Tell me honestly what's involved in having a dog

[Holidayfix]

Both DC would have loved a dog growing up. I'm not a dog person, it's not that I dislike them, I've just never been around them. With DC my default answer was always it wouldn't be fair, we're all out all day.

However, I'm now widowed and about to retire (early, very fit) and adult DC work shifts so there one of them at home more.often than not.

They've said now I'm retiring we could get a dog and infind I don't hate the idea. It would be company in my widowed state and love to get out for a run or walk, which I do at least daily, so I could get it lots of exercise.

I'm less keen on the idea of all the additional cleaning, keeping the house free of hair and smells. Plus no doubt there's loads more to do I haven't thought of.

If you are getting a puppy the worst thing is toilet training them. It’s very labour intensive, involves watching them almost constantly. Then you have to gradually work up to leaving them on their own for longer and longer and get them used to sleeping on their own. You have to put time into training them.

After the first year or so it is easy. We have a happy calm dog now and we all love him. The worst part is having to find a minder for him and not being able to go off for the whole day carefree.

Time, effort and money. It is worth it though. You will not be able to do things spontaneously and going overseas can be difficult. They can be messy, dirty and smelly, but they are also adorable, daft, heart warming and great company.

I miss mine still after nearly two years, but currently cannot have another. When my circumstances allow, I'm going to foster for a rescue.

Your adult children are very unlikely to live with you for the whole of a dog's expected lifespan, so do think about that.

Also think hard about how much walking you are likely to want to do now, in five years and in ten. Pick a breed with care. I have a spaniel, and I'm ageing faster than she is when it comes to long walks.

I don't mind mud. Which is just as well, really, because the dog is a hippo in disguise.

Realistically,if you aren't keen on additional cleaning, I wouldn't advise getting a dog. I have had dogs since I was 12,I'm 74 now and cannot imagine life without dogs. I am very fussy,we live in an open plan bungalow. We have a little porch, then straight into the living room... kitchen at the end,so we have laminate flooring everywhere. In winter I walk them on a local beach, because the parks are muddy. I've had 3 rescues,2 were aggressive and returned worked on one for 2 years. Always have 2 dogs,at the moment 2 border collies,one 9, and one. I always say,it's a baby but not in a nappy or cot. I used puppy pads, and a crate beside our bed,out twice in the night, and then up at 5am. Like babies,you don't know how long toilet training will take.you have to decide what breed. Figure in food, toys,treats, bedding,vet bills. Collars,leads, harnesses, which will be outgrown. Car they both fit in,in our case. Training, working up to leaving them,we have used dog flap for 25 years. Puppies bite,chew your house. Your life is planned around them. Mine are allowed to sleep in the bedroom. We don't go away and leave them. We actually had a holiday last week,first time in 16 years,took the dogs with us. Would I be without them,hell no!

Choose the bread carefully. I have a shihtzu.

Imagine having a filthy cold or gastric enteritis and having to walk a dog in foul weather at 0730.

It’s very expensive for insurance, vets visits, food, paraphernalia, grooming, possible damage to your home, a filthy hairy car, doggy smell, possibly crying & howling, annoying the neighbours, when you go out without it. Behaviour issues with your dog or others. Accidents on the flooring when they are poorly. The desperate sadness when they need to be put to sleep.

I’ve been through it all a few times. I love dogs but I’m a realist so never again.

Imagine having a filthy cold or gastric enteritis and having to walk a dog in foul weather at 0730.
That is why breed matters. Mine is a fair-weather dog so wouldn't be fussed about going out at 7.30am in the rain. He would quickly pee in the garden and go back to bed. And when anyone is ill and in bed all day he acts like he is living his best life, and will spend all day napping next to the person who is sick.

Are you very houseproud? And do you have enough income so you can get insurance and sitters, boarding etc if you need to go away?

If the answer to the first is yes, then think carefully about the size of the dog and how much extra cleaning you're prepared to do. A puppy will often need to sleep near or with you for at least the first few weeks/months - does that make you uncomfortable?

If the answer to the second is no, then don't - dogs are expensive and you can never predict how expensive.

If the answer to the first is no and the second is yes then go for it. I've had my first ever dog for eight months now and he is the joy of my life - despite all the sleepless nights, anxiety, adolescent hooliganism, hair and mud and all the rest of it. The joy is worth every bit of it and he is pure joy. Well, joy and troublemaking.

Are you remotely house proud?!

We are a year into having our dog.
I was house proud but I also felt a dog would enhance our family.
Yes dog hair is on things, toys all over and all the extra work but having a dog has changed my life. I wouldn't be without him. Best decision we've made.

Imagine having another toddler again - one that doesn't grow up until, one day, it's a sick relative or an elderly parent and you're responsible for caring for them and easing their pain.

If you can accept that, then start thinking about cleaning, finances, commitment, life-style changes etc.

Honestly, though, I think it's a joy like no other. My mum bred for 30 years and she always said that a dog's love was pure and unconditional in a way that no other living being could emulate. And I have to say I 100% agree. Yes, they do need a lot of love (see my first sentence) but the loyalty and adoration you get really is more than worth it - at least to me. It's not just a dog, it's a best friend (as cliche as it sounds)!

I loved dogs but was never keen as quite a tie to the house ,fitting around jobs, social life etc but ex partner talked me into it 9 years ago .
im on my second as unfortunately lost my first boy too young , but I couldn’t see myself being without a dog now .
It’s a big commitment, financially & time wise . I work so pay to have him walked, plus insurance , food , vets , dog sitting if I go away ( rarely ) .
As others have said research the breed, exercise/ grooming requirements.
My current boy is 3 years old now , and very easy , can be left 5/6 hours without issue , puppy hood was hard , quite often thought WTF have I done , although I found toilet training super easy , like children they’re all different.
A young adult rescue sounds like a good fit for you, their personality will already be evident .
Would I change him? Not for all the money in the world, am incredibly bonded to him and he’s worth every penny and second I’ve spent with him , in my experience they are most definitely man’s /womans best friend , you’ll never know love and loyalty like it .
Keep us posted ,
Good luck x

Rescues are crying out for fosterers, why don’t you try that and see how you go. If you think, ‘this isn’t for me’ there’s no drama is there.

Pet insurance and vet bills are expensive. Mine had a few operations. Kerching! £££££!

Having a puppy is labour intensive, they poop, pee, cry, need training, socialising, puppy classes, they’ll bite your stuff and they’ll bit let you too. A puppy is going to cost you £1500-£2000k ish.
You have to walk the dog, come rain, shine or your own ill health. If you can’t you might need to pay someone else to do it.
You can’t leave the dog all day/night/ hours on end.
They vomit occasionally, probably on your carpets.
They’re hairy and they smell - you have to keep on top of hygiene, grooming, cleaning, vacuuming, wash their bedding to ensure your home stays clean.
You have to pick up poop..

BUT they bring so much joy, companionship and love. Recently lost mine, he was the best boy, I miss him and I always will. My soul dog.

Still grieving, but I know right now I’ll get another one day because I cannot face a dog free future.

Oh, we wouldn’t be without ours btw but the house is a shithole lol

choose your breed carefully or, if you can, consider fostering/adopting and buy a decent hoover

Oh and don’t buy white bedding …
Big mistake…. huge 😂

Honestly, having a puppy was really easy. Nowhere near as bad as munsnet would have you believe.

I would echo most of the above. I would add to volunteer at your local rescue centre. It is likely that you will find your four legged companion that way too.

My advice is that if you're not 100% certain that you want a dog, don't get one.

I've seen so, so many threads on here from people who were pressured into getting a dog and are now thoroughly pissed off because their entire life now revolves around them and they feel too guilty to re-home.

They're expensive.
They're time-consuming.
They require a huge amount of training.
You can't leave them on their own for ages.
They need walking everyday no matter how tired you are or how shit you feel.
There are a surprisingly large number of places that don't allow dogs.
Spontaneity almost goes out of the window as you have to make sure someone is around for the dog, or you need to pay for a professional.

I absolutely love my dog and I wouldn't be without him, but he's a big tie, and I can totally understand why people who don't love their dogs get resentful.

I was stupid and picked a dog that doesn’t malt thinking less cleaning but then you have to pay for grooming!! That’s expensive. I think I’d prefer to get a malting dog and use the money saved on grooming for a robot vacuum to come out at night would work out much cheeper long term!

you know about the walking. That has to happen rain or shine even if you feeling poorly. You can skip a day if vomiting your guts but they go a bit crazy if you don’t walk them and it’s cruel.

the other thing is holidays are limited with a dog.

the puppy phase need going I to with your eyes open. And lots of dogs have a teenage phase where they energetic and push boundaries. 3 year old dogs are by far the best imo.

pick your breed carefully. I’ve had dogs all my life and love a collie so intelligent but LOTS of walking and need mental challenges. Had a lovely dachshund westie cross who was perfect -May she rest in piece. Never ever ever will I get a poodle cross ever again. My cockerpoo cannot be left at all not even for an hour while I pop to the shops without her whining. I’ve met a few cockepoo owners who also report they are anxious dogs. This was my first pedigree dog and in future I’m sticking to mutts

It’s like having another child to look after.
They become part of the family with all the bells, smells, and whistles that go with it.
Its a big commitment and sometimes can be restrictive.
If you like having your freedom to be able to just go out for the day at the drop of a hat then it’s not a good idea. Lots of planning ahead is required and if you have lots of support around then that is an advantage.
They can be very rewarding and good company.

They can be dirty, smelly & hairy
They require a lot of training & reinforcement
You have to work your life around meeting their needs
They get ill & cannot tell you what hurts
Then they break your heart into a million pieces

"I'm less keen on the idea of all the additional cleaning, keeping the house free of hair and smells."
I've kept at least one dog for the last 35 years and you're right, there is extra work involved. Hoovering needs to be done everyday: doors, the lower part of walls and skirting boards need wiping down frequently due to mud splashes and dirt.

I've never had a house that smells of dog, that's not just my perception, people often comment on it. My dogs have been bathed twice a year maximum - (with dog shampoo not human stuff) - as over-washing robs the coat of essential oils. What I've always done though is wash my dogs' bedding weekly. Some people regard this as OTT but dog bedding gets dirty quickly with daily exposure to mud, dirt and often water. Add to this the natural oil in a dog's coat and bedding soon becomes smelly. If bedding is kept nice and clean, the house won't smell and neither will your dog.

A gentle, daily brush will catch a lot of the fur and reduce hoovering.

Some other tips:
Dog theft is rife so please don't leave your dog tied up outside a shop and keep a close eye on him/her even in your own garden.

I'm sure you already know not to leave a dog in a car on a warm/hot day. Likewise in the summer, exercise only during the coolest parts of the day as heat stroke can quickly cause a dog to collapse and die. There are cooling products available which are great to have in the summer - cooling vests, cooling pads, etc. In the rare event we're having a heat wave and the coolest parts of the day are overnight, skip exercise for a day or two. Your dog will be fine.

In terms of food and exercise. Allow two hours after feeding to pass before exercising your dog; or allow one hour after exercise to pass before feeding your dog. This is especially true in the warmer weather. This prevents 'bloat' or stomach torsion which is another potential killer.

I'd advise you to do some research into health issues in your chosen breed or breeds because, very sadly, virtually every popular breed has health issues. You may decide to get a first cross (the parents are both pedigrees but of different breeds.) Crossbred dogs are much healthier than pedigree dogs.

Toys - I'm a big fan of Kong dog toys because whilst they are more expensive, they are virtually indestructible.

As a previous poster said, the hard work is in the first year or so. Decide in advance what behaviour you want (and don't want) from your dog and attend dog training classes with a qualified instructor. Obedience training gives a dog an outlet for its mental energy and dogs enjoy it. It also creates a bond between you and your dog.

Good luck and enjoy!

It is a lot of effort and cleaning. You have to be 1000% in. However, you could save half the heartache by getting a rescue/ older dog incl failed or retired guide dog

Hello @Holidayfix I’m also a widow. I have a miniature poodle and frankly I don’t know how I would cope without her. She’s a reason to get up in the morning, I let her out into the garden, then she has her breakfast. Once I’m washed and dressed we head for the park. I go to the same park morning and afternoon and I have dog walking friends and my dog has doggy friends. This routine is so good for me.

I have had dogs before but my poodle is absolutely the easiest dog you could wish for. She was very quickly housetrained, she settled straight away at night, she’s never chewed anything, she’s easy to train, she’s loving and great company. Poodles don’t shed and she doesn’t smell. On wet/muddy days she wears a coat, which keeps her pretty clean. She has her paws wiped before we go into the house. I’m pretty house proud but I don’t feel my house gets unduly dirty because of my dog.

It’s not cheap to own a dog. There’s food, toys, bedding, grooming and vet’s bills. I also have to choose holidays where I can take her. However, I wouldn’t change a single thing. I love her so much and she shows me unconditional love in return, she’s my life.

Here's a handy pie chart for you.