Stop choosing breeds based on your 'best self.' Your rainy Tuesday reality is what actually matters.
You imagine Saturday treks, but life happens on wet Tuesdays after the school run. Audit your actual life, not your dream one.
Track your movement for two weeks before the dog arrives. If you aren't doing 90 minutes outside now, you won't do it later.
Subtract the M50 commute, the Luas, work, and chores. Whatever time is left is all your pet really gets. Is it enough?
A Greyhound sprints then sleeps. A Collie needs a 'job.' Don't bring a high-drive engine into a low-speed lifestyle.
Would you stand in horizontal rain at 6:30 PM in a muddy park? If the answer is no, a Springer Spaniel will break your heart.
Mentally drained after the office? You might lack the coaching energy for a high-drive dog, even if you have the physical stamina.
If your audit is tight, you will need a pro. Budget €20–€35 for dog walkers or daycare in Dublin or Cork to bridge the gap.
Late-night zoomies and chewed furniture aren't 'bad' behavior—they are symptoms of a mismatched activity audit.
Dogs Trust and the ISPCA see the reality daily. An older Lurcher might be the 'couch potato' your 168-hour week actually needs.
Use snuffle mats or LickiMats to burn mental drive when the Irish weather wins. Sniffing is more tiring than running.
A successful match isn't finding the 'coolest' breed. It is finding the companion that thrives in your actual, unglamorous daily routine.
Get the 168-hour breakdown sheet and our Irish guide to Drive vs. Energy.