Getting a dog now???

mayra2105 · February 2010

I've always wanted a dog but was never allowed to have one growing up. DH recently started a new job that takes up a lot of hours and I'm at home all of the time by myself. I know it's prob the pregnancy hormones but I get so lonely I start to cry. I hate being alone now. This weekend he suggested we go to shelters and see if we can find me a dog. Of course I'm super happy but also a lil afraid. The baby will be here in 3 months and will I be overwhelmed with a pooch and a baby? I'm not sure. I don't want the dog to feel I'm putting it to the side once baby comes or not like the baby.

cdc1982 · February 2010

At this point, I (personally) would wait to get a dog until after things "calm down" with the new baby. Plus, I *think* it'll be easier to bring a new dog in after the baby is home so there's not as much of a chance they'll get jealous of the baby.

MommyMar2010 · February 2010

I wouldn't do that---I understand you are lonely, but I think getting a dog that really requires a lot of your attention before you have the baby would be a mistake. Why not take these last few months to rest up (you'll need it), have your baby and THEN reassess if you are ready to take on a dog..........honestly I think you may overwhelm yourself if you take on a new dog and a new baby..........but that's just my two cents!

GL!

newmommyin2010 · February 2010

If you get a puppy you will be overwhelmed. They are LOADS of work. If you really want a dog look into rescue...dogs require lots of attention though...

ourlittlelife · February 2010

If you want a dog, get a dog! We got a new puppy when I was 34 weeks pregnant and I already had a 20 month daughter. It gave us enough time to house break the puppy and help her get settled before the baby came. It worked out fine! I think it would be even easier if you got a dog that was already house broken and not in the "puppy" phase... won't chew things, etc. Good luck!

jacodi · February 2010

Not a good idea given the timing especially if you have no experience owning dogs. No offense to you, but this is one of the reasons there are so many abandoned (to shelters etc) dogs. People want a friend, find out how much work they are and/or have a life changing event (a baby) and the dog is the first to go.

curlychic · February 2010

I would wait until after baby is here and you get into a routine. A new dog - especially a puppy - will require a lot of attention to be able to properly train. Do you really want to be cleaning up "accidents" for the next three months? And once the baby is here, you will be cleaning up accidents and taking care of a baby. It can be overwhelming to have just a baby or just a new dog. I can't imagine having both at the same time!

laumholl · February 2010

I would wait until LO is a few months old. If DH isn't there a lot of the time you would have a really difficult time taking care of a dog. They can be hard to take care of, although they are nice to have. If you would have to walk the dog on a leash so it can go potty, I would say definitely no. My mom won't even let me walk their dog...even though we both know she won't bolt after a squirrel or something...it's still too much of a fall risk. Plus, if you wait, I'm sure LO will have fun helping with the doggie!

jacse007 · February 2010

How about a bird? A cockatoo or something that will talk or you can talk to? Um, a dog might be a bit much being so close to a new LO. If you could find a dog already house broken it might be easier. There are many dogs around that people have to give up because of losing their homes and the dogs are great house broken dogs. Maybe have that as a criteria. A puppy would probably get frustrating, not to mention a PAIN to have to clean up pee when you hit the "uncomfortable" stage.

dustinblouin · February 2010

I wouldn't recommend a puppy. If you were to get an older dog (around 2-3 years old) I don't think it would be a problem. At that age they are calmer sometimes housebroken. It would be easier to adjust an older dog then it would be to train a puppy.

ShannonLK · February 2010

We got a dog a year ago and he has kept me great company when DH has had to work. He is sweet and I love him and wouldn't trade him for anything in the world, but the thought of having a baby in 4 wks and also having a dog who is just barely out of puppy stage makes me nervous.

With that said, I wouldn't get a dog now. They are a LOT of work (more than I was anticipating) and having a baby will just add to the stress, IMO.

minnz · February 2010

Yeah, I agree that it's best to wait, even though it's a hard time right now. Could you join any groups or get involved during this time you have off so you don't feel so lonely?

A friend of mine bought a dog from a shelter (I think he was a year old?), and a week later, found out she was pregnant. She was so overwhelmed with what a dog entails (she too had never had a dog, just cats--and currently has 3 cats) that she ended up re-homing the dog about a month later. A bummer as he was a sweetie, and they had spent a fair amount of $$$, but she didn't feel like she could handle it. I think someone who was very familiar with dogs would have a hard time at this point in pregnancy as well! Your feelings of loneliness may change after the baby is born, and you may realize you don't really want a pet after all. Just food for thought.

elidav2007 · February 2010

Being a mommy to two high strung, dachshund's and the mother of a 7 year old with one on the way I would be completely ok with getting another dog at this point. Even with my crazy furbabies, In fact DH have looked at perhaps getting a 3rd as I will be home and can facilitate in training. I think if you want a dog you should get one...as long as you realize that you will have two babies that need your attention!

bryant1091 · February 2010

I wouldn't get one. All dogs, not just puppies, require A LOT of work and the third trimester of pregnancy is not the time to get one. I would wait until the baby arrives and then see how you feel. In the meantime, if you're that lonely, volunteer at a pet shelter, get a cat, call some girlfriends for lunch, take up a new hobby. Tons of "not getting a dog" things you can do to occupy your time and beat the third tri blues. GL

kategw · February 2010

I wouldn't get one now. Training a dog or puppy requires a ton of work and patience, and even if you are 100% devoted to the dog, you may not have the additional energy to devote during your third trimester and you certainly won't when the baby gets here. It wouldn't be fair to the pup. IMHO it would increase the chances of you wanting or needing to find a new home for the dog when the baby arrives. I think you have the best intentions, but getting an animal is not a decision that should be made on a whim and it just doesnt sound like this is the right time for your family.

PurpleK26 · February 2010

I would. I know it's alot of work, but I would do it.

Choosing the age of the dog would be the hardest. You could get a puppy, and have a decent amount of time to house break it. It wouldn't have enough time to feel like it was the only baby before your LO arrives, so jealousy probably wouldn't be a problem. But, you'd have to be very careful with the breed, as a high energy puppy who wants to jump and bounce everywhere probably wouldn't be great with a new born on your lap, floor, bouncy chair etc.

You could get an older dog, but I'd be very careful about that with a newborn. In your case, I'd try to find one that needs to be re-homed from a friend or something. You don't get a whole lot of history from most shelters, and won't know if the dog may be aggressive towards babies/little kids.

If you have the $$, a puppy (of a not too high strung breed) and a boarding trainer is probably a good option. Being able to get the puppy, have it trained in basic commands, ('Leave it' is the first one I'd teach it) and housebroken will save you alot of work! But, you'd miss out on some bonding with it.

amykins1283 · February 2010

You could go looking for a dog now if you really feel like you could handle it. I wouldn't go to shelters, though. I would go to a reputable rescue organization where the dogs have been fostered in people's homes and someone can tell you about their behaviors and personality. I would also get an older dog with training and not a puppy. Puppies are tempting and cute but they are just as much work as a new baby and would definitely overwhelm you. Both my dogs came to me fully housetrained which was a godsend, let me tell you.

That being said, though, some rescues will be reluctant to adopt to you because of your pregnancy. Their number once concern is getting their dogs into a "forever home" and many of them have been burned in the past by people returning their pets due to life changing events, like new babies. I'm not saying that you are at all the type of person who would return a dog just because of the baby BUT they might look at it differently.

Lastly, you have to consider the fact that this is your first dog and you would be learning how to care for it as you go. If your DH is going to be working too much to really be a hands on help, you might reconsider trying to get a dog now.

But, in the end, it's your decision. Just make sure you look at the situation from all angles and really think about it before you make a decision.

islandgirl79 · February 2010

I think it would be really overwhelming. I have a 10 mo. puppy (pic in siggy) and he is a lot of work. You said yourself that your husband is very busy with his new job, can you imagine having a newborn and a dog to handle by yourself? Even an older dog might act out with all the changes in a short period of time.

I would recommend waiting till your baby arrives and you have settled into a routine to bring a dog or puppy into your home. You only have a few short months left before you will have a baby to keep you company.

blissfully_caffeinated · February 2010

Honestly, I wouldn't get a dog right now. I got a shelter pup a little over a year ago. I love her to death but she pushed my patience when we first got her (maybe for the first 5 months?). She needed (and still needs) a lot of attention. She wicked smart but I had to spend months training her. I've also had to spend months preping her for life with a new baby (how not to approach infants or children unless given a command that it's okay). It's a lot to handle.

If you're totally set on getting a dog right now, see if they have a foster program. You could find a dog you mesh well with and take him home. You wouldn't officially be adopting him - you would be fostering him. If he got to be too much to handle you could take him back to the shelter. If not, you could adopt him. Fostering will help the dog because you can give the shelter more info on him so they can find him the perfect home if it doesn't work out with you.

~CoCo~ · February 2010

WAIT. Or foster.

You've never had a dog before, so you're not familiar with how much work they are, or how all-consuming they can be. I can speak from experience-- having had dogs all my life, and a baby-- I would have been MISERABLE with a newborn and a new dog.

Both are amazing if you bring them into your home in a controlled, well-timed manner, but if I were in your shoes, I'd say now is NOT the time. Find other ways to keep yourself busy for the next couple of months. Soon you'll have your hands full with baby, and it's really not fair to a new dog, who would still be learning his/her place, and the rules of your house.

Plus, if your DH is away alot, you really want to deal with a dog and NB at the same time? What if you're nursing baby and the dog NEEDS to go out? What if you just get baby to sleep and the dog barks?

hikerbeth · February 2010

We got our first dog about 6 weeks before I had DD. She was an older dog from a shelter and has been the best dog ever. I don't regret it for a minute.

I'd wait if you plan to get a younger dog/puppy though who still needs significant training. And I'd take a lot of time to research your options, not just run to a shelter and pick something out.

cajungirl0717 · February 2010

I definitely would wait on the dog. No matter the age, it takes times to house train. And if you have to walk it on a leash, it takes a while for some dogs to leash train (learn to not pull you when walking). Training dogs is not always easy and sometimes takes longer than you think. Kinda (BUT NOT EXACTLY) like potty training.

You should just focus on the baby. I am sorry that your DH's new job leaves you alone alot. Do you have girlfriends or family in the area that you can visit some nights so you are not alone all the time?

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