Getting a puppy while 24 weeks pregnant

[Bumble84]

Looking for advice. Would it be daft to get a puppy while 24 weeks pregnant? It would be a Labrador pup. We have a large house and garden but I’m wondering if it’s too much to take on. DH is very keen.

Dear god no.
This is a truly terrible idea.
You need to be able to focus on your dc and then yourself once baby comes.

@nunnun I don’t expect you to give a crap about a stranger on an Internet forum but please be kind, I am just asking for advice from people.

A terrible idea. Long time dog owner here with a working cocker spaniel and toddler (spaniel was 2 when the baby arrived!)

Very bad idea. Puppy will end up neglected and poorly socialised. They need a lot of input in the first year or so and juggling it with a new baby just isn’t realistic.

When I visit new mums with a puppy (midwife here) the puppy is invariably shut in a crate or the kitchen whining. And there is often puddles of pee!

Utterly utterly mad.

I understand the idea of them growing up together but that's why I'd wait to be honest. Let your baby get old enough to pester you for a dog and then get to see the joy on their face when you give in ☺️
They will feel it's their dog (you will obviously be doing all the work) and bond a lot better than with a dog that was there when they arrived and will be competing for attention when they are a toddler.
Also not to be negative but think about life cycles, the start of puperty is not the best time to cope with the loss of a beloved pet.

Just no.

@Sk1nnyB1tch very valid points and thank you for a considered comment

[quote Bumble84]@nunnun I don’t expect you to give a crap about a stranger on an Internet forum but please be kind, I am just asking for advice from people.[/quote]
nunnun's post might have sounded harsh, but they have a very pertinent point imo.

This isn't the same as asking about being pregnant and learning to drive for example, or pregnant and building an extension etc. A puppy is a living breathing being, and owning a pet is a privilege. None of us should enter into getting one unless we are absolutely positive that we can give them the very best care that we can. If it goes wrong, it can be heartbreaking and extremely stressful for the dog.

I’ve taken the time to google some basic daily routines for you for newborn and puppy. Now as we know, newborns are pretty full on. Even if baby is really good it is still sometimes impossible to do normal daily things around their schedule (showering, cooking, housework etc). The puppy schedule is also pretty full on. Now combine the two. Also take into consideration things that the schedules don’t mention, daily mishaps like baby poo explosions/puke, puppy wee and poo everywhere, bearing in mind in the first couple of months the puppy has to be watched like a hawk and taken outside every 10-30 minutes all day every day for toilet training. Also imagine the barking, whining, jumping up and scratching. The destructiveness and chewing. The zoomies where they run round like lunatics crashing into things (my children are banned from sil house after her puppy had a funny 5 minutes resulting in my baby’s Moses basket being knocked over). Now try and combine all that with housework, laundry, cooking, shopping, admin self care etc. Now imagine that you don’t have a straight forward birth, baby or puppy. You could end up having a c section and be out of action for two months, what would happen then? Baby could have reflux/colic/generally just be unsettled and refuse to sleep. The puppy could end up being a little arsehole (most of them actually are until 18 months plus). Why would you do it to yourself?

You'd be absolutely barking mad see what I did there ?

Very bad idea. Don't do it

Good god, no! Makes me shudder just thinking about it!

I've had both and I'd say that puppies are harder than babies in lots of ways. Both together is bonkers - don't do it!

I had a friend who did exactly this and got a Labrador. He actually settled in really well but, when baby arrived, even a lovely lab had his nose put out of joint! Baby on the floor was impossible with the dog. Both had to be separate. It’s a lot of stress. They never had another dog and it was really hard work with a bouncy young dog and a baby. Another friend I know was pulled over by her dog on a slippery path whilst carrying her baby in a sling. Both ok but introduce a dog to children and not the other way around. It’s just easier for everyone.

Very bad idea they are very hyper and destructive and need lots of exercise. My lab didn't calm down even slightly for around 1.5 years. Don't put the added pressure on yourself of having to walk a dog for at least 1-2 hours per day when you have a tiny baby

@chuly I do understand people have a point they want to make, truly I do and I am taking all this advice on board. What’s the point in asking for advice if you don’t! Just sometimes it can come across quite harsh.

I’m hearing what everyone is saying loud and clear. It seems it’s not the right time for us, which is a shame.

I’d also recommend waiting OP but nunnuns post was awful and will do precisely nothing to help dogs.

Like everyone else no no and no again don’t do it to yourself.

We waited until our last DC was 3 and at nursery a few hours a day (I was a SAHM) before getting a pup, and it was still hard work.

Why not consider an older dog? I got a rescue dog when I was pregnant with my first, she was about 3 years old and already trained nicely. She was lovely with the DCs and they absolutely still grew up together, she died when my oldest child was mid teens. There are plenty of families with dogs and children and all kinds of other pets besides. If it’s what you want to do, I’m sure you can make it work.

In my opinion young babies and young dogs don't match.

Young baby = older dog.
Older child = young dog.

You need to train the pup well long before you introduce a child into the environment so that you can control the dog around the child and ensure the safety of both of them.

A pup could see a baby as a toy or fellow pup, they 'play bite' to learn biting strength. Puppies also pounce everywhere, on everything, with little control for 6 months, and take a lot of work to train - house train , toilet train, lead train, recall. And the separation anxiety it suffers for the first few weeks is like having a newborn in itself.

Puppies are puppies till approx 2 years old. You're post reads like neither of you have had dogs before which further extends reasons not to do it now when you are about to have your first baby.

Baby will have no appreciation for this dog whatsoever and you will be run off your feet on maternity leave with constant cleaning up after both of them. Shit, sick and needing your attention. Just as baby is drifting of to sleep, puppy starts barking. You will go nuts.

Wait till baby is on his/her feet, no longer needs 'sterile' everything and old enough to understand words like yes, no, gentle, careful. Then they will love their puppy to bits and can be taught how to treat puppy properly and safely.

Young baby and young dog = neither of them have any sense.

And any nip of a dog to baby will be put to sleep no matter how old. Personally I just wouldn't create the situation in the first place.

For reference I have 9yr old lab and 1yr old baby. Dog is soft and playful around baby, acts on command if I need her to move, leave, sit, wait etc doesn't mind being pulled and pinched, gently, by baby and has adjusted to the baby being in the house, baby noise, new routines for walks with pram etc. But every day I do my upmost to make sure the environment remains safe for both of them to play together. Most of that is done by having such a well trained and well behaved dog.

I'm not paranoid, but accidents happen.

For the first time today baby put the ball in dogs mouth, took it back, and they played pass the balk for a while. It was lovely.

I got two border collie puppies brothers from the same litter I also had a 2 year old 2 months later I found out I was pregnant with my second. It was bloody hard work and although I love them all dearly I never want to do it again. My dogs are 4 now and fantastic but it was really hard I just got my 2 year old out of nappies toilet trained the dogs then started again with a newborn. I don't think I've ever been so exhausted in all my life.

@chanklybore I definitely would consider a rescue dog. Obviously very difficult atm as they are in very high demand but at some point down the line I think this is something that we may well look into. Maybe as pp have said when DC is a bit older and they can be like a wee team.

I’m glad you are really thinking it through,a puppy is absolutely exhausting.Mine has just turned 1 year and she’s been been very hard work. I absolutely adore her,although I couldn’t imagine doing all her training with a tiny baby in tow.My youngest child is 18 so I had so much help and I was still knackered.

Really REALLY bad idea, sorry. tell your DH that if he still wants one six weeks after the baby is born he can have one when the baby is four.

I did this. Believe me coming down to a kitchen covered in puppy diarrhoea when I had morning sickness is not a good memory. I also feel that I really neglected my pups, and while they are now lovely dogs I do regret the start they had.