Please tell me the wonderful things about having a dog

[opalescent]

I am a first time dog owner, collecting my beautiful working cocker female pup on Sunday.

I have thought and thought about this for a very long time. Read books, joined forums, chatted to everyone I know with dogs endlessly!

I feel like our family and situation is really well suited to a dog. We have bought everything we need, and vet appointments are booked. I'm in the process of arranging puppy training sessions.

Despite all this; I'm having a last minute wobble. It's such a life changing decision.

Can you remind me of all the wonderful parts of having a dog, so that I know in my core this is the right decision?!

Thank you 😊

Love
Cuddles
Enthusiasm
Dogs can be very funny
Looks of adoration
Comforting you when you are upset
Enthusiastic greetings

Lovely to know it's really not that big a change

Oh but it is.

Especially with a puppy. It's like having a baby in the house in regard to the responsibility, but one that doesn't wear a nappy.

And once the puppy starts to find her feet, or paws rather, it's like having a hyperactive chewy toddler. But she will make you laugh every day.

You'll bond with her, train her and watch her grow and she'll frustrate you and then make you proud when she does something clever like recall perfectly, or any one of the many skills she's developed.

And when she's older, you'll have a wonderful, well trained companion for all those lovely walks that you're looking forward to.

Seeing my teenage DS's interact with DDog. They will come and talk to her, and fuss her. I particularly love how they dash to the door when I bring her home from dog day care and they are keen to know how her day was

As everyone else has said... no one will love you like your dog does.

I'm a first time owner and I worried so much before we got her.
I'll never forget that (long) drive home.. I looked at the little fuzzball in her soft crate next to me and to my amazement, felt the same rush of love that I felt for my newborn babies

And it's been like that ever since! Mine's not the easiest dog; she became nervous after a couple of minor frights from other dogs and I have to manage some reactivity, but even that has just made us bond even more..I'm her protector. We walk miles together..I'm fitter than I have ever been. She lights up with happiness when any of the family get home.

She's a total tie..no doubt about it.. I work part time to accomodate her needs and pay ££ to a dog walker . I have no idea how I will ever get to Australia to see my DS1 because leaving her with anyone is unthinkable....

But watching her gallop back to me after she's run across fields, utterly free and happy to be with me.. you just can't beat it!

I love my dog. I mean, like, actually love him. He is always so happy to see me, looks at me with such adoration and comes for cuddles and I get real joy watching him leap around the fields looking so happy, healthy and pure. It's wonderful. it's hard work, but we loved it so much we got another one.... who is not quite as awesome but very sweet and we're working on the whole love thing. They are a big commitment. They are creatures who need love and care and attention, and can disrupt your life, but it is incredibly rewarding.

Thank you all 😊. @StillMedusa how long have you had your dog now? Can I ask what breed she is?

They just take a piece of your heart forever

I’m 5 weeks ahead of you - we have a Labrador puppy. I was the most reluctant in our family to get a dog but am loving having her. She’s been remarkably easy - yes some toilet accidents and yes some bitey phases but she’s a great joint family project. I’d recommend getting some advice from a trainer - we’ve paid for a couple of private sessions which have really helped with puppy settling in and getting everything started off in a way that works for us and pup.

I have 2 working cockers. So many reasons I love them!

• the exercise and reason to go out even in horrific weather
• pure excitement to see you even if left them just for a few minutes, nobody loves you like that!
• the comedy value when they do something silly, yip in their sleep or have random zoomies
• the cuddles and unconditional love, nothing cheers you up more when a dog comes and nuzzles you for love when you need it most! And spaniel ears are just lush

Makes up for the rolling in fox poo, eating dead things and not being able to go anywhere in the house without shadows

My girl turned 2 in May.. she's a Eurasier (an unusual breed so not many people know of them) ..not the easiest dog for a first time owner either in hindsight as they are 'family only' dogs, nervous of strangers (she'll even turn down treats from people she doesn't know!) but utterly soppy with their own family.
She started like this... and is now this.. and I would not be without her!
And the puppy months were much easier than I feared.. it's a good time of year to toilet train :) Mine was water tight by 12 weeks of age and never ever pooed in the house!

The constant company and you will always think they look adorable and take pics of them doing the same things they've always done because you cannot cope with the cuteness.
Mine is 5 and I still look at him like its the first day I got him.

@MintyGreenDream

The constant company and you will always think they look adorable and take pics of them doing the same things they've always done because you cannot cope with the cuteness. Mine is 5 and I still look at him like its the first day I got him.

Totally agree with this!

I have about 25000000000 photos of my dog!

Lots of positives to having a dog but the best one is just how much they adore you. Every time I see him when we've been apart he is so so pleased to see me. Doesn't matter if he's been at day care all day or if I've just nipped to the shop. He is just overjoyed I'm back.
Nothing can cheer me up as much or as quickly as being greeted by boy.

The joyful welcome when you come back from anywhere (in the case of my younger dog, that includes upstairs)
Watching them being daft
The lovely bond you get - focus, eye contact - when training
The smell between their ears
The exercise they force you to take
Their grace and athleticism

Not to overlook the times when they won't recall (mine are pretty good but have their moments), or get underfoot and trip you up, or get ill and you worry yourself to a frazzle, but on balance I wouldn't be without them.

Also best companion for kids! My daughter dotes on ours and will do countless training tricks with him and it gets her off her iPad and into the fresh air!

The ear flapping when he wakes up, trying to itch his tummy but his long legs can’t get it, the whole body happy to see you wiggle and the sneaky snuffly ear licks when you try to tie your laces. Dogs are heaven :)

There is nothing like watching them come running towards you full force, face and ears flapping about. Knowing they're just so happy you called them that they're willing to run as fast as they can to be near as quick as possible.

Or when they slowly, lovingly reverse onto your lap so you can have some snuggles.

Or watching them follow your kids around, no idea what's going on, but so happy to be a part of it.

The loyalty.

That they try so, so hard to do as you ask. Watching my girl scan my face when she does something new to see how I react is beautiful. Or when she hesitates and catches herself when she does something she knows I don't like. Knowing she wants to make me happy, makes me want to make her happy.

Congratulations on the imminent dog! I hope you will be very happy together!

At the extreme end of the scale - my third dog, Jasper, literally saved my life (long story, but true. But for his actions, I wouldn't be here).

But generally, all the good things that other posters have said. A dog will love you unconditionally, be absolutely thrilled to see you and have joy in your company even when you are fed up, tired or cranky; they will never try to be anything other than the dog that they are, and will offer genuine love and loyalty.

And, to a lesser extent... No dog has ever "forgotten to put the bins out for the millionth time", "accidentally-on-purpose broken the vase your mother gave you", "stayed out late for 'a' pint with the other dogs from work", "let their attention wander from you to leer at other dog-owners' breasts/bums in the park", "snored too loudly all night when drunk" or "forgotten your wedding anniversary". Unlike certain people!

Wishing you many happy years with your new friend. x

I got mine today. Amazing so far and we already couldn't be without him and its only been a few hours!

Working cockers are so beautiful. Just watching them run around can make the day better.

My two spaniels flushed 3 deer out of a hedge this morning - they were just as shocked as I was, and we stood watching while the deer leapt through the wheat field.

Made my day.

Oh my lord. My girl is like my third child - I love her dearly. We are all besotted with her and wouldn’t have it any other way.

I only have to go to the garage and she’s excited to see me when I’m back. She jumps up in to my arms for me to carry her on my hip. She smells like biscuits. She sleeps with her head on my shoulder.

Honestly, it’s the best thing we ever did.

I feel so lucky to have my boy ( mini schnauzer) I say it all the time! I'm often up in the night with pain and I go in the lounge, and within a couple of mintires he is up, pushes h the door open he puts his head on my lap then snuggles up to me, once I'm feeling better he trots back off to his bed! he does this every time, it's the same feeling as when your little and your parents look after you when your poorly. The whole evolution of dogs from wolves and how we offer them shelter and food for protection is something I ponder a lot and restores my faith in the future of humanity.

The love. We don't have DC yet, and DPup has stolen my heart. He's been in the vet hospital since Wednesday, we don't have a diagnosis yet, & it's solidified how much he means to us both.

It doesn't mean I don't have "what have we done" moments when he steals things / runs off / chases pigeons etc though. The teenage stage is a whole new challenge!

This face. ‘Come on then Mum, let’s go!’ God help me, I miss this face.

It takes time though, we have Spudpup now and he’s lovely, don’t get me wrong. But we aren’t quite at the ‘would walk through fire for one another’ level yet. Give it time though.

Ooh, forgot about this one: when we're out on a walk and we come across something that she's unsure of, she'll look up at me with a 'is this okay mum?' look. I'll tell her 'you're okay' and she'll walk past knowing I've got the situation in hand.

It doesn't happen so much now as it did when she was younger, but the other day there was a very large plastic drinks cup, the sort you get from fast food places, lying on its side on the pathway in front of us. It was being rolled about by the wind and she was very unsure about it.

She looked at me a few times and I told her that she's okay while we moved slowly forward towards it. In the end she walked past it with her head held high. knowing it was nothing to fear, clearly feeling very brave, well that's what I told her she was.

It's the same with fireworks or thunder. If I'm in another room she will come and find me when the noise starts knowing that I will sit with her and make her feel safer.

Gaining a dog's complete trust is something to really treasure.