So you’re thinking of adding a dog to the family? We all know that it’s a big responsibility. Knowing is one thing; however, the day to day reality can be trickier than you may imagine.
Like most responsibility, becoming a dog owner is a huge undertaking that is sometimes massively underestimated
- Dogs don’t like being alone.
So, unless you’re self-employed or have time-generous friends and family, be prepared to spend lots of money on a dog walker.
- Dogs always like walking; but mostly kids don’t.
Your vision: come Saturday mornings, the family will take long, leisurely walks with the pooch, on which the rosy-cheeked kids, liberated from their screens, will get tons of fresh air and exercise, right?
Sorry, You may love walking but kids? They can be surprisingly lazy when they want to be. The reality: kids sometimes whinge after 14 steps have even been taken – they also fall over. It’s not always the joyous situation you may have envisaged
- Days-out aren’t always suitable for doggies.
You would imagine that your dog would always accompany you on days out – and often they can. But it can get embarrassing when he’s running off with your kids sandwich. Fact is, sometimes its a less stressful day when the dog is at home.
- Picking up poo will be a big part of your life.
It’s an everyday part of dog ownership that cannot be avoided. Many people have singled out this as the reason they don’t get a dog. But it isn’t that bad. Just like your kids when they were young you get used to wiping their little pooey bottoms, but then the thought of changing another kid’s turns your stomach? Same thing. You own dog will become a no big deal part of your life. Ask me to pick up another dog’s poop? Yuk!!
- It’s the next biggest responsibility to having a kid.
You don’t get a break from being a doggy parent – they need your time, care and attention, just like a child. And that is draining, especially when you already have little humans to look after. But you know what? Unlike kids, they don’t answer back, they sleep through pretty much straight away, they eat what you give them…
