Is this a good idea?

[VitoCorleone]

My DP wants us to get a puppy. Ive never had a dog before and would love one, but im worried because our youngest is 8 months and just started crawling. The puppy DP wants to get is 9 weeks old.

Will it be a bad idea to get a puppy while we have a young baby?

Who is going to look after the puppy? As in feed, clean up, walks, vet trips, training it? Personally I wouldn't because knowing my OH I'd be left to do all that as well as looking after the baby.

Other than that I don't know that it's a bad idea as such, as long as DP keeps it away from the baby. You need to be clear on these points before adding a pet to the family at this point.

I would be looking after it as DP works and i stay home. He will be taking it for walks and helping clean though.

I dont mind doing it all, im just a bit scared incase it goes for the baby.

I wouldn't if I were you, you've got your hands full with the baby and you have no experience of dog ownership and you sound nervous about it.

Puppies are hard work and need lots of time, taking out to the garden every hour, training, walking in all weathers etc. etc.

Really unless you are completely, enthusiastically keen to take this on don't let your husband talk you into it.

My pup is 7 months now and is almost as much work as my kids were at that age. Don't do it till DC are at school at the very least!

Crawling babies and toddlers are a no-no with puppies and dogs in my opinion.

What are you going to do when your baby crawls into a puddle of wee or a dog turd? What are you going to do when the toddler won't leave the puppy alone and hurts it? What will you do when the toddler gets nipped by the dog when the poor dog can't get any peace?

My dog was 5 when we had DD, and it was difficult enough then. Now DD is 5 we are going to get another dog - it has taken until now for me to be comfortable that DD will understand that puppies need training and consistency from all family members, and that puppies need more than random cuddles.

Puppies are land sharks. Seriously. They will leap out and sink their fangs in to your ankles/hands/any exposed body part at alarmingly frequent intervals. I, personally, wouldn't choose to have a small baby and a puppy at the same time. I don't have enough arms.

Chickens That made me cackle (and disturb the poor dog that is trying to get some kip on my lap.) It's such an accurate description of my Mini Schnauzer when she was a puppy, she was horrendously nippy! Now she's a big grown up girl she has fab bite inhibition, but boy did we get a lot of practice training for that!

If you are scared then it's a bad idea. Dogs don't have to attack to harm a baby, even a friendly nip as a "hello" will cause an injury. If you are not relaxed then it'll be more stress than it's worth. I'd tell DP that he has has to wait a couple of years, or until you feel happy about the youngest DC being around a puppy.

Damn! Pressed post too soon

That's kinda what I meant about you looking after it/DP keeping it away from the baby. He's out all day so he can't physically stop a puppy getting to the baby.

And I agree with the land shark description. With my puppies I got out of bed each day and put on jeans and boots to protect my ankles while making breakfast, every day until they were old enough to move to spend a lot of time outside. My OH insists on no shoes in the house, but I wasn't prepaired to expose my ankles to their needle like teeth.

It is definitely NOT a good idea! Because of all the reasons given above and more! You've got enough to do with an 8 month old baby, tell DH to forget about a puppy if he wants to have any sex at all in the next year or so, it all looks lovely in the adverts but it's really hard work. Do you want to be out in the freezing cold every hour (or more) to housetrain the adorable pooch. What will your 8 month old be doing at those times? Do you fancy cleaning up the mess inside, do you really want to be taking it for walks in the freezing cold/dark when DH might not be available. What do you do when your baby gets a cold or chickenpox or any other normal childhood ailment and you don't really want to drag him/her out with you? I would at least wait until May when weather is better and your child is a bit bigger. Then I would look for a slightly older dog, maybe 2-3 years old from a rescue. Contrary to popular opinion, not all dogs in rescues are evil, some are there because of family break-ups, people move to rented flats and can't have animals etc etc.

I think Lady makes a good compromise suggestion. I adore our dog, really, but when we got him I was overwhelmed by his needs. And my DC were 11 and 8 years old. He tried to eat them. A lot.

Why thank you Chickens (curtsey)

Do your sanity a favour and leave it until your youngest is at school!
Seriously, puppies are more work than you would believe. They pee and poo everywhere all the time, chew anything within range, are selectively deaf, will probably need to be taken outside to the loo a couple of times a night for the first few months, which on top of broken sleep from a baby/young child is the last thing you need!
You need to have eyes in the back of your head to keep them out of mischief!

Definitely wait till children are older and then consider an older dog.

Not only are puppies crazy amounts of work but you can guarantee that they need attention at exactly the same time as your child and it is very nearly impossible to manage without an extra pair of eyes, hands and probably a whole other person.

My BF was presented with a tiny lab puppy as a present from her dickhead ex when she was heavily pg. She kept the puppy but fucking hell it was hard work- it was at least two years of slog!
'Puppy' died a few weeks ago a much much loved old lady at 14... her 14yo DD was utterly bereft as they'd grown up together. It can work but it is hard!

Hi,

We have a nearly 9 week old puppy with us now. He is adorable, sweet, good natured, gives us loads of laughs.

He also wees a lot (on the floor, poos usually outside until today cos he's a wus in the rain it seems) He nips (nothing too bad to be honest but still does it), we wants a lot of attention, hates us leaving the room at the moment, although again that's getting better if he is tired and occupied with a bully stick, we can pop out for a minute or so and come back. It's like having a baby again.

We are also crate training, which is going ok but not fab, DH on the floor in the kitchen with him last 4 nights, sofa last night. He needs a wee in the night (was 2am, last night 4am but that's outside in the rain) then needs a touch of settling again.

And, I have been in bed with norovirus for the last 4 days, finally being admitted to A&E in an ambulance yesterday.

Kids are 13 and 11 so able to help. And DH is off until New Year now.

It's hard work! Worth it, but at least as hard work as a baby, honest!

God no. I wouldn't have a puppy at the same time as a baby.

I waited until my youngest started school. Literally; on his first day I waved him off and went straight to pick my pup up

You are all right.

Just been to a friend of DP's who has bought one of these puppys, just to see what its like.

I had visions of cute little pup asleep by the fire, getting stroked by the kids and all that fluffy nonsense.

Reality is shit on the carpet, piss on the lino, nipping the kids and jumping up at my 4 year old and trying to nip his face, thinking my 8 month old is another pup to play with and nip at.

Yeah its not for me, im too house-proud and have no time to be constantly keeping it away from the kids. I think 2 kids are enough for me at the minute.

Thanks for all your input.

I'm really pleased you've reached a decision you're happy with. Good for you for checking properly first if it was the right move for your family.

Maybe when the kids are older i'll get one, but i just cant bare the thought of baby crawling on the floor where dog shit has been, even if i gave it a good thourough clean it would turn my stomach.

Sounds like a good decision. My 4 month old pup rolled in fox poo on his walk this morning. Him, collar and lead covered. Absolutely disgusting and would have been much worse if I had to worry about young children going near it.