Confused about getting a puppy

[kitsmummy]

We're desperate to get a dog when we move house and because of our circumstances (young children and I'm going to become a childminder) we want to get a puppy, so we will have seen the parents, can get a breed that's assumed to be good with children and have as much background knowledge about the dog as possible.

Our move to the countryside is only weeks away now and my current job (3 days a week) is going to be made redundant sometime in the next two years. It is at this point that we want to get a puppy and I can afford to take 3 months off to get the puppy trained in the basics before I need to earn some money again by working as a childminder.

Sorry this is long, I'll try to be succinct now - could you knowledgeable people tell me if 3 months is long enough to get a puppy (Tibetan terrier or labrador, opinions welcome ) behaving well enough to have mindees in my house (obviously not left alone with the dog), or is the puppy still going to be a nightmare at this stage? We had considered getting the puppy 3 months before I finish my job and having him spend my 3 working days with my parents (drop off in morning and collect in evening) and the rest of the time with us, so in theory if I still took 3 months off work after redundancy we would have had the puppy for 6 months before getting mindees. However my parents have a dog too, so I'm assuming our puppy wouldn't be able to go to my parents for the four weeks between vaccinations?

Aaagh, it all seems so complicated yet we'll have a house with a huge garden and a job that allows me to be at home most of the day, so much better circumstances than a lot of dog owners out there I would have thought, yet I can't see how it's all going to work out. Advice welcome, even if it's advice not to get a dog

Get a rescue dog already tested with children. Puppies are hard work. Children and puppies are almost impossible.

I have just had a disastrous training session in the park with my adult dog and dog wise dd2. I dread to think how much worse it would have been with a puppy.

And bear in mind that not all of your mindees will know how to behave around a dog. Winding a puppy up will not help you train it.

Oh I really would love a rescue dog, it feels like it would be the right thing to do (morally speaking) but I've had people warn me off rescues as you don't know what problems you might be inheriting (even if they're said to be child friendly). And with me looking after children I think I need to be going for the safest bet, although I know there are no guarantees with any dog. I would consider Labrador rescue or something like that, but not sure if they would let me have a dog, given that I will be starting childminding? An adult dog would probably be a good option though.

I have a cocker spaniel and 2 preschoolers and he is fab with both of them; SIL who is also a CM has a labrador, also fab.
I have had border collies and huskies as well but would not recommend if you are becoming a childminder.

I would, however, urge you to exercise caution - 3 months is no where near long enough for a pup (especially a lab type) to settle down. They need to be AT LEAST 6 months old, a year even better, just til they develop a brain and some common sense!

Even if you get them housetrained super quick, under a year old a dog is still adolescent and unpredictable.

Don't be put off by rescue dogs, in many cases you can obtain some knowledge of their history/behaviour, or get a pup now and hold off on the CM until you feel they are ready.

Or get a rescue dog for a few months until you feel you can trust it?

I LOVE having dogs and have had them all my life and I think as you say your circumstances are conducive to owning a dog, but just bear in mind that under a year old, most dogs have no brains

Even at 2 and half they are likely to misplace their brain if anything vaguely exciting happens, like a child sneezes

Hence my dog completely ignoring commands he is spot on at inside the house when you take him outside. How can he possibly sit when there is a tree over there that needs marking?

Agree with the above, really need a year before they are 'steady', it's ok (ish) for a puppy to be nipping your own children, with the possible ripped clothes and ruined toys too, but not acceptable for mindees.

You will end up having a nightmare.

Really think about getting a rescue, those who have warned you off and pretty mis-informed, a good rescue will pair you with a dog that loves children, raising it from a puppy is no guarantee of that I'm afraid.

The best way is to go with a really open mind rather than being too breed specific, that way thay can pair you with a dog that will really suit your cimcumstances.

You sound like you are putting loads of thought into this though and I'm sure you will make some doggy very very happy.

Thanks Shit . We had a cocker spaniel when I was a child and he was lovely, and I know labs are great with kids too. So my main problem then is that 3 months is, as suspected, not long enough. Am I right in thinking that if we got a puppy at 8 weeks and it needed its second vaccination at 12 weeks, then it wouldn't be able to stay at my parents, with their dog, during those 4 weeks?

No, that would be fine, but I think you main problem is 6 months is also no where near long enough.

ok, so maybe a rescue adult dog, labrador or something similar is our best bet, thank you

kitsmummy - as long as your parents dog is vaccinated and healthy you can risk it. Let's face it - puppy classes are full of pups needing boosters!

I think you are just advised not to go to the park etc where there are lots of random dogs.

Another vote here for a rescue dog. Contrary to the "advice" you've received, rescue dogs, especially if you go with a breed rescue can provide you with a dog where a great deal is known about the history of the animal concerned, and dogs are often rehomed through absolutely no fault of their own due to causes such as family breakdown, bereavement, illness, emigration etc. In some of these cases, it is even possible for the rescue to act as a "broker" to ensure the dog goes straight from one loving family to another, and if agreeable to both, regular updates/pics can be shared. Rescues will do their utmost to assess you and your circumstances and will match you with a specific dog - the charity I volunteer for has very few dogs on its website since we prefer to "match" by temperament/history/adopter rather than someone falling in love with a dog of a specific colour say. All reputable rescues will also offer behavioural support and advice and would be willing to take back the dog even if it is ten years in the future. There are a number of labrador rescue charities in the UK - I'm sure Val or someone else with specialist knowledge will be able to recommend one for you, especially given your future occupation.

If you have a pup, you'll be dealing with little dagger puppy teeth sunk into the kids for quite some time. Not the pup's problem - they need to go through this stage to learn about bite inhibition, but if the pup's biting toddlers they're not going to be learning and you'll have upset kids to deal with.

Neither is it just the puppy stage to think about. Many dogs are handed into rescue at 12-18 months when they hit adolescence - training goes backwards and they are wappy and boisterous unless you have heaps of time to dedicate to calmly training them through it.

If you want a dog, then going to a general or breed-specific rescue (LRSEC are excellent for labs) and telling them honestly what you can offer a dog in terms of environment, exercise etc, and stating that you're really looking for a dog who has been in foster with kids should help you find a dog who's reliable and steady (as much as any new dog is - it's still hard work as I'm sure you know!).

Agree with all other posts about puppies learning bite inhibition.

DH and I got a puppy (chocolate labrador retriever) at end of May 2009. He was 7.5 weeks old when we brought him home.

We have had him in obedience classes and he is now generally very well behaved, but still a bit giddy. We are currently TTC and we're really glad that we got him before any babies arrive. I personally don't think I could cope with the demands of a puppy and a very young child. I'm sure our lab will be at least 2.5 years by the time any children come along, and will have calmed down a lot.

Or lab was about one year old before I reliably knew he wouldn't play bite (he now licks). He is still a real chewer though and there were many tears when he chewed through my niece's Peppa Pig football. My niece couldn't understand that the lab hadn't done it on purpose and there was quite a major tantrum.

If you are thinking of a Labrador Retriever, have you thought of rehoming a guide dog or assistance dog? There's a guide dog school very close to us, and we often meet the puppies in training in the park when walking our dog. One thing I've found out is that some (although well-trained) don't make it through the rigorous training and require re-homing (but are still very obedient, and would make good pets) AND more suprisingly some fully trained guide dogs can't be matched to a suitable owner and are then rehomed. Worth a thought? Guide Dogs for the Blind match dogs that have failed their training to the most suitable new homes. I understand there is quite a waiting list though.

I found the book Labradors for Dummies by Joel Walton and Eve Adamson really useful. It has a lot of information on whether to re-home or rescue an adult dog or get a puppy and goes through the pros and cons of each and then advises on what to look for once you've decided on where to get your lab from (gives lots of checklists etc).

Good luck on your search for your new family member!

Thank you, have decided on a rescue lab