Remind me why I don’t want a puppy

[wheretoyougonow]

My very much loved dog died 2 years ago (old age) I was heartbroken. Agreed that we wouldn’t get another dog as our children are now (just!) adults and we don’t want to have the tie a dog brings.

I was absolutely fine with that plan until a friend told me her dog is expecting and will offer us first refusal on a puppy if we want one. It’s an exactly the type of dog I would choose and I love the mum to bits.

Adult kids are saying they would help out - they were brilliant with our last dog.

Now I want another dog 😁 I think I might have some rose tinted glasses on though as I loved my dog so much and have tried to forget the time she ate through a wall 😂

Please remind me of the harder side to having a puppy/dog.

You’ve come to the right place to be put off op, MH mostly hates dogs🤣

I will never be without a dog. They bring so much joy and happiness to me that it’s worth giving up a 2 week holiday for! Getting back early is ok for me too.

My wonderful dog is 13.5, has diabetes & he’s deaf, blind and probably not go very long left. It will take me years to cope with the grief of losing him & my DD has never know life without him either. They’ve been best friends since she was born.

But I will still eventually get another one. I can’t imagine my life without.

I’m finding it fascinating that so many people adore their dogs despite the absolute horrors named above. It’s much much worse than having a baby by the sound of it! I had one as a child but always wanted a dog as an adult. I couldn’t cope with the mess and lack of freedom though. Plus I hate the smell of dogs.

I absolutely adore my dog and wouldn't be without him, he's 12 years old and honestly I wish he would live forever.......but when that awful time comes ( hopefully it's still a long way off) we've decided not to get another dog. We spend a fortune on his insurance, and when we go away the dog boarding fees are extortionate. Also I hate leaving him so we only ever go away for 5 days max. Our days out are hampered as we've always got to get back for him. I love him to bits though.

If you want, you can borrow my male chi. He is the canine equivalent of the contraceptive pill against puppy adoption. Despite extensive socialisation, he hates men, children, and other dogs, and cats that are not black, and people wearing hats. He expresses this hatred by attempting to kill the object of loathing despite being 3 inches tall and being born with only half his teeth. His body is the vessel for approximately 1 million demonic entities.

Honestly, though, you'd still end up falling up in love with him and wanting one because he's a dog and they do that to us. No matter how many shoes they chew, how many carpets they ruin while toilet training, no matter how many times they attempt to murder the Amazon delivery man, we will still love them. It's like some kind of black magic (I blame the demonic entities most of them house within themselves). Therefore, I vote get the puppy.

Sorry, but your post is a bit extreme. Yes these things have happened to some dogs, but highly unlikely. I volunteered for dog rescues for many years. I remember 2 cases with bad skin conditions. And know of none during that time that had to have their eyes out! I did however read recently where a dog had 1 eye removed.

We have had 3 puppies over the years and 3 rescue dogs. All of which never had any problems.

From early on you can train your dog to learn to be alone. Starting from 10 mins at a time. Love, but don't over coddle them. If you make them need you too much separation anxiety can creep in. They need to feel independent from you. This doesn't mean pushing them away, it means that they can be happy in their own company, whether you are in the house or not.

Expect things to be chewed for the teething period 🤣

Have you chosen any names yet 😁🥰

I love dogs but they are so much hassle, expense and mess. Always wanting something from you, even when you've satisfied all their needs. Take up so much time. Life is so, so simple without.

OP don't you know that on MN you're not allowed a cockapoo or any type of Doodle??

We have a springerXpoodle(springapoo if you will). Bonkers, nuts, mad are all terms I'd use for her. But she's the best dog we could have ever asked for.

Needy though, and I can imagine anything crossed with a cocker spaniel will be extra needy so make sure you're prepared for that!

Don't take the doodle hate to heart OP. It's a divisive topic, but there are people with opinions everywhere.

if you want the dog, get the dog.

Doodles are unpredictable in their breeding and you never know what you're going to get (dang it even the colour isn't nailed at birth!) I say that as an F1b cockerpoo owner, so I'm no hater! I think it's no more unpredictable than bringing a rescue into your home. If you can rub along with the "I wonder what character this pup is going to have" and love them and work with them no matter what (but like kids I suppose) then go for it.

As I said upthread, I have had a cockapoo for over 14 years now - got him before they became fashionable. I was slaughtered on here when we first got him - accused of supporting puppy farmers, the lot. People were gleefully predicting endless health issues and expense and if I had a £ for everyone who told me I should have got a Staffie instead, I'd be bathing in Champagne every day.
In those early days, we'd be stopped several times a week by people begging to know what type of dog he was. I predicted then that a craze was on its way. For sure, no one needs to ask nowadays.
I do wonder if part of the issue with some of them being fussy/yappy and having separation anxiety and drama-queen behaviour is to do with owners thinking they're just little teddy bears (look at how many are called Ted) and therefore molly-coddling and babying them?

I know of two people who ended up with dogs that just looked like cocker spaniels. Both stopped telling people they were cockapoos in the end and just said they were spaniels.
I spent the first year obsessing about what he'd look like fully-grown but to be honest, it largely depends how he's groomed. Just after he's been clipped, he looks very foxy - 10 weeks on and he's a shaggy sheep.

My vet told me that something goes awry when you cross a cocker spaniel with a poodle because you have two very intelligent, active dogs.

Tell your friend to stop breeding backyard dogs!

If you DO want another dog, buying from this friend is not the way

I definitely can’t give you a useful answer OP as I am nearly two weeks in after getting my first puppy and it’s a massive learning curve.

Im tired, mentally exhausted and already getting sick of being stopped when I am carrying my heavy 9 week old Labrador puppy outside. We’ve had to make a lot of changes to our routine already to accommodate him, I’m sleeping on the floor next to his crate on sofa cushions. But I am so very, very happy. Still early days but I wish I had done it sooner. I never knew he was what was missing in my life.

Oh, this is so lovely!

Please can we have a picture of this adorable little monster?

It would be a total nuisance. Every time you go on holiday of even plan a day out the dog would have to be considered.

I’m a bad influence…..do it!!

It’s hard work and they are buggers but like everyone else says, I’d hate not to have a dog. They’re my comfort and entertainment and I’m besotted with them. So yes I’d go for it. Short term pain for long term gain.

Cons
15 years of picking up shit (& bending down - how old will you be in 15 years?!)
Vet bills
The chewing and destruction
Biting phase
Training it properly- so it’s not a pain in the arse for you and others
Barking
No days out unless dog friendly
Very limited holiday options
Cost
Smell (lovely just after bathing but when they jump in slimy ponds and roll in fox poo…)
More arguments - “you said you’d take the dog out!”
Having to get up early to let them out

Pros
Their little faces when they look at you
Keep you fit
Companionship

I have had a dog before, but in my 50’s with older teens I admit I have other priorities and wouldn’t be able to give it the commitment required

With pleasure 😊

Thank you. I have a bigger version .

My puppy ate all my house plants.
Cost £1000 at vets.
Our world tilted to include her and it was so much harder than we remembered (no kids first time round).
But we love her and she makes our lives better x

@VanGoSunflowersthat doesn’t help - he’s soooo cute.
Thanks for your responses.

@jackstini that is a very good list. I disliked the smell of mud/wet dog especially in the winter months.

It’s such a hard decision and I genuinely haven’t made my mind up yet. I loved having a dog in our lives but I now like not having to think about how to manage days out etc. aaaaggggghhhh!

May I see a pic 😍

Can you afford the highest level of pet insurance for several years? Because with a backyard bred dog you will need it from the moment you take ownership of the puppy.

With any dog you can't accurately predict what health problems they will have, even with extensive generational testing, but with these doodle mixes there are just a lot more things that go wrong because of the mix of breeds.

Also can definitely you afford everything else? Not just food and vaccinations and grooming and boarding for holidays etc but also behavioural training. Cockerpoos are known to be very difficult dogs with lots of the worst traits and quirks of both breeds rolled into one. Loving and cute yes but also high energy, needy, stubborn and very very hard work. So many dogs are getting handed in to rescue are because of affordability or behavioural problems.