Is there a good time of year for a puppy???

[Feathered]

Probably a stupid question . . . but are puppies born all year round? Do there tend to be more in the spring/summer or does it tend to be the same all year round?
Also - is there a good time to get a puppy in terms of when you have to keep them in the house pre-vaccinations? Better in the winter?
Thanks!

[Imsosorryalan]

We got our rescue pup in October. Dark evenings, wet, cold and grey. Not great for toilet training ( she hates going out in the rain / snow).
How I wish I had waited until spring!

[flowery]

Summer definitely. You don't want to be constantly standing outside waiting for puppy to wee in cold drizzle

[tabulahrasa]

There are pros and cons to any time of year - what matters much more is finding a good breeder who is planning to breed from fully health tested patents, after that it's a case of waiting for that to happen.

[littlewhitebag]

We got ours on the last day of June last year. It was just coincidental really but it turned out to be a great time of the year to get a pup. Long, light fairly warm days. We could take her out in the night just wearing a dressing gown over PJ's.

[Feathered]

Thanks everyone. I would ideally like a dog in the next half hour . . . but realistically I think it may need to be next spring!

[tabulahrasa]

Start looking for a breeder now if you're thinking about wanting one within the next year, good ones have waiting lists for planned litters.

[topbannana]

As others have said, the misery of house training in the depths of winter is something that will haunt the rest of your days :o
You will also find that some working breeds will not have puppies at certain times of the year. Our working cocker is 18 weeks and an early pup, there were very few around prior to him. This is because a working bitch will need time from the field when pregnant and rearing her litter, as well as time to regain condition and stamina before starting work again. Therefore pups are planned for early spring, giving the dam the longest possible time to regain fitness before the season starts again.

[LadyTurmoil]

You might not have to wait til spring if you'd be prepared to have a rescue puppy. Puppies are often in rescues as stupid people haven't had their dogs spayed/neutered and have unwanted litters)

There are loads in rescues (it's not all damaged or difficult dogs) Have a google at rescues near to you, explain to them what you are looking for (lifestyle, working hours, children, hours you are prepared to give for training, walking etc) and be prepared to wait until the right one comes along! It's often better to do this if you want a puppy, as they are often snapped up before they get on rescue's websites.

Just as an example, there's this little fella in Dorset www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=502509039820832&set=a.124340740970999.23518.124337567637983&type=1&theater

[sweetkitty]

Our potential puppy is due next week, we've been looking for a while, visited a lovely breeder and are now just waiting, if all goes to plan we are looking at getting our puppy end of September. Can't wait.