Thinking of getting a dog/puppy

determined_new_ms

I have a question for those with dogs. We have been considering getting a dog for the longest time and wanted advice from those already with one. And we are spending some time at the moment really weighing up if it's right for us.

I work 50% of a f/t job so work 2 days one week and 3 the following.

There are two areas we are not 100% sure on:

1. being left alone - I have found someone in the local area who would be willing to spend a couple of hours mid day - from 11.30-2.30 at least - with our puppy so it wouldn't be on it's own for longer than 3 hours and other than that I think between oh coming in at lunchtime to spend time/walk with it I could organise my 1 day (the week I work 3 days) every other week where 1/2 day I work from home. Do people think this is sufficient/fair to the puppy/dog?

2. insurance is a mind field! what companies do you use. What level of protection have you gone for? & how much have you paid?

We have considered getting a rescue dog and have been looking at the local rescue home but as we have a toddler we are worried that a dog that has had a difficult life would be more of a risk.

really appreciate your input!

Stevie_Palimo

I have had a few dogs over the years and in relation to having them babysat so to speak would find that they then become even worse if you left them alone for any period of time, It is worth while going out a short intervals then gradually taking longer, This way the dog will know that you not leaving it on a permanent basis.

Insurance is a double edged sword, In my mind I would not bother and the money that I would be paying is just added into an account that is my insurance type of fund for my dog, I do this as I paid insurance for years and when I went to claim it was a nightmare and not accepted so I cancelled it after that.

Getting a dog from a rescue home is no issue and you can get puppy's to as my mate just got two of them so at least they have each other for Company.

bugslet

I'm lucky that mine come to work with me, so I can't comment on Stevie's thoughts about them being pupsat.

If you are going down the puppy route, sometimes they leave home later than 8 weeks, so maybe look at an older pup. I got one this week ( see thread:D) at 16 weeks, this 'might' be an option. A very young pup I'd like to be around pretty much all the time for a few weeks.

Personally I wouldn't have a problem with leaving it for three hours once it got a bit older, if I was sure it had had a nice walk, and a safe environment in which it was happy to mooch, sleep etc. As Stevie says, ideally build up from a short time away and then for longer periods. It's hard work to start with, but worth it in the long run.

Agree with Stevie on the Insurance, I generally don't have it for the small dogs. I'm having it for the first year with the giant schnauzer, but generally find that a savings account works as well.

As for rescues, dogs go in there for all sorts of reasons. A lot of the time it's because of a change of circumstance such as a death or working hours change after divorce, not because they have 'issues'. Besides the general rescue centres, most breeds have a rescue organisation, so if you know what breed you want, then have a look at them and they will know the complete history of the dogs. In some ways, an older dog is easier than a pup and a lot of them need a good loving home.

Good luck, I wouldn't be without mine:o

suki1964

My only thoughts on this is are you sure you want a puppy with a toddler?

Puppies nip and jump up. Their teeth are like needles. Trying to keep toddler and puppy apart can be a nightmare

Puppies also need a lot of time being trained and socialised as well as walks

This is the reason a lot of shelters won't rehome to homes where there are under fives, new dog owners really don't understand how hard it is to not only train the dog, but to train a toddler as well as how to behave around a dog

I'm not saying it's not possible, I'm just saying have you really thought about it

I've had to take on two pups from my husbands side of the family because they were adamant they wanted a pup, then once the child's been nipped a few times, they can't cope and the dog is then left outside in the garden, getting no training, no socialisation and becoming more manic when they do get attention

Thankfully I've managed to find both pups good homes

Seriously seriously think long and hard

Insurance. If you are the type of family who live month to month, then yes get insurance. If you have savings, able to get interest free credit, then perhaps not. My lad now hasn't been insured since he was two. In those first 2 years I think we had around £2k of vet bills. Now in his last years, not insured, he's costing around £60 a month in just daily medication Luckily we can afford that.

If you do go ahead, try to aim for getting a pup/dog in the spring time, when the days are getting longer and warmer. It makes you more inclined to get out and walk and train and time winter comes around again, a pup will be fully toilet trained and any dog or pup will be in a routine

teddysmum

Suki beat me to the comments I was going to make. puppies do need a lot of time and I've only ever had them when my parents could have them all day or I wasn't working myself.


Why not volunteer for a rescue ? Many welcome dog walkers with open arms. You could get to know a dog (whose background they know; lots of people have to give up pets because they, lose a job, can't have them in their new home or they go into care) and may find one happy to be on its own for a long time; some sleepyheads actually don't mind being alone.

SensibleSarah

Personally I wouldn't recommend taking on a pup whilst you still have a toddler for the reasons already mentioned. It's basically like having another baby, but one that can't wear nappies, is very mobile & has claws & teeth!

sheramber

If you get a dog from a rescue that uses foster homes they will know what the dog is like. Some fosters have children so the dog will be used to children.

Having a toddler and being a first time dog owner of a pup is hard. You have a pup to train and a toddler to supervise and teach how to approach a dog safely. Both need constant supervision or will become partners in crime. Most toddlers are not amused when their toys are stolen and chewed by a puppy.

Young puppies have small bladders - like toddlers- and need to taken out half hourly to begin with to toilet train. As they get older it stretches to hourly then two hourly etc. Leaving a young pup for three hours is not conducive to toilet training. An older pup or adult dog would be easier.

An older dog may be already toilet trained and only need to learn the home layout of where the door is, where toileting is acceptable. You don't want your toddler playing in a garden with dog mess in it, so fence of an area as a dog toilet and take the dog there to toilet and train it to use that area.

Do you have the lifestyle where you can walk the dog before going to work and can walk it in the evening or will only one parent be around at these times and cannot leave the toddler in bed?

No going out all day without making arrangements for the dog or taking it with you.

Can you take the dog to training classes? Are there classes locally. Check them out to ensure they use only positive training.

Will you holiday where you can take the dog or do you have someone who can look after it or will you use kennels which is more expense to be taken into account.

A family dog can be a joy and a great asset as long as everybody is on board and prepared for the restrictions and adjustments that will be needed.

Do your homework and research.