Should I Get a Dog?

Should I get a dog?

  • Yes

    Votes: 8 53.3%

  • No

    Votes: 7 46.7%
  • Total voters
    15
Beezer

Beezer

Well-known Member
My wife lost both of her parents last November. My daughters think a little dog might be the right tonic to give her some companionship and exercise. I'm still on the fence about this...I know they are a lot of work. But I am semi-retied and there are 4 of us. Hmm...
 

Are you ready for having your heart ripped out of your chest? Your wallet possibly emptied and a slew of second guessing your actions for years?

Then "No you shouldn't"

Because owning a pet will cause you grief like that at it's passing, the possible finding of a disease, or if you did the right or wrong regarding treatment.

It's a tough call.
 
Disgustedman said:
Are you ready for having your heart ripped out of your chest? Your wallet possibly emptied and a slew of second guessing your actions for years?
Then "No you shouldn't"
Because owning a pet will cause you grief like that at it's passing, the possible finding of a disease, or if you did the right or wrong regarding treatment.
Click to expand...
Heart ripped out and grief... you betcha. I lost my precious kitty who was with us for 15 years almost four years ago now, and there are still tears. :cry: I would never EVER change anything about that chapter of my life, but there's no way I'd ever get another pet to go through it again. It was brutal and although we did everything possible, I will forever torture myself with "what if."
 
I've never had a dog in my adult life. Cat person here. But I have thought about a dog if I ever fully retire. Wonder what the cats would do?

We have rescues in the area including a small dog rescue. And I've thought I'd go that route if I ever made the decision to get a dog. If the dog didn't work out for any reason, I'd want to know it would go back to a safe place. I'd also be upfront with my personal concerns and if I didn't like their reaction, I'd look elsewhere.

My main concern would be the cats.

What would be your main concerns to consider?
 
Any kind of terrier is usually rather stubborn and VERY active, so unless you want to be real busy..... That said, I have a Rat Boston terrier, and OMG. I also have a Chow and she has been lovely for 14 years, and the cats love her.
They are very early to rise and want out, so I get the wake-up call before dawn every morning. Then there's the whole going out in bad weather thing, because they GOTTA go.
 
I agree with NorthernLight. I am the type of person that believes in commitment. You have a good reason, but that doesnā€™t mean you should allow yourself a trial period. Getting any animal, especially a dog will most likely commit to you from day one. To keep a dog for a month and then hand it off to a foster family, which will then hand it off again, really stresses the animal.
 
CallMeKate said:
Heart ripped out and grief... you betcha. I lost my precious kitty who was with us for 15 years almost four years ago now, and there are still tears. :cry: I would never EVER change anything about that chapter of my life, but there's no way I'd ever get another pet to go through it again. It was brutal and although we did everything possible, I will forever torture myself with "what if."
Click to expand...
Yeah. Some pets can rip your heart out forever and a day šŸ˜­but worth every minute of joy they bring ā˜€ļø
 
Dogs give unconditional love.
They can be very expensive with vet bills etc. They limit travel.
But they can be very therapeutic. They do help, I know.

Have you asked your wife if she would want a small dog?
or would you be giving it to her as a surprise?
 
You know dogs require more efforts than kitties. We are allowed dogs here up to 13 inches at the shoulder, however our winters can be awfully cold and we are not really physically up to walking a dog twice a day even in good weather. We like dogs (other people's dogs) we like cats for us. Cats require a litter box (and it needs to be cleaned regularly) and of course food. We prefer older cats mainly because we have had such good luck with older kitties. Truth is kittens are so so active, and in the last few months we gave away a sweet but too active for us kitten and we are finally healed from all his claws. He was adorable but needed a family with kids, and it wasn't fair to keep him, much as we cared about him. The real fact was we spent maybe 2 hours a day with him. We couldn't keep him in our bedroom because he wanted to play all night, and we wanted to sleep. Then we would get up and play a couple of hours then he wanted to sleep, at that point we were tired and besides never wake a sleeping kitten. He went to a family with 2 boys, perfect for our Black Bart. I believe they have renamed him Cujo, the name fits (always in our minds) Bart. I just hope Bart is happy, he was 7 months old when we gave him and all his toys and equipment.
 
Does your wife want a dog? If itā€™s to be for her, sheā€™s the most important person to ask. Has she ever even suggested it.

Is she willing to commit to walking it twice a day, etc, etc. You know that youā€™ll be helping but donā€™t say that. See how she feels if she had to do it all. Definitely donā€™t count on kids. Sorry to say, talk is often all they do until the dog arrives.
 
It's not only about that a dog loves you unconditionally, but both of you must love him or her unconditionally too.
In my and my wife's opinion this means that you must go out with him two times a day for at least an hour per walk, that you should not leave him alone for too long and, important too, that you should take him with you on vacation. My cousin leaves his dog to a dogsitter while on vacation. That's absolutely bad. Or gives somebody his child to a childsitter, while being on vacation?
Me and my wife even went alone on vacation that always one of us could stay with our cat at home.
And Old Man's comment not to think of a trial period is excellent. A pet is not a tv set, camera or cell phone.
 
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Ask yourself these questions....are you able to afford vet care, feeding etc. Is there someone who can take the dog if you are traveling? As someone mentioned already, is your wife on board with a new dog? I would wait a bit first...to assure it is not a rebound purchase. Would you consider rescuing an adult shelter dog?

@Nathan Garth!!!! I played that song at my hubbys memorial.

If you get the dog.....PICTURES are needed :)
 
I am a DOG PERSON. Previously when we travelled, friends from the colder provinces come for a free vacation in Vancouver in exchange to looking after the dog.

Flash (border collie) is my companion, security, exercise program (daily 2 to 3 miles walk) and loves all his meals.
 

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