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I like dogs and they usually like me but I would never want to care of one, unless in a farm setting maybe, where they can roam outside via going through the doggie door all day (and night if they want). Imo (small) city dogs should be reserved as companions for the elderly who are alone, they just make too much noise and shit too much everywhere.

Losing an animal that’s been part of the family is sometimes as difficult as losing a family member.

My kids keep pushing for a dog but I don’t have the bandwidth for one when I know after the honeymoon phase it’ll be me as the caretaker.

mell says

unless in a farm setting maybe

Not a farm, but we have a fenced yard and before the decline she was half fish in the pool. I'd never do a dog in a city (again, did it once). You at least need 1/4 acre or more in my opinion. Electric fences work, but I'm not a fan of them.

BayArea says

My kids keep pushing for a dog but I don’t have the bandwidth for one when I know after the honeymoon phase it’ll be me as the caretaker.

Hold your ground. It sucks because you want to make your kids happy, but timing is not good for me right now with a 9, 10 & 11 year old. My oldest will be getting a drivers permit in 4 years. I don't have the time or patience to fuck around with another dog. Teenage boys will give zero shits about a dog. So as you say the burden is on you financially and caring for the animal.

Dogs ain't cheap. 3-4 groomings, 20-30 days at the kennel, 1 vet visit (hopefully) annually, 4-5 bags of $70 dog food, etc. She is about $2-3k/yr. Kennel being the biggest cost. With points I can get us to Puerto Rico for a week on that including expenses. And Puerto Rico cannot die and make me feel bad. So I'm done with dogs. I'll love on my friends and neighbors dogs.

I caved it after 20yrs and let wife get a dog, horrible mistake. Dog is nice, it's a Golden Retriever and my youngest loves it. I'm am busy enough with job and three kids.

Wife of coarse never wants to walk it she does at least pick its shit up from our side yard. I'm sick of its hair all over and how it fucks yard up if I don't keep an eye on it the whole time. Its just a huge hassle I should have stuck with my gut and never let wife get it.

We are about to replaces our carpet and I dont even want to get anything nice because I'm worried dog will just damage it.

RC2006 says

We are about to replaces our carpet and I dont even want to get anything nice because I'm worried dog will just damage it.

Dude, I don't even want to get into our situation, but will. She has a growth and it fucking oozes and sometimes bleeds. Our $2k couch is destroyed. We put towels on it. Wash them daily. It's a fucking nightmare. Our water, electric and gas bills are legit all higher from the laundry to protect our stuff from her.

She still has good days where she acts like a puppy. Last night to this morning she slept for 12 hours, didn't move an inch. She has occasional trouble breathing. It's not a good life. And the growth is god awful. I'm not joking when I say I've thrown up after looking at it. And I don't have a weak stomach. It's time... We'll make the classic scrambled eggs every time I've done this and put her down. It was a good run.

Thank you guys, you just set in stone for me that there’s no dog in our future, fuck that!

WookieMan, my sympathies are with you. Our animal companions are like children to us, except we spoil them more than our children.

I made this decision with all of the dogs I've had (3) and will when the time comes for my current dog. It's tough, but we love them too much to allow them to suffer. You will know when the time comes.

For all three of my boys, I did not plan to have them euthanized when we went to the vet. It was my decision, but it was what the vets recommended.

When the time came for my cat, the last pet to go, I swore I would not have him euthanized at the vet. Instead I paid top dollar to have him euthanized at home. He was snoozing on my chest when the end came. This was about three years ago. I think the bill was about $300. It's a lot for a euthanasia but he deserved it. He was a loving, loyal companion for 12 years. I owed it to him and was grateful we could do it that way.

RC2006 says

We are about to replaces our carpet and I dont even want to get anything nice because I'm worried dog will just damage it.

“This is why we can’t have nice things” Kids and dogs.

My wife had a pug when I met her. The dog instantly liked me(typical of pugs). When she passed we got a really old rescue pug who didn’t even last a year but I think had such a rough life that she got ten really good months at the end and was happy enough. She even started falling asleep on my lap the last month or so.

I wanted to wait, but was out voted by my wife and stepdaughter. We got another small breed dog. I’ve got to say that he really does bring a lot of joy to the house. The stepdaughter doesn’t really go on vacations and trips with us so no kennel costs.

Once I retire I’m pretty sure we will have 3-4 small breed dogs. We have family friends with a lot of kids spaced out so I don’t think vacations will be an issue. Well just have whatever kid is 18-30 years old house sit when we go on vacation.

Dogs are one of the spices of life if you have a dog accommodative lifestyle. We have 2 dogs and as they pass we won't be looking to replace them but we've decided that if we hear of anyone that has to let their dog go, we'll step up and take it.

I am going to put down my faithful Rat Terrier mutt this week.
She has been by my side, literally all the time, for 15 years.
Scout. Best dog ever.

Losing a pet really can be like losing a family member.

Recently I had to work on a project with a coworker that has never liked me and has always been cold and semi hostile from a work politics point of view. He broke down and sobbed like child for minutes, snot and all, when he mentioned losing his favorite dog the previous year. I could see that pain ran deep.

Sucks to put down a dog I think especially.

I had a real young dog, about 6, that developed lung cancer that was a foster. I fed him pizza for the last few days. When I had to put down my own dogs down, that pretty much ended my desire to have dogs again.

WookieMan says

I'm looking forward to not having the burden and cost of a dog. I'm going to miss the companionship though. Damn dogs.... It's never easy... This will be number 5 and I just can't do it anymore. Have had too much abnormal human death in our families that I cannot deal with a new dog and this process again when I'm 50. Plus kids are getting into almost daily sports, we like travel, and it wouldn't be fair to get another dog at this point.

As much as you like to travel I would question having any type of pet.

B.A.C.A.H. says

This was about three years ago. I think the bill was about $300. It's a lot for a euthanasia but he deserved it. He was a loving, loyal companion for 12 years. I owed it to him and was grateful we could do it that way.

Same for me. Our 2nd dog was put down about 3 years ago (Chewy, hence the Wookieman username) in our home. My wife showed up late, but the kids were at school, made some eggs for him as his last breakfast and it was done.

The chick that did it was small and he weighed about 40-45lbs. I offered to carry him to the car because it would have been a struggle for her. That was the only weird part. So hard watching a life end in front of you and then putting it in the trunk of an SUV.

I would not want that job ever. I'd be a fucking basket case daily. It's time though. Just found out my neighbors 3 houses down put their dog down 2 days ago. He'd randomly come over and swim in our pool with my dog. Maybe it's a sign...

zzyzzx says

As much as you like to travel I would question having any type of pet.

You are 100% correct. This last spring break I was pretty upset dropping her at the kennel. We don't have anything until early May travel wise, but it's not fair to her with the shape she's in. Hence the post. What sucks is we plan on less air travel, so we could bring her a lot of places pretty easily. But I have no regrets. For a dog she lived like a billionaire and she made an impact on the lives of my kids. It's going to be weird not having a dog, but our family needs less stress.

Try a smaller dog, one that needs less grooming and care. We tried a boxer first but that dog was a lot of work, needed tons of exercise. When we were having babies it was way too much work and so we re-homed him, carefully and thoughtfully with another nice family.
The next dog wasn’t for several years, and this time the wife picked what she wanted: a Chiweenie. She’s been a good pooch and I call her my wife’s coworker because she sits on her lap all day while my wife works from home.

They say the best time to get a new dog is when the old dog is dying. My parents did that once and it definitely softened the emotional impact of the older dog dying.

Shaman says

Try a smaller dog, one that needs less grooming and care.

You mean something more like a cat?

BayArea says

My kids keep pushing for a dog but I don’t have the bandwidth for one when I know after the honeymoon phase it’ll be me as the caretaker.

My brother came up with a genius idea for dealing with kids wanting a dog.

When his kids were little and started the "We want a dog" crap, he found a place that trains helper dogs and the place allowed him to keep one of their not yet graduated dogs in his house for three days. The dog of course had some training and was socialized and gentle.

My brother told me after about two days of playing and obsessing over the pooch, they just started to blow the thing off (end of honeymoon).

He gave the dog back and I think that was the end of hearing about getting a dog.

Kepi says

My brother came up with a genius idea for dealing with kids wanting a dog.

When his kids were little and started the "We want a dog" crap, he found a place that trains helper dogs and the place allowed him to keep one of their not yet graduated dogs in his house for three days. The dog of course had some training and was socialized and gentle.

My brother told me after about two days of playing and obsessing over the pooch, they just started to blow the thing off (end of honeymoon).

He gave the dog back and I think that was the end of hearing about getting a dog.

Interesting to see your brother's procedure if his wife asks for a baby.....

Kepi says

BayArea says

My kids keep pushing for a dog but I don’t have the bandwidth for one when I know after the honeymoon phase it’ll be me as the caretaker.

My brother came up with a genius idea for dealing with kids wanting a dog.

When his kids were little and started the "We want a dog" crap, he found a place that trains helper dogs and the place allowed him to keep one of their not yet graduated dogs in his house for three days. The dog of course had some training and was socialized and gentle.

My brother told me after about two days of playing and obsessing over the pooch, they just started to blow the thing off (end of honeymoon).

He gave the dog back and I think that was the end of hearing about getting a dog.

That would have never worked on me as a kid.

I'm a dick. I don't care about their (kids) feelings to be honest. We're not getting another dog. Wife is on board as well. This one has literally trashed $2-3k worth of shit with her illness. I'll be sad as hell, but I'm not doing this again. Between my wife's work and mine we need to focus more on the kids anyway and not worry about a dog. The timing is honestly pretty good if I'm going to take a positive out of it.