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The doghouse

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Original poster

How did you know you were ready for a dog?

87 replies

percypal · 02/01/2023 19:21

I’m thinking it’s a bit like thinking you might quite like a baby? You’ll never be fully ready for that life change but ready enough?

OP posts:
Joystir59 · 02/01/2023 20:59

You need to be able to afford one- initial purchase of pup plus:
Insurance

Vet fees and medication

Food and treats

Toys

Leads, collars, harnesses

Day care

Training classes
You need to have plenty of time for your dog to settle it, bond with it, train it, walk it (and don't expect too much from your children- there are very few teenagers ever seen on the dog walking circuit).

chocolateasaltyballs22 · 02/01/2023 21:00

percypal · 02/01/2023 20:59

When you say poodle crosses do you mean cockapoo or something?

Are greyhounds ok with cats?

Separation anxiety does sound so difficult and not easy to train them out of :(

I have a cavapoo but there are lots of other poodle crosses.

No idea about greyhounds, sorry.

twistyizzy · 02/01/2023 21:02

chocolateasaltyballs22 · 02/01/2023 20:54

Not sure a lab is for you if you're not very active.

Not all poodle crosses come from puppy farms.

Not poodle crosses no but every puppy farm they investigated last year was breeding cross breeds ie cockapoo/cavapoo/doodles etc

Citygirlrurallife · 02/01/2023 21:12

We waited until I was ready - I was never into the idea but then we moved to a new area in the open countryside in a village with tons of dogs and straight out to dog friendly walks, with DH wfh 100% of the time and me 75% of the time.

we got a golden retriever puppy who is now 6months old and I was like you - not exactly someone who needs to be active all the time but likes getting out and about. I would say (and bearing in mind you’re not supposed to walk them tons while they’re little) I’m so glad we have him - I’ve been a city girl all my life and I think I would have struggled in the countryside if he wasn’t there to force me to get out and about it in every day. I’m yet to regret a single walk I’ve done with him.

i knew it was me that had to be ready because despite DH and DD pushing to get a dog I knew it would inevitably all fall to me - DS wasn’t that into the idea but he is very good about taking puppy out for walks too.

biased but I think labs and retrievers are wonderful

SirChenjins · 02/01/2023 21:16

We got our first dog 15 months ago - a cockapoo (gasp) but we knew the breeder personally, have done for some years. We only got him when we knew one of us would be at home with him all day - our DC are adults now so between us we wfh every day. If we do get stuck we have daycare we can use, but it’s v v infrequent.

Some days he gets one long walk and then a short walk before bedtime, other days it’s three shorter walks (or even less of the weather is v v bad or v cold). It’s definitely made us more active.

He doesn’t shed, thankfully, and is hypoallergenic - DS’s GF is v allergic to dogs and she manages fine around him. Other dogs will set her off within and hour or 2.

I play with him, do scent work in the house, go to training classes, do training in the house and have dog walking buddies all of which he loves - I have a new social life as a result!

He has terrible separation anxiety, probably not helped by someone always being with him. We are working on that. Be prepared to alter your lifestyle - you definitely have to plan more and accept there are places you can’t go to unless you get a sitter (or a dog that’s ok with being left for hours - personally don’t agree with that)

They will cost you more than you imagine - vet bills, insurance, food, harnesses, leads, training, training treats, poo bags, coats for wet/cold weather…it all adds up.

It’s hard work and sometimes - if I’m being honest - I think life would definitely be easier without him, but I love him to bits, he’s my absolute heart, and he’s enhanced my life 100%.

How did you know you were ready for a dog?
SirChenjins · 02/01/2023 21:17

Crikey, that photo has come out bigger than I intended - sorry!

littlelilypad · 02/01/2023 21:18

I'd also add after our second big family Christmas with our dog - will you be happy potentially changing how key celebrations and family get togethers run?

I say this purely because our dog gets quite overwhelmed with a lot of people, we have to have her on a lead, which usually means it's fairly stressful for all of us - her because she can't properly relax, and us because we take it in turns to hold her as we eat/drink/try to engage in conversation, as she's trying to scarper. It made Christmas Day at my sisters house this year feel a little tiring, and family get togethers with children can be draining. Hopefully this will get better with time and training, but it's been two years so far, and I do miss a fair few family gatherings now.

Don't get me wrong, we love her to pieces, but our lives have definitely changed drastically. I don't say any of this to put you off, dogs are absolutely wonderful companions, I just wanted to raise something I personally hadn't considered!

Original poster
percypal · 02/01/2023 21:39

This is all so useful I’m really glad I posted!

I hadn’t actually considered Christmas. We’re normally 8 max at Christmas and I suppose that’s fine if the dog is ok with other people but on the other hand could actually be really stressful for it. It could go either way couldn’t it!

I’m still feeling so uncertain. I want to feel completely ready when we do it but maybe I never will. Even though deep down I know I want to.

Training classes and possibly agility I would love to do.

As an aside to this thread I’m watching a movie and the main character isn’t even saying goodbye to her little dog when she leaves it in the hotel room Sad

OP posts:
ilovesushi · 02/01/2023 21:39

In lockdown we realised we really enjoy country walks and doing stuff outdoors more than holidays abroad, eating in fancy restaurants etc and a dog would be a good addition to our lives. We kept seeing families out and about with their dogs and felt like something was missing. Our jobs moved to predominantly wfh and we found good doggy daycare for the other days. I researched breeds that are okay with cats (low prey drives) and felt reassured we could make it work with our cats.

DS was a factor in really putting the pressure on us to get a dog, but he probably does less than anyone in terms of training, walks or spending time with her. Make sure you do it because you want a dog as you may well end up doing all the hard work. It has been tough at times mainly the times I have something urgent to do at work and she is jumping up and down like a loon wanting a walk or a play. But it is probably the best, most positive decision I have ever made! I absolutely love her and get so much joy from her. I've also started new dog related hobbies and made a whole new circle of friends.

BarrelOfOtters · 02/01/2023 21:48

I think there are people who say you can’t have a happy dog unless you are home all the time. I’m not sure that’s true.

AwkwardPaws27 · 02/01/2023 21:55

percypal · 02/01/2023 20:04

Although we don’t often go big long days out tbf!

It's not so much the big days out that are the issue - if we had a big thing planned we'd usually know in advance & sort out a dog sitter (we want to take DS to the zoo this Spring, for example, so will be plannng that around when my inlaws can dogsit for the day).
It's the more spontaneous times, "what shall we do this weekend", oh here's an idea but it's an hour journey each way so we'd only be able to stay for two hours max. You clockwatch more, & can't dawdle around or go for lunch after as you need to be back for the dog.
Luckily the things we enjoy most are dog friendly - going for walks in the woods or on the beach - but it is a tie at times.

Original poster
percypal · 02/01/2023 22:09

Any walk we do go on I’m always saying ‘I wish we had the dog with us’ … this dog that doesn’t exist yet! Once I’m out I LOVE a walk.

I 100% see what you’re saying about going places and this is a concern. Even a Sunday morning trip to a few shops you’d need to be home by lunch really. I get it and it’s things like this I really need to consider.

OP posts:
Girliefriendlikespuppies · 02/01/2023 22:13

twistyizzy · 02/01/2023 20:27

When you can honestly answer yes to the following:

  • are you prepared to walk the dog twice a day, even day, in every weather, in the pitch black for 45min-1 hour each walk? Before and after work? On Christmas Day? When you are poorly?
  • are you prepared to put the time and money into training your dog ie attending regular training classes as a puppy and then afterwards depending on the breed?
  • if you work outside of the home are you prepared to pay for a dog walker every day? I personally don't agree with dogs being left for more than 4 hours although many people do but dogs are part of the family and it just seems cruel to leave them all day, be home for 2-4 hours and then expect them to sleep alone all night too
  • are you prepared to have a less than spotless house ie hair and mud everywhere in winter?
  • are you prepared to put in a lot of time realistically researching breeders and breeds to ensure you get the best fit?
  • are you prepared to go back to the newborn stage? Dogs are more tying than babies but don't grow out of it, you are committing to 12 yrs + of that tie

If you answer yes to every question then you are pretty much ready 😊

I agree with all these although you can't rule out a rescue dog instead of going down the breeder route. It's worth registering with a few rescues as they do get puppies and there maybe a good fit.

MilkshakesBringAllTheCoosToTheYard · 02/01/2023 22:17

I think you just know - I posted on here saying 'I think we're ready, what am I missing' and had a really great thread actually, with a couple of things we hadn't thought about and a couple of things that made us rethink breed choice.

For me though the no 1 thing was having a DS that was old enough to be left in the house alone. The thought of having to get the whole house up/out to walk a dog in the winter/bad weather is just too much. I know people do mix small children and dogs, but just being able to slip the dog's lead on and go was definitely a dealbreaker for me.

Original poster
percypal · 02/01/2023 22:20

That’s a REALLY good point about having kids that can be left and even though I am still not 100% sure anyway that alone would make me wait another 6 months or so if a I was sure and a dog became available tomorrow. Thanks for that.

OP posts:
SirChenjins · 02/01/2023 22:22

I definitely agree with that @MilkshakesBringAllTheCoosToTheYard I can’t imagine combining work, young children and a dog - being able to go out for a walk whenever suits me is much easier on my own. DC3 is almost 16 so he often takes ChenPup out for a walk if I a need to catch up on stuff in the house etc

tinselvestsparklepants · 02/01/2023 22:32

I've not read the whole thread but just wanted to say a few things about my dog, who I've had for 18 months after taking the plunge: yes she is a tie and I doubt we'll have a proper holiday while we have her BUT she has turned walking for exercise into a joy no matter the weather, she is beautiful, smells of biscuits, and has turned our childless house into a little family, I adore her, I adore how my husband adores her and did I say I adore her? I also need a wee bit can't move because she's asleep with her head on my leg.

tinselvestsparklepants · 02/01/2023 22:33

Ps ours was a rescue.

MilkshakesBringAllTheCoosToTheYard · 02/01/2023 22:41

percypal · 02/01/2023 22:20

That’s a REALLY good point about having kids that can be left and even though I am still not 100% sure anyway that alone would make me wait another 6 months or so if a I was sure and a dog became available tomorrow. Thanks for that.

No problem. Winter is the worst too because I don't like walking off-lead in the dark with a black dog. So if, say, you couldn't combine with a school run you'd be doing double-duty in the afternoons. No fun.

mycatsanutter · 02/01/2023 22:42

@percypal do you have someone that might help out on the occasions when you would go for days out that don't involve a dog ?

SuperPup86 · 02/01/2023 22:47

People who have dogs - were you active before you had a dog or did the dog make you more active? I worry I’m not naturally active enough in that I’m not desperate to be out walking every minute of my free time but I absolutely do enjoy being out and about and would almost like the extra pressure to be out more

I would have described us as moderately active - I love being out when I'm out and we go on long walks when it suits us, at weekends in lovely weather - but days and days could go past in between and I'm far from a committed walker for walkings' sake.

Ddog definitely made me more active and I'm out with her on an hour off lead walk every single day. I've really enjoyed having a reason to force me to walk more. We're lucky that we live 5 minutes from a big country park and I WFH - but I'd never have chosen to go there alone in my lunch break and just do a few laps around it. But now I spend my lunch break every day doing just that because I 'must' and it's been great for me.

Original poster
percypal · 02/01/2023 22:47

Aww that’s lovely @tinselvestsparklepants

@mycatsanutter my parents would definitely be happy to do some dog sitting on occasion, yes!

OP posts:
Floralnomad · 02/01/2023 22:54

We didn’t get our dog until our youngest was 11 ( the other one was 17) , mainly because we used to do lots of theme park / museum type days out which you can’t do spontaneously with a dog ( puppy ) . I also used to go away a lot in the school holidays to non dog friendly places . At 11 our youngest was diagnosed with CFS so big days out became less likely and less often . It’s also worth keeping in mind that NT /EH type days out can also be an issue as dogs are not allowed in the houses / castles . We got a Battersea older ( 16 weekish) puppy , completely untrained , I doubt he’d been in a house - he’s been the best dog ever so I’m glad we waited until that exact day !

broomers · 02/01/2023 23:34

What does everyone do for holidays when they have a dog? I wouldn't be happy sticking to UK only as we like to go abroad once a year during school holidays but couldn't imagine leaving a dog in kennels and it being happy. We don't have any family that could look after one for us so it's our main stumbling block st the moment.

Ginger1982 · 02/01/2023 23:41

MilkshakesBringAllTheCoosToTheYard · 02/01/2023 22:17

I think you just know - I posted on here saying 'I think we're ready, what am I missing' and had a really great thread actually, with a couple of things we hadn't thought about and a couple of things that made us rethink breed choice.

For me though the no 1 thing was having a DS that was old enough to be left in the house alone. The thought of having to get the whole house up/out to walk a dog in the winter/bad weather is just too much. I know people do mix small children and dogs, but just being able to slip the dog's lead on and go was definitely a dealbreaker for me.

This!!

During the Beast from the East a few years ago, DH was stuck at work and I had to walk DDog whilst carrying DS and trying not to land on my arse. It was hell!

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