Buying a pet before having baby?

AlishaRichelle · July 2009

DH and I had been making plans to buy a dog for several months. We found a breeder with a litter, made contact with them. Today we found out that they will have a puppy for us, but with a baby on the way we're uncertain now. I'm sure that we can love and care for our fur-baby, even with the human baby on the way, but I wanted to see what others' experiences were. By the time we get the puppy, I'll be just over 7 months from my due date.

Does anyone have any advice??

outbumberedmomrn · July 2009

DH and I are kinda in the same situation. We adopted a dog a few months ago and we have been thinking about getting another dog so he can have a playmate. With the baby on the way, we don't know if its a good idea either. I can't wait to see the responses.

second_time_around_4_me · July 2009

I would almost think it would be easier for a new pet to adjust to a new family member than a pet who has been there a while. As long as you have time for the new pet as well, I don't think it would be a problem?? I would make sure to get a breed that is usually good around children though (like a lab), and then work on training the puppy.

electricdoctor83 · July 2009

We got a puppy when I was about 20 weeks pregnant. She will be a little over 6 months when the baby is born. You can make it work, but it depends on how much time and energy you want to spend on training and socializing before baby is born and after.

Our deciding factor was the fact that only work part time as a nurse (so 2 days per pay period, which is 2 weeks). I essentially am home 24/7. If you are working 40 hours a week and will go back to work after the baby is born I don't think getting a puppy is a good idea. Just my opinion though.

Maybe adopting an older dog that doesn't need as much training, socialization and is housebroken already would be a better option.

Babymamawithdrama · July 2009

I have a lab puppy now who is just about five months old, she will be almost one on our EDD. It is ALOT of work when you get a new puppy. We didn't get a solid night of rest for the first three weeks and had to chase after her constantly. We were actually going to TTC that month and pushed it off for lack of sex drive (a first for DH). I love her dearly, but I honestly wouldn't know what we would have done the first few weeks if we had a brand new puppy and a baby. Right now you are early enough to master alot of the training and socialization issues that new puppies need, we figure by the time our LO comes all should be well. Hopefully our puppy won't mind not being the center of attention all the time in a few months.

One other note while I was reading puppy books awhile back, sometimes changes in environment (like a move to a new house or a new baby) cause the puppy to regress back on housebreaking... we are keeping our fingers crossed that this is not the case.

Doozieanne · July 2009

I would say, no. I have two dogs and have had them well before having DD. I hate to say, but they get much less attention now, we can't take them for walks unless one of us does it alone because we have to take DD obviously and they hate the stroller. I get sooooo angry when they bark and wake up DD. There is fur all over the house that I can't keep up with. It's nuts. I have even briefly thought of giving one of them to my parents (bows head in shame).

Unless you have an amazingly calm dog, it's hard. I give props to those with dogs and babies and have kept their sanity. DH says my new favorite line is "Uugggggggg....I am going to kill the dogs!!!". Sad but true. Think long and hard about it. You can always get a dog later. Oh and my doggies did not like DD at first and it was very nerve wracking for us. They kept nipping at her and didn't understand for quite a while. It was a rough transition.

(sorry I rambled on!)

JrzyMeeba1 · July 2009

I have some really direct experience with this one. We have a St Bernard who will be 2 yrs old next month. We were considering getting another one before we started TTC. We made contact with a breeder, the puppy was born, we put our deposit down. Four days before we went to pick him up, I got my BFP. I wanted to wait until Father's Day to tell DH about being pregnant, but that would have been after we picked up the puppy. I wanted to talk it over with him and see if we should take the hit on our deposit and walk away.

In the end, we decided to get the puppy. He's adorable but yes, is a lot of work. Saints are extremely calm and family-oriented dogs, so it's not like I'm dealing with a hyper Jack Russell or Border Collie. However, I have EXHAUSTED regardless.. and it's even harder to get up in the middle of the night to take him out.

Granted, a week after we brought the pup home, we found out we're having twins. Had we known that, I think we would have opted out. But he's here to stay now. He'll be 10 months old when our babies are born, and I'm praying he's past the puppy stage by then.

On the flip side, I cannot imagine trying to raise a puppy and infant at the same time.

I would just consider the breed you're getting, your exhaustion level, your patience level, and the current financial situation. Between shots and neutering (not to mention the price of the puppy).. it's a pricy endeavour. We had a crate, bowls, leash, etc.. but those are additional expenses if you don't have them.

Best of luck, and post photos if you do decide to go ahead with it!

AlishaRichelle · July 2009

Thanks everyone for your advice! We talked about it for a while tonight and we are leaning toward getting the puppy. It's a Basset Hound, so a very mild-tempered breed.

I grew up with dogs around the house and it's just natural to me, and DH absolutely loves Basset Hounds. He's had one before. DH is the type who will take full responsibility for the dog and make sure it gets walked, etc. so I'm not worried about having to deal with that myself.

Thanks again!

Todd&Laura · July 2009

I would go for it. I have three dogs and they were all well in line within 7 months of getting them. We currently have a fenced yard, which will be very helpful when baby comes because I won't need to walk them to go potty. My first two dogs are only four months apart, so I essentially had two puppies at once, although my older one was much more mature and was easier to train (the younger of the two is a terrier and was quite a challenge). My third dog was an unexpected edition to the family: we adopted him from a family member who was about to put him in a shelter. He had some separation anxiety issues, but was pretty good within a few months. Of all of our dogs, he had the most unique challenges, although the terrier was (and at times, continues to be) a huge challenge.

When you make the decision: think about the breed of dog and the amount of time that you have to devote to training. Personally, I think it will be much easier to get the new dog now and get it acclimated to your house than to wait until the baby comes and be raising a dog and a baby at once. It's just too rough to do when there is a little tiny one around. Good luck.

elyshaswedding · July 2009

We ended up (by chance) adopting our dog when I was five month pregnant with DD. He was the cutest little puppy and he needed a good home, so we took him on Christmas day! Don't get me wrong, I love the dog, and am very happy that we have him now, but it was HARD at first. Being pregnant and trying to train a puppy (as well as getting up two or three times a night to bring him out to pee) was a huge strain on both myself and my DH. And then, when the baby was born, we had to figure out how to handle both a newborn and a puppy, sometimes by ourselves if the other was working. I wouldn't say DON'T do it, but just be aware that it is a huge huge huge responsibility and very hard to handle as a pregnant mama. GL!

Swede25 · July 2009

A puppy is just like a baby (well, technically they are both babies, but you know what I mean). When we first got our dog, she was only 7 weeks old. We were up with her 5 times a night letting her out, feeding her, whatever. It was really tiring and a lot of hard work. This lasted a good few months. Not to mention we spent a lot of time training her. Luckily she was housetrained in a week, but still. I guess it really depends on the dog, but she wasn't really "independant" until she was about 2 (let out of her crate when we weren't home, etc). If you want to do all that on top of having a newborn, go for it. Just really think if you will have all the time to devote to the dog also. I hate when people get pets and then kind of throw them to the side, or don't take the proper measures to care for or train them.

12bailey18 · July 2009

Doozieanne:
I would say, no. I have two dogs and have had them well before having DD. I hate to say, but they get much less attention now, we can't take them for walks unless one of us does it alone because we have to take DD obviously and they hate the stroller. I get sooooo angry when they bark and wake up DD. There is fur all over the house that I can't keep up with. It's nuts. I have even briefly thought of giving one of them to my parents (bows head in shame).
Unless you have an amazingly calm dog, it's hard. I give props to those with dogs and babies and have kept their sanity. DH says my new favorite line is "Uugggggggg....I am going to kill the dogs!!!". Sad but true. Think long and hard about it. You can always get a dog later. Oh and my doggies did not like DD at first and it was very nerve wracking for us. They kept nipping at her and didn't understand for quite a while. It was a rough transition.
(sorry I rambled on!)

I agree. We've been planning and preparing for new baby and our high energy dog. It's well trained but demands a lot. Just really think it over. Because it can really turn into a stressful situation. ?

flgator · July 2009

We adopted a 1 yr old cocker spaniel from a rescue when I was 5 months pregnant. I knew the woman in charge of the rescue and she said this dog would be good for us. He was pretty much housebroken except for some accidents in the beginning, which was understandable. He was still young but not a puppy. I think that was a great age for us to get. I never would have wanted a puppy; I think that would have been too much. It was hard at first b/c he was chewing a lot at the beginning. But now he's mellowed out and is a good dog. There are a lot of rescues that have younger dogs. I'm sure it depends what kind os dog you get b/c some require more work than others. DS loves our dog, but I still watch the 2 of them together. Our dog was very gentle around DS when he was born, and he's kind of protective of him. Our dog is great for floor clean ups b/c kids are messy eaters.

For a funny story: It was the 1st few days that I was home alone with DS when DH went back to work. I forgot to let our dog out and when I was sitting down he came and peed on my foot! I can laugh about it now but I was in tears when it happened b/c I was so tired. DS was less than 2 weeks old. I never forgot to let him out again!

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