Anonymous
12/07/2021 18:32
Subject: Better to get a puppy before or after a move?
Anonymous wrote:We're moving to a new house (new construction, being built now) in about 6 months. We've also promised our kids a puppy sometime "soon".
Do you think it's better to get a puppy NOW (but then we'll have a dog when we move, which will be more challenging both for us and the dog), or a few months after we move (but then I'll probably be much more paranoid about the puppy damaging our brand new house)?
I don't have any experience with dogs as an adult and I don't know how difficult moving is for them, especially if they're still young, and I also don't quite know how much damage to expect from a puppy (but I do know I'll be heartbroken if things in our brand new house are scratched up / chewed on, whereas I wouldn't be in our current house).
Thoughts?
My thought is that either way you'll have an adolescent dog in a the new house.
Can you bribe them to accept something else? Heartbroken seems like a pretty severe reaction.
Anonymous
12/07/2021 18:30
Subject: Better to get a puppy before or after a move?
Absolutely after. The kids can wait. Any progress you’ve made in training may be derailed by the change in environment. You’ll be packing and unpacking, so lots of opportunities for a puppy to get into trouble. You’ll have less time and attention for the puppy. I could probably go on.
Anonymous
12/07/2021 15:14
Subject: Better to get a puppy before or after a move?
Are you even sure you can get a puppy right now vs 6 months? If you are getting a dog from a breeder, you sometimes have to wait. The decision might be made for you. I would determine what kind of dog you want, and then see how long it will take to actually get one.
Anonymous
12/07/2021 15:12
Subject: Better to get a puppy before or after a move?
Anonymous wrote:Also something to consider, our dog became more destructive during his teenage months which usually fall between 6 months to a year. We NEVER had issues with him chewing on things, but at about 7 months he started getting bored more and would start chewing on things he shouldn't because he knew it would get our attention.
I mean if you're going to be heartbroken if things in your new house get chewed on or scratched up, you should probably wait until you get over the newness of the new house. Chewing does get better with age, but dogs of any age especially big dogs like a poodle or bernedoodle can scratch things up. Dogs also occasionally vomit or get diarrhea. We had a dog that got into something he shouldn't and then he had diarrhea all over the house.
This. 6 months to 2 years is often the worst (adolescent) phase for dogs. I am not sure you should get a dog at all. Or maybe get a chill older dog. Poodles and doodles tend to be high energy. Also, they are very smart which means they get bored easily, and that is often when the destructive behavior starts.
Also, ignore that antiquated advice about keeping your dog holed up until all its shots. The bigger risk to your dog in a highly (dog) vaccinated area like this is lack of sufficient socialization.
I think you need to do more research on puppies.