What kind of dog, if any?

PasturesNew

There's a lot of difference between a cat and a dog. If you've a cat you can live your life how you like... the hardest thing might be finding a neighbour to put some food out for a week if you're away.

A dog's a lot more work around the house - tending to it/entertaining it. The daily walks, the poop scoop. Keeping the garden free of poop.

Then, every time you want to go anywhere it's "can we take the dog?" "how can we take the dog?". Many places won't let you in with a dog; many of the people you visit might not want you to bring your dog.

Owning a dog is like having a 3 year old child as you need to think about its well-being all of the time and whether it's welcome where you're going out to. And what it'll do if you leave it home alone.

Owning a cat's more like having a 20 year old child at home, you can just walk out and leave them .... or ask the neighbour to make sure there's food in their bowl (the fridge) if you're going away.

hollydays

Here are some elimination type questionnaires that may help you to start to make a decision

http://www.iams.com/dog-breed-selector

http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/life/pets/a31652/which-dog-is-right-for-you/

http://www.pedigree.com/all-things-dog/select-a-dog/BreedMatch.aspx

GlasweJen

How dog friendly is your area?

We have parks nearby, some pubs the dog is welcome in and a cafe where dogs get a sausage while the humans eat. Having the dog is easy as she is car trained and is really good when she's in a pub/cafe and we know where she is welcome.

We also take her on holiday, some big hotel chains are dog friendly like best western and Ibis. We stay all over the UK in dog friendly B&Bs and she has a passport so can come with us to Europe.

Ours is a terrier so cats and fluffy toys are her nemesis, it's a breed trait so she wouldn't be ideal in a house with a cat. Ask the rescue centre if they have any dogs with a history of living with cats. Ours came with a no other pets and no small children warning.

ripplyuk

I'd suggest going with your original plan of waiting until you retire. A dog is very different to having a cat. Everyone agrees they will walk the dog initially, but after a year or two, the novelty can wear off on winter evenings in the wind and rain. They are a lot more work, insurance costs tend to be much higher, and they can't be left alone for long so your lifestyle will be affected. Cats tend to be more independant and can work round your routine to some degree, whereas a dog needs you to work round theirs.

Unless you can't bear the thought of living without a dog, don't get one.

Person_one

ohreally wrote: »

You may not be a suitable fit for a dog at this point due to not being at home most of the time. They are part of the family and dog may noit take too well to being left often on his own.

The OP works school hours (so probably 9-3 or 3.30) and has all the school holidays off. I know some people get fixated on the idea that nobody who ever leaves the house should have a dog, but really!

OP, do loads of research. Read dog themed websites and forums, talk to dog owners you know about their experiences and their views, get books from the library, watch 'it's me or the dog' and other doggy TV (not the dog whisperer though!) until you feel like you have a really firm grasp of what's going to be involved and what factors are going to affect your decision.

catkins

I would go down the fostering route if I were you. That way you are helping a dog, helping a rescue centre and it gives you a chance to see if a dog is suitable for you.


I have had a dog or dogs all my married life (36 years) and couldn't imagine life without one but it can sometimes be hard work and dogs are a tie.


I actually love walking my dog and speaking to other dog walkers and people who stop to ask me about him. He is longhaired so a week or more of continual rain can be a real pain. We get home from the morning walk looking like we have stepped out of the shower. I have to change clothes completely and dry my dog which can take a couple of hours. Then we have to do it all over again in the afternoon. Also mud is not great with a longhaired dog.


I do get fed up with having to keep hoovering. I hoover downstairs at least once every day but it is more often twice a day. Hair, twigs, leaves, bits of grass etc etc.


Think about holidays. Would you stay in the UK and maybe take the dog with you? Holidays with a dog are great but if you want to eat out you have to find somewhere that allows dogs (not always easy). Often you can sit outside but it may be raining - I have lost count of how many meals me and OH have had outside in the rain with our dog. You can't visit places like castles, museums, stately homes etc nor can you go into a shop. A lot of holiday homes ask that you don't leave a dog alone there - personally I would never think of leaving my dog alone in a strange place.


If you go abroad, of course some countries you can take your dog although all the same things apply as above (except in Europe you can take your dog into restaurants). Otherwise you have to find someone to look after your dog. Quite a few dogs are not happy in kennels, house sitter can be expensive as can someone who looks after the dog in their own home.


It's not just holidays though. What if you want to go out for a day and can't or don't want to take the dog. It's not ideal to leave it alone. What if you want to go out in the evening? Again not ideal to leave the dog alone especially if it has been alone most of the day.

sheramber

Bear in mind that although a dog may be okay with the cat it is presently living with that may not apply to a different cat in a new home.

A lot depends on whether the cat is dog savvy and doesn't run away, becoming a chase toy.

Bringing a dog into a home with a cat can work but it can take work and does need care to begin with. However, many do become good friends.

Gates across doorways are invaluable for separating animals until they accept each other. The dog is restrained and the cat can escape.

As you have not trained a dog you need to consider you may need to undertake some training , including house training.
Research local training classes which use positive training methods. Some rescues like to know you will take the dog to classes. Having information to hand is a plus point.

If you go ahead try to get the dog at the start of a holiday period- the summer would be ideal- as you really need to be at home full time to begin with to settle the dog in and establish a routine for when you are working.

There are dogs in rescue who would fit in to your circumstances. Just don't expect to get a Lassie or Rin Tin Tin.

Baggage - A Rescue Poem

written by Evelyn Colbath 1995 - all rights reserved

Now that I'm home, bathed, settled and fed,
All nicely tucked in my warm new bed.
I'd like to open my baggage lest I forget
There is so much to carry - So much to regret.

Hmm . . . Yes there it is, right on the top.
Let's unpack Loneliness, Heartache and Loss;
And there by my leash hides Fear and Shame.
As I look on these things I tried so hard to leave –

I still have to unpack my baggage called Pain.

I loved them, the others, the ones who left me,
But I wasn't good enough - for they didn't want me.
Will you add to my baggage?

Will you help me unpack?

Or will you just look at my things -
And take me right back?

Do you have the time to help me unpack?
To put away my baggage, to never repack?
I pray that you do - I'm so tired you see,
But I do come with baggage –

Will YOU still want ME?

bellaboo86

I'm a teacher too and I have a cat and a dog. My dog is getting on a bit now (14) so I don't feel guilty about being at work. I do try and leave school at a reasonable time though to reduce the length of time that he is on his own.
My personal opinion is that being left for a few hours in someone's house is a massive step up from a rescue centre.
Also, the OP has children who will be home earlier and leave later than Op so this will reduce the time the dog is on it's own. Even if they (children not OP) don't walk it, I'm sure they can mange to open the back door.
People also assume that the OP wants a young dog. Mine was 6 when I got him and didn't need lots of training.

Person_one

bellaboo86 wrote: »

My personal opinion is that being left for a few hours in someone's house is a massive step up from a rescue centre.

By the time you're leaving them, its their home.

Dogs need to be trained and taught to settle and feel comfortable at home without a human around, just like we train and teach them every other behaviour we want from them.

If you watch those hidden camera programmes that show how dogs behave in the house when they're left alone, its not actually the amount of time that matters (dogs can't tell time after all!) its whether they're able to relax and settle/sleep. If they are stressed and anxious alone, they will be stressed and anxious even if you only leave them for an hour. If they are calm and chilled out alone, they will be calm and chilled out until you get back. This comes in really handy if you have an emergency and can't get to them as quickly as you'd expected.

(Obviously, within reason, dogs shouldn't be left longer than they can hold their bladders, or long enough to get hungry and thirsty.)

teddysmum

Many rescues won't let a dog go to a home where there won't be a person about for most of the day and dogs are much more dependant on your presence than cats.


As has been said, a dog may get on with one cat, but not another and if you are out there is no way of monitoring the situation (hence the reluctance to let someone away for more than a couple of hours be a fosterer , as fostering is often part of the assessment process).


How about fostering a cat, then if it matches the resident cat, it could stay ?