AIBU to just need a puppy now?

[InstantCanineGratification]

I quietly know IABU but I just want someone, anyone to be on my side.
DD#2 will turn 8 in a month. All she wants in life is a puppy. Me too. DW isn't convinced and it'll be awful if we get one without her consent. We are expecting to renovate the kitchen and bathroom and redecorate the house this year - haven't employed the people to work on the place and I know the lead time takes about 6 months. Just the right amount of time to have a little puppy make all the mess she wants...
So I want a puppy now. DW has eventually been beaten downinto agreeing relented and said OK... but now she has, I want one NOW. There's a gorgeous little ball of fluff just waiting for us to bring her home and DW says we shouldn't do it until after the renovations.
AIB completely U to want to do it now?

Once you make the decision to get one, there's not much point waiting.
Definitely before the renovations and Summer is better than autumn/winter(standing outside at 3am in December waiting for puppy to pee isn't fun!)
However, I would seriously think about what to do with the puppy during renovations, could she be locked in a certain area?
Any renovations I've had done I've had to leave with the dog. It's just too much disruption, the noise, the comings and goings. It can really disturb and upset them

6 weeks is perfect timing for teaching house training etc - you'll be able to leave the back door open once the pup knows her way out - and a girl lab - perfect.

is she fox red by any chance?

have you got a name in mind?

I really don't think it's fair on your wife to be potentially lumbered with a dog for the next 16+ years, if she's not keen on the idea.

Why does a decent lab breeder have puppies born already that are still available?

What a shame for your wife. She will be stuck doing all the work for an animal that she doesnt want. I really doubt your kids are going to walk the dog.

I don't understand why your DW will be doing the morning walk every day? If you want the dog, you get up an hour earlier and do it, surely?

I've been doing loads of research and there is a perfect Kennel Club registered pup who will be ready in 6 weeks.

KC registration is no guarantee of a decent breeder, all it means is that both parent dogs were registered.

This is a really good, concise guide to finding a decent breeder. It's well worth reading their list of questions to ask a breeder as well. If you want something a little more in depth try this, it's from the American Kennel Club but the information is all still relevant.

The breeder should thoroughly grill you, not just be happy to hand over a puppy if you've got the money. Expect them to ask why you want that breed, why you chose them as a breeder, what you feel you can offer a dog, what you are hoping for in a dog, etc.

As far as health testing goes both parents should have been hip scored (with a score lower than 10), elbow scored (with a result of 0) and have current BVA eye tests (these are repeated annually).

At an absolute minimum both should have been DNA for (or be clear by parentage of) prcd-PRA, Hereditary Nasal Parakeratosis, Centronuclear Myopathy and Exercise Induced Collapse.

The litter should also be screened by a BVA eye panellist for signs of Multifocal Retinal Dysplasia.

Ideally they should also have been tested for (or be clear by parentage of) Achromatopsia, Leukodystrophy, Congenital Myasthenic Syndrome, Cystinuria, Degenerative Myelopathy, Skeletal Dysplasia, Macrothrombocytopenia, Narcolepsy, Pyruvate Kinase Deficiency, Oculo Skeletal Dysplasia and X-linked Myotubular Myopathy.

The litter should have a coefficient of inbreeding lower than the breed average (which in labs is currently 6.5%) but preferably as close to 0% as possible. This blog post gives a good explanation of why COIs are so important.

The breeder should be happy to show you all relevant paperwork for all the health tests as well as talk you through both them and the inbreeding coefficient of the litter.

If you have the KC registered names of the parents you can use the Kennel Club Mate Select service to check the COI of the litter and for health test results for the parents. Bear in mind though that currently not all the available DNA tests will show up on those results.

Preferably the breeder should be doing something with their dogs whether showing, working, taking part in dogs sports, PaT dog qualifications, even the KC Good Citizen Dog Scheme awards. Just something which indicates they're keen to test their dogs either physically or mentally (or ideally both) prior to breeding from them.

They should also have a good working knowledge of dog conformation (their physical structure), how it potentially affects the dogs in question, be able to identify shortcomings in their bitch and explain why they picked that particular stud dog to improve them.

They should have picked the best possible stud for their bitch in terms of complimentary conformation, temperament, health test results and prospective litter COI rather than just using one because they also happen to own him or he only lives down the road. The best possible match for any bitch in terms of producing healthy, well put together pups of great temperament is rarely the closest one.

Finally, they should be putting a lot of effort raising these puppies. Far too many breeders just let the bitch get on with it then do the absolute minimum to keep them clean and vaguely stimulated once they're weaned. This site gives you a good idea of the minimum the breeder should be doing during each stage of the puppies' development. Ideally they should have made a start on toilet training (proper toilet training, not just getting them to go on pads) and also started getting the puppies used to being separated from the litter. The absolute gold standard of puppy raising is the Puppy Culture method and I'd highly recommend it to prospective puppy buyers as well as it covers right up until twelve weeks old. There's an excellent FB group where you can see breeders utilising the methods and the difference it makes to the puppies.

This puppy will hopefully be part of your family for well over the next decade, it's really worth putting in the extra effort and time to find a really great breeder who is not only doing everything they can to produce healthy, happy, well rounded puppies but will be also be there to support you should you need it throughout the life of your dog.

Your wife really doesn't want the dog ( being beaten down is NOT the same as being on board )

Your DD will love the puppy but children very quickly get meh with the reality.

I have lived with building renovation, it was hell on earth. I had dust everywhere, no kitchen and still had to go to work. I wouldn't want a dog in the mix.

Look at how many animals are "Kids Lost Interest" on Gumtree etc.

Your wants do not over-ride an animals needs .

My puppy is 6 months old (a lovely, cuddly Tibetan).... she is house trained, can be left for short periods, enjoys walking BUT still has the odd mad moment when she will go for anything within reach and give it a good chew! Not sure how you handle building work?

.... on the other hand, it's easier to train a puppy in the summer months, open doors for house training, garden playground and long evenings. (Don't forget about standing outside in the freezing cold at 11pm because puppy needs the toilet! Go and get one now!!!)

I am firmly in the rescue camp having seen dogs go from breeder to family to rescue over and over again. Over time we have had four delightful rescue dogs ranging in age from less than a year to 10yrs old and we have fostered others. All were house-trained when they came to us. None have had significant behavioural problems.

Most dogs go to rescue due to divorce/homelessness/death of owner, new baby, new dog, failure to neuter/spay.

Many people who insist on a bred dog are misinformed about rescue. If you must have a puppy consider rescue; you can even get the breed of your choice from a breed rescue.

While puppies are cute, you'll find that once the initial excitement wears off, they like to chew on children and their belongings and the shine wears off quickly.

Rescue dogs can come fully assessed from reputable rescues with behavioural back up and life-long support. They're usually house-trained and have decent basic training. Many are wonderful at playing with children and many have been tested with cats.

This guy came to us at 19months old having after spending 3 weeks in a foster home with other dogs, cats and toddlers. He's 7 now and he's the easiest dog in the wordl to live with.

Please reconsider getting from a breeder - there are so many wonderful dogs of all breeds and ages desperately needing a home. At least go and have a look at your nearest shelter before you decide.

Also don't understand why your DW is lumbered with the morning walks. If you want one that badly you should be getting up earlier to walk it.

P.S. we have 3 children helping with training at our puppy class. They are between 8-14. My DD trained her own dog age 7. If your children are serious about the puppy, you should look for a child friendly training class. Set the challenge to do the KC good citizens dog certificate to at least bronze standard. (That's about 20 weeks of training classes... how serious are you? Will you support your children all the way? Training has to be daily... a few short sessions. DW will be very impressed if puppy learns how to be a perfect family pet!)

Puppies are a bloody nightmare as it is and you've gone for one of the most hyper breeds, and your wife doesn't even want a puppy. are you crazy?

You are being completely unreasonable and selfish inflicting a dog and all the hassle it entails on someone who doesn't want one. Sounds like your 8 year old doesn't really know what having a dog involves - have you been doing a doggy sales job on her? I notice you have another daughter, what do they think? I would becompletely fed up if I were your wife, picking up dogshit on walks doesn't score highly on my list of fun activities.

I don't think an Andrex puppy takes much selling to any eight year old. And I bet DW gets landed with the training and some if the evening walks too.

Was DW2 a typo or a Freudian slip? 😄

Hey Canine why doncha post this on "Doghouse" in Pets for some good advice?
Tell them about the little ball of gorgeous fluff that you absolutely must have and your wife doesn't want , you're buying for your child and planning building work.

You'll get your Hands Head and Balls to play with

How many wives do you have?

Indigo - I assume that both adults are female, and so OP is a DW as well

Let me tell you from experience that renovations and a young dog is HELL on earth. The builders leave doors open and screwdriver bits everywhere which puppies love to swallow and heat guns that burn little noses and they get sharp stuff caught in their paws and claw at doors when shut in other rooms and I've just never had so much stress. Both my kids combined were easier than Ddog2 as a puppy. I was idiotic enough to get him just after I had DS, lulled into the false sense of security which was DDog1.

Building works happened a year later. Even a year old he was a fucker and there was me clutching a baby going "Don't leave the door open! Ddog1! Get him back here! Ddog2 GET BACK HERE YOU FUCKER!" Then the poor neighbours were treated to the sight of this shrieking harpy with bags under her eyes and jeans over PJs, baby under her arm, running up the path behind Ddog1 who was already halfway down the street after Ddog2 and trying to herd him back like some demented sheep.

Just don't do it OP. Learn from my naivety. Wait till the work is done and you're all settled again.

Lab puppies are more often than not more like little furry sharknados than little passive cuddly things so I think your daughter may get a bit of a shock when she tries to 'nurture' it and it lunges for her face with needle sharp teeth. I am a vet and did 1st vaccs on a Lab pup today and it did exactly that to me! Puppies are hard work but they are also not puppies for long, if you want a dog you have to want just that - a dog, the adult dog that it will be for the vast majority of its life. They're a fabulous breed but are big, strong, active dogs and if your DW is not totally on board but is going to be expected to do at least half the walking for the next 12+ years come sun, snow and pissing down rain then I honestly think you're going to have problems on your hands.

Who will be staying with the puppy for the first few weeks? You know it can't be left alone while you bog off to work. If your wife doesn't want one, I think it's incredibly selfish to forge ahead anyway. No decent breeder should have puppies available for some randomer who has decided he wants a puppy without being on a waiting list.

Follow Cornflake's advice: don't whinge if you find health issues down the line if you don't insist on health tests and low scores for hips. Labs are renowned for hip dysplasia.

If you're open to the idea of rescuing then have a look at smaller, independent rescues rather than the bigger ones. They tend to be a lot more flexible with their rehoming policies and many are also entirely foster based rather than using kennels. The advantage of this is that the rescue get a much better idea of the dog's temperament and how they fit into a family home.

There are also lots of breed specific rescues, particularly for popular breeds, and again these are often a bit more flexible than the really large rescues.

Puppies are extremely hard work anyway and even more so if not all the adults in the household are entirely on board. An adult rescue dog who has spent time in a foster home with children (and in your case who has either lived with or been properly tested with cats) can be an absolutely fabulous option for a first dog.

I presume you meant DD2 not DW2?

Your DW doesn't want a dog, so you really shouldn't be getting a dog. They're a HUGE commitment, expense & tie.

Your DD2 is too young to make a commitment to having a dog. Of course she wants one, most kids do, but the novelty soon wears off.

However, it appears YOU are going to get one anyway...

YOU want the dog, YOU need to be walking it at least 2x a day, cleaning up after it, taking it to the vets, buying it's food, feeding it & everything else.

Friends have just had a police drugs puppy, why don't you do that first & see how it goes?

Do that, then the renovation, then think about whether getting a dog is really a good idea for your family or not.