So my OH wants to get a puppy.

catkins

Puppies are very hard work. You have a young child and a puppy will be like having another baby. It will need most of your time and attention - the second you turn your back to see to your daughter will be the time it will pee or poo on the floor.


Of course some puppies are better than others but you can almost guarantee some sleepless nights, having to get up and take the pup in the garden - in the cold, wet etc. House training can be frustrating, teaching puppy to walk on a loose lead. Some puppies are biters or nippers. Of course they can be trained not to bite or nip but if you get one that is a biter what about your daughter?


Just about everyone I know that has had a puppy have said they never realised what hard work they would be. I know of quite a few people who just couldn't cope and gave the puppy back to the breeder or to rescue.


I also agree with bouncydog with regard to the tie that dogs are. If you want to take your daughter out for the day what will happen with the dog? Of course lots of people just leave them alone for hours on end - doesn't mean it is right

teddysmum

I already had adult dogs when my children were born, but would not have considered getting a new dog before the children were five years old.


As has been said, puppies are hard work on their own, so juggling a puppy who may nip, will wee and poo and a child who doesn't understand a dog's needs or hygiene matters, would be extra hard. For this reason, many rescues won't rehome where there are young children ,even in the case of older dogs.


I once did a home visit to a lovely country home , for a lab, but it was turned them down, as the lab was young and so boisterous, they had gorgeous stone floors and a dainty little three year-old girl, who was lovely with dogs, but could have been badly injured by young dog and hard floor.


In this case, it would also not be fair to inflict a young dog on an elderly cat. What would happen if the cat ran away or injured the dog ?

pukkamum

We considered a pup when our cat died before xmas, dh has always grown up around dogs and has wanted one for years as does my daughter.
I carefully considered it and we all talked about it, I asked friends with dogs the biggest problems they had and with 3 kids and the youngest being 3 the amount of work I would need to put in to have a well trained happy pup was too much.

I considered it crying at night when my 3 yr old still occasionally wakes.
I thought about finding accidents on the floor with a lo running about.
I thought about the medical costs.
Walking it when freezing, wet and I've had a really busy day.
Holidays too, who would look after it could I afford kennels.
The chewing of stuff, I never forgave my mums dog for eating my barbie car.

All this made me get 2 cats instead.

pukkamum

P.s she may well be grieving for the deceased cat and think a pup would fill the gap.
oh and any chance she's broody?
I myself and quite other women I know got or craved a pup when broody.

Spirit_2

I think it is important to weigh up the pros and cons, but decide on what suits your family life.

It is possible to over analyse anything and talk yourself out of it.

There will be days/times when it is all a bit of a trial but having a dog and a young family is not putting a man on the moon.

Walking the dog is great exercise, gives a new dimension to days out, trips to the woods, parks. Forces you to go out, when you would rather not.

We bought a caravan and took the dog on holiday with us, had friends/in laws look after the dog when we had holidays or days out that he could not come on.

Our daughter learnt to accommodate the dogs needs and take a share of their care. She learnt to cope with him nicking her food, his wagging tail bashing her, and his lickey tongue giving her an unplanned wash. As an only child pets have been companions, and she learnt about loss and death.

Probably best not to consider a 'working' strain if just wanted as a pet. We have always had flatcoat retrievers, very friendly gentle dogs, quite large, lots of hair so moulting and mud are a part of it, having them professionally trimmed does help to reduce moulting (took me 25 years to work that out:)).

Puppies have sharp teeth and that could be a source upset for little while. As to whose dog it is....all of our dogs have adopted my husband as the one one they love best, he gets up earlier to go for a run with the dog and even if I walk the dog late afternoon, he or our DD takes it out again after dinner.

Good luck what ever you decide.

mountainofdebt

Spirit wrote: »

I think it is important to weigh up the pros and cons, but decide on what suits your family life.

totally agree with this.

Our friend got a dog just before we did, different breeds with different needs.

As she said, they wanted a dog but needed a dog that could easily be accommodated within their lifestyle.

Horses for courses.

mummynorth

A dog is a huge commitment but also can have huge benefits as others have said. A dog is like a baby and looking at a breed to suit your needs is definitely the way forward.

I would also think about your cat who is quite elderly though as they might not be able to adjust to having a playful dog in the house. My sister has a dog and cats and they adore each other, although the cats were under a year old when she got the dog so it is just the norm to them to all be together.

Hope this helps

yorkshire_terrier_owner

I breed dogs and would not sell one of my pups to a home with children under 8.

JennyBee78

We got a rescue dog and are so pleased we did. Being a bit older, you know what their personality is like and you can often find out if they are good with children (or indeed cats). Training / house training a puppy takes a fair bit of work and it can get quite messy! Again, with an older dog, not a problem. If you are worried about the amount of exercise you'll need to give it, look at dogs which don't need so much. Labs, collies, spaniels are probably not great options. Sounds a bit daft, but also think about what their hair is like - the fluffier they are, the more grooming, cleaning, drying and hoovering you'll need to do! Another thing to consider is the cost of vet bills and insurance - both are huge these days and the breed will largely determine cost. Think too about how having a dog will affect holidays - would they come with you? Could you leave it with someone?