Puppy.... Now or Later

[Tanya1985]

Just wondering what everyone else thinks......

I am have wanted a puppy for a while.... according to my plans it was suppose to happen before a baby:laughing:. Anyway I don't know if it would be better to get the puppy now, while I have time and energy to train it or wait until after the baby is born and get a it a little later on? I am a very pet orintated person, I have fish, a snake, lizards and a rat but I really like the comfort of a dog and as I no longer live with my parents... where my other doggies are I am wondering what others would do in my situation?? Your advice would be appreciated! Thanks and have a great day!

[Kayteigh]

Hi

I would say get a puppy.

I got my dog Rollee when I was 7 months pregnant with my son (now 20months) and when TJ came Rollee was protective of him and slept under his rocker and cot. Raising Tj and Rollee and our 2nd dog Jazmyn together has been a blessing as the dogs take anything Tj dishes out and if they get to annoyed they get up and walk away. We also have other pets too, 7 snakes, and 6 lizards, most mornings Travis will eat his breakfast watching the snake crawl around the cage.

HTH

Katie

[mum23girls]

well, they should be raised together. I would say now, so you can start training it not to chew up toys. That would be my biggest concern. Hopefully you get a smart dog who learns quickly what can and can't be chewed. We did, but our dog was one when the baby came.

Have fun!

[Veritas]

I've been thinking along these lines too.... my little gal is almost 3mths old and I am thinking do I go about getting a pup now before she is crawling.... or wait a year or so....

[~Chick79~]

If it were me I would get a puppy now so they can grow up together, but in saying that you will have to realise that all puppies will jump when your kids go outside (as they are excited to see you) so you will have to be patient with that.

I hear of too many puppies get given away cause parents/owners don't realise this and get sick of it.... :(

[lovinmybub]

I had exactly the same dilema!! We had a dog when I fell pregnant and I'd imagined him being around forever but he got really sick all of a sudden and my dh and I had to make the terrible decision to have him put to sleep.:crying:

At first we didn't want another dog but it felt so empty without one and I didn't feel so safe home alone! Then we had to decide whether to get a pup before the baby or after the baby was born and a bit bigger!!
We went with before, we got our pup at 7 weeks (that was 5 weeks ago), I am home so I spend alot of time training and he's been to puppy preschool. Occasionally he's naughty and I wonder what I've gotten myself into but he is just a puppy!!! There has never been a moment when I've really thought I made the wrong choice though.

ALL of our friends and family disagreed with our decision and thought we should wait for after the birth, you've just got to do what feels right for you. Our little family (me, dh, baby #1 due 22/1/07, spoilt cat, new dog) feels right with a dog and we love our cheeky puppy (he's a great dane!!!).

Its been really important for me to be consistant with him so he is as good as he can be when bub comes, sometimes its hard because he's soooo cute! I'd say do what you think feels right, and if you do get a puppy, I would say train hard and have fun!!!:thumbsup:

Let us know what you decide!!