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The doghouse

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

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Original poster

Breed suggestions?

5 replies

Trickytricky · 28/05/2015 13:46

DH and I are about to move into a new house (with a garden) and we really want to get a puppy/dog. I grew up with Labradors and Working Cocker Spaniels and DH grew up with Labradors. I would love to get a Working Cocker.

I'm 5 months pregnant so will be going on Mat Leave in Sept and only really intend to come back to work part time/flexitime. My office is also walking distance to my house. We love dogs, being outdoors and walking.

As our baby will be arriving in Oct we don't think a puppy is a good idea as a puppy and a new born at the same time probably aren't great combo! So we're thinking of adopting an adolescent instead. Do you think this is a good idea? Would you suggest getting a less active breed seeing as we will have a new born?

Any advice welcome....

OP posts:

Haggismcbaggis · 28/05/2015 14:08

I really wouldn't suggest getting a new dog even an older one around the time of a new baby. I really wouldn't.
I remember thinking I would achieve loads during my mat leaves. I didn't - other than looking after the baby

Carpaccio · 28/05/2015 15:04

Wait.

Having a dog, no matter the age is hard work. Puppies and teenage dogs are even more work. Rescue dogs can be hard work as well - they might come with some kind of issue that you'll need to spend a lot of time and effort working on.
My parents have always told me that having an adult dog is like having a 3 year old. A puppy is like having a baby.

Haggismcbaggis · 28/05/2015 16:42

You have to factor in that you might have a baby with colic or similar (hope not obvs) but even with a regular baby I really think you'd kick yourself for adding to your load.

LokiBuddyBoo1 · 30/05/2015 12:02

I say go for it if you think it's something you can cope with, plenty of people have both baby's and dogs at the same time.
I say go for a whippet, my sister has one she got him as a pup when her son was 8 months old.
Whippets will take long walks but also are fine with short bursts off lead twice a day my sisters and my father's whippets just love sleeping curled up on the sofa most of the day and they are calm gentle dogs who are great with kids.

CMOTDibbler · 30/05/2015 16:33

I'd wait too - you might have a calm, easy baby and feel great. Or they might be the non sleeping, colicy type where any more stress in your life is just too much.

And the juggling of work and child is a lot to get used to, without throwing dog management into the mix.

Plus, if you are thinking of having other children, then dog, baby, and toddler is really hard!

Even then, I don't think a very active, needing lots of stimulation dog is good with a young family unless you are home all the time and have support to let you concentrate on the dog part of the day.

A sighthound otoh, though they want to be with you, are quite happy to not have big walks all the time, and don't start doing laps of the house if understimulated. I have two rescue lurchers (one more greyhoundy, the other more whippety), and they are truly wonderful with children and spend a great deal of the day asleep.

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