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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

Getting a puppy while pregnant

46 replies

kidsareok · 08/05/2020 18:09

Hi! Just wanted some advice. My boyfriend and I have been looking for a puppy for ages. We finally found a gorgeous little boy pup 6 weeks ago and put down a deposit to secure him. My boyfriend loves dogs and is so excited. However, 4 weeks ago we found out I was pregnant. I'm now 8 weeks and the puppy is due to arrive with us at the end of next week and I'm stressing a bit. I have been so so sick for the past few weeks and feeling exhausted etc. My sense of smell is crazy and everything makes me wretch. I am worried getting a puppy will be too much for me - I don't think I could handle the dog smell or the wee and poo and I feel like I wouldn't have the energy to be playful with a puppy. I've started to worry about the puppy being smelly and making a mess and have been envisaging hairs on the new baby grows etc just all stuff I've never thought of before. My boyfriend said my sickness is just temporary and o won't feel like this forever but I'm just concerned my heart won't be in it anymore. His heart really, really is in it and I know he would be gutted to lose this pup. Has anyone got experience of having a puppy and being pregnant? Or if their feelings towards a pet changed in pregnancy? I love dogs and have always wanted one but my mind has changed since being so poorly recently. Thank you!

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Wolfiefan · 08/05/2020 18:12

Don’t.
Puppies are hard work.
Then you’ll have a baby.
Then the puppy will hit adolescence.
And there will be hair everywhere. It’s a dog. It will smell of dog.
And if it’s bigger than a Guinea pig then it’ll knock a toddler over.
Bad timing.

Bookaholic73 · 08/05/2020 18:14

No no no.
Just as your puppy will need the most attention and time with training, your baby will arrive.
Please, please don’t do it to the poor puppy. S/he will end up being rehomed or neglected.

gonewiththerain · 08/05/2020 18:14

I wouldn’t get a puppy when pregnant. I’ve two old dogs and they are very good with ds but he’s been knocked over and had food snatched on many occasions. Very small children and dogs are a difficult combination.

quarantinevibes · 08/05/2020 18:15

I don’t think you should go through with it. The breeder will understand. It’s not fair on you or the dog I’ve found it hard enough looking after the cat changing the litter every couple of days and making sure it’s fed, etc, whilst being pregnant.

Delbelleber · 08/05/2020 18:15

I got a puppy and at the exact same time I was getting pregnant without my knowledge! I have another dog as well so training the pup has been fairly easy. I do feel abit overwhelmed at times and if id known I was pregnant when I got him I wouldn't have. I couldn't rehome him now. He's part of my family now. Even though he drives me mad at times.

thistimelastweek · 08/05/2020 18:17

What Wolfiefan said.
Puppies are hard work. Babies are hard work.

They don't mix well.

OneMomentInHistory · 08/05/2020 18:17

I wouldn't - especially if this would be your first dog. The dog will be going through a particularly difficult adolescent stage when your baby is little, and that will be a very difficult combination.

Original poster

kidsareok · 08/05/2020 18:38

Just argued with my boyfriend about it. I think he's being very naive to what's about the change in his life - this is our first baby and I think he thinks everything will be fine and we can have it all. He doesn't seem to register how sick I've been and even came into the bedroom today after I was sick and said 'shall we go and sit in my mums garden for some cake?' - I'd literally thrown up all morning and was as pale as a sheet. I think he's being so so naive and it's stressful.

OP posts:

Aquamarine1029 · 08/05/2020 18:42

Your partner is a fool. You would massively regret getting a puppy right now, and when the baby is born it will be even worse. Say NO and mean it. Tell him he needs to grow up.

Original poster

kidsareok · 08/05/2020 18:46

I feel so frustrated but I don't have the energy for it all right now. He really needs to grow up and realise how much things are going to change - he even said 'well you'll be off work anyway won't you?' When I mentioned looking after the dog when the baby is born 😱😱.

OP posts:

ivfgottostaypositive · 08/05/2020 18:47

What kind of breed is the puppy?

SirVixofVixHall · 08/05/2020 18:48

No !!! A puppy is like a baby. They are a massive amount of work. It isn’t fair on the puppy or you, to get it when you have so much else on your plate.

FourPlasticRings · 08/05/2020 18:48

I know a couple who did this and then ended up rehoming an adolescent dog who then had a much smaller chance of finding a lovely forever family than he had as a small puppy.

Don't do it. Plus, you'll be the one at home so you'll be the one caring for the puppy once baby arrives and you'll probably resent the poor thing because you'll be so very tired with the baby you won't have an ounce of energy to spend on the dog. We have a fully grown cat and I didn't want it anywhere near me or the baby for about the first 9 months- thankfully it keeps itself to itself and has its own space so it wasn't really any bother. I would have been very tempted to re-home if it had demanded any more of me than it did.

Woofwoofwooof · 08/05/2020 18:50

Dont do it. I've got an old dog and even that's been hard work. Walking them is the easy bit, it's being in the house with them and your baby for the other 23 hours a day. My dog woke my baby from his nap twice a day for MONTHS. Often you physically can't get to them to stop them or impose any kind of consistency to stop a particular behaviour. He steals his toys left right and centre. He wakes up at 5am and starts stuffling about which wakes the baby. OP I cannot stress enough how much you shouldn't do this.

Veterinari · 08/05/2020 18:51

Don't do it.
It sounds like your partner is going to be useless with either a baby or a puppy. It'll be you doing all the heavy lifting.

Even if everything goes smoothly it will be a LOT of work and you need to really WANT the dog.
What will you do if things aren't smooth? It will be awful

Original poster

kidsareok · 08/05/2020 18:52

@ivfgottostaypositive it's a miniature Daschund pup. So gorgeous but such bad timing. I told him we can see how things go with a baby etc and get one in future. I want a new baby to be as stress free as possible (if that even exists?!) and this will add to the stress I think.

OP posts:

Dontsayfuckorbugger · 08/05/2020 18:55

Have you spoken to your boyfriend regarding your concerns. A puppy can be hard work but tell your boyfriend he needs to take control of this as you are not up to it. However that said I got 2 puppies (seperate times) whilst i had 2 young toddlers and a baby and they have all grown up together in an extremely loving way. My dogs idolised and looked out for my babies. They are now all teenagers and still all love one another to bits. I 100% trusted my Labrador with the kids when they were little and she guarded them as her own babies. Its hard work but the relationship children have with the animal members of the family is a very very strong bond x

katie43210 · 08/05/2020 18:55

Honestly don't do it. We got a puppy then got a massive surprise a week later that I was pregnant. It was horrific, we persevered because the puppy had already come home but it was like having 2 babies. Never, ever again. And if I could go back and change it I would.

Bienentrinkwasser · 08/05/2020 18:57

I’m yet to do a postnatal visit (as a midwife) where there is a puppy in the house where there isn’t wee on the floor and a stressed-out looking puppy locked in a crate. It’s too much to take on.

TARSCOUT · 08/05/2020 18:59

We've had dogs forever. The two I have now are a bloody pair.of hooligans. I will.never have a pup again and I'm an experienced owner.

LonelyInLockdown · 08/05/2020 18:59

My poor Bichons eventually came to us as their 2 previous owners had dumped them after not being able to cope with them and children.
Please don't do this.
Sorry but your manchild/partner doesn't sound very mature or understanding.

Original poster

kidsareok · 08/05/2020 19:00

Thanks everyone - I really don't think it is a good time. I really don't want to get the puppy - although I feel terrible on the breeder I know they'll understand if we explain and I'd rather lose a deposit than make a huge mistake. I will put my foot firmly down. Thanks for the help!

OP posts:

IamChipmunk · 08/05/2020 19:00

Sorry to add but dont do it!
We have a dog and dc. We had the dog well before we decided to have kids.
She was old-ish when they arrived and has never been a bother with them but she just adds a layer of work.
There is no way I would get a puppy with a baby having had both.
Extra cleaning, extra things to worry about. Cant leave dog unattended with baby. Just means lots more stress that you dont need.

Wolfiefan · 08/05/2020 19:01

It’s a real shame but it’s awful timing. And that breed would be at massive risk of a toddler or small child hurting it. (Back issues.)

Hatscats · 08/05/2020 19:01

Works the breeder let you transfer the deposit to a future litter?

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