Should I get a Labrador with a 22 month old and one on the way?

[Sara79]

Hello, My husband and i have always said that we would love to have a dog at some point, and would love a labrador. A friend has recently told us that she needs to give up one of her black labs and has offered us her dog if we'd like it.
The dog is currently 18 months old, and is a pedigree.
I am really tempted and would normally jump at the chance, but we've currently got a 22 month old daughter and I'm pregnant with a due date of Mid November. This of course means that I'll be on maternity leave for 9 months and therefore wont be leaving the dog on its own for too long so the timing is great from that point of view (and when i do go back to work it'll only be on its own for 2 days a week). However i am nervous about how a dog will react to a newborn and my toddler and also how i'll cope with a toddler, newborn and a dog!!
For example, presumably i wont be able to put the baby on a mat on the floor and then go out of the room if the dog's around?
Do you think that the dog will be constantly trying to lick etc the baby or will it probably ignore it?
and I am worried that the dog (as it's quite young) could get over excited and knock over my todder and hurt it.
I think that a lab would make a lovely family pet, and it would be great to get a dog from a friend so we know its history and that it's not aggressive etc, but i would really appreciate any advice for anyone who has owned a labrador before and how it fitted into your young family.
Many thanks in advance. S

I'm sure it would make a lovely pet but it will need loads of exercise and I think you're mad to consider it with a toddler and a baby on the way.

You wouldn't be able to put the baby on a mat and go out of the room if the dog is around and you wouldn't be able to leave your toddler with him either. He might well jump and knock your toddler over when excited though can be trained out of jumping. Again depending on how he has been handled he may be quite mouthy when playing ie. Put mouth on skin and if he's anything like my dog he will like to lick. She knows she's not supposed to and licks her lips but sometimes forgets.

At 18 months the dog is still quite puppy like and is going to need a fair bit of exercise and probably some training. There will be hair all over the floor plus mud for good measure. Walking in all weathers, making sure he has toys to keep him occupied, flea drops to administer monthly, worming that needs to be dine, checking for ticks, checkng ears are OK. If you're very experienced with dogs I guess you will cope but personally I also think you are mad to be considering this at the moment.

As the owner of a 2 year old lab whom I adore I would advise caution about getting a dog in your current situation.

Labs are lovely family dogs, they respond well to training, are loyal and protective yet gentle with children. However, they need alot of exercise. My lab needs at least an hour and a half long walk a day. This is a big commitment and I do not work and my DDs are at school. I imagine it would be very hard pregnant and with a toddler and/or a newborn too.

Walks have to be done in wind, rain, snow and storm and sometimes that is hard with children and mine are 11 & 8!

My personal view is that dogs should not be left all day on their own so I would advise getting a dog walker to let the dog out when you go back to work. This can be costly but a young lab should not be shut in all day!

I think that possibly now is not the best time to get a dog. If it were me I would wait another year or so and rethink then.

Good Luck.

I would say you should wait, dogs are a lot of work and a dog need exercise. I have owned and bred dogs all my adult life but wouldn't want a puppy or very young dog in pregnancy or with a very young family
Although I did have a litter of puppies when my youngest was 2 years old, but I also had live in help and I wasn't working. Still bloody hard work though.

Really not fair on the family or the dog, wait until the children are older and you don't have to leave the dog all day.

Thanks for all your messages. I think that they have all confirmed what I was thinking deep down. We would love a dog in the future, but I agree that now is not the best time.
Thanks for all your honest advice and for helping us make the decision.