Pet advice

PetuniaFeatherbottom

We will have a newly two year old and a newborn in December. Husband has been talking about getting a dog. I submit he is a crazy person, but I would like some advice or suggestions from anyone who is in a similar boat, or has pets. I don't completely hate the idea, but I think we should wait a few years.

Mrs MoJoRisin

I'd be most worried about having time to properly house break them.

zbeesma86

We have 2 big dogs (lab and a shepherd) along with DD (who is 1) and one on the way (due March).

The biggest thing for me is having help from DH before he goes to work- he works most days 11am-8 or 9pm. So when he gets up he walks the pups and feeds them while I get up with DD and get her dressed and then we meet downstairs for breakfast. Some days I am up early and take the dogs for a run while he sleeps, then he gets up with DD.

We've fallen into a routine that works and is helpful! Dogs are great- it's like having 3 kids for us! So 4 in March! haha

Do you know if you want to get a puppy? or an older dog- 1 year or so, so you don't have to potty train and such? Breed?

skibunny59

I would never get a puppy with a two year old and a newborn because you most likely won't have the time to potty train him or give him the amount of attention that he needs.

I think you should wait a few years but if you really are set on getting a dog now, I would probably adopt an adult dog before getting a puppy.  There are a lot of great older dogs looking for homes.  Go on petfinder.com and search all adoptable dogs in your area.  Most of these dogs are fostered in private homes so the foster families know a lot about them and would be able to tell you if the dog would be a right fit for your family.

We found our dog through petfinder and he is AWESOME!  I am biased but I personally think rescue dogs are the best kind.

Eleventy11

It is dependent on your situation. Like PP, I would not get a puppy with little babies. We have a 70 lb catahoula that is seven. We live in the country and have a pet door and a big yard. There is basically no maintenance aside from feeding. We do play with her and she lets herself out to potty.
If you have a dog that will need to be walked, that is a totally different issue.

I also agree with PP that rescue dogs are great. However, you want one that has a history of being around small children. Not all dogs can handle the crying and abuse from a toddler.

ETA: I have a 17 month old and a two month old

allardr

I'm a dog lover, have a 80lb one myself. She's great with LO but we had her two years before LO. If you get one I'd get one now so the puppy isn't new to the house and it's rules. Plus maybe closer to potty trained done then by Dec. 

FemShep

OP, your husband is a crazy person. I adore our dog, but she was as much work as a newborn and for a dog to be well-socialized, someone needs to put in serious training time, in addition to housebreaking and normal care. And even relaxed, older dogs can be unpredictable around babies and toddlers. I'd wait a few years.

ReeseNJRod

We have 2 rotties and our son is a year old. One of them we adopted just a few months ago. He is 1.5 years old and still in the playful puppy stage but is potty trained already. Both dogs are so good with our son. They only issue we have is that 1.5 year old dog gets hyper at times. But with a little training he is continually learning that it isn't acceptable inside. But when calm he will follow our son everywhere he goes.

MrsJetSet

I would wait. I love that my dd is growing up with a dog, but he was 3 when dd was born, so he was already trained by then. I swear, a new puppy was harder than a newborn.

I am all about rescue, but I'm not willing to bring a dog with an unknown history into our life while we have young kids. When dd and future children are old enough to know pets' boundaries then I would consider that route.

rubber_chicken

NO.  No no no no no, just no.

A dog is a toddler who will never grow up.  You will spend a couple hours every day walking it, playing with it, and dealing with its poop.  When you go on vacation, you will either take it with you or pay someone else to walk it, play with it, and deal with its poop.  And despite your best training, you may have a dog who always gets in the garbage or chews your children's toys or runs away if the door is open. 

We have a six year old bulldog.  When I was pregnant, I pictured the dog and the baby playing together and being best friends, but its just not like that.  They can never ever be left unsupervised.  We don't let them play together - our bulldog loves kids but she just doesn't know her own size and strength.  And our daughter has allergies, so touching the dog means a bath and change of clothes.  We don't even take them on walks to the park together - dogs aren't allowed on the playground, and ours freaks out if we tie her to the fence so we can take the baby on the swings.  We tried once - she somehow wiggled out of her harness and then we spent a half hour trying to catch her.  You wouldn't think it, but bulldogs can be fast when they want!!

In my opinion, dogs and babies don't mix.  I told my husband we won't be getting another one until the kids are in high school. 

mypeanut22

No way would I get a puppy! They require way too much attention.

meglette417

I have a dog that I don't want to deal with anymore.  They need attention, DS always wants to play with his bowls, and a puppy would need to be trained.  You are asking for trouble in my opinion and even less sleep if that is possible!

Natty13umppo

We have two cats that are 13 and 8....so we've had them a looooooooooong time and before DD they were totally my babies....I worried about them when we were out of town, gave them lots of snuggles at home...I was the person that totally couldn't understand how someone could get rid of a pet or have less time for a pet after having kids.  HA!  

Things were REALLY rough for awhile after DD was born.  One of the cats just hid all the time, the other would want LOTS of attention whenever DD was asleep (and all I really wanted was a moment alone - not a cat in my lap...or yowling).  There were many days I just wanted to leave the front door open and see what would happen (they are indoor only cats).

My point is:  I would never, ever recommend that anyone get a pet (cat/dog/fish/whatever) if they think they will have kids in a couple years.  Nor would I recommend getting a new pet until all kids are, oh, I don't know - I'm not there yet - maybe 5 or 6?

I still love my cats, I do.  But they don't get nearly as much attention as they used to and they don't provide the same level of comfort to me that they used to.  I know it sounds horrible.  When it is their time, we might be a pet free household for a few years...  And if I think I've been neglecting my cats, if I had a dog, I imagine the neglect/resentment at time he needed would be worse.