Talk me out of getting a dog!

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We are looking after our friend’s Cavalier King Charles Spaniel & she is so great that we are thinking of getting a dog!

None of my dog-fears have been realised, she is well-behaved, not (too) smelly, super-affectionate, rarely barks and even picking up her poop isn’t as unbearable as I feared. She loves walking (so do I) but sleeps a lot of the day too. Only glitch is our cat is not at all a fan.

I need a reality check! I have never thought of myself as a dog owner, but now I could see us doing it. DP wfh every day so any dog would always have company. What are the downsides - I must be being naive surely…?

@KirstenBlest my friend has offered to return the favour and dog sit if we get one! Why a JRT?

I've just spent an hour in a cold windswept field for doggy class. Which costs ££, so really need to go!
I am now sitting, watching down with said dog snuggled up next to me...

Because they are usually quite healthy and live long, they're lively and intelligent, they're not big or hairy, they have their own personality, they're cute, they're classless - Chas and Cam have two, ...

Get a female one and get it spayed, and you'll have a loyal, easy to train dog.

Some dogs refuse to go out in the howling rain. (Then they might eat your sofa out of boredom).

When puppies you need to have eyes in the back of your head until they're somewhere between 16-24 weeks. Then you get a few weeks off before the doggy teens hit and they become total arses again for several weeks/months

But then you might get that dog of your dreams....

Who, one day, you might need to hold and stroke as they die. Because their lives are shorter than ours, and it hurts to even think about living without that little furry who has wormed in to your heart

*But then you might get that dog of your dreams....

Who, one day, you might need to hold and stroke as they die.*

That was us, just a few weeks ago. God it hurt, and still does, and I thought I was a ‘cat person not a dog person’.

A dog takes your heart with them, even if you were cursing the mud and the fox poo days earlier.

Well we're paying over £150/month pet insurance now for our 11 year old, and don't really want to put him in kennels to go abroad on holiday because he's old and has had cancer... Twice...
But he's one who is ok with kennels. Try forking out for suitable animal-friendly petsitters! £££ but sometimes the best option.
Any days out are either restricted to half a day so that we can leave him behind (and even then, he's got to the age where if he wants to pee, he will (sigh), he DGAF) OR a lot of tag-teaming into places which don't let dogs inside.
I mean don't get me wrong, I love him dearly, but get a dog and you're gambling that DDog doesn't need extensive, expensive care at the same time that your job has become a nightmare, your parents have cancer or Alzheimer's, the kids or DH are having nervous breakdowns. Because they all get old...
Oh. And does your house have any carpeted areas...? In which case, you have to ask yourself... Do I feel lucky? Well... Do you ;)

You're looking after a lovely, well trained dog! Perhaps having mine would put you off forever. He's a border collie, so not for the faint-hearted. Selective hearing, rolls in everything so is generally smelly, has an obsession with licking ears, needs a lot of exercise and jobs to do. Hates cats (since he got chased by one) a dog can be very restrictive if you're used to going away a lot, unless you're prepared to put them into boarding kennels. However, a more loving companion you'll never find. I've put a pic of my four legged fiend on

Oof @wetotter and @GuppytheCat that has me choked up. I’m sorry for your losses.

my DD said yesterday that a dog is like a cat that loves you! We have the dog & cat coexisting atm, dog downstairs & cat upstairs!

interesting about JRT @KirstenBlest another of my friends had one who they adored but was a rescue & definitely had issues, including the anal glands thing (urgh). That’s put me off a bit I think. They did love him though.

I mean, what a handsome boy @wobblyweasel! I’d like to post a pic of my doggy lodger, but I feel weird about it, like posting a picture of someone else’s children 😂

I love my dog sooo much but sometimes she can be draining. She's still quite young and is finally calming down, but it's been a long road, I wasn't properly prepared for her needs despite many months of research.

She will sleep and have quiet time, but equally has some days where she wants to play, run, walk etc constantly, it's like non stop energy no matter what we do. It feels like a baby and demanding toddler rolled into one to care for sometimes. Not enough hours in the day to do all the playing and training she wants to do!

Nothing can be spontaneous anymore. If I want to take a non dog-friendly trip, have to factor in kennel availability and costs. Can't ask anyone to pop in for her toilet break or do an overnight, as my local friends and family aren't doggy at all, so I have doggy daycare plus a dog walker and even then have to skip things if everything is fully booked.

Money for food and insurance is through the roof.

Constant cleaning and tidying. And she's a low shedder!

During the puppy years she chewed through everything. Furniture, carpets and lawn were all destroyed, plus my phone/internet line.

I wouldn't trade her in for the world and love her to bits, there's so many high points and affection from her, but I don't think I'd get another one in the future knowing what I know now!