Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
Time to get a dog?
Am considering getting a dog! Admittedly I have always considered it a bit too much of a pain, restricting your ability to get away, go on holiday, or just go out for the day! I'm not concerned about feeding, training, exercise as that for me is the fun part. Would like to hear from people who got a dog and never looked back or also those who regretted it! We are a fit getting older couple who may soon move out a bit further with plans to spend more time in Epping Forest etc so exercise is going to happen!
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by james walsh on
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It's a great idea to have a dog but sometimes it's not a good idea. Hope this helps.
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"I'm not concerned about feeding, training, exercise" you didn't mention poo, dog poo, of various consistencies and smells, picking it up when its hot and steaming, and carrying it around in a bag until you can dispose of it....
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Maggie I hope I didn't detect a hint of excitement as you wrote that.....
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Permalink Reply by michaela rourke on
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No, just a bit of excrement
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Permalink Reply by Leo JBR on
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Do it! Do it! You sound very similar to us. We re-homed our Jack Russell, Woody a month ago and couldn't be happier. Our family had dogs when I was a kid - Woody is my first dog now I'm a (very) grown-up. Family will be able to help us out occasionally with dog-sitting, but we are otherwise happy to have him with us when we're out & about and we'll be sorting out his pet passport for European trips.
Please consider re-homing a dog from a shelter. Woody comes to us from the wonderful Wood Green Animal Shelter (founded in Wood Green, but dogs are now in their brilliant Cambridgeshire base). Have a look at their website, we can't recommend them highly enough.
The only thing we underestimated was how much more love their is in our home. Let us know how you do!
Leo, Rachel & Woody.
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The most important thing is to get a dog that's you're well matched with. As a first time owner, you wouldn't want a strong willed, dominant dog for example. The best way to find your perfect match is to get a dog from Battersea, Mayhew's or Wood Green shelters. They will have assessed the dog's behaviours & your needs. They'll also offer you ongoing support once your dog's moved in. I wouldn't get a dog from a breeder, aside of the fact that rescue centres have never had so many dogs needing rehoming, there's so many bad dog breeders out there.
My dog is an Airedale cross-breed, I feel that unless you have a large home with garden & a car, that size of dog is too big for keeping in London. People with small dogs can put them on their laps on the bus, on the train & for some reason people with small dogs can get away with taking them in shops??
Money-wise, my dog is now nearly 13. I pay £60 a month insurance (£250 + 25% of final bill excess), £120 a fortnight for her life-long medication, there was a time when her specialist food cost £8 a day (seriously) but now she's back on the cheap food which is about £4 a day, grooming twice a year costs £60 a session, just open your wallet & empty it out down the drain.....
The benefits though are endless, improved physical fitness, improve mental well being, a personal bodyguard, you'll laugh more, gain endless amounts of patience, make new friends with other dog walkers, visit places you've never been to before & essentially gain a new member of the family.
There's loads of companies/people who do dog walking/sitting if you need it (I can give you the name of a brilliant person in Stroud Green).
Have a look on the Kennel club & Dogs trust websites, they have plenty of advice about getting a dog.
Do it, get the right dog & it'll be one of the best decisions you've ever made!
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We got a dog almost three years ago - it was my first dog and I haven't looked back l, I wouldn't be without it.
2 bits of advice, make sure you know what dog you want - research the breed and make sure it suits your lifestyle. Size, temperament, exercise required, length of hair and whether it sheds is something that may or may not be important to you.
Also, invest the time when you first get the dog to train it and train it well - either puppy classes or adult classes depending on what dog you go for. This will enable you to take your dog it far more situations and enjoy them more!
From a holiday point of view - we now holiday in the EU at least once a year and take our dog with is using the passport which is very simple. She has even been skiing with us a number of times!!
Good luck with the decision!
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Thanks for the positive posts which I will be bearing in mind, also good info...
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Permalink Reply by rosyrose on
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I'm also considering getting a dog, but as a half-way measure I thought I would register with borrowmydoggy.com. It's a sort of dating site for people who want to walk/sit dogs without the responsibility of owning and owners whose dogs need more walking/sitting than they can manage. I met one dog and owner for a walk and apparently the site owners had told her that 2,000 potential walkers had registered within three miles of her home in Crouch End, and only 600 dogs! That probably explains why other owners I've tried to contact haven't replied. There's a massive dog-longing out there.
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Permalink Reply by tulips on
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There was some good advice about owning a dog on this previous post
http://www.harringayonline.com/forum/topics/should-we-get-a-puppy-a...
There are loads of lovely dogs needing homes stuck in rescue places
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