Why can't I get a dog??

[dbtmarley]

Maybe you should settle for a turtle.

[Trialbyfire]

You could look at it another way. He wants a Honda CBRwhatever to meet his need for that feeling of freedom. He is willing to take care of it 100% but wants to ride it with no helmet on. Would this be acceptable?

[IfWishesWereHorses]

A small dog and any puppy and any untrained larger dog is not going to give you a cardio workout from walking. You've gotta stop every few minutes so tht they can sniff, root around and do their business.

 

My H was pretty much against getting a dog. My son was having VERY bad problems and coming home crying everyday because he didn't have any friends at school. His pediatrician recommended a "boys" dog. We picked out a "great" dog, but VERY high maintenence! I spend as much time caring for my unruly dog as I do my kids!

 

Crazily, I thought that I would get alot of exercise from walking the dog but that NEVER happened. I do get alot of exercise from chasing it to retrieve balls!

 

If you want a dog, keep after him but choose your breeds carefully, I did a boatload of research and but never considered the trouble in finding a kennel for when we travel for a dog that needs alot of exercise and attention. Finally found one, but I pay extra for them to meet his needs and tip well!

 

Also, we have neighbors that tried two breeds that didn't work out and had to find homes for the dogs and it KILLED their kids. I cried for a week and couldn't sleep when they got rid of the Dane I had helped to train and cared for when they were at work. Our dog cried for weeks when his best friend disappeared.

 

Just think it through, and maybe your husband will come around.

[IfWishesWereHorses]

Then, there's the whole vet bill thing. When I first got my pup, I spent like $300 on her in the first month just for shots, worming, puppy preschool, etc. Then there are toys, beds, bones, food... If you get an older dog, you have to worry about failing health, problems like hip displasia (its over $600 to replace a hip), diabetes, cataracs. If the dog is badly bred, then multiply that...

 

You forgot teeth cleanings and dental bills! My H joked to the vet. Well, tell me now, is he going to need braces!:lmao:

[milvushina]

I really wish you could get a puppy, but if your husband is not on board for helping out then it might not be worth it in the long run, even if it is worth fighting for. Our dog is 2 now and I really want a second dog, but he says absolutely no and I have given up on it.. for now..

 

The money adds up so fast! I got the bare essentials for my puppy and still had to spend $300. I still spend about $80/month on her for food and other things she needs.. plus she turned out to have a skin allergy that requires her to get shots. And time - she has to be brushed, played with, and on and on. It is rewarding to me since we both work with her a lot but if I had gotten her in spite of my husband's wishes she would be overwhelming and stressful.

 

I hate to think of his reaction when as a puppy she shredded hundreds of dollars of bedroom furnishings, while we sleeping, if he had been against getting her.

[a4a]

The cash amount needed for vet care per month......do you have it?

 

Heartworm preventative for a medium size dog = $65 - $120 + the yearly testing

Flea and tick preventative= $30+ for 3 pack

Yearly vet visit = minimal $125 just for exam and shots.

Worming

grooming

Get the wrong breed and you could lose your home owners insurance.

Dog crate...... $150

Decent feed $60 per month

Starter items $100 and up

 

Spay and neuter usually at least $145

 

(the vast majority of shelter dogs are already s/n for the $65 - $95 typical adoption fee)

 

There are tons of purebred rescues out there that adopt out high dollar dogs for a small fee - typically to just cover vetting expenses.

 

petfinder ........google it.

 

But unless you are financially prepared and can commit to a lifetime of proper care for a dog..... don't get one. It will just end up in a shelter like the rest of them.

 

And dogs are pack animals... humans being their pack members. Leaving a dog outside 24/7 is like punishing it..... behavior problems usually arise.

 

Google outside dogs.

 

A gym membership is cheaper and will give you the support you want to lose weight.... the dog will not encourage you or say " hey you look great today"..... besides once the newness wears off for the kids, the dog will just likely collect cobwebs.

[YellowLioness]

Very, very nice post A4A.

 

BTW- your avatar looks like most of my home state, which I find ironic and amusing.

 

As a volunteer for our Humane Society, I can very much appreciate what your'e saying. When the newness wears off, the dog comes "home" to the pound.

 

Most of the dogs are in there because people don't know how to teach t hem to behave, or because little Johnny suddenly developed allergies, or because the family is moving and they no longer want the pet, you name it...

 

You forgot teeth cleanings and dental bills! My H joked to the vet. Well, tell me now, is he going to need braces!

 

LOL!!!! I KNOW! It's terrible what they charge. I had to take my 20 lb rescue kitty into the vet the other day for a dental cleaning and to be shaved (yes he did look hilarous) and it was over $200.

 

I about dropped on the floor when I saw that bill. Good thing I have an "animal savings account." It actually has more money in it then my personal savings account and with vet bills being so outrageous, its' a good thing.

 

Anyway, to the OP- If you read all of this and are still frothing at the mouth for a dog, get one. I just wanted you to know that having an animal is very expensive, time consuming, and occasionally frustrating AS WELL AS being very, very rewarding.

 

I wouldn't trade Orchid for anything in the world. She's my best girl, and dog fur absorbs both tears of happiness and sadness equally well.

[BlueEyedSarah]

for some time now i've been wanting to get a sm/med dog. we already have 2 cats, but i'm trying to lose weight and the fact that i would be forced to walk a dog appeals to me---it would give me company while i was exercising..... this is not the only reason: i like dogs & playing with them, plus my daughters want one...typical kids

 

my husband loves dogs---but he wont concede to letting me get one. he says he loves other peoples dogs, and doesn't want the responsibility. i explained that i would be walking the dog since i want the exercise and he stated that if i really wanted to do that, i could do it without a dog.....which, he brings up a good point, i dont need the dog for exercise.

 

however, he wont workout with me, he kinda encourages me but says i'm fine the way i am and that it's all up to me. he doesn't want to get a dog just because of the kids, and that's understandable too. he also feels that the newness of the dog will wear off and that he will end up being the one to walk it & clean up after it.

 

i have explained that he doesn't care for the 2 cats we have, i do, so what's the difference with this LOL. i have to beg & wait weeks before he will clean a litter box. at least with a dog, it's outside. then i got him to agree to a breed, but the breed he chose is $1200!! we can't afford that...and no, he didn't know that when he chose the breed

 

but he just won't budge! he says he isn't saying "never" but he is saying "not in the near future" and not in the next few years. so when the F is it?????

 

i'm tired of the situation. i want a dog, he doesn't. we've been going back & forth on this issue for about a year.......any ideas on how to break him LOL?????

I can understand, dogs are a lot more work and if your children are young there is many things you are unable to do when you have a dog such as vacations, day outings, going to theme parks. With some dogs you are unable to leave them home alone incase they destroy the house. And when you need to take it to the vet it will cost a lot of $. When you go places you will need to make sure you have a family or friend who doesnt mind looking after the dog.