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!

My darling old dog died a year ago and we miss her terribly. We had her 14 joyous years and I loved every minute of her.

People always talk about the difficulties of the puppy years, but you also need to think how will life be when the dog gets old. When illnesses and injuries become more likely, when toileting isn't so straightforward and when the dog can't go on your usual walks - or even short walks. You need to think how will that impact on your life and that of your family. When she got very old our girl had occasional seizures which meant we didn't want to leave her alone...that meant we couldn't take her with us (limited walking) and we couldn't go out. That went on for over a year. We loved her so it was that adjusting our lives wasn't a problem - but it was a sacrifice.

Also....there is a moment a few months in to getting a new dog, when the penny drops that you have this huge responsibility for a decade or more. It really does change your life.

Our dog is one of the best decisions we’ve ever made - he’s loving, loyal and full of joy! I can’t wait to get more, the puppy days were a shock but pass quickly.

However having him has been a total lifestyle change, he’s a Springer and very much needs to be ‘working’ so I spend a lot of time (and money!) on enrichment activities and gundog training etc to give him what he needs. He is intense and has a high drive but we enjoy that aspect and had prepared for that so it works for us.

Our DC are teenagers, there’s no way it would work so well if they’d been younger

Nope never,lost a Phalene last January almost 18, tried rescues, bought a border collie puppy 1/9, we already have one, have had lots of collies. 23/9 Covid first time ever! I had already elected to do the night shift, because I worked nights for over 30 years,in the spare room, I went outside twice in the night, settled her down at midnight, twice outside and she's up at 5. I let her on the bed, and she peed right through everything down to the mattress protector! Put her in a little crate next to my side of the bed, and then DH did the honours in the night. Never regretted it for one moment, and never suffered puppy blues.shes curled up on my legs now. I missed the first puppy walk after injections because of COVID, which I hated.

We had dogs pre children - they came with drawbacks in terms of going away. But we are lucky in that our family and friends have dogs. Therefore we buddy up and if it's a holiday we can't take the dog then he goes to them and theirs to us. If you can get reliable dog sitters it's great. We holiday a lot with our dog though.

Our children have grown up with dogs, it's has been challenging at times. Our latest dog is working breed Labrador. Fantastic but high energy, still has behaviours we are working on eg loose lead and not running off so far (great recall though but will not stay close). He is 3 and probably the best one so far in terms of child friendly and playful.

Not in the slightest. Not once!

Even the bits that are inconvenient are good.

On a frosty morning we have to get up and out and walk him. You know what? It’s good – it feels great to get out and get fresh air first thing. I wouldn’t otherwise, and always feel better for it.

I love him.

We have a rescue now, who came to us a little older, and they are the best dog, I adore them with all my heart and soul though they’re not a breed I ever thought I would love!

However, full disclosure, we did rehome a dog previously - on reflection the “rescue” was dubious, the whole litter presented with complex behaviour (at least two ended up in different homes, and a third in several homes) that we were unskilled and unprepared for (despite buying in advice and support), kids were scared and avoided dog completely, and it all coincided with DH having a breakdown of sorts. Everything combined was too much and so we did rehome. Waited a good while before we even contemplated a dog and dipped our toe by fostering for a local rescue first, which is how our current dog came to us. Learned a lot from the rehoming experience and we were very lucky to be able to meet and place dog with a new family where they thrived.

So I guess there are times when dog and family are not well matched but when it works, it’s fabulous!

Occasionally. I live alone with a 4 year old dog I've had from a pup. The early months were hard but it was Covid and he got me out of the house and talking to people. Now I do a dog sport with him and that's brought me a new circle of friends. But he does curtail my life a lot- as others have said everything has to be planned with him in mind- days out, travel, work even. And he costs a lot- insurance, food, boarders and walkers for when I'm at work. And I'm a lucky one- I have an easy dog and people friendly dog. I'm glad I've got him, love him very much and he's good for me and makes me happy, but it is a big commitment and one not to be taken lightly.

No and I never have. He brings me joy, and he’s the only member of the family whose needs are uncomplicated. I would be lost without him.

At first I really wondered what we had done but that passed. She has been the best thing to happen to our family. But... she's old and after she goes I will not be rushing for another dog. They are a huge tie.

Yes. And I knew I would.

But DH and the kids wanted one so I gave in.
If that is your position... don't.

Spontaneity died the day we got him. Thirteen years ago. Thirteen years of having to book kennels 4 months in advance for a weekend away. Of having to be back home within 4-5 hours on a "day" out.
Of course the kids... who were going to walk him every day, brush him, play with him, feed him - got too busy with exams and life and I got left with the drudgery.
He is now recovering from an op and my world has got even smaller... though £680 spent on him this week means I couldn't do anything anyhow!
I retired this year. Means I get to spend more time with the dog.

Living the dream.

No, not since she was about 3-4 months old when we brought her home at exactly 8 weeks. The puppy blues are a real thing though, I was a huge adjustment and I did wonder a few times if I'd made a massive mistake. She's 2 now and I love her so so much, probably show her more physical love than anyone else and I wouldn't be without her x

Just to add, I think the stage of life you're at when you get a dog is important as well. I got mine when my youngest started school so she filled a huge hole in my life! But I can imagine having a dog THEN a baby is a totally different ballgame...

Yes! I believe a dog is for life and will love him til he's dead but after 18 years of dogs, I just want to be able to have a spontaneous night away or not have to come home after any event or go abroad without the stars aligning to ensure he has appropriate care because he's a difficult dog. I've been abroad once in that time because my mum had him. All other times it's the UK and we've had to lug around a big fat dog. He's 6 so about 4-6 years of it remaining.

If you do get a dog get one that can board or go in a kennel.

The short answer is no.
The longer answer is that its like a set of old fashioned kitchen scales where 2 sides need to balance. On the one side is a pup who will take so much from you and will not be as you expected. This weighs one side of the scale down so heavily that its not worth it unless on the other side you have something equally weighty to counteract that. What counteracts puppy chaos is different for everyone. It may include combination of commitment, experience, ideal home environment for dog you chose, large family of partner and older children who will lessen the load and make socialisation a dawdle, good support network, gentle dog as playmate etc. Later on it will include a strong bond with your puppy.
In the early days when the puppy needed more from me, understood less, and was less bonded, the scale tipped so I regretted my pup most if the time. Now, when he needs less, understands more and we're more bonded, the vast majority of the time I'm glad he's here. There is still the odd 5 minutes where I think I made a mistake. This is generally where he's seriously misbehaved or I'm unwell so have been unable to meet his needs.

I don't regret it but sometimes I do resent that we can never be spontaneous. Not for long though because I love our pooch so much

I would add to this, your lifestyle, how you feel about dogs, the individual dog you get, how well socialised they are and how good a match they are for you all makes a huge difference too.
They become part of the family which makes the commitment feel lighter. It's hard to express without sounding ridiculous. But it's just like when you love someone. You dont regret loving them because they need stuff from you. You just love them. I love my dog more every day. Goodness knows where it will end. I've only had him since last year and he can be a young hooligan occassionally but I already can't imagine life without him.

What I meant to say was I was adding to my last post, not to anyone else's! :-)

Yes, I'm sorry but I massively regret it two years on. I swear to god that I'm not a terrible person. Have always had dogs. I just can't stand this dog

Not me but my friend. Got a lovely dog, as good as a dog can get, but she says she just didn’t realise how much it would curtail her life. Just not being to ‘just’ do something and always having to think of the dog.

she’s happy enough but says she won’t get another one.

Yes, absolutely. I have no intentions of ever getting another one, and I resent how limited every part of life is because of the dog. No one to look after it, no ability to be spontaneous, every day out depends on them and how long I can spend out before we need to get back for them. Walks several times a day regardless of weather or how you feel. Do I take out on them- absolutely not- and yes I enjoy spending time with them- we are currently snuggled up on the couch whilst they snore and fart quite happily, and they are well taken care of, but I wish I hadn't got one and had thought about the limitations more!

If you have doubts don't get one it's not fair.
They need lots of time and attention, walking, making sure you always have plenty of food and vets are expensive and if you want to go abroad you have to find a good boarder and a lot of dogs don't like to be left for long periods.
Also if you work full time and like to have a busy social life, don't get one it is really unfair.

A bit yes he's a lot bigger than expected and two walks a day gets tedious pretty quickly. He also gets territorial and barks which is annoying.

He basically has a different personality to what we hoped. But I still love him.

Thank you for these responses, it's a lot to think about! Got to consider lots of things that are currently taken for granted. Would be from puppy for those who were asking, which I understand comes with lots of challenges too.

We always have had 2 dogs,used to be 3, because neither of us can imagine a house without a dog. I do have friends in flats,no garden who are completely tied,4 walks a day. We've used dog flaps for 25 years, when they get older they have the complete run of the garden. At the moment,there is a section about 50ft fenced off for them, because we have a year old border collie who digs, the other one now 9 used to. We can then go out for a few hours if we want. Not interested in queuing at airports or anything, retired to be near the sea, just 10 minutes away, ironically have had skin cancer twice, including this year,so have to be careful.

We have a lab too. There was definitely “what the fuck have we done??” moments in the first few months and 9-12 months when he was a teenager but now he’s 3 and he’s the best thing we’ve ever done and I wouldn’t be without him. He’s never destroyed anything but his own toys and was house trained within a day though.