Desperate for a dog - advice please

[Dollygirl2008]

I am literally desperate for a dog. I grew up with dogs and have wanted one since I left home but have never been able to due to work commitments. I've now got a new job very local and would only be going into the office once or twice a week.

I'm just being honest here as I need someone to tell whether they think it's possible. My mum made it look so easy. I know it's not. I know they're a tie - a big one. It's just my DD and I. How could I make this work? I would only want a small dog - what breeds would you recommend? I'm hoping to either take the dog with me to work or to have a dog Walker once a week.

I know everyone has to begin somewhere, but where do I begin?!

The thing is, you need to have a pretty brutal look at the costs and commitments of adding to your family by getting a dog. Because if you start looking at actual dogs first, your heart will melt and you might not make the best decisions.

It does sounds like you're in a good enough place to get a dog, and your DD is old enough to do a share (and she can help guilt her father into keeping his promises, but if he's usually reliable then you should be OK)

Is the number of days in your new workplace fixed and long term? Because if not, then make sure you can afford enough daycare (dogs at work is way less common than it used to be)

Think carefully about not just size, but also how energetic (breed traits a useful guide, but never guaranteed for the individual dog), how much grooming, how much drool?

If you really want a puppy, you will need to have a lot of time - the foundations you lay will make an enormous difference to the dog you have. So doggy daycare rather than a visiting walker might be needed until the pup is older.

Also, if considering a puppy, have a look at the vulnerable and at-watch native breeds

www.thekennelclub.org.uk/getting-a-dog/are-you-ready/vulnerable-native-breeds/

These tend to come from breed enthusiasts, not larger commercial breeders, so you may need to wait. For small friendly family dogs on those lists, try the Norfolk or the Norwich terrier.

I would add make sure vets local to you are actually taking on new clients. The industry is at crisis point with lack of staff, practices closing all over the place and all my local ones have had to close their books to new clients.

As long as you have someone to walk it while you are in the office then go for it.

(I've fed my dogs Wagg cheap dry food and Butchers tripe tins for 11 years and they are ridiculously healthy)

@DoggyFan

I'm not being helpful, just saying:

GSPs?

@Passthecontrol

I would add make sure vets local to you are actually taking on new clients. The industry is at crisis point with lack of staff, practices closing all over the place and all my local ones have had to close their books to new clients.

That's all I wanted to add as well. Very, very important. My local vet who is so brilliant that I'd keep him if we moved 200 miles away (there are a few others within a 15min drive radius but I don't know their situation) is not taking on any new clients for the foreseeable future and closed the books for quite some time. Because there has been a huge increase in dog (puppies) ownership during the pandemic, a lot more than ten fold. Not sure what happens to existing clients who decide to get a second dog, maybe they have some sort of 'sibling' rule like they do with schools. Start with that. Then decide on a breed or a rescue. Then make it work and enjoy!

Havanese is a very easy breed in that it suits home and office really well - they are no bother at all and all they want is to be in your company without actually getting in the way. They are well mannered and clean and don't require masses of exercise like a lab for ex.
I think king Charles Spaniels might also suit your profile but I'd suggest a girl - that's what I'll have when I'll be old, I'm sticking to large active dogs for a few decades yet.

Thank you all. I've weighed up the pros and cons and done my sums, had a serious talk with my daughter and ex who has said he's happy to help as well. I have a sister and niece nearby who are excited at the thought of helping and not having the main responsibility and tie and also I live in a tight knit community where many have of my friends have dogs and work from home etc, and have offered to help. There is even a little "doggy" group where everyone meets on a Wednesday night to socialise (and the dogs!) which is in the fields behind my house and many of my friends go.

So now all I need to do is decide on a rescue or a puppy. If the latter, I then need to research breeds (thanks for the suggestions already). I would love a rescue, but adopting a dog is nearly as complex as a child it seems and I've already been turned down for several as the demand outweighs the supply around here, including companies abroad!

That's brilliant OP!
Go for it and don't over-think it too much.
Dog insurance, depending on the breed, is quite substantial.
I pay nearly £90/month now for a relatively young dog who is in great shape with a brilliant health family history but used to be accident prone when young. The breed is one of those that tends to get issues in older age and a vet bill when he was very young was nearly £4000! I know I'd find the money if needed but I worry so rather keep him insured.
I cancelled the insurance for my previous dog around 8 years of age and he lived to 16. Last 4 years of his life it cost me around £250/month in high quality food, medication and vet visits although he was actually in great shape and didn't need strong medication but I was constantly on alert to make sure we could do everything we could so that he was capable of being active if he wanted and could and had a very good quality of life. Swings and roundabouts.

Insurance for both of my dogs is nearly £60 per month.
Health plan which covers all regular treatments, annual MOT and check up is £40
Dry biscuits around £30 which I mix with whatever I put in slow cooker, beef, lamb, turkey, fish and veg.

Youngest dog has hydro sessions once a week for rehab and weight management which is £30 and we pay for out of pocket because his leg deformity was a pre-existing condition when we got him

So flat rate for both is £250 per month with only the hydro being a “non-essential” expense. You don't need insurance or a health plan but if you don't have them in place and get a sick, injured or have any other unforeseen emergencies you're screwed and looking at thousands of pounds that need paying upfront.

It's good you have family and friends nearby willing to help but again, just err on the side of caution and plan for every eventuality including their circumstances changing and not being able to chip in and help out as often.

Puppies are a whole load of arsework anyway but there are already too many unwanted adult dogs in rescue that desperately need new permanent homes after they outgrew the puppy phase.

Good luck in finding your new best friend and rescue is where they tend to be!

Let us know how you get on ! I said no to dog for years but am besotted with mine. The puppy stage is hard work but it doesn't last forever and you sound like you have a good support network.