Shall we get a wee dog?

I did have goldfish. They learnt how to look for food when they heard us switch on the kettle in the morning.

You know Oldbatty...I have just got off another post saying that all the responses may help people even if the original poster wasn't genuine.

I don't know what kind of kicks you get out of all this but am generously thinking your life is so empty you feel the need to post such rubbish? I feel sorry for you oldbatty and I hope you get the help you so clearly need

My heart wants a dog but I go away quite a bit, it wouldn't be in the best interest for the dog....so I foster for a dog charity when I can. It is hard emotionally but in this way I hope I'm helping the dog, charity and future owners!

as the young uns say LOL

its true about the fish?

oldbatty Have you considered pet sitting or dog walking rather than ownership of a dog. You get to enjoy the company of dogs, or cats or other pets without the long term expenses and worries. Caring and responsible pet sitters and dog walkers are in great demand.

Crystal47 We also have a Welsh Springer Spaniel. He joined our family last autumn and is now 10 months old. Best thing we ever did. He is the most loving and characterful dog we've ever had and follows my DH everywhere like a shadow. We could not imagine life without him now.

I,m not a dog lover and also wouldnt be able to pick up after them,would rather have a cat.

Many thanks breeze

We've got a 6yr old Shih Tzu and she's just precious, before her we had a Labrador for 14yrs but thought a large dog might be too much work as we get older.
I was never a dog lover before and had only ever had cats.
Now I can't imagine not having a dog. Yes they do cost money to keep and if you get a puppy there's a lot of work to do at first, but they soon settle down and become part of the family.
One of the things we enjoy the most are the lovely walks in the park that I am sure must be good for our health too. We go out morning and evening and each time we have to walk up over 100 steps in the park, which at first was quite exhausting, but now we manage it quite easily. I don't think we would ever choose to go out walking anywhere if we didn't have a dog.
There is also the social aspect of dog ownership. I've met so many lovely people in our local park and each morning we walk around the park chatting about all sorts of things and it's a great start to the day.
I think with food, insurance and grooming we pay out about £50 a month and that's before any other dog related stuff, so the money side of it is something to think through carefully too!

That's a really positive post Mercedes55, as well as telling it like it is about dog owning. I have two dogs, one is large the other middle sized. Both need grooming 6 weekly, they're insured because their breed = high prey urge = injuries very possible. So your £50 a month can probably be trebled here if I'm honest (which I'm not really, I kid myself they're cheap to run)
There is a largely lovely dog walking community around where we live. The downside is because we have parkland, woodland and resevoirs to walk, it's a magnet for 'professional dog walkers'. Like every other area where people are employed, they're a mixed bunch. Most are very responsible, friendly and skilled at keeping their 6 - 8 dogs under control. I recognise the vans on the various car parks and avoid areas where I know the less paid dog walkers will be.
I've made a number of very good friends through dog walking or training groups.

Oldbatty, have you considered being a fostered for a dog rescue. Some look for fulltime fosterers for old dogs, they pay any vets fees. It means you may not have a dog for long as they will either be going on to a permanent home or sadly will die, but at least you will have the comfort that you made that dogs life happy and full of love for a certain amount of time.

MagicWriter2016, fosterers for dog rescue take on a huge responsibility. Dogs that need adoption often have "issues" that need a lot of input. They may howl at night, Or if left alone, destroy carpets and other things, are likely to be unpredictable. I had one aged 5 that the owner told me (with pride) - oh it's untrainable that one, still thinks its a puppy. It was trainable but 5 years of running wild took some turning around.
Oldbatty doesn't really want a dog. She's acknowledged that now.

Agree Iam64 fosterers need to be experienced dog owners used to dealing with all the issues you mentioned and more.

I suggest oldbatty visits a site called BorrowMyDoggy. This links up dog owners who, for example work, with those who would like to have a dog but cannot commit to owning one full time.

BorrowMyDoggy Link