Would it be a bad idea to get a puppy?

[ConfusedPupMama]

My family (and me!) really want a dog. There are 4 of us, 2 adults, 2 children and 2 cats (who would probably hate a dog!). There is someone home 5 out of 7 days a week so we would need a pet walker 2 days a week.

I would love to rescue a dog but with two nervous cats already I think we need a puppy that the cats could get used to gradually before it becomes bigger than them.

Please talk me out of it (or into it)!

[FeedThemFlumps]

Just want to echo that puppies are dickheads.

They look cute but are otherwise full time and rather exhausting job for about a year - give it take.

Just when they grow out in one thing you don't like, they start another phase.

It is only worth doing if you are 100% sure and have lots of free time. And don't mind pee and poop on the carpet.

[GrimDamnFanjo]

Worse than my toddlers. I've done it twice and I know I'll always have a dog but I don't think another pup!

[DeathByPuppy]

A small, bitey, farty toddler.

[tabulahrasa]

“I’ve only just come out of the very young children years and am starting to get my life back again.”

A puppy is very much like having a toddler, a small bitey toddler...

[rookiemere]

I'd wait until your DCs were a bit older and can be left on their own whilst you're walking the dog otherwise it will be tricky as you'll need to drag them out every time the dog needs a walk.

[Branleuse]

the rescue centre i got mine from has got a cat friendly small dog in at the moment. Dont suppose youre close to Essex?

[TARSCOUT]

I think if you have to ask, you alredy know the answer! We have always had dogs, normally rescues. Current rescue had terrible life and come alive with other dogs. Got a pup, never again. 10 months me till a riot!

[AmazingAardvark]

If you think an adult dog would suit you better, have a look at charities that foster the dogs with volunteers - they see the dogs in a home environment and so are often more confident in adopting to families with young children or other pets.
If your cats are nervous, I’d look for a dog who has actually lived with cats, rather than one who has just been briefly introduced to a cat.

[VeruccaSalted]

They have not stopped and we've had the dog 10 months now. It's mainly playing games that encourage chasing and nipping, but yesterday the eldest pulled his tail while playing and I totally lost my shit. Also, they constantly feed him so he's a bit of a baleful-eyed beggar. If we had waited til the kids were older, would definitely been easier to train him BUT then I get to walk him twice a day, sometimes without small complaining children, and he sleeps beside me on the sofa in the evening and it's wonderful.

[PolloDePrimavera]

I've not RTFT but I notice you're looking for a poodle cross, there's a charity called a Doodle Aid which rehomes doodles (poodle crosses) , you can follow them on Facebook, they seem very responsible. I have a cockapoo and she is such an integral and beloved part of the family. So I would say yes!!
Nb she doesn't shed and we got a doodle as my dad has really bad eczema.

[Branleuse]

i think if you have nervous cats, then a puppy will be a nightmare. You want an older more sedate dogs thats been proven to not chase cats.
That was my main criteria when adopting a rescue dog.
I managed to find a really calm 7 year old dog who has just slotted in perfectly. House trained, great with cats and kids.
My cats would NOT have tolerated a puppy

[Gardeningnovice99]

I hear ya, veruccaSalted. When did your kids stop?!? I lose my s!*t with my kids about the dog more than anything else!

Yep our garden used to be lovely. It’s now a toilet.

[VeruccaSalted]

We privately rehomed a slightly older puppy who was already toilet trained and past the nippy stage. Still not without problems (nervous wee-er and a bit jumpy), but we love him and he has been a wonderful addition to the family. One thing I did underestimate was what dicks my kids could be (aged 2, 4, and 6) and I totally get why rescues don't rehome to families with young kids. I had also been quite naive in that I thought we could handle any dog as long as it was child friendly, but I see now we would never have coped with a reactive dog pr one that suffers from separation anxiety. Oh and our cat hates him and has moved upstairs permanently. And the garden is a toilet. So, you know, pros and cons.

[Wolfiefan]

I got a pup when my youngest was 6. It was still bloody hard work. Toilet training, chewing and separation anxiety.
Be aware though that any dog can have issues. Be honest about what you can take on? No animal is perfect. If you do decide an adult rescue is best then a smaller rescue that places dogs in foster will be better. They can tell you just what you could be taking on. Black retriever x and EGLR are two.

[Gardeningnovice99]

We got a puppy when our kids were young. I adore him, but the kids were a bit too young and not great with him.

It’s better now though! But he does chew the toys the kids leave lying around. And my kids were really very young when we got him, which, in hindsight, was stupid of us.

He hasn’t destroyed any furniture, but if I need to be out much I get someone else to look after him. Longest he’s ever alone is about 3 hours and that’s in the kitchen, where his bed is (he can’t roam the house if he’s alone).

I don’t leave the kids alone with him for a second though!

[ConfusedPupMama]

Yes that’s why we started looking at puppies. In some ways now feels like the perfect time as one of us is here most days and we can easily afford doggy day care the other two days. But then I think about having a puppy jumping around and chewing my furniture and it doesn’t feel quite so enticing.
I think we had been caught up in the practicalities of holiday care, doggy day care, fitting in walks, introducing to our cats etc and we had overlooked some of the other things. Our children can’t be relied upon to not leave small toys lying around for example.

[Gardeningnovice99]

You would probably struggle to rescue a dog because you have a four year old. I believe children have to be 8 or 9?

[ConfusedPupMama]

Yes this is how I’m feeling this morning. I’ve read a few pages of the puppy thread too and I’m not sure I can be doing with some of the issues! I’ve only just come out of the very young children years and am starting to get my life back again. I think a full grown dog would suit us much more in a few years time.

[LucyLocketss]

I'd put your existing pets first. This isn't fair to your cats to get a puppy. Yes people make it work and you might too but you end up with cats who are fearful and scared in their home and they were there and settled first

My advice is to think again

[MissShapesMissStakes]

Why the cross? Poodles are fantastic dogs if you don’t want shedding. We have a mini poodle and he doesn’t shed. A cross means 50% chance it will (depending on what it’s crossed with).

Puppies are hard work and I know ours is very easy going but at around one and a half I’m not happy leaving him for more than 2-3 hours. It’s just not fair on him as he adores us all and loves to be in our company.

Also rescues are often checked tk are how they are with cats. A puppy is crazy and may be more scary to cats than a calmer older dog. I think it really depends on the dog mire than anything.

Look at breed specific rescues maybe?

[LanternLighter]

Puppies are hard work, don’t get one if you’re house or garden proud. Twice I’ve said I’d never get a puppy again and I did! Third time around was not nearly so bad and he has bought so much to mine and dcs lives. We love him to pieces and would never want to be without him!

[Bigsighall]

Some rescues will have dogs that are fine with cats (and kids) look at breed specific rescues as they are more reasonable. Puppies can be hard work (but bloody cute!!)

[Wolfiefan]

A cross breed can’t be guaranteed to be low shed. And poodle crosses will likely come from a puppy farmer.
You can’t leave a puppy all day with just a dog walker popping in. Awful idea.

[adaline]

If you want a guarantee of low-shedding then don't go for a cross - you have no idea what kind of coat a cross will have.

As to whether you should get a puppy - how much time do you have to dedicate to toilet training, classes, walking? What are you going to do if you go on holiday or want to go to the zoo or somewhere else that doesn't allow dogs?

Once fully grown, how much time can you dedicate to walks everyday? Poodle crosses need lots of exercise - at least an hour a day, ideally more as they're originally working dogs. Can you do that everyday, even if you and the DC are ill? Can you get home everyday to feed/walk the dog? What about evenings when DC have parents evenings etc?

I think the biggest mistake people make is not realising how much of your time a young dog takes up. Mine is coming upto two years old and I can still only leave him home alone for a couple of hours. Luckily I have family who will take him if I need to be out all day but it's still not easy and you really have to plan ahead!

[DeathByPuppy]

They really are total dickheads, @GrouchyKiwi.

OP, I suggest you have a read of the puppy support threads on here to get a realistic idea of life with a puppy. If after that you are still on board then crack on!