should we get a dog

earwig

hi not really debt related i know but could do with some advice about this dh dd ds are all pestering me to get a dog but i dont want one ds is age 3 and a handfull dd is 8 and has ocd and anixity disorder i am a stay at home mum and dh works full time we live in a three bed house and although we have debt it is managable debt and its not really high amount of money that we owe
the problem is that i know i will be left with the dog when kids are at schooll and dh is at work so it will become my responabilty to make sure the dog is ok i am aslo worried about the dog attacking ds dd you hear so many bad story about dogs doing this the kind of dog thay want is a black labredore you know like the guide dogs am i beenig resonable in saying no to a dog or should i just let them get one what do you think

Sharifa_2

If you don't want a dog, and you'd be the one mostly responsible for it, continue to say No; dogs are a huge commitment, more so than cats. Maybe the 8-year-old could offer to walk a dog for a neighbour instead?

purpledelly

Sharifa wrote: »

If you don't want a dog, and you'd be the one mostly responsible for it, continue to say No; dogs are a huge commitment, more so than cats. Maybe the 8-year-old could offer to walk a dog for a neighbour instead?

I totally agree with this - they are a massive commitment and finance is the least of it. What about a cat - if it's more a 'pet' they want - cats are much lower maintenance.

I love the idea of offering to walk a neighbour's dog.

betti911

If you aren't set on the idea don't do it. I'd love a dog but its such a tie.

samanthag

i personally would not have a dog because me and hubby both work full time my 15 year old is desperate for a dog but i have put my foot down lol
i know you are home to look after it so thats not really a problem.
i have a cat who is now 6 and he is no bother at all i dont even have to worry when i go on holiday as my friend feeds him for me every day and he can come and go as he pleases
a cat is a much easier option if your kids just want a pet
sammy

Chesnut1

Earwig if I were you I would not get a dog. Sorry to be blunt but I would be more worried about the dog. You obviously do not want one and if your children are a handful then they could accidentily upset a dog or injure it especialy if it is a puppy. It is not fair to put any dog into this position and then it to expect model behaviour. By this I mean if one of your young children is being a handfull and say stands on the animal then it is liable to react to what it percieves as being attacked. Then the poor animal would be just another statistic of being put to sleep as a bad dog, when it was placed in a very unsuitable environment. It would be far better to wait until they are much older and then only if you want one as well as you will be unhappy at it being there and it will sense you do not want it. Hardly a good situation for anyone.

trampyblonde

If you don't want a dog then definately continue to say no. The dog will become a third child if you like, so it's not fair to buy one when you're not 100% about it.

:A

climbgirl

Chesnut1 wrote: »

Earwig if I were you I would not get a dog. Sorry to be blunt but I would be more worried about the dog. You obviously do not want one and if your children are a handful then they could accidentily upset a dog or injure it especialy if it is a puppy. It is not fair to put any dog into this position and then it to expect model behaviour. By this I mean if one of your young children is being a handfull and say stands on the animal then it is liable to react to what it percieves as being attacked. Then the poor animal would be just another statistic of being put to sleep as a bad dog, when it was placed in a very unsuitable environment. It would be far better to wait until they are much older and then only if you want one as well as you will be unhappy at it being there and it will sense you do not want it. Hardly a good situation for anyone.

I'd agree with this. It's not fair at all on the dog to bring it into a situation where it's not wanted by all concerned, especially by it's primary caregiver. They need to be trained properly and while black labs have a wonderful nature, especially with kids, if they're not trained and raised properly they won't behave themselves. Like Chesnut says, a dog will react if its' being taunted and teased, it's their nature to do so.

Dogs require a BIG commitment in terms of time - they're not self-sufficient like cats, you can't leave them for any stretch of time. You've got to walk them daily (especially big dogs like labs) and provide somewhere for them to run outside (that's secure).

It'll also cost you a lot. The food isn't always cheap and then there's vet bills, vaccinations, kennels if you go away...

I really don't think you should get one. I think it's really unfair on the dog to bring it into a situation where it isn't 100% wanted.

bookemdano

I have had a dog a few dogs in the past and would love another but they do tie you down. You have to make sure they have their vaccinations if you want to put them in kennels when you go on holiday. Would the dog chew your furniture or dig your garden up? Come rain or shine your dog will want his daily walk. Then you have pet insurance, if your dog breaks a leg your'e talking big money. Added expense of food aswell. The list goes on.
having a cute puppy or dog soon wears off when reality sets in. Not trying to put you off but having a dog is like having a child..they need constant care and attention.:cool:

betti911

bookemdano wrote: »

having a dog is like having a child

I agree... a dog is like a child who never grows up.

spud30

Earwig, I agree with everyone else.

We have both cats and a dog.

The cats are easy to look after, can be left for a day or 2 with plenty of food and water no problem.

The dog is a different matter. We cant really even go out for a day, because she needs to go out in the garden regularly to the loo etc. We cant take her with us because she gets badly car sick and not everywhere welcomes dogs. We haven't had a holiday since we got her because she cant be kennelled.

We knew all this before we got her, and were happy to make the sacrifices because we really wanted her.