Would you get a dog in this situation?

[DazedandConfused135]

Hi, just looking for some advice and what others were thinking.
DH and myself have been discussing get a dog for a number of years, initially put off by house renovation on our first house together, then wedding, then ended up with a cat instead (this is important to note as although he's a good boy he dislikes other cats with a passion and wasn't too great around my old family dog who has sadly passed). I then ended up pregnant with DC1 (nearly 4) and we ended up moving house and both getting new jobs. Then found out I was pregnant with DC2 (1) just after covid hit.
We've put of getting a dog for 5 + years but we are in a position where there are a few litters available to us within price range.
I work as a dog groomer and am able to take the dog to work with me if needs.
We also plan on additional walks from a dog walker depending on breed and size etc. On top of the walks we will provide daily.

With all this is mind, childrens ages,the cat, etc. Would you conicider getting a puppy or leaving it a bit longer?

Tia

That would be too much work for me personally. 2 full time jobs, a 4 year old, a toddler, a cat, a house. Any energy I had left would be for seeing my friends. Personally I would wait another 4/5 years when life with a dog would be much easier.

@Yicky
Thank you for your thoughts.
I think I'm probably going to have to think practically and wait a little longer. Although I love the idea I think your right, it probably would be a lot of work.

I wouldn’t.
I’d need for my youngest to be in school. And taking it to work is ok but it will still need to be toilet trained and it won’t just sit around all day as a pup, it will need playing with and sleep.

Please don't get a dog, if only just for your cat's sake.
So many people I know have introduced a puppy to their established cat and it's shit.

No. I really don't think it would be a good idea for quite a few reasons, really:

• the cat doesn't like dogs.
• you have two small children including a 1yo.
• you (both?) work. So who will look after the puppy during the day? They can only be left for very short periods at first.

You also mention bringing the dog to work with you, but how will that work in reality? What if the dog you're grooming doesn't like other dogs? What if the puppy needs a wee in the middle of a job - are you going to leave a clients' dog unattended on the grooming table? What if the puppy cries/barks/chews while you're working and you make a mistake?

I think you really need to wait until both children are at school and you have a solid plan in place for dog care while you're at work. Bringing a dog with you when you work with other dogs in a confined space isn't really a good idea - especially as many dogs feel restricted and stressed on the grooming table.

No, not a good time.

I wouldn't have a new puppy with kids that age. We waited til youngest was 5 and it was ideal, he could understand how to behave around the puppy and was at school so I didn't have to juggle kids at home with puppy training/walks etc.

It would be too much for me I’m afraid, just the fact that you can never leave the children and Ddog together. That’s a whole lot of extra supervising you’ll be adding to your already busy schedule.

Not with a one year old I wouldn’t.
Plus taking a puppy to work? You can’t toilet train etc whilst working as a groomer.
Plus litters near me at the moment within price range. That’s three red flags right there.