.....

No it's ok I'm enjoying getting all the feedback as I said it won't be a year at least until we get a dog but want to be fully prepared. DH has never owned a dog so I especially want him to be aware of the work involved, it is like another baby especially at the beginning.

This is why I want a puppy, I know there are lovely rescue dogs put there that need patience and an experienced owner but I don't think that's us. A puppy would get used to our chaotic family and become part of it more readily.

There's a husky explosion around here just now and Lhasa Apsos seem very popular.

Lebfg - sounds a fab house!!! Lots of farm dogs aren't walked they roam their land. My understanding from other posters is it's more saying it's ok to say dogs can be walked twice a week as standard, everyones circumstances are different. I would say it was necessary to walk them daily. I class a walk as a good half hour to an hour either up with my horses round the fields and neighbouring fiends or round the roads to a choice of two country parks. They're generally out for a good hour with me though. I don't live in acres of land though I'd love too!!!

It's funny how people have different perceptions regarding puppies vs rescue dogs. I would have said it's a puppy that most needs patience/experience - in fact DH and I chose to get an adult rescue as our first dog precisely because we were 'beginners' and it made sense to us to get a dog that was already trained and socialised, and accustomed to living in a family home!

Not saying your perspective is wrong btw, I think there are pros and cons on both sides really. Of course there are some rescue dogs that would be very unsuitable for a less experienced owner, or for a family home - 'rescue' covers a lot of different circumstances.

sweetkitty, just so you know not all rescue dogs need experienced owners, and if you go through a rescue that uses foster homes they will know all about the dog and how it will behave with children etc. Some are well-behaved and loving family pets who are given up because their owners got became seriously ill or got divorced etc.

I completely understand about wanting a puppy though. When you're ready, you'll be able to get advice on finding a good breeder, which is important for the long term health and socialization of the puppy. One thing I've learnt from here is that there's a lot more to it than you think! There are also breed-specific rescues that sometimes have puppies, if that's what you want. It's great that you are finding out so much before you start :)

(I think lots of patience is a requirement either way though!)

I just want to apologize to LeBfg because I didn't mean to upset her with my previous post. It was intended to be a helpful comment but I appreciate it wasn't seen that way, so sorry.

In general terms though I do think that going for walks is important for a dog's mental stimulation as well as for the physical exercise, ergo good for the dog and its behaviour.

A dog might be perfectly happy with two walks a week, there is no doubting though that it will be happier with many more walks than that an d for most dogs, the more the better.

Dogs are very adaptable, they cope in a wide variety of situations. That doesn't mean all those situations are right.

The husky explosion is really worrying, there probably isn't a more unsuitable breed of dog for most families. The husky rescue I volunteer for is full and has a waiting list of dogs to come in, these are just the lucky ones whose owners surrender to rescue, thousands more must end up being passed around Preloved and Gumtree. :(

Agree with Ephiny on pups vs adult rescue, the idea of being wholly responsible for the development and behaviour of a puppy fills me with dread, what if I got it wrong?! This is why I am such a big fan of rescues that foster dogs in the home, you get a very precise idea of what the dog is like and if it will fit your home and family.

most rescue dogs will just get on with their new situation. greyhounds will usually do this by sleeping :)

puppies can get really overexcited and should not be placed in over-stimulating situations if possible. children running about with puppies = two unhappy youngsters.

agree about huskies. stupid. they get very hot in summer too, poor buggers.

and noticeable numbers are walked in the middle of nowhere on big thick leads.....