What has surprised you most about dog ownership?

[TappingTed]

For me, I have been surprised and shocked (in a good way) by how much I actually love this wee guy. As a child I was obsessed with dogs, like literally obsessed with them. But as a teen mum who then had three more children, it never seemed a good time to have a dog. And tbh I felt it was something that had passed me by and was more for people who didn’t have kids and wanted fur babies or some kind of baby substitute.
But now with our DPup I have been surprised with how much I enjoy having him around and I actually feel like my inner child is so delighted to finally have a dog of my own… 9 year old me would have been just in heaven… I’m actually struggling a little to be firm with boundaries and I didn’t expect that- I wanted a “dog is a pet not a baby” type of dog and yet it’s me wanting to just let him up for a cuddle or to not keep in the crate all night etc.

What has shocked or surprised you?

Like you, just how much we all love the dog. I knew I wanted a dog but didn’t realise that it would be so emotional! I am a nervous wreck though if she looks a little off colour. DH has done that classic thing of not wanting a dog particularly and then being the most soppy of all of us about her. To be fair, she is a tiny miniature schnauzer and extremely cuddly. More like a cat than a dog, but she did catch a rat the other day.

we have a family WhatsApp which is 90% dog photos. I know this is also standard.

Yes the same here! 3 adults in the house and the wee man is the centre of everybody’s world!

How everyone talks to you when you have a dog.

They talk to the dog anyway to shower him with compliments and sometimes I get a little chat out of it too.

How stressful a dog can be! I found the puppy months difficult (wasn’t particularly fond of human baby period either), partly due to being a first time owner, and now the dog has car phobia, how restrictive life can be. Those lovely walks we anticipated, with the dog splashing about in the sea, just ain’t happening.

The other thing is that you’re a welcoming another ‘being’ into your household, with their own needs, wants and demands, and how overwhelming this can be. I knew I wasn’t getting an animated teddy bear, but at a time when the kids are independent, it came as a slight shock.

(I do love him really)

@Twiglets1 I go for a walk in the park with my friend who has dementia and greeting dogs and talking to their owners is a delight for both of us
Thank you lovely dog owners.

the strength of our bond (mine and the dog’s) has come as a big surprise to me. I didn’t know because I had never had a dog before. They are definitely not ‘just’ animals, or ‘just’ pets. They are an absolute privilege to be able to share your life with.

And I think we should all be posting pictures of our dogs.

@Twiglets1
@Sundaynightterrors
@HumphreyCobblers
@TappingTed

Loads of things. I had to wait 52 years to get my dog, so he was a long time coming and I love him to bits - the DC all know he's my favourite 🤭 What I didn't realise was that dogs let you down big time by just being dogs! I approached it very much like a naive first time parent - treat them well, give them lots of guidance and training, follow the good advice and all will be well - the hard work will pay dividends. Well ChenDog appears to have missed that memo, and has been an absolute a-hole at times resulting in many Words - but he's my a-hole, and I love him 😍

How my 4 grumpy teenagers grunt at me then they fawn and gush over Ddog in singsongy voices telling her how wonderful she is, calling her my little sweety pie/twiglet/button nose.

Then I say something and they return to grunting.

Same as you OP, I’m blown away by how much I love my dog. I miss him when I’m out. Breaks my heart to be told that he watches the door awaiting my return. He is the best boy, I love his fur, his cuddles, I sense what he needs. He knows me, when we are in a group he checks in with me.

im off to cuddle him

That's lovely.

I enjoy my little chats with strangers, have met some lovely people in my neighbourhood since having a dog.

In a world that can often seem full of negativity, dogs bring lots of positive interactions and a reminder how nice humans can be.

How empty the house is when they have gone. My beautiful 14 year old Goldie passed away last year.

I'm only a dog grandma to my son's black greyhound. They weren't a breed I had much interest in before but I now adore them and follow loads on Instagram.

I'm retired now and reading about their little adventures really brightens up my day.

#greyhoundlove

Damn you OP, I’m hormonal and the thread just made me cry, woof

How much they have their own personality and how that personality completely affects day to day life. My DDog has a lovely, easy going temperament - equally happy to walk for miles or go for a quick pee and poo, he’s a social creature and is such a funny chap. My DSis dog is completely different, much more demanding and has her needs but also very social. Her routine drives the household which is struggle with.

How much she makes me laugh!!

I am surprised by just how much I look forward to our walks and throwing tennis balls in the garden. I love his enthusiasm and his unbridled joy when he gets a new toy or when I come home. I also love curling up on the sofa with him, with his head on my knee. Also surprised by how much I love his velvety ears. Like the dog smell (clean dog) too.

Like you op. He is my first dog and didn’t expect to love him so much . He is the best boy and we all adore him. He sleeps by our bed .

Other dog owners. For two reasons:

1. As one might expect, anyone who has a dog is automatically a higher level of human being, however I was still overwhelmed by the support and compassion of my dogging* friends during a period of intense grief recently (multiple bereavements including my own dog). It was, and continues to be absolutely amazing.
2. Then, in contradiction to 1, other dog owners who have no clue how to operate a dog, and think they have the right to externalise their own dog's bad behaviour on anyone and everyone they encounter.

It boggles my mind how polar opposite the two sets are. Fortunately, the former category is the largest by far.

• I know what dogging is. Please search youtube for "Peter Kay Car Share Dogging" if you don't get the reference 😜

The relentlessness! I love dogs but having two and having to walk them twice a day every day just ended up feeling relentless. Also the cost of vets and the difficulty of finding somewhere that I felt happy to leave them when we went on holiday. Oh and what a tie they are, not being able to just go out for the day.

I don't have dogs now because of all those things. I just look after other people's instead.

My wee man has just enriched my life so much. Every morning he throws himself at me with delight and I really look forward to getting back to him if I’ve been out.
He gets me out and about far more.

How you can be almost crying from exhaustion from the fact you have to be up late with them then early and then in love all over again. Rollercoaster!!

Here he is

The joy is a big thing. They're so much nicer, better than most humans.
Patience. We had a very old dog for a year and I had to dig deep due to incontinence. I'm glad I managed to be kind to her throughout.
The sorrow. I miss my boys every day. They were hard work at times but we loved each other unconditionally.
I now have an ex breeding Frenchie, not a breed I would have chosen given the dreaded fashion aspect, but she's wonderful.
I keep on learning and enjoying what dogs bring to my life.

I now have 15,000 plus photos of the dogs

WAY more than any of the children. That’s because I was busier as a parent and frankly kids aren’t as cute 😂

As a much older adult I’ve got loads of time to take photos of the dogs