The pets thread aka my house smells of cat/dog/other piss

Let’s not use the word retarded in that fashion please.

We've been looking after a friend's dog a fair bit recently. Had him for over a week at one point.
That has definitely made us reassess getting one of our own. He's a pretty chill dude most of the time, but even so theres just so much neediness compared to our two cats. Nearly lost my shit with him when he spent an afternoon barking at anybody that walked past the house while I was trying to work.

Dealing with a pup would probably ruin me.

Honestly, it's awful. He can't be left alone out of his crate for more than a second, is hyper for ten hours a day. Most of our downstairs is behind metal fences because books and soundbars and dining chairs are apparently tasty. The house is permanently messy because he want to join in all the cleaning and makes it impossible. He backs Robovac into a corner and bites him so that's no use anymore.

One of the cats is terrified of him and has taken to showing his distress by pissing on random things. He did that when we first got him as a kitten and hasn't done it in four years since so definitely an anxiety related trait.

Walks mostly involve standing still whilst he frantically tries to pull away. He's decided in the last three days he hates his crate for no reason having previously loved it. He'll constantly whimper at the door to go out, most of the time he doesn't need to he just wants to play with sticks, but if you ignore him then you'll miss the one time he actually needs to and end up with a nice big puddle to clean.

I don't have many regrets in life but this is shaping up to be a huge one.

Another thing to consider, for anyone thinking about getting a pup, is that there's often a difference between the dog you want and breed you should get.
I've always wanted a husky or other wolf-like working dog but the amount of work and attention to keep it happy and not destroying everything in my home would be far, far more than I can manage. It just wouldn't gel with the way I live and work at all. Understanding the reqs can be a huge help.
But any dog is essentially a child in terms of care and attention - easier to keep but never self-sufficient, they're just better and don't live as long.

Oh, reading a page from days ago, switched on me…

Had a rescue a couple of years ago that had been brought up with puppy pads, he still, very occasionally thinks he can take himself off to a corner that must look like the one he was “trained” near. Awful things.

We had Petplan with our first dog and they’re excellent if you need to claim but be warned the cost gets absolutely ridiculous as they get older. In the end, with a 14/15 year old dog it was £55 a month, the excess and the first grand of any treatment. Really pissed me off after using them his whole life. That cost was ten years ago too.
Think we’ve just gone with basic co-op insurance now. And have put a bit of money aside if an expensive operation is needed, it’s more for whether one of them legs it into the road and causes a ten car pile up we get sued for.

Sorry you feel that way zom. Have you had classes with him or a one to one with a behaviourist?

And thanks for the tip with that harness, will definitely give it a try.

Agreed. Be sure to tell them what's going on, too - they will be able to help.

Yeah this. You never quite know what you're going to get but with training and routine, any dog can be brought into line. As dogbot said, they are still puppies for a loooong time. Even my mum's dog, who is nearly 5, can still act up, although thankfully he's stoped nipping everyone.

Speaking of Bob the Dog, I have never known such a needy thing. Obviously he's never left alone as he's with my mum 24/7, which is going to cause problems. He whines if I leave him with my wife and walk across the room FFS. (he has a strict hierarchy and I'm No2 on the list!).

Butter wouldn't melt...

Because we have a cavapoo we have to get him groomed quite often a d trimmed so his coat doesn't matt. And the big one sheds loads so we get him a deshed. The groomer does a photo shoot after with the dogs. 

Negan


Dexter

Yes, Dexter is the pick of the pair. A handsome lad.


Sorry, negan.

Dexter giving a real steal yo girl vibe.

Negan from marketing.

Aka Karen.