Should we get a puppy?????

[Solo2]

DSs, aged 8, really, really want a dog and my whole life, I've wanted one too but never had one. We've had cats and currently have 2 newish ones. I work from home but the work involves really being unavailable for about 4 to 5 hrs of the day, with 5 mins break every hr. If we got a puppy, we'd get it in the hols when I could take maybe 3 weeks max. off work but would that be enough to settle it in?

Don't know enough about puppies to know if 4 to 5 hrs a day, albeit with quick visits between each hr, would be too little input for new puppy?

Other questions are - should we get a golden retriever, if we go ahead - which is what I want - or a small terrier, which is what DS wants? We have a fairly large garden for a small dog and it'd need less walking but I LOVE golden retrievers.... If a small dog, what breed is easiest, most trainable, least aggressive??

Also, would a puppy mix OK with our 6 month old cats?

Finally, twin sons are only 8 and I'm a single mum, so would do all the basic looking after. Should we wait until the children are older, eg age 11/12?

I have always had cats but we recently got ds a puppy a Labrador in some ways he is easier than a cat because he can be controlled and doesn't go all over the sides. Don't know about the length of time thing but I had no choice but to leave my puppy for 5 hours about two weeks after getting him he did not seem distressed.
r.e terrier I would go with a staff personally as they are my favorite breed of terrier

Think really hard about this.

Also think about getting a rescue dog.
Reason 1 there are lots needing homes
Reason 2 a slightly older dog will need less settling in and will lie quietly at your feet while you work
Reason 3 you can see the temperament of the dogwhen it is a bit older. When you get a pup they are sweet but could turn into hyper active children hassling dogs (I have exaggerated obviously!)
Reason 4 from day one you can start to train and the kids can walk the dog and build up a bond.

Pups are hard work for several months and I could make you life hard for more than 3 weeks. You still be having to take them out to wee regularly could be disturbing when you are working.
Goldies are lovely dogs but do tend to bring every bracken leaf or tree branch into the house after every walk
Terriers are more teflo coated but may need more training to stop chase instinct etc.

I would think your boys if committed are more than old enough to take responsibilit for the dog eg feeding and picking up poo! if they are willing. However to be realistic most of it will fall to you.

I am the dog lover in our house and even I get fed up of wet walks and soggy dogs at times!

I am sure others will be along to give you their experience but a rescue dog could be fab.

But I like big dogs and retrievers are supposed to be good first dogs so my preference of a terrier or retriever would be the retriever.

I got a puppy 4 days ago and boy, is he hard work!
I am totally smitten by him though, even thoudh I didn't sleep for 2 nights after getting him and the fact that he keeps weeing on the floor!

My puppy is left home alone for 6 hours. I am gutted that he is left alone, I wish I could stay with him but that is our life and he is to fit in with us.
He is the most happiest little thing, even the vet commented how friendly he is.

I'm with minimu on this one. An older dog, who will be neutered and vaccinated from a reputable rescue which will give you lifetime support and advice, be able to take the dog back should there ever be a time when you can't keep him and which will match the dog to you and your family and lifestyle is a much better option imho. Besides, as minimu says, there are so many dogs in need of homes and so many who die in pounds for want of a loving owner.

Just fyi, I'm a lone mum of 2 who has had rescue dogs, has fostered dogs for rescue, has a rescued pup (now 2 years old, a mad, lovable GSD) and, before I had the DC, a breeder-purchased pup and admit to being biased as a rescue worker.

I hope this helps.

Hi I know that some on here have far far more knowledge than me but I would just like to add my ha'porth from my own experience.

It sounds to me that a puppy would be workable for you as you are mainly at home. 8 year olds are quite old enough to go for decent length daily walks without too many tantrums. Puppies don't need your undivided attention for 24 hours a day (especially if they have a crate for short periods while you are busy.) What they do need is regular and frequent attention (particularly opportunities to be rewarded for weeing in the right place!) Could you offer a puppy perhaps 10 minutes every hour while you are working?

As for the type of dog - yes many rescue dogs are fantastic and waiting for loving homes BUT carry more 'baggage' and are less predictable. If you are still interested in terriers check out Cairn terriers. We chose a Cairn after much research and she has been a fantastic addition to a rough and tumble house of boys and cats. They are the most gentle and kind of the terriers, great with children (play football, climb rocks, run races etc etc) and as they are smaller don't need quite as much exercise as a bigger dog. Have to go..

Slambang, I don't mean to be picky but can I just say that although SOME rescue dogs CAN come with baggage and CAN be unpredictable its the job of a reputable rescue to assess all their dogs and match the dog to the owner. For example, a decent rescue wouldn't consider homing the same type of dog to me as to the OP, as I'm considered an old boot hand with dogs and the OP is new to ownership.

I'm just trying to emphasise that if the OP does approach rescue these are the sort of things she should expect it to offer. As someone who is involved in rescue I'm anxious to explain that they can differ in policy and that some are ace, some less so, but that a decent one will do their homework and expect you to do yours, so reducing tremendously the chances of a failed match.

"My" local rescue is considered very fussy in deciding who adopts BUT we very rarely have dogs "bounce" back to the rescue. If the OP will consider an older dog I'd really recommend consulting a rescue.

I agree with Valhala "if" there are issues they can be clearly been seen. With a puppy you may still have issues but have no idea what they are until you are committed to the dog.

Agree with minimu - it's the puppies who are the unknown quantities, and who may have issues, not the fully assessed adult dogs from reputable rescues.

The only dog I have ever owned (out of a lifetime of dogs) with s serious behavioural issue was one I bought as a pup.

My fully vetted and assessed rescue dog on the other hand, is 100% problem free.