First ever dog

[bakewellbride]

We are thinking of getting a dog but I have never had one and need advice! Dh grew up with dogs and adores them. Our children absolutely love dogs too (they are 2 and nearly 6).

We live near the beach and countryside and a 5 minute walk away from a park that has a huge secured field for dogs to run around. I guess I'd be at that field daily! I'm a sahm but will get a part time job when the toddler starts school (we'd pay for someone to come and help with the dog on my working days if dh also at work that day - he does shifts so no set days).

I am active and do lots of walking as well as run 9 miles every week so the exercise doesn't scare me.

I just want to know what it's like. What is it like to actually own a dog? Is it really bad having to pick up poo all the time? Everyone scares me with their horror stories of his much work it all is but when I see dogs I just think it would be amazing and that we have a good set up.

Any words of wisdom are welcome. I am thinking of maybe a Labrador, are there any other good breeds you'd recommend?

Thank you so much for all the responses. So much to think about. I think a rescue would be better than a puppy for us.

@MonkeyTennis34 he is adorable 😍

Sounds like you are active so just take the dog on walks and your runs too.
Get training in puppy classes and continue training, they need to know their place
Lots of toys and interesting things to do
Decent harness or collar for for breed
Change your holidays to include the dog, you can get passports so can go abroad too - ours went to France and Belgium last year on the Eurostar
SOCIALISE! Dogs need to meet people and other dogs and learn the dog rules as well as human rules
Prepare for chewing and peeing what and where you don't want them to chew or pee
I'll reiterate training ... so important!
This is our Samoyed

We adopted a greyhound from The Greyhound Trust. Our children were 2,6,10. They were over the moon to have a dog.
We read the adoption pack- children to be supervised around the dog, children to stay away whilst they eat and sleep. Children did stick to the rules mostly but got a bark only whilst dog was settling in when they encroached near beds at sleep time. Once the dog was fully settled, he understood the children and he felt safe. We got him a companion from the same place after 6 months.
Children don’t much like coming on walks.
i love walking in the countryside so it’s really good for me. There are monthly walks with fellow adopters. Greyhounds are easy going, like to sleep a lot. I’m on my second/third and very happy with the breed with a family.

After years of thinking it over we acquired a beagle, He is mad but i love him soooo much and he has THE SOFTEST EARS!!

DD6 loves him too - perhaps too much- and even at her age (and she's sensible) everyone can get a tad over excited (and bitey)

It's a lot of work- dog parenting has highlighted different approaches between DH and i far more than child rearing, it makes being away from
home even for a short period complicated

but I love my dog..