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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Just found out im pregnant and getting a Puppy

74 replies

roundabout123 · 13/11/2019 09:24

Hi all,

I need some advice please. I have just found out I am 5 weeks pregnant with my second child. I also have a little girl who is 2. I have endometriosis and have been trying to conceive for about a year without much luck but yesterday I took a pregnancy test and found out I was pregnant! Woohoo. One thing though, we have placed a deposit on a Golden Retriever Puppy which we are due to pick up at the end of the year, I will be 10 weeks. I would still very much like to go through with it but I don't want to go in to it all with my eyes closed. The baby is due in July, is 7 months a reasonable amount of time to get this Puppy settled before the baby arrives? Fortunately my partner finishes work at 4 so is able to walk the Dog for me during the late stage of my pregnancy and once the baby has arrived but I'm still worried I'm taking too much on my plate? Please can someone advise?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Hoppinggreen · 13/11/2019 12:04

I’ve got a Golden Retriever who I love very much and I would say don’t do it.

MsChatterbox · 13/11/2019 12:06

My friend got a dog when pregnant and she said it was really hard work! It's such a shame but I would delay.

allthechipsticks · 13/11/2019 12:06

Op I really think you've made the right decision disappointing though it may be, in a couple of years when you get your puppy you'll look back and be glad you decided to hold off x

MsChatterbox · 13/11/2019 12:10

Just saw your update. I imagine that was a heartbreaking decision but one you will be grateful for in a few months!

FunOnTheBeach20 · 13/11/2019 12:12

Read your update OP very sensible.

I have always had dogs, fostered dogs and horses but I wouldn’t replace my dog if i lost him now. He’s an active breed and daycare has been a saviour throughout mat leave. Really lucky my parents have helped too. He’s a working cocker and can really pull with a pram, despite loads of training and agility etc.

Cyberworrier · 13/11/2019 12:12

@Stilltrying34 I’m so sorry to hear of your losses, that must have been an incredibly hard time.

FunOnTheBeach20 · 13/11/2019 12:13

He also injured himself when baby was 2 weeks and had a couple of weeks of no walks (and a massive vets bill) was pure hell as he was like a coiled spring and restless around the baby. You just don’t know with children and animals!

Roselilly36 · 13/11/2019 12:15

Congrats OP

Think really carefully, puppies are very hard work. I wouldn’t do it tbh, for a number of different reasons.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

Frenchfancy · 13/11/2019 12:16

I did this, but even worse we knew I was pregnant with no3 when we got the puppy. I have no idea what I was thinking. I remember the low point being when puppy was about 7 months old and came on heat for the 1st time. DH was away, I had a baby and 2 dcs, and was having to clean up the blood spots from the dog. For some reason it had never occurred to me that bitches would bleed.

She is 13 now and showing her age but she has been a big part of my DCs childhood. Doesn't mean I would recommend it though.

colourbynumbers · 13/11/2019 12:16

I don't have children, but do have a 14 week old Labrador puppy.

We started training our pup as soon as we got him at 8 weeks. He is boisterous but very intelligent and has learnt so quickly.

He absolutely adores children and I would have no qualms about him being around a 2 year old.

I won't lie, he can be hard work but I have found being consistent with commands/training to be invaluable.

I say as long as you're prepared for it and have an area available to keep the puppy contained (another room with a baby gate, for example) get the puppy!

By the time your baby arrives, your puppy will be over the play biting stage and understanding commands.

Think of the fun you'll all be having in a year or two when everyone is a bit bigger

MyDcAreMarvel · 13/11/2019 12:21

please remember we know our own children best and whilst some young children may not be able to adjust well to getting a new animals, others would be perfectly fine especially if they have grown up around animals.
You have no idea how your toddler will cope with a new puppy and and new baby though.
Aside from that it’s a really bad idea it’s not fair on anyone, you , your dd, new baby or puppy. You won’t be able to meet everyone’s needs without a massive toll on yourself.
Wait about three years from now.

MustardScreams · 13/11/2019 12:22

@colourbynumbers have you lived through a labrador’s teenage years? Because trust me they are almost worse than the puppy stage. The forget every command, are much bigger and are utter pests for a good few months!

Both my spaniels were nightmares from 7 months - 18 months. One is 10 and the other 7 now and they’re lovely. But the teenage phase is horrendous,

FunOnTheBeach20 · 13/11/2019 12:35

@colourbynumbers

As easy as a separate area for the dog sounds, in reality it means the dog will spend most it life separated. Having a big, young dog lose with children like that is dangerous and hard to manage. Dog won’t be integrated and just be miserable. My own dog spends time in a crate and I’m constantly clearing toys so he can come out and putting him away so baby can play on the floor. Fortunately he’s a bit older.

XXcstatic · 13/11/2019 12:52

@colourbynumbers

You have only owned a puppy for 6 weeks and it's at one of the easiest ages - house-trained but not needing lots of exercise. Wait till you have had it a couple of years.

Costacoffeeplease · 13/11/2019 12:59

Good decision op, there’ll be other pups

MyDcAreMarvel · 13/11/2019 13:46

Sorry op I missed some posts.

colourbynumbers · 13/11/2019 15:10

I've only owned my puppy for 6 weeks. I've had Labradors and German Shepherds my entire life.

I would still get the puppy.

Jesskir89 · 13/11/2019 15:37

You'll be fine :) my pub was fully training within around 3 months of getting him so he was 6 months ish and retrievers are intelligent dogs

adaline · 13/11/2019 15:58

Our dog (not a Labrador) is 20 months and it's only now that we'd consider bringing a child into our home. The first eighteen months were hard work - personally I found the teenage months much harder than the puppy ones as you're having to wrangle a dog with the strength of an adult but the mentality of a puppy.

We always wanted to get a dog before having children because I don't think there's any way I would cope with a baby or toddler and a puppy at same time!

RandomWok · 13/11/2019 16:31

Probably the best decision.

We got a puppy when I was 32 weeks. Fucking stupid idea. The puppy was absolutely bonkers. The baby once born couldn't be on the floor otherwise the puppy would have tried to chew them. Honestly it was really fucking hard. I cried a lot (probably hormonal) over all the chewed up baby toys. We couldn't leave anything below waist height. But we pushed through and now they are both 4 and the best of pals. My dog is an absolute star with children now. But fuck me the teenage and puppy stages were really tough. I would not recommend doing it! Perhaps if the dog was calmer and not such a hyper breed it would have been a bit different...? 🤷‍♀️

Wait a year x

Rubyroost · 13/11/2019 17:23

By 7 months I would have thought the mental puppy stage would be over. But you know what it's like having a newborn and it will be hard to give the young dog enough attention. We really love our dog who was about 4 when our little one arrived, she definitely had to take a backseat but was old enough to deal with it. I wonder if a 7 month puppy would have all the attention it needs at that age.

TheVanguardSix · 13/11/2019 17:36

No way.
One knock over while heavily pregnant and well...
That first year with a retriever is full-on. You must train. This involves time, energy, and intensity. And as great and as wonderful as retrievers are, and they really are brilliant, brilliant family dogs, they are so high energy, so bouncy, and soooo playful the first 12-18 months. You could get easily knocked over OP. Your DD too and you'll be too pregnant to run after her and grab her before a bounding hound runs into her. They get better after the age of 2-3, but they bound, bounce, and play like mad when they're young.
Do you recall what two young gun dogs running around a meadow are like? All it takes is your dog being off (or even on!) the lead, meeting another kindred spirit and boom! You have a couple of whirling dervishes, bouncing and ramming into people, playfully and lovingly, but still, it is very, very risky for you. You will be pregnant with a two-year-old to run after. Trying to deal with a dog in the midst of 'puppy crazies' with another dog will send your heart racing.
I think you'd be mad to go through with this.
Just wait a couple more years. Wait until your youngest is 2.

Casejenk · 06/11/2020 10:58

Im in this exact predicament! I found out I was pregnant today, i have a 4yr old and the puppy is 10.5weeks and due to arrive next Thursday!!! I’ve only paid the deposit so far so its fine to lose the money but now im torn! Do I cancel with the breeder and hope she finds a brand new home now? So confused. I was not expecting to be pregnant. Help!

longtompot · 06/11/2020 11:22

My dog went through a teenage phase at around 7/8 months. She 'forgot' all her training and went crazy when off the lead. I had to go back to the beginning of training her and she soon remembered.
Then she had her first season....

Just something to bear in mind.

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