I know. It’s a bit silly. How can you train dogs for a living but not have one of your own? But I’ll tell you the reasons, and they all exist BECAUSE I train dogs for a living.
I like to tell those who ask that I am ‘in-between’ dogs. My bestest girl Taffy the Duck Tolling Retriever left us in late 2019 at the impressive age of 17. She was the family dog, so we technically didn’t live together anymore at that point (much to my dismay). Fast forward to 2024 and I am only just starting to think of adding a four-legged friend to the family. Why? Here are some of the main roadblocks that have stopped me, and factors I would suggest you consider before you get your new best friend:
- Accommodation
Until recently, my partner and I lived in a rented one-bedroom flat on the first floor in the middle of a town. Not the ideal place for a dog, especially as it didn’t have any outdoor space either. Now, this kind of living situation isn’t completely unsuitable for a dog, but it does make life with a dog around significantly more difficult.
No outdoor space means going out of the flat for regular potty breaks. Additionally, if you’re not on the ground floor you must make sure your dog is ok with stairs (I encountered this issue with a 70lb Golden Retriever who was fine going UP stairs, but TERRIFIED of going down them).
In a one-bedroom flat, we had very little extra space. I can’t even think of where we would have put a bed or the dog’s water bowl. We have always wanted a medium sized working breed as well, so they would definitely be too big for that space. I think a small chihuahua or sausage dog could have fit, but there was still little room for them to run around and play.
Living in the middle of a town means lots of noises all the time. From buses and cars to people walking down the street at 3am. If you have a dog that is sensitive to noise and/or barks at noises outside, you may struggle in this kind of environment.
Speaking of barking, living in a block of flats means being close to your neighbours. A barking dog at 3am is not what you want in close quarters.
2. Time
My partner and I are both self-employed, which is often useful for having a dog as our work is flexible, but as I am at the beginning of my career and he is well established in his, we both spend a lot of time working.
My work involves travelling around to different locations all day, and often my classes take up a few hours in the afternoon or evening. He travels into central London six days a week and has little opportunity for time off, so it often happens that we are both out of the house for long periods of time.
Dogs are social animals and many struggle with being alone. If they are going to be left for a couple of hours, it is important that their needs are met beforehand, and there are many occasions where we just wouldn’t be able to fit in a walk or enrichment or play time. This can then lead to destructive or disruptive behaviour caused by boredom or develop into other behavioural issues.
Being a young couple, we also want to have time to go on holidays abroad and explore the world when we do get time off work. All that hard work has got to be for something, right? A huge factor for me personally is that my family live in America, so I often take a couple of weeks around the holidays to go home. A dog would limit when and how long we would be able to go away for, and if we did go, we would have to make sure we have a trustworthy person who can spend that time looking after them, or a reputable dog hotel that they can stay at. As a trainer, I would prefer the former, and it leads me on to the next point…
3. Money
So, we are young, self-employed, and living in London. Let’s just say we won’t be applying for a mortgage any time soon. A dog would come with a lot of extra costs that we just cannot afford now.
As mentioned previously, going on holiday would mean getting a sitter, which can REALLY add up. Especially if you are wanting to use someone licensed and reputable and have them for more than a couple of days. You may also have the need for a walker if you tend to work long hours or have to spend the day out of the house.
Food and other supplies are a weekly cost that must be considered. Treats, chews, toys, beds, barriers, crates, harnesses, leads, poo bags…I could go on!
Vet bills and insurance are definitely a fear of mine. With so many personal monthly expenses, I worry if the worst happens and the dog needs an expensive visit to the vets, we would take a big hit, even with insurance.
Now none of this is to veer anyone away from EVER having a dog. These are just things I have had to consider and think it is helpful for others who want to bring a dog into their life. I could go on about the wonderful benefits of a dog, but I think it is important to be logical and practical before making such a big decision.
As a trainer, of course I want everyone to have a dog! But my job means I see a lot of circumstances where the dog may not be in the right environment, and the blame often falls on the dog for not being able to cope and thus exhibiting unwanted behaviours. My experience has really made me realise what a commitment it is. When people ask me what advice I would give to someone thinking of getting a dog, I say the most important thing to consider is are you willing to be flexible and compromise some of your current lifestyle? You are inviting another living, breathing, eating being into your life, who has needs and wants and fears, so you must be prepared to accept them and understand that they are an animal coming into a strange new world. Dogs are not programmed to live without mess, or go sit quietly in the pub, or wait for hours for you to get home, so the best thing a new dog owner can do is understand and empathise with their dog instead of expecting the dog to slot perfectly into their life.
The great news is, considering all of this, we are hoping to finally add a dog to the family soon! We feel our accommodation has improved (private garden for the win!), and once I achieve a few more business goals, we will have the time and money we need to give our dog the best life we can. Of course, it helps that I am a trick trainer, so I can use the dog at work if they are up for it!
I hope this helps give some understanding and insight to those who are potential dog parents, and if you have any questions, concerns, or fears, don’t hesitate to get in touch via kaitlin@encoredogs.com
