Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm considering relenting to a relentless campaign by my children and husband to get a dog. We have cats, which is one of my reasons for not wanting a dog (what if they never get along?), plus the usual concerns about who will walk the dog, clean up the poop etc. My children swear they would walk it, but I don't think they fully understand what it would be like to have to deal with a dog that has to pee at 5:30 a.m.!
With all that said, can anyone recommend a small-ish, non-shedding, good-natured breed or mix that might fit our situation?

How old are you kids? If under ten, there is no way they will take responsibility. We have a dog and two cats but, we got the cats when kittens after the dog. They absolutely love the dog! You can't pick a dog that likes to chase small animals or herd. But, I think you shouldn't get a dog. Tell them when they are adults they can get a dog. Or they can start a pet sitting business/walk dog service/volunteer with dogs.

If you get a dog, it will be your dog. Then you will ask us if there is any "positive" re-homing stories. My dog is my dog. And I love taking care of her so I only got her when I was ready.

Here, the husband wants a dog, too. So, he can take up whatever slack from the kids (and yes, the kids aren't nearly as reliable as they think they will be). Ask your husband to put in writing that he is in charge of all the dog work (including badgering the kids to do their part). Then, you can help him if you want to, but it's not your responsibility to do that favor for him. Get him to write this down. Then, get a maltese.

This is nice in theory but I would not get a dog. I was in the same boat- family wanted one, I didn't. Relented and I'm honestly pretty resentful because even though my husband does 3/4 of the work, that's 1/4 left for me. I was up at 5am with the dog this am and 3am last night. I love her and she's very sweet but I wish I hadn't relented.
BUT...100 agree that if you're going to get a dog don't get a puppy. 100x more work.

OP, do not get a dog unless YOU want it. My daughter begged for ten years for a dog, swore up and down she would do everything she could for it. For whatever reason in the last six months, I came around to actually wanting one myself, and we got one about a month ago. I am telling you, if this was forced upon me and I wasn't all in myself, I would be miserable. I'm a little miserable as it is and I actually wanted one

Kids are 11 and 13 - sure they want to do the fun stuff and are even doing a little reading and learning how to train. The vast majority of the work for the dog they are not doing and honestly would not have the maturity to do anyway. It is hard hard work, and very little of it, especially in the beginning, is the fun taking it for a walk/teaching it tricks stuff. Your kids will not take care of the dog. They will do the fun stuff, and even a few weeks in, they will push back a little on even the fun stuff.

I am glad we got one even though it's hard because I wanted one and I am at a place where I want to put in the hard work to get the dog in a good place. I cannot imagine doing this if I didn't want - it would be hell. I repeat - DO NOT get a dog if you aren't all in yourself. DO NOT DO IT.

OP Do not make this mistake!!! I stipulated control as I succumbed to years and years of pleading. Chose a small dog super cute breed with all the characteristics (we had had a bichon years ago and like in as far as hypoallergenic, social, friendly.) I did not want a dog for all the reasons that have come to pass but my DC had always been huge animal lover. Almost two years in-what I dislike is the constant background level of awareness of the dog’s need (feed, walks, pee breaks.) I personally do very little of it but I’m still managing it. Also: I dislike being chained to a timetable of how long we can be out. Not a huge deal last year but hopefully again soon-huge stress of where dog goes if we travel. Dog is house trained but there’s ‘accidents’ that really are just failures on our part and I dislike knowing my house has been peed in.

My kid is 12 so with an average life of 15+ for this breed I already looking ahead to 5+ years where kid in college and dog here. I don’t hate dogs just have grown to hate being a dog owner. Big big big regret. If I could re-home I would in a heartbeat but DC would be devastated.

What are your plans for post-covid if you have to go back to work and the dog is home all day? Will you do doggie daycare? Pay a neighbor to walk it? Also, how old are your cats? I had two cats and had to put one down last year. She had so many vet visits and incontinence problems, it was a lot of work and a long, sad road. I felt like I was at my breaking point taking care of small children and the sick cat, I can't imagine adding a puppy into the mix.

Anonymous wrote:Don't get a puppy. Too much work. My kids have not done nearly enough they promised.

This!!!!!! 1,000 times this. I love dogs but have always adopted adult dogs. Got a puppy this time because I thought my son should get the full experience. They are a million times more work. They bite (playing but still hurts). They pee all the time. They throw up. They need to be taken to the vet a lot in that first year.

I love my dog dearly, but I also would have loved an adult dog just as much.

It’s incredibly cruel to your cats.

Clear answer here is to not get a dog.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Get a dog that you will not mind getting up with at 5:30 in the morning, because you absolutely will.

Not true if you get a slightly older dog ( say around 2) Our dog doesn't need walking at 5:30am!

I have a cockapoo. It goes oit around 10-10:30 and not again until 9 am. It doesn’t eat or drink past 7.

I was same and my family talked me into a golden retriever. I love her so much, I can’t believe I ever didn’t want her.

Don't get a puppy. Too much work. My kids have not done nearly enough they promised.

Don't get a dog. They are a lot of work.

Anonymous wrote:I'm considering relenting to a relentless campaign by my children and husband to get a dog. We have cats, which is one of my reasons for not wanting a dog (what if they never get along?), plus the usual concerns about who will walk the dog, clean up the poop etc. My children swear they would walk it, but I don't think they fully understand what it would be like to have to deal with a dog that has to pee at 5:30 a.m.!
With all that said, can anyone recommend a small-ish, non-shedding, good-natured breed or mix that might fit our situation?

Get an older toy or mini female poodle. They don't shed, they are basically lap dogs and can be good natured, if you find the right one. The smaller the dog, the smaller the mess. If you get one that is older, then they should be potty trained and won't wake up at all hours to go potty. You may not be able to adopt a dog if you have young kids or other pets (some agencies think young kids are not compatible with rescues).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm considering relenting to a relentless campaign by my children and husband to get a dog. We have cats, which is one of my reasons for not wanting a dog (what if they never get along?), plus the usual concerns about who will walk the dog, clean up the poop etc. My children swear they would walk it, but I don't think they fully understand what it would be like to have to deal with a dog that has to pee at 5:30 a.m.!
With all that said, can anyone recommend a small-ish, non-shedding, good-natured breed or mix that might fit our situation?

How old are you kids? If under ten, there is no way they will take responsibility. We have a dog and two cats but, we got the cats when kittens after the dog. They absolutely love the dog! You can't pick a dog that likes to chase small animals or herd. But, I think you shouldn't get a dog. Tell them when they are adults they can get a dog. Or they can start a pet sitting business/walk dog service/volunteer with dogs.

If you get a dog, it will be your dog. Then you will ask us if there is any "positive" re-homing stories. My dog is my dog. And I love taking care of her so I only got her when I was ready.

Here, the husband wants a dog, too. So, he can take up whatever slack from the kids (and yes, the kids aren't nearly as reliable as they think they will be). Ask your husband to put in writing that he is in charge of all the dog work (including badgering the kids to do their part). Then, you can help him if you want to, but it's not your responsibility to do that favor for him. Get him to write this down. Then, get a maltese.

Dog sit first is a very good strategy.

Also fence the yard or a part of it do you can let the dog out. Then you can take a walk with the pup on your schedule instead of the dog's schedule. This really helps a lot.

Second the Bichon Frise! That's the dog I wanted to get, but one of my children talked me into a sled dog. DO NOT get anything remotely like it unless you want to get dragged on the ice at 30 miles an hour and risk breaking your neck every frosty morning. He gets very excited every time there's snow on the ground

Apparently Bichons don't shed much, are hypoallergenic, and intelligent in every way... but. They have the reputation of being hard to potty train. I've no idea if that's true, since we ultimately didn't get one. All I can say is that the potty training process for our dog was easy with a crate. We got him at 10 weeks, and the first week I did get up in the middle of the night to take him out, but after that it was fine. I can't recall he had more than a couple of accidents indoors. As an adult, he can last a long night without peeing (10pm-8am). Perhaps a smaller dog is different?