Remind me why I don’t want a puppy

[wheretoyougonow]

My very much loved dog died 2 years ago (old age) I was heartbroken. Agreed that we wouldn’t get another dog as our children are now (just!) adults and we don’t want to have the tie a dog brings.

I was absolutely fine with that plan until a friend told me her dog is expecting and will offer us first refusal on a puppy if we want one. It’s an exactly the type of dog I would choose and I love the mum to bits.

Adult kids are saying they would help out - they were brilliant with our last dog.

Now I want another dog 😁 I think I might have some rose tinted glasses on though as I loved my dog so much and have tried to forget the time she ate through a wall 😂

Please remind me of the harder side to having a puppy/dog.

They are utter utter arseholes
Its why they are so cute, otherwise nobody would ever have one.
What breed are you (definitely not) getting?

I normally think people who post on here asking if they should get a puppy definitely shouldn't get a puppy. But it sounds like you should get one. You've had a dog before, you have no young children, and if your adult children live nearby and would be willing to take the dog when you are on holiday, that's perfect.

Honestly do it if you’re willing to make him/ her your life, especially with adult children, but personally we’ll never have a dog again, seeing my mum much less as someone has to stay with the dog, out with him last thing at night and first thing in the morning and all day trips are cut short. Very difficult for us to just leave the house eg for school and work, he generally tries to make a run for it.

I love him to tatters but he’s exhausted me more than the kids ever did

You can't go out all day.
Going on holiday is hard / expensive.
They piss on your carpet.
There are expensive generally.

Most importantly....
If you are walking your dog on the high street and see someone you dont want to / would rather avoid... your dog is guaranteed to decide it wants to shit immediately. Right here. Right now.
And 8 times is 10 that poorly timed shit will be at least semi liquid so you are scrabbling about trying to get liquid shit off the pavement into those flimsy dog poo bags - arghhh!

Good times.

They yap, take up all of your time, need walking in all weathers, chew stuff, are a nightmare for the first year or so, they are expensive...... and I wouldn't be without them.

What breed are you absolutely 100% definitely not getting?

Remember right now you can walk out the door when you choose, sleep when you want, go away on a whim, all your shoes and furniture are in one piece, you can leave stuff lying around and it will still be there, no vets bills, no wet walks unless you want one!! But seriously puppy cuddles!! ;)

Puppies are naughty, messy and bitey - they wee on your carpets and chew the furniture - but I love mine to bits and wouldn't be without a dog.
I have found a very good kennels for when I go on holiday, and plenty of family who will look after him for an odd day.
Not much help, am I?

You do want one! My boy is 1 1/2 now and the love of my life. Sure the first six months were hard then the early mornings, walks in the rain, worry if he's sick, arranging care if you want time away but their wee faces are worth it ten times over.

Get the puppy! Especially if your adult DCs will help out with future dogsitting.

@Hoppinggreenit’s a cockerpoo. Mum looks like a live teddy bear.

@BarnacleBeasley if we do get one she will be our third dog. Need to double double check they would really be committed if we go for it.

@stayathomer thanks for your honesty. I am a bit concerned if we all go out as a family for a day trip what would we do now - I’m also not an early riser so that might be an issue for me.

But puppy won't be a cockerpoo, will it? What is cockerpoo mummy being bred with?

I was absolutely fine with that plan until a friend told me her dog is expecting and will offer us first refusal on a puppy if we want one. It’s an exactly the type of dog I would choose and I love the mum to bits.

Assuming she has generational health testing on the dogs? And heart test?

If she doesn't then you may find yourself with a dog that may well go blind before it's two (and possibly have it's eyes removed), have horrible, painful, skin conditions, be unable to walk properly, cost thousands in vets bills, and spend it's life in agony.

So I guess, that's the two questions:

(A) Has she health tested

(B) And, if not, do you want a dog that hasn't had all the very relevant and necessary health tests?

@LandSharksAnonymous. Very much loved dog and lots of health tests before breeding. It appears well planned.
You raise a good point about unforeseen health issues though. Very expensive and stressful if it happens.

Because you want two puppies

I don't disagree with a lot of what others are saying, but equally our dog is just the most fabulous part of family life. If someone is down or poorly, he cuddles them, he provides endless entertainment, he gets us outside walking every day, we know our neighbours much better because we bump into them and chat...

I wouldn’t want a backyard bred cockerpoo. Sorry but I very much doubt they have done the specialist testing required.
Forget not being an early riser. 7am is a lie in here. In the past I’ve been up and doing at 4am. And of course you can’t have an early night as a dog needs a last wee/walk!

They are bitey.
They take ages to train (even the easy breeds).
They chew during the teething phase.
They seriously restrict your lifestyle and impact every decision you make for next 8+ years.
They leave hair and slobber everywhere.
Potential for house accidents during training.
The vomiting when they eat something they shouldn't.
The worry that they've eaten something they shouldn't (even when they probably haven't).
The vet bills and/or cost of insurance.

(That said, mine is a big boy now and I wouldn't change him for the world).

@wheretoyougonow is that generational though? Not just the parents, but the grandparents - do they have copies of those health tests?

That's the concern these days more than generic 'health tested' parents.

I know dogs that have come from parents with good health tests...except it turns out the grand-parents health tests were awful - and the dogs (that the people I know have) are seriously defective as a result. One can barely walk, because its elbow dysplasia is so bad.
@
I'm not trying to shit on your friend (for lack of a better phrase), but too many people think doing the basic tests on parents is enough and it's not. A dogs health is not just measured by it's parents health, but it's grandparents health as well. There's nothing wrong with cockerpoos, but ensuring the validity of the health tests - and the generational point - is borderline impossible. If you do want to get the dog, then please do make sure your friend has those health tests for you to review.

@ungratefulcat I really don’t think I’ll get the go ahead for two! But I understand what you are saying 😁

@BalladOfBarryAndFreda I forgot about the puppy biting phase! My last dog went through a sock biting phase. No feet were safe during that one!

Puppies are like toddlers you are up all hours, they bite and house training is a nightmare. They also cost £££. Why not talk to a breed rescue you could get a 2 or 3 year old - give them a nice life? Whilst rescues do sometimes have issues there are so many deserving pups out there. Look up the breed rescue you are keen on or the nearest Dogs Trust. They will also pay any vet bills getting them to good health.

Not a cockerpoo, that's for sure. Because the mum is a cockerpoo.

puppy arsehole bitey stage goes on for ages
shit and pee everywhere
training them is really boring
expensive insurance
expensive worm and flea treatment
expensive food
eating fox poo
barking
kennel fees if you go away
walking them even when you have the flu or a hangover
your support network may have other things that become more important
they’re cute but you get over this quite quickly imho
cats are better

Because you'll love it more than anyone else and it will spoil humans for you. (Then you'll get a kitten and it will be an arsehole)

Please please please do get a dog from a reputable, ethical breeder who is breeding from parents with the full raft of clear (legitimate) health tests AND has chosen the pairing to create the best possible litter in terms of temperament.

Lots of breeders don't think about that and just buy a stud session or some semen for insemination because they've heard the dog is good, or they've seen his pups go for a good price, or they like his colours/looks. They don't think about the epigenetics of how his temperament might combine with the mothers' and how that would show in the litter. Good breeders do. They choose a specific stud not only from his squeaky clean bill of health (which should be an absolute BASIC for a stud dog) but also based on what pairs well with their dam's personality traits (is she a little too laid back - do you want a more gregarious match to avoid placid pups? etc). It's not an exact science but it'a something that ethical breeders consider and 'why this stud?' should always be a question you ask.

Thanks for the funny replies- and the ones making me really think.

I said the puppy will be a cockerpoo - not the mum. Not sure why the negative comments are coming on that one.

Mum is a poodle- looks like a teddy bear!