Whether to get a Puppy for christmas?

clint_silver

Big house, decent backgarden, wife at home all day. Kids age 5 and 3. Wife and I both grew up with dogs as pets (I had a cat as well but she hates cats) so know the score about care and exercise, so want to get a puppy in.

Thinking xmas ideal time. Puppy in a box as surprise for the kids etc.

Heres the stumbling block, baby number 3 is due a few weeks after xmas.

So thoughts on whether to go ahead or wait 6 months - 1 year?

I'll be back on for more advice on what dog, licences etc if we go ahead with it but Im open to pros and cons as to why or why not.

peasant

With a baby due I wouldn't go for a pup right now.

A pup is just as much work (just different) as a baby. Wait another while.

Whispered

Please wait. Until after baby 3 comes along, then decide if you can handle a puppy too. They take up so much time and a lot of energy. A new baby and a puppy is a recipe for stress. The amount of dogs that end up in the pound after christmas is huge. And the amount of dogs who end up in the pound when a new baby comes along is huge. While I'm not saying this is what will happen with your dog, it points to the stress involved in trying to cope with baby and puppy. And both situations alone are bad times to get a pup, never mind together.

If you leave it a year or two, the oldest child will be better able to help out with the pup. Making it "their" dog, as opposed to "your dog".

You'll be able to enjoy it better too when the new baby is old enough to enjoy it.

Congratulations by the way

clint_silver

Congratulations by the way

Im just after realising youre the first person to say congratulations to me even though we've only a few weeks left. I like you.

We're about 50/50 to go for the pup at the moment. Yes, we've a busy house but lots of time and friends and family around all the time. Mrs silver doesnt think it'll be too bad, (far more organised than me) but we'll give that a bit more thought. if we have any doubts we wont do it though.

Any hygienic concerns?

Whispered

Hygenic concerns - well puppy will toilet on the floor, no matter how closely he will be watched. This is without doubt.

Besides this, I don't know really how it will hygenicially effect the baby.

My main concern would be the stress and the likelyhood that the puppy will end up being a nuisence. I adore dogs, but I don't know if I would like a puppy under my feet if I had a new baby, an older calmer dog would be no problem, but a pup just takes so much time and training.

GAAman

clint_silver wrote: »

Im just after realising youre the first person to say congratulations to me even though we've only a few weeks left. I like you.

Thats a sin man! Congrats to you both

I would say hold off for two reasons, one being the three year old maybe givin them an extra year to mature not unintentionally hurt the pup etc

Second being the obvious one of the baby, and as another poster pointed out its like having a baby with the pet alone, i know from my kitten and fryin people on here's head with asking advice and worryin about her

anniehoo

Id definitely wait until after the baby is born (congrats again ). I know you said your wife is at home all day, but she'll be stressed/wrecked/busy with the 3 kids, never mind socialising/toilet training/bonding with the new puppy. I dont think many places would give you a puppy in the run up to xmas anyway!

You sound like you're ready for a dog...just hang on a few months when you'll definitely have the time for it!

chops1990

I'd wait a good while after the baby's born. Dogs are a handful but very enjoyable to have as pets. I've grown up with dogs all my life and I know they can be a lot of work. I'd nearly wait till the baby's at least a year old. A baby and a pup at the same time could be a lot of work for who ever will be home the most.

Whispered

GAAman wrote: »

I would say hold off for two reasons, one being the three year old maybe givin them an extra year to mature not unintentionally hurt the pup etc

I didn't even think of that! +1

anniehoo wrote: »

You sound like you're ready for a dog...just hang on a few months when you'll definitely have the time for it!

If the kids don't know you have it planned, you really have nothing to loose by waiting the few months.

rosiec

I'd definately wait a little longer. Even if you hold off till later in the year you'll have long evenings and (hopefully!) better weather. That way you can have the puppy and the older kids spend some time outside rather than wrecking the house when they play!

iguana

I think one of the biggest things you'll need to examine is how you will exercise the dog. It won't be easy to teach a dog to walk on a lead while pushing a pram. And walking with a young child (children) beside you.

Little A

I'd agree that you should wait & see how baby 3 goes (and again....congrats!!).

I didn't think the 3rd kid would make a big different in an already hectic house, but it was HUGE....especially a year down the road (mine were younger...so I had 3 active kids without an ounce of sense between them). Alot of my friends agreed that the 3rd kid was the hardest (apparently the 4th & onwards isn't as bad, but I ain't going to find out:D)

Only got our dog this year & it has been alot of work....she's quite a handful & needs alot of exercise & training (more than I would have reckoned for her size). Prob with our lady, is she's too smart. She has no problem learning, but she's very quick to suss if I have a suitable treat.

kazza23

Christmas isn't a good time to introduce a puppy to a new home. There's far too much commotion and excitement and it won't help the puppy to settle in.

In addition, it's not giving you a lot of time to get the puppy settled and trained, before your new arrival. Young puppies are likely to keep you awake at night while they're settling in - you're going to have enough of that when the new baby arrives without dealing with it over Christmas.

I also agree about allowing the 3 year old to get a little older, so that they can have a better understanding of how to care for a pet. Puppies may nip, and when you're 3, a puppy nip is a lot more of a big deal, than when you're an adult.

Final thing, when your OH goes into hospital, who will take care of the puppy? They can't be left alone for more than 3 or 4 hours at a time when they're that young and it's a lot to ask someone to take on for you.

I also feel that Summer time is a much better time to introduce a puppy. House training is so much easier when it's a bit warmer

Sigma Force

I would wait really, you will have enough on your plate at the moment, how about waiting until Easter that way the baby will be a little easier and you will have time to get to know the new baby without having to also have a new puppy to look after. The general care of a puppy and kids isn't so much the problem but there is sleep deprivation etc. it's not impossible to do but there's no point in making life more difficult for yourselves.

As a parent and a dog owner I would say leave it until Easter.
Also be careful with puppies they will swallow anything and kids tend to leave soothers and other small items around which puppies can easily swallow you would be amazed what they can get their paws on. So being extra careful and extra clean around the floor area is as important for the pup as the baby.

I know the idea of suprising the kids is nice but you could always wait until around Easter when the weather warms up and have one of you hide in the garden and have the two kids do an easter egg hunt and find the puppy at the end of it.

Whispered

Guineapigrescue wrote: »

I know the idea of suprising the kids is nice but you could always wait until around Easter when the weather warms up and have one of you hide in the garden and have the two kids do an easter egg hunt and find the puppy at the end of it.

This is a lovely idea! I want to do an easter egg hunt at your house GPR!