Am I crazy?

[NatFrenchie]

OK here goes...

We have decided to get a puppy. He's a gorgeous schnoodle (Minature Schnauzer/Minature Poodle mix). My 11 year old son is absolutely delighted as he has been desperate to have a dog for years now. The reason we didn't get one sooner is partly lifestyle but mainly because my husband is allergic to dogs. We visited the breeder last week and my husband had no reaction either there or later that day, normally he would react within that time frame. And our lifestyle has changed as I work from home and can give the puppy the time and training he will need. All good so far. I've paid the deposit and collect him in three weeks.

I've spent the last week reading everything about puppies and what to expect and have bought the The Happy Puppy Handbook which I am reading cover to cover! So I understand that a puppy is going to take a lot of time and effort, there's going to be pee and poo and times spent outside in all weathers waiting for him to do his business etc etc.

I'm not sure if I'm looking for problems or overthinking this, but I have two worries. Firstly the house is carpeted (it's a rental so I can't remove the carpet) and the kitchen is too small for a crate. Secondly the garden isn't fenced and again, I can't get it fenced. I am now panicking that I've made a terrible mistake and that the logistics of this situation are going to create massive problems.

Should I be worried or are these problems surmountable. Any advice will be gratefully received .

Hiya I have a carpeted house and don't use a crate with my 2 because my kitchen is too small.
you deffo need a secure back garden though!

You don't need a crate, I never crated my two and it's been fine. If you take the pup out every 20 minutes and after sleeping, playing, eating he shouldn't do that much in the house. There'll be a few accidents but shouldn't ruin the carpet beyond repair. The only problem is the garden. Ideally it should be secure but the only other thing I can think of is a long line either held by you (you'll need to be with the puppy in the garden for quite a while anyway) or the line attached to something secure in the garden. Good luck

OK, if you can't fence the garden could you get something like a big enclosed chicken run or two, connected by tunnels or wire-mesh walkways, so the dog can run between them? I've seen something like that for outdoor rabbits and chickens, and this is presumably going to stay quite a small dog.

How about these? I know you say you can't fence the garden, but these are free-standing, as far as I can see.

Thank you for your responses. Lancelottie - yes I have looked at puppy pens this morning and they could work although in terms of size they're not exactly huge! And perhaps the suggestion by VeryStressedMum of a long lead would work too.

So all in all not ideal, but not insurmountable problems either! We hope to be moving within the year anyway, so will just have to ensure that the next place does have a secure outside area.

The garden is not an issue as you can keep pup on a lead but I would use a crate if I lived in a rental with carpets ( and I'm quite anti crate in general ) - could you put a crate in the lounge or hall ?

Hi Florainomad - yes I am planning on using a crate and was thinking about the lounge or perhaps the dining room as we're always in the lounge and the dining room might be a bit quieter for him.

Is it better for him to be around us all the time, or not do you think? We go through the dining room a lot to get to the kitchen and generally eat in there too but we spend most evenings in the living room.

He should only be in the crate when it's nap time ,overnight and when you need to put him somewhere if you are busy for a few minutes otherwise he should be out and about wherever you are so that you can pick up the signals that he needs to go out for a wee and so he can socialise with the family , most dogs like to be with people .

I was in rental with no garden (just a gravelled car park) when I got pup and we managed just fine with a long line when outside. You have to take them out ALL THE TIME to wee! Don't underestimate how much wee and poo a tiny puppy can produce Saying that, we only had a few accidents in the first few weeks, then he seemed to get it. Could you maybe get a couple of big cheap rugs to put over the carpet, just while you're housetraining? That way it's your property that's being peed on, not your landlords.