Things to consider when considering a dog?

[Anonymous]

DH and I had a dog about 15 years ago. After that dog passed, we got busy with careers, and then had a child, and in that time, we have largely forgotten what it was like to have a dog, but we are thinking it’s time for that addition to our family.
We have a 13yo, I WFH, we are active. A dog just feels like that “something” that’s missing. But it’s funny, when I tell dog owners we are thinking of getting a dog, they tell us “don’t do it”! I think they are joking? But in a way that it’s a veiled truth hiding behind humor?

Like I said, I can’t remember the day-to-day of owning a dog. I don’t remember it being difficult. A responsibility, sure. Tell me the truth: is it truly life changing in a *bad* way? Are there questions we should be asking ourselves before we do this?

[Anonymous]

Depends on the breed IMO.

Puppies can be a lot of work for sure. It was fun but I found it extremely time consuming. Factor in time for any training classes, more frequent vet appts for vaxes etc.

Day to day is easy for us but what about Travel or being out of the house 8+hrs straight for example a weekend day? That is when having a dog seems to cause the most change or inconvenience for us- boarding, dog walkers etc. I’d make sure you have thought about that and have ideas in place.

Also dogproofing if you haven’t had a dog in awhile. Obviously this depends on the particular dog or breed somewhat. Also yard setup.

[Anonymous]

I agree it depends on the breed. Too many people get caught up in feeling they have to get a rescue dog rather than picking the right breed for their lifestyle and a good breeder. They end up getting a dog that is not right for their family and/or has behavioral problems. It becomes a daunting task. There aren’t many people for whom some mix of pitbull, Shepard , husky , hound etc is the right breed but they think got a lab mix and really struggle when the dog comes home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Depends on the breed IMO.

Puppies can be a lot of work for sure. It was fun but I found it extremely time consuming. Factor in time for any training classes, more frequent vet appts for vaxes etc.

Day to day is easy for us but what about Travel or being out of the house 8+hrs straight for example a weekend day? That is when having a dog seems to cause the most change or inconvenience for us- boarding, dog walkers etc. I’d make sure you have thought about that and have ideas in place.

Also dogproofing if you haven’t had a dog in awhile. Obviously this depends on the particular dog or breed somewhat. Also yard setup.

We have two dogs, and I adore them, but agree that the hardest part is planning to be away. Spontaneity is not really possible. That, and the vacuuming (Dyson stick FTW).

[Anonymous]

It can be overwhelming at first but just make sure you have a ton of time for training and taking obedience classes with your dog.

[Anonymous]

We love our dog, and it sounds like your family is in a good phase to have a dog.

A couple of things: Size. We thought we'd get a big dog. Instead, we have a 22-lb mutt, and lots of things are easier. Less food, smaller poops, and my kids could walk him from the beginning.

Like someone else said, availability of dog sitters/kennels

Behavioral things that you might have forgotten: Barking, sneaking food, eating shoes, etc.

What happens when the honeymoon wears off? My kids were so helpful in the beginning. Now, not so much.

Overall, we've been so happy with our dog. Good luck to you!

[Anonymous]

OP you could try boarding a dog in your home for a week or two for a friend who is traveling, or maybe ask a friend who normally relies on dog walkers while they are at work if you could instead host the dog at your house during the day, to get a feel for what life with a dog is like again.

You could also foster a dog.

My observation is that many people in recent years have adopted dogs without really understanding the commitment. I think the biggest challenge is not understanding that you need to be someone with a fairly reliable schedule who likes being home a lot. For some reason, more people have been getting dogs who envision being about to have their dogs with them when out and about a lot. That is sometimes possible but not a given, and also not always a great dog with many dog temperaments -- most dogs really thrive on the security of home, having a regular schedule, and establishing a very consistent and trusting relationship with their owners.

So I guess one gut check you might make is thinking about what you envision doing with your dog? Is it mostly companionship at home, taking the dog for regular daily walks, and then maybe reasonable excursions to go hiking or other outdoor activities that are dog friendly? Or are you envisioning taking your dogs to friends houses and breweries and restaurants, taking your dog on vacations, etc.? The latter situation is not realistic but it seems to be what many dog owners today have in mind -- a very social life with dog in tow. That only works with certain dogs, and also only works if the places you go are universally dog friendly, which most places aren't.

You've had a dog before so I expect you probably have a more realistic expectation, but just throwing this out there as the sense I've gotten from some of the unhappy dog owners I know these days -- I think they were social, active people who didn't realize how much your dog ties you to your house.

[Anonymous]

It's expensive. Vet bills, grooming, food, boarding, etc. Everytime you go out of town it's $60-$70 dollars per day just to board the dog. If your dog can't be at home alone all day, it will cost for day care or a walker. They have accidents or chew things.

I would say that a dog will cost at least $3000 per year to kept. If you have the dog 10 years, it's $30K+. Not cheap and they always break your heart in the end.

[Anonymous]

How much work it is the expense and if you like the leave the house for hours on end and not worry about running home to let the dog out.

[Anonymous]

Besides breed, it also depends on *you*. Do you need quiet, lack of chaos, or can you handle a dog tearing around, whining because you're not focused on it, needing lots of energetic outlets while you're trying to unwind, zoom, cry, whatever? Do you need to not have another creature demanding your time, energy? When you're carrying stuff in from a long day, do you want sloppy panty kisses or do you need to get things organized before having to spend 10 more minutes managing another creature's needs? Do you need cleanliness, lack of hair on clothes, floors, etc? Do you have spousal agreement about these things or will it be another point of tension in an already complex relationship?

[Anonymous]

Try fostering a calm dog that alreadyt has been in foster for a while and needs a foster transfer - meaning, likely already housebroken and all that. It'll be a quick reminder that dogs do not have opposable thumbs. You must wake up early to let the dog out to whiz. You must take the dog out to whiz when it's raining, sleeting, snowing, etc., if you don't have a yard. And even if you do have a yard - you must take the dog for walks because the yard gets boring and the dog needs to be able to do more than just stay in the house and the yard. You need to be able to feed at mealtimes. Like others here have said - spontaneity goes out the window.

I have three I love - and it's a good thing because I have not slept in in five years. I must wake up and take them out to pee. I must plan ahead if I want to go anywhere without them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I agree it depends on the breed. Too many people get caught up in feeling they have to get a rescue dog rather than picking the right breed for their lifestyle and a good breeder. They end up getting a dog that is not right for their family and/or has behavioral problems. It becomes a daunting task. There aren’t many people for whom some mix of pitbull, Shepard , husky , hound etc is the right breed but they think got a lab mix and really struggle when the dog comes home.

+1 So much

My weird advice, if you can afford it, is to get two at once.

We are lifelong dog owners. Years ago we bought two boston terrier puppies at once and they were the easiest of all our dogs to raise, they kept each other busy and kept each other company. They play and cuddle with us just as much as a single dog, but they also tussle and tire each other out. It's just a couple of months of training but it's worth it.

You need to identify the right breed for your family, your needs, energy level, and physical size.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's expensive. Vet bills, grooming, food, boarding, etc. Everytime you go out of town it's $60-$70 dollars per day just to board the dog. If your dog can't be at home alone all day, it will cost for day care or a walker. They have accidents or chew things.

I would say that a dog will cost at least $3000 per year to kept. If you have the dog 10 years, it's $30K+. Not cheap and they always break your heart in the end.

Agree dogs can be very expensive! In addition to the obvious costs, you have unexpected costs if they are ill. We’ve spent around $10,000 in the past few months on emergency vet visits; cardiology appointments and meds. I guess you can get pet insurance but we never did.

[Anonymous]

I agree with getting a foster dog, to see if a dog is right for you.

I have always been able to rearrange my life to accommodate my dogs. You'll probably need to find a dog who can slot right into your life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree it depends on the breed. Too many people get caught up in feeling they have to get a rescue dog rather than picking the right breed for their lifestyle and a good breeder. They end up getting a dog that is not right for their family and/or has behavioral problems. It becomes a daunting task. There aren’t many people for whom some mix of pitbull, Shepard , husky , hound etc is the right breed but they think got a lab mix and really struggle when the dog comes home.

+1 So much

My weird advice, if you can afford it, is to get two at once.

We are lifelong dog owners. Years ago we bought two boston terrier puppies at once and they were the easiest of all our dogs to raise, they kept each other busy and kept each other company. They play and cuddle with us just as much as a single dog, but they also tussle and tire each other out. It's just a couple of months of training but it's worth it.

You need to identify the right breed for your family, your needs, energy level, and physical size.

I forgot to mention the cons. For our family it's where to leave them when we go on vacation. We need to book our kennel very much in advance.