First time dog owners - just HOW much work?

[Wannabe2015]

We have decided to get a dog. It won't be until next year but I've started doing some reading and research. We don't have a fixed idea regarding breed or whether to get a rescue or a puppy from a breeder.

I have it in my mind that the decision to get a dog is similar to the decision to have a baby and that for the first year or so we won't really have much of a life whilst everyone adapts.

Alot of people I speak to suggest I am really over-thinking this, that getting a dog is not comparable with having a baby at all.

Am I right to think like this, yes? To expect it to be hard and exhausting to start with?

For those of you with dogs and children, which was harder work?

Thanks Doghouse ppl!

[Springermum1350]

I actually enjoyed the puppy phase. It was exciting to see him grow and see what he has learnt during the day. Everything was new and exciting. I found having a toddler more hard work. At least with a puppy you can have a break for a while as they can be left at home.

[Wordsmith]

Yes it's like having a permanent toddler who likes eating shoes and destroying the post/newspapers.
However you never get to the grumpy teenager phase; they always love you unconditionally and never go off on one.

[WhoaCadburys]

vocational that is the SWEETEST puppy! Did you post about that breed mix before and everyone was negative? Someone did, I'm glad you proved them wrong. He is gorgeous.

[Booboostwo]

The KC registration is not a guarantee, merely a starting point.

I'll tell you what I am doing to find my breeder. I start with the KC (equivalent as not in the UK) then I look at websites and discount anyone with loads of bitches and litters, anyone claiming to breed protection dogs (common in GSDs) and anyone who keeps the pups outside. The I call all the ones that are left. I ask them what health screening they do (knowing already what they should be doing), I ask them why they breed and why they chose this dog and bitch ('I breed anything you want' is a bad response), etc. I also see if they ask me questions; good breeders will want to check that you will offer a good home.

The rubbish rescue you went to stood out like a sore thumb didn't it? The rubbish breeders are similar.

[BernardsarenotalwaysSaints]

Completely agree with everything DrunkenUnicorn said. It works the other way too. Not every breeder that isn't in the KC assured breeder scheme is bad. Although you will probably have to do more homework about them 1st.

[DrunkenUnicorn]

Oh and being KC registered does not in itself mean anything in relation to being a good breeder, only that the two dogs being bred from are definitely what the breeder is claiming they are (although if a dodgey sort you could in theory fake the papers) and being able to trace the dogs lineage.

All 'good' breeders' dogs will be KC reg but not all KC reg dogs are from decent breeders.

Don't listen to any nonsense about parents bring KC reg but not puppies. There is never any good reason for this and no decent breeder would do this. Reasons for this could range from the KC refusing to register the litter because mum was too young or old to be having puppies, has already had too many litters, not long enough between litters, or has endorsements on her progress meaning she should not be bread from.

[DrunkenUnicorn]

Wannabe, in terms of looking for a decent breeder you would be wise to speak to your chosen breed's breed club. They will be able to explain to you the required health tests for their breed and recommend members of their club who may have litters coming up in the next few months. Their members will have to abide by the breed clubs code of ethics- usually things like health testing, not breeding from too young a bitch, only using temperamentally suitable dogs etc etc. They will also probably be able to tell you which 'breeders' in your area to avoid!!!

There is also the KCABS scheme, it's not foolproof but it gives you a starting place to look. KCABS members have had to health test their dogs, had their homes inspected, had discussions/answered questions from a KC inspector etc etc.

There are good and bad 'breeders' just like anywhere else, from scum of the earth puppy farmers, to the perhaps well meaning but ultimately misguided and uninformed back yard breeder letting their bitch 'have just one litter', to those who care desperately about their breed (not just their own individual digs) and our trying to ensure that each new generation is an improvement on the last in terms of health and temperament.

Deciding to go for a rescue dog, or a dog from a 'good' breeder is an entirely individual choice and not one that anyone else can make for you and you should feel entirely comfortable with whichever choice you make.

[WhoaCadburys]

Haven't RTFT but in winter, it is so much work. It's not just the walking and feeding, but the cleaning mud off them, cleaning the floors (sometimes several times a day at the week-end or it gets treaded by the children around the rest of the house that I don't want to mop), washing the beds so the house doesn't stink, cutting nails, cleaning muddy water bowls and filling, the garden dog mess pick up. It takes hours and hours a week - for us it is worth it but I wouldn't want to do it with young children or a full-time job.

[Wannabe2015]

Booboostwo

I have 3 girls. They are all fairly un-boisterous. My oldest is quite bookish and dare I say a bit lazy. My middle is more energetic, likes to show us her ballet exercises and how far she can jump, but not overly energetic. My youngest, well it's early days, but she is not boisterous so far. At least not physically. She is loud however. She certainly likes to get out and about, likes going for walks, getting out in the fresh air.

The times we have had dogs to stay all the children have been good. I can't say that any of them caused a problem. But then they have had a lot of teaching and training about how to behave around a dog (no pulling, no climbing, let sleeping dogs lie, let eating dogs eat, never pull something out of a dog's mouth etc etc). Had that not been the case, had one or all of our girls posed a risk then we would not be contemplating getting a dog of our own.

However, all the dogs we have looked after have all been raised around babies and young children. They are well socialised dogs with responsible owners. So the chances of a problem occurring were slight.

You mention a decent breeder, but how do you guarantee this? It seems even the KC is not a guarantee of ethics or responsible breeding.

[Wannabe2015]

JohnCusack- yep, I want a proper matching/vetting procedure.

I made the mistake a visiting an "animal rescue organisation" this morning. I was shown pictures of various dogs, told to choose 1 or 2 or 3 to 'meet'. I asked to be recommended a dog to meet. I was told no recommendations or guarantees could be given. No vetting, no home visits, no matching suitable dogs with owners. Nothing.

I was shocked. For a donation (or fee, really) anyone could come in, pay the fee and walk out with their chosen dog.

This is a registered charity that has covers a wide area.

I left. That was NOT what I expected. So I rang the Dog's Trust. They reassured me of their procedures and I am going to visit my local DT shelter next week.

Something is seriously wrong with the way this country handles this issue (ownership, re-homing etc). The more read, the more I find out, the more bothered I am getting about it.

[CauliflowerBalti]

Crufts is AMAZING! Do it. It's huge and great fun.

[Booboostwo]

Having a dog is a bit like having a baby/toddler but less intense and it depends on what kind of baby or dog you have, they are all different.

It involves a life style change, although not as severe as having children. Puppies can be hard work, the toilet training can last months (or not), they chew everything on sight (or are happy with treats), have a lot of hysterical energy (and then collapse in a heap), don't know any house rules so will try to sleep on your bed and grab your steak off your plate, and may have trouble sleeping at night. At the same time you need to do all the socialisation so you need to make the dog the priority for a while. This stage is very intense but does pass relatively quickly.

There are some more long term adjustments like finding time for training classes, daily walks, doggy care for when you are on holiday, etc.

As for your circumstances, what is your 3yo like? Would he listen to instructions to be gentle with the puppy? Would he be happy to join you on walks? Would he understand that he must leave the puppy alone when eating, sleeping, etc.

I'm with you on the decent breeder. With young children at home I cannot risk anything other than a well adjusted dog and the best chance of getting this is a breeder who breeds for temperament and does health screening.

[JohnCusacksWife]

Wannabe, check out Amicii Dog Rescue on Facebook. They rehome dogs from Romania, often via UK fosterers, and are where we got our gorgeous boy from. We found the matching process very thorough - they have no qualms about refusing a match if they're not certain it's right for dog & family.

[Wannabe2015]

Hmm...ok, some pretty strong negatives there. Well, it's still something we really want to do. I grew up around dogs, although I consider I would be a first time owner as no dog has even been my responsibility ultimately. But having experienced how special a relationship with a dog can be, I want to have that in my life.

Having done more thinking/talking/reading we probably will go down the rescue route and we've spoken to quite a few shelters and rescue places.

Thnx for the tip re. Crufts, I didn't know it was such an expansive event. I thought it was just showing. We're going to look into going (we live few hundred miles away...)

[CauliflowerBalti]

I have a rescue dog and one from a breeder. They're both as annoying/messed up/adorable as each other. You can teach old dogs new tricks, some pups just won't be told... Getting the right breed for you and your family is important - with 3 kids, I'd be going for something biddable and very easily trained.

New dogs are hard work, however old they are. You are doing right to research it. In some respects they are harder than having a newborn baby - you can't take a dog into shops and restaurants - in other ways they are easier - you can't lock a newborn baby in a crate for 2 hours when it's doing your head in.

Unless you have an option to exercise the dog without the 3-year old, I'd wait until they're a bit older. When my husband and I split up I had to rehome our dog as I couldn't exercise her as much as she needed with a 2-year old in tow - dark winter nights and mornings didn't work, he was too big for a pushchair but too little to walk a long way, he was happy with rain to a degree but not for an hour... THink carefully.

[BernardsarenotalwaysSaints]

I came on to suggest what Scuttle already has, why not go to Crufts & have a look at all sprts of different dpgs breeds under one roof. St Bernards make fab family pets that don't need much excercise & have a lovely temperament, if you don't mind hair and slobber

[iminshock]

You will love it at first. Then hate it. Then gradually hate it less , then spend its life pretending you don't hate it.
Your friends will hate it but pretend not to.
Unless it's a retriever

[iminshock]

Please. Just don't.

[ChairRider4]

And sheer pleasure he gives to my family is worth every tear I shed when he was a small puppy and the progress he made is amazing.But it comes at a cost of lots of hours input can only do as my children older

[ChairRider4]

I love my boy and he has been a pretty easy puppy and is very steady considering only 14 months old now (dog walker /qualified trainer view so not all my biased )

But I was unprepared for the amount of work needed and trying to juggle kids /housework /dog walks and then there is the walking in the rain and cold and the wanting to play normally at same times as I'm trying to cook dinner
Then the cost of places I can't take my dog so add daycare in (is cheaper option but I rather pay extra and know he is happy

Oh and lie in what are they

Saying that I not be without him now

[Scuttlebutter]

Please, OP, think very hard indeed before taking on a Cav. Just go and look at the other thread on here at the moment about Syringomyelia. The situation with the breed is desperate - I honestly couldn't have one on welfare grounds, as they are so prone to so many illnesses.

Crufts is coming up in March. Why not go there and visit the Discover Dogs area? There will be representatives from all of the breeds so you can find out what different dogs are really like, and many of the breed stalls will have details of rescues for their breeds as well. You will also be able to browse lots of activities you can do with your dog, find out about training, all sorts of information - it's really worth having a look.

[BagelfortheNewYear]

Just for the record, I fostered 2 dogs, one from Romania and the other from Serbia. They had been in rescue kennels in their home country, so they had been assessed, socialised, been around people etc. They came to me straight from the transport.

They were the sweetest dogs, one had a few accidents because of a dodgy tummy, the other was house trained from the first night. They were so lovely! It was really unbelievable but that's because the rescues had done the right thing and made sure they were suitable for families! I had said that I wasn't a super-experienced owner and wanted "easy" dogs as they were my first fosters and I got exactly that!

The best thing you can do is join some of the FB groups of any rescues you're interested in. You'll see how people talk on the groups, what backup is available, how do they react if people have a problem and so on. It really gives you an insight into the hard work they do. The rescues I know will child and cat test if you ask them to. They will help with any behaviour issues that may crop up, they will give you advice on general settling-in, esp with younger children involved. One rescue even fundraised so they could have an extra person just to walk the dogs every day (in rotation) and get them used to walking on a lead, interacting with people etc.

I'm not saying that UK rescues don't do this (I simply don't have much experience with them) but I think the above is a good indicator or a reputable and responsible rescue.

[Wannabe2015]

Yeah, Im going to give that Staffie rescue place a wide berth. She was way too keen to proceed. Didn't seem right somehow.

[TrionicLettuce]

Rescues, just like breeders, are definitely not all equal and (again, just like with breeders) it really pays to research, research, research.

Another rescue avenue that's worth looking into is the welfare branch of the relevant breed clubs for breeds you're interested in. The vast majority of breeds clubs have them and they're usually entirely foster based (rather than kennels) and run by people absolutely passionate about their breed.