I paid a deposit today

[Powertothepetal]

I feel absolutely sick

This puppy is much wanted actually, we’ve waited such a long time as our youngest child is much more lively than our others and before now we haven’t felt he’s mature enough around a puppy.

It’s not our first dog, we already have a lovely adult dog.

The puppy is a toy breed, which we agreed we wanted because they are more portable, taking up much less room and less expensive to feed, medicate etc.

The kids are beyond excited, the puppy is due to come home the second week of September.

I just can’t shake this terrible feeling of dread.
I feel briefly excited then back to dread.

I didn’t feel like this when buying our current dog, I felt nothing but joy and excitement.

I think my fear is largely due to its size.
Our current dog is medium to large and was such a sturdy, chunky puppy.
I never felt worried about injuring her or her getting ill, which is silly because obviously all puppies are vulnerable to illness.

This puppy is just so SO small.
And being a toy breed he’ll be a small adult too.
Roughly the size of current dog’s head fully grown!

I’m finding myself worrying about things I just didn’t think about when current dog was a puppy; hypoglycaemia, heatstroke, chills, being trodden on, breaking a leg jumping off a chair, the kids dropping it and so on.

I’m worried about current dog too.
Current dog is gentle, she’s lived with kittens, she’s had rescued hedgehogs and other wildlife in the house with her.
But she is hit and miss with other dogs.
She has never bitten though.
Generally, she is fine with small dogs; another major reason why we went with a toy breed.
She has met puppies of this puppy’s breed before too and been absolutely fine.
But I’m still worried in case she accidentally injures him (I don’t think she would intentionally hurt him)

We have everything set up; collar, lead, tag, pen, crate, toys etc etc.
We have a planned routine for sleep, play etc.
We have a socialisation plan.

I’m just still feeling really worried.

What doesn’t help is the breed has a reputation for being snappy.
We didn’t tell anyone we were getting a puppy when we got current dog.
This time round I’ve been so excited I’ve told everyone and literally everyone has said some variant of OMG why?!
They are horrible, vicious things.

I just don’t know what to do.
Will it be okay?

I don’t feel able to back out, the kids will be devastated and I’ll be constantly questioning if it was right.

I echo what an other poster said about not letting him up on furniture. My MIL had a toy Yorkshire terrier. When it was a pup It fell off the sofa onto soft carpet and broker it’s leg.

Re the smallness of your puppy. I have got a very small yorkie puppy who is now 13 weeks. I have had several Yorkies before, but never as tiny as this - he is on a par with a chihuahua. I am still very nervous of him hurting himself - nobody told him he's a small dog and he is as bold as brass and very curious. I don't put him on any furniture (he can't get up by himself) and I monitor him playing with my other dog because it gets a bit rough. I have had to protect hard surfaces in the garden after he ran into the washing line pole and nearly knocked himself out. I have used (bubble wrap and) plastic netting, so a bit like the protection downhill skiers have! He gets up such a speed in the garden, but of course doesn't have the muscle control to swerve or stop. I bring him downstairs in the morning in a pet carrier because he is so wriggly and excited I am terrified he is going to escape from my hold. There are no children in this house, but I don't let visitors pick him up anyway. I try not to pick him up too much because I think a dog is better walking than being carried, and actually he doesn't really like it - he's not into cuddles very much.
Best of luck with yours.

My parents have a small Jack Russell (not toy) with a large husky and an absolute unit of a Welsh collie (he is literally solid muscle). Honestly, she rules the roost when it comes to the two dogs and she is the roughest out of them, I wouldn’t worry about your current dog hurting her. And you sound really clued up with having a socialisation plan, that’s such a good step and one which will really behoove the pair of them.

People have an idea that small breeds are snappy but as PPs have said it’s because the owners allow the behaviour. Don’t stand for any behaviour from the new dog that you wouldn’t tolerate from the new dog.

You say you’re worried about the kids dropping it, don’t let them pick it up. They shouldn’t need to be to honest, I’m sure they don’t ever need to pick the bigger dog up. If they want to hold the dog on the sofa make sure you deal with the pick ups and minimise them where you can at least until the dog is older and less fragile. It’s a dog, it doesn’t need carried everywhere.

I will say they can be easier to get under your feet, you do need to be more aware of them. My dad tripped over a a childhood dog of ours (yorkie cross Jack Russell) as it came up behind him in the (galley) kitchen, he stepped back, tripped, went to put his hands on either side of the counter to balance but slipped and landed on the dog. Sadly broke his shoulder (metal plate fixed it in the end, he was ok this). He then fitted a bell on his collar so he could hear him approach. I think that was a highly unfortunate incident but as I say, they can sneak lol.

To be honest, it’s not a great choice of dog with small children.

However, most of the vicious snappy little dogs are caused by their owners treating them as toys rather than DOGS. Training, socialisation and good behaviour is just as important in a tiny dog as a large dog, but is often overlooked.

There should be strict rules with the children about how to interact with the dog, same as if it was a giant breed. Don’t interrupt the dog eating/sleeping etc. Don’t pick the dog up EVER.

It’s not generally a breed that takes well to small children, but with rules and boundaries you might find it all works out ok

It’s not generally a breed that takes well to small children, but with rules and boundaries you might find it all works out ok
Hm.
I hope it all works out okay.
I’ve been thinking a lot about him and feeling much more optimistic about the situation.

I’ve never had such a tiny dog before!

I grew up with chihuahuas. Our first when I was 3.

As long as you are a responsible owner, I am sure it will be fine. Just don't let the kids overwhelm the puppy.