When is the best time to adopt a pup?

[Hungryyet]

I have a 1 year and a 4 years old DC. I have this longing of getting a pup and feels like that would complete my family.
I am already exhausted with demands of young DC, work, study and life admin. I know it would be too hard if I get a pup in the mix. But, when is it a good time to adopt a pup?
Also, need suggestions on a friendly breed with young family.

If you are already exhausted don’t add to it!

wait until your children are a bit older and life is a bit calmer.

my youngest was 4 and it worked well but was still hard work in the beginning.

Not until your youngest (and last!) child is old enough to understand
not a good idea to pull pup’s tail
dont fiddle with pup’s ears
dont eat pup’s food
if pup shits on floor, do not eat it, move it or tread on it (shit, not pup)

Im sure you get my drift.
otherwise, I think the best time of year to get a pup is spring, so the back garden is easily accessible, mornings are lighter and not freezing cold - a pup needs to be attended in the garden whilst housetraining (so that you’re there, on the spot, to praise when pup produces) and going out at 5.32am in your slippers isn’t a great start to the day.

We waited until the DCs were 12 and 9. I'm really glad that we did. They can help with everything and are great with the training. Agree also with pp that Spring is a good time to get one!

Not now. Maybe when youngest is starting school. It’s very easy for a dog to knock a baby or toddler over. We got ours when youngest was about to turn 3, which worked well in terms of lifestyle, but she had to be kept almost completely separate from toddler for 2 years. I mean like, literally, toddler not allowed in kitchen unless she was crated or on a lead because it took 2 years of training to make it safe for both of them to be together.

Do not underestimate how hard it is to do kids and a dog. Someone needs to get up and take the dog out at 7am and 12noon and at 5pm in the middle of dinner and at 9pm in the middle of bedtime. We live on a farm so a bit easier because I just walk around the farm and the kids are old enough now that they can just be left for 20-30 minutes. You can’t do that with a 1 & 4 year old. Do you have a partner who can do everything with the kids in the morning and after work and at bedtime so you can take the dog out for 20 minutes at a time?

Or like for instance, tonight Dh is away with work and I need to take the dog out at 9pm and just leave the kids alone in the house. One is a teen so it’s fine, but wouldn’t be fine with little ones.

My personal stance was not to get a puppy until I had forgotten what it was like having a two year old. Puppies are hard work, messy, noisy and need your consistent time, attention and energy. Of course they are absolutely gorgeous but the first year or two requires a lot from you.

When your children are much older and can understand a bit of what’s involved in dog care, and a lot of how to behave around a dog, and when you aren’t exhausted and have the spare time, money and energy to properly raise a puppy.

We got a dog when our youngest was 9. Life was much less hectic then, we had time and the kids were old enough to really appreciate having a dog. We didn’t find it hard at all and I think that because the kids were older. We also both worked at home, oldest was a teen so could take some responsibility when necessary with walking, feeding, being at home alone etc.

Read the many stories on here and elsewhere of people resenting their poor dogs or dogs being rehomed because people have young kids, are too busy etc. People romanticise having a dog too much. It is lovely when you have time and everything else in place, but that’s a long way off for you OP.

What do you mean by adopt?

If you mean get one from a shelter, please don't. Dogs end up tere for a reason, mostly it's for behaviour issues. And even perfectly behaved dogs get traumatised by being put in one, this makes them a liability, especially around children.

Why on earth would you risk it?

Unless it's a toy breed, like a miniature terrier, you're literally risking your children's lives.

If you must get a dog, find a suitable from a reputable breeder. There will be a waiting list, they still may not sell to you, but you can have a chat with one and see what they think.

But leave the adoption alone if it's from a shelter

I can't tell you the best time but I can tell you the worst time is when you're exhausted and have two young children. Wait until they're both at school.

You won't be able to adopt one from most shelters. They don't re-home dogs to homes with young children.

I would wait until your youngest is at least 6.