to get a puppy

[cocorouge]

I have always really wanted a puppy but was never allowed a pet as a child. My daughter really wanted a kitten a couple of years ago and although I don't like cats we got one and I really enjoy having a pet. The cat was the 1st pet I have ever had. I have a big birthday coming up and can't think of anything else i want but because I was never allowed a dog (1st parents then husband who doesn't like dogs) it seems like a big deal to get one!
I would love one and feel excited at the thought but I know dogs are alot of work - the walking etc but I really can't stand the thought of it going to the toilet in the garden where the children play so what should I do?
TIA!

If you clean up after your dog, then no reason why you should worry about the children.

We always had a dog as kids, and no harm came to us because any poo was cleaned up almost as soon as it was done.

Do consider what you would do when you are away on holiday, will the dog get on with the cat, etc.

Why not offer to mind a friends dog for a couple of weeks (providing it gets on with cats), and get a feel for being a dog owner. It is a lot of responsibility, and it is a tie too. Cats are much more self contained. You can go out for a day and not worry about a cat, with a dog you certainly have more restrictions.

Puppies are very hard work, especially for someone with no experience. Plus they are only small and cute for a few short weeks.

You'd be much better off getting an older, calmer, rescue dog to ease you into dog ownership. Or foster for a while to see if dog ownership is for you.

Until you have had the responsibility of a dog it is difficult to realise just how much responsibilty, work and expense is involved. It's much, much more than just feeding and walking, especially with a puppy, which for the first few months at least is a 24/7 job. I found having a baby to look after easier than a puppy tbh.

yes that is what I was thinking - at least with children you can take them out with you but you can't a dog really can you?
Thanks for you advice! I really feel torn!

Puppies are adorable.

They will however poo and wee every where until you train them not to. Have you the time and patience to cope with it, imagine the contents of a potty tipped out on your floor 3-4 times a day a first.

They may cry constantly at night for their Mam and brothers/sisters.

They will chew every dammed item they can get hold of.

If you've never had a dog before I would seriously consider a 4 year old rescue dog with a proven track record with bairns. A lot of the initial 'difficult work' will be done and you can really enjoy the experience of having a dog in your home. You will also be able to access help from the Rescue Centre should you need it.

Think REALLY HARD before you get a puppy.

My sister has a puppy. It is literally eating my parents home. I am finding it rather amusing [evilgrin]. I did tell them to crate train it but they wouldn't listen. They knew better.

Thus far it has eaten/chewed half the lino from the bathroom, the loo seat, the bottom of the bathroom door, the bread bin and all it's contents, almost every loaf of bread my mum has bought since it learnt it could reach the worktop, several hundred toilet rolls and the doorframe in the kitchen

mmmmm definitely going off the idea! husband will be v pleased! Thanks

Puppies may also be cute, but do chew everything, and have sharp nippy teeth, and sharp claws, and dont always mix well with young children.

Not trying to put you off at all, its just that so many people I personally know have got a puppy, and found it too difficult to cope with when they have a young child too. Cats are sensible and jump up to a higher place to get away from children but puppies cant do that. So many people get a cute little puppy and have to rehome it within the first couple of months (my own dog being one of those that got dumped by his previous owners because they couldnt cope).

Oh my parents are very experienced dog owners. Bar the chewing things, he is a perfectly trained puppy.

Did I mention the tin of paint he knocked over in the yard and tracked through the house and onto the sofa? He can open doors.

I would also add, getting a dog has to be something that ALL the adults in the family agree with, or again, there will be problems. A family dog has to be a part of the whole family. If your husband doesnt like dogs, then it would be wrong to force the issue onto him. By all means borrow a friends dog for a few days to see if he changes his mind, (or indeed if it puts you off the idea!).

Please don't do this until you have considered:

The vet bills.
Are you prepared to pay potentially hundreds a year for fairly routine stuff such as jabs and insurance? What if the dog gets really ill? What of the cost of microchipping and neutering? Flea and worm treatments. Regular check-ups.

Dog walking and vigorous exercise - they really need this at least once a day.

Clearing up poop. Every day.

Training and routine. Essential.

Other issues as the dog's old age. Smells, being tired and poorly, more vet bills, the family's grief.

Not to be entered into lightly. Please really think about this.

I second everything LineRunner has said you. Our working dogs pay their way regarding how much they cost in fact the sheepdogs especially more than pay for themselves, and the yard dogs are worth their weight in gold But the only way we can justify allowing the lasses to have pet 'house' dogs - they have a jacky each is that the cost come mainly out of their spends.

Just looked it up on the vet expenses sheets

DD1s has cost £625 so far

DD2s has cost £2402 hes is a flaming liability but she loves him. Mam helped out here because the dog deserved his chance

DD3s has cost £265

So think on as we say in Yorkshire

My dog was £40 from the pound. Very cheap for a dog. The next day he cost £95 for vax, special cream for a skin condition and an anti-flamm injection. The week after that was £70 for more cream, another anti-inflamm jab. A few days after that was £27 for his next vax. That's without the regular flea and worming costs, as I buy that stuff online (it cost me £35 but that was for stuff for two dogs for 3 months and 6 months of stuff for the cat). Then there is insurance (£18 per month for Devil Dog). Food - which can prove to be very expenisve if your pet ends up with a medical condition requiring a special diet (I have two such pets, lucky me ) Devil dog costs 79p per day to feed. The cat costs £35 per 3 months. £45 to neuter with a voucher from the pound.

Training is £6.50 per week, plus upto now £110 on one to one sessions for more unusual behaviour problems.

My 2nd pup was free. They were going to drown the poor wee thing. On top of the everyday costs mentioned above, we had to pull out £130 from our magic hat to pay for her leg to be stitched back up, as it would have took too long to wait on the insurers. She also costs about £3 per week extra in the amount of bathroom sponges she steals and 'kills'. She will cost £200 to spay very soon.

And of course you have to factor in the costs of boarding kenels if you go away (£180 for two weeks for Devil Dog last year), poo bags, leashes, food bowls, treats, toys etc.

They are not cheap.

And how, pray, are you going to stop it weeing and pooing in the garden?? Surely you can't expect it to hold on for when you walk it, 'cos that's just cruel!!!

think of it as having a toddler that never grows up

daily poo patrol
daily walk, regardless of snow, sleet, hail or ice
possibly chewed furniture at first
wailing and barking

but they do give lovely kisses :)

i had to pay over £500 for a fortnight for a couple to dogsit our dogs in their home, I hated the thought of kennels. Would have been cheaper to take the bloody dogs on holiday with us!

I have always had rescue dogs. They have been about 2 when I got them apart from one who was about 300 years old and lived for another 15 or so.

This time i got a puppy. The main reason was I knew most rescues would touch me with a barge pole because I had very young children.

So I did something I have never done before, I bought a puppy.
I did my research.
I knew that I had to be realistic about the amount of exercise it would get. It would be exercised every day but not for ten mile walks in the woods.
I didnt want a big dog but I definately didnt want a terrier.
I wanted something that was small enough to be good with the kids (no knocking over with tails or barging) but big enough not to be too fragile to cope with a bit of rough and tumble.

So I got a chihauhau pommeranian cross.
I visted his owner and met mum and dad.

He had been perfect. He comes on the school run every day which is enough for him and he can go in a travel bag under the buggy whilst I go and drop the kids off so I dont have to tie him up outside school. (I trained him from tiny to do this).
He is insured but bear in mind that this wont cover dental, vacc and its not worth claiming on unless its a big bill because of the excess.

Our children have a fenced area in the garden - DS2 has ASD and LDs and this makes it safer for him. It also means the dogs cant poo in the kid's bit. Although Ddog does go in and play in there with them.

He was a dreadful chewer for well over a year so we lost lots of dummies, teats and plastic toys but he is fine now.

He is a lovely dog, no trouble and brilliant with the kids. He loves to play with them and is often to be found on the trampoline with them. He used to sit in the buggy with DS3 when he was younger (not a baby).

It is perfectly resonable for you to get a dog but I would do your research first.
I have always had mixed breeds and wouldnt get a pedigree. I would definately go for a puppy again and I absolutly love chihauhaus now.

Thanks for all your comments - you have all put me off! (except for the firstmrsdevere). They are cute but too much work - I would send my own kids to the pound if they were that much work - thanks though you've all saved me lots of money by the sounds of it!