To not take excited 4 year old to his first lesson

[JustSaltPlease]

Arggg help me out. Meant to take son to first swimming lesson today, he's been asking about it for a while.

Problem number 1 is I have a heavy period, although this isn't a massive bother.

Problem 2 is my puppy sitter has let me down and my little pup isn't used to being alone yet, between school pick up and lesson I'd be gone around 1.5 to 2 hours. So please confirm that I have to let my son down!

Dp saying to leave puppy in kitchen but God knows what stress he will be under and subsequently what damage he will do!

Just go and leave the puppy - he will be ok for a couple of hours.

The lesson can wait. Puppy will be settled soon enough.

Yep, go and leave the puppy.

I’m pleased you are considering the wellbeing of your puppy.
Maybe DP changes his plans and looks after your pup?

So your puppy takes presedent to your child? The puppy being stressed vs the 4yr old being let down? Which will be more understanding? Will the child be put off til tomorrow? Can you arrange something equally exciting that involves the dog too?

Can you not take the puppy to the swimming lesson? (unsure if you're actually meaning you're meant to be in the water or at side of pool!)

I would NEVER choose a puppy over my son! Of course you can leave a puppy for 1.5/2 hours for the sake of your son, goodness sake! You said yourself, he’s very excited. You have to go!

More details needed. How old is the puppy? How long have you had him? Have you left him for any length of time prior to now?

Don’t leave the puppy if it isn’t used to being left for that length of time. It will cause distress and separation anxiety which will take a lot of work to undo.

Of course leave the puppy!
The puppy will be fine but your son may not. Dogs don't need some wine with them 24/7 or else they never get used to being alone.
Leave the puppy with plenty of toys and chews and remove anything with they may damage or could damage them.

Some of these comments are a joke! Jesus a child can wait it's not the end of the world. Glad you all would look out for the welfare of a new pup. And take the puppy to the swimming lesson? ffs.

Didn't expect suggestions to leave puppy! He is only 15 weeks old and hasn't been left alone for more than 10 minutes. My dog trainer says it needs to be gradual. I think I'm gonna have to get him a toy to make up for it :(

And yes I'd be going in the pool so taking puppy isn't an option lol

Don't leave the puppy.

It's a baby, you can't leave him alone for 90 mins.

Well done for being a responsible dog owner.

Same here. But I have to admit that this is exactly why we have never had a dog. I can’t be bothered with this level of inconvenience. You can take a baby to your older DC’s swimming lesson but you can’t take the puppy.

Yeah well done, not like what some other people would obviously be like.

The puppy can wait too! It's 2 hours max, the puppy won't come to any harm. This thread is clearly just dog lovers vs kid lovers.

OP can puppy go in the car with you? Obviously don't leave it in the car alone but you can sit with the puppy in the car while your son is in the swimming lesson (most swimming lessons don't need parent participation)

Cross posted with this update

A toy isn’t going to make up for it. Why would you ignore your dog trainer. Your son will be fine to miss one session.

@Curtainsformeplease calm down, she means a toy for her child. Why are people so ready to be mad for a dog when she's said she doesn't intend to leave it anyway?

Do you have family or friends that can go with DS to his swimming lesson?

I love kids and dogs, I have both. My son wouldn't come to any harm if I had to explain we had to wait a bit longer. Its a good life lesson for him. Do you know how anxious new puppies can be while they are settling in?

I would never prioritise a dog over a child.

A toy for the child.

I’d say this - it’s not the puppy taking precedence so much as, don’t rock the potentially more fragile boat.

Could swimming wait? At 2, you can tell him that the pool has a problem and sadly they can’t do the lesson, surely?

I don't think I would leave the puppy given your update, but I also think your gradual leaving of the puppy is too slow. Assuming you got it at 8 weeks, so in the last 7 weeks you've only left it for 10 minute time slots? You need to up this or it won't learn to spend time alone happily