Puppy - reality check needed!

[scoobydoobie]

I've spent so long researching breeds and reading puppy books, that when a breeder came back to me yesterday saying her litter was bigger than expected and she had a puppy for us, I was sooo excited! However, I woke up at 4 this morning and kind of freaked out (like you do when you realise you're pregnant!)
I started worrying about it all and how we will cope.

The puppy will be 8 weeks when we bring it home.

How do you do the food shopping
The school run
My weekly swim
Spend a day at the beach as a family

How long are you tied to the house before being able to go out with your pup and how long before you can go out for a hour or so and leave the pup in an enclosed space (kitchen/crate)?

We were hoping to wait until September but before winter but I've come to realise that nature doesn't let you be quite that specific!

Is it really as bad as all that or can they slot into life if you chill and go with the flow...?

[KittiesInsane]

I'd just factor in that this year your puppy takes priority over the beach lifestyle (bet it pours down all of July anyway), but next year you will have a full-grown dog on the beach - hurray! - rather than getting one in the winter and having a teenage psycho-hound/bitch-in-first-ever-season during the summer.

[Dieu]

Good post svg1982, and I too agree about it being harder in some ways than with a human baby (and I had 3!).
I remember it only being difficult for a relatively short space of time, but maybe that's my rose coloured specs talking!
Teddy is now a year old and we love him to absolute pieces. Wouldn't be without him in a million years. However, they DO need to be factored in to any plan you make, and because Teddy very much still has separation anxiety, we generally never leave him for any more than 2 hours! I am a single parent with no family nearby, but borrowmydoggy.com has been a true GODSEND ... and somehow it all just ticks along, and you just end up actually managing!

[svg1982]

I'll admit, even though I had thought I had researched and read everything there was to know about having a puppy, nothing prepared me for the huge amount of hard work and isolation I felt at having to turn down invitations for nights and days out with family and friends. Now I just take him with me but pre-vaccinations, when you can't take him out, and you can't leave him for longer than 15mins, that was really hard! Major cabin fever!!! I think I had Post Puppy Depression! I remember crying on several occasions because he wouldn't sleep and I was like a zombie from having to take him out for toilet breaks every two hours during the day AND night!!! I too, thought, I managed with a human baby so I can deal with a pup...I honestly think it was harder with the puppy!!!! My pup is 6mths old so still dealing with toilet training and crying in his crate at night (separation anxiety). He has also just started barking all the time at the slightest noise from outside when our windows are open!!!! So trying to train him to stop. Which is really hard!

HOWEVER...I wouldn't change it for anything. He is my best friend and just looking at his wee face makes me smile like an idiot! I love him so much! I feel like I'm in a routine with him now - I love our walks and snuggles on the couch! I feel so happy when I've taught him something new and watching him grow and develop his own wee personality is amazing and a privilege.

Some people are lucky and their new pups are toilet trained easily and do everything by the book. Most aren't. You need to be prepared for how hard it will likely be. And be realistic about what help ( if any) you will get from your partner, kids and other family.

Good luck!!!

[scoobydoobie]

Damned if I do, damned if I don't... I think I've had lots of reality checks and good points made. Thanks all.

[OreoHeaven]

There is awesome book called Life Skills for Puppies. Buy it.

[TrionicLettuce]

I'd go with a good breeder over any other consideration like time of year, if you've found a good one, you want to grab it because that's one of the hardest things, finding a decent breeder.

I'm with tabulahrasa on this, I'd much rather get a pup from a great breeder at a less than ideal time than potentially have to compromise on where the pup comes from in order to get one at the perfect time.

[hellypad]

We have a Miniature Schnauzer who came to us a 10 week old last year, he was house trained when he arrived and only ever had 2 accidents. He initially slept in a crate in our bedroom and now just sleeps in there in his bed and I can count on the one hand how many times he has woken us in the night. So it doesn't always have to be horrible. There is a Facebook group for Schnauzer owners too and they can answer lots of questions.

[Costacoffeeplease]

That had crossed my mind too pigs a dog is a serious commitment - if days out at the beach take priority, then it's maybe not the right decision

[elephantpig]

They only can't go out for a couple of weeks and even then I took my puppy out loads, I just didn't put him on the ground. Socialisation is so important, so I would just carry puppy on the school run / at the beach. Especially a little schnauzer!
Puppies are incredibly difficult though! My Mum was a younger mum when she had me, and got a dog in her late thirties when I was a teenager. It may just be a case of forgetting how hard things are but she said she found a puppy much harder than a baby. At least with a newborn you can put it down and it will be there when you get back!
Also having lived with my Mum and the puppies she has had and having my own, I WOULD be somewhat put off by time of year when getting a puppy because housetraining a puppy in the dark with lashing rain isn't fun and they are bound to shiver and whimper then pee as soon as you get inside.
Saying that, you need to be careful housetraining in summer because my Mum had one dog that was a puppy in summer and she never really 'caught on' to having to ask to go out. When the puppy was learning, the back door was just always open, however, when it got to winter, the puppy would just wee inside if the backdoor was shut

[pigsDOfly]

Okay. I'm going to have to eat my words here. I'm afraid OP that if you're being put off by the time of year over getting a puppy from a good breeder then in all honesty you don't sound all that serious about getting a puppy and maybe all the posters telling you about the difficulties of getting a puppy are right to emphasize the hard work.

I think I probably was very lucky with my dog, or more importantly with the wonderful breeder: lovely responsible young woman who took it very seriously and gave me lots of opportunities to spend time with my puppy before she was old enough to leave her mum. I would have been very foolish to pass her up because it was the wrong time of year, or whatever.

A dog is, hopefully, going to be with you for many years and give you so much, a bit of sacrifice at the beginning would be well worth it.

[Dieu]

Yes, some good points have been made on here, and you've taken them all with good grace.
Please let us know what you decide!

[scoobydoobie]

Dieu!

Someone else has just said virtually the same thing to me... I am a well known worrier and do often overthink big decisions. However I am once bitten (we had a 3rd baby because I desperately wanted one and won over my husband and as much as I love him the best (shhh) and wouldn't ever consider life without him, it wasn't really the best decision we've ever made. Life has been blooming hard for 5 years with a big age gap between my 2 older boys and sacrifices have been made) so, I am being super cautious about making the right decision for my family here.

A friend has said that theres no reason why we can't take a pup to the beach in a soft crate with shade and plenty of water and yes, I can online shop for groceries.

This breeder is a vet at Vets4Pets in Clevedon. These pups are from her 2 year old mini Schnauzer called Devon.

PS - I really don't mind strong views either way, I did certainly ask for a reality check and I've had one today. Thanks everyone.

[GinIsIn]

I hate to also add another downer to this but please be wary of breeders who 'unexpectedly' have another puppy available immediately - there have been several threads on here recently where that has happened and it's always turned out to be puppy farming.

[MunchCrunch01]

borrowmydoggy is the website where you can borrow dogs, mine was signed up for 2 years and met some lovely people. The ages of your dc matter, for myself, I wouldn't have under 5s and a young dog as too many unpredictable variables for me personally to manage - my dog's a lovely good natured dog and he's knocked the toddlers over many times, he was already 5 when the first DC appeared.

[Dieu]

Each time you've forgotten how hard it is, Costa? Yup, I would imagine it's like childbirth
OP, no offence meant whatsoever, but I don't really get your logic for turning this breeder down. Yes, you may have a few weeks at home, but that's nothing compared to all the fun years ahead you'll all have.
And if the whole family is on board with the idea of getting a pup, it shouldn't necessarily always be you stuck at home!
Do what's right, yes, but try not to overthink the whole thing to death. It can be hard work for sure, but it is doable and not rocket science

[nannybeach]

I missed the none shedding bit! I already had 2 borderc ollies when I got my toy (Phalene) says on the net they dont shed they blooming well do! if you want a particular breed, you will probably have to go much further from home. When we got him, I drove from East Sussex to Taunton in Somerset, before he was old enough to leave his Mum to be "checked over" by the breeder, to make sure she was happy for me to buy him. A friend of mine thought that was ridiculous, unfortunately she bought a dog, (her first) from a well known Pet shop, that has been on TV and newspapers many times, puppy farming, selling lots of different types of puppies, and sadly her dog had huge health problems, which cost a fortune, even though he was insured, and finally in a great deal of pain, still very young, had to be put to sleep, my friend says she will never have another dog.

[nannybeach]

She did ask for a reality check, I dont thnk we are "all" moaning saying how awful it is having a puppy. I said its like having a baby, toilet training, health aspects, you cannot leave a puppy for 8 hours and go out when you fancy. I have had dogs since I was a kid, always 2, so they have their own company, they are flap trained so they can go outside to play or toilet when they need.Some dogs are house trained very quickly, they all vary like kids. But you do see ads in the paper folk getting rid of puppies after a few months, there a huge number of rescue homes. Lets face it, if your child plays up you dont have it adopted!

[Costacoffeeplease]

Maybe it was pigs and you got lucky

Mine were all picked up off the street by us or someone we know - it's a totally different culture here - the idea of buying a pedigree pup is very niche

[Costacoffeeplease]

How old are your children?

[tabulahrasa]

Just to put it into perspective my last dog was a rescue, from a pound with little history other than he was about 6 months old had been picked up as a stray as a puppy, rehomed and returned at 4 months for growing too big.

He came with terrible social skills (not socialised and over friendly with people, dogs, anything else) and full on separation anxiety...he was still easier than the first two months with my current one who was 8 weeks old and came straight from his mother, lol.

I would say though - I'd go with a good breeder over any other consideration like time of year, if you've found a good one, you want to grab it because that's one of the hardest things, finding a decent breeder.

[pigsDOfly]

Then I have to bow to your greater experience Costa, Maybe my dog was a particularly easy puppy.

[scoobydoobie]

Costa, I will say, I took on board your note about rescue dogs and it struck a cord. However, I've just spent and hour on the internet looking at rescue dogs within a 2 hour drive of home (North Devon) and there wasn't 1, that wasn't non shedding, or needed an adult home, or needed another dog. I don't think sadly its just as easy as "adopt a rescue dog". So sad to see how many dogs need homes. There were many Schnauzers, but all needed another resident dog.
I will keep looking at the pages though.

[Costacoffeeplease]

I have had dogs all my life, I've had 3 pups in the last 6 years. Each time I've forgotten just how hard it is - and I work from home, live in a country where the back door is open virtually all day every day, have tiled floors throughout and no children

Pups are cute for about 10 minutes and bloody hard work for up to 18 months

Anyone who doesn't have any experience of raising and training pups needs to know just how hard and frustrating it can be

[pigsDOfly]

Yes, Costa I do think it's a shame when posters make it sound like having a puppy if ghastly. I really enjoyed my dog's early days and it never occurred to me to moan about any of it because I wanted her and was prepared to do whatever it took to end up with the lovely dog I've got and it really wasn't hard.

Yes, there are people who come on here and moan and want to send the dog away but clearly the majority of posters love having a dog or several, so why make out it's so awful.

Obviously if a person is committed to dog ownership then it isn't that hard, that's all I'm saying, and I find it odd that when someone starts a thread asking for input everyone just talks about the negatives. Be realistic by all means by don't make it sound like hell on earth.

[scoobydoobie]

Mmm... Thank you all, for cold hard facts and views and advice from both sides of the fence. I think that ultimately, this time of year is wrong for us as a family. We live by the beach and we all love doing things on the beach and in the water during the summer so are out far more than the Autumn/winter. As much as I don't want to turn down this pup from a great breeder, I don't want to regret it and spend a summer at home whilst my family enjoys the great outdoors of North Devon. I'm definitely up for the challenge of a pup, I've had 3 boys so no stranger to hard work and commitment, but it needs to be at the right time for me. Thank you all. X