Should we get a dog? Do we have the right set up?

[marge2]

OK, so here's the situation.

We have 2 boys aged almost 5 and 6 1/2. We live in the country with a huge fenced back garden backing into woods. I work PT and DH works FT. We both work some days from home so there is someone at home every day except Thursdays when there is nobody home from 08:15 until I get back from School run at 15:45pm. We all love walking and as we shirk work from home , it would be easy to nip out for a walk morning and afternoon / evening with the dog for a walk.

I have a horse, who I have owned for 15 years, and looked after on DIY livery for 9 years, pre-kids, so understand the committment owning an animal involves. Vets bills up the cazoo, exercise, holiday cover getting up in the dark to go out in the mud and ice, etc. I have never had a dog though. DH had dogs when he was a child. The boys would really love a dog. DH would like a dog, but realistically. I am the one that would probably end up doing most of the work.

I am not fussed on the breed. I would be happy with a mongrel, as supposedly generally they have fewer health problems. Just know I don't want anything too big, hairy or bouncy, and obv it must be child friendly.

I have just finished reading the post from the lady witha 12 week old baby and from the anaswers it sounds like a puppy is harder work than a baby, so I am now worried!!!

Talk to me, ladies.....Should I let them persuade me or not???

It sounds like you have an ideal set up for a dog, why not arrange a visit to a rescue to see if there are any dogs that you like? As your kids are 5+ they shouldn't be fussed about rehoming a dog to you

Yep, you sound ideal!

Obviously if you do go to a shelter or meet a puppy litter try and find out if the dogs are comfortable around horses, as it would be great to be able to exercise the both of them at once!

You sound perfect! From what you said I'd happily recommend that the rescues I work with take you seriously. If you're interested in a rescue dog and would like me to suggest some rescues locally and nationwide (some do rehome across the country, some don't, as I'm sure you know), then please tell me your nearest town/city or your county and I'll do my best.

It's not harder work than a baby, but puppies need more attention than you expect. They also do things that babies don't - like eat the sofa. They need constant supervision really.

I'm in South OXON. I know of a couple of rehoming places, but don't know if they have good reputations. Are there any good ones that would give me advice on how much/what/when to feed, how to house train etc?

The horse doesn't live at our house, but there's plenty of off road riding at the yard where she is a few miles away. It would be FAB to take a dog out with her, but it would have to be pretty obedient and stay close as I'm too creaky to get on without a nice handy mounting block nowadays. (Gone are the days when I used to be able to vault on)

also... what about Thursdays when we're not home. Could I leave a puppy alone for 7 hours, or would I need to rope my Mum in to puppy sit? .. for how long?? weeks? months?
Could I leave it in the garden? Would it mmurder the chickens?

Lurking here and bumping too, hello Marge. We ARE getting a puppy in June after lots of thought, DD 12 and has waited a long time. Main reason for now is that I won't be working at all for a few months, so not quite your situation.

But like you, I'm interested to find out how long a puppy can be left alone for the first few weeks/months. I'm assuming I can pop out for a few hours at a time, if the puppy is happy (and crated as we have only one large open plan room downstairs). I grew up with dogs, but a long time has passed since the 70s..!

Any more advice for Marge (and me!).