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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

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Original poster

Aibu to be dog free?

19 replies

kylie122 · 23/02/2021 11:43

My younger sister brought home 2 puppies one day and left them for me to look after when I was 20 I am an animal over but am also loved going on nights out staying over at friends love holidays travel and have worked abroad I don't like responsibility. 10 years on I love the dogs sooo much but sometimes I look up there life expectancy and look forward to a dog free life am I a bad person ? I don't get any help with the dogs and they aren't the best behaved dogs does anyone else feel the way I do ? I have given them the best life ever

OP posts:

LimitIsUp · 23/02/2021 11:49

I sometimes wonder if life wouldn't be a bit easier without the dogs (particularly this morning after I was trying to clear poo from the garden after all three had suffered a bout of diarrhoea), but then I remember how they make me laugh daily, how sweet it is when they snuggle up and how on balance they enrich my life.

We use a trusted dog sitter so that we can go away (in non covid times), and I also pay a dog walker to do some of the walks since they are high energy dogs who need two good long walks daily. I imagine in your scenario where you don't get any help, it can get a bit much at times

ArcherDog · 23/02/2021 11:50

Same. I will be devastated when mine go but I’m also looking forward to the freedom.

Original poster

kylie122 · 23/02/2021 12:03

Thank god am not the only one no I don't get any help they don't get on with other dogs so I wouldn't trust them with a dog Walker or dog sitter I do love them so so much they are my life but I do wonder all the other things I would be doing on my days off as I feel so bad being out all on on my day off as they are lonely when I am at work too

OP posts:

ooohbriefcase · 23/02/2021 12:08

Your sister randomly turned up with 2 dogs one day and left them with you?

Original poster

kylie122 · 23/02/2021 12:13

@ooohbriefcase yes we were still staying with parents and none of them bothered with them n don't walk them so I had to do it all

OP posts:

ooohbriefcase · 23/02/2021 12:17

Poor bloody dogs, lucky they had you to take care of them. Your sister sounds like an idiot. Who does that no YANBU.

DarthWeeder · 23/02/2021 12:19

I love my dog to bits but I will never ever get another pet once he and the cat have gone. Not even a goldfish. I hate being tied down and the lack of spontaneity.

BiteyShark · 23/02/2021 12:22

@DarthWeeder

I love my dog to bits but I will never ever get another pet once he and the cat have gone. Not even a goldfish. I hate being tied down and the lack of spontaneity.

This sums it up for me. We adore him and will be heartbroken when he's gone but I won't be getting another.

Deadringer · 23/02/2021 12:26

I will be upset when our old boy goes but honestly it will be a relief to be dog free.

Peridot1 · 23/02/2021 12:37

Same here. We had two labs and lost one almost a year ago. I couldn’t walk both of them as they were terrible for pulling. It’s better now with just one as I can walk her although she’s almost 11 now and can’t do long walks now as she has arthritis.

DH wants another dog when she goes but I’m really not keen. We’ve agreed to have three years before getting another one so we can travel etc. I will be making sure DH knows it is his dog though. I am not walking it. I’m already getting stressed about it. DH never hears her if she barks at night. Never hears her in the morning. Hardly ever walks her.

magicstar1 · 23/02/2021 12:46

No, you're not a bad person. We got a dog last year, but we talked about it beforehand. We knew we wouldn't have as much freedom, no more lie ins etc. but we were prepared. You were just dropped in into it.
I know my inlaws got a dog later in their lives, and she probably only has a year left. They won't get another one as they've had no freedom for the past 8 years.

PollyRoulson · 23/02/2021 13:00

I guess it depends what you call freedom

For me having a day with the dogs out on the moors is the best thing ever. Leave everyone else at home and just chill.

But of course you anbu we all want different things out of life.

However do not give up on dog walker and dog sitters lots of people use them who have dogs that do not get on with other dogs.

They will be the only dogs the sitters have. So do work on a bit of a break now if you need it.

caringcarer · 23/02/2021 13:10

You are not a bad person. You would only be bad person if you did not care for dog properly whilst it is alive and living with you. I take my 2 dogs on holiday with me to France as they have pet passport and like the seaside and an ice cream. My 2 adult sons who lives with us look after the cats. I miss them.likr crazy when we are on holiday. I have Zoom calls with them a couple of times each week (and sons). Wondering what new pet arrangements are going to be. I think I shall need to book with vet soon.

AvocadosBeforeMortgages · 23/02/2021 16:03

I acquired DDog in broadly similar circumstances. Occasionally I've thought along those lines, but I realised it was nonsense when DDog was elsewhere overnight for a couple of nights, I was home alone and missed him terribly! The house felt far too empty without him. I don't miss him in the same way if I'm on holiday or something, but an empty house felt awful!

Floralnomad · 23/02/2021 18:02

You can’t help how you feel , I’m the opposite I don’t even like it when the dog is at the groomers for a couple of hours . My main problem is that our dog is very much a single dog so inevitably we will end up being dog free for a while when he leaves us .

Serin · 23/02/2021 19:52

I can't imagine my life without a dog in it, bit I'm a boring old thing and prefer holiday cottages/camping holidays in this country to hot places abroad. We are also lucky to have a lovely neighbour and close family who are happy to help out with dog care if we fancy a day at a theme park or at the races.
I think dogs are like kids, you need a bit of help sometimes.

moosemama · 23/02/2021 20:18

You’re absolutely not a bad person. Dogs are a huge commitment, but in this situation they should have been your sister’s commitment not yours. You’re actually a lovely person for caring for them on your own for so long.

I am the opposite, our dog is the absolute centre of our family, we all adore him, our days revolve around his care and sometimes it feels like he is the glue that holds us all together. He is a constant companion to my teen ds2, who has complex health issues that have left him pretty much housebound for almost 4 years and is a massive comfort and support to ds1, who has ASD and MH issues. Dd is absolutely dog mad and lockdown has only been bearable for her because we have our old boy.

When my house is dogless it doesn’t feel like a home. I haven’t been without a dog myself since 1988 and before that lived with my PIL’s dogs.

We lost our other dog last June and only have one dog at the moment. First time we’ve had an only dog since 1992. He’s very old, currently not doing very well and I know we probably don’t have much time left with him. The thought of him not being here breaks my heart and the thought of not having a dog at all actually make me feel a bit distressed and panicky. I honestly don’t know what my family and home will be like without a dog. We are on a waiting list for a pup and the breeder knows is aware we want to wait, as it wouldn’t be fair to bring a pup into our home when our boy is so old. So there is likely to be a wait before we welcome another dog into our family and we’re all dreading being dogless, even if it ends up only being for a few months.

Blubell281 · 23/02/2021 20:53

We've got 2 cats and a dog. When they're all gone I will definitely be pushing for some pet free years but I know in the past the house feels so empty without any so I dont know how long we'd manage.

lms2017 · 23/02/2021 21:05

Not a dog but can relate .
My mum wouldn't let me have a dog as didn't want a pet in the house ...... How she wishes she had now 🤣
I have 2 horses ... I got them when I was 10 years old and 11 I am now 33. We are the poor horsey type 🤣.

They need visits 2 x a day am and pm all jobs need to be done everyday including field maintenance etc be there at certain times so not left in field alone etc it's so much hard work but it's been over 20 years we have had them.

My dad's 80 now and he still goes everyday twice without fail and does all the jobs mucking out etc if I'm unwell or working etc.
The stress and worry at the moment is insane as they are both old now and have issues , along with an elderly dad also with issues !!

One had "colic (different to human)" the other day I spent 8 hours on poo watch until he finally had to had the emergency vet.

I will be absolutely devastated as they are a huge part of mine (our) lives . I get emotional even thinking about losing one of them !
The expense and stress will be gone but I'm not sure I will know what to do with myself with so much freedom .
I wouldn't get another.

Sorry for the ramble !!! But enjoy them while you can as hard as it is you probably will miss the company when they are gone xX

And what lucky dogs to have you!

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