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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Original poster

Would you get a dog if you were planning TTC soon?

9 replies

Beaverfeaver · 11/10/2013 04:47

DH has agreed that we can get a puppy or dog soon.

However, should things be ok work wise we were planning to TTC early in the new year.

We are 28 and no idea on fertility so could take a while or maybe not.

Is it better to have dog before or after babies?

OP posts:
wintersdawn · 11/10/2013 05:05

if you are going for a puppy then no imo. you need the dog to be old enough and mature enough to obay (every) command without fail and to have calmed down enough to be around children. also think about breeds carefully if you are mixing with young kids and be aware that even within breeds/litters some will have better kid related personalities than others.

Twattyzombiebollocks · 11/10/2013 07:06

An older rescue dog who is well socialised with children and babies would be ok I think, but I wouldn't even consider a puppy. Adolescent dogs (which puppy probably would be by the time baby arrives if you get pregnant straight away) can be a real handful, require lots of time and training, and its hard work. Also consider that while some puppies housetrain very quickly and easily, others (like mine) despite best efforts and doing everything right may not be reliable until 10/11 months old. Also, depending on the breed, chewing can be a big problem, my dog is now 2.5 and has only just calmed down with the chewing (she is a terrible thief and likes to raid the nappy bin, took used sanpro out of the bathroom bin (bagged and with a lid on) and chewed them all over the bedroom floor) and also has chewed several baby toys and blankets to shreds. She is finally starting to calm down a little behaviour wise but is still very much an excitable licky puppy, baby is just crawling and gets slobbered on copiously every time dog is in range. Thankfully she loves children and actively seeks out the baby and lies next to her (supervised) while baby pats and grabs her, and her response to baby grabbing and pulling body parts is a wagging tail, goofy grin and more licking.
Its hard work at the moment as trying to make sure baby is not hurting dog, and dog is not slobbering baby when every time I turn my back the pair of them make a beeline for each other. I can't even shut ddog in the other room as if she is shut out of the room where we are she whines and howls pitifully, and she can jump even the tall stair gates no problem.

daftyburd · 11/10/2013 14:12

I developed SPD when pregnant and could not walk without crutches. Also carpal tunnel syndrome so even holding the lead if she pulled was painful.Dog was 6 years old and she was still very lively. I was lucky that my mum could walk her for me. SPD is fairly common.
When my DD was born it was hard. If my dog had been younger I don't think I could have coped. She was very bouncy and chewed everything until she was about 2 years old. She was obsessed with nappies and once when my guard was down she helped clean up my DD. DD had an enormous poo all up her back and down her legs. Turned my back to grab something to clean her up and dog started licking her down (boak)

RunnerHasbeen · 11/10/2013 14:43

We did, he was a rescue that they recommended when we explained we we're hoping to start a family. TTC took quite a while and he did become a sort of substitute baby, if I'm honest, but it was lovely having him then. We had no problems when DD came along, in fact they get on really well, much better than we could have hoped (shows rescue people knew what they were doing).

I also liked having to do the walks with a newborn, she soon got into a sort of routine sleeping when we were out with the dog. It doesn't let you get stuck indoors in your pyjamas, which I could easily have done otherwise. Now I have a very outdoorsy toddler and a very patient Bassett hound with green felt tip on his back.

Slipshodsibyl · 11/10/2013 14:45

No. It's a lot of work and you do not yet know how having a baby will impact on your life. Think again when the baby is five years old.

UriGHOULer · 11/10/2013 15:07

God no. You'll have enough to do with a new baby and your dog may feel sidelined.

mrslaughan · 11/10/2013 15:18

I think it depends on your financial situation - a puppy no, adopting or re-homing an older dog that is fine with kids, then maybe, as long as you have the finanical resources to pay for someone to walk it for you for at least the first 3 months....maybe longer.......

Matildathecat · 11/10/2013 16:50

No. Just no.

Much later when you can give it the time and energy it will need.

bumpybecky · 11/10/2013 17:03

We did and it was fine, but more by luck than any kind of sensible judgement!

In our case we took on a 6 month old lab x collie and I got pregnant a week later. The dog had previously lived with children and had been rehomed as the family couldn't cope with 4 children and two puppies (ours and her sister). We had her until she died at nearly 14 years old. She was fantastic with kids and was a brilliant family dog.

If I were to do it again, I'd never take on an unknown dog like this though. We had no rescue backup and knew very little about keeping or training dogs. This was 16 years ago before sites like this really existed.

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