Considering getting a dog - pros and cons?

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blood_magik

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Am I out of my mind to be considering getting a dog?
I grew up with a dog between the ages of 5 and 18 so I do know how much work is involved in the day-to-day care. However, that was overseas so I'm not sure if owning a dog in the UK is different.
Ideally, I'd like to re-home rather than buying.
I've written a list of pros and cons but I'm still undecided. :redface3: Any words of wisdom? :smile3:

Pros:
Not working so plenty of time to devote to dog.
Company when OH is working.
Extra security for when OH is working nights.
Needs walking so plenty of extra exercise for me.
Have a decent-sized enclosed garden for dog to run about in.
No children or other pets at home.

Cons:
Extra cost e.g. vet bills/worming and feeding
Big commitment on top of having the horses.
Extra cleaning.

Possible issues:
Would have to stay home alone if OH not in while I'm at the yard - dogs not allowed in stable block and unfair to leave in the car.
Who would look after if away (parents or kennel?)
Training if dog is young/untrained.
Might not get on with the horses - not a major problem but would prefer if they all got on. The horses all love dogs.

Have I overlooked anything major? :smile3:
 
I have read your pros and cons and you should get a dog!
They are wonderful company, loyal, loving and supportive. As long as you have time for a couple of decent walks a day and money for their care up and at 'em!
 
I'm desperate :tongue3:
The house is so quiet without one and there's nothing better than having something warm and furry to snuggle up with.

I'm still a bit unsure about what kind of dog I want - there's a sausage dog on the Dog's Trust website that I've fallen in love with. :smile3:
Then other days I think that a labrador or a springer spaniel, like my old boy, would be the type to go for.


I should just get them all, shouldn't I? :tongue3:
 
:biggrin3:You sound the ideal owner for a dog, plenty of time to spend with it, under no illusions of the commitment it will take and already tied to horses so a dog should be no problem. Good luck with whatever breed you choose.
 
get one, and get a whippet! Small, non barky, doesnt really shed, curls up smaller than a cat, loves people and genuinely wants to be with them (mines currently got his head on my knee while I type) He does need a good hours walk off lead, a day, but hes perfectly fine with one walk, and will also go out for 5 hours+ over the moors. If I leave him he sleeps. Dylans routine is 20 hours sleeping, 2 hours walking, 1 hour awake and playing with toys, 1 hour eating and digesting. He is the biggest clown I've ever met! He has about a hundred different facial expressions ranging from very, very, very sad, through to utter delight and everything in between. So long as he has a comfortable bed to sleep in hes fine being left. And nothing in the world is as breath taking as a whippet at full speed. It literally makes my heart sing to see the joy he gets just from being alive and free to run!

Can you tell I love my dog? :D Mine was a problem child though, but as hes hit the 2yr mark and I've learnt how to manage him properly hes generally a joy to have around. And not all of them as are bad as he was.My bitch has never done a naughty thing in her life, shes far to polite!
 
I recently returned to dog ownership after many years without, ad asked myself all the same questions. I wanted a young, uncomplicated dog who was ok with cats, trainable, calm enough to leave alone when required, and easy to to live with.

Meet Bruno - 5 year old Irish Setter, who had lived outside most of his life, never been in a car, walked on a lead or been socialised with people. He had lived with 6 cats though, so that was one box ticked. In the first week, he chased both my cats big time, and was so hyper-reactive to them, that I didnt think they'd live if he cornered them. He took over the sofa, and growled horribly when I tried to remove him, culminating in biting me when I pushed it. He wouldnt eat, howled in the car, growled at everyone who came to my house, or approached him on walks (He's very beautiful, and people ALWAYS want to pat him), pulled like a train on the lead and took off in whatever direction he felt like, and sent me flying a few times when I tried to get out of the front door first. I've had dogs all my life, but was beginning to think I'd made a big mistake. I loved him though, and decided he deserved a chance.
I had a session with the woman who runs the rescue who brought him over from Ireland, where we addressed the sofa guarding, and the barging, installed a few boundaries, and generally let him know that he wasnt the boss. Since then, Ive worked on the cat thing, to the point where the cat (sadly lost one of them recently) now feels safe in the same room as him, although I don't entirely trust him yet!
Over the last two months, he's gone from being the hound from hell, to the most wonderful, gentle loving dog. He seems to be going through second puppyhood, and is full of manic energy, but has immaculate recall, and is lovely with other dogs. He tolerates the car, sits and waits while I open the front door, and stays home alone perfectly happily. He occasionally growls at people he doesn't know if they are too full on with him but in general, he wants to have a cuddle with everyone he meets. He also sings joyful dog songs a lot, which is just lovely!
Best decision I ever made, even though it's been quite a journey - do it!

1235887_10151861098850730_401368559_n.jpg
 
I would definitely get one in your position or maybe two! I would love to have one but at the moment I am away too long 3 days a week. I make do with walking my neighbours dogs but not quite the same.
 
he's beautiful, auslander :smile3:
such a lovely colour.

I've always had a soft spot for the yellow lab puppies you see in the andrex adverts - they're just so adorable and mischievous.
I remember one lady who used to come into the shopping centre I worked in and her guide dog was so naughty - we used to have to escort her past the chocolate stand in case he decided to sample some of the sweeties.
 
Get a yellow Labrador, they r gorgeous. Love my dog so much and she is such good company when I'm at home alone. Great fun and very loyal.
 
FrankieCob said:
get one, and get a whippet! Small, non barky, doesnt really shed, curls up smaller than a cat, loves people and genuinely wants to be with them (mines currently got his head on my knee while I type) He does need a good hours walk off lead, a day, but hes perfectly fine with one walk, and will also go out for 5 hours+ over the moors. If I leave him he sleeps. Dylans routine is 20 hours sleeping, 2 hours walking, 1 hour awake and playing with toys, 1 hour eating and digesting. He is the biggest clown I've ever met! He has about a hundred different facial expressions ranging from very, very, very sad, through to utter delight and everything in between. So long as he has a comfortable bed to sleep in hes fine being left. And nothing in the world is as breath taking as a whippet at full speed. It literally makes my heart sing to see the joy he gets just from being alive and free to run!

Can you tell I love my dog? :D Mine was a problem child though, but as hes hit the 2yr mark and I've learnt how to manage him properly hes generally a joy to have around. And not all of them as are bad as he was.My bitch has never done a naughty thing in her life, shes far to polite!
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Shut up shut up shut up!

La la la la la la I can't hear you.........
 
Kat said:
Shut up shut up shut up!

La la la la la la I can't hear you.........
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Get one, get one, get one!!

In case I didn't make a good enough case, lurchers and whippet/greyhound type dogs are rapidly catching up with staffies in terms of numbers in rescues. Mainly because of morons buying them as status symbols :( Mine actually saved my life twice! Once when I contracted some sort of crazy virus that saw me bed ridden for 6 months before I got him, and again when I shattered my spine and wasn't given a good prognosis. He was the only thing that got me up and walking, and he was the only thing that kept me walking through pain so bad I actually prayed to a god I didn't believe in to just let me die! I got well enough to get out of hospital so I could get him back, and I rehabbed myself because he was with me literally every step of the way. Sometimes I would just collapse to the ground and he would come and curl up with me and lick my face and dance around until I got up again! I grew up with setters and spaniels, and he was my first sight hound, and hes such a special dog. I'd like to think it was just him, but other sighthound owners all say the same

get one, get one, GET ONE!!!! :D
 
I am so going to end up with a lurcher/whippet. ......... all I need now is someone posting photos and I'll be on the phone to a rescue. My biggest worry is our not very dog friendly garden, and what to do with a dog when we go away, but a dog would be great for the OH who works from home.
 
FrankieCob said:
get one, and get a whippet! Small, non barky, doesnt really shed, curls up smaller than a cat, loves people and genuinely wants to be with them (mines currently got his head on my knee while I type) He does need a good hours walk off lead, a day, but hes perfectly fine with one walk, and will also go out for 5 hours+ over the moors. If I leave him he sleeps. Dylans routine is 20 hours sleeping, 2 hours walking, 1 hour awake and playing with toys, 1 hour eating and digesting. He is the biggest clown I've ever met! He has about a hundred different facial expressions ranging from very, very, very sad, through to utter delight and everything in between. So long as he has a comfortable bed to sleep in hes fine being left. And nothing in the world is as breath taking as a whippet at full speed. It literally makes my heart sing to see the joy he gets just from being alive and free to run!

Can you tell I love my dog? :D Mine was a problem child though, but as hes hit the 2yr mark and I've learnt how to manage him properly hes generally a joy to have around. And not all of them as are bad as he was.My bitch has never done a naughty thing in her life, shes far to polite!
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My next one will deffo be a whippet!
Have 2 cairns at the moment, adorable but

Very hairy and shed a lot.
Short legs so belly hair drags in the mud and they are always filthy after a walk.
Yappy
Not that easy to train, one is v obedient, the other just does her own thing.

They are gorgeous though and so comical, wouldn't be without 'em.

OP I would definatley get one, make sure you get the right type for you cicumstances and have fun!
 
 
I would just get yourself to a rescue and see who catches your eye. It may surprise you that you 'perfect dog' may not actually be the type you imagine. For instance staffies/staffie crosses are, in the main really, really loving little dogs and pretty active too.

I ended up with a medium sized mongrel and she's bonkers but I wouldn't be without her now. She barks at anything/anyone she's scared of but she's fine with the horses now (she's more interested in playing fetch with tennis balls). She is reactive on lead with other dogs (fine off lead) but that's improved loads.

This is she (sorry, pic's a bit old as haven't uploaded any new ones to imageshack yet)

snowmolly.jpg
 
Don't overlook a Stafford or Stafford cross. They will guard you and massively love their people!

If just trying to be sensible..,here's a sneaky way...why not offer to foster for a local rescue? Bit of a dry run, see what you think and gets a dog out of kennels. PLEASE consider taking a Staffie out of kennels if you get a chance. As a breed they are notorious for struggling in kennels and very often do not show themselves off well as get very distressed. They also settle with people really quickly. Shout if you are interested and I can find a local welfare to you and get your home checked....
 
Haven't read all the other replies, i prefer to post first so nothing sways my opinion from your original post. Anyway, i think you should get a dog if you do want one your life style sounds to me like you will give a dog a great home. Just my opinion, but i would be thinking along the lines of rehoming a young a dog as possible though and slowly introducing to the horses if thats what you want. Im all for german shepherds, but if i were to pick one out of the air for you id say collie :p
 
I love dogs. But I don't have one. The reason is that I would not put up with leaving deposits when I walk a dog, but I do not want to pick up poo and carry it around in a bag. No one has mentioned this in the 'cons' list.
 
Be lost without my dog have always had rescue dogs at the moment have an english bull terrier that we rescued a few years ago love him to death even though he can be a pain sometimes
 
cold_feet said:
I love dogs. But I don't have one. The reason is that I would not put up with leaving deposits when I walk a dog, but I do not want to pick up poo and carry it around in a bag. No one has mentioned this in the 'cons' list.
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Not really a 'con' just a fact of dog ownership. Just like mucking out a horse, has to be done so just get on with it.
 
Crugeran Celt said:
Not really a 'con' just a fact of dog ownership. Just like mucking out a horse, has to be done so just get on with it.
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To me, this was a bit like saying that the downside of having a baby is having to change nappies :) I also wouldn't call it a 'con' it is a fact of life, but then having had dogs all my life I wouldn't be without one whatever the 'cons' :D
 
Oh do it - you won't regret it . . . I wouldn't be without my two, particularly my wee girl who is currently asleep on the back of the sofa behind my head while I type (and she's a collie cross). You have the time, and the right attitude/living circumstances. If you're worried about leaving a dog while you are at the yard, you have two options - crate at home with a stuffed Kong, or crate in the car at yard with a stuffed Kong and a warm coat . . . really, doglet will survive for the hour/two hours or so you'll be doing the horse(s).

P
 
Well, things have gone t*ts up since I wrote my first post so sadly, a dog will have to wait until I get things sorted. Such a shame, because there were a few at my local Dog's Trust centre that I had my eye on.

It just wouldn't be fair to get a dog now when I don't know what's going to happen at home over the next few days. But such is life.. The ironic bit is that I could really use the company right now. :rolleyes:
 
that sounds like a lovely idea.

To be honest, I'm now thinking that a dog would be good for security given that I'm going to be living alone for the first time ever. I need to get my now-ex OH out of my house before I can start going round to my local centres.

At least the garden has been finished so I have somewhere secure for a dog to run around in.
 
blood_magik said:
that sounds like a lovely idea.

To be honest, I'm now thinking that a dog would be good for security given that I'm going to be living alone for the first time ever. I need to get my now-ex OH out of my house before I can start going round to my local centres.

At least the garden has been finished so I have somewhere secure for a dog to run around in.
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Was just going to say- based on your thread in CH I'd be getting a dog. You can Borrow the Betster while we are on Holiday if you like! ;) She's a rubbish guard dog... but doubt anyone would be crazy enough to put her to the test!

Hope you get things back on track soon, and honestly think that having a dog will be good company, and a welcome distraction for you just now.
 
Well, I'm now in a position to start looking for a new furry friend over the next 2-3 weeks. Hopefully I won't get turned down by my local rescue. I've seen a few dogs on their website that could be possible matches - two collie crosses, a beagle and an older lab cross.

Does anyone have any advice (about rehoming or just owning a dog in general)? :smile3:
 
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