Why I Won't Have a Dog
Other
Well meaning friends and family often say: You should get yourself a little dog to keep you company. Happy to dog sit a couple of times a year but also happy to give them back.
Well, I don't want a dog and here's why.
- It makes me gag having to pick up after them and I don't want my garden used as a toilet!
- As a pensioner I don't need the added expense of dog food, Vet's bills, dentistix, treats, lead, bed, toys and all the other paraphernalia.
- I could see me tripping over as every time you turn round they are under your feet.
- Don't like them staring, ever hopeful of food, while you eat.
- They smell and generally don't like being bathed!
- I don't want to be compelled to go walkies daily, carrying a bag of poo most of the duration.
- Want to rise when I want to, not when they are yapping for their breakfast or to go out for their morning wee.
- I want to be able to take off at a moment's notice without worrying about putting them in kennels or burdening someone else with their care.
All in all I am thoroughly selfish and don't want to be responsible for another life.
Love my granddogs but only in short bursts
MelissaLee1 yes I totally agree and I don't want anyone reading this to think I dislike dogs, I love.......other people's.
My younger son's dog doesn't leave my side when I visit and I am currently looking after elder son's 2 little dogs (twice the mess to pick up) but I am always relieved when they have gone home.
I appreciate your point of view but itβs the unconditional love and company that pets give. Obviously your family think you need one.
Not selfish at all. The selfish ones are people who think like you, go ahead and get a dog anyway and then donβt look after it properly.
Enjoy your freedom and your granddogs 
I would never do without mine L
She is lovely and gives so much joy and is a great companion
Taking her for a walk daily keeps me fit, they are good for your mental health , or so i believe
You get used to picking up after them, the same if you have a horse but not tenfold the mess
Going away you just ask a friend or family to look after them for you , it can be reciprocal
Or you can use a kennel or dog sitter
If you work as you do then that could be a problem , but if retired you could not ask for a better buddy
It is a leap into the unknown if you have never owned one and yes vets bills can be a worry , but you can take out insurance if you want
And you can do research to pick a breed that doesn't require too much grooming and has a good lifespan
Mine was a rescue dog, thrown in a rubbish skip as a puppy, so i have the added satisfaction knowing she has a safe and better life now than with the original disgusting owner
A neighbor two or three houses away has a dog and their dog has an awful smell like they never wash him, it's nauseating when I pass through there. Dirty ass people shouldn't be allowed to have pets if they can't be bothered to take care of them.
Some have dogs as "protection," but if you give them meat with sleeping pills or use a pig/dog catcher and he's no longer a problem. I've never done either of these two things (moreso it's common knowledge), it's just expecting the dog by himself (or herself) to stop criminals is bizarre.
PhilipMarc People who just buy vicious dogs for protection are not fit to keep a pet P in my opinion and they can be a danger to young children in the family
As you say if a criminal really wants to gain access to a property they will just poison or put the animal to sleep to get in
Normally a housedog will give some protection anyway if anyone approaches your property , mine barks if anyone is lurking outside , i would never leave her outside because of the reasons i gave
A good backup to any alarm system
I love having a dog in the home but we are all different. I have always had pets and different types, from dogs, cats, rabbits, Guinea pigs, chickens, chinchillas, hamsters and fish, both indoor and out. Think I have remembered them all.
It's not been selfish your doing what's right for you your family and friends should respect this. All the reasons you give are really valid reasons. I'd like a dog but I don't go out very much, live in a flat, don't have a lot of money as you say there cost alot especially vet bills and like you I don't like the thought of picking up poo! I'm happy giving dogs I see on rare walks out a stroke. So stick to what you want.
Well I love my dog to bits but your not being selfish at all.your doing what's best for you
Good for you!
I understand where you're coming from I loved having a dog but it's just another responsibility and expenses so I don't think it's being selfish at all your doing what's best for you
Leannexxx "I loved having a dog but it's just another responsibility and expenses"
Chihuahuas are really adorable, but they're really expensive. Somewhere around Β£700 to Β£1000.
At least that means they'll be taken care of while cheap dogs can get treated very poorly by their owners.
People should go through a process to verify they're capable and eligible of having and taking care of a living being. If they can't afford or don't want to take them to the vet, don't have them as they'll get sick and be in pain.
PhilipMarc I don't understand why you added my comment into this as what I said it's true I love having pets but for me with 2 kids it's just not affordable at the moment it's another responsibility and expenses that I just haven't got even tho my kids want a dog but as a good owner I wanna make sure that I could give a animal what it needs
PhilipMarc but it doesn't matter what the cost is , it's still a expense that some people don't want food vet bills even if you pay insurance it's a monthly payment
I know I have already commented but I highly recommend you do not get a dog. Carrying helping others with their dogs which I expect is highly appreciated. Unfortunately I can not look after my daughters dogs in my home as my cat dislikes them that she disappeared for four days when they popped in once.
eyeballkerry gosh she made her feelings clear! Yes my sons always appreciate me having the dogs when they go on holidays. It's a bit like having a guest come to stay, you enjoy the visit while it lasts but it's always nice to have your home back when they go!
I agree. It's a very big commitment to make and not forgetting that if you want to visit people not everyone is happy to have them in their home. Kennels is very expensive when going abroad was well
That bag of poo makes a lovely hand warmer in the winter months.
think of it as an organic hot water bottle.
And the amount my 2 do I need a bag for life to pick it up some days. 
blacklabrador ha ha the two I am minding are only little dogs but I get at least 4 lots per day. I am afraid mind over matter doesn't work for me no matter how warm it is!
Looking at Lynibis's list I must admit my desire to have a dog has massively reduced. I think I'm more of a cat person. I've enjoyed walking other people's dogs in the past and love to meet dogs but not sure I would have the right attitude to be a responsible owner all the time. I have quite a small house and I'm a bit of a hoarder so I don't think it would be realistic. Cats are much cleaner, cheaper and need less attention/work. Also pet insurance is notorious for not paying out with lots of exclusions. So many people have found their pet insurance worthless when they needed it. I don't think you can rely on it especially long term health conditions of pets. So having a dog can be a huge financial gamble if you are a responsible owner who will do their best for the animal at all costs.
BonzoBanana I have never understood those who keep dogs and then treat them badly, why have one in the first place? If you can't handle ownership get it rehomed. Mind you the way some people treat their kids I shouldn't be surprised.
I think all of your points are valid. My family is the opposite with my grandmother. She really wants to get a cat for company, but we keep having to tell her it's not practical. She needs a walker to get out of her chair, and requires a lot of care herself, so cleaning up after it and taking care of it would be impractical. I love dogs, had dogs my whole life. Really do not like cats, though. People often talk about irresponsible dog owners, but you never hear people complain about irresponsible cat owners. Cats roam free, killing local wildlife, running out in front of cars, pooing on everyone's lawn and in kids play areas etc. I do think cats should be kept indoors, and if anyone feels that's cruel, just don't get one.
If it's not broken, don't fix it. If you don't feel like you want a dog, don't get one. Lovely of you to look after your children's dogs when they ask, though 
FearLoathing There are about 20,000 attacks by dogs each year in the UK but cats don't typically attack humans mainly because of the size difference. So its difficult to be an irresponsible cat owner. All animals attack other animals in the wild, dogs kill sheep, hens and all sorts of creatures. Cats again are on a smaller scale so its small birds, small mammals etc.
Cats have probably saved more human lives than any other animal. They have been used for pest control killing mice and rats for hundreds of years and this has stopped the spread of many diseases saving millions of lives over such time. Probably all of us owe our existence to cats to some degree because without them many of our ancestors would have died and so we wouldn't have been born. Most of us hardly ever see a rat or a mouse nowadays because we live in neighbourhoods with a high amount of cats.
I never said dogs are not dangerous. They are. Especially certain breeds and especially when owned by irresponsible people. I support the dangerous dogs ban and I think it should be better enforced. Dogs are far less of a danger than cats to local wildlife and the ecosystem in general, though, there's not much room for discussion there. To say that cats have saved more lives than dogs is a bit of a dubious claim, there's no reliable metrics to say how many lives they saved through killing pests - and dogs also kill pests, often more effectively than cats. They don't generally kill birds, though, which is nice.
Dogs have been moulded by humans over thousands of years, and were paramount to our survival and advancement as a species. They continue to be an invaluable tool for humans to this day. Dogs routinely rescue people from all sorts of scenarios, they track for us, they catch dangerous criminals, they retrieve, they guide the blind, they protect us and our property. Cats today are not necessary unless you live on a large area of land, like a farm, and you have a rodant problem. Even then - you could train a dog to the same thing without the risk to local wildlife.
Killing rats and mice isn't necessarily a good thing, at least not in the modern age. Harvest mice are classified as near threatened in most of Britain, and critically threatened in Scotland. Lots of native species of birds are endangered in the UK. Likewise with voles. Cats routinely kill these animals. I have no issue with people owning cats, but they should be kept indoors.
Dogs are fully domesticated, and most problems they cause can be attributed to the owner and a lack of training. You can't really train cats. You can't stop them killing things or defacating in kids play areas, that's just what they do.
FearLoathing Surely its farming, pesticides etc that endangers harvest mice. It's unlikely to be cats for those. Cats probably wouldn't bother with them as so small. Cats typically cover their faeces instinctively. Badgers and foxes often leave more faeces about plus many dog owners don't pickup after their dogs although most do. Lots of cats are incredibly lazy when it comes to hunting. My mother had a cat that was chased back inside by the birds. The character of cats varies a lot. My current cat will occasionally bring back a small mouse, bird or slow worm but its extremely rare. Perhaps twice a year mainly slow worms which I have to then find somewhere to put it where my cat can't go as they are almost always still alive. He likes the hunting bit but no interest in eating his prey. I have a field directly behind my garden which is overgrown and wild so he has more opportunity than most cats to hunt. In fact my garden is on the radar of many cats for getting to that field. I see quite a few different cats in my garden much to my cat's annoyance. I certainly don't believe cats should be kept in, mine would hate that.
Domestic cats in the UK kill around 92 million prey items through spring and summer alone. Of those 92 million, it is estimated around 27 million are birds. For context, the human population of the UK is 64 million. So, cats routinely kill more than the entire population of the country in wildlife through two seasons. There is estimated to be around 10.8 million cats in the UK. So, on average, every cat kills around three birds a year. My mums cat used to bring home dead birds daily, even after we put enough bells on her that she sounded like Christmas.
Covering their poo is actually more of an issue than not, especially in children's play areas. Cat poo is toxic too. I think cat owners are probably just ignorant of these things, either that or they don't care. Either way, that's irresponsible pet ownership, and it's a lot more widespread and commonplace than irresponsible dog ownership. You just hear more about irresponsible dog ownership because, as you said, dogs can be dangerous to humans. A pit bull attack will make headlines - but people aren't really bothered about the gradual decline of wildlife in the same way. Cats should be kept indoors - if people feel that's cruel, simply don't get a cat, or just get a dog and train it properly. I do believe the culture of just getting a cat and letting it roam free is one we need to start scrutinising and stop accepting as the norm.
The love you get from a dog is unreal. If you ask my brothers dog who her family is she'd include the likes of my parents, my sister and my daughter.
Jerseydrew I have owned both cats and dogs, i currently have a dog
Both give pleasure to the owners in different ways , my preference is dogs though
One added bonus to owning a dog is that scientists are saying they can help you recover from illnesses and extend your lifespan , there are so many articles saying this , i just plucked some info from one
In fact, two recent studies and analyses published in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes, a scientific journal of the American Heart Association, suggest your four-legged friend may help you do better after a heart attack or stroke and may help you live a longer, healthier life. Oct 7, 2019
telmel I don't doubt any of that and can see that research gleaned from conscientious dog owners will naturally show good results. However, if like me, you do not care to be a dog owner the stress can be significant. This week my freedom has been curtailed, I have felt sick picking up you know what and have had to get up at 6 (usually 7.30) to keep their food and morning routine in place. The smell of their food puts me off first thing. I have to keep washing the bowls (obviously) as flies are now around and making sure they have fresh water and their daily dentistix. To be honest I will be relieved to say goodbye tomorrow and get back to my own (selfish) routine lol.
Lynibis That's the problem L , you are looking after someone elses dogs that already have a set routine not aligned to yours
When you own a dog from a puppy it learns your bedtimes and habits and adapts to them
And it is not the same when the dog doesn't belong to you , they will not obey you or respect you as much as their owner , if you try you change their routine it would confuse them and could stress them out
I feed mine dry food , it is better for their teeth and gums, and never have a problem with flies etc and almost always have solid poop to pick up
I remember before i owned a dog i also resisted having one, thinking of having to work , have another mouth to feed, vets bills , what to do when going away somewhere etc
But it is like having a child , they become part of a family once you have one
I always compare to a car when expense is mentioned
Most people own one and think nothing of insuring it, taking it for regular services, filling it with fuel , changing the tyres when worn, replacing the exhaust, taking it for repairs when it breaks down etc etc
It has no health benefits , in fact it impacts on your health as far as exercise is concerned , but we think nothing of spending thousands each year to keep it on the road
Yet we worry about the minor expenses of owning a dog in comparison
I am not saying you are wrong not wanting one, everybodys circumstances are different and dog ownership is not for all , but there are so many other things to take into consideration
If my dog helps maintain my health and gives me extra years to draw my pension then that alone is worth its' weight in gold
I admit I felt like that until I became the owner of a miniature schnauzer 2yrs ago. Sheβll be 4 next mth. Iβm heading on holiday later today and cried yesterday that Iβd miss my dog. Never mind my 4 kids and 4 grandkids who are my world, but not a single tear over them. I never thought Iβd ever be that person but for last 2 years Pixie has been constantly by my side no matter how I feel. Whether Iβm sad or happy sheβs always there. Sheβs such good wee thing and isnβt a hyper dog and loves her bed. If I waken her before half 10 in morning sheβll go out to go toilet and back to bed. Come bout 1pm she likes to go back and lie down for another 2 hours and then come half 6/7 she stands at door waiting to be let out for her last toilet break and go to bed. If my daughters at mine sheβll stand by the door then turn back look at her as if to say itβs time for you to go home now. She will do this 2/3 times and if my daughter doesnβt get message then she will give her sharp bark as if to say itβs my bedtime and time for you to leave 
. Sheβs just too funny
I love dogs, but they are a huge responsibility. What would make you selfish would be to have a dog when you don't really want it. They aren't for everyone, same with any other pet. 
I so agree with you. One thing my daugter and i always talk about is (especially when we go for a walk) when the dog owners take their pets for a walk and they poo outside which most pick up after them. But then they will go into the house climb on the laps of their owners or go on the sofa and surely their backside hasnt been cleaned... makes me think yuk!!!
I do love dogs and have played with my neigbours little dog and is amzing but i dont think i'd have one one for hygeine reasons...
I have dog wipes especially for her and she has her own bed (dog bed) towels etc. She doesnβt climb on my sofa but she does climb on my bed but sheβs her own throw etc on my bed. My whole bedding and hers are all washed twice wk and she goes to groomers regularly. Sheβs spoilt but she gives me so so much love back. Iβm in Portugal at min and Iβd family and neighbours all looking to keep her while Iβm away. She also doesnβt like rain or bad weather and will go to the door, look out and just turn around and walk back in again
I think no one should compel you to get a pet, I agree with you, in the winter you see people walking their dogs in the rain and they don't look happy
beccatavender B, a lot of dogs love going out in the rain and getting dirty , although i don't let mine
When i shower her she actually walks right into the shower enclosure waiting to be washed and shampooed
But i think her favourite part is being dried and then brushed , she just doesn't like the hair dryer blowing in her face , as with us 
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