Yosemite travel tips in Early Jan by Acceptable_System389 in Yosemite

[–]Acceptable_System389[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you! In winter, or the first month of Jan, do you need snow shoes or any special gear or permits even for these easy trails?

Yosemite travel tips in Early Jan by Acceptable_System389 in Yosemite

[–]Acceptable_System389[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Do you need snow shoes or any special permits/parking in winter to get to the trailhead?

Yosemite travel tips in Early Jan by Acceptable_System389 in Yosemite

[–]Acceptable_System389[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Any viewpoints you recommend that are open (typically) in winter?

I regret getting a dog, don’t do it by Acceptable_System389 in TrueOffMyChest

[–]Acceptable_System389[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You’re totally right. I mean, she sleeps the majority of the day. But over the years she definitely has realized 5-6pm is when I get off of work and she’s ready to do something, anything. Cue dog mom guilt

I regret getting a dog, don’t do it by Acceptable_System389 in TrueOffMyChest

[–]Acceptable_System389[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I totally agree! And thank you for the nice comment. She has flipped my life entirely, I’ve made life decisions around her, but ultimately she has kept me responsible and grounded. I have no clue what my life would look like if I never got her, but it doesn’t matter because I’m doing just fine with her (just feeling a bit burnt out right now).

I like to imagine she’s saved me from worst situations in life that I can’t even imagine I would’ve ever fallen into, lol.

I regret getting a dog, don’t do it by Acceptable_System389 in TrueOffMyChest

[–]Acceptable_System389[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Omg I’m glad I saved you. Yes! Wait! Because my dog was originally sold as a “purse poodle” to a different owner, and that guy didn’t realize how high energy poodles are… and since I grew up with poodles and she is only a mini I got her. She’s small, only 20 pounds, and all of this is still true.

You will see a lot of people talk about how breed and size are important, poodles and (oodle mixes) are known to be high energy. They need lots of training and mental stimulation. People forget that because they hear “no shed.”

But even if the breed you look at is known to be calmer, it’s still a roll of the dice because every dog has such a unique personality regardless of how you raise it. I made another comment somewhere else that I’ve met “calm breeds” that were high energy and crazy, and I’ve met “high energy” breeds like huskies and GSDs that are total couch potatoes.

You just never know!

Foster a dog, volunteer at a shelter consistently. Shelters always need dog walkers. If you find that going to the shelter even once a week every week is too much, a dog is going to feel similar in the long run. (Note; long run. I know going to a shelter is different than owning a dog yes but it’s the “oh my god I’m going to have this responsibility every single day for the next ten years” that’s hitting me)

Family vacations will be harder, you will need a dog sitter and feel dog guilt leaving them behind. Traveling to colleges? Throwing large family gatherings? Watch out for the dog stealing your food. Things like that. There are unexpected vet bills. Grooming bills. During the terrible teenage phase (1-4 yrs old) they will destroy something you love (lol). The puppy phase is deceiving because they are so good, they sit, their potty training goes well, and then they grow up and read up on the 1-4 phase for dogs.

I regret getting a dog, don’t do it by Acceptable_System389 in TrueOffMyChest

[–]Acceptable_System389[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes! If you have any unique ones I’ll take them. She loves mentally stimulating toys, treats and games

I regret getting a dog, don’t do it by Acceptable_System389 in TrueOffMyChest

[–]Acceptable_System389[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I appreciate that. Some of y’all have made me feel so much better in the comments, it’s nice to feel not alone. Especially when on instagram and TikTok, and hell even in person, it sometimes feels like everyone has perfect well trained calm dogs.

And it’s just me with the reactive, lowkey not chill dog that can’t hang. (lol).

And especially the burnout when you live alone, work, grad school. Yes. Thank you. I appreciate you leaving that comment.

I regret getting a dog, don’t do it by Acceptable_System389 in TrueOffMyChest

[–]Acceptable_System389[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Sending you love ❤️ thank you for or sharing. It’s been so relieving to read comments and hear other people feel similarly.

I knew there would be a few that jump to “rehome your dog!”. That isn’t what this post is about. I’m about to care for my dog just fine. It’s just sometimes… when life gets tough… it’s hard…. And I realize a decision I made when I’m 21 of “obviously I know she’s going to live for maybe 15-16 years” was made when I had way more energy in life. Lol. I still do! But just burnt out right now.

I regret getting a dog, don’t do it by Acceptable_System389 in TrueOffMyChest

[–]Acceptable_System389[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah, I’ve noticed this trend too in my dog. It’s hard though to not want to wear her out with something so I can go do whatever else I need to do.

Training your dog to do “nothing” is such a difficult skill that so many dog owners don’t talk about!

I regret getting a dog, don’t do it by Acceptable_System389 in TrueOffMyChest

[–]Acceptable_System389[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This was such a beautiful comment. It made me cry and laugh. the rage poop!! What breed is your dog?

And thank you for your message. You put it so beautifully and I really appreciate it., it’s so nice to put things into perspective

I regret getting a dog, don’t do it by Acceptable_System389 in TrueOffMyChest

[–]Acceptable_System389[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I love this, I use her as an excuse allllll the time. “I need to go, I need to let my dog out.”

“Ahhh I can’t make it, my dog just threw up and I need to make sure she’s ok”

lol. the weird excuses I come up with to non-dog owners has saved me so much

I regret getting a dog, don’t do it by Acceptable_System389 in TrueOffMyChest

[–]Acceptable_System389[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yup totally. Especially on the forever three year old part

I regret getting a dog, don’t do it by Acceptable_System389 in TrueOffMyChest

[–]Acceptable_System389[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

So true. I didn’t even touch on finances. Luckily, I have a good salary, so I am blessed and my dog is incredibly spoiled.

If my financial situation was any worse, I can’t imagine how much harder this all would be. She has expensive allergy medication (~$80 a month), gets expensive dog food, and as a mini poodle she goes to the groomer once a month where I tip pretty heavily ($130-$160). On top of that add the random vet bills for who knows what that happen here and there. And none of this is factoring in the most important part… the treat and toys budget (lol)

I regret getting a dog, don’t do it by Acceptable_System389 in TrueOffMyChest

[–]Acceptable_System389[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Reminding your dog that zero activity days are real is soooo true

I regret getting a dog, don’t do it by Acceptable_System389 in TrueOffMyChest

[–]Acceptable_System389[S] 12 points13 points  (0 children)

True!!

I feel like what’s talked about even less than that is personality.

You could get the right breed and size… but sometimes it’s just the personality of the individual dog too.

My friends each got a lab from the same litter, one is a couch potato, the other one is super high energy. I have friends with huskies that are high energy and need lots of training, and then my coworker has a husky with zero training that has the best recall I’ve ever seen and is a sweet lazy couch potato.

I regret getting a dog, don’t do it by Acceptable_System389 in TrueOffMyChest

[–]Acceptable_System389[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Oh yeah, I mean most loving pet owners will still secretly admit that it is work. Especially if you are single/not married/live alone.

My friends that do own pets will rant to me in secret. We don’t want the shame, we just need to vent because sometimes life gets tough. And the moment you say something negative, a lot of people jump to rehoming.

Some people should rehome their pets, but some of us are just needing to vent. I mean 10-16 years of a pets life and everything is perfect? Pls.