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Original poster

Chocolate labrador puppy? 2 dds and baby on way in October.....

18 replies

Flum · 25/02/2008 09:40

Is this sensible. DDs are 4 and nearly 2, baby due end of Oct.

DH has had labradors and other dogs all his life.

Puppy will be ready mid march.

Figure positives: Fun for kids and DH and me

Negatives: Mess, long walks needed etc etc.

OP posts:

NorthernLurker · 25/02/2008 09:43

I wouldn't - you don't need two babies in the house. Wait until all the children are older - they will enjoy it just as much and you will enjoy it a lot more than you would now!

Original poster

Flum · 25/02/2008 09:46

I'm thinking the timing is not ideal. Maybe in 2 years a puppy will fix the next baby craving.....

OP posts:

TheHonEnid · 25/02/2008 09:46

god no way

they are FULL ON

wait till the youngest is at school

flowerybeanbag · 25/02/2008 09:46

No not sensible. Puppies are such hard work when they are small. We were so pleased we got our dog as a puppy a year before DS was born, that was such a good decision.
The more attention you can give them the quicker they are trained, and with a new baby on the way and then arriving that would be very difficult, even more than it would with two small children you already have.

TheHonEnid · 25/02/2008 09:47

labs are smelly and in your face the entire time, not unlike a baby I find

Bluebutterfly · 25/02/2008 09:48

I have a dog 5 yrs that predated ds 3 yrs.

Positives: fun, incentive to get off backside and exercise with small baby, he is gently and lovely. Ds helps "feed" the dog

Negatives: have to consider what to do with dog if ever leave the house for more than about 5 hours, holidays, etc. Makes noise when out (barking sometimes). Puppies wake up as early as babies and cry! Leaves dog hair everywhere - constant hoovering necessary. Poos all over garden, need to clean it all up before children venture outside. Money, vaccinations, illnesses etc all cost extra money.

And finally, as much as my dh loves said dog almost all regular care, feeding, walking, grooming, s**t picking up, vet visits, drop offs at kennels, training etc. is down to me. IME it is usually MUM who ends up looking after the dog. If your husband works from home or is allowed dogs at work then you may not have this problem. However, despite the best of intentions, the dog has really ended up being MY responsibility. If you want that with a new baby, then fine.

If I hadn't had the dog first I would not personally have bought a puppy until I had finished having babies! (ahhh hindsight)

NorthernLurker · 25/02/2008 09:48

Puppy as baby substitute - good!
Puppy as baby sibling - bad!

ILikeToMoveItMoveIt · 25/02/2008 09:49

Don't do it!

Wait until your new baby is older. Both a puppy and a baby need a lot of looking after. You won't have enough time for both and will be tearing your hair out.

If a lab doesn't get enough attention your house will be TRASHED.

peanutbear · 25/02/2008 09:50

Its hard to walk 3 children and a dog in the winter for as long as the dog needs to walk for

I have 3 children and labradors and its doable and very nice but really hard work especially when they are crawling as the dog will be so young and bouncy

my lab will put up with anything of the kids though she is great with children and she is part of the family but was already 18 months old when number 3 came along and I still found fitting the time to walk her in a nightmare doable but very hard

moonmother · 25/02/2008 09:51

We have just got a Border Collie puppy,my 2 Dc are 8 and 4 and it's like having another baby in the house.

He's training well,but even with this you still have to have eye's in the back of your head and I'm either constantly up and down sorting him out or he's asleep in his crate.

I would hold off to be honest till your able to devote as much time as needed to the puppy,because they do need alot of time and attention.

LittleMissNorty · 25/02/2008 09:52

Blimey, I think you're mad even thinking about it. I've got a lab and if they don't get the attention they need as pups, they destroy your house. My dining room table and door frame will attest to that fact

They need lots of attention and lots of exercise.....

My dog is now 3 and have 8 month DD and that is bad enough ....I have a overgrown 40kg teenager dog and a very demanding baby...

Original poster

Flum · 25/02/2008 09:53

Well not many positives. But that is how we are feeling. DH has left final decision to me because although we have agreed he will always walk the dog when he is able (he does work from home at the moment, that could change.....) I and he are under no illusions about this. I know dog will be my main responsibility, and not looking forward to turning out in February with 3 month old and 2 year old in rain for a walk.

I think we might wait two years.

OP posts:

Bluebutterfly · 25/02/2008 09:53

Sorry about my shocking command of the English language in my post - I was writing my post in note-taking mode, which only makes sense to me! Hope you can decipher it

Original poster

Flum · 25/02/2008 09:54

Right well all this has really helped. I was erring on the side of no, as find family life quite timeconsuming and constraining enough already.

OP posts:

Original poster

Flum · 25/02/2008 09:56

Impressive, Blue Butterfly

Thank you all so much for your candid comments.

I think we will leave it for a couple of years.

OP posts:

TheHonEnid · 25/02/2008 10:13

i looked after a friends dog this weekend and he was lovely but god it was hard work (and my three are 2, 5 and 8!)

Original poster

Flum · 26/03/2010 21:40

Wow can't believe have just found this thread again. It is almost 2 years to the day. Said baby is now 15 months. Have just found lovely puppies in next vilage ready to go to homes in 6 weeks. Have selected a female black lab for DH, it is his birthday today. Still expecting next year to be hard.

DS is a proper handful but all kids really excited and so am I. Also I don't work at all anymore so have time to devote.

OP posts:

StayingDavidTennantsGirl · 26/03/2010 22:19

Awww - just the thought of little lab puppies is making me all mushy - we have a chocolate lab who is nearly 10 months old, and though it was really hard work at first, she is a delight and great company.

If I can offer some advice - use a puppy cage for her to sleep in - our pup settled into her cage at night very quickly, and only soiled it two or three times, so it helps night time training. It also quickly became her safe place, and she still has a cage and sleeps happily in it, both at night and when I have to be out during the day. She gets a bonio when she goes in there, and when you hand over her biscuit and tell her 'bedtime' she trots off and lies down in her cage.

We did think that eventually she'd end up in a proper dog bed in the dining room, but she loves her cage so we'll carry on using it as long as she has enough space in there.

We have a cat too, and she quickly learned to use the catflap to go out and do her business (the garden was secure). Now she can only fit her head through the catflap, but rattles it as her signal that she wants to go out.

We have two black labs living in our street, and they are both lovely dogs - and sooo cute as puppies - all silky fur and soft ears and big sad eyes - you are going to love her.

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