Should we get a dog? Independent opinions needed!

[GeneralMelchetsMoustache]

Morning all.

I have 2 autistic tweens, both very anxious, especially when outside the home. I have been reading about dogs for autism therapy and I can see how a pet dog would really benefit them.

I've never had a dog before, and I'm worried that although it could be therapeutic for the kids I've already got two high-need kids to deal with, and a job, and I don't want to take on even MORE responsibility. WWYD? Am I setting myself up for even more stress? Or is it worth it?

FWIW, we have a decent size garden, live next door to two big parks, and I work from home so doggie would have a good quality of life (if I can manage it all!).

Thanks

But that was only stressful because your friend and her son didn’t have their dog under control.

It's about 8 for Labradors!

Never for beagles 😂

I hope your children find things easier soon.

I wanted a dog my entire life. At the grand old age of 40+ everything fell into place and we decided to go for it. My children were over the moon.

I think I was about 30 mins into life with a dog when the absolute regret hit me.
I love my dog, I truly do. He’s the easiest and most loving little lump of fur. He’s well behaved, very house trained and lovely company. But if I could go back to a dog free existence would I? Absolutely I would!
Life is chaotic, life is messy and hard work with young kids. We used to be quite spontaneous. A dog is just another thing to worry about, think about, work life around, feel guilty about, pay for (they are expensive!). Another responsibility to fit in to everything else that life throws at you.
The good out weighs the bad nowadays but oh my God was it a shock to the system!
I used to cry every day to the point that I had decided to ring the rescue and admit I couldn’t cope. The day I decided, my youngest walked into my bedroom proclaiming how his life was now complete because we had a dog and from that point on I decided I had to make it work. We love him, life is good again. But sometimes a dog just isn’t the answer you think it’s going to be! And the extra work and hassle is just extra work and hassle!
Best wishes to you and your children, wishing you dog-free happiness x

I'm autistic and got a dog to be my comfort animal. I adore him but completely regret getting him. He's now two years old and still as energetic as he was as a puppy, and whines and barks a lot. It makes me very anxious and like I'm living on edge all the time.

What I have realised since having a dog is that kids autism or not, like the idea of a dog but the reality is quite different. A dog can be quite intimidating, even if it's friendly. They can get in your face, be jumpy, be vocal and totally be a bit of a nuisance around your belongings. This is I think you would find the hardest. The kids like the idea of a nice cuddly dog but not the little monster that would eat your shoes or literally rip your homework.

We wanted a dog more than the children and they were 8-10, so the decision was ultimately our and we knew the kids wouldn't be at all responsible. But it's only really now when the dog is 9 and the kids are late teens that I could trust or feel totally at ease for them to independently take him out and look after him for extended periods of time.

No do not get a dog. I’m retired and this whole week I have been: Woken up very early by a dog desperate to go outside to have a poo, gone to bed late as dog could not settle with bellyache, got up in the night to do a wee and stood in dog diarrhoea, spent 4 days at the vets, spent lots of money at the vets, spent lots of time stressing about the dog, spent all week in the house as wouldn’t leave dog alone and spent a lot of the week in a fug of doggy farts. She is a lovely dog and worth all the above in her time of ill health (it was nothing too serious, just a bad upset tum and she is on the mend) but I am glad I did not have children to deal with at the same time.