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Dog shit is only really offensive if the dog is not getting a decent diet or has a stomach upset.
This, aside from a brief episode of liquid shits after eating something he shouldn't have, cleaning up is pretty easy. I assume his consistent diet helps with that.
To answer the OPs question, no regrets, but there were some brief moments of doubt during the very early days (usually at 2am).
How many of you are referred to as your dog's parent/dad?
Dunno how recent this is (couple of decades?) but my word it's ikky and must be a downside of ownership family membership?
How many of you are referred to as your dog’s parent/dad?
I do (so ner!) usually when I'm winding the wife up, I am the centre of Barney's universe and like to remind the wife occasionally.
He's happy enough to spend time with the lesser humans of the household in my absence, but the second I'm back on the scene he drops them like a steamy turd 😀
but the second I’m back on the scene he drops them like a steamy turd
My dog loves eating steamy turds, so...
Wife's family have a dog, they refer to each other as the dogs mum and dad. Personally I think it's mental, I mean I like my dog and all but he's a dog, not a human. And I'm definitely not his dad!
I regret getting dogs. I was to weak to stand up to the wife and fell for the "I'll do all the walking and training" crap she fed me. One of the dogs was a rescue and is very highly strung to the point she melts down at the slightest rustle outside and is outrageously protective of the house which makes people visiting a real issue. The fact is I just didn't want dogs as I'm a lazy shit and was quite content with not having the commitment or responsibility but as I said I lost the battle of attrition with the wife and am now lumbered.
get divorced and keep the dog
I feel ya donks.
get divorced and keep the dog
Still lumbered with dog though.
Dogs = Good
Humans = Bad 🙃
Favourite time of the day is early morning walk in mild rain around our local pond. It gets me out of bed an hour or so earlier than the rest of the family. It gets me fresh air in my lungs and lets me watch my two have a fun 45mins dashing around all over the place with just ducks and swans for company.
Why in the rain? Because it tends to put others off from doing the same so i get the place to myself. There is nothing else in this world that reduces my stress levels quite as well as my two dogs.
On a similar token, i wont let my wife or daughter walk the dogs alone on a night. So me or my son have to do it. I actively look forward to night walks with my wife and dogs. Its where we actually chat properly without being interrupted every 5 mins. Its amazing the things that come up in convo away from the home.
Other half wants 2 dogs. I don’t want any. I told her I don't want to ties of having to walk them or can't go to certain places because of them. I don't mind as long as she walks them, cleans up after them, and they don't damage anything.
I regret getting dogs. I was too weak to stand up to the wife
+1
Made worse as I'm the one who works from home while she's out at work so I have to put up with the howling, constantly wanting to be let out or back in, negotiating the dog poo minefield on the way to the shed, etc... It creates a fair bit of tension in the house so on balance - Yes, I regret her getting a dog.
Another middle-class affectation to go with your bathrobe and pizza oven. 🙂
Make sure you conform now, y'hear.
Page 2 has taken an unexpected turn! I opened the thread to post that dogs are awesome and I don't think I'd be without dogs. Gets me out the house twice a day and they are the most loyal, loving animals you could imagine.
Just make sure you have a plan for going away otherwise they can be quite restrictive. My mother is law is always happy to have ours at short notice so we drop them in on the way out. I know several people who don't have this option and barely do anything as they cant leave the dog.
howling, constantly wanting to be let out or back in, negotiating the dog poo minefield on the way to the shed, etc
Are you absolutely sure you dont have a Cat?
We used to like going on a couple of European city breaks a year, plus generally a week away abroad in the summer. My daughter bought a Cockapoo about a year ago, (and of course has too varied a social life to do the daily looking after it) so despite Covid travel restrictions easing, we've been on UK based breaks since.
Actually I was genuinely feeling guilt about the airmiles carbon load, so no I'm not regretting it. He's chill. As I type, (suppose to be working from home) he's watching the birds in garden through the patio doors. It's one of his favourite programs on Dog Telly.
Everywhere I go, I see signs telling me to pick up my dog’s shit but not one telling people to pick up litter. And guess what many public spaces are strewn with. I’ll give you a clue: it’s not dog shit.
Er yes it is. Admittedly around town the major issue is litter, but on popular dog walking hills and woods dog shit in bags is by far the bigger problem. I think I actually preferred it before bags were a thing.
The STW attitude to this does not surprise me. The comments about how they ‘get in the way of life/activities’ is pretty much the same kind of attitude i see when people discuss anything that effects their ability to look after number 1 on here
So far this thread seems to have been fairly evenly split between (a) people who love dogs, couldn't imagine being without one (b) dog owners who have realised there can be some down-sides, might not get another one (c) people who don't want a dog. All valid viewpoints and no single "STW attitude" as far as I can discern.
We used to like going on a couple of European city breaks a year, plus generally a week away abroad in the summer. My daughter bought a Cockapoo about a year ago, (and of course has too varied a social life to do the daily looking after it) so despite Covid travel restrictions easing, we’ve been on UK based breaks since.
Actually I was genuinely feeling guilt about the airmiles carbon load, so no I’m not regretting it.
Can of worms.... have you looked into the carbon footprint of the dog?!
Another middle-class affectation to go with your bathrobe and pizza oven.
Pizza night in the garden also affected 🙂
Are you absolutely sure you dont have a Cat?
Two no less also purchased by my partner / kids after much nagging. However since they don't sh*t in our garden and they can use a cat-flap, plus you can ignore the buggers when going away, it was a compromise I could take.
The dog seems to like one of them though so at least has some company when I'm grumpily tapping away upstairs.
We have a one year old who is a lot of work. He's a bit similar to the Marley and me dog but overall is a real nice dog. Just looking forward to him being a bit older and not needing so much attention. It's draining.
Can of worms…. have you looked into the carbon footprint of the dog?!
It'll be smaller than yours. Will you do the decent thing or are one of us going to have to do it? 😉
Not for a single second, one of the best things we ever did. He's currently sat curled up on top of my feet whilst I work and in a second I'm going to be forced to go out and get some fresh air with a lunchtime walk with him.
For what we put in, I reckon we get a lot more out of having him around... our one regret is not getting a dog sooner.
Can of worms…. have you looked into the carbon footprint of the dog?!
I haven't TBF, my assumption is it's less than 6x adult + luggage medium haul flights per year, but I'll have a quick google.
...per year, while an average-size dog emits <b>770 kg</b>.
...CO<small>2</small> emissions from a Boeing 737-400 of 115 g per passenger km.
So, if an average flight is the distance of Manchester to Prague, 1200km.
1200 x 0.115 = 138kg. x 2, (return) = 276kg
276 x 2 (adults) x 3 (flights/year) = 1656kg.
Who's a good boy!
And what if its on a conveyor belt?
And what if its on a conveyor belt?
He'll probably chew the edges.
He’ll probably chew the edges.
Then wee on it...
Then wee on it…
Then try and shag it.
Yup, totally self-centered. As is the inverse.
And that's okay. Not sure why anyone would think either position is negative?
...so anyone who doesn’t want a dog because of the commitment is self centred...
Managed to resist looking in this thread for days and days now as it was bound to be usual STW. After reading 2.5 pages I'm bored by the fact that it's exactly as predicted and will just respond and ignore the rest.
First weeks of puppy ownership I always have the 'oh god I've done the wrong thing' moments and question my sanity. Never regretted getting a dog but definitely feel the pressure and burden of owning one as others have stated your entire life has to alter slightly. We're getting another in a few weeks time, he's currently 2 weeks old, and I'm already having second thoughts because I know all the important jobs will be my duty and the OH will just do the fun stuff or undo all of my work and effort. I either trust him and know he'll do it wrong or do it all myself. Either way the unswerving loyalty will trump any bad days or wet walks.
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Next time I'll get one that stays upright! 🤣🤣
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