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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Get a puppy

36 replies

GipsyDanger · 13/07/2016 16:33

Mumsnet, pass me the grips! I need them. Currently on maternity leave with my 4 month old son. And I want a puppy!

Bit of background. I've grown up with dogs, big dogs. I've helped train and discipline said dogs so it's old hat to me. When I moved out I ended up getting cats as me and dh bought a flat and I thought it wasn't fair to have a dog under those conditions. So we had 2 ragdoll cats. We moved into our house coming on 3 years ago and now have baby. Sadly, one of my cats had to be put to sleep about a month ago and to be honest I think this is where it's coming from. I always said we'd get a dog after the cats. My other cat will probably hate another animal, they are house cats so can't go out. If we did go for anything it would be a small breed like a pug/French bull dog etc.
Pros
It's a puppy!
I'm off so can help properly housetrain/ give it loves
Cons
I've got a bloody baby!
Other cat will not be pleased

I'm being ridiculous aren't I. My cat that was pts was young and loved my ds, the other cat hates him lol

OP posts:
NavyandWhite · 13/07/2016 16:36

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

YeOldMa · 13/07/2016 16:39

I love my dog but when my DC's were learning to crawl, I got really niggly about it and almost gave her away. I'd wait if I were you...actually, being me, I probably wouldn't wait but you really should Grin

KeemaNaanAndCurryOn · 13/07/2016 16:42

As someone who has recently been through the puppy stage, I'd wait a bit. Puppies bite a heck of a lot, and while you can stop it with training, you really don't want to introduce puppy to baby. House training is another thing that Yes, it will get there eventually, but do you really want your baby crawling along a floor where a puppy has had were and poo accidents, no matter how quick you are to clean it up?

sparechange · 13/07/2016 16:42

Pugs and frenchies are riddled with health problems and anecdotally, seem harder to housetrain than a lot of other breeds

Do you want a nippy-stage puppy and a curious-crawling stage baby together at the same time..?

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 13/07/2016 16:43

Wait 6 months and see if you still want one then.

JoffreyBaratheon · 13/07/2016 16:43

I'm a very experienced dog owner and the last pup we got (she is 2 this year) took 7 MONTHS to housetrain. (Our previous dogs all took a week or two, maximum).

Not fun.

And not something I'd risk if I had such a young baby.

You can never really know how hard it might be - even if you have had puppies before. A reputable rescue wouldn't home to you, so it's probably fairer on the future putative pug that you don't try and have one, until some time has passed...

Original poster
GipsyDanger · 13/07/2016 16:45

Really good points there keema & spare change. I'm remembering the puppy stage with rose tinted glasses. This is my pfb. Puppies & babies don't mix do they 😥

OP posts:
KeemaNaanAndCurryOn · 13/07/2016 16:49

Not really. I had enough problems dealing with puppy and school age children. We got there in the end, but I'd not do it with a baby. Wait till they're a bit older so they can enjoy it.

I'm just thinking of the day we had poomageddon. It was hard enough to keep the children away, let alone a smaller one. Our house smelled of disinfectant for weeks, but that was a lot better than it did before we cleared it up. 😂

pigsDOfly · 13/07/2016 16:56

Oh god no, don't do it.

You've just had a baby and four months down the line you want to get another one.

I really wouldn't.

MiddleClassProblem · 13/07/2016 16:58

What happens when you're not on maternity? Your cat will be living uncomfortable in their own home? Puppies explore the world with their teeth and they have little sharp teeth. Also your world will change so much once DC is on the move. I would tackle that first. When DC is older and understands how to be around animals, not grabby, leaving tails alone, not poking in the eye etc which they will learn from your cat then have think about it. I would put the cats needs first tbh x

Hoppinggreen · 13/07/2016 17:00

Christ no, we got a puppy in January and even animal loving 11 year old DD wants to send him back!!
DS is 7 and I couldn't have coped with a puppy and a younger child.

Keletubbie · 13/07/2016 17:05

Adopt, don't shop. And wait for the housecat to shuffle off.

Gowgirl · 13/07/2016 17:09

Rescue dog!

MiddleClassProblem · 13/07/2016 17:10

Very pro adopt here but obvs with a cat and lo your choices will be limited

Gowgirl · 13/07/2016 17:15


Suggest a Photo
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AboutHope for Perrera
These people don't have the no baby restrictions that many rescues do, plus all the dogs come via experienced foster care

StarryIllusion · 13/07/2016 17:16

Puppies and toddlers don't mix. I would say either do it now and resign yourself to tearing your hair out and having weekly mental breakdowns for the forseeable future or wait until dc is at least 5. I could cope with a puppy and a baby, just about. Toddler and puppy, forget it. Housebreaking a puppy with a mobile toddler, into everything will be a nightmare. To say nothing of potty training the child with a puppy inevitability trying to stick his head in it. Grin Plus, grabby child and mouthy puppy are going to be their own worst enemies.

Gowgirl · 13/07/2016 17:16

Limo fail

Heyheyheygoodbye · 13/07/2016 17:18

I've got a puppy at the moment and the thought of having to deal with a baby at the same time makes me feel faint! Make life easy for yourself and give it a while :) Could you get another cat instead?

Houseconfusion · 13/07/2016 17:19

We have an 8 month old baby and a 2 year old dog. perfect. dog was trained and rid of razor teeth, enjoyed her puppyhood, enjoyed his babyhood - they are close mates. will grow up together. for this to happen pup had to come 1.5 yrs before baby - it was all a plan, all a plan :)

In your case though, that moment is passed a bit and youd better wait till your children are older. Razor teeth and a 6-8 month crawling baby - do NOT mix.

CalmItKermitt · 13/07/2016 17:25

It sounds like a bad idea tbh. Apart from anything else, please don't buy a breed who is bred to have breathing difficulties.

People will go on about how cute their @snoring" is. There's nothing cute about listening to an animal struggling to breathe 😟

Mrsraypurchase · 13/07/2016 17:41

Not a pug. They are a broken breed.

CalmItKermitt · 13/07/2016 18:03

I think some breeds need to be allowed to die out.

The ones who are bred for any sort of physical extreme. Whether it's being unable to breathe or having ridiculously floppy skin or a stupidly long back.

Just let them die out. It's bloody cruel and anyone who is more interested in a potentially problematic physical trait than the dogs wellbeing shouldn't have a dog anyway.

Original poster
GipsyDanger · 13/07/2016 18:07

Thanks everyone, just needed some sense talked into me.

OP posts:
NeedACleverNN · 13/07/2016 18:10

Don't do it!!!

Crawling baby and puppy puddles are not a mix you want to do.

When your baby gets older you wil want to go out and spend time socialising. But difficult with a dog. Plus training the puppy when you have everything yet with the baby such as weaning.

Seriously don't

CalmItKermitt · 13/07/2016 18:12

I think like childbirth it's easy to forget the pain of puppies 😄

Leave it a good while, OP.

Maybe spend time researching breeds/breeders? Finding a really excellent breeder can take time and the best ones breed infrequently.

By the time I get my next pup I'll have been on the list 2 years!