Advice pls-adopting a rescue dog when pregnant

[Wobblechops]

Hi everyone, we’ve really sadly had our elderly rescue dog pts this week. Obviously emotions are still running high but we’d all really like to rescue another dog and have them be part of our family.
The problem is that I’m 22 weeks pregnant and so I want to make sure we don’t rush into anything but by the same token I’d rather settle the dog in before the baby arrives than afterwards.
Has anyone got any advice? Obviously I’m quite prepared to be told I’m mad for considering another dog but this isn’t our first rodeo-our last dog was severely neglected when we adopted her so was hard work and we have a 4 year old so know what babies are like. We’d probably aim to rescue an “easier” rescue dog (albeit that none are easy!) who isn’t a puppy.

I think that would be very selfish, to be honest. I can't imagine a dog who has had maybe three months to start to get used to a new family doing well when suddenly everything is turned upside down, and you won't have enough time to focus on the dog with a new baby and trying to care for your other child.

Can you wait a year?

Please don't. Your intentions are fab, but allowing a rescue dog to settle into your home now & then throwing everything into disarray when the baby turns up is a recipe for disaster. You would be better to wair until your baby is born & you are fully settled into a routine, that way the dog is fitting into your life rather than having to try & adapt so soon after becoming settled with you

Yes we could definitely wait a year but I was thinking that that could be worse-the baby would be crawling etc and I wouldn’t want to bring a new dog in and be pushing them out of the way all the time.

I can totally see why you think it would be selfish and genuinely want advice as to the best time. We have a lovely home for a dog but agree with you as I don’t want to do the wrong thing for any of us including the dog.

I think where I’d got to was that if we do it sooner rather than waiting then I’d be off work and could put the time in to settling the dog and then would be off for the whole of next year with the dog and kids. If we waited it would probably mean waiting for a good couple of years when the baby was a bit older.

I hear you both. In your opinion when would be a good time? Has anyone got experience of adopting with young kids?

Wobblechops i started fostering rescue dogs when my DD was 10 weeks old...it was bloody hard work. As she got more towards a year old it got easier as we had a routine & i could just introduce the dogs to our routine & make it there's. I think once you're over the initial shock a new baby brings, the lack of sleep etc then you'll be in a better position.
Many rescue centres won't adopt out to families due a new baby either, purely because the disruption of a new baby is often why they end up with dogs in the first place

Thanks mustbemad17. That’s great that you foster-how did you deal with crawling/toddling babies and new dogs? Was it just a matter of keeping them separate?

I guess I just miss our dog terribly and I can’t imagine not having her around especially when I’m on mat leave.

Caveat is that I don't have children but I would think waiting until your baby is born and you are settled would be a good idea. Whilst I see that you already have a 4 year old all children and babies are different so there is an unknown element in that they may be really easy going or very hard work.

Adding another unknown to that mix could be disastrous and from some of the threads on here it does seem that the dog can get forgotten or even need rehoming when the baby comes along. However, there are other posters that seem to make young children, babies and dogs work but honestly I can't see a rescue center adopting a dog to you in your current circumstances. Obviously you could try a private adoption but then you have the issue that the current owners might lie about behavioural issues just to get rid of the dog.

What you might want to do is browse this forum to look at some of the difficulties people have had to work on when rescuing a dog. Then think about how you would manage something like that with a new born baby and young child all demanding your time and attention.

Yeah it was basically just being extra vigilant. I had space to keep them apart if i needed. The good thing was I had only dogs that were assessed as kid friendly which helped - obviously you will have the same from a decent centre 🙂