Is this the right time to get a dog?

[MissSusanStoHelit]

Honest opinions needed from experienced doggie parents please!

Here's the setup - I've just changed departments at work and can now do my part-time job from home. We have two elderly cats and four chickens (currently on chickie-lockdown due to bird flu). I've ALWAYS wanted a dog to complete our family (one DD at home, 13yo) but thought as I was out of the house all day it wouldn't be fair on the dog. Now that I'll be at home all day apart from the school run, it seems like the right time.

HOWEVER the reason I'm now wfh is because I have Long Covid. My fatigue varies from day to day but it is debilitating. I walk with a stick and can't do more than 30 mins without needing a sit down. DH could do evening walks and DD would definitely be involved when not at school, but I worry about when they're not around. Is my condition conducive to getting a dog, or shall I just accept it's not to be?

Thanks all - I really appreciate your honesty as the dog's needs will have to come first.

It depends on the dog I think

I'd say yes it's ok. You have two other people who can do the walking BUT it very much depends on how dedicated they will be. What breed are you considering?

Fatigue and a puppy are really not compatible I'm afraid. An older rescue dog who is happy with two walks and is toilet trained would be OK, but your cats and chickens make that harder to find - and might not be fair on elderly cats either

Thanks for the input - we were considering a Cavalier King Charles spaniel as there's a local rescue place that we support via my work, and they've got a reputation of being very snuggly! Plus they're so beautiful... lovely temperament and not too barky.

Yes, you'll be fine.

Your DDog can have a longer walk with DH or DP mornings or evenings, DD can play with the puppy and train it in the evenings. And the puppy can snooze and have shorter walks during the day with you. Over-stimulating puppies is a bad idea anyhow, and as long as the exercise is enough over the 24 hours, it really doesn't matter if it's bunched at each end of the day

I think it depends on how much DH and DD would actually do with the dog as it often seems to end up with the woman doing all the work. The long covid sounds awful and you would struggle with a puppy. You should be reducing commitments not adding to them.

You’d need to find a dog that doesn’t need much walking, or can be taken to a nearby park, let off to run around and come back again.
We have the mumsnet greyhound which needs 2x 30 minute walks but to begin with they might be too squirrel-driven for you to walk them with a stick. Ours nearly had me over a couple of times. But you could probably find a less mental one.

Thanks everyone - seems the consensus is that it could work, but not to get a puppy, rather an older and more chilled dog. I will work on that basis. I really appreciate your input.

Definitely get an adult dog, I know a few people with cavaliers and it takes till their about 4 to calm down.
After that they are basically breathing hot water bottles for your lap 😂
The only caveat is the cats and would you be ok with the dog upstairs, because a new dog left on its own at night probably won't settle and will disturb your sleep.
I really hope your long Covid improves, I know some people with it and there seems to be no consistency with recovery/effective treatment etc.

No, I don't think it would be okay.

You have two elderly cats and birds - at the very least wait until your cats have passed away before getting a dog. Inflicting the stress of a new dog (of any age) on them at that stage in life would really not be fair at all, and I say that as someone with cats and a dog.

I would also say, don't rely on a 13yo to do any walking whatsoever - no matter what she says no - she won't want to walk the dog in the dark, wind or rain, when she has better plans, when she has a date or would rather stay in bed

If your DH is happy to do the evening walks, is hiring a dog walker a possibility so they can help you with mornings or lunchtime? I think most dogs will struggle waiting all day for a walk, especially young ones.

I think it could work with a calm adult dog but you definitely need back-ups in place for days where your DH is unwell or away and unable to walk the dog. There was a recent (now deleted) thread where the OP couldn't walk the dog herself and was depending on her DH to do it all, and the consensus was that it was unfair to expect one person to do all the hard work and that they should consider getting some help.

I love my dog to bits but I wouldn't want to be in a situation where I had to walk him twice a day, seven days a week with absolutely no respite. It works because DH and I split the work and I know I get a break.