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!

I love my dogs but I don't have children so all the focus can be on meeting the dogs needs with no conflict.
My only piece of advice is be self aware enough about how much training you will actually do and make your choice based on that.
An adult rescue that is already lead trained is like gold dust but definitely worth it if you won't have the time/energy/inclination to train a puppy nearly daily for two years.
I am trying to train my one year old dog to stop eating the mail at the moment and seriously considering just getting a mailbox!
She is a bright breed but that brings its own challenges as they need tasks and stimulation. My friend has a boxer and I love it, so dopey and easily amused!

Ps by on the 7th. Car seat I mean in a crate or I've seen dog harness etc we aren't just going to plonk it on the seat!

We have an 8mth jack russell/border terrier cross. He has been fab and so easy. Just wants to sit and snooze next to you. Happy enough with 2x 30 mins walk a day. Or even one if a bad day but will walk longer if on an outing. Happy to be left up to 4h. Kids are 10 and 12. Assume they will do nothing. Doesn't eat much. Still working on recall so walks only on lead for now. Great company. Has never chewed anything other than his toys. We have a dog walker to break up the 2 days there's no one home but I would definitely say it's much easier to wait till kids of an age you can leave them alone for 30mins while you go for a walk. I wouldn't recommend lower primary age.

I’m a dog owner and my children are older than yours. After a busy day at school the last thing they want to do is walk the dog. So every evening I walk the dog by myself And leave the children home alone. I love walking the dog alone, but my children are only just old enough to be home alone. Yours wouldn’t be, so you need to consider when you can walk the dog. Could become a real chore if you have to insist your 4 young children come out every time. (And you and DH wouldn’t be able take the dog for a walk together if the children are at home).
I don’t want to put you off getting a dog though. Just to be aware of how restricting they can be. Lots of places aren’t dog friendly - even ones which might seem to be (ie National Trust you aren’t allowed in certain areas with dogs). They also have different restrictions to children, so when you have dogs and children you become very restricted in what you can do.
Consider the size of dog carefully. You have the space for a large dog, so a labrador size dog might work for you - but they are less transportable. Not easy to see one on the 7th seat of your car!! My dog is small/mid size and I could fit him on a seat in a harness (though mine has a big crate in the boot) and I can pick him up if I need to. Occasionally I pick him up and go into Tesco for a pint of milk. Couldn’t do that with a large dog - would have to be tied up outside, which isn’t recommended because of dog stealers. On the downside, my smaller dog is extremely bouncy and energetic. My friends with labradors/retrievers find him high energy compared with their placid dogs.
Good luck with your decision!

We got a dog 8 weeks ago.I'm exhausted and it's such a tie. He is also incredibly irritating at times!
But no regrets, love him to bits, so much more than I ever thought I would and I've wanted a dog for 40 years!

I have a dog breed that is 'minimum 2 hours a day walking' and that is ideal for us as now that he is fully grown we do at least 3 or 4 hours and I don't have to feel guilty that we are doing the bare minimum.

As you have used the word 'conscientious' I wonder if you are a bit like that and should look for a breed that requires a bit less exercise than you could offer so that you don't feel bad when inevitably life gets in the way sometimes?

And for me that almost certainly wouldn't be a collie. No offence to collies - I would love to be a person with room in my life for one as they are such gorgeous dogs but oh my that looks like work!

We do not own a dog, but have our DSs WCS for the odd day/ weekend. He’s 6 months and well behaved, but a lot of work and time consuming.
Previously we did want our own puppy, but are now content to be the occasional minder.
Do you have family nearby who could dog sit at times?
Off to clean every downstairs surface as Dpup has gone home 😂.

Why a dog? If you research and get the right puppy for you, hopefully one brought up around children of similar age then it isn’t more likely to fit into your family and be reliable with your children. I understand the giving an older dog a home thing but with kids I’d want to know the dogs personality inside out which is only feel I knew if I’d had them from a puppy! Collies can be a pain for rounding up children and if working stock can be nippy. A Labrador is probably a better bet for a family pet. Two hours might be excessive. Remember dogs can be tired out by training and sniffing games, mental work as well as walking, in fact it can tire them out more!

A dog sounds like it would have a great life with your family.
Have you got a local rescue nearby. We did volunteer dog walking at weekends for a year. If the kids were there we were given a child friendly dog.
A good way to learn more about dogs/different breeds and familiarise the kids.
We couldn't get a suitable rescue in the end, so got a puppy, but it was useful experience.

It's a time-, financial and emotional commitment bordering on bringing another child into the family. You know how you can take a baby everywhere; shops, the beach, a family party, a playground?
Well, you can't neccesarily take the dog.
It might be more of an adjustment for the children than they had expected; ie sometimes the dog's needs will have to come before theirs. DD was 9 when we got VanPup and any younger we feel would have been trickier.
Finding time and energy for his two walks a day is the least issue.

Most dogs will chase things, but Greyhounds actually have the speed to catch whatever it is, which is where the problem lies.
Apart from that, they are known as the "30mph couch potato" - the average greyhound's idea of a good day being about 22 hours sleep/rest, an hours gentle walk, and an hour for food/toileting!!
They're also notourious "coumter surfers" so if you get one, don't leave anything edible less than 7 foot off the floor!! Apart from that, they're lovely, gentle dogs.

@trumpisagit

A dog sounds like it would have a great life with your family. Have you got a local rescue nearby. We did volunteer dog walking at weekends for a year. If the kids were there we were given a child friendly dog. A good way to learn more about dogs/different breeds and familiarise the kids. We couldn't get a suitable rescue in the end, so got a puppy, but it was useful experience.

This is a great idea thanks 🙂