‘I wasn’t expecting the drama’: What you’ve learnt since owning a pet

There are very real struggles when it comes to owning a pet, despite our love and affection for them.

After Bruce shared the challenges he faced when becoming a less-than-perfect puppy parent, many of you told us about similar experiences.

We also heard from readers whose pets taught them important life lessons, and have helped them through the darkest times.

Pets that ‘push buttons’ but enrich our lives

“My dad shot through when I was 13 and I vowed never to have kids, so as not to repeat his mistakes.

“My wife got me an abandoned kelpie in 2012. I was pretty strung-out mentally.

“That dog pushed every damn button, even ones I didn’t know existed. Any dog would’ve, so it wasn’t the breed. I needed a high-energy dog for my high-energy mind and body. At a year old, we were inseparable, as she needed me as much as I needed her. But we were still challenged by each other.

“As we aged together, we bonded super close. Twelve years later, she died. That day, lying with her while she passed away, still grabs me every single day.

“The best dog is the dog that teaches us a lesson. I know that now, but back then when she was young, she tested me hard. We are blessed to see them through their entire life. Enjoy every minute, as those times end, and every minute is worth the effort.”

— Ian

“My dog Rory is also a kelpie X working dog.

“I am a worrier and I can become irritated when things aren’t as I would like them to be.

“But Rory has turned out to be a great companion, and though he is not the perfect dog, he is reasonably well-behaved and mostly does what he is told.

“Dog ownership can be a real challenge. Especially when training a puppy. But the rewards can turn into our favourite memories, and loneliness is not nearly as bad when you have an animal that wants to be with you, even when you are feeling flat.

“We are about to go road tripping together around the country for three months. I can’t wait to show him things he’s never seen or smelt before. He is my second dog, and I have learnt caring for any animal is a privilege.”

— Peter

“I’ve had two rescue dogs, one easy-going bitsa and one incredibly challenging rottweiler X German shepherd with anxiety and leash aggression. It’s opened my eyes and led me to write to my local council a few times about extra fenced areas for anxious dogs in dog parks, which has been a really positive experience and has led me to meet other dog owners in a similar position.”

— Gemma

“I was 50 before my wife was ready for me to have a dog. After 40 years of being without a canine, my choice was a rescue. I wasn’t expecting the level of drama that she would bring to our house. She was an anxious, reactive, nervous wreck — and we were perfect for each other.

“In an attempt at self-improvement, we trained together and we lived together. We socialised together and we found each other’s boundaries.

“I think being the steward of a demanding breed is a challenge, but if you can get over your own failures and see them as lessons, then it’s one of the most rewarding things you can continue to do.”

— Brendan

“We have two large (one very large) dogs, both under two years of age: a Maremma, and an Irish wolfhound. One morning, our Maremma and our wolfhound had decided to do some landscaping of their own invention. My autumn sedums, early crocus, and belladonna flower heads lay strewn on what remained of our front lawn.

“[Later at the supermarket] as I heaved two large dog rolls into my trolley, an elderly lady clutched my arm. ‘Do you have dogs?’ She didn’t wait for my answer. ‘I had a dog for 14 years, but she died last year.’ The old dear began to cry and produced a photo of a little, fluffy white dog. ‘See! I miss her so much. My family won’t let me get another dog. They say I’m too old and they don’t want to be stuck with it when I die.’ She stared into my face as if expecting a solution, then continued: ‘I’m not scared of dying, dear, I’m scared of these dogless days before I die. Enjoy your dogs while you have them, and don’t let anyone tell you you’re too old to love a dog.'”

— Georgette

Making the decision to give a pet up

“I had been dreaming for years about owning a poodle cross.

“When the time came for my new mini-groodle to arrive, I was prepared with all the doggy paraphernalia.

“I aimed for perfection but slipped into anxiety and depression after only 3.5 weeks. I felt as if an alien had taken over my brain! I had thoughts only about Ziggy: Was he happy, unhappy, missing his littermates and mum? I lost 5 kilograms during that time. But puppy had learned to sit, fetch and was three-quarters house-trained.

“After 3.5 weeks, I realised Ziggy needed an experienced dog owner. Happily, a young owner of one of his littermates adopted him.

“I am now a happy and relaxed owner of two strapping rescue cats that I adopted as kittens. I’ve had cats all my life and training them to come at dinnertime was a breeze.”

— Natalie

Accepting your pet’s quirks

“I have multiple cats of different ages and personalities and have mostly learnt to let them be who they are … Some are anxious, some confident, some want company and others [to be] left alone. That’s OK. I also learnt to try and see things from their perspective. What’s not scary for me might be terrifying for them.”

— Marianne

The pets that help us love again …

“After our beautiful dog, Maxwell, died, it caused an ache in my heart that was awful and I decided that I couldn’t go through that again with another pet. Eventually, I stopped crying, but I still miss him terribly.

“Now we have Paddy, a beautiful black greyhound, and I can’t imagine life without him. I just love him to bits. Of course, he is spoilt, but he deserves it. People need to understand greyhounds and how gentle and loving they are.”

— Margaret

And pets that save us

“I think my dog may have saved our lives. We lost our infant son and, on what would’ve been his first birthday, a bold, bright and BIG Aussie shepherd came into our lives. I was shaken by reliving the sleepless nights and anxieties of a newborn with a puppy. And perhaps it was a good thing to battle through those emotions with a dog and not another child. Here we are, more than a year later. Still alive. And thankful for the furry gift from our son.”

— Amy

These stories have been edited for brevity and clarity.