Dogs pros and cons

Beauregard totally understand and sympathise with you. I was TEN years before I could face getting another dog! Eventually waivered and opted for a complete opposite of what I had before (German Shep - Cockapoo). But can honestly say although will never forget my beautiful boy, my new one has got into my heart also. My only fear of getting another was that at some point I will have to go through that dreadful time again!

I guess it is the only thing that puts you off getting another dog but...in this time of social distancing I can honestly say my lovely dog has been the one constant that drives me out and about. I walk him and feel fabulous.

Like any other dog, you need to look into your own personal circumstances. Any dog can be wonderful but some need more stimulation and exercise than others. Providing you do research, put the hours in I would say any dog would be fabulous. Problem is when owners don't understand the dogs, more than the dogs being a problem.

There are so many advantages of having a dog and only a few disadvantages.
Advantages:
You are never lonely
They make you take exercise
They make you laugh (several times a day)
You'll never have the 'empty nest' feeling when your children leave, as you'll still have someone to mother!
Meeting other people and making new friends on dog walks
They constantly lift your spirits.

The disadvantages:
Vets fees
Someone to look after them when you holiday
More house cleaning.

So, if you know somebody who can help with holidays and you are not on a tight budget, and don't mind extra housework, it's a win-win situation! The pleasure a dog gives far outweighs any disadvantages, most people end up falling completely in love with their dogs (and cats!).

My late mother used to say, "A house isn't a home without a pet". My dog was rescued from a high kill centre in California when 9 months old. She had been abandoned. She's 3 years old now She had some separation anxiety to begin with and I never leave her alone for more than a couple of hours. She goes to doggie daycare occasionally for a half or full day so I budget for that, for grooming and for vet bills. She keeps me fit with 2 hours walking every day, she's fun and my constant companion. I love her to bits.

Pros
wonderful companions
amusing company
dog walking is good exercise and a chance to talk to people

Cons
Vet bills
Food costs (more than a lot of people would think)
Dog walking in all weathers
More house cleaning
Kennel or dog sitter fees

The cons seem, on the face of it, to outweigh the pros but our dog has given us such pleasure that I don't care.

Curlywhirly
I will look into that when we go again. Thanks

Scentia regarding your dog's medication, have you tried buying the tablets online? Our dog has arthritis and needs daily medication which proved expensive. I now get a repeat prescription from the vet (at a cost of about £14.00 for a 6 month repeat prescription) and buy the tablets from petdrugsonline at half the cost.

We have a 3 and a half yr old cockerpoo. We love her to bits and she is a real family dog. Loves everyone but will bark at strangers when they call (which is a good thing).

Her problem is .... she’s a whiner! She is walked/run twice a day, she has toys and games to stimulate her, training to work her brain. We get her anything to keep her occupied. And still she whines. Often I have to take her for another walk during the evening just to try to settle her. She’s been checked out for pain but nothing shows up.

I definitely would not get another dog, but will tolerate her whining because we love her so much. . I couldn’t chance having another whiner!!!

With a puppy you can do training your way, even though it is hard work.

With re-homed dogs you do get a more settled mature dog and bypass all the chewing, but you are in for a few unknowns. when it comes to behaviour or training. Not that you can't teach an old dog new tricks... they do learn, but some habits are ingrained.

We thought long and hard about getting another dog at age 55, knowing a dog is a 15 year commitment. Well, we did decide, and have the loveliest Australian shepherd. She is very high energy, but gets us out walking rain or shine, and is always entertaining. Now 4 years old and no regrets.

I love my dog more than most things in the world. I had her from a rescue and as she has lots of health problems I have, over the years been unable to get affordable insurance. I am just contemplating how I will pay £80 a month for the rest of her life for some medication she needs to be comfortable and healthy. I would not get another dog as I have a declining income year on year as we set ourselves up for retirement and I could not afford another one . What I am trying to say is; they are the best friend you will probably have but they cost a fortune.?

I’ve lived with Dogs all my life except ages 18-22. I’ve had up to three in the last 12 years, including fosters. Yes, the are a tie unless you find a trainer/dog minder like ours. The dogs live in her house if we are away.
Floradora, the problem you have is your neighbours are bad dog owners. No dog barks all day unless it’s left alone and untrained. Poor dog
Dogs need training, vets bills can be expensive, so is care/kennels if you’re away and can’t take the dogs.
Whippets are lovely, see if you can rescue or adopt. Puppies are hard work

Ooh just reread my post.....I would hate to be without my dog! Must proof read properly.

One of our sons 'adopted' 3 ex-racing greyhounds. They lived in an urban area, both of them worked and these lovely animals just slept the day away. Then they were taken out for a walk in the evening.
We were living in France at the time, when our son needed to move abroad for his job, so we took one of them, Twiggy. We already had 2 border collies who welcomed him. His need for free-running exercise returned in the open space we had but sadly it was too much for him in the heat and he suddenly dropped dead.
Sorry for such a sad story - I'll never forget it.
Basically, it taught me that if we want a dog we need to choose a breed which can be adapted to our way of life.
eg I would love another border collie but it would be wrong to have one here .

I wonder what fostering greyhounds entails and perhaps it may bring my OH round. I will have to enquire. Can experienced foster “parents” give me some idea? This post has really got me fired up.

My dog drives me insane! She doesn’t like being left, she doesn’t much like the car.... She hates fireworks and thunder. She’s very hairy. But I would like to be without her! I wouldn’t have have a puppy again such hard work and commitment, then you have a teenage dog, so hard work until they are about two! Go second hand! (Otherwise known as rescue!)

Well Foxgloveandroses ,a friend has one and found it to be very high maintenance.
And needs walking regardless of the weather.
Personally i would have an older one.
And the vet bills are well over the top.
All that being said,dogs are wonderful companiens.

The longest in my 68yrs that I haven’t had a dog was 4wks! Yes they are a tie and not ideal for folk who have a busy lifestyle socialising and going out all the time. My first reaction to going anywhere is what about my dogs - we have 3. If you are unsure how about fostering? We’ve fostered over 30 alongside our own dogs. Whippet Rescue or Greyhound Rescues. Retired Greyhounds I would recommend.

We lost our beautiful girl in February at the grand old age of 16 1/2. What I found hardest was old age. We got through puppyhood, had 12 wonderful years in between, but in her old age she was not the dog we once knew and it was hard - dementia, incontinence, not being able to leave her for more than a few hours, having to get up in the middle of the night every night for the last few months. But we did everything we could for her and kept her with us for as long as possible. It's hard trying to remember her in her prime when the strongest memory is of her last year.

We couldn't have wished for a better dog. We loved her and miss her very much. Life with a dog is much lovelier than life without one, but we aren't going to have another. At least not for several years until we've had a few holidays - something we haven't been able to do for a long time. Then we'll see!!

We had the most wonderful dog a few years ago and were so devastated when she died that we swore never again. However, our granddaughter begged and begged us to get one - she even said to her Grandad, “If you really loved me, you’d get a dog”! so we succumbed. Her and her mum are out all day so can’t help us with a dog or have their own.

We got a perfect dog for us, a 4 yr old King Charles Cavalier - doesn’t bother about walks, doesn’t run away, happy just to sleep all day, loves her food and cuddles etc. However, I soon remembered the being tied down, not able to go out for the day on a whim, having to go for a walk when you really don’t want to, worrying about the house being smelly and all the rest. Now she’s not very well so we’re probably going to have to make THE decision soon. I mean it this time, though, no more!

MissAdventure - that made me smile.

I recall taking our firstborn, who was then about 6 months old, to visit my in-laws, where they had a Jack Russell. Our baby had just started to crawl and it was very hard to keep her off the floor as she was very proud of her new achievement. I let her down for a few minutes, when in came the dog and starting "scudding" across the floor - I am sure you know what I mean. MIL said "Oh, poor little ting - she has got suppurating anal glands."

Baby whisked off floor and hands washed pdq. We left not long after. Grim.

Needless to say, no dogs here!

To add to some previous posters, my DS and his family foster rescue greyhounds in Spain where they live. I was quite amazed at how placid and well-behaved they are . They do have a chase tendency so not a good idea if you have a cat.

I’ve never been without a dog or two for over fifty years, so, for me having a dog is just routine.
I’m lucky in that we’re a doggie family, so my daughter will have my dog, when I go away or out for the day and visa versa.
I would say that this is the greatest consideration, unless you intend to take dog friendly holidays, to have someone to look after them for you.

Thank you, FannyCornforth and MawB2

I am so pleased we have that photo. My youngest daughter took it without my knowledge and I'm very grateful she did!

And what lovely photos of your dogs, Maw. They are gorgeous.

We would have got another greyhound but we ended up with a JRX. Couldn't be more different.

I can never imagine living without a dog in my life. I have had them all my life. My parents always had at least 2 or 3 at once and they were such great friends.

Good luck Foxgloveandroses

Witzend is right, there is a big downside to dog ownership, if you don't go away a lot or can take the dog with you then expenses are lower. Vets bills can be expensive if your dog has a problem. Two of our dogs are old now, one has a tumour and the other is incontinent at times. They are too old and infirm to go into kennels. This has restricted our lives considerably.
The upside is the love and pleasure we have had from our dogs over the years, friends we have made through dog walking etc. We have kept fairly fit and active in part due to walking three times a day in all weathers. We love our dogs and wouldn't have had our lives any other way. A puppy is hard work Foxglove have you considered a rescue dog, there are so many looking for forever hones.

I can't imagine life without a dog.
I live alone and without my dog life would be so different.I have made so many good friends walking him and the morning walk in the country is so good for the soul.Bad weather is so depressing when looking out of the window but with the right clothes even a walk in the rain can lift the spirits.
Yes,muddy paws,hair all over,picking up poo and sorting out sitters as well as the dreaded vet bills are to be considered but so worth it.