Do I really want a puppy?

[Iwaswatchingthat]

I have considered this question for almost a year now and am at the stage of emailing breeders.

I was brought up having a dog and want my dds to share the experience.

I work two and a half days a week with occasional extra days. All school holidays off. Mum says she will have the dog at her house when I am at work. She has a soft dog of her own.

I feel ready, but I am so aware it is a huge commitment and I am a little scared of taking the plunge.

My head tends to rule my heart, but sometimes I think this makes me miss out on going for stuff I want.

Thanks for reading!

[FragileTitanium]

i love my little puppy but I would say don't get one!!!

Unless you are willing and able to up your cleaning around the house by 200%, up your washing by at least double, be willing to wake up at 5am to take your puppy out to poo/wee, toilet train, not leave your puppy alone for more than an hour, have lots of chew toys lying around the house to avoid your furniture/possessions getting chewed, have a large ugly crate, spend money on insurance, vet, toys, bedding, accept the fact that for a while at least, you will have a puppy that poos and wees in the house etc, etc.

Is your mum really willing to take on a tiny puppy while you are at work....to toilet train it by taking it out every hour despite the weather, do some obedience training with it throughout the day, play with it, walk it, socialise it by taking it out and about etc, etc. A puppy is a whole different thing to a mature, adult dog.

It is a huge commitment in terms of time/energy/sleep and money and feels pretty similar to having a 2 year old human toddler in terms of time and effort.....

That said, I'm very glad we got our puppy but despite growing up around animals and doing loads of research about looking after a puppy, I was still shocked at how much time/energy and money it actually takes.

I don't want to put you off it would have helped if someone had told me the reality instead of just saying "a dog is for life"...which doesn't really help at all!

[ChickensHaveNoEyebrows]

You have to really want it, and prepare for the worst. I took on a puppy 18 months ago that was probably puppy farmed. He was under socialised, and then attacked on lead literally days after being allowed out. He is a wonderful dog, we adore him, but he has health issues, behavioural issues and is fearful. We have spent a fortune, hours of time and I have shed tears over this dog. That said, we brought home our new puppy last week and it's been a breeze in comparison and I haven't regretted it once. I did have wobbles with our older dog, especially when he started showing fear aggression towards other dogs, but we are in it for the long haul and he will always be our dog. You really can't underestimate how hard it can be. That said, if you can fully commit no matter what, I think having a dog is life enhancing. Our older dog is the DC's best friend :)

[Turniphead1]

I have found it hard work, but not unbearably so. It's an extra thing to think about and factor in but for me the positives - the dog herself, being outdoors so much more, hearing my DS aged 7 who isn't the most communicative of boys and who has been having a tough time recently say "I love you, girl" to our pup - makes it all worthwhile.

The main thing I think is choosing a pup with a good balanced personality from a breeder who has kept them properly with mum til they leave for new homes. I think our pup although "with" mum was kept apart during the last couple of weeks as the mum was getting tired (ie snapping at the pups which of course was her teaching the pups manners - but when mum is a pet people view this was irritability alone). Our pup is still a bit snappy as a result.

Of course getting a good rescue would probably be the more sensible thing to do!

[Iwaswatchingthat]

Thanks for all the advice. Interestingly in RL not one single person (dog owners included) has said "go for it".

Most people say don't do it!

One friend made me really laugh when she said "my dog is like my kids. You know how you often wish you'd never had them, but you wouldn't be without them now!!"

Lots to think about thanks!

[flowery]

Get an older one? We got a 6mo puppy in November and bypassed most of the horrendousness.

[digerd]

I met my friend's 4 month-old Yorkshire Terrier last Wednesday and fell in love. I picked her up and got an excited wriggly, waggy tail, doing me the favour of cleaning my ear so affectionally. And so sweet natured and tiny.
sigh

[BellaVita]

Iwas, I am in the same predicament as you. People (with dogs) keep telling me not to do it.

[ILikeToClean]

Echo Fragile's post completely!! I researched for over a year, thought about all aspects and was still wondering if we were doing the right thing on the journey to pick our puppy up! It's hard work, everyone in the family needs to be on board, my DDs are 10 and 8 so a huge help, not sure how people do it with younger dcs! Puppy is 14 weeks and very good - fully housetrained, clever and responsive to training, sleeps well, can be left no problem etc etc, he is an angel really but still, not a day goes by when I think back to pre-puppy days and wonder what I did before!! I love him to bits and he is part of the family, but ATM we are just constantly "aware" of him and life revolves around him pretty much! Obviously puppy stage doesn't last long and we were all aware that it would be like this so it wasn't a shock but it's still, IMHO, harder work than when I had my DDs with their 20 month age gap!! If you read all the puppy threads on here and STILL think it's for you then do it, it is wonderful but your eyes need to be wide open and everyone needs to be on board to help. All aspects of expense, care when you work/go out, logistics of where pup will go in house, other animals, age of dcs, sparing time for walking, training, extra housework (lots!), and even what size/breed need to be considered before you take the plunge! Best of luck