Dog Owners

[Bobby Chariot]

I so want a dog I might end up having 14 days off work at a time every 3 weeks. I think I’m going to be so bored and I’d love a dog to spend time with and be more active. I just don’t know what I’d do when I am working

It's a big committment, might sound daft but it's almost like having a child, needs fed, watered, exercised & given attention.
It's not only work that needs thinking about but also if you go out for the day, all day somewhere or holidays too.
We have had rescue Greyhounds over the years which are fairly low maintenance & easy going dogs, they like to sleep but still need you to be there, as dogs can suffer from separation anxiety.
Being on their own a lot might mean they chew up the house, do the toilet etc.
If you can find a work-a-round which suits then go for it as pets are very rewarding & great for our mental health too.
Good luck

 

[Rebus]

My dog seems to enjoy sleeping on her own beds but she is allowed on the sofa if it is covered with a blanket. She is really hairy so she only gets on my bed if I am going to be changing it in the morning. She knows she is isn't allowed on if it has just been changed and every other night she sits and waits to be told if she is allowed on or if she has to sleep on her own bed.

 

[Pot2PeeIn]

We have a therapy dog- as long as my kids not screaming his face off the dog can be where he bloody likes.

 

[bowtiesarecool]

Just found this thread!

We have a 3yr old rescue pup. Got her 2 years ago - she arrived from Zante (Greece) literally about 6 weeks before the 1st lock down. Served well, as I was sick leave following surgery at the time of her arrival then furlough so had plenty of time to settle her in. We'd been to Zante on holiday previously and the stray dog population devastated me, so we went to a Greek/Brit charity to adopt her (such as the dogs trust wouldn't consider us as we worked and had a child )

She's as dippy as can be, but adorable. She has 2 of those pupnaps beds (each with a fleece on), one upstairs and one in our bedroom. But she still sneaks on our bed occasionally (if we can't find her, chances are she's on our pillows, sleeping!). I don't mind so much. I guess I do it so she forgets being unwanted in Greece (when she was found, she was house trained and there was evidence of a collar so she was dumped ). She's a spoilt pooch (and she knows it!)

 

[Tintin93]

My dogs are extremely happy and as comfortable as they can be, thanks for worrying though. Our eldest girl is very arthritic now and close to the end of her life so we are doing all we can to make her last months happy. Our big boy is full of love and cuddles, which he gets loads of. I don’t give a toss about the appearance of my sofa. I have 3 young kids. Our sofas are not in any way pristine. Please don’t make assumptions about me, just because you do things differently. Our biggest dog weighs 7 stone. I don’t want him ever thinking about jumping on a sofa when my small kids are on there.

I didn’t even initially reply to you. You quoted my post and decided to get defensive about it, your issue not mine.

 

[Travelmehomee]

Before we got our dog I was adamant that she would not be allowed upstairs, not on sofas or beds etc. 11 months in and she is allowed everywhere, sleeps on our bed and is spoilt rotten She is a Vizsla so hardly sheds and is always very clean. I hate that 'wet dog' smell....urgh...but she is short haired and really doesn't smell bad at all (she is bathed weekly just in plain warm water, and I bought this lush dog spray that makes her smell )

I am surprised at how attached I have become to her tbh. I have always been a cat person really, and the dog purchase was very much driven by my husband and kids. Ironically she is 100% my baby now and I never anticipated the love I would feel for her. I can't imagine our life without her now, and couldn't give a shiny shit if someone judges me for allowing her on our bed
View attachment 219638

She is beautiful, I currently trying find a breeder..any recommendations?

 

[101d]

Hi everyone. I see this thread is dead but wondered of anyone had experienced anything similar. Our girl (floppy eared), has had recurring ear infections for most of her life. This time it's yeasty and she's being swabbed on Monday. In the meantime our vet told us to switch to a food with hydrolysed protein, (two were suggested and we picked one from that), which she started yesterday. Fortunately she loves it. After 3 months we will challenge her diet with vet guidance. She's started on Wells Z/D. After 2 days I've already noticed a difference in her stools - less odour, less flatulence and no mucus.

What are the most common protein allergies in your experience? It costs a bomb and her insurance has just gone up to £90 p/m. Ugh. I'll do anything for her of course.

Love to you all and your dogs.

Sounds just like my boy. We have managed to keep on top of his ear infections with weekly ear cleaning and steroids (not ideal, but it’s helping, which is the main thing!!)

We also changed his food to royal canin hypoallergenic but then he was getting skin allergies/infection, so we’ve now swapped it for Purina HA. So fingers crossed!

Without an allergy test it’s just trial and error. I think they are super expensive.

 

[Maid22]

I would still report it as it could be that they are known. What kind of a dog did they have?

It was a Labrador, tbh waste of time reporting it, why can't folks understand if you put your dog's on leads when approached by other dogs, there's a reason for it.

 

[Kim Mild]

I think if dogs are more costly , it really makes people think about getting one a bit more than if they are too cheap.
When we bought our dog ( from a family who's bitch accidentally had pups) the price they chose was based on what they'd paid for their dog and food/vets fees and equipment for the pups factored in .

 

[navybluewolf]

No, I live in a small flat and the dog isn't allowed on the bed. I need one place to be hair free! He's allowed on the sofa if he wants as it's leather but he rarely does.

 

[super grateful]

We have a 4 month old lab. Growing up both our parents never let our family dogs upstairs / on the sofa so we said we’d do the same, but the day we bought that 8 week old puppy home... I couldn’t sit on the sofa and watch tv without a cuddle!? So now he helps himself to the sofa whether we are on it or not, but I always ensure there is a blanket on there as although I love him I am a bit too in love with my expensive sofa to let it get hairy etc. (Even before the dog I hoovered it weekly). He’s now started climbing the stairs and does enjoy a mooch about but I don’t think I’d like him sleeping upstairs with me. I tried it once last week when I was alone but he cried and ran back to his crate, he feels cosy and safe there I think so we will continue to crate him at night. (Don’t crate hate me). When he’s done with the crate eventually he’ll have free roam of downstairs, currently has beds in the kitchen and living room so imagine they’ll both stay.

 

[Macmama]

Our big guy is a GSD. Unfortunately, with our four offspring so fond of finding their way into our bed, there’s usually not room and he doesn’t tend to even bother trying however the last time DH deployed, he slept the first night right next to me and I then moved his bed to be right next to our bed for the rest of the trip. If one of the kids has been up in the night, he can usually be found in bed with them or lying at the foot of their bed. He’s a big softie

 

[Hulahoopsfromthe80s]

Mine now we've only got one can sleep on the sofa but only on his blanket.
He does sleep on the daughters bed since our other dog died because he cant sleep alone.

 

[Summer 19]

My Beagle has full run of the house, spoilt rotten View attachment 154573

Definitely a Beagle thing

 

[Maid22]

I’m really sorry to hear this the amount of dogs that come bounding up to mine when on the lead and it’s obvious I’m trying to keep a distance from other dogs it is infuriating. The owner always looks puzzled when my dog starts growling. I’ve started getting really arsey and saying shes on the lead for a reason. A lot of dog owners are completely thick. I really hope your doggy is doing ok!

That's what does my head in, my dogs are on a lead for a reason, I tried to shout at the other dog owners to call it back, I was literally in a bush, but they didn't give a shite, don't blame you for getting arsey, you're just looking after your dog xx

 

[Maid22]

I know this thread is about where your dog's sleep ( my jr is under the throw in bed with me) but my other boy needs an op this week, am so worried, with this covid I can't go in the vets with him, have to hand him over in the car park, has anyone else on here had to do the same?

 

[Kandy floss]

My labrador sleeps in bed, he wouldn't sleep anywhere else as a puppy and never went back to his bed or the settee like my previous dog.

He takes up all the space but he's been there for me on some dark days and I couldn't give a shit about a bit of fur considering all the love he's given me. Waking up to have a cuddle with him when he's sleepy is the best.

 

[PrincessCharming]

We’ve hardly left our dog because we WFH, but on the occasions we have she’s been fine. She lies and sleeps (we’ve checked up on the security camera).

First night we got her we slept in the downstairs guest bedroom and put her crate in there. She cried and cried. She’d been fine in the crate in the kitchen during the day so next night we left her in the kitchen and she slept soundly. She still sleeps in her crate but with the door open and takes herself off to bed in the evening. She has a sofa in the kitchen too and sometimes will stretch out on it.

As soon as I open the kitchen door though, first thing, she races upstairs to get into bed with my husband or if he’s already up, one of the kids.

The night of Storm Arwen I took her in beside me at 4 am because she was crying and she settled right down. The only thing is that if she does get in the bed she lies on top of you not next to you.

 

[PrincessCharming]

Toilet train as fast as you can and it won’t matter what flooring you have. Anything easy to clean is a bonus.

 

[TapToBoreMeRigid]

Thanks everyone. I was told by two vets that the allergy test is inaccurate.

My girl was on grain-free food for 5 years but it had no effect on her, positive or negative.

Last week she had a Cytopoint injection. The vet's view was that this was better than steroids for her, (she was on them for 3 months to open her ear due to an abscess & prior to cleaning under anaesthetic), because there are no side effects with the injection.

Sometimes I wish the girl could talk! Best wishes with your dogs!