Am I barking?

[ClaireandGeorge]

We had our lovely girl pts a few days ago. It was sad but she had a wonderful life with us after 2 previous homes.
The house feels empty and we have been talking about another dog. In an ideal world I would have another rescue but I'm not sure this would work as we have an 18month old ds. He is quite good in that he doesn't really pay any attention to family pets although this may change. The other option is a puppy but would that be a bit bonkers too?

If we don't get a dog this year then it will be at least another 3 years. We would like to move now next summer so not a good time then and the year after we would like another baby.

Anyone got any experience to share of rescue/puppies with toddlers .I'd like to add I'm quite experienced with dogs

[ClaireandGeorge]

No one with any advice?

[TakingTheStairs]

I'm so sorry to hear about your lovely girl.
You must be heartbroken :(

In my not very professional opinion, I would think that another rescue would be the way to go, if you can find one that's suitable. A puppy would be VERY hard work with an 18 month old.
Though you might want to give yourself a little bit of time to grieve first.
x

[ClaireandGeorge]

I just wonder if it will be possible to find a suitable rescue. A lot won't rehome with children under 5. I also wouldn't want a dog older than about 3 as I'd like a few years with them. We won't rush our decision as tempting as it is as we have 2 holidays coming up and although we could take a dog I know it would not be fair.

Although I am sad and will miss her as she was a lovely dog I don't feel like I'm grieving as such as she had such a fab home with us and was'nt poorly for long and had a peaceful end.

I'd never have managed a pup when ds was a baby but think I could now, people manage another baby with a toddler. Plus we are quite lucky that there's often 2 of us at home in the day. I almost feel like a rescue would need as much time because of the upheaval they've been through.

[Ilovemydogandmydoglovesme]

And also the nice thing about having a puppy is that it has no preconceived ideas about children and so will not know any different. Your ds and the puppy will grow up together.

[Floralnomad]

Many tears rescue usually have a lot of puppies and young dogs and they have fosterers all over the country .

[Frettchen]

Not barking mad to want another dog, rescue or puppy.

I, personally, would recommend a rescue dog of maybe a year or so old. A puppy isn't impossible; but something older would be more likely to be house trained, and less likely to barge into your DS or jump at him or nip him. Puppies are lovely, but they have sharp teeth and no manners!

You could make a puppy work; I'm sure of it - people have had puppies and young children before and people will have puppies and young children in the future. However, I think you're making things harder for yourself by doing this. I'd say get a rescue dog now, and then maybe get a puppy when your DS and future DC are old enough to take part in training etc.

Finally - with a rescue you'll have the people at the rescue interested in making a good match between dog and family. With a puppy you run the risk of finding a breeder who simply wants to sell their pups, which isn't good for you or the pup. (Yes, there are good breeders out there, but sadly there are a lot of really bad ones also, and it can be hard to tell the difference.)

[fanoftheinvisibleman]

People do manage babies and toddlers but unless you are producing vampire babies they don't normally bite you toddler every time their paths cross! Obviously it is your decision but don't underestimate how bitey even good puppies are and how you'll feel when it is your toddler who is bleeding. We had a puppy thread going on here when I got mine and pretty much all dc on there even up to teens went through a stage of hating the pups (better known as landsharks). It doesn't last forever but is pretty stressful.

Mine is 11 months and not at all bitey but I still went out all day (part with dog, part without) whilst minding my friends two year old. If the dog wasn't getting trod on or knocking over the tot over then he was trying to dodge flying toys. It got too stressful!

I'd go older with such a little one or wait a year or two if set on a puppy.

[cansleepanywhere]

I have a 17 week old puppy and 2 kids aged 5 and 18 months. I do have to supervise ALL the time. Though she's getting a lot better she does still forget herself and I'd never forgive myself if one/both of the kids were hurt....or indeed the dog for that matter!

I went to a KC assured breeder and only when the breeder was happy with our situation did she agree to giving us one of her pups.

I spend time training and socialising every single day which can be hard with young kids but not impossible, you've just got to want it. We also do training classes on an evening and will continue to do so as the years go on.

[MissMarplesBloomers]

A lot of rescue dogs are actually rehomed ones due to the sad breakup of many families or families giving them up voluntarily due to economic difficulty. Therefore they are used to family life & don't always have the problems that a rescue with bad/uncertain/ history might have.

Why not contact a rescue (or 2) & get vetted by them & then they will let you know of /when a suitable candidate arrives, you don't have to take them. That way the pooch is in kennels for minimum amount of time.

[ClaireandGeorge]

Right I've just filled out a form on a Breed Rescue website. I couldn't care less what breed a dog is as long as it has a good temperament but our old dog was an English Bull Terrier and my other half would like another. Plus all the others we have ever known have been as daft as hell.

Fan not sure about vampire babies but certainly felt like that sometimes when my ds was breastfeeding and using me as a teether.

I would choose the right rescue dog over a puppy but I'm just worried the won't consider us with a young child.