What dog and when???

[Meringue33]

Ok so me & Dp are finally moving into our own home hopefully in about a fortnight. Been renting for three years and never able to have a pet, Dp is dying for a dog. Only thing is, now I'm also ten weeks pregnant! Should we get a dog now or wait until after the baby, and if so, when would be the best time? And, what sort of dog should we get? Should we pick a breed or take our chances down at the Dogs Trust? Any thoughts really welcome...

[MagratGarlik]

Please, please do not get a dog now. The baby will change your life more than you will possibly imagine and you will (unless you are incredibly lucky) be exhausted beyond anything you have experienced before in the first few weeks of your baby's life. Mixing a dog in with that is really not a good idea!

I'd also say that if you go down the rescue route you would not be "taking your chances down at the Dogs Trust" - they do behavioural assessments on their dogs, do not allow you to just nip in and out with just any dog, but do give lots of advice on guiding you towards the most suitable dogs they have for you/your situation.

[Derklugehans]

1. Not a terrier
   

1. Never

[PersonalClown]

1. Nothing wrong with any Terrier as long as you know what you're getting into with the breed you get. My SBT is asleep upside down on the sofa next to me.
   

1. I would personally wait. A pup/teenage dog and a baby at the same time?? Madness.
   

I'm assuming that the brunt of the care (walking/feeding/grooming etc) will fall to you when he goes back to work? You will not keep up.

Wait a few years. Maybe when DC is about 5 ish.

[D0oinMeCleanin]

Dogs Trust once your baby is older. How much older really depends upon how prepared you are and how much you want a dog/realise how much it will change your lifestyle.

I have had dogs and very young babies. It's far from easy but it is do-able, if you are prepared for how hard it is and are willing to put in the work.

Think walking out in the rain/hail/sleet/snow with a whinging, over tired toddler. And that's the easy bit.

You also need to consider who will walk the dog? Are you planning on going back to work? How long will the dog be left alone in the house? Who will train the dog? Where will the dog toilet and who will clean that up so that is safe for the baby to be around once your baby is no longer a baby? Can you afford a dog and a new baby i.e pet insurance, vets fees, fleaing and worming, food, toys etc. it all adds up to a shocking amount and that's going to be on top of nappies and clothing an ever growing child.

[Derklugehans]

Sorry, mine was a bitter anti-dog post. But I had no idea about terriers. And wish I'd known.

[Gorran]

I can only echo Magrat's advice above - I'm a novice dog owner, but do have two DDs aged 4 and 7. I know there is NO way I would have wanted (I probably could have done it with my first DD, I was blessed with an incredibly easy baby, but knowing what I know now, having had a puppy for 2.5 weeks, I wouldn't have wanted to!) to be dealing with a newborn and a relatively new to the family dog. I just think it's too much to take on.

If I'm honest it's only now, with my daughters at the ages they are, and me being a SAHM and with a husband who works from home at least 3/5 that I feel ready to deal with having a puppy.

[DidntChaKnow]

I'd recommend waiting until a while after you've had your baby, I got my dog (sbt) when my youngest was 6 months. It was very hard work and if I could do it all again I would wait until my youngest was around 3 or 4 years old so that the dog could have had all the attention she really deserved.

My youngest is now 4 and it's a lot easier to juggle everything!

[D0oinMeCleanin]

Terriers can make lovely pets in the right hands with the right work put into them. Mine is lufferly. Hard work but lufferly.

The thing with terriers is that most of them are working breeds which means they need a lot of work putting into stimulating and exercising them. A bored terrier will go off find his work - when mine decides to give himself a job it more often that not guarding our house from all those pesky seagulls that fly over it Not nice for the neighbours or us to listen to. When he's properly exercised and mentally tired his only job is as my foot warmer. He's very good at that.

Staffies are an exception to this rule, In general they're very laid back, family friendly dogs - completly bonkers as puppies and adolescents mind you-

If OP went down the Dogs Trust route, which is the best idea, they'd steer her in the direction of a dog that will fit her lifestyle and experience. I believe they have a very good rehoming policy.

[Meringue33]

Thanks guys for all the thoughts, I really appreciate it. DP will be disappointed I think but I guess it sounds like good advice. I suppose it will be fun for the LO aged four to come and help us pick one out. I work from home so we are well placed to look after the dog and go on lots of walks etc. Puppy training did worry me a bit as no exp but maybe could get an older dog from Trust that is already trained? We were thinking maybe a spaniel or basset or Airedale terrier but I will think twice given the comments about terriers! Thanks again :)

[Daisybell1]

Is there a local rescue where you could walk a dog for them without the ownership commitment? My pooch is part-time - he's a retired working dog so he still lives outside with the others and does the occasional bit of work or supervises fencing, but, and it's a big but, he helped keep me sane throughout my pregnancy and post-natally.

I wouldn't recommend the stress of ownership, but he gave walking a purpose and an incentive to get out, which really helped my mental health. Hence dog walking for a rescue?

[LadyTurmoil]

I can't imagine the stress of having a first baby and a dog! You'll be tired, wanting to give all the attention to your new baby, finding that days go by without getting much done and it takes time to get into a routine that you're comfortable with, even if your baby is the easiest baby in the world (which of course yours will be!)? Also, you can't tell how you'll feel after the birth, physically or mentally, so I think it would be better is you waited. How about next summer when baby is a bit bigger?

I have to say that a lot of men seem to want a dog (and then something big and sloppy like a Labrador or Retriever) but, in most cases, they're at work most of the day and it's YOU who has to take care of it 99% of the time!!! Also, they're expensive - you'll have extra costs with new baby, not working etc so you may resent having to shell out on buying dog (even rescues are in the region of £150-200), pet insurance, food, vet check-ups etc - you might prefer spending that on a nice holiday instead!! VERY GOOD LUCK WITH THE BABY! :)

[Meringue33]

Thanks guys
Daisy agree on the mh bens thought that might be good! Really good tip about vol at DT, will try that, thanks! :)
Lady, pmsl at the other thread today someone posted, "Aibu not to go looking for the fucking dog"... Genius :)