Having cold feet about taking on a new puppy, poo & seasons (miniature schauzer, if it makes a difference)

[nobutreally]

Me & the dcs (9 & 11) are working on dh to persuade him of the good sense of taking on a miniature schnauzer puppy.

For context: I work at home (SE), so will be around in the day, and we are close to parks & river walks, although only have a little back garden (fully paved). Miniature schnauzer is the dog we all agree on, and everything I know (I have two friends with them) suggest they would be a good fit for us.

But I'm getting cold feet about the commitment, and in particular picking up poo! I know it ought to be a little thing, but I keep coming back to it. Seasoned dog owners - is it like baby poo - where other baby's poos are repulsive, but your own baby's are completely fine (or is that just me...?).

I've got a breeder recommendation, and am prepared to wait/not rush into things - anything else anyone would recommend we think about before we start thinking seriously about making the leap? And any recommendations on the best time of year, if there's a choice? I'm thinking summer (probably next summer now) to make training and getting outside easier, but am open to other suggestions.

TIA

Yes it is like babies with the poo in my experience. Glad you aren't rushing into it. Nobody should do it unless really sure. It's a bit like having a baby for the first year at least if not longer. Wouldn't be without mine of course, but it is hard work.

Thanks Swingball, that's helpful. I am trying to think of it as if I was taking on another child, and on the assumption that I should be able to cope with it myself (as I'm the one at home) Taking on a third child is, of course, something I actively decided I didn't have time/resource to do. That might be why I'm wobbling!

Have just realised the seasons things sounds like dog seasons rather than autumn/winter etc. I did mean the latter!

I don't find it less repulsive because it's my dog...but it's less repulsive than babies' if that helps, lol. You're not in close contact with it usually or smearing it off anything with wipes, just sticking your hand in a bag, a second of scooping it up with the bag and then it's done.

Spring, summer or early autumn are ok, winter not so much, you do spend a lot of time outside for the first few weeks.

If you can deal with a toddler nappy, you can deal with poop scooping! It's not the most pleasant thing in the world to do, but ok. Bag over hand, hold breath, quick scoop and tie up the bag....job done!

My Mil had [[http://www.vetsfoodworld.com/accessories-c1022/company-of-animals-arms-length-poop-scoop-p7343/s8452?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=company-of-animals-arms-length-poop-scoop-arms1&utm_campaign=product%2Blisting%2Bads&gclid=CM_j-ZGl2sMCFYjJtAodewoA2A one of these]] which made clearing up at home much easier!

It is like having your own baby.

Today, my two were let off their leads in the grounds of a large council owned stately home and gardens and immediately both did a poo.

I picked both up, then noticed that some idiot hadn't picked theirs up. This is really unusual here, as there's tons of dog bins, it's very quiet during the week, just full of 'regulars' that respect the place.

I did pick up the rogue poo, but it made me wretch, whereas my two I hadn't batted an eye!!

DH had said he would NEVER pick up the dogs poo, but is perfectly happy doing so, and was immediately.

Hi nobutreally,

Just wanted to say I am in a similar position to you and we are looking at mini schnauzers too having done much research into every breed going seemingly!

We are looking after our friend's mini during half term week as a good road test of the dog and the breed (although again, it's like looking after someone else's children - more fraught in a way).

I think you will be fine with your own dog, picking up poo etc. I have got used to clearing up my children's vomit over the years and that aspect of child rearing was one of my fears.

I'm sure all the wonderful things a dog will bring to your life will far outweigh those aspects. Let me know how you get on especially as you are looking at a mini. Good luck!

This

Needastrongone - thank you for that! I go running sometimes with a friend & her dog, & when she picks up its poo, I am gagging quietly to myself, so it's interesting to know that reaction is maybe limited to non-family poo . Averylongtimeago - nice to have a tech solution if all else fails too!

Girolle - how exciting!! When are you planning to pup up - have you got a breeder sorted (& importantly, any tips on convincing dh?!). A 'holiday loan' is a great idea - I might see if I can do that with one of our mates schauzers - although I agree it would be very stressful!

And finally, behooven. Thanks for nothing.

I don't know where you are in the SE but if you are in Kent, you can borrow my 15 week old golden retriever puppy for a day or so and see what you think...!

It's really, really full on - I thought, having had 4 babies/children that it would be on a par, but its worse.....I do love her to bits, but I do have days when I think I must be mad to have taken on a puppy as well as having to deal with the children etc....but I can see glimpses of what life will be like once she's settled down, stopped chewing everything and is better trained...!

(and picking up poo isn't all that bad - takes a couple of seconds...it's when they've pooed and then walked in it and then jumped on you/your sofa...!)

Lol, panic mode - se meant self employed, but I am also in the southeast (Surrey) and was wondering how on earth you knew!! But thank you for the offer of a poo covered sofa anyway! Worse than babies, you say ... Dare I ask why??

Hmmm, now I find it much worse than baby poo tbh. However in my garden I pick up with a trowel, which i find much less mingling than the hand in bag method although obvs needs must when out and about.

I would recommend raw feeding, the poos are much less offensive than kibble fed dogs

Worst thing is when you go to pick up what you think is your dog's poo and then accidently pick up a freezing cold old poo belonging to another dog!! For some reason it's just 10 times worse! If you feed your dog a decent food (with high meat content) or feed raw then there is a lot less waste and the poos will be less smelly and firmer.

Ah yes, that makes more sense now I read it again !! I found the babies much easier, despite them all being very colicky/refluxy - I just can't leave her for a second - she's chewing everything, jumping up, mouthing, runs round like a loon.....but it is brilliant really and once we can go for a lovely long walk and tire each other out, it will be fab

Thanks all for more poo chat - I'm returning to feeling the horror. Although the idea that a cold poo is worse than an arse-warm one isn't quite working for me, littlehayleyc!

Panicmode - iirc from my reading, labs are a particular pita for chewing, right?

Pooh will be nothing compared to the beard my mams forever cutting other dogs pooh out her minis beard. I don't know if that's a breed thing or not though.

Irelephant:Poo beards?!? Waaaaaahhhh! No...

I have no other experience of schnauzers to compare it too. It's probably just the one dog.
Besides you could always shave it off.

Labs are much worse for eating pooh.

Before I got my first dog, a mini schnauzer, I warned DH he would have to do all the bad weather walking, but when I got her I found I didn't mind at all. and picking up poo is just like nappies, you just get on with it.

She was a shocking nipper when she was a puppy but now has fab bite inhibition. however, at pushing 9, she is still mad as a box of frogs!

Mini schnauzers do very small poos so I find it fine! Remember they are known for being a vocal breed, so don't complain when you find your ears hurting!

here's my mini at MNHQ! agree re poo though - v quickly get used to it and mini ones are, well, mini!

Ann - oh, that is unfair! S/he is gorgeous - is that a chocolate colour I see? Cuteness!
And look at that Christmas pup, irelephant, scrummy!

Small poos, good

I am preparing for the barking - anyone want to tell me about their lovely, non-barking minis?!?

A puppy is a newborn who is also teething hardcore (they need to bite, a lot, and chew anything), tantrumming and toilet training all at once. They don't speak English. You have to teach them everything from getting out of the way of doors, don't be scared of cyclists/people in hats/cars/dogs/shrieking children, come back to you, everything. You can't leave your dog and children unattended ever, you have to read the dogs subtle cues to tell when it's uncomfortable with children, you'll have vets trips, boarding kennels, 2 walks a day plus mentally tiring it out, no long walks or going up and down stairs before 1 year old, getting tablets into an older dog... Basically 15 years intense work.

I adore dogs more than life itself, it's for that reason that I wouldnt recommenced a puppy to 95% of people. (Personally I really dislike schnauzers-every one I've encountered without exception has been a snarling, snapping demon when walking past another dog, I go out of my way to avoid them. Might just be something in the water round here?)

Dog shit is fine, and I say that as someone who nearly vomits at the mere thought of having to deal with another humans shit covered genitals with your bare hands with dog poo it's on a shovel/plastic bag and outdoors. And yes, oddly, cold poo is awful to pick up in a poo bag! Why is that?!

(Want another poo horror story? Our old girl was dying and incontinent and just did liquid poos without warning. Several times I had to carry her home, boil a kettle and bring it, plus Dettol and a broom, to dissipate the splats on pavements.... And I'd give anything to have her back and do it all over again.)
Oh, and let's not mention when your dog unsuccessfully tried to poo out a long blade of grass....

There you go nobut it's obviously not a breed thing. Bet your pleased. I won't tell my mam she will end up with another 1 or 6

ann s/he's beautiful. Gorgeous colour.

I don't find poo picking up too horrible, it's over pretty quickly! Good food does help. Season wise I think ideally it's probably nice to get a pup in the spring so that you are mostly training them over the summer. We got our pup in November and going out every half hour with him and in the night was very cold (we do live in Canada though, it gets much colder here!).

We have two young mini schnauzers in our family. One is incredibly barky, and the other very disobedient. I totally prefer my rescue all sorts! Although the schnauzers are very cuddly.

she is a she and is supposed to be black but has gone rather grey/ browny etc. She doesn't bark much (though barks at the door if she thinks a fox has gone by etc) and is generally lovely. Is timid of other dogs and we often have a stand-off until I put her back on the lead. And loved by all at MNHQ!