Do we get a puppy or go for dc3?

[laughorcry]

A puppy would be great, keep us fit and generally bring much happiness to ds 1 and ds2. I wouldn't have to give birth to it or feed it in the night. And I would be able to go for proper walks where we covered more than 50 yards in an hour.

On the con side it would eat shoes even more often than ds2 and I can see myself regretting only having the two kids.

I'm open to the possibility that the puppy thing is a technique for avoiding having to really think about having another baby, but this is the way my mind always seems to go when I think about it.

Go for the baby.
Then the puppy in 2 yrs time.

I am sat here chuckling because I think I am just getting my head round not having DC3 and seriously thinking that I should get a cocker spaniel instead.. was about to post if anyone had one and if they really are the lovely breed the internet tells me..

Good luck with your decision, but just for arguments sake.. what type of dog would you like?

Ahh, Jingley that's an easy one - would go for a Cairn Terrier as we've heard good things and know two lovely ones! I've heard good things about Cocker Spaniels too, but don't know any so haven't got a strong opinion.

Cadelaide - that would probably be a good idea - my heart is just sinking at the thought of all the pregnancy/newborn stuff. ds2 is 14 months and life has just reached an even keel.

I love the idea of more babies but DH has made his view clear.. marriage or babies.. I am still gently working on it but in my heart I think I know he isn't going to change his mind.. DS2 is 17 months I can see the light at the end of the tunnel too as he will start nursery school a couple of mornings a week in September as DS1 starts full time school.

Ahh so cute is this what you meant.

bit like scotties but not white is that right?

how about one like this
here

would "help" with the other two kids aswell

That's it Jingley, although they look a bit less fluffy and more wirey when they get older I think.

It's a really hard one when you disagree with your dh on number of kids I think. I'm in a slightly different situation to you - dh would prefer to stop at 2, but will have another if that is what I want. I'm finding it incredibly hard to say I do want to go ahead because I worry that dc3 should be actively wanted by both of us like its brothers were.

milkgoddess - that's brilliant. we could get one to patrol the upstairs landing after bedtime.

lol !!!!
the buggers wouldn't get up in the night then would they ? lol

but kidding aside i think you sound like you want a dc3 more

i reckon a giant schnauzer myself
go for dc3, plenty of time in the future for a puppy

I did this 2 years ago - dh and I had both always wanted 3 children, but had to face the fact that I wouldn't cope physically or emotionally with another crappy pregnancy and didn't want to be a terrible mother to our existing 2 children for 9 months. So we got a labrador, and now have another one as well. They have both been fabulous additions to our family

WiiMii - that's good to hear. Do you think she would have been OK with younger ones (1/2 year olds?)

milkgoddess - you're right, I do want a dc3 more. I think.

But Prufrock, I also feel as you did - I didn't feel like a very good mum to ds1 when I was preg and when ds2 was newborn.

I think the real problem is that I can't work out whether having dc3 would just be a bit of pleasure deferral and at the end of the next couple of years we would be where we are now but with another child and getting back to an even keel, or whether this could just tip our happy family over the edge into not coping.

Hmm - sorry this is a bit of a mixed thread.

DarrellRivers - are giantschnauzers giant? That might avoid the need for one of milkgoddesses devil dogs.

I went for the puppy when my youngest was 2 and haven't regretted it.
Puppies don't wear nappies and are actually much easier to housetrain than children.
Puppies only grow out of collars, not an entire wardrobe of clothes and shoes.
Puppies don't need car seats or pushchairs.
They are generally less fussy eaters than your average toddler.
You can put them in kennels when you go on holiday. This is sadly not possible with children.
They don't answer back when they grow up.
They don't ask endless questions.
Now I'm wondering why I bothered having children . I should have just got loads of lovely dogs.

You can get a dog anytime. I would go for no.3.