How do you deal when you hate having a dog?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm in the exact same boat. I love animals, I had dogs growing up, I did allll the research. Turns out I hate it too. I'm hoping that it will get better as she gets older- we got her at 12 weeks old, she's 8 months now.

It makes it even worse that I'm "her person"- she looks for me constantly and loves me more than anyone else in the house- so there's this constant guilt that I have for feeling like I wish I could go back and undo the decision. It is just so much work and expense and I still feel like I'm not doing enough. I just got yelled at by the vet for not brushing her teeth every day. I have no advice, but wanted to let you know you're not alone.

This is hard to believe

I'm not surprised. They want you to do it consistently when they are puppies so they will accept you doing it.

[Anonymous]

I too despise owning dogs!! And I am the one who does most of the care! I love our Guinea pig and parakeets. I would also love to have chickens and bunnies again. The dogs love me the most too… I actually love them but daydream about a future with out them :p someday…. Now my son really wants a cat… sigh…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm really astounded by all of these regretful pet owners. Is this a pandemic thing? That people who were not dog people tried to become dog people, or jumped on the doggie bandwagon?

Our dog is really one of my favorite things in the house. He is my third dog, and I think he is the cutest, although he is not the smartest or the best-behaved. (To be fair, our previous dog was incredibly well behaved -- trainers were always telling us we should put him into obedience competitions because he was like the Michael Phelps of obedience. I was like "yeah, I'm not really a stage mom...").

I think people should at least pet sit a friend's dog for a week before you decide to commit. It won't be the exact same (because your friend's dog will likely be trained) but at least you'll get a sense of it. Also, if you're on the fence, probably talk your kid into a cat. I hear people say they are "meh" about their cat, but I never hear anyone say they seriously regret their cat (unless he destroys their furniture).

I also really think pepole should put their foot down and insist their spouse and kids step up to take care of the dog they wanted. We have a walk schedule posted on the wall, and it gets revised periodically to account for the kids' after school activities, but they each do 5 walks a week. They also generally do the brushing and help with baths (sometimes I left them do it themselves but that's not really what I'd recommend).

I sometimes regret/resent my puppy because she's 7 months old and can be a needy jerk. I expect it to get easier when she's older. Maybe it's just that a lot of us have dogs under 2 years old right now.

Or maybe the breed? IDK. We've loved every Lab we had since the moment they came home at 8 or 9 weeks. Like good natured rolly polly toddlers except they pee/poop outside from the beginning - no diapers.

[Anonymous]

I hate dogs. Guess how many dogs I had? Let me name then
1) Irish Setter
2) Beagle
3) Pomeranian
4) Pointer
5) Labrador
6) Shih Tzu
7) Jack Russell

So 7 dogs and I wanted none of them. I am allergic, get the bills and get the work and don’t enjoy them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I love my dog, but I'm pretty sure she's the only dog I'll ever have. Turns out I really am a cat person.

This is me. It also helps that DH is my dog’s person (because he works from home).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I hate dogs. Guess how many dogs I had? Let me name then
1) Irish Setter
2) Beagle
3) Pomeranian
4) Pointer
5) Labrador
6) Shih Tzu
7) Jack Russell

So 7 dogs and I wanted none of them. I am allergic, get the bills and get the work and don’t enjoy them.

I don't know about the rest, but these are pretty hateful.

-- a dog lover

[Anonymous]

Honestly, I don't love dogs. As a kid I always wanted one but now we have them, I realized I am 100% a cat person.

What can you do? Your family loves them and does their share of the work so you're kinda stuck with the dogs. The early morning is my least favorite chore so I would try to get DH to do that. The kids are on poop duty. I just feed them and give them love which makes it easier on me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hate dogs. Guess how many dogs I had? Let me name then
1) Irish Setter
2) Beagle
3) Pomeranian
4) Pointer
5) Labrador
6) Shih Tzu
7) Jack Russell

So 7 dogs and I wanted none of them. I am allergic, get the bills and get the work and don’t enjoy them.

I don't know about the rest, but these are pretty hateful.

-- a dog lover

Labs are hateful?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hate dogs. Guess how many dogs I had? Let me name then
1) Irish Setter
2) Beagle
3) Pomeranian
4) Pointer
5) Labrador
6) Shih Tzu
7) Jack Russell

So 7 dogs and I wanted none of them. I am allergic, get the bills and get the work and don’t enjoy them.

I don't know about the rest, but these are pretty hateful.

-- a dog lover

Labs are hateful?

She highlighted Jack Russell terriers.

[Anonymous]

After 10 years with this dog I can’t stand it anymore. My wife’s dog and I’ve nurtured and cared for him since he was 5. 15 now. It controls my life. Live in an apartment and we share taking it out 3 times to 4 times a day. It’s a burden. It’s bloody 6 pounds and depletes my soul.

[Anonymous]

It’s so hard. I have three kids, 2 cats and one bunny. I’m 💯 a cat person but my husband is a dog person. We’ve been married 19 years and he finally got his dog. I’m trying to just be happy that he has it but I HATE having him. It’s too hard with the other pets and my two younger kids (8 and 10) didn’t want it so they drag their fee my everytime I make them spend time with him to stop his barking! My oldest wants it but is in high school and doesn’t have as much time although she does help a lot. My husband helps when’s he’s home but he works 25-48 hours shifts so when he’s gone it’s rough. People say you’ll end up loving it but it’s been two months and I still breakdown. I hope he gets easier because right now it’s a ton and overwhelming. And we got him at 8 weeks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I hate dogs. Guess how many dogs I had? Let me name then
1) Irish Setter
2) Beagle
3) Pomeranian
4) Pointer
5) Labrador
6) Shih Tzu
7) Jack Russell

So 7 dogs and I wanted none of them. I am allergic, get the bills and get the work and don’t enjoy them.

I'm allergic and have had dogs all my life. My beagle is the most intense extra dog I've ever had.

[Anonymous]

Reading this forum solidifies my dislike of dogs. I’ve always felt kinda bad that I see most pet dogs as dumb, slobbering, annoying, and dirty. The constant care and neediness. The constant toileting, chewing, and bad behavior. I don’t feel bad any longer now that I realize even the people who own dogs despise them and are just waiting on them to die. Trained working dogs are another matter. But they are at the top of the heap and a long way from the empty headed and neurotic xyzdoodle from the puppy mill that’s crapping all over and barking every time a leaf falls.

[Anonymous]

I think having a property with a yard and a fence makes it so much easier to have a dog. You can walk it once a day, but then just let it in and out to go. And you can just sit outside and throw a ball to them. Get one of those mobile pet vans to come and groom it regularly.

I get that these things cost money. But people should be evaluating whether they have the $ and the setup to support a good life for a dog BEFORE you bring it home.

A lot of you are talking about taking a dog out on a leash many times per day. Or dogs that are rambunctious. That’s from not getting enough exercise and the bad behavior needs to be addressed with training.

[Anonymous]

My dog is almost 2, he's well trained and for the most part a good dog. But him and his never-ending, never enough needs really gets to me sometimes. My kids want him to sleep in their room and will handle some dog chores but don't ever want to play with him which is mostly what he always want.

I just really hate having a dog. I thought I was at a stage of life where I could handle it. I am not. I feel quite limited (no reliable dog sitter) and that gives me stress. My kids and other parts of my life give me stress and the good of the dog really doesn't pay off the drain of the dog. I wish I could go back in time and never get a dog.