Please tell me it's going to be ok.....

[EsmetheWitch]

Getting a puppy when you have young DC doesn't always spell disaster does it?

I have two DC, 3 & 1, and we are picking up our puppy next week. We were vetted by the breeder, I have had dogs in the past, I have researched like mad, rearranged the house, cleared out diary for months ahead, been training the children, and anything else I can think of to make sure we're ready.

I'm terrified! It'll be tough but ok. Right?

[Asleeponasunbeam]

We got one when DD was two and I didn't know I was pg with DS.

It was, quite frankly, the worst 6 months of my life.

Then he grew up, the hours and hours of training paid off, and we have a marvellous family dog.

Good luck

[PeppaPigStinks]

We have an almost 8 month lab puppy. And a 1 and 3 year old. It's hard work but worth it.

We did have a dog before we got the puppy so were used to having a dog around.

It's controversial but a crate is worth it's weight in gold

[Adarajames]

Def get a crate and crate train, saves all sorts of stresses for both human and puppy

[Asleeponasunbeam]

Oh I would have not survived without the crate.

He has turned into a very happy dog who now uses a basket.

[EsmetheWitch]

Ok 6 months of hell. I can cope with that I think

I have a crate ready and waiting. I've set it up so its not exciting to the DC. I'm also training them not to touch it.

[Asleeponasunbeam]

I was really, really tough on training. All positive, clicker based. For two months, I hand fed every piece of kibble as a clicker reward. He had to work for everything!

I never mastered good lead walking though as always had a pushchair or toddler or baby in a sling. He's amazing off lead but needs a head collar for lead walks even now at 3 years old (not a problem really and I could probably fix it now).

[EsmetheWitch]

I have a clicker and I have training books. I just hope the children cooperate.

[Asleeponasunbeam]

Wish I'd clicker trained my children. Dog is much easier to handle.

[mirren3]

Asleep, your post is one of the reasons mumsnet needs a "like" button ??

[GobblersKnob]

It's never too late to clicker train children, they absolutely love it.

[EsmetheWitch]

Their recall might be better if trained with a whistle too.
When they've run off in the supermarket, three pips will have them running straight back.

[Panicmode1]

My puppy turns 6 months tomorrow - my children are 11,9,7 and 5...it has been VERY VERY hard work, but we are slowly emerging from the other side.....and for the most part it's great and I only have a few days a week when I regret it .

(I went to a gun dog trainer with the pup yesterday and he told me she is one of the most wilful dogs he has seen for many a long year - so I felt better than despite all of my reading, puppy training classes and efforts, it wasn't just me finding her hard work!)

Good luck, have fun, and I definitely would have a crate with children of that age - it was hard enough trying to get mine to leave the puppy alone so she could get some sleep and they are older than yours - but if the puppy has its own space, and it's a rule that if the pup is in the crate then it must be left alone, it does make it easier!

[tomatodizzymum]

Wish I'd clicker trained my children. Dog is much easier to handle.

We have a 7 month old lab, children are 2 5 9 and 12. It was a breeze, have read some stories on here and just thought . I remember one who has a retriever about the same age as DLab and 3 or 4 DC's, can't remember her name but she had it ROUGH, felt really sorry for her.

[tomatodizzymum]

Omg, just read through thread, sorry Panicmode1 just calculated DLab was 6 months on 22nd so think it might have been you? Glad things are better if it was you.

[AJNH]

We picked this little chap up yesterday, we also have young dc 2+4. All going well so far sure you'll be fine!

[Slippersandacuppa]

It will be hard but in for a penny, in for a pound! We have DCs - 1,3,5 and 7 and two dogs. The second one we rescued over Christmas at 6 weeks. In hindsight, it would have been much easier to go through housetraining in the summer (good timing for you!) but she needed a home and I wasn't going to say no.

The kids love her and she loves them. I'm seeing glimpses now (she's nearly 6 months) of the dog she'll mature into and its making it all worth it - but she's cute now! Puppy training has been great for her and our relationship, as it's a precious hour when it's just the two of us.

Good luck and enjoy

[Panicmode1]

tomato - I think it probably was me!! I have days when I really regret getting a dog, even though I do love her to bits, but she is really, really hard work and in a way the gun dog trainer telling me that she's really wilful helped me to realise it's not just because I'm crap at training her!!