Negatives of having a dog

[Sleepdeprived42long]

So, we are considering getting a dog to join our family which is currently me, DH, DS11 and DS9. I’ve had cats my whole life but not dogs. DH and DS11 are most keen but I’m definitely not against the idea!

We’ve had some bad luck with pets in the past so I really want us to make this decision with our eyes open not just to the positives (which we know) but also the negatives.

Just by way of background-if we did go with a dog, would probably dog like cockapoo/cavapoo or similar. We both WFH and enjoy family walks-we don’t see this changing in the next few years. We do sometimes go out for whole days at the weekend (although normally to the beach or similar) and go on holiday quite a lot (4-5 times a year for at least 2-3 nights but sometimes up to 10 nights). We could afford a dog but would have to make sacrifices on other luxuries (possibly a holiday or two!). My mental health isn’t great-I struggle with anxiety and depression at times.

So, for those of you who have dogs, can you tell me your honest negatives of dog ownership?

My MH is a bit crappy, but having dog has really lifted my mood. Nice to have a furry friend be so excited when they see you, they sense if you're upset too and my dog often throws herself at me, licks me or just sits at my feet (but annoying but it's because she loves me!
Bad things: grooming, but mine is a Samoyed and they need lots!
Weeing around the house as a puppy - keep taking out for a wee and five lots of praise abs small treats when successful
Making time to walk - but that's really good for getting out and about when you've MH issues anyway.
Paw 🐾 prints - invested in a mop that has a spray on it so easy to clean actually!
Good luck!

Bad points are
Very tying, if you’re doing something not dog friendly you are clock watching!

I wanted a pub dog, one of mine is reactive so he cannot go to the pub as he would lose his mind. That’s annoying. That and any other behavioural issues get expensive if you need help.

Puppies chew things and shit on the floor.

They are really not cheap pets which I think a lot of people underestimate

Depends on the dog.

I can't just go out with mine and say pop into a shop or cafe that doesn't allow dogs. I'm in my own tho, but also even if they do allow them mine isn't the type to sit quietly under the table!

Again, I have to watch how long I'm out of the house being on my own.

I fancy a week in the sun, hmm who's going to look after my nutty dog!

Positives are having that lovely warm company.

I have always owned a dog and the only negative I can think of is that they are tying. So for holidays etc then you need to put in kennels or have someone look after them. I used kennels in the past but didn't like to. Now my adult daughter stays in my house to care for her when we go away. I also have a cat but cats are more self sufficient than a dog. Overall the benefits of owning a dog far outweigh the negatives. I too suffer from anxiety and depression and owning a dog can be a great comfort and they are such good company.

I have a 3yr toy poodle, not many negatives to dog ownership IF they are trained correctly.

Main negative I can think of at present is both DH and I have horrible colds/virus and feel awful, and little fella needs to be walked. Like children, the dogs needs take precedence over your own.

The puppy weeing in the house is frustrating but the main negative is,they are tying you have to consider them if you want to go or do anything and factor in money/care if you are going on holiday.

I don’t have one currently, but grew up with them and desperately want / need another in my life!

Negatives.
the tie. Do not underestimate the constant nag at the back of your head “can’t stop for long, got to get back for the dog”
you either have to take the dog on your days out or have a dog sitter / Walker planned.

destruction
even the best trained dog occasionally slips up and will destroy something precious/ have an accident/ chew something.

walking
in the rain even when you don’t want to go out. They need to go out, even if your going out and in a rush, they need a walk. that’s as much a positive as a negative though

puppies are basically toddlers on acid. They are adorable, but relentless. As they hit teenage years things get worse. They are now full grown gangly twats who sleep less and need more entertainment to tire them out. I think the teen years are the hardest and it’s also when you see lots given up into shelters. You need to be clear and consistent with training
I wouldn’t have a puppy again.

however they bring so much to your life, for some they are life changing, life affirming and life saving.

I do think for the 11 year old a dog is a good thing. It gives them a reason to get out the house, a reason to put the phone down and a little bit of managed freedom.
teens tend not to want to go for a walk for no reason. But a dog is a reason.

just talk about dog theft safety etc. it is unfortunately rife.

I think the biggest issue is that there is no knowing the personality of the dog you are going to get. No amount of training will change who they are, you might get one that is chilled, happy to sit under a table in a pub, and doesn’t mind being left home alone for a few hours. Or you might get one that is reactive and has terrible separation anxiety so you can’t leave it home alone and equally can’t take it everywhere with you. Then it becomes a real issue.

Positives are that I’ve now got a whole new set of lovely friends through dog walking groups and I’m fitter than I was, both mentally and physically, as a result of having to walk him. The early morning walks through the woods, just me and him, with the birds singing and the sun shining are some of the best times.. It’s also lovely having the cuddles and adoration - and he’s a great laugh!

Negatives are that we can’t just decide to do things on the spur of the moment - we have to plan more carefully and there are places we just can’t take him to. He’s a walking bill, so you need to factor in the various costs, and he’s become a bit reactive to random things recently and we’ve had to put time and money into sorting that.

It’s a huge commitment as everyone rightly says, but it’s also great fun (mostly!)

No huge negatives from our side OP bar a few bits of extra effort we have to go to. Puppies are hard work, you need eyes in the back of your head for at least 6 months I.e if they leave the room while you're relaxing in front of the telly you have to follow them otherwise they'll chew something or they need a wee, and we had some funky tummy upsets with ours until we worked out what food and treats didn't set him off.

The only other bind is that if I want to go to the shops I have to think about taking him for a walk first. He's fine left at home for short periods but there's no spontaneity now in getting up on a Saturday and heading out.

But I'm 100% more active now than pre dog. 3 walks a day shared between DH and I, he's adorable and has made our family complete and kept me sane when I'm working from home alone in the house.

Our teens who begged us to get a dog and promised they'd take him for walks every day have failed to deliver on that promise so be aware that someone in your house has to be in charge of all the mental load for said dog. In our case it's me booking vet appointments, nagging the family to help walk him, stocking food, brushing him, taking him to the groomers (and booking the groomer) the list goes on.

And brushing with any doodle is a very regular must. If you get the right tools and shampoo combo it's a doddle but it's a commitment if you want a soft fluffy breed.

I love my boy but..

Vet bills. Best part of 4k for a ruptured cruciate ligament. Allergies that require daily meds at nearly £2 per day. Plus the usual jabs, parasite treatment etc.

Factoring walks into already hectic days. Having to leave gatherings early to get back to the dog.

When we sit down in the evening after long days and and doing bedtimes, he wants to play. We call him our evening toddler 😅

Other posters have said it much better than me. It's a 10+ year commitment, and it will change you life. They are very tying, especially if you're getting a puppy. Forget full days out at the beach and long holidays, with a puppy that's not happening anytime soon.

I would go for an older dog, then you can bypass the chewy puppy and shit teenage phases. You will also be able go for days out and longer walks.

They are really not cheap pets which I think a lot of people underestimate

I really agree with this, especially if you've never had a dog before.

Our last dog cost us an absolute fortune in vet behaviour specialist and pain medicines .we had let his insurance slip so .newpup will always be insures.

We have a cockapoo.
House training her was easy and sleepless nights were only a couple of weeks.
BUT she's a super anxious dog, as are many cockapoos. She is better than she used to be but hates being alone in the house for any length if time.
She's nervy when on walks. She barks frantically in the car. We rarely take her to exciting places in the car as it's quite stressful so walks are usually the local area so a bit boring for everyone.
I have friends with dogs who are fab in the car. Notably a black lab who just hope in the back and goes to sleep. So this is just a warning about the anxious state of some cockapoos, although I guess all dogs can be anxious! Other than that she's a total sweetheart and so affectionate!

We took my DMs dogs on when she got ill & eventually died. I loved those dogs, but yes it is a huge commitment.
After they died it was a relief in the sense of the removal of the ties & expense. We'd like to get another dog(s) but I'm still reluctant as I know what it's like - so negatives can be:
The tie - you need to be aware how long you've left them; you loose the ability to be spontaneous; holidays either have to be dog-friendly (so self-catering ) or you put them in kennels (what if they hate it?) or get a sitter. You clock watch & it can curtail evenings out etc
The cost - the purchase of the puppy, all the equipment, the need to replace things that get destroyed/damaged; the insurance, vet bills, food, grooming.
Grooming - are they/you happy to do this? Not just brushing, but claw clipping, teeth brushing etc if not you need to employ someone to do it regularly.
Cleaning - will they shed? If so, you need a decent hoover, mops, etc. You will need to bath them at times, they may hate this. Your house & car will be covered in hair, nose-marks, other things, dog smell. When a puppy & when they get older, incontinence & accidents.
Vets - you need insurance, this can be very expensive depending on the breed. Even with it you will still end up with big vet bills. Everything is very expensive. If they get ill it's traumatic for them & you. They generally hate the vets. If you don't have insurance the bills are eye watering.
Personality - you have no idea what they'll be like - placid or reactive? Or a mix? Will they have a bad experience & that will affect them going forward. You need to puppy training & be consistent but there are some dogs who just can't be trained. A friend has a dog that no amount of training has helped - they've employed professional, breed-specific trainers & it's not helped. They now have an incredibly reactive dog who they can't take out much.

Honestly, I love dogs & I do miss them, but I realise for us atm it's too big a commitment for us.

Negatives you love them so much and miss them when on holiday just like the kids. And they bring mud into the house, lots of mud

I think it's a really good sign that you're wanting to make a carefully-informed decision, not enough people do this. 😊 I grew up with dogs and until last year had one of my own (and with two young children!)

General points to be mindful of that aren't so positive:

• Biggest one for us (and the reason we have yet to get another dog) is the impact of not being able to go for family days out, as you can't leave the dog home alone all day. (The longest we ever left ours was 4-6 hours and that was on a handful of occasions in 10 years).

• Similar to above, but factoring in extra cost for dog sitting if you go on holiday (but then this is likely similar to what you'd have experienced with a cat!) Add in regular grooming costs if you go with a cookapoo/ poodle cross!

• Explaining to your kids and following through on the reality that your dog needs a decent walk, every day, no matter what the weather. (And specifically if you're looking at cockapoos they're a high energy dog and need a lot of exercise and stimulation). It's all about getting the right breed for your family set up.

• Not a negative, but as others have pointed out, other than broad breed characteristics you can't predict what the personality of your dog will be. So I'd be mindful of how committed you'll feel if your dog isn't as cuddly/friendly/playful as your family may have hoped.

Your house will always smell. This is unavoidable. Owners just get used to it.

I had 4 dogs as a child
and 4 dogs as an adult where they are my responsibility,although 2 were from relatives who couldn’t manage them.
it’s a whole different ball game having the responsibility as well as the cost .
twice now the decision to put to sleep after lengthy illness has been mine.
vets didn’t help anywhere near as much as I thought they would.
all of my dogs as an adult,seem to have lots of different illnesses where I’m thankful I’ve good pet insurance..it still cost me a lot of money in extra appointments and time .
the current cost of pet insurance,and the current attitude within vets that everything must be treated ,keeping the dog going at any cost ..
is actually enough for me to say ,I won’t ever have another dog ,when these current 2 pop off .

Re tying - they are but our holidays now revolve around her too, so she comes to dog friendly places. We're about to go to Northern Europe with her in a rental Place that allows dogs
Chewing - lost a few remote controls and slippers
Expensive - is t everything!
Personality - we were lucky as our breeder knew what personality we needed and showed us the dogs that were more inline with that requirement - she's definitely a good version of the dog breed we wanted

I love my dog so much, the positives outweigh the negatives 100-1.

However negatives include the tie, you have to consider the dog for every night away, holiday etc. We’re looking into relocating soon and maybe moving temporarily into renting and not a lot of landlords consider them.

The additional costs, vet bills etc. We usually take her on holiday and this has meant UK but we’ve taken her to N Ireland. Because of Brexit and the fact the ferry docks in Dublin we’ve had to get the full Euro demands for vaccines.

The time spent training it for house training and general good behaviour.

The mess, both paw prints and moulting. I recommend hard floors and leather or leather look sofas (you may decide originally no to them being on the sofas but trust me) and keeping bedroom doors firmly closed if you don’t want them on the beds or any carpet areas.

I know that sounds like loads of negatives but honestly you get back a million times more, no matter what MN says!!!!

Oh I forgot the walks. The dog always need’s walking unless the weather is very extreme eh 40 degrees or thunderstorms. We have a collie who is a right pain in the arse without it.

Worst bit is walking them late at night in pouring rain, by far. On days out the dog comes so it limits where you can go, but the up side is dog friendly activities tend to be cheaper

Totally untrue. Not all dog breeds smell. Only stupid people think that. Different breeds have different types of hair.