Anonymous wrote:I am a cat person. I do not like dogs. Kids and husband want one. I'm not going to let the dog pee herself so I know I'll have to help with the dog. I don't see the appeal with them. They get into everything, eat mulch and grass, and are generally gross animals I don't want.

If you weren't a "dog person" and got a dog for your family, did you learn to love the dog?

Since when do kids dictate to their mother? This sounds like a marital issue if spouse sides with the children against you like this. Your husband should have told the kids “Mom isn’t ready for a dog, but when you grow up and have your own place, a dog might be a great idea.” Don’t be a doormat, OP.

This is something that everyone in the family needs to agree on.

My Maine Coon runs with the dogs, roughhouses with the dogs, plays fetch Leigh the dogs, and is the size of a small dog (and still growing). Pretty sure she thinks she’s a dog.

Dogs are so much more work and more money than non dog owners realize. My neighbors doodle destroyed their house. More than once. They didn’t know what they were getting into and their dog was gone within 2 years. I know know several families who have rehomed their Covid dogs. One of my neighbors keeps putting his small dog out on his deck where it escapes. He really wants to get rid of it but it’s his wife’s child.

People here are mentioning training as if it’s easy to do yourself. Not true and finding a good trainer and sticking to it is hard. And expensive.

Do you plan on traveling much? Sometimes it’s impossible to find boarding. Do you have any idea how much that costs or that good honest dog sitters can be very hard to find? Do you understand how expensive vets are now and that many are overwhelmed with all the new dogs people got since Covid. I know a family who canceled a week long summer vacation because they couldn’t find someone to care for it.

It is too much work if you’re not hung ho about it.

We do have a big ol boy cat that follows our kid around, comes into her room at night, lets our kid lay on him and give him hugs. So it is possible, but probably hard to predict.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don't get a dog. Get a dog-like cat.

There is no such animal

Not PP but we had one for almost 20 years. Miss that sweet guy so much. The vet even noticed and said based on personality that he’s more like a dog.

I think that is insulting to cats!

Anonymous wrote:Yes, foster over the summer. Sign up with a local rescue and then MAKE THEM DO EVERYTHING. Wish I had done that. I will never sleep late for the next dozen or so years but I do love my dog.
When they have to get up at 7am or earlier, every day over the summer + 3 walks and walk before bed, they will not last a week.

But you can get dogs that require less work./exercise. If you avoid the working breeds: Labs, goldens, German shepherds, border collies etc you can get a sweet dog. To me it is like telling someone to foster a kid if they don't want kids. A dog that was in a shelter may have lots of problems due to the stress of being in the shelter. I mean you can rescue an older dog from a specific breed and they will know their personality. Not every dog needs daily walks especially if you have a big backyard. Think small poodles

Anonymous wrote:Don’t get one! They’ll put all the responsibility of caring for it on you.

This. They will promise to walk, feed, groom and play with it but soon they will be too busy and it will fall on you. When I walk our dog, who I didn’t want, but now afore, I only see women or elderly couples out walking theirs.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don't get a dog. Get a dog-like cat.

There is no such animal

Not PP but we had one for almost 20 years. Miss that sweet guy so much. The vet even noticed and said based on personality that he’s more like a dog.

Yes, foster over the summer. Sign up with a local rescue and then MAKE THEM DO EVERYTHING. Wish I had done that. I will never sleep late for the next dozen or so years but I do love my dog.
When they have to get up at 7am or earlier, every day over the summer + 3 walks and walk before bed, they will not last a week.

Anonymous wrote:Don't get a dog. Get a dog-like cat.

There is no such animal

Anonymous wrote:

If you weren't a "dog person" and got a dog for your family, did you learn to love the dog?

I was an avid dog hater. I didn't grow up with them and thought they were horrible and gross. Then I fell madly in love with a man with a dog. As I wanted him to fall in love with me, I wasn't about to make my feelings about dogs known. I adopted a fake-it-'til-I-make-it attitude about the dog.

Well joke was on me because now 12 years later I'm a crazy, dog-obsessed person. The original dog in the story passed away and I got a new puppy 3 years ago and I have done 90% of the work of raising and training her. She's my whole world. We even do dog sports together and I'm known in my neighborhood for being available to help with everyone's dogs.

Can you try fostering? You need a trial period like I had with my boyfriend's dog.

Don't get a dog. Get a dog-like cat.

Foster?