Thinking of getting a puppy, is now a good time?

[SimileMilly]

I grew up with dogs. Love dogs. Have always had a dog. Until 1.5yrs ago when XP and I separated and he kept our old dog. Since then I have been desperate to get another puppy (bad experience with a rescue dog as a child and young DD puts me off getting an older dog).

For a year after we split I lived in a rented house - no pets allowed - so put any ideas of getting another dog out of my mind. But now I own my own house, surrounded by parks, woodland and beaches - all a 5 min walk in either direction - with a big secure garden.

I worked full time, 40min commute away. But I've just moved office to a town 5min drive away and am able to work from home 1/2 days a week. I come home for lunch pretty much every day now and I have lovely, retired neighbours who would happily let a dog out a couple of times a day for me. (They do this when we look after my parents' dog).

DD is 3. She loves dogs and as she is going to be an only child I feel she would benefit immensley from having a dog to play with. I'm well aware I can't leave them together and it will be 100% my responsibility. But some of my fondest memories growing up were playing with our dog.

I can afford insurance, vet bills, food, occasional dog walker for days I'm going to be away from home for more than 4hrs (less than once a fortnight). My parents would look after it if we were to go on holiday as we do for them, although all of our recent holidays have been UK based and dog friendly and will likely be for the next few years.

DD and I usually go for a 30min-1hr walk after dinner most nights to burn off all her energy before bed! and it would be easy enough to factor in a 20-30min walk every morning to the childminder/nursery every morning. We do this quite often anyway so I can squeeze in a quick run before going to work after dropping her off!

So on paper: full time working, single mum of a toddler considers throwing puppy into the mix sounds really bad. In reality, I think we could make it work. What do you think?

PS, we are going to meet some cocker spaniel puppies on Saturday. They aren't ready to come home until the end of April, but I'm totally going to fall in love, aren't I?!

Don't do it. A puppy needs a lot more input that popping home at lunchtime, and a cocker would be a particularly bad dog to be left alone for long periods routinely imo

Also, lots change over the next two years as your dd goes to school, takes up activities, has homework and so on, so a dog might not fit in so well.

A puppy needs more time than that - you'd need to sort something out for at least the first few months.

Also generally good breeders have a waiting list of owners approximately a year in advance of puppies actually being born.

You sound very keen and you do sound like you've thought about it but I think you are maybe underestimating the puppy stage. (I have a 9 week old in the corner of the room - I have to leave him for 2 hrs this afternoon, the longest I've left him for so far and I'm feeling really worried about it!)

Is there any way of getting someone to really help you with the puppy stage? Would your parents be willing to have a puppy for a few months for you? Would your neighbours be willing to do a 'dog share' and have a puppy in their house during the day?

You sound like you have a lovely set-up and a dog would fit in great with your family. I say do it, on two conditions:

1.) you do need to get some special arrangements in place for the first 6 months as they need so much input from you then. Build up to the 4 hours alone VERY gradually or you'll have separation anxiety issues later. Your evening walks will be great for an older dog but too much for a pup under 6 months old. Can you take some holiday for their first weeks with you? Is there a doggy daycare near you? Anyone with sensible teenage kids who would dogsit every weekday over the summer hols for extra cash?

2.) do some hard thinking about the breed. Spaniels are lovely family dogs but high energy and want someone to grow a ball all day long. The pup will be very bouncy and could knock DD over a lot - down some time teaching your daughter about how to behave with dogs before bringing one home. Check out breed options carefully before you even think about meeting pups, because yes, you will fall in love and might pick the wrong dog for your home.

full time working, single mum of a toddler considers throwing puppy into the mix sounds really bad yep you are right this is not the time

1. Relying on elderly neighbours long term is not a realistic plan - your dog could live for 16 years

1. A puppy will need a lot of attention in the early months than you are able to give it from your post , training socialising etc - mess this up, or no time for this and you will pay the price for the rest of the dogs life.

1. As others have said your life will change when your toddler gets older re school and other activities and it will be even harder to fit in time for the dog

1. Spaniels are not dogs to be happily left alone for long periods or just wee trips into the garden.

Don't go and see the puppies on Saturday!!

You have obviously thought about it a lot BUT ...

1. what if you have to change jobs at some time in the future, and you are further away, less money etc

2. As others said, puppies need a lot of attention for the first year of their lives, not just the first few months

3. You will have to take your DD with you every single time you have to take the dog out, whether she is ill, dodgy tummy, chickenpox or temperature - when it's raining, snowing etc

4. What about days out? To theme parks, after-school clubs, swimming galas, ballet... whatever it is that you will do. Dogs can't really be left for more than 4 hours (not as puppies anyway)

5. Retired neighbours won't be there for ever, so you can't rely on them unconditionally.

6. A cocker spaniel puppy will cost a lot of money. You can still look at rescues, they often have puppies. Many smaller rescues have their dogs in foster homes, so are fully assessed on behaviour with children/dogs/cats. You will also have rescue back-up (if they're a good one) for any eventualities. A slightly older dog will be a lot easier and you can find them in rescues. You need to sign on with a few of them, follow them on FB and be in contact with them and wait patiently.

7. You say that you're considered costs, but it does add up to a hell of a lot over the years. You may prefer to put any spare money aside for your DD. They'll be school trips, holidays, clothes and university to pay for soon!

We put off getting a dog for years (mainly due to elderly cat) but now have a 6month old cocker spaniel (cat still alive & is the boss!). Those first few months, we got him at 17weeks, are hard work with toilet/crate training. Is there anyone who can be there to help with this during the day? They really need to go outside every hour in the beginning.
I totally understand your desire for a dog and our spaniel is quite calm (or calmer than expected!), fantastic with the DC, is happy with as little or as much exercise as you can fit in. Ours gets 1hr in the morning, 20 minutes most evenings (if I can wake him!!) but lots of interaction/training sessions afterschool with DD1 who is 13 but we don't leave him for longer than 5 hours (& have only done that twice).
I would recommend a cocker spaniel but if you really want a puppy I would look into some form of doggy day care.

If you want honest opinions, then here goes: We have a 19 week puppy, and my dh is at SAHP. We also have a 9 year old son. I have often wanted to cry, and I have cried twice, over how much the puppy is driving me insane. I also love him to bits and am looking forward to having him around for a long time, so it is a very mixed bag of emotions.

He is finally starting to calm down, and we can all see he is going to turn out to be a nice dog, but it has been hard work. Our pup is a Rhodesian Ridgeback - we know the breed very well, we have had another RR from puppy hood for his whole life, so we were not starting from nothing. But a puppy is a BIG commitment and there are times where I have seriously regretted our decision.

Part of the hard work is that we like to have well-behaved, well-trained dogs, especially since our is going to be large, and you have to be very very consistent with a puppy, or you can create bad habits that are more difficult to break. I know that when other people meet our pup, they are impressed about how well behaved he is for his age, but that is because we have put in long hours. And remember, when they are potty training, you could be taking the dog outside every 20 mins until it pees. I stood outside in the cold and wet for ages just to make sure he learnt that peeing and pooing needs to be outside. My neighbors would giggle, as they would leave the house in the snow to go to dinner and see me in the front garden, and come back and I would be in the front garden - I may have gone back inside in between, but it felt like I was out there more than indoors at times.

If you choose to go forward, I would recommend that you crate train your dog. Read up on it, as crate training is about more than just putting the dog in its crate when you leave the house. It is a very useful way of creating calm and quiet for a tired, stressed out puppy that is getting into mischief.

Good luck!

Thank you for all your thoughts. I have decided I am going to email the breeder and cancel Saturday and reassess in a year and a half's time when DD is at school.

As much as I am desperate for another dog, I think we might just stick to borrowing my parents' dog for now.

I really think you're making the right decision.

Hi op, just read your update. Just wanted to chuck in the mix that we have a 12 week old spaniel x lab and I've currently got a thread about his bad nighttime sleeping. I've been knacked and there 3 of us doing it .