Am I finally in a position to be able to get a dog? Advice needed!

[EssGeeEmm]

Hello fellow dog lovers!

I've debated whether to post on here for a while but have decided I really need the advice of some seasoned dog owners to help me decide what to do...

Bottom line is - I have wanted a dog my entire life. Literally. It's all I have ever wanted and I am the biggest dog lover you can possibly imagine, and yet I am now in my 30's and still have never owned one and it genuinely breaks my heart! I realise this sounds a tad dramatic, but that's the honest truth.

I guess I'm hoping that if I give you my full situation, you can tell me whether my 'dog dreams' are just pie in the sky and not going to happen for me... or whether I am actually in a position where I could be able to finally get one!

I live with my husband and 3 cats - no children and none planned! My husband works full time (1min walk away from our house so feasibly would be able to pop home in his lunch hour to give the dog a walk etc), and I work part time Mon - Thurs, and am out the house in total for 5 hours each day (including commute). I do only work term time though so I get 14 weeks of holiday a year which would mean lots of time spent at home through the year.

As previously mentioned we have 3 cats aged 2, 2.5 and 6... the youngest one I'm confident would adapt fairly quickly to a dog and she's pretty fearless! The other 2 are definitely more 'nervy' and I genuinely have no idea if it's something they'd just come round to eventually or not?!

I've wrestled with myself for years about getting one and have always wanted to make sure that I only get one when the time is absolutely right! But is the time ever completely right? I don't know if there'll be a better time than this. Yet I do worry about the cats and the fact it would be left alone for a few hours each day... I have 2 retired parents who live 20mins away who I know would come and help out and take the dog out for walks and provide company etc but I can't expect them to do that every day...

I am also keen to know if I'd be able to get a rescue dog as I have heard that they won't allow a dog to go to a home where the garden isn't completely enclosed? We live in the country and whilst we have a huge garden, it backs on to woods and fields so it is impossible to get it secured completely...

If anyone is able to give some advice/opinions I'd be really grateful! Thanks in advance and sorry this is so long!!!

Wolfie she has grown so much. She is lush.

Have you thought about breeds yet Ess?

Oh I can only imagine (and slightly dread) how exhausting it must be! And having a young pup over Christmas is extra hard work... One of the people who lives in my little village has a wolfhound and I absolutely refuse to walk past them without stopping to say hello! To the dog, not the person.

Well I'm trying to keep a fairly open mind... I'd like a 'medium sized' dog ideally - and I do like the poodle type breeds purely because they don't moult as much and my husband has asthma! I definitely need to do more research on breeds I think... 🤔

Be careful with 'doodle' cross breeds, you may not get the non-moulting gene

They are popular. I'm sure whatever you decide on there will be someone on the board with experience.

Ah that's interesting costa, I didn't know that! Thanks for the warning!

I'm guessing you have missed discover dogs this year. Good chance to get up close to different breeds. If you want a pedigree then breed shows are a good idea. I'm actually allergic to one of my two cats. Go figure. I cuddled a lot of wolfhounds to check I wasn't allergic. That's a lot of allergen to have in your house!

Discover Dogs is a fabulous way to meet different breeds and chat to their owners/enthusiasts. There's a stand alone DD event in London every November (I think) but there's also a Discover Dogs section at Crufts which is in Birmingham each March.

If you're interested in poodle crosses don't write off poodles themselves. They're fantastic little dogs and you've a much better chance of finding a decent breeder should you want to buy a pup.

Shedding doesn't necessarily have much bearing on allergies/asthma. DH has asthma and reacts to some dogs but we've got four of our own (all of whom shed to varying degrees) who he's absolutely fine with. In DH's case he seems to do best with dogs that have very short and fine single coats.

I'm actually allergic to one of my 3 cats too! I'm fine with the other 2, and I've never had an issue with any dogs I've been around... it's weird!
Wish I'd been able to go to discover dogs! That would've been great. I'll keep an active look out for similar 'shows' - and I've always wanted to go to Crufts!!! Maybe this could be the year...

Hi Ess, just wanted to say that we got a cockapoo puppy in August and she is brilliant! We took four weeks off with her when we first got her to help with socialisation, so if you got a pup at the start of summer it would work well. I know you can't always be that prescriptive with breeders, but they do have an inkling when litters will be due. I work three days a week so she goes to doggy day care and loves it.
Our garden is hedged so we've also put up some mesh fencing to keep her in, as she can squeeze through the smallest of gaps!
We have three cats, aged four and two are five. The four year old is hard as nails and they muddle along fine, the other two are much more wary but coming round and will spend time in the same room now. They have the kitchen to themselves, as this is where the catflap is, and we have an elaborate system of stair gates to keep the peace!
Sounds like you will be fab owners, perhaps look into daycare or a walker, as we could and would not leave our poo for more than a couple of hours and that's now at seven months old.
Good luck! (Attach a photo to tempt you!)
By the way, we didn't rescue as have a four year old son, plus the cats, and couldn't be sure on temperament, plus we really wanted to do the puppy thing. Each to their own. Our cockapoo is very chilled out by the way, no trouble and training is going well. Doesn't shed but the coat is high maintenance combing-wise unless you get it all clipped off, which we are too superficial to entertain

Oh my goodness sparkly!!! 😍😍😍 What are you doing to me?!! She is totally gorgeous! I must admit you are convincing me more and more about cockapoos... There's just something about them that I love. And great to hear that you have a positive story to tell with the cats and the training etc - obviously each dog is different, but that's very reassuring! Daycare is definitely something I could look into... thanks for the suggestion!

Have you considered 'borrow my doggy'?

It might help you choose which breeds you enjoy & if they bother your DH.

Also whether the reality of dog ownership comes anywhere near the dream!

I love dogs, I used to have a dog and adored the bones of her, but they are a lot of work, especially if you like a clean house! I often think I'd love to get one, but then the reality of the tie & mess comes flooding back and I make do with making a big fat fuss of everyone else's dog.

I just have to avoid photos like the one sparklywine posted or I lose my resolve! I'd take her home in an instant and worry about the mess later 😂

BTW I wouldn't recommend getting a pointer lol. Well they are lovely but mental. Might be jumping in at the deepend a bit for a first dog.

Firstly, if you can, please rescue rather than getting a puppy. There are so many amazing but unwanted dogs out there looking for homes.

Re the garden situtation, get part of it fenced - it would be mandatory for most rescues to consider you and just common sense.

Good luck with your search - sounds like it would be a very lucky dog!

Also, if you get a pup, good to get one in the summer, then you are not trying to house train in the winter when it's freezing outside - no fun for anyone!