How does a dog change your life?

[labamba18]

My husband and I are thinking of adopting a dog, but we want to go into this right and make sure we are 100% certain before we make a decision.

So I’d like to ask, how has having a dog changed your life?

Some people have advised me they are very tying - it’s difficult to go on holiday or leave the house. How do families manage it?

I’d rather know everything rather than rush in and make the wrong decision!

I think it depends on what type of owner you want to be? Will you take dog to work with you, only go to dog friendly pubs/cafes/days out, will you expect to take dog to visit all friends and family?
or will dog have two walks a day and otherwise stay home?

I was the former dog owner and loved it for ten years. When I had my young family, dog was just included!

He also had a passport and was a regular visitor to Ireland

When you say “families” do you have younger children? Most reputable shelters and adoption places won’t let people with children adopt a dog. This is because a rescue dog might ( but not always) have experienced trauma or neglect and be unpredictable. The upper age is often 14 or 16 for children.

We have always had dogs and often 2. Our girls grew up with dogs. We got our last rescue when the girls were teens and we already had a dog. He was amazing and so clever but had been rescued from a farm and had several homes before he came to us for his forever home. He was truly amazing, clever and loving but damaged by earlier experiences. Most of our dogs we have had from puppies including our current ones.

Our dogs enhance our lives so much and we wouldn’t be without them. They give unconditional love and we adore them. They make me smile every single day.
They have the best of everything and are rarely left. We take them on holiday with us. Currently we are downsizing and their needs were considered as part of that in terms of outdoor space etc.
We live near a Country Park which is great for daily walks and runs.

it’s really good that you are making a considered decision. It could be one of the best things you ever do. Good luck with your choice and journey.
Factor in finances, practicalities, choice of breed, size and temperament etc as this will all help things to go smoothly.

My (adult) brother had a dog when I was a child and tbh I just remember the dog absolutely made the house stink, the house was covered in dog hair, furniture got destroyed. A lot of my friends felt uncomfortable coming over and found the dog scary.

I don’t think my brother was capable of looking after the dog properly, he just didn’t think to didn’t keep up with grooming or do things like trim nails, brush dog teeth, wash dog bedding etc so the dog odour kinda took over. He would put dog hair covered clothes in the wash…which would mean that dog hair would get on other clothes in the laundry like my school uniform.

Your house will smell

I have two they are brilliant loving loyal dogs. But they wake me early, currently one stinks like death as he rolled in something vile ( he is getting a bath today). They both have health conditions and take medications that have complicated schedules. We have to make arrangements for them if we want to go away. They are expensive I spend about £400 a month on food, medication, insurance , their health care and grooming.

We have 2 dogs. House is furry and smells of dog, ours needs between 1 and 2 hours walking a day and lots of cuddles and playing with in between. When pups they thought 5am was daytime even in winter for over a year each.
Holidays are expensive because they go to a house boarder. Vets can be expensive (though we are medical and they and treat them ourselves where safe).
They can be left, all day if we had to but they don't love it and would need a very long walk beforehand to not be sad.
They demand stroking and cuddles a lot and one likes licking our feet.
I would be bereft without them.

I couldn't be without my dogs
They help my mental and physical health, are a reason to talk to people out and about.
I had few friends having moved away from where I grew up but most of those I have now are through dog walking meet ups.

The cost of insurance, food and good vet care are worth never being able to use the bathroom alone

Granted one of my dogs is a nearly 8 month old pain in the behind who has made me think and occasionally say was a second dog worth it
But I know the puppy stage is always a trial and he is already calming down after destroying half the house and suddenly deciding to bark at 70% of men we pass on walks

It does depend on how much support you have with a dog as well

Do you work long hours but is someone else is going to be home for part of it?

Are last minute weekends away or holidays part of your life as getting a sitter or kennel can sometimes be tough as they may be booked up
My two have cost just under £600 to kennel for 15 days in October
We only go away without the dogs every couple of years so not too bad of a cost for us

Rescues can come with unknown problems and puppy's require so much work
Finding a reputable breeder is sometimes time consuming depending on the breed and different breeds will not be suited to every lifestyle
One of mine is pedigree but no papers and the other is a cross between that breed and another, not a poodle mix and have totally different needs with walking and mental stimulation.

You don’t have to be one type of owner or the other as other posters have suggested.
We have a 1 yr old whom we love , he gets 2-3 walks a day , group walks with his pals and our dog walker . Some days he stays home for a few hours whilst we go out , some days he goes everywhere with us and on holiday .
We play with him throughout the day and provide lots of enrichment toys and activities for him to keep him mentally stimulated which is equally as important as physical exercise .
Consistent training from the get go is key if you value good manners and an obedient dog.
It is effort and work but very rewarding .
We love him immensely and wouldn’t be without him.
Choose the breed carefully to suit your family needs , I did lots of research .

You have to be committed for years. Be prepared to give the dog a good walk daily, in all weathers. Spend time training it if necessary. Give it lots of love and attention. Be prepared for the expense (food/vets/insurance/boarding). Does one of you work from home? Don't get a dog if you're both out of the house for hours at a time as it's just not fair on the animal.

If you like to holiday often then get your dog used to spending time away from you from the beginning. Start with short periods and build up. If it comes from a rescue/kennel environment then it may think it's being abandoned back if you take it to kennels, so be prepared for behavioural upsets when you return. We never liked using kennels for our pampered pooch and always used a "home from home" type company where the person looking after your dog took them into their home for the duration and treated them like their own dog. Kennels and/or home from home type organisations are both expensive so you need to factor in the cost to your holiday.

Be prepared for hair everywhere if your dog moults. Non-moulting dogs require regular grooms to keep their coats neat. Don't get a dog if you're OCD as they'll walk in muddy feet/ shake their wet coat/moult/dribble their water etc. You need to wash their bed or blanket often and bathe the dog regularly to ward off 'doggy smell'.

You both need to be on board with the decision and prepared to share the responsibility. Don't allow one person to become the default walker/feeder/carer while the other one goes about their hobbies or whatever, as that can cause resentment.

It's great that you're thinking of adopting a dog rather than opting for a new puppy. So many dogs in rescues that need loving homes. Just be 100% sure of your decision and committed to make it work. Nothing worse that a dog going to a new home and then being returned weeks/months later because the adopters changed their mind, or didn't like the dog barking/weeing/digging/(insert other annoying habit).

You don’t have to necessarily be prepared to walk in all weathers. Dachshunds will mostly refuse completely to go out in the rain to the point that some will then toilet in the house.

So much depends on the breed and the amount you’re willing to have the dog be part of your life.

But even if you get an independent breed and barely bother, you’re still going to feel the impact for 10-12 years. And it’s not just how much your life changes and planning things (like holidays) around the dog, its finances as well. Dog ownership isn’t something you can go into half-cocked - particularly if you are considering a rescue.

To me, having a dog(s) was my No.1 priority to the point where I gave up my diplomatic career for it and DH and I live in different countries (or have done for much of the last 20 years). My ‘quality of life’ in many people’s eyes would be far better without dogs, but to me my quality of life was worse without them.

You might find you're unexpectedly being sat on. 🙄🤣

For us having a dog has changed our lives immeasurably for the better but he stinks, hair everywhere, costs a lot in food/insurance/enrichment/training and takes up most of my time! However we are at the stage of life where we have the time and resources available to give him the life he needs and deserves. I adore the lifestyle, we are out walking in all weathers, do gundog sessions frequently, scentwork and hoopers and I’ve found a whole new social group through the dog!

My DC were secondary age when we got him so old enough to understand dogs and cope with the puppy biting stage, could stay at home while we walked dog etc and also look after him if DH and I went our. We found a great kennels nearby that he goes to if we go on holiday (home sitters don’t work with him, he prefers kennels) and I have a couple of friends/family who could have him as an emergency.

He is absolutely worth it, so much so I’m actually going to meet some pups this weekend to get another one! But my life revolves around him to some extent, I’ve cut down hugely work wise to be able to give him a great life.

A lot will depend on breed, mine is a Springer and has a very ‘work’ attitude so he really needs the engagement and enrichment to be happy. I looked after my mums retriever last week and she was much easier in comparison!

Dogs become a huge part of your lives, and what that impact on life looks like will very much depend on the dog and it’s temperament and your current lifestyle.

we have two Labradors and one of them is very highly strung and anxious. Can’t be left with other people easily so we don’t go on holiday without them. This massively limits our holidays, but equally I wouldn’t want to go away without them now.

walking my dogs is my most favourite thing to do ever, I don’t think I could ever be without dogs in my life now.

My house might be messy, full of dog hair and smell a bit like dogs but that’s the cost of having dogs! If people don’t like that then they don’t need to come to my house!

I’m a first time dog owner and having a dog has impacted our lives a lot, good and bad.

The puppy stage was a lot harder than expected - the puppy biting, sleepless nights, frustrations with training, etc, but things do improve over time. They’re cute for a reason!

Cost - dogs aren’t cheap. - insurance , worming pills, food, training, toys, treats, etc

Commitment - you can’t just pop out and someone always has to be home for the dog, although you can leave them for a few hours.

Walks - love the walks, although make sure there’s plenty if different routes you can take, else it’ll get a bit boring

Training - quite enjoy going to training classes. Currently doing agility

Fun - they’re fun to be around

Friendship - they give you lots of love

Basically, it’s like introducing a four legged toddler into your house with all the pros and cons that are attached to that.

Everyone is different OP - different ages, different lifestyles, different budgets, different houses (somewhere to dry off a big hairy muddy wet dog?), different breeds.

Me: i love dogs. Grew up with dogs. Had dogs while my kids were young. Great Danes + miniature Dashund. Loved the dogs we had - also had cats and lots of guinea pigs! One big happy squash!

Wouldnt have a dog again.

We live in the countryside and i had a cottage full of little kids and dogs and mess was ok for then - not for me now. I'm just over all the head space of extra cleaning and vet trips and bedding and muddy paws and the eternal fight against having a doggy smelling house. Been there got the T shirt - no more ta.

But if you lived in a pent house with a teeny little dog - different kettle of fish ...
So:
Poo
Sick
Vets
Smell
Hair
Cant up and leave for the weekend
Price of kennels
Behaviour issues
Food and water splashed about
Storing the food
Room for bed
Covers for the car seat
Barking

and this is for 10 years or more with everything health wise getting more intense.

But it's like anything - if you love it and want enough it you'll not worry about the above and the good will outweigh the bad.

Well the OP didn’t say she was getting a dachshund so the “be prepared” was in case she was thinking of a more lively breed like a border collie or spaniel.

I have a dachshund myself and he’ll happily go out in all weathers. Admittedly though he doesn’t require as much exercise as my golden retriever.

It really depends on your lifestyle. Some people feel a dog changes their life for the better, while others find a dog too tying and end up regretting their decision. In my case, my dogs have been my whole life, and, like @LandSharksAnonymous , I have made compromises in order to be able to have them.

Your life will change in many ways, but just how much your life will change is really dependent on the sort of person you are and what dog you choose. Some people want a tiny "furbaby" that they can pamper and spend every waking moment with. Others prefer an active gundog breed that they can train to a high standard. I have a giant guarding breed, because I have a quiet life and like a calm dog. We're all different so you make your choice based on lifestyle.

Obviously breed is a very big factor in regard to temperament, instincts, food, shedding, vet and insurance costs etc. There's a world of difference between getting a Chihuahua and taking on a Great Dane. A very large breed will change your life a lot more than a small one as far as practicality goes.

I would always recommend rescue and go via a reputable rescue org as they will have the dog’s history and background and it will have been assessed. It is not true that rescues will not rehome to families with children - they will not rehome a dog to a family with young children (for example) if they do not have a history of living with young children. We rehomed a staffy cross from the Dog’s Trust last year and she was listed as suitable for children over 10, purely because she had only lived with older children. Our daughter was 9.5 at the time and experienced in being around dogs, we met her at the centre and Dog’s Trust were happy with that. A reputable rescue will interview you and match you with a dog that matches your lifestyle (energy/ temperament/ training etc.). As other posters have said, you should factor in making sure your garden is secure beforehand and the “tying” aspect of dog ownership. They should not be left alone for more than 4 hours (at most) and you will need to gradually work up to that. You also need to consider how you will manage holidays and time away from home. Our dog has separation anxiety, which we are working on, and we absolutely love her.

Hi OP
I am new to dog ownership - I have had my lab puppy for 5 weeks.

What I would say is think about the things you’re willing to compromise on and the things that you absolutely can’t and try and find a breed that suits you. Appreciate this could be difficult depending on where you are rescuing from.

Do you want a dog that can hike with you for hours and is energetic and enjoys training? Or a more placid dog with lower exercise needs? If the latter, I would look in to rescuing a Greyhound. Whilst each dog is different, they have such a sweet temperament and contrary to opinion, don’t need that much exercise. My friend has one and she is beautiful. She is anxious in crowds, but then so are they so they don’t take her anywhere crowded.

FWIW I know a lot of people who have dogs and not one of their homes stink. I don’t think if that’s a breed thing though.

I did a lot of research before I got mine, I did consider a rescue but as I have a 7yo DS it wouldn’t have been a good idea. This is why I got a puppy. So far I would say that there are aspects of puppy ownership that are hard but it depends on your personality and what you personally can live with. So mine requires a lot of attention and engagement and training but I find all of that very rewarding and I’m the sort of person who needs to be under a healthy amount of pressure to thrive so it works for me. I also exclusively work from home and have plenty of (very) willing volunteers to watch him if I need them to.

I also read a lot (and I mean a lot) of posts on Reddit with titles such as ‘I regret getting my puppy’ before I made a decision to get one. I wanted to see how difficult it could be so I could get some semblance of what I was letting myself in for and be sure it was the right thing to do. I’m so glad I did that as, so far, it has not been as difficult as I thought it would be.

Make sure everyone in your household is on board. Not only with getting a dog, but how you will approach dog ownership. I’m lucky that I live alone (apart from DS who is with me half of the week) so I have nobody to clash with in that regard.

Good luck whatever you decide!

You can leave a well adjusted dog. Not all the time, or for hours on end. I have a dog cam and I know exactly what my dog does when I’m out. She sleeps in her basket!

Part of my holiday is the joy of giving my dog a holiday. However, there are several ways you can leave your dog if necessary.

I walk her twice a day, every day. This routine is good for my physical and mental health.

Owning a dog is very expensive these days, especially vet’s bills.

So much of it will depend on breed and temperament.

We have a beagle - he's seven now but has never liked being left alone so having back-up care in place has been vital for us. When he was younger, he went to a dog-sitter but now he's calmed down, FIL looks after him while we work or if we both need to be out somewhere all day.

In terms of exercise, one walk a day of about an hour is plenty for him, but we make sure that includes lots of sniffing, and he gets 2/4 meals as enrichment too, which helps to tire him out.

He loves going out to cafes, pubs and around local towns and villages, but he is restricting in the sense that we can no longer just pop to the cinema and for a meal, or out after work without planning for his needs too. He's come on plenty of UK holidays and has loved all of them.

I wouldn't say our lives have changed that much but we were both quite outdoorsy anyway so walking the dog isn't that much of an issue - he's also quite happy to skip walks if we're sick or the weather is bad etc. You do have to factor in hot weather days (like this upcoming weekend) and what you'll do on days where you'll all be soaked to the skin within five minutes of leaving the house.

Lots of waterproof gear needed, lots of dog (and human!) towels, decent footwear and clothes you don't mind getting covered in fur, drool and mud.

Dogs are great and I adore them, but they are a tie. We had one when we had the tie if children, but haven’t had another one for that reason.

If you're lucky you’ll adopt one that’s happy to be left for a couple of hours so you can go out shopping etc, or at least one that doesn’t had bad separation anxiety so you can work up to leaving it.

You need to be happy to go out in all weathers even if you feel crap, because they need walking. Moulting is also a pain so your house never feels clean for long!

Some people use kennels/local boarders when they go away but having someone come and stay at your home to care for the dog is becoming more popular (if you have a nice house in a popular area you might get people via trusted housesitters who do it for free)

So you have to weigh it all up and take it from there.

1. house work increases massively. More hoovering due to dog hair. Washing increases for their beds / blankets. Not too bad this time of year but in the winter they come back filthy, so your floors get covered in mud
2. Holidays. I won’t leave ours with anyone other than my parents. But as they’re getting on a bit I feel bad offloading a lunatic spaniel on them.

For me those are the only two downsides - the house takes a hammering and holidays are more tricky. Apart from that it’s easy. We WFH so no issue there. He’s my best friend, a massive part of our young family and the best thing we ever did. My heart burst with love every time I look at him.

Oh just thought of a third - Vet bills. Ours hasn’t needed any treatment apart from the usual. Neutering, flea, worm, tick treatment but it’s eye wateringly expensive.