Would we be insane to get a puppy right now?

[Anonymous]

How young is the puppy? Puppies can sometimes try to make older female dogs substitute moms and nurse. Older female.dogs understandably find this extremely annoying.

Ever hear that Bo thr Obama's dog was technically a returned dog? That's why his first home didn't work out. Older female dog didn't like him.

[Anonymous]

OP, have you had opportunities to see your dog around puppies and very young dogs? Some older dogs are irritable, some really do take on, not a parenting role but kind of an aunt/uncle role. At the dog park I go to there are many people who bring their adolescent dogs AND large breed puppies. I've seen many older dogs let a youngster play with them--jumping on them, rolling over and allowing the younger dog to act like he's won the match, and so on. And dogs who understand that a puppy is frightened by all the big dogs running around and are careful in how they approach the puppy. And other dogs who don't (although the ones who don't like puppies basically avoid them). I've even seen senior dogs tolerate a rambunctious 6 month old just fine. Consider that wolf packs usually consist of a breeding pair and mostly offspring of various ages, and they figure it out.

There's 2 questions here--one is the work of having a puppy, which is work but is rewarding. Last time I had a puppy I was young and single and living with friends so the puppy always had people around and pretty much naturally trained in terms of behavior. One of the best behaved dogs I have ever owned.

The other is the question about older dog and younger dog.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do it!

I added a giant breed puppy to my household with my 7-year-old established senior dog. (7-years is senior—they are short-lived.)

They love each other. It took a few months, but my older dog definitely has more energy now. Watching them play is truly the sweetest thing.

They are both female.

Do you have a 16 month old and a preschooler? If not, than you shouldn't be giving this advice.

Puppies are a LOT. I got a puppy last year and I have a senior dog but my kids are adults. If I had known it was this much work I woud not have gotten him. I love him but he is a lot. Now he is a teenager and we have months of training to do..and I have time!

Please don't adopt this puppy!

I have no children, but I’m also single, which means I have no help. I did it all alone, while working out of the home. I don’t regret it at all. Yes, it was hard, but it was worth it. There are benefits to having an older, established dog with a new puppy.

OP, I say go for it!

[PP you quoted]

Oh dear goodness. Only caring for yourself is NOT THE SAME THING AS CARING FOR TWO SMALL KIDS, even if there's a semi-helpful partner in the mix (how many men do you think are equal partners? if they are, it's still adding the equivalent of ONE BABY per adult, and that's still a lot of work). How stupid, insensitive and clueless are you?!?!

Lady, I was talking about having no help taking care of the established dog and the puppy—which are a lot of work. I made no comparison between a puppy and a child.

Sheesh, seek help.

OP, it’s a lot of work for one adult, but it was worth it for me. You can do it!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do it!

I added a giant breed puppy to my household with my 7-year-old established senior dog. (7-years is senior—they are short-lived.)

They love each other. It took a few months, but my older dog definitely has more energy now. Watching them play is truly the sweetest thing.

They are both female.

Do you have a 16 month old and a preschooler? If not, than you shouldn't be giving this advice.

Puppies are a LOT. I got a puppy last year and I have a senior dog but my kids are adults. If I had known it was this much work I woud not have gotten him. I love him but he is a lot. Now he is a teenager and we have months of training to do..and I have time!

Please don't adopt this puppy!

I have no children, but I’m also single, which means I have no help. I did it all alone, while working out of the home. I don’t regret it at all. Yes, it was hard, but it was worth it. There are benefits to having an older, established dog with a new puppy.

OP, I say go for it!

[PP you quoted]

Oh dear goodness. Only caring for yourself is NOT THE SAME THING AS CARING FOR TWO SMALL KIDS, even if there's a semi-helpful partner in the mix (how many men do you think are equal partners? if they are, it's still adding the equivalent of ONE BABY per adult, and that's still a lot of work). How stupid, insensitive and clueless are you?!?!

Lady, I was talking about having no help taking care of the established dog and the puppy—which are a lot of work. I made no comparison between a puppy and a child.

Sheesh, seek help.

OP, it’s a lot of work for one adult, but it was worth it for me. You can do it!

Still missing the point, dumbass. OP has two young children to care for, which take up a lot more time than caring for a puppy. You only had to care for one puppy, and you admit yourself it was hard work. Now imagine running a household with two kids, an older dog and a puppy...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do it!

I added a giant breed puppy to my household with my 7-year-old established senior dog. (7-years is senior—they are short-lived.)

They love each other. It took a few months, but my older dog definitely has more energy now. Watching them play is truly the sweetest thing.

They are both female.

Do you have a 16 month old and a preschooler? If not, than you shouldn't be giving this advice.

Puppies are a LOT. I got a puppy last year and I have a senior dog but my kids are adults. If I had known it was this much work I woud not have gotten him. I love him but he is a lot. Now he is a teenager and we have months of training to do..and I have time!

Please don't adopt this puppy!

I have no children, but I’m also single, which means I have no help. I did it all alone, while working out of the home. I don’t regret it at all. Yes, it was hard, but it was worth it. There are benefits to having an older, established dog with a new puppy.

OP, I say go for it!

[PP you quoted]

Oh dear goodness. Only caring for yourself is NOT THE SAME THING AS CARING FOR TWO SMALL KIDS, even if there's a semi-helpful partner in the mix (how many men do you think are equal partners? if they are, it's still adding the equivalent of ONE BABY per adult, and that's still a lot of work). How stupid, insensitive and clueless are you?!?!

Lady, I was talking about having no help taking care of the established dog and the puppy—which are a lot of work. I made no comparison between a puppy and a child.

Sheesh, seek help.

OP, it’s a lot of work for one adult, but it was worth it for me. You can do it!

Lady you are one who needs help. Having an older dog and puppy PLUS a toddler and preschooler is 100x the work for op. You don't get it and I doubt that op will get to the point of seeing it being worth it. Have you ever read recent posts, I want to rehome my dog because I can't handle my kids and the puppy...and people say just rehome! No big deal it is just an animal.

No, we are telling op she will be overwhelmed and it won't be fair to either the puppy, her kids,her older dog and herself!

[Anonymous]

Yeah puppies are so much work. I'd say they're up there with newborns in regard to the constant attention they need. If you already have a full plate, I wouldn't add a puppy on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yeah puppies are so much work. I'd say they're up there with newborns in regard to the constant attention they need. If you already have a full plate, I wouldn't add a puppy on.

+1 as someone just coming out of puppyhood with my dog, I scream this from the rooftops and tell all of my friends who see my dog with their young kids and kind of want one to WAIT. Young kids are a lot of work and puppies are a lot of work. One or the other is going to get the short end of the stick (99% of the time the puppy) and then guess what? Besides the normal challenges of a puppy you have a dog who hasn't been properly trained and socialized that now presents with problems above and beyond the usual challenges, which should not be underestimated. Then you're here on these boards looking for permission to rehome. I wouldn't get a puppy until the youngest child is about 5.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yeah puppies are so much work. I'd say they're up there with newborns in regard to the constant attention they need. If you already have a full plate, I wouldn't add a puppy on.

+1 as someone just coming out of puppyhood with my dog, I scream this from the rooftops and tell all of my friends who see my dog with their young kids and kind of want one to WAIT. Young kids are a lot of work and puppies are a lot of work. One or the other is going to get the short end of the stick (99% of the time the puppy) and then guess what? Besides the normal challenges of a puppy you have a dog who hasn't been properly trained and socialized that now presents with problems above and beyond the usual challenges, which should not be underestimated. Then you're here on these boards looking for permission to rehome. I wouldn't get a puppy until the youngest child is about 5.

Yes! WAIT. I just got a 6 month old lab mix last May and my kids are 5 and 8. The teen phase has been HARD and he is actually a great dog. But he needs tons of exercise, and is rambunctious, jumps up, nips the air near little faces to try and initiate play (puppies and young dogs see your kids as puppies!). This is all normal and we work with a trainer, have a dog walker, and do everything possible to train him so he is turning into an awesome dog (he is a little over 1 now). But my point is, with a toddler and 4 year old, it would be untenable. Just wait. If I could go back I would probably wait till my kids were more like 6 and 9 or 7 and 10.