A little baby crazy! :) <3

[tinabina]

Getting a dog for a 3 year old makes no sense.

Don't worry about taking advice from people who live, train and work in the pet industry.

To the OP, I'm sure you will continue to think this through. You're obv taking the right steps towards family planning if you've taken the time to ask and I wish you good luck.

[caracakes]

Wow, thank you ladies for all of this input!!!

I haven't decided yet whether I'd like to go through a breeder or a shelter, but either option is perfectly fine by me! I think there can be ups and downs to either side. My mom currently has a dog, and I was there when she brought her home, and I've helped raise her! I also have many family members with dogs, so I am familiar with the hard work and time involved with having a puppy. I would like to have a puppy before, because during this time while we aren't necessarily planning to have a baby at any moment, I think would be a good time to work on training. Though, especially with the breed of dog I'm hoping for, I've been doing my research and talking to some people and I've been told that a Golden Retriever might work perfectly in this situation They are easy to train-- at least in comparison to other dogs. And family friendly. Which is HIGHLY important to me, of course! So if I get a puppy now, when me and my BF aren't planning to seriously TTC, then I can have this year that we're waiting to work with the puppy. And of course even in a year from now the puppy will still be young and energetic, it'll be easier to manage by then. And me and my BF both would be working with the puppy, as well as the baby when that time comes. My aunt had a baby with a two big Dog De Bordeaux's [one was a tiny puppy] and she did well! She said it was definitely a struggle, but she wouldn't have it any other way. And I have a few aunts and uncles that I know would be willing to help me out if needed.

I think part of it is I really like the idea of my baby growing up with a puppy beside it. Them playing together, and the baby growing up with that puppy to love. Not to mention dozens of picture perfect moments. But I will definitely think this all through before actually going out and buying a puppy!! Because there is definitely much more to it than what I've mentioned above. Lots of stress, money, time, and patience. And though I am patient, and I do work well when sleep deprived and/or under pressure, and though I know I could handle it, I'm not quite as sure if I'd actually enjoy handling it. I'm honestly not so worried about actually doing what I got to do, because I know I am physically capable. I just don't know if I'll be happy being under so much stress. And though I will have spare time when the baby is sleeping, I feel like that'd be my time to catch up on some beauty sleep rather than extra attention to the pup.


So I don't quite know yet! I have thought a lot of this though, but I feel silly not considering the emotional side of the matter! Having one baby is enough of a challenge on your emotions, adding a puppy may not help. Though I do think I would definitely enjoy the puppy at least sometimes even after the baby, but it would be tough. I'll have to talk to my BF about it before I come to any conclusions and see what he thinks about it.

Again, thank you all for your opinions!

[catloverd]

I thought I'd share this article with you:
http://www.pregnantchicken.com/pregn...your-baby.html

[kasie]

I don't see why you can't have a puppy and kids... majority of people do. We have two kids and a 1 yr old black lab (marley was a yellow lab, not a golden) and we are ttc... I would never think of getting rid of my dog or worry about not spending enough time with her. As long as she gets at least one walk a day and gets to be around us she's good to go.

[zinnia]

Both my pups are shelter babies. My youngest, a beagle sheltie mix was dumped because she did not "fit in" with a new baby. They got her as pup for their newborn daughter. I was told they wanted her to grow up with the baby. They thought it would be "sooo cute" to have them grow up as "siblings". HA! Lo and behold they were shocked when their pup did not go along with their dreamy little plan.( I know, shocker, right?) She needed more attention, training and patience than they were able to give and of course she got the boot. They thought she wasn't capable of listening and she came with an explicit warning from the shelter that she was "a difficult dog". For me it was the luckiest mistake they could have made. Within 2 weeks we had all her behavior problems solved. She stopped chewing, wetting in the house and barking. I had her completely potty trained in one month. She is one of the best and brightest dogs I have encountered. I tell you that not to keep you from getting a dog. Dogs are wonderful, and I look forward to the relationship my (grown and trained) pups and my new baby will have. Just wait until you are sure that you will have the time and patience to devote to a puppy. I just feel like I would have never been able to devote the time and patience that my girl needed to become the best dog she could be. Now that I am having a baby, I have no doubt that both my dogs are as well trained as they can be and I have ZERO doubt that they will be any hindrance when the new baby arrives. As an aside, I second everything that tinabina has said about shelter vs. breeder. She sounds like she knows what she is talking about and I completely agree. Shelter dogs can be some of the best pets you will ever have. It just takes patience. Good Luck!

[catloverd]

The only downside to a shelter is that the breed of dog you want may not be available. Also, shelterwise, maybe you guys work at a good one, but I know plenty that aren't the best. My fiance's family got a dog from a shelter, not a puppy, a dog. They were told it was trained and everything. Surprise Surprise, it was not. He has a problem with shelters because of that experience. His family never got another dog. Because I want a sheltie and he hates shelters, we are going to a breeder just so we get what we want. We will get a puppy, but we aren't planning to have a baby at the exact same time. The puppy is kind of our "training" for a baby. I know not all breeders are good, but the same goes for shelters. I agree that having a puppy and a baby probably isn't the best idea. But I see nothing wrong with having a dog and a baby.

If you want to get a dog, just make sure you do your research and spend time with the new dog at the shelter/breeder's house to make sure it's the dog for you! Ask as many questions as possible and be skeptical. If the dog is said to have been "trained" try doing simple commands like sit before taking it home. Or ask the breeder/shelter person to show you.