Came home yesterday to find a puppy on my sofa ....

renowen

In a bit of a dilema!

Starting from the begining, Im a mum of 2 children aged 3 and 4 and due a third child in Feb, I live in an upstairs masionette which has a balcony but no direct outside space.
Yesterday morning I sent my cat off to a new home, a tough decision but one I made as it has become apparent that my 3 year old is allergic to cats (doesnt seem to have any reaction to dogs so far though?)
I was upset but knew it was for the best.

However the children and I came home yesterday to see my partner on the sofa and next to him asleep the sweetest 8 week old staffie !!!!! ive ever seen!
Apparently she is part of a litter of 8 pups bred by one of our neighbours, but she is a bit of a wuss and was getting beaten up by her siblings, so my partner offered to care for her just till shes a bit bigger.

Now Im a sucker for a sob story and I do love Staffies, my step brother had owned them for years and I love them to bits and know what fab dogs they are if vrought up right, however I do also know the downside to them, the chewing, the energy they have and their constant need for love and attention!
So while im happy to 'foster' this little girl im not so sure on long term!
As ive said im due a baby in 2 months time and my time and energy will be on the baby, not the dog, also I dont feel its fair to keep her in a home with no direct outside space (yes we have greens and parks but its not the same is it)
However my partner and kids are smitten with her! Partner is trying to get the kids to name her despite me telling him not to get too attatched and that we arnt keeping her! OH always wanted a dog and ive always said when we live somewhere with a garden we will get one, but thats not right now!
I just dont think he realises HOW much responsibility and care a dog needs, especially a Staffie! I on the other hand have grown up with dogs of various breeds and I know that all dogs are a major commitment and in my experience Staffies need even more commitment that other breeds if they are to be brought up right!

This little girl is lovely and much as Id love to it just isnt sensible to keep her long term, but im afraid that my family will become to attatched and I will be the bad guy who says she has to go

Please can people help - either give me reasons to back up why we cant keep her or reasons for me to consider homeing her full time! Either way I will show OH, maybe if he hears it from other experienced dog owners he might see sense!

TIA

Ruby_Moon

You talk as though you and your OH are not together. You are a couple, for godsake, with a baby on the way.
Put your foot down and take the puppy back to the owners otherwise you will be responsible for another Staffie in rescue.

Having said that I am absolutely convinced that this thread is a complete wind up to provoke angry reactions about the treatment of Staffies.

Errata

You can't toilet train her properly, which is cruel to the dog and your house will stink. Tell him to take it back, tonight. Tell the kids it was just borrowed and has to go back. Tell him it's you or the dog. Good luck !

kazwookie

2 kids , 1 OH plus one on the way, sorry sob story or not ,sent the puppy back, who is going to taking it up and down stairs to walk it, plus push chairs, baby and kids.

If one of children is allergic to the cat, are is it not likely the child is allergic to the puppy?

What ever you sort out, good luck.

McKneff

I'm with the others I'm afraid.
Apart from anything else, and i dont care how good you bring a dog up.
Can you be 100% sure that a dog will never be alone in a room with a child..
You cant when your running around after 3 kids (sounds a bit like 4 if you include the OH) Very irresponsible of him to bring the pup in in the first place without consulting you, especially considering the committment.
Put your foot down, tell the children the pupply needs to be with its mummy and enjoy your time with your children and new baby when it arrives.
Dont let him talk you into 'oh I'll do all the looking after' because he will at first then it will slowly get to be all down to you.
regards

gettingready

One thing I do not understand here - if the pup is taken away from the mum it must be old enough to be rehomed to a permanent home unless your OH is taking it back to the neighbours to feed the pup off pup's mum every few hours?


I have a feeling that your OH is playing you a bit here about that "fostering" bit...

Send the pup back right now, sob story or not you will have enough on your plate with 3 kids (or as someone mentioned 4 as your OH seems the biggest kid of all).

Just be strong, all the best.

EDIT - Just noticed the timing of this new arrivel - just when you gave your cat way?????????????????????
Sorry bu in this case I would get rid of the pup and the OH for being tottaly insensitive and...grrrr

renowen

Thanks for the replies

I assure you this is not a wind up and Im terribly sorry if you think im trying to provoke a reaction - all I wanted was advice and support!

Ive spoken to him and it turns out a couple of the pups have been seperated due to a few of them being particualy aggressive and bullying a couple of the smaller pups, this being one of them, one of our other neighbours is also 'fostering' a pup. He said it is only for a couple of weeks untill homes are found for them and knowing that we arnt the only ones doing this has reasurred me a little that it IS only temporary. The kids have been told we are only looking after her for a little while.

Im holding him too the 'couple of weeks' but if she hasnt been found another home by then then shes going back, I am NOT keeping her long term as I know the novelty will wear off with kids and OH and it will be me once again being the one crying as I hand another pet over to someone else!

Thanks again for your honesty it is appreciated and just reinforces what I already thought

x

jamespir

i think some of the comments on here a a bit nasty

op if you dont think you cna look after the dog do the right thing

Errata

Best of luck to you. Puppies don't bully each other, they play together and play fight which can look quite rough but isn't, it's all part of their growing up.
Clearly the pup's owner is concerned about it, concerned enough to give you a diet sheet, pay for its food, provide a bed and bedding, training pads and tell you if it's been wormed I wonder ?
TBH I think you've been sold a pup.

gettingready

Errata wrote: »

Clearly the pup's owner is concerned about it, concerned enough to give you a diet sheet, pay for its food, provide a bed and bedding, training pads and tell you if it's been wormed I wonder ?
TBH I think you've been sold a pup.

Very good points - is the pup's owner providing all this while the pup is in your care?

If not, insist they do - if genuine, you should not have to ask for that as this should be provided for yo while you care for the pup.

If not genuine "fostering arrangement" - see how fast they will ask for the pup back when you mention what the pup needs and that they should pay for it.

You keep on "OH said...". I would have a word with the pup's mother's owners myself, I would not rely on what OH says they say etc etc

All the best

Lobell

Puppies do not bully each other...they play rough but it's all part of learning their boundaries and Mum will usually referee if it's getting out of hand.

I'd say the owner of the litter is having difficulty getting rid and has sold your OH a sob story knowing that it's hard to say no to a little puppy. I guarantee you that if you try to give this pup back in a few weeks, they won't want to know and you'll be left with the responsibility of rehoming if you're not keeping her yourself....and you've outlined a very strong case for why you shouldn't keep her already!