Puppy with a baby? Am I mad?

[Stinkilinky]

Both myself and DP have always grown up with dogs and had hoped our 4 month old DS would have got to grow up with our beloved JRT but unfortunately we had to have him PTS about 2 months ago.

We really miss having a dog around and the lovely walks that we all had together. Would we be mad to take on a puppy with a young baby?

[nightmarehair]

When dd was 1 we got fdog as a puppy. Never again, it was a nightmare trying to toilet train a puppy and keep my eye on a 1 year old. It was a nightmare, I'd never do it again.

[tinymeteor]

Yes.

A crawling baby and a dog still in the process of house training? A toddler and an adolescent dog at the same time? Recipe for a nervous breakdown, sorry.

[Stinkilinky]

I knew it was a bonkers idea! I will stick to borrowing DMs puppy for when I'm missing a furry baby!

[Shriek]

I have to agree, although i completely understand where you are coming from as its a wonderful 'idea' in theory but the practicalities of it are awful, not least that JRT's are generally advised against being around DC and other animals because of their working nature (although i've known superb ones that have bucked the trend).

Most pups find DC great for jumping on and grabbing at faces and especially hair /fingers /clothes and i have known even small DC become extremely fearful of their family pet because the pups leap on them in very excited play which is terrifying to the DC, and you wouldn't ever be able to leave them alone together, which in itself can be an exhausting routine to manage!

have your babies and think again when they're at school maybe and then go through careful discussions with a good breeder who can advise you on managing a pup around young ones.

Besides the hard work involved, its really the risk to the DC that concerns me most, and the effects on the pup (getting into trouble because of it, and not being given the time/training it needs).

[Shriek]

ooops! xposted