Dog as a pet

[Lyubov]

Does anyone here have a dog or cat. How much responsibility has it been for you? Has it been expensive? I'm considering getting a pet dog. I grew up with dogs but my parents were exceptionally stable while I am much less so. 

[enchanted]

Costs time and money when you don't want to spend the time and money. Also sucks during the times you want to travel. Otherwise it's pretty fun having a little companion around the house. Like some sort of Pokemon or anime sidekick character. 

Edited 7 hours ago by enchanted

[Natasha Tori Maru]

Currently own a 3yo female miniature poodle. 

1) Dogs are a lot more of a lifestyle change than cats - require regular exercise. Routines altered to accommodate them. They are akin to a 2 year old that never grows up, is fully mobile. Breeds have different temperaments, needs etc. Depending on breed you need to be fit/active. Travelling? Need to look after the dog with walker, or kennel etc.

2) Grooming - factor in nail trims, hair trimming (if getting a haired breed over fur). Short fur ideal - shedding not so much of an issue. Long haired breeds are either hair or fur (fur falls and has a predetermined length, hair not as much and requires cutting or it just... keeps growing). Long fur breeds account for A LOT of shedding. All over your shit. Haired breeds account for cost (or time, I trim my girl myself) of grooming. EXPENSIVE. Long coated breeds also need brushing or they end up matted. This hurts the dog immensely as it pulls their skin tight. Daily brushing. Washing.

3) Health issues: short snouted breeds (can't breathe or function), sausage dogs (back snap), german shephards (sloping back - issues) - humans are FUCKING EVIL and have breed these characteristics into these dogs. Prepare for health issues. Vet bills. We are evil. I consider it unethical to purchase breeds that have chronic health issues (just me). Might be worth research.

4) Vet bills. Vaccines, desexing, health issues, general checkups. This get expensive fast. Factor it in. My girl ate some cu*** baited poison last week. $1,500.00 in the hole to save her. People are evil.

5) Rescue, rehome, puppy phase. Getting puppy: PAINFUL. Training. Sharkmode. Adolescent dickhead mode. But deeper bond. If from a reputable breeder, you can select for temperament a lot better. Rescues/rehomes - harder to know the temperament. Some are great, some have trauma. It can be a mixed bag. Select wisely for your circumstances. I recommend against a husky in tropical areas, no cattle dogs in apartments etc.

6) Food costs & general home costs. Dog proofing etc

7) 14+ yr commitment on average. You need a reasonable amount of life stability.

8) The most amazing, profound, beyond words bond. There is something amazing between man and dog. The history and depth of connection really makes it like no other. Best thing I ever did. Plus their feet smell like cheetos. Cheetos!!!

____

I think that's about it. I would recommend against a doodle. I have experience with cats also, but dogs are really much more interactive and the bond is deeper. Humans tend to fall in love with what they invest and commit to. Works like that  

Edited 6 hours ago by Natasha Tori Maru

[Lyubov]

32 minutes ago, enchanted said:

Costs time and money when you don't want to spend the time and money. Also sucks during the times you want to travel. Otherwise it's pretty fun having a little companion around the house. Like some sort of Pokemon or anime sidekick character. 

is it possible to get a dog sitter? how hard is it usually? 

[Lyubov]

@Natasha Tori Maru Thanks for the info. It sounds like a lot. But also sounds nice. I am mixed on it. like 50/50

[Natasha Tori Maru]

17 minutes ago, Lyubov said:

@Natasha Tori Maru Thanks for the info. It sounds like a lot. But also sounds nice. I am mixed on it. like 50/50

It is, but what you invest in you end up valuing (sort of human nature ).

The puppy phase was a challenge.

Overall, no regrets. My girl makes me so happy!!!! 

Arranging dog sitting is no issue. Local kennels, Rover app etc.

I thought I'd give you the full picture and not some romanticized version of dog ownership.

Edited 6 hours ago by Natasha Tori Maru

[Lyubov]

I plan to travel and take a number of trips next year (around 6-7 total), they range from a couple days to a couple weeks. This could be a blessing in disguise because I have been wanting to go alone. So my wife said I could if I get her a dog. This could be a good way for me to do a lot of solo traveling I have been wanting to do. Solo hiking, backpacking, forrest survival. She is going to be primarily responsible for the dog. I don’t mind covering food and helping with an occasional expense but I wanna make sure it’s not all sorts of vet bills from a sick breed or something careless. We need to sit down and discuss the costs and who does what. I also think this is a good opportunity to trust in myself and my boundaries. I’m usually the type of person to roll over and just do whatever to appease my family. But I’m going to be pretty clear here that the dog won’t be my responsibility and I’m not going to cover the majority of the expenses of it. I think this is what I believe is the main challenge for me, the issue is deep down about my boundaries and how I believe it will affect what I want to do and how I wish to spend my time and money. I don’t want to choose to just roll over and cover this vet bill or that airplane cost for flying with the dog. I’m trying to save up money as it is to grow my business and work on my passions. So I want to make that clear in this discussion with her and understand what our responsibilities are. 

Edited 5 hours ago by Lyubov

[Lyubov]

18 minutes ago, Natasha Tori Maru said:

It is, but what you invest in you end up valuing (sort of human nature ).

The puppy phase was a challenge.

Overall, no regrets. My girl makes me so happy!!!! 

Arranging dog sitting is no issue. Local kennels, Rover app etc.

I thought I'd give you the full picture and not some romanticized version of dog ownership.

Got you, sounds like a good bit of work, I think it ties into a lot for me i need to reflect on. 

[Joshe]

I got a puppy about 2.5 years ago. It's a shit ton of work and very expensive. I love him to death but I'm not happy with the amount of work that comes with it. If you don't have lots of energy to spare, I'd wait.

[Xonas Pitfall]

Another thing you can do is offer to "babysit" or take care of someone’s dog for a couple of weeks, like a temporary dog-owner job. You could do the same with a cat to see how you feel about it. A lot of people suggest this for children, too. It’s easy to get caught up in the idea of the love, lifestyle, fun, and cuteness, but experiencing the reality of it first helps you figure out if you genuinely enjoy it! Good Luck 

[Natasha Tori Maru]

@Lyubov If it is primarily for your wife - is she looking for a lapdog sorta animal or something with some zing? How large is too large? Size would be a big factor for your wife.

Low grooming needs and general good health for a woman: Whippet (higher energy), Italian Greyhound, Greyhound are all lovely dogs. Kelpies, Jack Russell (can be high energy). Longer hair/grooming: King charles cavalier, cocker spaniel (unfortunately both are dumb as fuck), poodle (toy, miniature [high energy], standard) very intelligent. 

Goldens, labs are standard family dogs. There are tons of breeds - she may have a preference.

Couples getting dogs are said to be 'kids with training wheels' - as in, it is a first step-up toward shared responsibility prior to kids. It can be a taste test for kids (if thats on the cards for you). But by no means comparable in terms of details, duration and connection.

[enchanted]

3 hours ago, Lyubov said:

is it possible to get a dog sitter? how hard is it usually? 

Ya there's Trusted House Sitters which is pretty good for people with pets. We use and have made many friends and had great experiences and it's pretty much cheaper than a pet sitter

Edited 3 hours ago by enchanted