Should we get a puppy? Advice please ...

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Permalink Reply by Tina on October 6, 2013 at 22:08

Hello
We are thinking exactly the same . It is a tough one because we do a lot outdoors and would love to have a doggie to share our lives with. I have 2 boys 5 & 8 and we are really ready for it but I am nervous as there are so many places where dogs are not allowed so we will have to re arrange our lives but from what I have seen if you get the right dog it will be worth it .
Good luck

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Permalink Reply by cheryl on October 6, 2013 at 22:26

You have to be serious about it to make sure everyone is happy and that you have a happy, balanced and well behaved dog

2 walks per day 45-60 mins each, training (affirmation is definitely the best type), good diet, stability etc etc are key.

No dog thrives if left alone all day (4 hours at a time tops).

You kinda have to think of them as another family member who needs just as much as the rest.

But ohhh boy, what delights when you get it right (for everyone).

Lots of nice people on HO will be happy to advise further and will be happy to help too :-)

And contrary to popular opinion, there are some very lovely peeps walking their dogs in FB every day!!

Good luck

C

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Permalink Reply by james walsh on October 6, 2013 at 22:48

Dog people won't like this but in my humble opinion London is overcrowded already with humans. Just saying like... .. .

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Permalink Reply by pamish on October 6, 2013 at 23:02

Could you borrow a dog for a couple of weeks? Then you and especially the kids will get an idea of the 24/7 attention it will need.  Friends going on holiday? Respite care from Wood Green Animal Shelter? 

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Permalink Reply by Anette on October 7, 2013 at 13:16

Hi Priya, really good advice from Adrian here. Your life will change, and there will be an animal there who will need walks and toilet trips outside whatever the weather. So if you're happy to get up early every morning, whatever the weather, same in the evenings and during the day, then a dog is for you. You can't leave the dog for 2 whole days during the week, especially not a puppy. So you would need to either arrange for a "2nd home" for the dog while you're at work, or a dog-walking service A 2nd home is a really good option anyway, as you might want to go away for a week-end, and can't take the dog, go on holidays etc, and what do you do then? 

A dog won't make your house smell as such, but there will be dog-hair everywhere when they molt, generally spring and autumn, so be prepared for that. 

And yes, the novelty will wear off with the kids pretty quickly. 

That said, having a dog is brilliant and lovely, I would have one again in a second if I didn't work such long hours. Having grown up with dogs myself I know how amazing it is having one (or two!) around. 

It is a really big step, and you need to make sure you're going into it with your eyes wide open. Puppies are very cute, but they do grow up fast, and won't be Andrex puppies for long. Once you have one, it's a little late to decide you don't want it, they're not disposable. They're for life. 

There are also other breeds that don't need that much exercise. Greyhounds, weirdly, being one of them. Just a though.. Good luck, I'm sure you'll figure it out! 

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Permalink Reply by maggie on October 7, 2013 at 22:27

Dog walking with young children entails getting all of them ready and willing to leave the house together, say before school and after school, maybe leaving things they are already occupied with, to walk the dog. The novelty does wear off very quickly so be prepared to do this yourself on your own in the wet and dark for the next fifteen years. Don't forget the other side of walking the dog which is picking up the poo. If you balk at handling hot, steamy, smelly poo every day than a dog is not for you.
Don't forget vet bills or insurance, either way it can be expensive. "The average lifetime cost of owning a dog today stands at around £16,900 and for a cat £17,200, according to research by Sainsbury’s pet insurance. And it's set to get even more expensive."
You say "I'm hoping that the dog will bring us closer: give us all a shared interest...", there are so many great things that you can do with children that actually exclude a dog. What would the children really like to do, what adventures would they like? Why not get each of them to choose something from a list that you all prepare on the condition that they all have a turn at choosing and everyone gives it a go, and make this a regular thing. How about treating them to "Go Ape", or climbing lessons at the local climbing centre, or skiing lessons, after all with the £1,000 a year saved on not having a dog you will have money for great treats or a holiday each year. However there are also many things to do with kids for free (just google free things to do with children in London, or family activities in London) and it comes up with loads of suggestions, try the mummies at the British Museum agghh! the natural history museum, Kew Gardens (free for kids), Horniman museum and garden (sorry no dogs allowed).
://www.visitlondon.com/things-to-do/whats-on/family-activities?ref=carousel You can also make walks more interesting and exiting, try bat walks or orienteering for families. http://londonorienteering.co.uk/ As others have suggested why not volunteer to look after someone else's dog for them for a while before committing yourself.

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Permalink Reply by OneWomanAndHerDog on October 12, 2013 at 18:01

Hi Priya,

Just to give you some context to my answers, I grew up in an extended family that had lots of labradors and other dogs; now I have a 12 year old Golden Retriever, who we got from Battersea 5 years ago.

I was a bit un-nerved when I first read your post. No puppy, no matter how good its breeding, will grow into a well rounded, sociable and happy dog if left alone for two days a week. Labradors are big, playful, energetic, people-oriented dogs and whilst a more mature dog might tolerate 4 to five hours alone from time to time, it is not a routine I would recommend anyone impose on a puppy.

Will the dog make your house smell. Yes. You may not notice it most of the time, but it will. It will also traipse in more mud (and worse) than you though possible, but nothing a very good vacuum cleaner and a mop won't solve.

You will also have to consider how you arrange your holidays. Kennels are an option, but not one I've ever considered. Dog/house sitters are a good solution, but a reputable company will set you back £30+ a day, though you may find someone independent for slightly less. Of course you can always take the dog with you on holiday in the UK or continental Europe, but you would then need to invest in a pet passport.

What I'm essentially trying to say is that if you decide to get a dog, it will be for you to adapt your lifestyle to suit it rather than the other way around. 

Having said that, despite all the mud, the poop to pick up, the occasional bouts of diarrhoea, the smells, the vet's bills (currently around £60 per month), the endless hoovering and the need to plan every day with military precision I wouldn't be without Mollie for the world. She has brought me more joy, humour and love than I could ever have imagined. And even now that she is old and slowing down I don't regret getting her for one moment.

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Permalink Reply by Priya on November 10, 2013 at 8:49

Thanks for all your replies. We decided against getting the puppy: mainly because of my work commitments - currently two-days a week but set to rise as the children get older and go to school etc. But thank you for all your thoughts and suggestions.
Priya

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