Do you regret getting your dog?

[mildlysweaty]

NC

I can't comment as don't have my own experience (yet?), but interested in anecdotes as feel it could help our decisions. There are some doubts lingering.

Thanks!

In the first week I was very nervous and had slight regrets (we rescued him at 2 years old) but now 6 years later, no. He is the best thing to ever happen in our lives and he brings me so much joy and happiness and comfort.

I'm relatively housebound due to disability and illness so having his companionship has been a blessing. (My partner walks him before anyone jumps on me)

For the first few months I regretted it! But now wouldn’t change him for the world. Well maybe some days I wish his manners were better but we’re working on it…

The puppy blues are real! When they are biting you and things all the time and you are feeling you've got a furry, feral newborn and wonder what possessed you. We are 8 years past that with our dog though and she's made us laugh and smile every day. Also I am sure I'd be much fatter without the non negotiable daily walks, which are amazing mental health boosters too.

I did at 6am this morning when DDog sauntered back into the bedroom and she had peed on the living room carpet and I had to clear it up. 🙄

All forgiven this morning though, as I loves her lots.😍

Absolutely not. She's my favourite family member

Definitely not, I wish I'd got a dog sooner if anything.

They are a big responsibility but the pros massively outweigh the cons ime.

I considered this very carefully this morning walking mine with a friend and their dogs. I love my dogs however you never know what you're going to get.
In my dog owning years and theirs we've experienced the following:

Chewed furniture.
Shit and vomit, in my bed, kids bed, carpets....
Aggression to friends, family, other dogs and children (dementia, reactiveness and provocation)
Smells
Wet dogs in car,
Limits on holidays
Anxiety over their safety
Difficulty juggling separation anxiety and work
Vet fees
Behaviourist fees

This is across countless dogs and years but some of those issues are not insignificant. So yes at times I have had regrets

Mine is a rescue and a large breed. She snapped at me when we first got her and I was nervous around her for quite a while but I don’t regret getting her at all.

I probably should add I've rehomed several problems dogs, used trainers and each issue has been managed but my point stands ...it's not all wonderful otherwise I wouldn't have been asked to rehome dogs that others regretted

My dd currently has a puppy and I have dog sat a few times. He was absolutely adorable when small but the last time I looked after him at six months he was a manic nightmare. If he was mine I would definitely be having regrets. Her and her partner absolutely adore him though and are on with his training with a trainer.

Not for a second, I love my dog, I’ve always had dogs and loved them all but our current dog honestly feels like my little soul animal. He was hard work as a puppy (and truthfully can still be hard work now as a 3 year old Lab😂) but I have never for a single day regretted getting him. I think for me though I do feel a special connection to this dog because he has seen me through some of the biggest moments in my life, when we bought this house we got him so he made our house a home, he was with me through our wedding, he has seen me through my pregnancy and even on the worst days of sickness and pain and feeling fed up he was always right there with me, and now watching him with my baby girl is so incredibly special.

That’s not to say it’s been easy, it’s been lots of hard work, training, stress etc, but he gives back so much and I can’t imagine life without him.

Nope, he's fantastic and changed our lives for the better.

He is a huge commitment though and I can totally understand why some people would have feelings of regret.

No . Our dog is 14 and much nearer the end of his life than the start but I don’t regret getting him he has bought many years of joy to our home . I would say people say the puppy months are hard but they are nothing compared to the elderly years if your dog ends up with additional needs so take that into consideration.

No, never. Over four decades of gundogs and they have all been, and the current two still are the golden thread running through my life.

The first 6 months I thought "what the fuck have I done?!?" First dog.
Yes, you are limited in the things you can do and how long you can leave them. It's tricky with weekend activities as daycare is only Mon to Friday but he's been with us for 2.5 years and I work round him now.
Got absolutely soaked (drowned rat 😂) walking him on Monday, you forget during the summer that there are additional things to your walk like drying off when you get back and it can be cold and miserable 🤦🏻‍♀️

But no, he makes me smile every day, he brings so much joy that I have no regrets. Wouldn't change him for the world.

A month in with a puppy and I've had 'wtf have I done' moments but massively outweighed by the love and happiness.

The cons:
Puppies bite, a lot. And her teeth are sharp!
Potty accidents
She has taken a liking to snacking on cat poop (of our house cat so litter trays look like a buffet!) one particular low point she ate the poop then threw it up
Night wakings
Refusing to leave my side ever

Pros:
Biting is quickly getting better, still does it but 4 weeks in its a lot better
Potty training is improving
No excuses for getting up, I have to be quick to clean the litter trays and get puppy out for a wee. I feel so much better mentally and physically for being more active
Out twice a day for walks is good for puppy and the whole family
Puppy is so loving and sociable, we can take her anywhere
the cuddles are the absolute best!

Unexpectedly it's really helped my dd (9) who is in the pathway for ASD/adhd and has had really bad anxiety. Dd adores the puppy and had been so much more settled, she loves doing training and games, walking etc.

Nope. Life is harder though and I sometimes miss the ease of life without a dog.

Every day is planned around the dog. Most days this is fine, but every so often we'll have an idea and then say 'ah, what will we do with the dog....?'

Having said that yes, life is harder, it's also better. From his butt wiggle and grins you get whether you've been out for 2 hours or just taken the bin out, to all the extra outdoors and exercise you get. I wouldn't swap him for the world.

No. Love my dog so much. It is extra work and very ££. ExDH left making suddenly needing dogcare difficult. Hard to plan for all eventualities. Sometimes very demanding, wee on floor etc etc. But I still love it. It's amazing for the kids.

We always rescue so never had the puppy stuff but yes, when you’ve had a difficult day and come home to find they got into the porch and chewed your new £250 walking boots it’s a FFS moment. Similarly the curtains. The cushions. The corner of the bed. Not regret to the point of wanting them gone, but a moment of extreme eye rolls. There’s always a reason for the tricky behaviour, just got to work with it. They’re very much hostage to our terms and conditions and can only work with what we give them. It’s like having a toddler, most of us wonder at some point or other why we did it to ourselves. But then we wouldn’t be without them.

Yes, at times.

First time dog owner, although used to dogsit friends dog (who lulled us into a false sense of security).

Puppyhood, was hard, and more relentless than I imagined. They’re cute for a reason. (mind you, never fully enjoyed human baby stage either).

He’s now two and it’s a lot easier. Just got back from a lovely walk in the woods with him.

They cost a lot if money, not just the initial cost, but ongoing.

Be prepared to spend time and money on training, and not just for the six week puppy class. On walk this this morning, came across two lots of spaniels. One was lovely, friendly, and a joy. The other barked ferociously, and if was a larger breed, there’d be calls that it was a dangerous dog. So choose your breed carefully, and think about what this if dog you want. They don’t come ready formed.

Sorry, that was longer than expected.

In answer to your question, do we regret him, no, but life was easier before (partly due to car phobia at the moment, so restricting our movements).

I was the most reluctant member of the family with regards to getting a dog,
and now I am the most besotted! We have had our little dog for four years and he has had a really positive impact on our lives.
It definitely does mean more planning etc and of course it is expensive. Ours does not need a huge amount of walking though- just one or two short walks a day are enough for the breed we have.

@Mrsttcno1 Mines a lab as well, the dog that’s always advertised as a ‘good family dog to have’. They forgot to tell you you that this doesn’t kick in until two years old…

Yes and No.
I decided to get the dog when living alone but in a committed relationship where we were planning on buying together and the dog was a trial child. Puppy blues were real and I got through it. Very quickly realised I didn't want children with the man after seeing how stupid he was with the puppy/adolescent dog. The relationship ended and I was left walking the dog. Not that I minded, he's a brilliant dog and would die for me. He's the best boy, he truly is.
However, I mourn my ability to just disappear and travel. I'm single and if I want a city break or a romantic weekend away with a squeeze it takes calling in favours from family which isn't ideal.
That's my only regret.

No never . Yes you have to be a bit more organised re days out / holidays etc but they give so so much in return .
The absolute must for dog ownership is to fo your research and match the breed to your lifestyle . You also have to be prepared to train and socialise your dog , all this minimises the chance of regret .

I love my dog, but life would certainly be easier without him sometimes. We got him pre children and life revolved around the dog. Since children it's been hard to meet everyone's needs, and ultimately the dogs needs come second to the childrens so there's an element of guilt sometimes. He's 13 now though (although still acts like a pup) and I feel like the past 10 years since having kids has been a bit of a whirlwind, and he's just been dragged along for the ride, and must wonder what the hell is going on sometimes. He's happy, content, and a good dog on the whole, but stuff like planning holidays and days out, make me realise how much easier it would be if we didn't have the commitment of a dog, as just adds another element of organisition to everything we do. I won't say I regret getting him as he's brought alot of joy over the years, we all adore him, but he can be naughty and has done some annoying stuff over the years. He's obsessed with stealing food, and only last week stole dds lunchbox from her bag while we were getting ready for school, and ate the entire contents, meaning we were late for school and then he barfed up over the rug when I got back! It's another stressor in already hectic family life. But we will miss him hugely when he's gone as he's such a big (annoying!) character in our house. We won't get another dog while we have children at home, maybe when alot older and can devote most of my time to it, but I will make sure to enjoy some dog free years at some point, as it's hard work and a complete lifestyle change for sure.