Dog recommendations and things to consider when getting one

[Tash45]

Hi

We are considering getting a dog; our children are 10 and 14. 10 year old loves dogs and has been asking for one for a few years now. We think it would be a nice addition to the family but worried about the responsibility and what to do with the dog if we go away and when we on outings. What do other people do? We tend to do 3 holidays a year as we are both from overseas and have family abroad. Not that we can travel much at the moment but would like to when we are able to.

Also, what other things do we need to consider/think about it

We would like to get a small dog that doesn't shed much, does not bark much and is happy with one walk a day or two small walks, also who is affectionate and like children. Any recommendations?

How do we go about finding someone who is reliable?

Thank you

Do you have the time to devote to training, walking, grooming etc?
Dont get a dog for the kids. They won’t take responsibility for it for its whole life!
Days out? We don’t. Unless we can take the dog.
Holidays? Kennels or daycare but you can’t leave a puppy.
Decent breeders? Contact breed club. Never shop online. And be very careful about breeds. Popular breeds are even more likely than any other to be puppy farmed.
Rescue?

1. can you afford it - insurance, food, worming/flea prophylaxis and annual booster jabs, toys and chews etc. Plus in your case cost of kennelling during planned holidays
2. remember that it's undesirable to leave dogs alone for more than about 4 hours (older dogs might manage longer, but younger almost certainly won't) so think about cost of doggy day care or a visit from a walker
3. make sure you have time for puppy classes and plenty of time for early training (and remember you'll be reinforcing training life-long)
4. when you say 'small' walks what do you mean?

Just to add to the breed bit - how much they bark will depend on training, individual personalities as much as breed traits. Many small breeds do like the sound of their own voice.

Some small breeds have endless energy. A great big ex-racing Greyhound may be a better fit. They enjoy some zoomies but then happy with a nap. Our old ex-racing office dog Greyhound you never knew was in, never made a peep, slept most of the day, even when the office terrier did a shout at him.

Kennels for days out and holidays.

Main consideration is that you can't really leave a dog all day. max four hours if you have a settled non destructive dog, maybe more as they get older. A pup can not really be left long at all and needs building up. I say this a some one posted on my training group asking how they could leave their brand new pup when they went to work next week answer - you can't.

Our dog goes to our parents when we work. Husband walks it for 1-2 hours a day. I take it training class 1x week and have 1-2-1 with trainer.

It's helpful to have a place for dog to go if you need to leave it for a bit so a friend family or neighbour- especially in emergency.

Ours now sleeps in his crate which is good as he now likes it (still think it cruel tho) If we need to pop out we crate him for up to an hour. Get a couple of baby gates to separate places off.

Can't help on breeds as mine is huge and sheds and drools and honestly would not recommend!

Not sure if any of this is helpful dog is now 16 months old and finally settled. We rescued him at 8 months old from a breed rescue (had many previous dogs of same bread) as his family couldn't manage him with young children -basically he's a bit nuts!

I reckon we spend about £75 a month on everything (food (£40), leads, collars, jackets, muzzles,head collars ( expensive and we had to try a few) toys bedding, treats, training, secure field hire, insurance, jabs, bathing/grooming items.

Also, don’t expect to get a dog and it to fit into your current lifestyle. Everything will have to change.

Holidays at peak times will become even more expensive as kennelling during that time could be just as expensive as the holiday. U.K. holidays with the dog will become a more popular option. That family abroad will have to come to you instead.

You may find that despite everything, the dog doesn’t want a short walk, it wants to run through the woods, climb all the local hills, join you for family picnics where you’re out all day, your TV will wonder where you’ve gone.

Then there’s the necessary toileting walks in the dark, in the rain, in the snow, in the cold, even when the dog doesn’t really want to go either but it’s either that or the carpet.

Speaking of carpet - consider your house. Some dogs really struggle with slippery flooring like tile or laminate, so if you have a lot of that you’re going to want more rugs, but ones that are easy clean as there will be accidents, from either end of the dog ;) a colleague was late for a video call last week as her Westie had puked all over the rug. Delightful.

I have owned dogs of all breeds and had lots of close friends with other pure breeds . It’s very hard to look for very specific traits in a dog as it’s so individual to the dog itself, I’ve seen bonkers supposed calm breeds and lazy arse high energy breeds.

We think it would be a nice addition to the family but worried about the responsibility and what to do with the dog if we go away and when we on outings. What do other people do? We tend to do 3 holidays a year as we are both from overseas and have family abroad. Not that we can travel much at the moment but would like to when we are able to

Most adult dogs an be left for 3-4 hours during the day, and many people hire a dog walker to come and let them out the toilet and give them some company and exercise. If you work full-time, you'll need to look into home daycare or something during the day - you can't leave a young dog all day long.

If you're going on holiday, you'll need to pay for home boarding or put your dog in kennels - neither option is particularly cheap, so it'll probably set you back around £250 per week.

Also, what other things do we need to consider/think about

Costs - insurance, food, flea/worm treatment, bowls, coats, beds, blankets, leads, harnesses, toys, treats, chews - as well as the above costs of a walker, daycare and kennels while you're away.

How long are you out of the house each day? What will you do if you want to go somewhere that's not dog-friendly, like a zoo or theme park? Many beaches don't allow dogs in summer either, which is another thing you need to consider - dogs can be really restrictive in that sense. You can't just stay late at work or go to after work drinks without thinking about the dog, either. Puppies/young dogs especially need lots of company and human interaction.

If you've never had a dog before, you'll probably also want to go to training classes so you can work on things like basic commands, recall, loose-lead training and good manners around other dogs and people. That's another cost and time consuming job to think about.

You'll also want to arrange to take a few weeks off work when the puppy arrives so that they can be settled in and so you can start on toilet training, crate training etc. They also wake during the night so you'll nee to figure out how you're going to deal with that.

We would like to get a small dog that doesn't shed much, does not bark much and is happy with one walk a day or two small walks, also who is affectionate and like children. Any recommendations?

Maybe a breed like a Shih-tzu or Lhasa Apso - both "lap dogs" but they both need regular grooming appointments else they'll matt. Another option is a King Charles Spaniel but it's nigh on impossible to find a good breeder these days.

How do we go about finding someone who is reliable?

Decide on what breed you want, and go via the Breed Club or Champdogs. It's not an easy process and I would expect it to take a while. We were on a waiting list for three months before our puppy was born, and then he came home aged 12 weeks. But this was pre-pandemic so demand is much, much higher now.

I spoke to lots of people who had dogs when we were thinking of getting a puppy and the one thing that sticks in my mind is my work colleague who said "remember how your first baby changed your life? It's like that". And she was right! Not quite on the same scale, obviously, but for us it felt closer to having a new baby than getting a new kitten.

We're planning a holiday this summer and the first consideration is, can we take the dog? He's expensive, time-consuming, exhausting, just like a baby. But also like a baby, he's rewarding and I couldn't imagine him not being here. Think of it like you're not getting a pet, you're getting a new family member and spend a lot of time thinking about if you're ready to compromise some aspects of your lifestyle for the dog

Thank you all. Sounds complicated and expensive. I wonder how other people cope though. Nearly everyone seems to have a dog these days. Perhaps they don't go out much.

I work from home and DH will be flexi working too for the forseable.

Holidays seems to be the main problem.

We will keep researching before we commit to getting a dog. At the moment we borrow one when convenient.

If you can only manage a dog when convenient then there is no way you should own one. They’re a massive commitment.

I agree @StillAliveish - our dog changed our lifestyle dramatically - it's not a bad thing but you really have to want and be ready to make those changes.

For friends with dogs - when it comes to holidays where the dog can’t join, many don’t use kennels rather they use nearby family members or trusted friends (aka Dog Aunties and Uncles!). Some dogs don’t like kennels, it is a strange environment for them, and may prefer the friend’s sofa - of course they have to be socialised with said friend, not just deposited on the doorstep and expect to just get on with it. There’s still training on your part there.

I think with your requirements, then I would look at rescue centres for an older dog. They are generally calmer, already housetrained etc and often easier to leave with people. Thats been my experience anyway. I certainly think you should avoid getting a young puppy as they are tonnes of work

If you're even a little on the fence - don't do it! It's like having a toddler that never grows up!

We got our boy four years ago and my SSs doted on him, they'd be running around with him playing and rolling about on the floor with him. He loved it! Now, they're 14 & 15 and won't even acknowledge the dog at all. It's so sad but something to consider. Your kids will soon be at the grumpy teenage phase and might lose interest, and it's heartbreaking!

Thank you all. Sounds complicated and expensive. I wonder how other people cope though. Nearly everyone seems to have a dog these days. Perhaps they don't go out much.

I would agree that being a good dog owner is complicated and expensive, yes. Dogs are a big commitment if you do it properly. But, I would also say that there are lots of mediocre dog owners out there who are happy to leave their dogs all day with no break or company while they go out.

Lots of people also get dogs and re-home them when they realise how much work it is. Daily dog walks (no matter what the weather), toilet training, training classes, grooming (if necessary), dealing with the mud in the winter months - the behavioural problems that often come with dogs being left to their own devices all day (separation anxiety, destruction, howling/barking, chewing, toileting indoors)...doing it properly is time-consuming and, if you work full-time, it's expensive too.

Don't underestimate how much of a commitment they are. There are often posts on here from people with young puppies who suddenly realise they can't go out all day with their kids, can't spend three hours at the hairdresser etc. as they can't leave their dog or organise last-minute care for them.

Thank you for all the comments; they are very useful. I am definitely on the fence as we love travelling and enjoy outings on the weekends. I would go away every school holiday if I could.

It is true reg teenagers too, my nearly 14 year old does not want a dog; when she was little she did ask for one; however my 10 year old adores pets and really connect with them; that's why we started borrowing a dog. I think it would be good for her; however I have to be realistic that they dog will be my responsibility and that she may change in 3 years time when she is a teenager and do not want to spend as much time with the dog if we get one.

Thank you for all the comments; they are very useful. I am definitely on the fence as we love travelling and enjoy outings on the weekends. I would go away every school holiday if I could.

I wouldn't say that was a lifestyle that's compatible with dog ownership, unless you travel in the UK and stay in dog-friendly accommodation or go camping, etc. We go away with our dog in the UK but even that can be limiting - lots of holiday accommodation won't allow you to leave the dog, so if you want to go for a meal or a day out, you have to take the dog or pay for them to go into a local kennels. We take ours everywhere but it is limiting.

I mean, you could of course pay to put the dog in kennels but a) it's expensive and b) I don't personally see the point in having a dog if it goes into kennels that often. The best part of dog ownership is being able to go off-track and explore with them!

I think it would be good for her; however I have to be realistic that they dog will be my responsibility and that she may change in 3 years time when she is a teenager and do not want to spend as much time with the dog if we get one.

It's also worth remembering that dogs live 10-14 years, so when your youngest goes off to university/leaves home, you'll still have a good few years of dog-ownership left to cope with on your own. Will you resent the dog when you're still tied to it years after the children have grown?

Re holidays ddog comes with us, pre COVID we went to France every year, this year we have uk holidays booked and he'll be coming with is.

Get the highest level of insurance you can that will cover life long conditions. Ddog is diabetic, his insurance has sky rocketed and I don't claim for his medication because it just bumps the premiums.