to get a puppy 4 weeks before DC3 is due?

[FanellaFidget]

Other Dc's are 5 and 2.

Well... am I ?!

Thinking of buying a puppy?

Thanks for the link Vallhala. We have rescued cats before. However when we do, eventually, get a puppy it's a particular breed we are after. From what I have found they are quite rare and unlikely to turn up at a rescue centre. Is it worth me calling and leaving our details in case one comes in though?

What breed is it you're looking for? There are specific rescues for lots of breeds. And some dogs are very commonly found at rescue.

(As a side if you want a labradoodle because they're anti-allergic, they're not anymore. It's been bred out.)

some breeds are very commonly found at rescue I meant to say.

Havanese

I waited till my kids were at secondary school til I got a puppy. I'm so glad I did, the dog has my full attention, he was housetrained totally by 18 weeks and more importantly I really, really enjoy him. The children need me so much less and he gets the focus he deserves.

Yes you're right might be harder to find in rescue. I would PM Val, because if there is someone who organises Havanese rescue she will be able to find out for you.

You're in for a lot of grooming! Looks like they are one of those breeds with health problems too, so if you do get one as a puppy in a few years I would be asking a lot of questions about the health of the parents and what screening they have done on the puppy.

Indeed LaWeasel That is also the problem if we rescued one, lack of info on the parents.

No puppy, no cry. You have no idea exactly how disgusting doggy poop is until you have to pick it up.

Fanella, in the contrary a rescue Havanese's pareantage will most probably be known and documented, if that's what you want.

There are two options available to you - non breed-specific rescue or a rescue dog from a breeder (as far as I know there is no stand-alone Havanese rescue organisation).

A rescue which takes in all breeds is unlikely to see a Havanese - it's possible but rare. Should they do so they may not have a history as the dog may be a stray but it would be far more likely that he would have been handed in by an owner. Whether he had a tracable parentage would depend on where that owner had obtained him. If he'd been purchased from a reputable breeder then he will be fully tracable, if from a backyard breeder (eg the man down the road who has bred his bitch with a pal's dog/dog found on the free ads just to make a fast buck without regard to breed lines or health checks) then there will of course be no parentage worth checking. On the positive side to this, IIRC Havanses are not known for a mass of potential health problems - eyes being the only real concern - so this need not necessarily be a barrier to adoption. Personality is down to upbringing and treatment more than breed or parentage too, IME.

HOWEVER... most Havs end up back with the original breeder if the owner can't keep them so you will know everything there is to know about your adopted dog and his parentage. Decent breeders ALWAYS- no ifs, no buts - INSIST that a dog is returned to them if the owner cannot keep him, just as a decent rescue does. (I must say here that IME there are more decent rescues out there in this and all other respects than there are decent dog breeders).

I have just taken the liberty of emailing a couple of breeders and have already got a reply from one of them. That lady has no rescue dogs at the moment but is happy to contact other reputable breeders whom she knows personally and ask around on your behalf. However she will need this from you first hand (KC regulations) so please can you pm me and I'll put you in touch. She is one of those who insists that any dog which the owner cannot keep must be returned to her.

Hope this helps, I'll pass on all the info and my email address in case you need more details, just drop me a pm. :)

I've done it. Small breed. Been to training classes. The difficult bits are a) bending over with baby in sling (to reward small puppy with treats, e.g. for coming to its name when called), b) not letting puppy in same room as baby if baby is accessible to puppy (on floor), c) the puppy is playful, and does mouth, but its parents are laid back family dogs, so I'm giving this behaviour time to settle doen. Puppy v good about not chewing things, though I give it things to chew, apart from it's sheepskin fetish. It makes us clear up children's toys! However my dc is at school in the day so I can juggle baby and puppy. Small breeds=small poo, nothing to get hysterical about, but I do wash my hands 'obsessively'. Puppy easy to housetrain because of a routine of taking it outside around other routine of feeds and nappy changes. I'm up in the night so do baby then puppy!
So, not ideal, I've always had adult rescue dogs before, and you can take their common sense for granted more than a puppy. Puppy has a cage and a dedicated patch of well fenced garden. And now spring is here we are enjoying the fabulous walks on our doorstep too!

Out of interest, why so stringent on the breed? I can understand someone wanting a small fluffy dog and going for a Bichon or a Hav or a Shitz Tzu... but a Havanese specifically, that's interesting. :)

Thank you so much for that Vallhala. I'm reluctant to make any steps with it at the moment as I know, really, that now is probably not the best time. Will perhaps start properly looking and making a start in about 18 months. Massivley grateful for your help though.

Havanese is the only one me and DH can agree on, that and its reputation as being a fantastic dog with small children, even though it is small itself.

No problem, Fanella, my pleasure.

You said that "Havanese is the only one me and DH can agree on..."

As ever it's not the dog which causes debate and problem, it's flippin' men...! :o

Not unreasonable, but completley mad! My puppy is six months old and there is no way could have coped with him as a new pup and a baby!!