Family puppy

[User07]

Hello,

We have a older dog at the moment who is a smaller breed but we are interested in the chance of getting another dog, we are not sure on breed as yet but would like a bigger dog this time round.

Things have changed since we got first dog as a puppy. We have changed jobs and had 3 children in this time. Puppy hood seems like distant memory.
We are trying to work out the logistics of getting another puppy.
I now work 3 days a week, term time only.

Do you think it would be fair on the dog if on the 3 days I work, my husband work from home one day and then use daycare 2 days.
At the moment our dog has one day at home and 2 days with family who are also looking after our youngest child.
There may be a chance they will say they will have pup as well but want a plan in place incase they say it too much, which I would understand.
We would aim to get the puppy at the start of the summer holidays so would have 6 weeks at home too.

When we got our first dog we spent about a year choosing breed, researching, finding breeder etc likewise this time we wont rush in to things.

All opinions welcome, also any suggestions on breeds. Im thinking a Labrador as we love been outside and are an active family.

Thank you!

How will OldDog cope with an annoying bitey puppy?

I've introduced a puppy into a house with an older dog - twice, in fact - and both times the older dog swiftly kicked the puppy into line. Provided that your older dog isn't really ancient and infirm (or dog aggressive) you should be alright on that score.

A lot of people use daycare for puppies. I don't know a great deal about it, but I'd look for one that gave some training to the puppy while it was with them.

Daycare could be an issue. Puppies need a lot of sleep.
Good breeders breed rarely. You’re unlikely to find one ready at the start of the holidays.
Working or show?
Puppies are a PITA! Older dog can’t be left alone with it too much and not sure how much work can be done on puppy watching days!!
Labs are BIG. How small is smallest child?
And bloody hairy!! How houseproud are you?

In all honesty we are unsure how she would cope. Its something we need to really think carefully about.
I know its not the same as living together constantly but someone close in the family is getting a puppy soon (well hopefully with Covid) so this could give us a better idea on how things could work out.

We are lucky that we have some well rated day care around us. Again something that needs more thought, we are at the early stages.
I guess trying to work out if it is something we can make work and something that is fair for the puppy and our girl.

Youngest child is 3 will be almost 4 by the time anything happens if it does.

Im as house proud as possible with 3 children and a dog

Thank you for all the replys so far!

My puppy is now nine months and I wouldn't have wanted her in daycare from 8 weeks. Maybe from 14 weeks. (Get her in lockdown?! ). She was so vulnerable and scared and slept a lot.

Our pup went to daycare from 13 weeks. I chose the daycare and made sure they had availability (and would hold us a space) before committing to pup. I really like their set up with lots of different areas for the dogs including an area just for pups. They also have a good relationship with the local vet and I felt pup was in good hands.
For us it's worked out really well. Pup now almost 2 and goes approx 3 times a week. He absolutely loves other dogs now but is very well mannered around them.
I've heard some daycares will insist pup gets neutered, ours doesn't but it's something you might want to consider.

As houseproud as possible?
Love it!
We are keeping pup and big girl mostly separate. Pup needs to bond with us and we need to train and establish boundaries. Plus she’s VERY bitey and it’s not fair to expect big dog to tolerate that or be forced to tell her off.
It certainly can work. Great you’re thinking it through.
It’s a nightmare trying to find decent breeders. Worth looking into the breed club (though that may just be show and not working type. I’m not sure.) KC just means a pedigree lab. It gives NO protection against puppy farms and backyard breeders.
Worth checking what health tests parents should have prior to breeding. (It’s different for every breed.) I would expect hip scores but don’t know what else labs would need!

It is a nightmare finding breeders. I had forgotten how difficult it is actually and how easily you can be fooled!

Great to know about day care been ok from early on. If our plan worked out it would hopefully be around 14 weeks puppy would start going.
My husband could potentially take extra holidays or again work from home if we needed extra time before we started day care.

I noticed that on the day care website it says males do be neutered at 6 months and females in season to stay at home. Whats the currant advice on neutering now?
Our dog now was done before her first season but again this was 10 years ago and done on the advice of the vet.

Advice varies hugely!
Females. Obviously prevents unwanted pregnancies and pyometra.
Males. Prevents pregnancy. Stops them clearing off to find a bitch in heat (but not all males would.)
Neutering is not a cure for behavioural issues and should be avoided with nervous males for instance.
Personally I would always wait until the dog is mature. Best for growth and development. Not sure how that works in daycare though.
Do you know if you’d rather have a boy or girl?

I wouldn't neuter a dog until it is physically and mentally mature - in the case of my current young dog, she didn't really mature until she was almost three, but for a lot of dogs, they get there at around two. There is a good summary of the pros and cons of neutering on the SkeptVet website.

Our younger dog was firmly told off by the older dog a few times as a puppy. She's grown up to be very confident and is excellent at reading other dogs.

The neutering issues was an important one for us. I definitely wouldn't have wanted to neuter at 6 months and now he is 2 I still don't want to neuter him.
6 months is just far too young IMO, pup still has a long time to mature and develop.

Thank you everyone. I will look at other day care around and see what their policy is on neutering.
I am at the very early stages of researching, thinking and considering so it is going to be a while off.
Any other suggestions of good family breeds that are medium/large would be great.
The two at the top of my list so far are a labrador or a german short haired pointer. We have had both in our extended family so Im aware of the pros and cons of both. If I'm honest labrador is probably better suited to us as a family at the moment but gsp's are just gorgeous!!

Labradors are divided (as you might know) into show/pet and working lines. That divide is only just beginning in GSPs and even then, IME almost any GSP is more amped than a field-line lab... Like any working-bred dog, they need a fair amount of off-lead exercise and really benefit from having their brains kept busy.

If you opt for any form of gundog, check the pedigree of the parents. If it's full of FTCh (field trial champion) awards, the puppies are likely to have a strong working drive and will need a lot of input from you to guide and train them and keep them occupied.

I would be thinking about how much exercise, training and grooming you’re prepared to do. Discover Dogs at Crufts is great. You can also do basic quizzes (KC have one) that suggests breeds. Also think of what job a dog was bred to do as it can give you some idea of their traits!
And remember there are breed rescues too. Black retriever x put dogs in foster homes and offer ongoing support. Foster homes allow rescues to be honest about the best potential homes for a dog and what needs it has.

Yes exercise is the main thing we need to consider, this is going to be the biggest change from our dog now I think. She is happy with 45 mins a day now, shes also happy with this in one or as two walks.
Lots to think about and consider!