Planetarion Forums

acropolis · 10 Nov 2005, 17:47

My wife and I are planning toget a dog 'to fill the empty spaces, where we used to talk' or whatever. My question is: how much work is likely to be involved in having a dog? We had one when I was a kid, but I didn't have to feed it or anything, so I'm not sure I have a firm grasp.

Acceptable responses can include anything in a range from actually answering the relevant question to talking about what pets you have/had to pointing out how the need for a pet shows fundamental personality flaws to mentioning that time in Bangkok where it turned out that the supposed 'roast beef sandwich' was actually a dog/rat blend.

Thanks all <3

Dante Hicks · 10 Nov 2005, 17:56

Don't get a pet, they're shit and you'll turn shit too.

I mean, for god's sake do you want be that guy walking around your neighbourhood at 2am with a plastic bag to pick up animal faeces with?

KoeN · 10 Nov 2005, 17:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by acropolis

My question is: how much work is likely to be involved in having a dog?

you often come up with sensible, intelligent posts in threads about 'difficult' matters.

and now this?

s|k · 10 Nov 2005, 17:57

Ayako and I got a 6 month old dog in 2004. It was run over 3 months later on the street.

Lesson #1.
Control your dog, with a leash. (It had a leash, but it got away, chased some skater, ended up in the street). It was pretty devestating. Here is a picture of the now passed away Max .

Since then we got a new dog, Belle .

You have to take them out to let them releave themselves (ours 3 times a day). You have to feed them, water them. You also have to give them considerable amount of attention. You also need to discipline them, or else you'll be devoting more time in the long rung. All these things take time. You should also develop an affection for the animal. If you're not sure you want to devote time to the animal my suggestions is not to get one.

s|k · 10 Nov 2005, 17:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dante Hicks

Don't get a pet, they're shit and you'll turn shit too.

I mean, for god's sake do you want be that guy walking around your neighbourhood at 2am with a plastic bag to pick up animal faeces with?

That's me. :/

NEWSBOT3 · 10 Nov 2005, 18:07

my pet rock is low in time required to spend on it.

acropolis · 10 Nov 2005, 18:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dante Hicks

Don't get a pet, they're shit and you'll turn shit too.

I mean, for god's sake do you want be that guy walking around your neighbourhood at 2am with a plastic bag to pick up animal faeces with?

that's why we didn't get one at the old place. we'd often get pretty close, then some night we'd come home and one of our neighbors would be standing outside with a dog on a leash and a plastic bag over the other looking suitably miserable and i would state aloud 'no. that ain't me.'

but now we have a yard, and i'm confident i can train it to poop in the neighbor's bushes etc.

s|k · 10 Nov 2005, 18:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by acropolis

that's why we didn't get one at the old place. we'd often get pretty close, then some night we'd come home and one of our neighbors would be standing outside with a dog on a leash and a plastic bag over the other looking suitably miserable and i would state aloud 'no. that ain't me.'

but now we have a yard, and i'm confident i can train it to poop in the neighbor's bushes etc.

Yeah with a yard it will be much easier.

Dead_Meat · 10 Nov 2005, 18:16

Get a sheep, tie it in the garden and hey presto! New lawnmower.

Plus I hear they're not big on needing attention/hugs but grooming can be difficult, but you only have to do it once a year or something, plus if you get tired of it, those Bangkok stories come true, but you have roast sheep for SUnday roast.

win win win win win win....

s|k · 10 Nov 2005, 18:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dead_Meat

Get a sheep, tie it in the garden and hey presto! New lawnmower.

Plus I hear they're not big on needing attention/hugs but grooming can be difficult, but you only have to do it once a year or something, plus if you get tired of it, those Bangkok stories come true, but you have roast sheep for SUnday roast.

win win win win win win....

And if you're in the mood and the wife's not around...

acropolis · 10 Nov 2005, 18:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by s|k

And if you're in the mood and the wife's not around...

you can make her a sweater from scratch to surprise her with! or **** a sheep!

Forest · 10 Nov 2005, 18:35

I have a pet. I call it Nodrog. Only problem is, you bait him enough and he bites you. I am sure he will be along soon.

Joking aside, dogs can be high maintenence, I get by with my cat.

And the best ever pet for children should you get any, is rats. They pwn.

Appocomaster · 10 Nov 2005, 18:49

Dogs are quite a lot of work. Some larger dogs require walking for at least 30 mins - 1 hour a day to get enough exercise (some of the more energetic ones prefer 2+ hours a day).
In addition to feeding them 1-2 times per day, you have to give them quite a lot of time (they get lonely and badly behaved ones start chewing things), so someone needs to be around, at least at first, for the majority of the day. If you want to get a puppy, it WILL chew things, pee everywhere until trained, and have to be taken to the vet for jabs (depending on how young it is). If you get a dog that's 6 months - 1 year, you often still have to discipline it and teach it how to be (at least slightly) obedient. This really pays off in the long run. It's easier if you have a (fairly) large garden to let them run in. You'll also have to work out where you want to keep it when people who don't like dogs come, where it will sleep, etc.
Be prepared for it to eat something disgusting (another dogs shit) and then decide it doesn't like it and throw up, or for it to get ill maybe once a year and be taken to the vets. Also, as they get older (10+, depending on the dog) they start to need drops and tablets like us.

They're nice, they keep you company and give you LOTS to do, but .. yeah you have to have a fair amount of time :-)
I have 2 black labs at home (i.e. when I'm not at uni).

dda · 10 Nov 2005, 18:59

Dogs are pack animals and require the presence of other animals (you and your wife fit this bill). Dogs get lonely when left alone for very long.

If you could teach the dog to post on GD (should the dog show any signs of autism or other anti-social tendencies) you could improve both GD and the dog,

PSH · 10 Nov 2005, 19:03

Get a cat, no walkies, just open the door or even fit a cat flap. Put a bit of food down each morning and torment it with a bit of string every so often. Job done.

IncubusGod · 10 Nov 2005, 19:24

There's too much ****ing work involved with pets to be honest. Plus they'll usually die before you, and if they don't....then that's the least of your worries....

Nodrog · 10 Nov 2005, 19:26

holy shit youre married

Blastoderm · 10 Nov 2005, 19:27

I'd like to get a wolf as a pet.

I'm sure if I'll be allowed by the authorities though....

Phalon · 10 Nov 2005, 19:51

Ant Farm for the real pet experience.

It's amazing the things they do.

We have one in our flat, such resilient little creatures.

All Systems Go · 10 Nov 2005, 19:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by acropolis

My wife and I are planning toget a dog 'to fill the empty spaces, where we used to talk' or whatever.

Don't be a fool.

Deepflow · 10 Nov 2005, 20:09

dogs are a lot of work... if you want to take care of it properly it will probably need at least 3 walks a day.

Although that does depend a lot on where you live, do you have a decent garden?

Demon Dave · 10 Nov 2005, 20:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dante Hicks

I mean, for god's sake do you want be that guy walking around your neighbourhood at 2am with a plastic bag to pick up animal faeces with?

except he'd actually have a dog with him

also, get a hamster. although they only for live for 2-3 years

derry · 10 Nov 2005, 23:26

Get a cat instead of a dog, they are lower maintenance.