Not wanting a dog

chucknorris

Andypandyboy wrote: »

My OH would love a dog, and I love dogs too, I just don't want to be tied down to either holidaying in this country or using kennels. I know if we got one if would be like going back to having a young child and as we have just regained the freedom to travel I am loathe to give that up.

We are in that situation, but there is no way that I would give up my dog, he's the best part of any holiday, going to new places with him. I just couldn't go back to a life without a dog, and there is absolutely no way that I would put him in a kennel and go on holiday without him.

catkins

barbiedoll wrote: »

My DS and OH have always wanted a dog. But I know full well that wanting a dog is not quite the same as wanting to walk a dog in the rain, picking poop in a plastic bag and brushing, bathing, vet trips and hoovering up dog hair. All of which would be left to me. If I didn't work full-time, then yes, we could have a dog. But at the moment...no.

OP's big mistake was giving in to her family. People simply can't have everything that they want. It's hard being the "bad guy" in the family sometimes, but that's just the way it has to be. If I wasn't the bad guy in our family, we'd have cats, dogs, hamsters and a 50" telly. And an ancient Jag parked outside.

Me and OH have had dogs just about all our married life (over 30 years) and could not imagine life without one BUT there is no denying that they are a huge commitment and can be hard work.

I love walking my dog, chatting to people about him and seeing how happy the walk makes him but a week of walking a long haired dog in the pouring rain for at least an hour twice a day, getting home looking like we have both just stepped out of the shower and having to spend around 2 hours (twice a day) getting him dry isn't the greatest fun ever. I don't mind bathing and grooming him but it takes about 5 hours in total so a big chunk of a day taken up.

Andypandyboy wrote: »

My OH would love a dog, and I love dogs too, I just don't want to be tied down to either holidaying in this country or using kennels. I know if we got one if would be like going back to having a young child and as we have just regained the freedom to travel I am loathe to give that up.

Yes, that's another factor to take into account when thinking of getting a dog - what to do with them when you go away. We try and have at least one holiday in the UK and take our dog with us but then we can't do the things we like doing such as visiting castles, stately homes, museums, art galleries etc. If we want to go in a shop only one of us can at a time. We can only eat out at places that allow dogs - lost count of how many meals we have eaten sitting outside in the cold and rain! Quite a lot of beaches don't allow dogs in the summer or only before 7am and after 7pm which I don't think is great.

We have taken our dog abroad but, again you are pretty restricted as to what you can do.

If we don't take our dog with us he goes to a brilliant dog sitter but it works out quite expensive.

Also it's not just holidays, it's days or evenings out as well. We don't like to leave our dog for more than 4 hours so a trip to London to the theatre, or even a local cinema and meal means we either get someone to come and sit with our dog or he goes to the sitter. Last month we had a day at a wedding, a theatre trip in London, a concert in London, an exhibition at an art gallery in London and two family birthdays (an 80th and a 60th) one of which was a full day out with a meal in the evening and the other a weekend away. Not a normal month for us but certainly an expensive one!

elsien

I go on holiday to get away from Gitdog. Lovely though he is, he's a pillock in new places, and I don't want to be tied down as to where I can go or how long for. He's perfectly happy in kennels, or there's always the pet sitter option so having a dog has made no difference to holidays.
He does make a difference on going on day trips though; unless he can come and it's cool enough to leave him in the car at times. I can't go.

Rev

Actually I think the OP is a bit of a wind up merchant.

They've made two threads. Both about very emotive subjects (their other thread is about a gift given to them by a child abuser) and not returned to either.


I call troll.

BarryBlue

Andypandyboy wrote: »

My OH would love a dog, and I love dogs too, I just don't want to be tied down to either holidaying in this country or using kennels. I know if we got one if would be like going back to having a young child and as we have just regained the freedom to travel I am loathe to give that up.

I think having a dog, or even a cat, is a huge commitment and you are going to have to live with the decision for 10 years or more. We would never have a dog because we travel the world and, like you, we would not be willing to give that up for any animal.

You also have to be willing to accept other things too. Dogs can indeed damage your house or its contents. And they do smell, all of them. people who say 'mine doesn't smell' are deluding themselves or have just got used to it. You can always smell a dog in a house. If you can accept all that, plus clearing up their muck, then fine, they can be good company. The cons far outweigh the pros for me though, and I have no idea why anyone would want a cat! (Puts on tin hat!;))

System

Cats are funny.

One downside being they have no road-sense and often end up under a lorry.

seven-day-weekend

BarryBlue wrote: »

I think having a dog, or even a cat, is a huge commitment and you are going to have to live with the decision for 10 years or more. We would never have a dog because we travel the world and, like you, we would not be willing to give that up for any animal.

You also have to be willing to accept other things too. Dogs can indeed damage your house or its contents. And they do smell, all of them. people who say 'mine doesn't smell' are deluding themselves or have just got used to it. You can always smell a dog in a house. If you can accept all that, plus clearing up their muck, then fine, they can be good company. The cons far outweigh the pros for me though, and I have no idea why anyone would want a cat! (Puts on tin hat!;))

They are not as clingy as dogs and much more cuddly

chucknorris

BarryBlue wrote: »

I think having a dog, or even a cat, is a huge commitment and you are going to have to live with the decision for 10 years or more. We would never have a dog because we travel the world and, like you, we would not be willing to give that up for any animal.

You also have to be willing to accept other things too. Dogs can indeed damage your house or its contents. And they do smell, all of them. people who say 'mine doesn't smell' are deluding themselves or have just got used to it. You can always smell a dog in a house. If you can accept all that, plus clearing up their muck, then fine, they can be good company. The cons far outweigh the pros for me though, and I have no idea why anyone would want a cat! (Puts on tin hat!;))

I agree with everything that you are saying (if only everyone thought about the impact of their decisions before they made them).

Although on the subject of smelly houses, my (non dog owning) friends tell me that my house doesn't small of dog, but I suspect that it does, and they think that they are being kind, but the bottom line is that I don't care anyway. I usually only say it when I am saying something like, 'my house might small of dog, but I wouldn't swap it for a non smelly house'.

seven-day-weekend

We have owned two dogs in forty years, neither entirely by choice. One was a racing greyhound who was going to be put down the following day. We were not really in a position to have a dog, for various reasons, but luckily a friend of ours adored her, and we kept her for about a year until he finished his degree, then he took her back with him to West Sussex. She lived to be a ripe old age and enjoyed racing along the beach for the rest of her life.

The other dog was my f-i-l's; we took him on when my f-i-l died. He was nine when we had him, a great companion and good friend, and lived to the ripe old age of 17. RIP Butch.

We have never chosen to have a dog, mainly because they cramp your style so much, we have always had cats though.

pickledonionspaceraider

I have a senior dog - we obtained her when the kids were little and has always been a much loved pet. Kids have now left home and our circumstances have changed loads in the 12 years we have had her

Dogs do curtail holidays, even being out of the house for long periods of time. Forget going away for a spur of the moment weekend away.

The loyalty and love they give does repay ten fold any inconvenience they bring but having said that, I would not have another dog in the future when our old girl dies - as it does in many ways remind me of having a small child.