Can you advise on whether to get a dog please.

[AcquiredTaste]

I have two children (7 & 8) and am considering getting a dog. My youngest desperately wants a dog. She has some SN and there have been some incidences where she has been devasted that we would not let her keep other peoples dogs. Crying and saying the dog is hers.

As a result we are considering a getting a dog. My other child likes them and occasionally asks for one or a cat, or a dog, or a cat etc. My partner is ok with the idea and despite growing up with cats is actually really starting to like the idea Of a dog. I grew up with a dog but was young and cant remember much about it.

I would be grateful if you could advise on the cons of having a dog and how to care for one. (How many walks, wet/dry/both foods, how frequent/what are regular vet needs.)

We are looking at getting a small older dog (preferably house trained), that doesnt shed much or preferably at all, quietish that is good with children but wont bark all the time. Also I am a SAHM so will be in to give the dog walks/attention As well as having a garden.
Thank you for reading all this and huge thanks to anyone that advises.

We are new dog owners (well, as of October last year). Having him has been a brilliant decision for us and we don't regret it.

But - you've asked for cons. The con is it is a 100% commitment, every single day. My youngest is just 7 and he doesn't always want to walk the dog. In the summer holidays, he will have to, every day, no exceptions unless he's out somewhere. I don't actually mind that, in a way, because part of the reason for getting a dog was to encourage both our children to be more active, and that is working. But it is hard work, the dog takes up a huge amount of time in terms of training as well as the walks. We have a puppy, so that would make it worse than if you did get an older dog. The other con for me is that you can't just go off and do what you like because you have a dog to think of, so things like big trips out in the summer will be hard. (eg last year, went to legoland, this year, wouldn't be able to just go and leave DDog for that long, so would need to put something in place for him).

The amount of walking of course depends on the breed - we have an active dog who needs a lot of walking and stimulation. But all dogs need walking and I'd be sure you know how you'll manage the walks between you and your husband etc.

Sorry this is a bit of a stream of consciousness. I guess what I'd say is, get a dog because you want to, not because you think your DC would like it, because it will have a huge impact on your life. In our case, the pros definitely outweigh the cons, DDog is the fifth member of our family and he has enriched our lives - but there is a compromise and you need to be ready for that.

I adore my dog but she has been incredibly hard work. That said, not all dogs are like this.

Be prepared for it to be really hard at first if you get a puppy. Really research breeds, ask people on here for specific breed advice, chat to dog owners, research, research, research the breeder. Find one that fits you and gives lots of info and after purchase support.

Puppy training is a must and and you have to stick with it.

Also, much better to get a pup in the late spring or summer as garden toilet training is much easier then.

Once you've decided on a breed and found a breeder, ask again on here for more advice on what to expect in the beginning and what to buy (crate etc). It's a bit like having a baby in the beginning!

Oh and I got a dog for the kids and although they love her, I do pretty much everything for her. Kids do make big promises at first but can lose interest in the practical duties

I'm a professional dogwalker and have been asked this sort of thing more than once.

Even getting an adult dog is rather like having another baby !

It will end up being about 90% your responsibility, especially the poo picking...

You will need to budget for monthly payments for insurance, annual vaccinations, kennel or dog sitter costs for any foreign holidays/trips away that are dog-free (we get a lot of bookings for family weddings, where all the extended family that normally dogsit for each other are going to the same one), food, equipment like beds, crates, leads, collar and tag.

On the other hand, as a person who does homecheck for a rescue it sounds like you would be a good candidate.

I've got 2. The only regret I have is how big my 1st dog has got and wish we had gone for a smaller dog. I've always had dogs and took ages to convince DH to get one but even he says now he wouldn't be without them. i would def recommend you to get insurance as you never know. What kind of dog was you thinking of? are you looking at getting from rescue?

Thank you for your replies. In regard to dog care I intend to do the walks myself although I would like it if the kids joined us. I would love to have a (small) dog that will keep me company during the day. But I have asked for cons because I dont want to get a dog with rose tinted glasses. I know it will be a lot of work and I want to make sure it is considered carefully and that I know what is needed for the dogs care and happiness. I am considering an grown dog rather than a puppy so that the personality is already established and we can find one that is right for us and that we are right for the dog. It really needs to be one that doesnt get excited too easily if the kids are playing boisteroisly (sp?) So any recommendations are also welcome. A rescue dog is something I would like to look into as I would love to give them a chance at a loving home but would need to be sure that the dog is not scared of the kids. Also I would need to be able to meet the dog before hand on my own and with the kids to see if we are the right fit for each other but also to ease the dog in for my daughters sake as sudden change can be hard.

WE have had two rescues and they have been by far the easiest dogs to own. After a manic collie cross, deranged dachshund and a PBGV who lived via is nose (over a 2 year period) we have now had two older Staffies, both very calm and friendly, good company and being older not needing very long walks. The first came from Many Tears and the second Rescue Remedies lots and lots of lovely older dogs on the Oldies Club site too. WE have seen that many of the rescue dogs have had older owners go into are home or be homeless through divorce or house moves. If you search carefully you may easily find one already trained to a pretty high standard.

I have had a few dogs in my life and currently have a 4 year old show cocker.

Having a dog is hard work. It's hard with a puppy and it does get easier with time, but it never becomes super easy.

Rescue dogs can have issues that need work too, so they are not guaranteed to be much easier than a puppy. They may not come fully trained - and an un-trained dog can be hard to have around.

Getting a dog means having to adapt your life to suit the dog. Put harshly, if you're not willing to do that, don't get a dog.

You need to make time for the dog every day - not just to give it a few walks, but it needs to be around you. They are sociable animals.
There has to be a plan for what to do when you want to go on holiday, if you're going to the hospital or have long days out. Or if something else happens in your life.
I walk my dog every 4-6 hours, although she does sleep well at night. Some of the walks might just be 10-15 minutes long, but at least one will be 30-45 mins as a minimum and includes training and playing. My dog isn't massively demanding regarding exercise.

With fairly young children, it's also worth considering that an older dog might not enjoy being around them all the time. The older my first dog got, the more he just wanted to be left alone and not have to deal with children.
A younger dog can get enough of it too, so I'd always say to keep a constant eye on dog and children when they are interacting.

You need to factor in the cost of insurance, unexpected costs, worming and flea products, time for grooming (or get a groomer to do it which can be often and £20-50 per time), lead, toys, bed, food, poo bags and so on.

Sometimes the dog gets ill and has to get treatment - it can be easy or hard depending on the dog - the dog may not like getting ear or eye drops.
The dog may get tummy issues which will require washing the dog and cleaning up after accidents inside the house. You need to pick up after the dog generally anyway, but when the dog has tummy issues, it isn't fun.
They can be disgusting - rolling in all kinds of stuff, walking around in stinky mud, eating all kinds of horrible stuff.

A dog generally doesn't care about the weather, and will need a walk to get the doggy facebook updates and do his/her business, no matter if you're ill, cold or tired. If the dog needs to go out in the middle of the night, you can't ignore it. Walking is nice when the weather is nice, but it can feel really frustrating when the weather is awful. Add tummy trouble to that, and it can feel even worse.

It's hard work, but if you're willing to do it, then it's worth it.

I like having DPooch around but

She is dirty. Fur, mud, rolling in fox poo. She jumped on our bed this morning. Dirty paw prints on sheets (my fault, should have shut door, fitted child gate, trained her to stay off all furniture: lol at that last one)

She is disgusting. Eating any old shit she finds anywhere, anytime.

She is lively. Needs not only walks but company, stimulation and training (NB with some dogs it's not enough to puppy train and think 'job done' more 'job done for now' - top ups will be necessary (and oh, dog training is mostly about training you not the dawg so be prepared to be told you are doing it wrong. A lot. Or that could be just me

She is expensive. Food, crate, collars, leads, brush, injections, insurance, walking, holiday cover etc. and over £1500 in vets bills when she was v I'll once and then around £500 another time (insurance never seems to cover what actually goes wrong)

She's a dog - not all visitors (child and adult) like her, some are fearful, some think keeping a dog is disgusting. she does bark, she gets out, she chases cats and ignores mice.

Other dogs. On walks there are some dogs and some owners you do not want to meet. There is a whole other world out there. One lovely chap had a go at my DH for picking up our dogs poo. Really.

She is small. So she has a good chance of living until 15+ years.

She's good company and after 15+ years I'll be in pieces when she dies.

So after all that hassle, they break your heart.

But good luck with it! We've made friends and had some great walks. You always feel better for getting out. And she is a laugh. It's not all bad.

Well, no, you wouldn't want to get a dog with rose-tinted specs.

lancelottie

Try not to be too sizeist. Choose a breed or a mutt that suits you and your household. Jack Russells are bred to kill rats. Dachshunds take on badgers. My mum's tiny border terrier wrote off my dad's car. Before you get any dog, it is really worth investigating training classes, not just to see who's there, but to check if it may suit you and to see what issues and problems people are dealing with.

lancelottie

Thank you everyone for answering. It is so easy for me to think how nice it would be but I do want to be prepared for the reality hence why I asked for cons. How frequently do they do things like throwing up because I could handle house training but not sick/diarhoea everyday. If bathed 1-2 times a week would the house have a strong dog smell? How much realistically are routine vet needs (shots, worming and anything else needed -such as...?) going to cost? How long can a dog be left alone (an hour, two...)? What when you got a dog made you think "oh I didn't know they needed that"? Thank you again I appreciate you taking the time to answer as I dont want to rush into this as it would not be fair on the dog.

Also thank you for getting through the long posts because i feel guilty taking up your time for such a basic and neverending questioning

I think you have to be honest about whether you can take on the day in day out extras that owning a dog brings. Also it would be worth ready the threads on dog stress signals and thinking about whether your children could learn to reliably respect the dog's need for space, particularly if you are hoping to have a rescue dog.

having said that although I agree with pps saying it is a huge responsibility, if you are a responsible and caring person who will treat the dog as a member of your family (obviously as a dog but as a family member with needs too) you should be ok.

We've had our adult pair of dogs (whippets) for a few months and it has been fine. Their bed is in the lounge with us so they get lots of company and cuddles. They are fed in the kitchen so it's easy to remember to feed dogs when you are getting breakfast or tea anyway. (I am a lazy kibble feeder though!)

I love the fact that I have to walk them. I pull on my boots feeling tired and they get so excited and once we are out it is lovely. My kids are older though so if they don't want to come I can just go out with dogs.

There was a thread about a family that fostered a greyhound called Monty and then would have loved to keep him and are now looking for their forever dog. Might that be an option for you?

Also do you have friends or family you could dogs sit for? Or walk regularly? or have overnight? It won't tell you much about how the DC will look after a dog as there will be the novelty factor but it will help you get a feel for the mud/fur/smell thing and how you deal with that?

We did this and it helped us get ready as first time dog owners. Does your local rescue need help with dog walking?

Unfortunately there is no rescue nearby and fostering would be difficult because my daughter would get very upset giving the dog back. I would very much see the dog as a member of the family and am happy to look after them day in, day out but would hope the vomit/diarhoea is on the same frequency as a human rather then daily.
I have done a bit of looking and although I would like to give a rescuea home it might be best if we get one with no underlying issues. I would definately want a laid back, family/child friendly dog though, preferably one happy to sit together and snuggle at night.

I suppose it depends on the dog but so far the Chillywhippets have not vomitted at all. They have had a couple of episodes of runny poos caused by people feeding them bits of human food but even then not in the house. But it's common for sight hounds to have sensitive tummies I'm sure some breeds can eat most things. My friend's sheepdogs eat leftovers.

boy chillywhippet seems unaffected by eating dead birds and other dogs' poo. He's lovely really.

Also no family with a dog I can borrow. Really want a dog and the more i try and look at the extra work/responsibility/cost the more I think yeah we can do it/cope. What should I think about/know before deciding. I dont want to make a rash decision.

Vomiting or diarrhoea should only be about as often as children really...unless they're prone to eating disgusting things or have a health problem.

You don't wash dogs twice a week, it would irritate their skin, if they need regular professional grooming they'd be washed then (ones with non shedding coats) otherwise as little as possible really, about every few months.

Vaccinations are about £50 a year at my vet, wormer and flea treatment is just under a tenner ever 3 months and every month respectively.

Ideally you shouldn't leave a dog without at least a toilet break for longer than 4 hours.

Walking, most breeds want 2 walks of about 45 minutes to an hour and 20 to 30 minutes, more if possible and some breeds need a lot more, on top of that you'll need some time put aside for playing and training, but, that can be 5 minutes at a time through the day.

Small breeds tend to be barky btw, so you might struggle a bit with finding small and quiet.

I really think you need to spend a bit more time around dogs before getting one of your own.

From what I can gather you want a small, quiet, calm, non-shedding, non-smelly, clean, trained, affectionate but not needy dog. You will struggle to find such a canine saint

Do you have any friends with dogs you could hang out with? Or go to dog shows over the summer and there's Discover Dogs in London in November. Depending on the breed you choose you could be living with the consequences of your decision for the next 15 years so it's worth taking your time making a good choice now

I don't think it's really possible to have such a strong idea of character before the dog moves in with you, because whatever they were like before, they will be affected by their new home. A dog's personality isn't a fixed thing, and I think you need to be prepared to accept that. That's why I personally think it's important to get a dog because YOU want a dog. What if the dog you get ends up actually not being very interested in cuddles with the kids? Also, I don't think you can ever guarantee non shredding, it would be nice, but how much of a deal breaker is it? There will still be hairs all over the place.

Our small dog is v barky but we have a special collar which puffs air at her (painless, odourless) which distracts her momentarily - that's enough to stop the barking.

It cost around £50/60 and air refills are £10 plus batteries. We prob get through a refill per month.

She doesn't wear it all the time (she can 'express herself' on walks and we remove it for eating/sleeping) but it does stop her barking every time someone walks past the house (etc). And might make the neighbours hate us a little less.

Just an example of unexpected cost.

Barking does have an upside of course, our little woofer is great for security. No person, fox, cat or pigeon can sneak into our garden.

A coat might be another - but they're fun, not necessary and not expensive so don't really need to be factored in (but as you fall for the dog and want it to have nice thing, Emma Bridgwater bowls, hand stitched collars, 'games' at christmas the costs can rise . . . )

Oh, and has anyone mentioned cost of getting them 'done'? That's a chunk of money and of course they're woozy after the op and need to be carried out for a wee (no idea what Great Dane owners do?!) and possibly hand feb bits of tescos finest chicken cos you're worried about them/feel bad for putting your puppy through this. Ignore this bit, of course, if you stick with rescue dog plan!

You are really welcome to borrow our dog anytime for as long as you want!

I would research breeds of dog if I were you. I have a Boston Terrier who I love more than anything but he is such a handful. All breeds have different traits, Bostons are well known for being hyper little balls of energy but they're loyal, protective, quiet, easy to groom, don't have many illnesses associated with the breed, hardy, I could go on.

Dogs need stimulation. They don't just sit and do nothing. They're up to mischief all the time (in my experience). You need to be aware of what they're doing constantly. They take up so much time.

Vaccinations need to be done yearly, worming every 3 months or every month if you feed raw. It all costs. Vaccinations and worming isn't too costly though. It's when your dog gets sick. I have pet insurance and the cost is ridiculous. I got a quote from Marks and Spencer for £1000!!

From what I've read you need to do a lot of research on breeds and be prepared for the amount of time that this new dog is going to take up