Labradoodle & Goldendoodle Forum
Nobody Gets a Puppy When They Have a 7 Month Old Baby...Riiiiiiiight???
Where to begin?
Since losing two of our three wonderful dogs earlier this year, we've thought and talked and pondered the idea of adding another doodle. I've looked and looked at possible breeders...hoping for a chocolate or black F1 (or F1 looking) pup.
I started communicating with a few breeders...with the intention of a possible pup NEXT year. 2011. We were/are looking at one breeder more seriously.... That same breeder has a litter on the ground NOW, ready for the end of July.
So then we thought...well...maybe THIS summer might be better. Who wants to potty train in the winter when you can do it in nice weather? So I collected some opinions and then decided ... no. Why ruin a good thing? There's a baby who will crawl soon that's like a puppy or two in herself. And there's Rosco who is the lowest maintenance dog I can imagine...well behaved, easy-going, loving and settled. Done deal. No puppy. And so I've told myself and others over and over and over again.
But of course...I still looked. And since I was considering this breeder...I still had to visit her home, right? I still had to meet the parents of the 'future' litter and see how puppies live, etc. That's where I went today. My evil husband told me "and if you bring one home, that's okay" (here everyone is trying to convince their husbands to let them get another dood...and mine is trying to ruin my resolve to NOT get one).
Natalie and I paid a visit to a 5 week old litter of reds, apricots, and creams. I flexed my "puppy-resistance" muscles, took my anti-puppy supplement, packed up Natalie and drove 2 hours.
And all was fine. I didn't feel like I *HAD* to leave with one...but there were some cuuuute ones! And in showing Clark the photos we got to talking more about what it would take to make bringing home a puppy this summer WORK.
Here's where we're at though...while there is no 'hurry' here's my dilemma(s) and some positives:
-- Rosco is a big dog...big dogs don't usually last for 15+ years. Since we want to get a second dog while he's around...if we wait too long, we're worried he'll be too old to like the puppy and it will mostly be a nuisance to him, rather than a friend. Clark thinks he waited too long in Cass' life to add Thule. Cass was 10 and she really didn't ever play with Thule or interact with her, except competitively. It didn't brighten her day, anyway.
-- Natalie is 7 months old. She'll crawl soon. And yet...we want more kids...and if we waited till all our potential babies were 5 years old...it will be awhile and we might be down to a one dog house again. We WANT two dogs of different ages. Not that this can be always planned precisely, but it's something to think about. It might be better to get the pup now because by the time any future kids come along...it will be surely done potty training and out of nipping stage and more or less have basic manners and obedience down pat. Yes it will take more time to train while I have a babe under 1 year old...but it would take even MORE time with several kiddos around, right?
-- Here I am, an admin of a big doodle site. I don't want to set a 'bad' example...so I feel some pressure.
-- The area that is now our 'mud room' is a great spot for gating off puppy. It is right next to the back door and perfect for confinement away from Natalie and a safe place to slowly acclimate puppy to our home. We have baby gates and crates and expens...it can't be too hard to make it work.
-- Socialization seems relatively a non-issue. I can take puppy many safe places while Natalie is in a front pack that I wear or in her stroller...both able to experience the world.
I'm not a 'newbie' dog owner...so I have a decent skill set at dog care. Am I crazy? One adviser told me essentially "sure you could do it, and do it well...but WHY?" And I don't have an answer other than I kinda want to! And it kind of scares me.
So help me out friends! I don't want puppy cheerleaders giving me the "rah rah rah...get a puppy!" I want sincere, thought-out, advice. Help me sort this out. To get a puppy or not to get a puppy!?
Since losing two of our three wonderful dogs earlier this year, we've thought and talked and pondered the idea of adding another doodle. I've looked and looked at possible breeders...hoping for a chocolate or black F1 (or F1 looking) pup.
I started communicating with a few breeders...with the intention of a possible pup NEXT year. 2011. We were/are looking at one breeder more seriously.... That same breeder has a litter on the ground NOW, ready for the end of July.
So then we thought...well...maybe THIS summer might be better. Who wants to potty train in the winter when you can do it in nice weather? So I collected some opinions and then decided ... no. Why ruin a good thing? There's a baby who will crawl soon that's like a puppy or two in herself. And there's Rosco who is the lowest maintenance dog I can imagine...well behaved, easy-going, loving and settled. Done deal. No puppy. And so I've told myself and others over and over and over again.
But of course...I still looked. And since I was considering this breeder...I still had to visit her home, right? I still had to meet the parents of the 'future' litter and see how puppies live, etc. That's where I went today. My evil husband told me "and if you bring one home, that's okay" (here everyone is trying to convince their husbands to let them get another dood...and mine is trying to ruin my resolve to NOT get one).
Natalie and I paid a visit to a 5 week old litter of reds, apricots, and creams. I flexed my "puppy-resistance" muscles, took my anti-puppy supplement, packed up Natalie and drove 2 hours.
And all was fine. I didn't feel like I *HAD* to leave with one...but there were some cuuuute ones! And in showing Clark the photos we got to talking more about what it would take to make bringing home a puppy this summer WORK.
Here's where we're at though...while there is no 'hurry' here's my dilemma(s) and some positives:
-- Rosco is a big dog...big dogs don't usually last for 15+ years. Since we want to get a second dog while he's around...if we wait too long, we're worried he'll be too old to like the puppy and it will mostly be a nuisance to him, rather than a friend. Clark thinks he waited too long in Cass' life to add Thule. Cass was 10 and she really didn't ever play with Thule or interact with her, except competitively. It didn't brighten her day, anyway.
-- Natalie is 7 months old. She'll crawl soon. And yet...we want more kids...and if we waited till all our potential babies were 5 years old...it will be awhile and we might be down to a one dog house again. We WANT two dogs of different ages. Not that this can be always planned precisely, but it's something to think about. It might be better to get the pup now because by the time any future kids come along...it will be surely done potty training and out of nipping stage and more or less have basic manners and obedience down pat. Yes it will take more time to train while I have a babe under 1 year old...but it would take even MORE time with several kiddos around, right?
-- Here I am, an admin of a big doodle site. I don't want to set a 'bad' example...so I feel some pressure.
-- The area that is now our 'mud room' is a great spot for gating off puppy. It is right next to the back door and perfect for confinement away from Natalie and a safe place to slowly acclimate puppy to our home. We have baby gates and crates and expens...it can't be too hard to make it work.
-- Socialization seems relatively a non-issue. I can take puppy many safe places while Natalie is in a front pack that I wear or in her stroller...both able to experience the world.
I'm not a 'newbie' dog owner...so I have a decent skill set at dog care. Am I crazy? One adviser told me essentially "sure you could do it, and do it well...but WHY?" And I don't have an answer other than I kinda want to! And it kind of scares me.
So help me out friends! I don't want puppy cheerleaders giving me the "rah rah rah...get a puppy!" I want sincere, thought-out, advice. Help me sort this out. To get a puppy or not to get a puppy!?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Wendy and Eddie on
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Do it! Go go go! I want to read more of your hilarious captions when you snap photos of puppy and crawling baby.
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Permalink Reply by 2chllbeee55wv on
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If you most people I would say you were nuts but I know you Adina and you can do it and do it well and Natalie will grow up w this puppy and that could be wonderful for both of them! So why not? Go w your gut do what feels right
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Permalink Reply by Jacquie Yorke (DRC) on
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We have 2 gorgeous 5 month old F1 females that are already practically trained.....if you're interested.....
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Permalink Reply by Allyson, Peri & Taquito on
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Now THAT sounds like a good plan to me :) Just replied with a similar answer.
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Permalink Reply by Suzanne & Jack on
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There is a lot to be said for an "established" doodle
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Permalink Reply by Leah S. on
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My opinion? You're NOT a new dog owner! You've raised a puppy before, and Clark has raised a puppy before. The only thing you haven't done is raise a toddler before. Now, if you'd never raised a puppy before, THEN I'd refuse to sell you a puppy! And, by the time you have your next baby, the puppy will be into adolescence at least, right? Cuz what if the next baby is super colicky? ROFL
I say, get a puppy. Rosco is lonely.
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Permalink Reply by April Cliber on
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YEA!!! I think it's great!! You KNOW the breeder is awesome and she HAS the puppy you want. If you were a first time dog owner I'd say no, BUT you're not and you know very well that there will be days you'll want to pull your hair out. That would still be true even if you DIDN'T have a baby. You feel good now, are not pregnant and Natalie is sleeping better. The pup will be trained by winter and like you said, past the puppy stage when baby #2 comes. There is never a perfect time to have kids...or a puppy. There will always be something that makes you think maybe you should wait a bit. If you are going to have more kids in the relatively near future, I say now is best. Or would you rather have a new puppy with a 2 year old AND a baby, better yet a 2 & 4 year old and a baby. I say wait 5-8 years or get the pup now! :o)
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Permalink Reply by F, Calla & Luca on
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This sounds about right to me.
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Permalink Reply by shelly on
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Take it from ME... (puppy BEFORE a new baby) I was the practical one after we put our golden down....it got to be easy - too easy without a dog - if it were not for my sons pushing me,Ii would have let this time go by never realizing again the JOYS of owning a dog.... I waited until my boys were older, but it always was something else keeping us from taking the plunge. Part of me thinks I waited too long for "them to be ready and more responsible". Not that they truly don't LOVE Tori, but I think sooner may have been better... so I say go for it....when Natalie may become 'easier' - the next one may be at the stage that is difficult, and from what I am reading, and what I KNOW about raising TWO children, I think now may be better than a year from now.... IF you are planning on having another baby before you would get a puppy but if not, then I would wait.
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Permalink Reply by Carla, Lucca and Izzy on
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A puppy sounds absolutely wonderful but....why not wait until Natalie is a year older. She will taller and more stable on her feet. Having her crawling around with puppy nipping at her feet, even supervised (which I know she will always be) can get hairy and scary. You cannot be everywhere at once. This way, if you choose to get pregnant again, even a year from now, by the time the next baby comes puppy will be out of that stage. Just some thoughts:)
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Permalink Reply by Lori on
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I say listen to that little voice in the back of your head. It's usually right! You just have to turn off all the other noise to make sure it's not interfering! Looking forward to learning what you decide!
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