Do I want a dog?

Pippity

Pippity

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I've always wanted a dog but never been able to have one. (I could sneak a cat past a pet-free landlord but a dog's a bit harder!) Now I own a house, I'm starting to consider it more seriously.

However. I haven't grown up around dogs. I don't understand dog body language or have any practical experience in caring for them. I'd be absolutely out of my depth in bringing a dog home, and it wouldn't be fair on the dog. I don't even know whether I'd enjoy the reality of having a dog, as opposed to the idea of it.

I've looked at volunteering at local shelters to get some doggy time and experience (and possibly fall in love with one and adopt it) but they all want weekday volunteers, and I work. I've looked at fostering, but they all want experienced homes (preferably with a huge garden and no other pets, and I fail on both counts).

Is there any option I've missed?
 
I am very surprised that no shelters want weekend volunteers. I would have a look around for more accessible shelters. I would look for smaller set-ups. Boarding kennels might also appreciate help at the weekend.

Have you any neighbours who have dogs and would welcome you accompanying them on walks with a view to you maybe going solo at your neighbours convenience?
 
I'm not sure about other options but before my OH and got our dog in November last year, neither of us had owned a dog before or grown up with dogs. My parents had adopted a rescue when I was a child and that didn't work out so I really didn't want to repeat that. My mum had a partner when I was a teen who had working labs and springers who I adored (I hated the partner, he was awful!) although I knew we have a very different lifestyle so wouldn't be looking to recreate that.

Most things I know about dogs I learned from the forum discussions, reading/videos online, and when we picked our breed via a book/specific breed rescue pages.

My point is don't rule it out but do take your time to do some reading/research, talk to people on here, and have a think about your lifestyle and type/breed of dog which could fit this.

Reality wise - the things I have discovered I like least about dog ownership but deal with because I love my dog are winter dog walking in the dark (see my post from today!) and dealing with other people's off lead dogs (although that has probably helped my assertiveness skills)
 
If you don't have time to volunteer during the week, then how would you manage to keep a dog? EG, would someone else be home all day, or could you afford dog daycare or such?

As to gaining experience, have you attended any public dog training groups? They're a good way to see what dogs and puppies can be like when they aren't behaving perfectly. Are you someone who's okay with random mess and/or acts of destruction? Even the best trained dog can sometimes have an accident with their toileting, or decide to chew or dig where they aren't supposed to. The less well trained will likely also pester the cat, leap all over you, tip over the bin, raid the kitchen counters and cupboards for food, and bark loudly at the least tolerant neighbours. Puppies will do all of this, but faster, and more intensely, with a lot more pee and poo, plus probably some scratching and biting until they learn better manners. They all bring with them smell and drool and hair, which some people are bizarrely averse to.

If none of this puts you off, then try getting up early enough to go for a nice long walk every morning regardless of weather. About half an hour to an hour will do, unless you are keen to own an active breed. Do the same every afternoon and evening. Keep this up for a month. Then decide if it's something that you can do for the next ten to fifteen years.
 
OP you are already streaks ahead of at least 50% of new dog owners who just buy a puppy because it's cute, at least you are thinking carefully about it and asking the right questions! I think KITTs suggestion of committing to regular daily walks in all weathers is a good idea to see whether you really would be happy to provide that for a dog, even on the days you are tired and it's raining and dark. Walking for a charity like the cinammon trust is an excellent idea too.

Have you looked carefully at all the costs involved and any practicalities- e.g. if you will need a dog walker/day care to take your dog whilst you are at work then have you checked that there is a reputable one in your area, and that they are likely to be able to take on new clients (one I know of round here has a current waiting list of a year due to the CV19 puppy boom). If you have a friend/relative with a dog then could you offer to dog sit for them for a few days to see how you get on with having a dog in your house and the impact it has on your day?

A lot of new owners seem to significantly underestimate the amount of time that needs to be spent on training, and that this also has to be frequent and consistent, even when you are in a rush/feel unwell/are having a bad day. As you have a horse I expect that you will be more realistic regarding this aspect though.

Don't get me wrong, dogs are AMAZING and I hate having to live without one (or two) at the moment, but they are a huge commitment and a big tie to the house/their needs. I was more than happy for my life to revolve around the dogs (and horses), but I have been surprised by the little differences since not having one, like not worrying if I get stuck in traffic when I've left them to go out for a couple of hours.

If this doesn't put you off, and you have thought through all the practicalities, and had a trial run dog sitting/walking then I'd say go for it and welcome to the club. If you decide it's not for you then that's ok too, and great that someone unsure isn't putting a dog's happiness at risk just to 'have a go' at ownership (too many owners seem the sort who should have thought a lot harder about it before deciding whether to get a dog).

PS if you decide to get a dog then obviously we will need lots of pictures :)
 
KittenInTheTree said:
If you don't have time to volunteer during the week, then how would you manage to keep a dog? EG, would someone else be home all day, or could you afford dog daycare or such?
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I work from home and could nip out for half an hour at lunchtime. I can't be out from 2-4pm, plus time spent getting to/from the shelter. That's what all the shelters around me are asking for, if they're even accepting dog-walking volunteers.

My vague idea is to adopt an older, lower-activity dog who's happy with a 15-30 minute walk twice or three times a day during the week, with a bit longer at weekends and lots of 'brain games' around the house. I already do the morning walk as a way of making me feel like I'm 'going to work' despite working from home, so it would be fitting in the evening one that would be an issue, especially as I'd also have to fit in seeing to the horse.

I do like the idea of signing up with the Cinnamon Trust. That may actually give me enough interaction to scratch the itch without having to take one on completely!
 
I think in general horsey people are ok with going out in all weathers, I also grew up without dogs but we often looked after/walked our next door neighbours dog, and the riding school I spent most of my childhood at had dogs and livery’s etc had dogs.

I agree maybe look at local rescues or maybe boarding kennels for experience?

Or possibly dog shows etc may want volunteers?

My dog is two and a half now and I can’t imagine life without him
 
Pippity said:
I work from home and could nip out for half an hour at lunchtime. I can't be out from 2-4pm, plus time spent getting to/from the shelter. That's what all the shelters around me are asking for, if they're even accepting dog-walking volunteers.

My vague idea is to adopt an older, lower-activity dog who's happy with a 15-30 minute walk twice or three times a day during the week, with a bit longer at weekends and lots of 'brain games' around the house. I already do the morning walk as a way of making me feel like I'm 'going to work' despite working from home, so it would be fitting in the evening one that would be an issue, especially as I'd also have to fit in seeing to the horse.

I do like the idea of signing up with the Cinnamon Trust. That may actually give me enough interaction to scratch the itch without having to take one on completely!
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Your set up sounds perfect!
 
I'd go to a dog training club/group or a show to observe, if you know the type/breed you are looking for.

I'd had dogs my whole life but I never learned as much as I did when I started working with and observing other people's dogs/a variety of different dogs.

Some breeders and working folks will move on older animals that are generally clean and well trained.
Some of my friends in NL can't believe I still have my 12 year old and he's been retired for nearly five years, they give theirs to farmers or older folk and just start working a new one.
 
As you work from home a dog could be possible. Is your job permanently work from home or is there a chance you have to go out.? It is hard work even if you d ont get a puppy and they are a real tie. I am single and rarely go out without my dogs but sometimes would l8ke to be able to go for an evening out without worrying if the dogs are ok. I am retired and now I don’t have a horse my dogs are rarely left for more than an hour, some times dogs are better if you leave them at least 2 or 3 times a week so they get used to being alone..so if you do get one make a point of leaving him alone sometimes ..
 
Do your research on the type of dog which will suit you, obviously that doesn’t always work out though! I struggle with dogs who want to constantly interact with me (as all of my husbands past and present spaniels have done), I like the slightly aloof type but not bog off and not be seen for an hour. My lurcher (and his predecessor) were perfect for me, loony moments, long sleeps, clean and very little moulting. In theory they have a high prey drive but Rew isn’t overly bothered, we have loads of rabbits here and he doesn’t go after them with much interest. He spends warm days hunting voles in the garden or sleeping in the sun. His laziness works well when I leave him for a few hours - he just sleeps.
 
CorvusCorax said:
I'd go to a dog training club/group or a show to observe, if you know the type/breed you are looking for.

I'd had dogs my whole life but I never learned as much as I did when I started working with and observing other people's dogs/a variety of different dogs.

Some breeders and working folks will move on older animals that are generally clean and well trained.
Some of my friends in NL can't believe I still have my 12 year old and he's been retired for nearly five years, they give theirs to farmers or older folk and just start working a new one.
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My aunt had a succession of several retired and spayed breeding poodle bitches because she knew had a friend who was the breeder.

OP, you sound like the perfect adopter of a sighthound. I wouldn't be surprised if a greyhound charity needed weekend volunteers. They seem to get involved in all sorts, including fund-raising at the weekend.
 
Pearlsasinger said:
My aunt had a succession of several retired and spayed breeding poodle bitches because she knew had a friend who was the breeder.

OP, you sound like the perfect adopter of a sighthound. I wouldn't be surprised if a greyhound charity needed weekend volunteers. They seem to get involved in all sorts, including fund-raising at the weekend.
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I had been considering a greyhound, but was a little put off by the size! My house isn't huge and I'm not sure there's enough space for one to flop out comfortably. Also, I have a cat and my reading suggests it's a rare greyhound who can live with a cat.

I suspect any dog-getting will wait until the cat has passed on, to be honest. She's 15 now, but still just as active as she was as a 2yo, so hopefully it'll be a good while yet.
 
Good point CC, my small lurcher is a terrible and cunning food thief. I can’t leave any food within reach, the bread now lives on the top of the 6’ fridge/freezer. The kitchen table sneaks on him by showing paw prints on the oilcloth. I NEVER catch him at it!
 
It sounds like a dog could be right for you, you have the time and to be honest the fact that you're carefully considering it makes you better than most of the idiots who seem to get dogs.

My childhood dog died when I was 15 and I wanted another dog forever, it was basically all I wanted out of life. Finally at 31 I got one when housing and finances allowed!

Prior to getting her I volunteered to dog walk and dog sit for friends, spent as much time with dogs as I could without being a weirdo, stalked this forum, and just generally pined for one. It's the best thing I've ever done but she is hard work at times-it's only been three months, the first 3 weeks ish were honestly exhausting and I was close to regretting getting her but now she's mostly enjoyable and a small percentage a pain in the proverbial. Without this forum and a great trainer we wouldn't have settled into each other as well as we have.

I am rambling, but my point is you sound like a nice sensible person so if you spend time with dogs and decide it's what you want, you'll be a great dog owner. I wouldn't let lack of experience put you off if you do your research and get help when needed and get an appropriate type of dog for you.

Also it depends what you like in a dog but there's something out there for everyone. I like a clever dog who loves me and I ended up with a springer x pointer-she's obsessed with us, we joke that emotionally she's full spaniel. I couldn't cope with something aloof ?
 
you’re definitely doing the right thing by asking questions here rather than jumping in to buying one!

i recently bought my first puppy, although i’ve had dogs all my life - i still live at home but this is the first dog who is *mine*.

i got a puppy because my family were against adopting and the potential behaviour issues that could come with them, which is something to take into consideration. puppies are HARDWORK, but i would say less so than having a dog who need’s experienced training and unfortunately many rescue dogs require experienced knowledgable homes, though of course this isn’t the case for all! it could just make adopting difficult.

whilst he is the light of my life, he is a pest. we’ve been to bed and gone back outside 4 times in the last half hour because he fancied another mooch around the garden and wouldn’t settle? and he’s 1 in jan!

i won’t go in to tons of detail, but i would say definitely don’t underestimate how time consuming the training is - i definitely took for granted how generally well behaved my old dogs were, even though i was the one who did all the command/trick training. he was a doddle to toilet train, his recall is almost perfect, and he’s a whizz at tricks - but he’s a menace at bed time, and a serial thief, absolutely nothing is safe in this house?

i will also add that if you live with anyone else who will contradict your training you will struggle - my nana is set in her ways and it’s made life very difficult teaching him to behave because she isn’t consistent with what i do. when i went to see him with the breeder she said he barks at you when you’re eating, she found it cute but it’s not when you have to live with it lol, i ignored him when he did it and he stopped within a week - came down the other day to him barking at my nana for her morning toast only to learn it’s part of his morning routine because she gives in??‍♀️

as you work from home being around to let the dog outside etc won’t be an issue, but you may end up with a dog with separation anxiety if they’re with you 24/7, so it’s worth noting you’ll still have to work on that even if it’s just making sure they give you privacy to go in the bathroom lmao.

whilst they’re 100% a lifetime (theirs) commitment i do think dogs make generally easy pets, especially if you don’t have a working breed or one with daily grooming requirements *cries in poodle*. whilst i do try to walk him daily and if i don’t someone else will, he won’t spontaneously combust if he doesn’t go out for 1 day - plenty of enrichment we can do in the house. there’s so many resources available in terms of training classes, daycares and dog walkers that make having a dog for the first time far less daunting. the website allaboutdogfood.com is wonderful for finding a good diet - ranks pretty much everything on the market by nutritional content.

all in all i’d say if you spend some time around dogs and decide you would like one, go for it!
 
My daughters have both been fortunate enough to enquire with breeders who were passionate about their dogs. A collie breeder gave my daughter a long lesson in training and behaviour both with pups and adults. They even got to practice how to work a trained working collie.
 
My family had never had a dog before, only a cat so when I left home the first thing I did was to buy a puppy. I was a delivery driver at the time and I used to sneak her in my van! Probably a bad move and it was a sharp learning curve but I managed to make it work. I got made redundant so I was able to spend more time on training her and when I moved back home again Dad took over the reins and she became Dad's dog.

Now I'm older and more mature I know I'd be better to cope with a puppy.
 
If you are questioning it then I would say no don't have one yet. Volunteer to walk or help out at a shelter. I am sure they would appreciate your help even if you are unable to make a regular commitment.
 
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