I am sooooo dog broody but I don’t think I can have one…can I?

[Sidebeforeself]

i really want a dog. Retiring next year so that would be the best time. Never had one but family members have. Prefer bigger/more active breeds. Ground floor flat but countryside on doorstep. However no secure garden. We like holidays/overnight stays but wont be able to afford them often when i retire.DH prefers cats . What do you reckon?

What's making you think you can't have one?

As long as you're happy to go out with them to toilet regularly, no secure garden shouldn't be a problem – and if you're willing to compromise on activity levels, some dogs are pretty cat-like 😊

Im worried the dog wouldn’t have enough room to exercise, sniff. Im worried we are not the right fit for such a dog..ideally id like a vizsla , GSD, lab etc i.e dogs that need interaction

Dogs are not cheap pets, it really adds up so if you’re not going to be able to afford weekends away without a dog, I think a dog may be a struggle to afford

With dogs like those breeds it's less about space and more about time. If you're willing and able to be out walking for hours a day, put time into training, enrichment activities and interaction, the lack of garden won't be an issue.

Plenty of people have gardens and their dogs are still bored and fed up!

If you're concerned you may not be able to give a higher-energy dog what it needs, would you consider someone more low-key? It doesn't have to be all or nothing...

Sorry i meant we wont be going away as much so kennelling wouldn’t be a regular thing

I am finding it hard to adopt a dog - I will only consider rescues - problem is I have no garden as in a flat - and keep being rejected because if this and yet I have a huge park on my doorstep!

If you're really in doubt, fostering might be one way forward – give you (and your DH) a feel for the realities of dog ownership, and give someone who needs it a home while they find their forever family.

thats part of the problem though - im drawn to larger/high energy breeds. Any other breeds people think might suit? DH wont entertain greyhounds! I have so much love and patience to give !

All dogs need interaction . Personally I wouldn’t have a dog without a secure garden because I wouldn’t be standing outside in the rain at 3am in the middle of January when the dog needs to throw up .

Personally there's no way I'd have a dog of any breed without a secure garden.

I’ve a lab cross. I couldn’t have coped with no secure garden when she was a puppy but could probably manage it now. Are you looking to get an older dog?

Yes definitely an older dog

Fostering might be an idea but I assumed they’d want people with experience of dogs?Also im only interested in breeds I like… That’s part of my issue…am iI being unrealistic?

Can you make your garden secure somehow?
We weren't the most active couple but when we got our golden lab it really changed us for the better! It's definitely a huge commitment and you're right to think carefully.

I’m in a flat with a secure garden but don’t use it (too lazy to faff with the gate and also no lights back there so can’t see a thing in the dark!) so I may aswell not have the garden, and I manage no problem with my (small breed!) dog. It does mean popping her on the lead and going outside with her in all weather every time she needs to pee, but it’s doable. Not necessarily enjoyable in the depths of winter at 3am though… As long as the exercise needs are meet and you don’t mind escorting the dog outside for every single toilet break, then I can’t see why you can’t have one!

You can still enjoy nights away and holidays too. My girl stays in the kennels multiple times throughout the year, but of course it’s expensive, so every weekend away and week in the sun will always cost more than the pre-dog holidays you were used to, but a cost that’s worth it if you desperately want a dog!

Well, ultimately it's a choice.

1. Have a breed you're currently drawn to, accepting all that comes with that – including standing outside at 3am as @Floralnomad has mentioned, or struggling to find a rescue that will accept you, as @tillyandmilly has mentioned, or
2. Have a breed you're not currently as drawn to, which better fits your lifestyle, or
3. Don't have a dog

Which of those, if any, are you willing to explore?

I don’t really have a garden. I have a little decking area that I can hang out washing , put a few pots out. So a dog could go outside , but it’s not a run around space. However I have load of green space literally a few streets away. I just don’t want o be one of those dog owners that thinks with their heart and not with their heads

Why do you want a dog that can reach 40mph?
Knows every drive way that they have ever seen a cat in and every tree that has ever had a squirrel in.
Frequently clocks more than 300 mins of exercise a day and when they get a tight turn wrong will bowl you over and sprain your knee?
One pointer available for rent, her friend the Vizla can be thrown in for free.

Borrow My Doggy is probably the way to go. You might find that something closer to the 10kg mark is more practical.

If you don’t mind standing out for toilet breaks I can’t see the problem, mine rarely run around the garden even though they have the choice but they are exercised and mentally stimulated.

How experienced are you with dogs? For a large active breed I would say you need to find it a job to keep its mind busy and be committed to attend training at least for the first few years. It’s really important to train in a variety of settings especially if your not that experienced.

What I would say is a GSD is a lot of dog, intelligent but they need somewhere to channel it. You also must understand that they aren’t the type to love everyone and everything and are much more family orientated so can be tricky in that respect. Rescues can be even more challenging.

An easier ‘starter’ but active breed might be something like a golden or lab, but again these need a lot of exercise, time and training.

I've had three types of garden with an adult dog

1. Communal garden with totally insecure fences - a pain in the arse because I had to be dressed every time the dog needed a wee

1. Secure private yard which was 100% concrete - convenient for toilet trips, but it was never much more than a dog toilet. Couldn't change the concrete as I was renting.

1. Proper grassed secure private garden - tbh I've been surprised how much time ddog has spent just sunbathing and loitering. It's the luxury option for sure, but not strictly necessary.

If you're 65 now I'd be considering the likely trajectory of your health - what shape might you be in at 75 or 80? Personally - even as a younger person - I have drawn the line at a dog that can pull me over.

All dogs need interaction, and there are lots of smaller but energetic breeds - anything from a Papillon (popular in agility circles) to a Jack Russell. The idea that smaller dogs need less exercise is a myth - even in middle age my Jack Russell X will go most of the day if you let him, and he can run rings around the uninitiated.

Im 54 and in good health.I’ve looked into Borrow My Doggy but not sure that solves anything

Labs need two long walks a day . If your prepared to commit to that. They typically spend rest of day snoozing. An older one tho at least 3.

It would be a 'no' from me for the type of dog you're looking at.
We have a Weimaraner so I understand your love of a bigger dog.
We have a large garden and he's out in it several times a day as well as three plus hours a day walking.

Also the cost of a larger breed is huge. Everything costs more than a smaller breed.
Have you considered a terrier type dog, I've always said if we couldn't have a gun dog I'd have a terrier. So much more manageable but with personality and intelligence of the kind of dog that's you're ideal pet.

We have a 5 year old border collie who has 3 good walks a day, can easily go 12 hours overnight without needing a wee or a 💩 but happily sits by our conservatory door just to get fresh air, we do have a small garden, but he’s not out there much and mainly asleep when we are indoors, so yes it’s perfectly doable. There are loads of people who have dogs in apartments and manage fine. We gave up on foreign holidays once we got our dog, yes we miss them but would miss our dog more, we now have enjoyable uk holidays. I was 58 when we got our dog as a puppy, yes it’s hard work and we walk/train him about 3 hours a day, we are both retired now.

Lack of garden isn’t an issue as long as you are happy to do lead toilet breaks.

I’ve got a tiny garden and have had high energy dogs, albeit small ones. The garden is for toilet and training only. They’ve never really run around out there. We are semi rural so have miles of quality walks a few minutes from the house.

It will be an issue with rescues though. Ours was thought to be too small by a few.