Talk to me honestly about getting a dog

[Weedsorwishes]

So we are at the stage in our life we are thinking about getting a dog. Not ready yet I don't think but I also know it's a massive step and we want to make sure it is the right decision for our family. It's definitely for life!

We are a large busy family, 2 adults 4 children. I currently am a SAHM but am looking for part time work within a couple of years no huge rush.

We would like a dog (not a puppy).but how do you know when it's the right time. Children are all primary /preschool sort of age

The things holding us back at the moment are days out and holiday, they would all have to be dog friendly

We are a pretty active outdoor family. Live on the coast so plenty of beach for exercise, large house and garden etc

I think I am the one who wants a dog the most so it's not the children desperate for one although they would love one so there no concern if they won't walk it (hopefully they will!).but I am expecting to be doing most of it which is fine by me

We are thinking of maybe a collie sort of size or similar although I know collies need alot of mental stimulation.

We would also love a rescue dog but lots of rescues say no children.

All advice appreciated thanks!

Would also appreciate seeing anyone's daily routine with a dog especially a collie / greyhound / Labrador sort of size so I can see how a day looks like fitting in walks etc

I'm thinking something like a 20 min walk around the block first thing for a wee etc maybe around 6am, then a big walk midnorning or lunchtime probably around 2 hours. Then maybe the children can take it round the block after school for maybe 30 mins. Then a wee before bedtime around 11pm. Is this on the right track at all??

If you get a greyhound you can lose the 2 hour lunchtime walk 😁

We have a dog, single full time working mum to three kids. Kids wanted the dog but the dog is absolutely mine, if he could talk I'm sure he would tell you he worships the ground I walk on! He hates the car so we use a home boarder for trips away, he has got a fetish for socks and knickers so these are regularly destroyed and he doesn't half smell sometimes... We should probably walk him more often, but luckily we have a huge garden, cleaning up his mess is a bit irritating and he's always dragging bits of mud and grass into the house so I'm ALWAYS hoovering!! However he is one of the best things I've ever 'done'. I absolutely adore him like I never thought I would love an animal. He's made our home complete. I have no regrets ever and the positives outweigh the negatives ❤️

Two hour walk?! I've got a cockapoo though, after half an hour he's crying to be carried 😂

@YetiTeri

If you get a greyhound you can lose the 2 hour lunchtime walk 😁

How do you mean please?

@OfNick

Two hour walk?! I've got a cockapoo though, after half an hour he's crying to be carried 😂

See I have no idea lol just remember a friend had a collie and they were out for hours!

Greyhounds are fantastic pets. Loving, lazy and full of character.

BUT most rescue ones can't be let off the lead and that's a very different experience for kids in particular.

Your preschool/primary children won’t be walking the dog by themselves, or have I missed something?

Greyhounds are super lazy. They'll sleep 18 hours a day! They only need 30 mins twice a day. Mine comes on the school run then snoozes next to me the rest of the time at home.

@AndThenInTheEnd

Your preschool/primary children won’t be walking the dog by themselves, or have I missed something?

Sorry I meant on way home from school we could get the dog from home then go round the block etc

@YetiTeri

Greyhounds are fantastic pets. Loving, lazy and full of character.

BUT most rescue ones can't be let off the lead and that's a very different experience for kids in particular.

Yes I've heard thisz is it because they chase things? That's definitely something to consider I think we ideally want one that can be off lead to chase a ball etc

Obviously certain dog breeds are known for being energetic but in my experience a lot of dogs will become accustomed to your lifestyle (if you get them when young)
My chihuahuas will walk for hours, the jackchi would never stop walking, has unlimited energy.
I would say finances, insurance/flea and worm treatments/food etc is that within your budget?
Also time, not just for walks but for training, playing, cleaning up the mess in the garden.
Research dog breeds to find one that fits with your family. Will a collie be ok left at home if you work part time if they’re used to you being home etc

You will never go to the toilet alone

My collie would be fine with that now - but until she was 8/9 would’ve needed a good blast off the lead at least twice a day.

I think that YetiTeri means that although greyhounds are known for running very fast over short distances, they are not actually very active dogs, some nasty people might go as far as saying they are positively lazy 😂 But I hope that YetiTeri comes back to tell you more, as I have never actually had a greyhound.
I think you said that your children are pre and primary school age children? If so, I don't think that they should walk a dog without an adult present until they are probably at least 10 years old, I would prefer my child to be at least 11 or 12 years old before giving them the chance to walk a dog in public on there own - I have various reasons for this, all of which are probably pretty obvious ones.

It’s not size that determines how much exercise a dog wants/needs... and greyhounds are notoriously lazy, they’re usually fairly happy with short walks and a bit of a sprint round... however... very few dogs wouldn’t enjoy a long walk if it’s on offer.

I’ve a medium largish mixed breed, he’s nearly 1... but he’s only on one walk a day for various reasons, it varies between 45 minutes to 2 hours depending on where we walk and what else is going on with him. But, I have a garden for toileting and I’m in pretty much all the time so I spend a fair amount of time doing things with him in the house and garden.

With days and and holidays... it’s not that they have to be dog friendly, I mean, if they can be great, it’s that if they’re not you need the dog looked after so they need to be planned and you can’t just wake up and decide to go somewhere, but I don’t know many people with children who do that anyway.

You can’t send children out alone with a dog, partly because they then need to be responsible for anything your dog does, but mostly because they then have to deal with other peoples approaching dogs.

Yes, most rescue greyhounds are ex racers and it's very hard to overcome their previous training. Some people have done it, but you need to be very confident in a dog's recall to let them off lead. It is lovely knowing you're giving them a home after a pretty rubbish life though. My greyhound ADORES me 😍

I would say just keep an eye out on the rescue sites, there's likely to be lots of youngish dogs soon as people regret their lockdown puppies 😞. Don't have a timeframe and wait for the one that absolutely suits your family.

It's not the walking we find difficult, it's the lack of spontaneity. We can't just decided to go out for the day on a whim or go for a meal before coming home.

The dog has to be considered in every decision we make.

Your lifestyle sounds fine but I would be wary of getting a dog with several small children in the house - just in terms of the commitment required.

Most child-friendly days out are distinctly un-dog friendly. You can't take the dog to the zoo, the theme park, amusement parks, leisure centres, soft play etc, and even National Trust-type places have limits on where the dog can go (not inside, not indoors for cafes or toilets etc.).

You also need to factor in doing walks with small children in tow - they really won't want to be dragged out multiple times a day on a miserable, rainy day in winter, so you'll probably need to plan it so someone is home while the other sorts the dog out, tbh.

They're a big commitment, both in terms of expense and time - I would say they're more of a lifestyle than a pet. You need to plan so many thing around the dog - so if you want to be out all day at the zoo, you'll need to book a dog walker, sitter or daycare in advance. Same with evenings out - you may be a SAHM now but what happens if you're both at work all day and want a night out or need to work late? Who sorts the dog?

We're very very lucky in that my in-laws help us massively with ours but he's still a huge tie. I wouldn't swap him for the world but nothing prepared me for how much he turned our lives upside-down.

I would say don't dismiss getting a puppy entirely. We found it very difficult to find a dog because of having young children. Puppies are an absolute nightmare for the first year but so worth while. You'd have to find a good breeder.

I think a lab sounds right up your street. Never owned one myself but something for you to research. Your lifestyle sounds perfect.

We've got a terrier and he's not great with loud little people. If you've got 4 DC you want a dog with really sound temperament.

Our boys is an active breed. He gets 30 mins in the morning, 45 mins mid day and 30 mins in the evening. However the less he walks the less he wants to walk. We occasionally miss the mid day walk and he will sleep all day and all evening.

Yes and you absolutely would need someone on board to help out (a professional or a family member) because the reality is that a lot of activities aren't dog friendly and if all you can do as a family is walk the dog I think you'll all get a but fed up.

DDog (Labrador) gets a brisk 45 minute walk in the mornin, off lead as much as possible (and starts to flag half way round, I have to promise a treat to get her up the hill at the end) and is more than happy to snore for most of the day, interspersed by following me whenever she thinks I might be heading to the kitchen.

As a PP said a lot of dogs fit in with your lifestyle and I find a lot of people overstate the amount of exercise labs need. I do keep her mentally busy, lots of hide and seek in the house and working on training.

Downside to labs with small children are that they are solid dogs and an unexpected tail whack across the face or getting barged out the way is inevitable, plus they are so food oriented that you have to make sure they don’t end up scrounging food they shouldn’t have (and you have to train both the dog and the children for that). I wouldn’t be without one though, DDog and DS really love each other, it’s great to see how bouncy DDog gets when DS comes home from school.

Don’t underestimate the financial and time commitment needed for a dog. I think of mine as a toddler in terms of how much time and effort he needs, crossed with a teenager in terms of expense! Probably don’t get much change out of £250 a month for his costs and haven’t been to the bathroom in peace for 10 years!

Think how restrictive, expensive and hard work you think it's going to be, and triple it.

We have a lurcher. For 18 months he flipped our life upside down. Now he is super lazy.
8am food and snack
9am 1-2 hour walk. Shorter if he can run. Longer if on lead
Sleeps most of day
6 food
Evening walk

But... not great off lead in busy places and can break bones at 30-40mph collisions. Dd was 7 when we got him but I'm more comfortable now she is 10 and can read him more. We just tell her to stand still as he will dodge her but if we move a collision may happen.

We wanted a rescue but no children so went for a pup