Page 4 | How did you know you were ready for a dog?

percypal · 2023-01-02T19:21:33+00:00

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?

Londonlondon6 · 03/01/2023 10:34

I was home enough in the day (I worked from home long before covid) and we got a place with a garden. Those two things meant finally I could get a dog!!

Snoopystick · 03/01/2023 10:46

Love my dog, but be ready for lots and lots of hair from certain breeds. Also poo and wee accidents. Seasonal blood if female and before you spay. Having to plan - cannot be as spontaneous about going out / staying away. Children saying that they will do their fair share of walking and then losing the novelty.

ElephantInTheKitchen · 03/01/2023 11:02

percypal · 03/01/2023 00:19

How did you end up with the dog @ElephantInTheKitchen?! Did it all work out in the end?

Long story short, DDog had been rehomed multiple times before and had most recently been dumped without consent on my friend. Freshly at a loose end after a relationship breakdown I started doing a lot of the dog care, most of the walking, and a bit of training (even 'sit' was a mystery to this adult dog...). In the end DFriend couldn't keep him even if he had the time, and there was no one else who wanted him (nor was rehoming an option for a dog with a behaviour history like his - Dogs Trust for instance wouldn't have touched him with a bargepole and he would have been at risk of PTS at Battersea). So I came to own DDog.

It did all work out in the end - DDog is currently snoozing on my duvet. The landlord never found out about him. I left London, rented for a few more years (suffering my way through chronic damp as having a dog severely limits your rental options) and eventually bought. I went self employed - partly but not totally motivated by DDog - and partially WFH. My life looks NOTHING like it did pre-DDog. I don't regret it but I'm not sure how many people would be willing to sacrifice what I did!

DDog's behaviour will never be perfect but it was my core hobby for a year or two (and still a topic I can geek out about). He's the dog that taught me the serenity prayer - "grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference". He'll never manage an evening down the pub, he'd be the world's worst therapy dog, and I count any day where he hasn't embarrassed me in public as a win, and we manage that a few times a week (the bar used to be less than 8 acts of public embarrassment per walk was a win, rarely achieved).

I couldn't have got by without my parents, however, who miraculously have a dog free household, lots of free time, a soft spot for the dog, and the willingness to dog sit. Naturally he gets spoilt there and they swear blind he was completely perfect while there.

Was it the right time in my life to get a dog? Of course not. Had I done any research beforehand? Zero, seeing as there wasn't really a 'beforehand'. Would I have picked the breed I ended up with? Nope (but I'd have one again). Would I recommend what I did? Absolutely not. Do I regret what I did? Certainly not.

Sunflowers765 · 03/01/2023 11:08

I stopped fulltime work and worked part time opposite DH so we could have our first dog. DD was 10.

ilovesushi · 03/01/2023 11:17

@ElephantInTheKitchen what a gorgeous story! I am so glad your dog found you!

RhymeHasAReason · 03/01/2023 11:20

ElephantInTheKitchen · 03/01/2023 11:02

Long story short, DDog had been rehomed multiple times before and had most recently been dumped without consent on my friend. Freshly at a loose end after a relationship breakdown I started doing a lot of the dog care, most of the walking, and a bit of training (even 'sit' was a mystery to this adult dog...). In the end DFriend couldn't keep him even if he had the time, and there was no one else who wanted him (nor was rehoming an option for a dog with a behaviour history like his - Dogs Trust for instance wouldn't have touched him with a bargepole and he would have been at risk of PTS at Battersea). So I came to own DDog.

It did all work out in the end - DDog is currently snoozing on my duvet. The landlord never found out about him. I left London, rented for a few more years (suffering my way through chronic damp as having a dog severely limits your rental options) and eventually bought. I went self employed - partly but not totally motivated by DDog - and partially WFH. My life looks NOTHING like it did pre-DDog. I don't regret it but I'm not sure how many people would be willing to sacrifice what I did!

DDog's behaviour will never be perfect but it was my core hobby for a year or two (and still a topic I can geek out about). He's the dog that taught me the serenity prayer - "grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference". He'll never manage an evening down the pub, he'd be the world's worst therapy dog, and I count any day where he hasn't embarrassed me in public as a win, and we manage that a few times a week (the bar used to be less than 8 acts of public embarrassment per walk was a win, rarely achieved).

I couldn't have got by without my parents, however, who miraculously have a dog free household, lots of free time, a soft spot for the dog, and the willingness to dog sit. Naturally he gets spoilt there and they swear blind he was completely perfect while there.

Was it the right time in my life to get a dog? Of course not. Had I done any research beforehand? Zero, seeing as there wasn't really a 'beforehand'. Would I have picked the breed I ended up with? Nope (but I'd have one again). Would I recommend what I did? Absolutely not. Do I regret what I did? Certainly not.

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Loved reading this. ❤️ Thank goodness he found you. And your parents too. You all sound lovely. It sounds like life is never dull with him around. 😂

tabulahrasa · 03/01/2023 12:02

Re being active without a dog - I’m not, when I’m between dogs I walk nowhere, even just to the shop... I get bored 😂

With a dog, I happily do between 3-5 miles a day.

broomers · 03/01/2023 19:40

@ElephantInTheKitchen I feel we all need to see a photo of him after such a lovely story I loved reading that

Original poster

percypal · 03/01/2023 19:46

@ElephantInTheKitchen aww it sounds like you are just his person!! How lucky was he to find you. Love that story.

After me saying I’m not overly active I have realised that the only times pretty much that I’ve left the house in the holidays was to go for a walk. We were on the beach in the pissing rain yesterday. I’m going to force myself to be more active this year (I should be doing this anyway for my own health!!) so that when I do feel more ready I’m prepared in that regard too.

I’m so appreciative of everyone’s viewpoints and tips that they’ve shared here!

OP posts:

LakeFlyPie · 03/01/2023 22:42

Having grown up with dogs and understanding the level of commitment required I followed Dogs4Rescue page for a few months, persuaded myself and DH that we would 'foster' for a half term week and adopted DDog 1 month later 😁
D4R only rehome to the Greater Manchester area but there are so many rescues with beautiful dogs looking for a loving home, I would urge anyone to consider a rescue and not fund breeders.

StreetHeartsBG rehome all over UK and importantly provide lifelong rescue back up

BaconAndAvocado · 08/01/2023 14:20

For us it was when I began permanently working from home and the kids were mid-teens so able to take dog out for walks —at least that was the plan—

Caplin · 09/01/2023 15:11

So many nice stories!

My husband and I both had family dogs in our teens/early 20s, so we knew what a tie they could be. We always wanted dog but life didn't accomodate.

Then like so many other families, along came the pandemic and both of us WFH 2-3 days a week, and it suddenly became possible. Kids are were 11 and 9 at the time. We had the time to focus on training etc.

We were total cliches, got a lockdown labradoodle. He has been amazing! He is more lab than doodle luckily, as I'm not sure I could deal with all the grooming of a curly doodle, but he barely sheds.

We made sure he was trained and well socialised with friends, family, other dogs, kids. He is pretty bombproof, totally chill. Sleeps most of the day. Gets three half hour walks a day, sometimes more as he is very fit. He loves a very vigorous ball chasing session and swimming in ponds/the sea/any body of water.

My sister takes him when we are away on holiday and he loves it there.

We know we got very lucky with his temperament, he is very easy and we all love him. It is a running joke that he is the favourite child in our house.

I think it has also helped my mental health, going out for walks, getting fresh air, doggy hugs.

They are expensive though. We are about £100 a month in food, £20 insurance plus treats etc we spend about £40....because he is massively spoiled! We also have two cats who also have very expensive, hypoallergenic diets!