Best time of year to get a puppy?

[Wendy and Sophie]

We are planning to get a Goldendoodle in 2014, and have options on timing.  I'm wondering if there's a better time of year to get a puppy.  Does it matter if it's in the more winter months when it's darker earlier? We live in NC so it's stays temperate most of the year; we're trying to decide whether to get a puppy in February when the days start to get longer, but when my work starts to get busier, versus getting one in the fall, when work is slower, but the days are getting shorter.  

The other variable is having an 18 year old in the house to be home a bit and help socialize through August, versus being empty nesters in the fall.  I'm thinking through whether it's better to get a puppy when we're heading into the warmer outside months, or wait, even though it will be less conducive to outdoor activity if we wait, because work will be less busy, though my daughter won't be around at that point to help.  

If anyone has advice on timing to bring a puppy home (the puppy would be three months old, with a month of training under his/her belt), I'm most open to your thoughts.  This forum was incredibly helpful with my last question, so I thought I'd post one more.  Thanks so much!

[Sally S Miles]

It's safe to say that I've been through most seasons with a pup and all I can say is that for me the right dog has no season.

This is the second winter in a row that I have a puppy - down side is cold and soggy with short days - upside is puppy sleeps a lot and on a yucky day is easier to entertain indoors.  Upside is puppy gets business done and we go in to get warm. Downside is that it's cold and soggy, but easier to teach a pup to sit still for a toweling off.   Upside is the muddy mess is smaller.  Downside is the wee hours for wee-wee and hope you can keep the squeaky toys from waking neighbors (applicable all seasons).  We had a good winter with our GSD back in the day - thought we were nuts at the time - and darn if we didn't do it again, now again. .. 

Nice weather means lots of good play times, but with puppy restrictions on vaccinations it limits family activities for a while. 

We came into this right at the shift of Daylight Savings Time - ugh - have lots of grumbling on that topic - but I think the day/night hours are less important than the time you have and if your schedule is lighter in the fall then and busier in the summer then I would wait - puppies are exhausting in themselves!  Life is full of surprises - how much does your life shift with seasons or do you want to wait that long? Do you want your daughter to have some bonding time with the pup or do you want to latch on and go into puppyhood with the focus of it being your only?  

It's a very good question!

[Wendy and Sophie]

Thanks so much for everyone's insights.  I'm so appreciative of the generosity of this forum! Your insights are very helpful and certainly give our family a lot to ponder.  And a reminder about the work that a puppy involves. :-)

How old do puppies need to be for restrictions to be lifted on activity?

Thanks again.

[Leslie, Yogi & Maci Bear]

Between 15-16 weeks, once they get the last round of vaccinations. We got one week to go! I can't wait...
though there is now snow on the ground ;-)

[Donna Bay & Buzz]

We got Bay in August. It was perfect. She was completely housebroken in a few weeks and we didnt have to take her out in the freezing cold.