Page 2 | Im getting a labrador puppy AM I MAD?

OnlyWantsOne · 2010-08-27T06:53:00+00:00

We collect her next week, she'll be 8 weeks. She's a white lab, we've called her Tahlulla... Am I mad?

Original poster

OnlyWantsOne · 27/08/2010 14:48

Vallhala, I am doing my research...

OP posts:

Vallhala · 27/08/2010 14:51

Only, as a rescuer I honestly think that you should have done your research BEFORE you agreed to purchase a puppy.

(Actually, as a rescuer I'd ask "Why breed and buy whilst others die?" but that's another thread...).

minimu1 · 27/08/2010 17:18

I don't mean to go on but does you OH really want to be training a puppy and out with the dog when his dear wife has had a day with two little ones under 5. Who is desperate for OH to come home from work to bath the DC so she can get a bit of quiet time to make supper (or even OH make supper and she put her feet up with a glass of wine) But in reality OH comes home has to go straight out with the dog who has been doing your head in as the dog has not had enough exercise because you have had to go to nursery and the baby would not settle and needed constant feeding. The puppy has eaten a babies nappy when you were reading a story to your toddler and was then sick while you were feeding the baby. Your toddlers toys have all got teethmarks in them from chewing as he is not old enough to remember to always put them away when he is not playing with them. The puppy has pooed duplo in the hall and the toddler has trodden in it running to tell you about it. Whilst you are busy picking up dog poo from the garden as your DC has a friend coming aroung.

Alternatively roll on a few years. You are walking your DC to school and they are so excited cos you are getting a puppy. They are really interested to go to the puppy training classes so that they can train the puppy. The smile on the DC face when they have taught the lab puppy to retrieve a ball and the giggles they have when they throw the ball for the puppy. How easy it is to combine a walk in the country or the park with getting the DC out and about on their bikes.

Just a thought. I'll go away now and promise not to hassle you again. But I am only saying this to save your sanity

WynkenBlynkenandNod · 27/08/2010 17:37

Yes I think in your circumstances you are slightly mad. My youngest is 6 and our lab sized dog came to us when she was 4 months and has never been mouthy but very bouncy . She is hugely calmer now at nearly 15 months but my goodness it has been very hard work and we're not finished yet. Only last week she chewed a hole in my sofa trying to get out a piece of sausage DS dropped there (don't ask).

Also I have a lovely bruise on my arm where I had a blood test this morning for Lymes disease. This is after developing symptoms after a tick incident last month that I got 2.30am in the garden when the dog stopped sleeping after she was spayed. Not her fault and hopefully I don't have it but things like this are all the bits of dog ownership you don't expect but can happen.

Vallhala · 27/08/2010 18:38

Aw Wynken, sending sympathy (and a virtual, very early glass of wine over). Blood tests are horrible.

vjg13 · 27/08/2010 19:18

I also think it would be really bad timing to get a puppy now for your family. Would you not consider waiting or taking on an older rescue dog who could be a much better fit for your situation?

MeMudmagnet · 27/08/2010 20:39

Unless your DH is able to be around ALOT ie, work from home etc, or have very flexible working hours, I'd say this was bad timing.

My last dog was 5 when we started our 2 legged family and more or less starting to calm down (Irish Setter)
I now have 2dds (11 & 6) and a 10mnth old giant breed pup. This has been fine due to the my dds being older and very dog savvy.

Yesterday I had a get together with some old college friends and all their children. 9 kids aged between 18mnths and 12yrs. I was very proud of my pups behaviour, but had to separate her from the kids on a regular basis, for both their sakes!
The kids were all very good with her, but it was a full time job stopping her from licking their faces and getting over excited and stopping the little ones from feeding her small toys.
I love dogs and would never want to be without one, but I wouldn't have a puppy with a baby or toddler.

If you're really that desperate to have a dog, maybe you could consider taking on an older dog once your baby has past the difficult stage?

BudaisintheZONE · 27/08/2010 20:50

I don't think you are mad to get a lab puppy but I think you are mad to get one now. It is bloody hard work. You can't take your eyes off them.

We got a lab pup last summer. I posted on here about how I was hating it. Tried to get rid of her twice! We kept her in the end and she is now lovely and calm. So much so that we just got another! This one should be called pickle. She is up to do much more than first one was. Much more mischievous. I could not imagine doing it with a newborn. My DS was 7 when we got first one and was regularlyintears from the dog nipping him.

Avantia · 27/08/2010 21:03

We have a ten week old lab - had her one week. Have waited years for a dog, both DH and I were working full time , then children came along etc etc . My DS are now 8 and 10 and alot of friends wth children this age are now getting dogs as children seem a good age .

It has been like having a toddler dumped on you when you have nverhad children before !

The last week has been totally time consuming with the puppy - taking her out in garden for toilet , watching her in garden , stopping her nibble boys ankles , feeding schedule , trying not to fall over her as she follows you around (like a lost puppy).

our lab is from gun dog stock and breeder has said that we will really need to be firm with her .

I personaly think that at the moment you are raving bonkers to get a dog espcailly as it appears you seem not to know much about jabs, vets etc or even what colour it is supposed to be . Not being nasty but this week has been quite tiring at times and we have prepared for it for a long time .

I think you need to think really hard about it .

Labradorlover · 27/08/2010 23:45

I got my second Lab two years before I bred myself on purpose.
Wanted a second dog as company for first DDog.

Wanted a baby. But having witnessed a friend try to deal with having a newborn child and a puppy only a few months older than her bairn, I was willing to wait to have a baby until the yuongest dog was 2 years old, trained and more chilled out than a puppy.

My friend didn't get the pup herself. Her sister thought it was a nice present and would go nicely with pushing a pram! ( fuck wit ).
Friend had had dogs all her life, but found puppy and a baby, a total nightmare and had little/no time to train.
I looked after the puppy for a weekend, and came back after leaving her dog and mine ( same age ) in the kitchen, to find her puppy sitting on kitchen table with a chewed carving knife ( from the knife block) in it's mouth, utter distruction on surfaces my dog had never even thought about. Oh and shit everywhere.....
And you want that with a 4yr old as well, who will complicate the training further
and most likely annoy the dog, while you're not in the same room, as you're changing a nappy and have not slept.............

Shall I go on????

I love Labs, ( clues in the name ) Do your puppy the greatest kindness and let it have an owner who can give it time and training so that it can be the sort of dog who is a pleasure and a joy to be around. Not one that is a nightmare and likely to be put to sleep or dumped.

PS My friend persevered with puppy as she couldn't bear to fail it. But it was hell for 2 years and she and her husband nearly split up because of the dog.

In 5 years time go for it!

Vallhala · 28/08/2010 00:10

LabradorLover you've outed yourself as a Northerner haven't you! :o

I haven't heard "bairn" in ages, not since I lived in the NE.

(Sorry for the hijack, I just couldn't resist).

mamatomany · 28/08/2010 00:18

I love the look of Labs, somebody once told me though they take until they are 5 years old to calm down.
It'll ruin your babymoon period with the little one at the very least as you'll be trying to train the puppy.

Labradorlover · 28/08/2010 12:38

Mamatomany, My first Lab has always been a pretty chilled serene being, also walked loads.
But number 2 was a revelation to us. Soooooo much energy even now at almost 7. Also needs lots of stimulation and "jobs" to do.
He's from working stock, and reading the OP see that Onlywantsone is getting working stock too.............

Vallhala, proper Northerner! Chilly Scotland!

wildfig · 28/08/2010 14:38

I work from home, have an older dog and no kids, and got a puppy last summer. The mess/stress/destruction/noise/havoc/restriction/slobber has almost entirely put me off having two-legged children.

If you were getting a placid older rescue dog who won't need constant supervision for the next three years, then you'd be a bit less mad, but only you know what your chaos toleration levels and support systems are.

Ishouldprobablywax · 30/08/2010 01:13

Oooh you are mad!
I adore old labs (dp's are 7 and 14) they are lovely loyal daft things.
But!
My mum has what it nicknamed 'thebeast' a huuuge harumphing uncoordinated naughty funny hungry mentalist!
He's so fun but he needs three long walks a day and sits on everything and anyone despite weighing 9 stone (even vet said his size was freakish)
my mum has owned lots of different breeds and rescued etc but ask her bout this pooch and her words are 'i love him....BUT NEVER AGAIN!'

I think by the sounds of it you'd do much better with a cocker spaniel- they have the same nature but are a little bit more intelligent and smaller and easier to train