Tell me the best thing/s about having a dog

[painkiller86]

We are due to get a dog later this year (a Boxer) and sometimes I find myself a bit anxious and overthinking it.

Here are the facts:
One 6yo child (very keen on animals, gentle and loving and also understands when they need to be left alone
Countryside living - everyone here has dogs so enough space etc
Had the breed before, though a family pet so not as directly responsible - also had another boxer in the family and have had incredibly great experiences with both
I wfh three days a week (off the rest)
Husband wfh 2-3 days a week

I think it's just the massive change we will go through adjusting to a family pet. I need to add this was my idea and husband & child are very much on board and husband will share the care. Dogs are really really worth it right?

Best thing: The unconditional love. And it truly is just amazing. They are so reliant on you for everything. When mine throw themselves into my lap and snuggle (no other way to describe it) down into me...it's just perfect. And I think the love increases with age. My dogs definitely worship/love me more now than they did when they were puppies. And when I'm sad they come and cuddle me. When I'm happy they share my joy. It's not like a child or a partner where sometimes they're 'too busy' to do things (like go for a walk, or have a hug etc) - a dog NEVER is because you are their entire world.

I love dogs. So the bits that other people might have (drool, puppy biting, fur, not being able to have spontaneous plans if the dogs can't come) don't bother me. Because I wouldn't want to do it if my dog wasn't there.

Walking WITH my dog. Not walking her.
Training and playing. seeing them develop and get better at something because they want to do it.
Cuddling in at the end of the day.
I enjoy researching food and toys and trying new things.
Zoomies.

Dogs are a lifestyle choice. They are not dissimilar to children in that things have to be planned around them. They can be left (when they’ve grown up a bit) but not for too long. I don’t find them a tie as most things we do involve her but it can be different if you have young children.

Best thing is obviously the love, the companionship, the sweet feeling of never being alone.

Another thing that I absolutely love about having a dog is that it anchors me in a routine and it gives everything a purpose.
I love waking up early for our morning walk, I love when he signals that it's time for his breakfast, I love when I say that I have to go back home because my guy needs to be fed, I love when I plan my day around the imperative of going to the pet store via the park to buy some tasty treats, I love when I feel sluggish at work and I find motivation by thinking that I need money to provide for him etc...

Before my dog, I had been dogless for 18 months. My life was WAY easier. But it's just a 100 times better now.

All of the above & then some.
Have to say though that I’ve never in my life been without dogs so never had the life shift that you are worried about. I just could not begin to envisage my life without a dog. I’ve only been without for one short period of two years, horrible, & only once for a short time had just the one. My dogs come in multiples, have five currently.
Theres no companionship like it or the unconditional love & bond that grows between you. It really is special, I’d even say magical. Unlike children they never want to be away from you, even as teenagers, they don’t long to leave home or bring you their washing ( well not much). They give you a reason to live if you’re depressed & companionship if you’re lonely. I know I’ve missed out loads of reasons, I’m just so used to having them it’s like breathing.

We had a few years grieving/ freedom from dogs until recently.
Dog ownership does add a bit of complexity to life but goodness how I’ve missed it! I really didn’t realise how much I benefited from dogs in my life.
Routine, getting out of the house every day, twice a day. The training, the joy when he ‘gets it’. The love, the trust.
The good morning ‘hello’. The pride when he carries a stick home. The snuggles and cuddles. The fact that he relaxes completely on my lap.
Watching him run and play with utter abandon.
Mostly, he reminds me every day that every moment of life is worth relishing. All my dogs have loved life and made mine much more positive one. I only hope I do the same for them.

We have 2 collie cross dogs. They are a tie, restrict what we can do massively, always want attention but I love them and love having them. We are their world. I love the walks and seeing them get excited running through the woods, the excitement when one of us comes homes even if we only popped to the shop for 10 minutes, the way they look at us with total love and adoration, the snuggles on the sofa ...I could go on.

We have changed our life to accommodate them and I wouldn't have it any other way.

I have a beautiful Westie
He gives me pure unconditional love, makes me laugh, knows when I'm in pain
Gives me such joy and gives me more than he could ever take
Now my DC are adults, he gives me a purpose and a routine.
He's 8 now and has enriched my life beyond measure.
They are a tie though, and you have to consider their needs in everything you do, but it's so worth it

I have a gsd. She is very much a one person dog. She's my dh sidekick. She gives cuddles rarely and can be quite aloof.
But the trust she places in me. The snuggles when she does deign to. Her face when she knows you know what she wants. Watching her romp around just having fun. It lifts my heart.
Now if I can just get her to stop trying to trust the postie with her barking.....

train and socialise, train and socialise - repeat.....

Take for short journeys in car every day for first few weeks even if just round the block to get them used to car travelling

Leave alone for short amounts of time, right from the start and increase to avoid separation anxiety at night and later on

the dog will love you for it in the long run and you will love your dog even more for being the perfect family member!

Its never too late to train.

I wouldn't want to romanticise it too much because TBH my 9 month old lab pup can be a teenage rascal, he's still very much in training. I have high hopes that when he reaches adulthood, he'll become everything I dreamt of in a dog.
At the moment, the best thing about having a dog is simply having him here. I love him. He's my best friend. He's trainable, so willing to sieze happiness in the moment given the slightest opportunity. In a room full of new people, where usually no-one would listen to me much, he does. I'm always the most important person in the room to him no matter what. He's so consistent with that.

Dogs teach us a lot. They are sweet and kind and funny and give you more love than you know what to do with.

We lost our old dog last year and the few weeks we had before getting our puppy felt somewhat empty (but much cleaner 😬). Our dog is the centre of our family.

The unconditional love, fixed routine including a daily walk and it brings the family together. I have a teenage DC who may not be keen to hug me but we can both hug the dog on the sofa.

Also the de-stressor side, lie next to a dog, stroke them and copy their breathing - you can feel your blood pressure come down.

They teach you to value the simplicity of life.

Boxers come with their own complexities which you’ll know about if you’ve been around the breed before. But on the positive the unlimited love that particular breed gives and the comedy value, it’ll add to your life if you just accept the restrictions dog ownership entails.

Dogs are the best

The company,
the make you go out and about. Like even if it's just a short walk you still went out and did something and give you the urge to go somewhere and explore .
The love they give
The conversations you can have with others about dogs
The fact they're happy about really small simple things

These are amazing thank you, I smiled at every post and it's making me think about things (positive!) I hadn't considered!

As we have only one child I also like the idea of the bond they will build. We are getting a female so she isn't likely to grow as big, I know a pp mentioned not getting a boxer but we have been through the breeds and just keep coming back to this! We previously owned bengal cats so have a tendency to go for extremes 🤣

I'm very, very much looking forward for more reasons to get out the house but very little motivation to just go for a short walk alone.

Thanks to all for these beautiful posts. Always open to hearing more if anyone stumbles across this thread from now on 😊

I have a very new puppy. He’s hard work, needs a lot of company, training and consideration but he’s also fabulous company, always welcoming and always loving. He’s a ball of fluff, funny and good fun. It’s like having another child, but one that always is happy to see you (my DC are shuffling into teen years so joy in my presence isn’t a given). I also love seeing my DC care for him and have fun with him, he brings out their softer side and they are lovely with him.

Coming down in the morning to someone who's delighted to see you.

Having to get out for exercise whatever the weather.

They make you laugh every day (and sometimes cry 😬)

It’s amazing but be sooooooo so so so sure and so careful on breed too. Love ddog (cocker spaniel) to bits but my youngest (9) gets over excited playing with him, dog gets over excited and I end up sitting in with him or walking him while they play chasing (where I used to be able to play/ stand/ watch them). He is an escape artist- not ok as we’re rural and there’s cows and sheep and a trigger happy farmer and a dodgy road that he’s run down the middle of a few times now. He has zero sense (he’s 2)

He resource guards the couch sometimes in which case in the middle of a family movie myself or dh has to go out and sit with him. Bringing the kids to school he tries to come with us sometimes and we end up late trying to get him back to the kitchen.

Best bits- he’s amazingly happy, fun, and fits in with our family so well. Sometimes I just sit petting him for ever! Love him to tatters but we will never own a dog after him. (Is just a warning as I wish I’d listened to people saying that phrase)

Dogs are just the best. For me my doggy always knew when I was upset or unwell and just came and laid on me. She was the comfort I needed when I was going through a shit relationship and a really bad illness. I know my nephew's dog has been the same for him when he was going through a bit of a difficult time at school - your kid will love him. If didn't live in a flat I'd get another tomorrow! Honestly you won't regret it. And yeah the being forced out to walk are a bit of a bonus 😅

Also boxers are brilliant!

I enjoy the companionship and the interaction. I walk a lot, but I'm not alone because I'll have the dogs in range - I always know where they are, to keep them out of trouble, and we play daft games and do odd bits of training on almost all our walks.

Watching them playing with each other can be hilarious.

I can't imagine life without them. I grew up with dogs, and have had dogs as an adult for >20 years.

Just the love. The way they look at you and you know you’re the centre of their world.

Also the health benefits! Having pets in the home makes us and our kids more resilient to germs. The daily walking is good for our health. Stroking a pet lowers blood pressure and helps us relax. Personally, I feel my mental health benefits hugely from having a dog. The snuggles and the walks are a tonic. And as PP said watching dogs and how they operate- sleep, stretch, eat, walk- repeat. They are in the moment all the time and they experience such joy at the most basic things- when I’m bogged down with the weight of living, watching how my mutt enjoys his simple life is so calming.

They get better! Our Lab is nearly 4 and he's calmed down a lot. He still managed to steal half my sandwich the other day though (carefully leaving the bottom half!).

OP - we have an only child too. We joke our dog is our second child/her sibling. He gets jealous when she gets cuddles and levers his way into the hug, so it becomes three way. She's had to get used to him get attention ahead of her sometimes, but when she needs some down time he will sit with her and she loves to cuddle him when she needs a bit of comfort. We all love him to bits.

Interestingly, there is small study that shows human heartbeats slow and synchronize with their dogs. https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/health/bond-between-man-and-dog-is-closer-than-you-thought--how-canines-hearts-are-in-sync-with-ours/news-story/0da1b9ff9d17f25d3114a3fb89fecbfe

Just the pure unfiltered joy - he makes us laugh everyday either doing something ridiculous or mischievous, brings everyone together (teen DC always come on walks at weekends, they mess about and play with him, laugh and it’s honestly some of my happiest moments). He loves us with a loyalty that just makes my heart swell.

Puppyhood was hard, a real shock to the system of how much he disrupted our relatively easy life. He was a whirlwind!

He’s also stinky, grubby, greedy, expensive and takes up all my time. But I wouldn’t change it for anything!

Ours has a brilliant sense of humour. She also cuddles up to you when you need a cuddle. They are always pleased to see you.

Puppy's are awful little gits - but you get a dog at the end - just hold on to that thought.

Get you out and about even on days when neither you or the dog want to leave the house.

They are so beautiful - every owner thinks their dog is the most beautiful or handsome dog in the world.

Thank you. These are so beautiful to read. I hope you all enjoyed reflecting! 🥹🥹❤️