Seriously considering getting a dog, have a pro and con list, advice on the cons please

[Mercythompson]

Dh has wanted a dog for a long time, the boys (4 and 6) would love one, I have been the holdout.

We went on holiday and met a lovely west highland terrier and are now seriously considering it. I have a con list and I was wondering if you could tell me if those cons are deal breakers and what I haven't thought of.

Pros first:
We have a big house (relatively)
100ft garden, totally enclosed
I am a SAHM who has a small business that I run from home, that takes 2/3 hours a day.
I walk the boys to school and back, so about 2 hours walk a day.
The boys would absolutely love it
DS1 has high functioning ASD and it might help him socialize, with his emotions etc, I think, (I do know that its a MIGHT)

Cons

I have never had a dog before - DH had one as a child, and I don't really know what I am getting myself into.
Its a HUGE commitment, and its not like we can change our minds later - this is seriously long term
I would have the dog at home with me all day - so it would be mostly on me
Impact on days out and places we can't take the dog - i,e, (rare days out to a theme park - no idea if you can take a dog) - or me taking rare days out on my own, when the kids are in school
holidays - we usually just get a holiday cottage, how easy is that with a dog
cost - both of getting one (ouch) and upkeep - food, vets, insurance
Mess in the house - how much extra cleaning?
I am seriously looking at starting a second business teaching nannies how to cook basic meals - could I do that if I owned a dog?

[Mercythompson]

Thanks mistlethrush. We are ignoring (apart from the one time I caught her in the act, just said "no " and took her outside) and taking her outside as much as we can. Practically lived outside today.

Agree about revision, it's her second move in two weeks as the woman who originally adopted her refused to keep her after one visit to her adult daughter's house who has cats!

She has now woken up, peed just before she got out the door and is now chasing her own tail,

[mistlethrush]

Mercy, you might need to do a bit of revision on the housetraining - I would be taking her outside very regularly, being very boring and asking her to do what ever (cue word) and lots of praise if she does anything. Just ignore inside puddles and make sure you have a good washing product that get rid of the smell to her properly!

[Mercythompson]

Sorry worn out.

[Mercythompson]

We got her this morning! Already had our first puddle! boys had a brilliant time throwing balls for her and ds1 has already gone to her for comfort.

So glad we didn't get a puppy. She is only 18 months and I can only imagine how much more hyper she would be if she was younger.

She is currently asleep on my lap. Warn out by the boys, and they are fast asleep in bed, warn out by her. .

[Logarhythm]

Mercy has your dog been delivered yet?

[Viviennemary]

If you really really want a dog then get a dog. If you want long walks and a dog bounding around the house then get a dog. If every time somebody rings your doorbell you don't mind deafening barking get a dog. I do mind all these things and would never have a dog. But lots of people do like having a dog and are lost without one. If you're one of those get a dog. If not don't.

[Molotov]

Bless you, hope it all works ouy for you and your pup

[Molotov]

Cons: What you've already said
Constant poo patrols around the garden
Fireworks and thunderstorms (SereneUms are your friend)
Dog breath (the dog, not you).

Pros:
A dog is your loyal companion for the duration of it's life: you are the entire world to that little pup.

Life is better with a dog

[Mercythompson]

The rescue just phoned. It's all on for tomorrow.!!!!!

[oldandcrabby]

Enjoy and don't panic. I would really recommend going to training classes, it will help you bond, socialise the dog and reassure you are doing the right things. You can google APDT or COAPE trainers in your area.

[LaBelleDameSansPatience]

Well, you will, frequently. But not in the long term. Now off to mop up latest puddle.

[JennyOnTheBlocks]

Brilliant news, you won't regret it :)

[Mercythompson]

We are picking her up tomorrow! - Wow - tidying the house now (at least the chewable bits!)

[Owllady]

How funny your bil holidays there too :o
There must be lots of us...

We are born west Midlands, though we live down south now (have done for yonks) so a trip back to barmouth is a trip to brush back up on your black country accent and rib your own children about how posh they are/sound

[ethelb]

Honestly, the biggest one is that terriers really don't behave how the British public think they should. The possibility of public humiliation is high.

You will want to go away and when you do you will miss it.

Terriers don't like water and it gets quite tedious when you want them to go and do a wee in a storm as you want to go to bed because you are drunk

[moosemama]

That's great Owllady, thank you.

My BIL takes his dcs to Barmouth every year too. He also has dcs with ASD. We do the same holiday to a holiday home owned by our family in SE Ireland every year - for the same reason.

[Owllady]

I've checked and you can also take dogs on ffestiniog (portmadog), fairbourne and the welshpool railway, which are all close too

[Owllady]

I think I may have spelt it wrong

[Owllady]

Talylyn, twywyn
:)
God it's gorgeous! It runs through the Snowdonia national park. We stayed in barmouth (we do every year now, you know autism!) But I find the whole area very accepting, accessible and obviously very beautiful. I think quite a few of the other railways there accept dogs though.

[moosemama]

Sorry for the hijack but Owllady, which steam railways let you take dogs, if you don't mind me asking. When we looked last year they all specifically excluded dogs and dd is desperate to ride on a steam train.

[Owllady]

We have also took ours to the isle of Wight on the ferry. I don't really find it restrictive as we holiday in the UK

[Owllady]

Good luck :)
We have severe autism and a rescue dog, it does you all good imo
We book holiday cottages through cottages4you or Sykes, loads let you take a dog. We are just back from dog friendly wales with ours. Dog even goes on the steam railways with us

[Mercythompson]

Thank you moosemama, not heard from the charity today and meant to be getting the dog on Friday so a bit nervous.

Oh and both DH and I thought you post was really well written and thoughtful. We both commented when we read it.

[moosemama]

Good luck and I hope all goes well and you have found your perfect rescue dog.

Apologies for the appalling grammar and punctuation in my previous post. I really must learn to preview.

[Mercythompson]

Moosemama, thank you that is really interesting and helpful. We are, hopefully, getting an 18 month old westie, so still young but not an absolute baby. Fingers crossed that she can be a companion and comfort to ds1.