Is now the right time for a puppy?

[Ostryga]

So my friend had an accidental litter (very irresponsible I know, I did lecture her a lot and she is going to get her bitch spayed as soon as she’s recovered from whelping and puppies)

They are lovely little cross breeds. Unknown mix, but mum is a Norfolk terrier cross.

I’ve had pups before so very aware of how bloody horrible the blues is, that I’m going to be in the garden every 20-30mins saying have a wee! Have a wee! About socialisations and training and all of that.

Dd is six now and quite sensible, enough that I can explain puppy biting and keep them separate quite easily.

I miss having a dog so much, but I’m second guessing myself. I guess because the blues and teenage phase scares me. Although I know it’s 2 years (ish) of hard work which will pay off.

They are very chunky little fluffy things that may be swaying me slightly 😅

if she doesn’t know who the dad is I’d be very wary. How else does she neglect her dog is she hasn’t noticed a male dog getting her pregnant 🙄

Oh sorry I didn’t make that very clear - father of pups is known! It’s just he’s a rescue and his breed is unknown.

Do you work? What's your plan for the dog while you're out?

Do you have plans in place for the first couple of months where you literally can’t do ANYTHING, things like taking your DD to parties, coffee and cake dates, even going to a decent sized supermarket that might be a drive away… all
difficult if you’ve got a ten week old
puppy you can’t yet leave

Mumsnet is th only place I know where people insist dogs cannot be left alone. If you get them into a routine of you going out, the majority of dogs are fine!

My three main questions are:

1. Have you met both of the pup’s parents and know what their temperaments are like?
2. How well has mum been looked after during the pregnancy? (Stress during the pregnancy can have a big effect on the pups.)
3. Are the pups being well cared for and socialised, suitably for their age?

Only you know if your dd is likely to cope with the inevitable needle teeth and you haven’t said if you work out of the home or not (or indeed wfh, as that can be almost impossible with a puppy to supervise) or if you have the time available to put into raising a pup, but other than that, if both parent dogs have a good temperament, are healthy and the mum has been well taken care of and had a good pregnancy, in your situation I think I would have one of the pups.

As others have said, obviously you need to consider things like who will have pup when you absolutely can’t take him/her with you, so they aren’t left alone while very young, seek out decent (positive +) puppy training classes and check if your local vet is taking new patient registrations (some aren’t due to shortage of vets).

This is exactly what I need to read. I do have plans in place and lovely friends that will come over if I need to go out. But also is it worth the extra stress of having to organise that, make sure puppy is ok and also make sure Dd is fine.

This is why I asked. I keep thinking I’m ready for another dog but I’m very rose tinted about it!

@Ostryga ours is 2 now and she has always been fine being left but obviously can't be longer than 4 hours as that's just not fair on her, so days out do take some planning , we have family that walk her when need be and an excellent doggie day care place a 2 min walk away . Do you have time to walk a dog 2/3 times a day ? I'm just about to take mine out now and it's absolutely freezing but needs must . It is a big lifestyle change that's for sure .

I leave my dog… I’m not funny about it but he’s 4. You can’t be leaving a 10 week old puppy for two hours while you go to big Tesco

how are your finances? The main reason I am resisting a pup right now is the cost, beds, bowls, leads, insurance, food, vets, walkers, sitters for holidays etc etc. never ending list of expenses

Nobody has said that, though.

But there's a big difference between leaving a toilet-trained, non-destructive adult dog and leaving a 10 week old puppy who needs to wee constantly and who can't be left out of a crate in case it destroys your sofa.

I don't know anything about Norfolk terriers so looked it up. Some traits of aren't great - high tendency to bark and dig, can't be trusted off the leash. They tend not to cope well when left for long periods.

Obviously the pups are only half Norfolk terrier but you need to look beyond the fluffy puppy. And if it's yappy , is it likely to cause mental torment to the neighbours?

When my dog was a pup, I was off for 2 weeks and then he was left. He was fine. He was also toilet trained by 16 weeks old too.

This is all so good thank you! I see a cute little fluffy puppy and miss having a dog and can get away with myself so this is exactly what I need to bring me back down to reality.

Finances are fine for insurance and excess and any vet bills that insurance doesn’t cover.

I would take 5 weeks off and prob take pup on the school run (school is 5 minute walk away) in a papoose. I work from home so when I’m back I’d work puppy into my schedule. I can pick calls/emails up on my phone so can do work outside for toilet training.

Have lots of time for walks as work can be done whilst out and about.

This is the pup in question and I’m sure you’ll see my dilemma. Complete cutie!

As you're financially stable and wfh I can't see any problem with getting him!

op I had my judgy hat on

based on your update and pic of pup

get the pup 😍

When my dog was a pup, I was off for 2 weeks and then he was left. He was fine. He was also toilet trained by 16 weeks old too

But you must realise that many dogs aren't like that? Otherwise nobody would have a dog with separation anxiety or that becomes destructive when left?

Anyway, OP's working from home so it won't be an issue for her regardless.