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Original poster

Pregnant & thinking of rehoming a dog

88 replies

CatLady11 · 30/06/2023 16:25

Hi, I am in very early stages of pregnancy, before I found out I was pregnant me and my partner were in talks of privately rehoming an adult pug. We went to go and visit a sweet little girl yesterday, and I am torn as to whether it's a good decision. She very lovely natured, great with the ladies 5 kids.. but the lady doesn't have the time for her anymore and the cost of feeding 5 kids etc, she feels like she will be better finding a new home.

She isn't a puppy and she is 2 years old. We do have 4 cats, but they spend majority of their time outside and I barely know they are here. Although I absolutely adore my cats, a dog is the missing piece.

I wouldn't be due for many months yet, we used to work a family members dog who not Long ago passed away, and walking their dog really helped my mental health, and it motivated me to get out of the house more.

Am I biting off more than I can chew with considering rehoming this dog?

I know there is pros and cons to any situation..

Any helpful advice is much welcomed

OP posts:
Abra1t · 30/06/2023 16:54

I had two nine-month terrier pups when our first baby arrived. I had a rule of a walk every day, come what may. The dogs were fine with the baby and the next one. It was chaotic and the house wasn’t perfect but just getting outside come what may, probably helped me as a new mother.

Roselilly36 · 30/06/2023 17:05

So I suppose the dog isn’t from a rescue OP? The reason I ask is no reputable rescue would rehome a dog with 4 cats and a baby on the way. We had a dog (7 years old) and 3 cats before our babies arrived. It was really tough, DS1 was a dream baby, DS2 much, much, much more difficult and the reason why DC3 was out of the question! Honestly, wait a while for a dog. Good luck with your pregnancy Flowers

Hollyppp · 30/06/2023 17:05

All our friends who go a dog just before baby arrived or shortly after MASSIVELY regret it. Don’t do it!!!!!!

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Dogs
MeinKraft · 30/06/2023 17:11

No way. You've got more than enough on your plate.

Hoppinggreen · 30/06/2023 17:11

Bad idea
Apart from anything else the lady wants you to take the dog so she will say whatever she needs to.
Quite often you see threads on here from people who have rehomed(bought) a dog to find they have been told a pack of lies
Plus your life is about to implode, you don’t need anything else that needs your attention right now

SquashPenguin · 30/06/2023 17:17

@XelaM he’s so beautiful! I have a black pug and he’s the centre of my universe. He’s also a lunatic 🤣

Pregnant & thinking of rehoming a dog
AMuser · 30/06/2023 17:20

GoldDuster · 30/06/2023 16:39

This X 1000

Show quote history

X 10,000

i say this as an owner of 2 dogs and 3 kids. Pugs particularly have lots of health issues.

Poor things.

also if in a few years you do want to rehome a dog best do it thorough a reputable rescue who checks you, dog, etc and takes dog back if issues.

Em308 · 30/06/2023 17:22

I did this - got a dog, a cat and pregnant at the same time. Very unfortunate timing as we’d been trying for 2 years! The poor dog suffered in the first year because I had such bad morning sickness for 7 months. I couldn’t bear the smell of him, let alone walk or train him (husband worked away so no help there) and then had a premature baby to deal with. It was very unfair on him. We were very lucky he was such a good dog that we could still train him later, but that first year wasn’t fair on him at all. Nor did it help my mental health.

LunaandLily · 30/06/2023 17:25

I would advise against. I got a dog (also while pg) and had to rehome her a month later because the cats hated her. It became clear quite quickly that the cats would not accept her, and the dog wouldn’t be told, no matter how much hissing and swiping the cats did. This meant the poor dog was living in two rooms rather than enjoying the whole house, and the cats wouldn’t come downstairs anyway. All parties were territorial about the garden! You have enough change happening, for you and the cats, for now. Revisit the idea in a couple of years. You might not think there’s a missing piece once baby is here.

XelaM · 30/06/2023 17:26

SquashPenguin · 30/06/2023 17:17

@XelaM he’s so beautiful! I have a black pug and he’s the centre of my universe. He’s also a lunatic 🤣

Awww yours is absolutely gorgeous too 😍

A (healthy) pug is the best breed in the world.

FayCarew · 30/06/2023 17:26

She's had a health check from the owner
That's meaningless. Buyer beware and all that.

Pugs were popular during the lockdown so there is a risk that she might have been bred by unscrupulous breeders churning out puppies for profit.
It's a breed with known issues, not all of them visible to the average human.

She might be perfectly fine and you might find motherhood a breeze.

AuntieJune · 30/06/2023 17:29

With a new baby, just having a poo by yourself is a luxury. You don't need another creature to feed and toilet.

If the baby comes and you're finding everything a doddle, then look around for another pug. This one can find another home.

XelaM · 30/06/2023 17:29

I think it completely depends on your personality and your baby and how being a new mother will affect you. I honestly found the baby years a breeze but my daughter was a very easy baby who slept through the night almost from birth. It could have been very different. Wait until the baby is here and see if you still want a dog then.

aperolspritzbasicbitch · 30/06/2023 17:35

Everyone's experience of motherhood is different. I never struggled to find the time to shower, let alone poo.

I had a 4 year old dog when I had my first born, so I don't know if it would have been any easier without a dog, but I can say that the dog certainly didn't make it ridiculously hard. Having an iron clad reason to get out the house was a positive.

A newborn and a puppy I could see being overwhelming, but not so much a dog that is a few years old.

I'd be more concerned about how the cats found having him there, and sorting out a health check via a vet.

Could you have the dog at your house for a few hours a couple to times, see how the cats react?

Original poster
CatLady11 · 30/06/2023 17:35

@XelaM

He is beautiful :) I think generally they're a good family dog and I've personally not known anyones pugs to be aggressive or nasty. But I do have to agree with a lot of peoples comments in terms of how my cats will feel having a dog brought into their home, and I don't actually know what this pug is like with cats, as she's never been brought up around them.

OP posts:
Softoprider · 30/06/2023 17:35

I've got two pugs. They are both lovely and make wonderful companions. I have always had dogs and I had three children. I think children who grow up in a home where they learn to look after a pet are all the better for it.

Applesinmyhouse · 30/06/2023 17:36

I love dogs but I would advise not to do it. My elderly staffy is the easiest, sweetest old boy ever, but he’s still one more thing to worry about while I’m looking after the baby. It seems as soon as I sit down, he needs to go out. And now he’s so old he can’t really keep up with the buggy so I have to get up early and take him for a short walk separately. You never know how the pug might react, it might get stressed and start weeing in the house for example. I’d give it a couple of years. Babies are all consuming.

ActDottie · 30/06/2023 17:37

I’d do it :) I think it’ll help in the new born days as well as you will have to get out the house every day to walk it :)

Currently pregnant and we have two dogs :)

Isolationendurance · 30/06/2023 17:38

I wouldn't. It would be different if the dog was an established member of the family but you'll be settling it into one routine and then asking it to resettle into a different dynamic shortly afterwards. It could work but you're more likely to regret it.

Original poster
CatLady11 · 30/06/2023 17:42

Thank you everyone, I have decided now that I won't be rehoming this dog, as I do have my cats to consider and some changes that will be happening next year, which will be more than enough for me to deal with. I appreciate everyone's insights. I think it's definitely something to put on the back burner for now and revisit later on down the line. 😁

OP posts:
Original poster
CatLady11 · 30/06/2023 17:45

Roselilly36 · 30/06/2023 17:05

So I suppose the dog isn’t from a rescue OP? The reason I ask is no reputable rescue would rehome a dog with 4 cats and a baby on the way. We had a dog (7 years old) and 3 cats before our babies arrived. It was really tough, DS1 was a dream baby, DS2 much, much, much more difficult and the reason why DC3 was out of the question! Honestly, wait a while for a dog. Good luck with your pregnancy Flowers

No it's a private seller, the lady seems genuine but obviously I am only taking her word for it, we did go and meet the dog, and all was well! But I do think if we take on a dog future it would be better to rescue from a proper rescue that can give us more detailed back ground information etc..

Thanks so much💕

OP posts:
WithMyDamnHighHopes · 30/06/2023 17:45

I really wouldn’t and I say that as a dog lover. We have 4.

You don’t know how you will feel through your pregnancy, you’re going to be busy and sleep deprived with a new baby. The dog may take time to settle, the cats may not take to her which will take time to manage. It’s really not the best time. The dog is already being dumped, losing everything she knows, she deserves a home with someone who can fully commit and give her time and attention. That’s not you right now or for the next few years. It’s also very stressful keeping babies and dogs separate. Don’t do it to yourself, your partner, your future baby or your cats.

I hope she finds a lovely new home though, poor baby. Humans are shit, they take these animals on and then just dump when it’s too much. It’s heartbreaking.

Original poster
CatLady11 · 30/06/2023 17:47

aperolspritzbasicbitch · 30/06/2023 17:35

Everyone's experience of motherhood is different. I never struggled to find the time to shower, let alone poo.

I had a 4 year old dog when I had my first born, so I don't know if it would have been any easier without a dog, but I can say that the dog certainly didn't make it ridiculously hard. Having an iron clad reason to get out the house was a positive.

A newborn and a puppy I could see being overwhelming, but not so much a dog that is a few years old.

I'd be more concerned about how the cats found having him there, and sorting out a health check via a vet.

Could you have the dog at your house for a few hours a couple to times, see how the cats react?

The main concern was for my cats and not so much being pregnant really.. My cats are my priority and I'm not sure it's fair to bring a dog into the home and a child :)

I agree, I do think it would of helped to get me out the house, as I absolutely love taking the dogs for a walk before, sadly we lost our old girl that was our family dog..

OP posts:
Mariposa26 · 30/06/2023 17:49

I have 2 cats who were my absolute world before my baby came along, and I am finding them very difficult now she’s here (although of course will never rehome them) as she is all consuming and they do irritating things like making noise that wakes her up. I would recommend getting to grips with your baby before getting a dog, for sure.

Original poster
CatLady11 · 30/06/2023 17:51

WithMyDamnHighHopes · 30/06/2023 17:45

I really wouldn’t and I say that as a dog lover. We have 4.

You don’t know how you will feel through your pregnancy, you’re going to be busy and sleep deprived with a new baby. The dog may take time to settle, the cats may not take to her which will take time to manage. It’s really not the best time. The dog is already being dumped, losing everything she knows, she deserves a home with someone who can fully commit and give her time and attention. That’s not you right now or for the next few years. It’s also very stressful keeping babies and dogs separate. Don’t do it to yourself, your partner, your future baby or your cats.

I hope she finds a lovely new home though, poor baby. Humans are shit, they take these animals on and then just dump when it’s too much. It’s heartbreaking.

yeah too right, im a sucker for wanting to take animals out of a shitty situation, my animals are my world, they have everything they have ever needed and more. I have never doubted my capabilities to be able to care for animals and a baby, but it's more the fact of whether our cats will enjoy or tolerate it, they're very stuck in their ways and enjoy ruling the roost!! ha!

thanks for your insights, I won't be rehoming the dog :) But I really hope she finds a lovely home as its such a sad story for her!! And she was so sweet and gentle and absolutely loved my partner, she wouldn't leave him alone :(

OP posts: