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!

Neediness in my children (which remains and will for some time, just changes and lessens in some ways) is different because I love them in a way I could never love an animal. And I can see them growing towards independence in a way that an animal never will. Plus, we viewed it as being responsible to wait until our children were a little older to get a dog, so it's not like it's 12 years of overlapping neediness.

My dog is incredibly well loved by my children and dh. He is extremely well cared for by me. He has an excellent life that he enjoys very much. When he's gone, there won't be so much as an ant farm crossing the threshold ever again.

I get that you feel differently about your dog.

It was a response to a comment stating:
Dogs restrict your lifestyle
So the reply was:
Kids restrict your lifestyle.
There is no "and" but it helps if you read it in context.

Exactly.

Thank you. I understand your perspective better now.

I think I've been very lucky with my dogs in that I've never felt that frustration towards them. But I'm beginning to see that it's not so easy for everyone; we all have different lives with different priorities/commitments and a life with dogs clearly doesn't suit everyone.

No, no, a million times no! I've never regretted having any of my dogs.

Nope. Although I do curse sometimes when I have to walk her in the rain!

People seem to get heated on this but it doesn't seem that hard to me. Dogs, even the best easiest ones, are a tie. They restrict your life and cost money, potentially a lot of both if they are troubled or sickly dogs. They can be absolutely glorious and such a source of joy that it's hard to express. But you shouldn't get one because someone in your house wants one, and the impact on you and family members shouldn't be underestimated. I adore mine but when he goes I will have a break between him and another dog just so I can do other things.

Sometimes, we rescued our dog 5 yrs ago, he has had a load of health issues since then but is now 10 yrs old. i love him to bits but DD has in the last 2 years or so, got much worse about the dog hairs that are inevitable, his annoying barking and bad breath ( he could do with some teeth out but has a heart murmur and epilepsy ) Her reactions to the dog are the issue

saved my life 2yrs ago.i slipped and she barked till some one came to help
cat did the same last year.kept putting his nose deep in my mouth ,strange right,a week later my doc sent me for a catscan i had lung cancer doc told me he knows about alot of animals their human were ill before he did
both babied me as i healed lots of kisses , head butts they would sandwiche me all night until i got up
past boi saved people pulled swimmers in trouble 150lbs of wolfdog it was his job to help alot he lasted 15 yrs old /
even squirrels kittens/all babies were his

We got 2 and I massively regretted it for the first 18 months. I was the last in the family to be persuaded and the one that did all the hard graft with getting up, cleaning up, feeding, walking, training. It was awful. Kids at school and DH was unfortunately called away for work most weeks. I remember walking them and being in tears over their behaviour.
They chewed skirting boards and anything left lying around. Tried to escape out of the door every time. Pissed on my duvet on my bed several times just because they could (toilet trained by this point so was just a territorial thing).

They are almost 2 now and we have to be really vigilant on walks with behaviour so walks are not fun or relaxing at all but in the house they are delightful. I think in one more year we will have got to the stage where I will enjoy them fully. It's been harder than having kids.

I forgot about the car sickness. Both were severely car sick every time we went in the car, within 3 minutes of driving. We had to medicate them for almost a year for long journeys. They finally outgrew it but we still get the odd time it happens.
And the vet bills 😱 This week alone we've spent almost £200 because they've run through bushes into something they're allergic to and come out in a blistery itchy rash.
One chased rabbits through brambles and is stupid enough to have her eyes open so has scratched her eyeballs. She's done this 4 times.