Getting puppy tomorrow...

[triceratopsatemyhat]

Probably outing but hey ho.

Due to leave at 6am to drive 3 hours to potentially collect an 11 week old golden retriever.

DH and I both previous dog owners, know the breed, no worries on that score.

I've suddenly got cold feet.

We have DD who is 2, plus 2 other kids who are 8&10 (who are obviously excited as we've discussed another dog for years).

My mind is racing with scenarios where I can't put my DD first because the puppy will need attention/training.

I am rambling but if anyone is able to give me their words of wisdom either way?

A "chocolate retriever " suddenly becomes available for Christmas eve and a 'breeder' that's happy for the puppy to go to a home with three young kids. On Christmas Eve.

Yep. You couldn't make it up.

Breeder issues aside OP, we have a 6mo working cocker and a just turned DD3. It's HARD. If I'm on my own with them, which I often am as husband works away a fair bit, it's even harder. Walking them together is pretty stressful sometimes.

We have found we end up tag teaming them, one deals with the child, one deals with the puppy. We have very little down time as - apart from 11pm-5.30am - at least one of them is awake.

Should we have waited until DD was a bit older? Probably. She loves the dog, and he's soft as anything, but obviously we can never take our eye off them when they're together.

We wouldn't change it, but it's been much more challenging than I thought.

You've done the right thing OP. I agree with others. Wait till toddler is much older, plus see the pup with its mum and siblings BEFORE commiting to buy it.

As mentioned up thread, we have a 3mth old pup. We were welcome to see it anytime with mum and siblings and encouraged to do so before committing to anything at all. Also saw DNA screening records and vet checks for both parents.