Those parents who don't have a dog

If you're in the mood to share...WHY don't you have a dog?

Allergies?
Don't want any added responsibilities?
Not home enough during the day?
Too expensive?
Other?

I grew up in a house with indoor dogs my whole life. I love dogs. Everyone on here knows how obsessed DD is with puppies-- obsessed!!!

I would love to get her a dog, and all of the above (except allergies) apply to us-- we're gone for long stretches during the day, they're $$ to feed/keep healthy, etc...But, my main issue with getting a dog is........

the thought of DD walking around in our yard where there is/was dog poop turns my stomach in the worst way Seriously, if $$ were no object and I was home all day so that wasn't an issue, I probably STILL wouldn't get a dog b/c of the whole poop issue. I have a serious mental issue with it, I admit it. Even when we started using a landscaper to mow our lawn, I said to DH that I hope he's not coming from a yard that has dogs in it b/c there could still be poop on the mower I was concerened. I mean, I know birds/squirrels/etc must poop in the yard, but it's not big and visible, you know?

But I need to get over this at some point, I know that. DD would LOVE a dog. I grew up upstate, so we were able to just let our dogs outside, and they'd go in the woods right on the border of our property to go to the bathroom, so it was never an issue for us as kids.

Re: Those parents who don't have a dog

All of the above!! First, I am highly allergic. Two, I stopped at 2 kids for a reason, I don't want to care for yet another "child" Third, I like to be able to leave my house for long periods of time and go on vacation without having to worry about the dog. NOt to mention the added expense.

DH grew up surrounded by dogs, his mom always had 3 or more at any one time (she still does now). He said that even though he had them growing up, he has no desire to have them now. So at least I don't feel guilty that my terrible allergies are keeping him from having what he wants.

Re: Those parents who don't have a dog

We had a dog and when DD was 6 months old we needed to find her a new home because of allergies. My two love little dogs and I feel bad.

Re: Those parents who don't have a dog

Not home enough during the day, we both work full-time

Re: Those parents who don't have a dog

Well we do have a dog, but we have a dog run...he does his buzzzziness in there

Re: Those parents who don't have a dog

The short of it: I don't like animals.

The long of it: I am allergic. I didn't grow up with animals. They gross me out. The hair all over the place is nasty. They smell.

Did I make any enemies with this post?

Re: Those parents who don't have a dog

I have a dog, and she is very lady like, she goes behind the garage to do her business, seriously

My parents had a dog run for their dog, but she hated it, we played in it

If you want to see how C does with a dog, seriously, bring her here to play with Mags, she is only 20lbs and is hypoallergenic!!

Re: Those parents who don't have a dog

DH and I are gone for too long during the day. I don't have enough energy to play with/exercise a dog in the evening. I have a cat and would presently rather not have more than one pet. It's a lot of work cleaning up dog hair.

I grew up with labrador retrievers, and I really do love dogs. I'm just not in a place where I'm ready to own one. I think that it's a really big commitment.

I am also in unique position that I am the official dog-sitter to my parents current lab. There are times that we watch her for weeks on end. (The longest was a month and a half.) So I get the taste of having a dog without the long term commitment to the parts that I am not ready for.

I love dogs and hope to have one some day. Just not right now.

Re: Those parents who don't have a dog

Posted by InShock

The short of it: I don't like animals.

The long of it: I am allergic. I didn't grow up with animals. They gross me out. The hair all over the place is nasty. They smell.

Did I make any enemies with this post?

Re: Those parents who don't have a dog

Posted by InShock

The short of it: I don't like animals.

The long of it: I am allergic. I didn't grow up with animals. They gross me out. The hair all over the place is nasty. They smell.

Did I make any enemies with this post?

Re: Those parents who don't have a dog

I just don't like dogs, we are cat people

Re: Those parents who don't have a dog

I'm such a huge dog lover! I've never had one though I wanted to get one w DH (my dad was always against pets) but when we moved to Chicago, there were way too many new things going on in our life (new house, new town, new baby)to throw a new puppy into the mix. Hopefully one day!!

Re: Those parents who don't have a dog

My dog only smells up my house when he farts and that usually only happens when some evil person slips him a slice of pizza . I have a lot of allergies and I keep my house a lot cleaner than I would if I could let it get hairy, dusty or whatever. There are people whose homes I can't tolerate even though they have no pets. Some people, with or without dogs, have smelly homes anyway. Yeah, there is more work to be done around here because of Oscar but I'm just a dog person. I am highly allergic to cats and I don't really like them. I can totally understand someone not wanting either one but trust me, my house only smells if he has JUST farted!!!!! As for the poop in the yard, yeah I think about that but my husband is great about picking it up before I even see it!

Re: Those parents who don't have a dog

I will be honest and say that it is only because I am selfish and I don't want to clean up after a dog and I am fearful that my house will smell Everyone else here wants one. I guess I really am the boss

Re: Those parents who don't have a dog

Some of these posts are cracking me up. Thanks for the honesty ladies-- at least I'm not the only weirdo

Re: Those parents who don't have a dog

DH is dying to get a dog. He says the day I quit my job is the day we are getting one. I didn't grow up with pets. I think they are cute, but I could take them or leave them. DH says he would take care of it, but who is he kidding??

I know I am being selfish here, but I spent a lot of time and money decorating my house and the last thing I want is a dog messing it up!

Re: Those parents who don't have a dog

Posted by KateDevine

I have a dog, and she is very lady like, she goes behind the garage to do her business, seriously

My parents had a dog run for their dog, but she hated it, we played in it

If you want to see how C does with a dog, seriously, bring her here to play with Mags, she is only 20lbs and is hypoallergenic!!

Re: Those parents who don't have a dog

Simply because it is one more responsibility that we don't need in the house. Having a dog is like having another child. With kids, you go away for the weekend - they come. A dog - what the heck do you do with them. Just an added stress that we don't need with little kids.

We have a cat that we want to get rid of. He's 9 but just watching him around the kids is annoying enough. He's old, grumpy and doesn't like kids....grreat right.....

Re: Those parents who don't have a dog

We have 2 cats and a baby....we can barely handle that, so a dog is not a possibility.

Luckily, we have really irresponsible neighbors who let their dog run wild, jump over their fence and play in our yard...so it's like we have a dog sometimes.

Re: Those parents who don't have a dog

most importantly- clean factor- dog walks around outside then plops on a couch- brings the outside ground onto our couch, yes some people train their dogs not to get on the couch- but your never fully sure what they do when your away durring the full work day....

then- cost factor- dog could get sick and incur high vet bills, ontop of food/grooming costs...

finally- the having to come home at lunch to walk it, having to leave parties to go home to walk it...

if we do get a pet- an indoor cat would be my preference... would still be the cost factor- but they can be left at home longer, and would be cleaner and litter trained.

Re: Those parents who don't have a dog

Great I just know we're going to end up with a Dog free by choice board now

Totally kidding and I'll zap this post if there's a whiffffff of controversy!!!!

Re: Those parents who don't have a dog

In all of my life, I've never been asked why I don't have a dog!

Please don't flame me.... but these are my personal reasons...

1) they smell.... even if they're cleaned regularly, they smell. Their breath, and if it's raining, their fur. I simply can't get over it....

2) they're super-duper needy. Always need attention. I don't have the time or the patience. I don't WANT to go to a park every day, or go for long walks outside in winter... I need a more independent pet


Can you tell I'm a cat and fish owner?

Re: Those parents who don't have a dog

Posted by wannabemom

In all of my life, I've never been asked why I don't have a dog!

Please don't flame me.... but these are my personal reasons...

1) they smell.... even if they're cleaned regularly, they smell. Their breath, and if it's raining, their fur. I simply can't get over it....

2) they're super-duper needy. Always need attention. I don't have the time or the patience. I don't WANT to go to a park every day, or go for long walks outside in winter... I need a more independent pet


Can you tell I'm a cat and fish owner?

Re: Those parents who don't have a dog

Posted by Kerie-is-so-very


I'm telling you, some husbands smell worse than the dog. (Present company excluded).

Message edited 3/17/2009 12:34:10 AM.

Re: Those parents who don't have a dog

So many reasons!

I never had dogs growing up.
I'm not a huge animal lover at all.
Dogs are expensive.
Dogs make your house dirtier.
It's a pain to board your dog when you travel.
They need a ton of time and attention.

Nobody else has mentioned this reason, but here's my biggest problem with a dog-- I'm a SAHM. My DH works long hours. My kids are 3 yrs old and 6 wks old, so it would be a while before they could really productively help with the dog. So in reality, this would not be "our" dog, this would be MY dog that I'm stuck taking care of 24/7, and everyone else can just play with when the mood strikes them. So no dogs for us!