Puppy advice please

[Zoex89x]

Hello everyone I have a 19month old and a 6month old and I would really like to get a dog, However would like some other dog owners advice please as to whether you think a puppy and two children would be a recipe for disaster? Or has anyone had any experience with a puppy and baby at the same time and how did u find it? Thankyou for any advice

 

[mariar508]

My baby was 3 months old when I decided to bring her to the pet store and choose a pet. Having all sorts of animals from brightly colored parrots to cute cuddly rabbits, I figured she would pick the right one. Little did I know she was infatuated with reptiles. Thirty minutes later we were driving home with a 20 gallon fish tank, wood chips, a warming light, rocks, plastic vegetation, and a small army of horned lizards. As instructed by the pet store clerk to not feed the lizards for a few weeks due to the stress of adapting to a new home, I had not purchased any live crickets to satisfy their hunger. A few days went by when I noticed some of the horned lizards went missing. Armed with night vision goggles, I decided to stay up all night and watch the lizards. This turned out to be easier than expected because of their strange behavior of continuously mating with each other. However, I never saw any of them go missing. I returned from work the next day to find out that more had gone missing. One whom I had personally named "tiny" because of his large muscular build seemed to be growing at an alarming rate. I hypothesized that tiny had become cannibalistic and was feasting off the others. Again I stayed up all night with my night vision goggles and watched tiny mate with the remaining lizards. Nothing. The next day almost all of the lizards were missing. With his alarmingly quick ability to increase body size, I figured tiny was getting hungrier and hungrier. Not only did I want to catch him red handed, but I had become captivated with the sight of tiny mating with several lizards at the same time. Days went by as I became accustomed to the loss of lizards and tiny's ability to gain weight. Because I had lost about a weeks worth of sleep watching tiny mate with the few remaining lizards, I decided to move tiny in my daughters room. Now I could focus on using my night vision goggles to peer through my bedroom window at the MILF who lived next door. A week later tiny ran out of other lizards, so I decided that instead of buying the usual crickets, I would purchase some small rodents to please his large appetite. After finishing off all six mice I had purchased within a few hours, I knew that my salary would not be able to accommodate a lizard such as this. Therefore, I decided that the next day I would bring tiny (who was now approximately 22 lbs) back to the pet store. That night I heard my daughter screaming. She has never screamed before, but I figured she was fine. I though that maybe she was having a nightmare or something. Then another scream. I thought, maybe she's having two nightmares. Then another. Finally I decided to take my night vision goggles and go see what she was screaming about. I opened the door to see that tiny was making a meal of my daughters hand! I immediately screamed and ran out of the room in fear of tiny deciding to attack me instead. Upon pondering the situation, I decided to get my barbecue tongs. I mustered up the courage and entered my daughters room. With blood being everywhere, it made it very difficult to clamp the 26 lb lizard. Finally I got a hold of him and threw him out of the open window. My daughter is now missing a hand. To answer your question: I don't know if a dog will be ok, but stay away from horned lizards.

 

[beanzean]

My baby was 3 months old when I decided to bring her to the pet store and choose a pet. Having all sorts of animals from brightly colored parrots to cute cuddly rabbits, I figured she would pick the right one. Little did I know she was infatuated with reptiles. Thirty minutes later we were driving home with a 20 gallon fish tank, wood chips, a warming light, rocks, plastic vegetation, and a small army of horned lizards. As instructed by the pet store clerk to not feed the lizards for a few weeks due to the stress of adapting to a new home, I had not purchased any live crickets to satisfy their hunger. A few days went by when I noticed some of the horned lizards went missing. Armed with night vision goggles, I decided to stay up all night and watch the lizards. This turned out to be easier than expected because of their strange behavior of continuously mating with each other. However, I never saw any of them go missing. I returned from work the next day to find out that more had gone missing. One whom I had personally named "tiny" because of his large muscular build seemed to be growing at an alarming rate. I hypothesized that tiny had become cannibalistic and was feasting off the others. Again I stayed up all night with my night vision goggles and watched tiny mate with the remaining lizards. Nothing. The next day almost all of the lizards were missing. With his alarmingly quick ability to increase body size, I figured tiny was getting hungrier and hungrier. Not only did I want to catch him red handed, but I had become captivated with the sight of tiny mating with several lizards at the same time. Days went by as I became accustomed to the loss of lizards and tiny's ability to gain weight. Because I had lost about a weeks worth of sleep watching tiny mate with the few remaining lizards, I decided to move tiny in my daughters room. Now I could focus on using my night vision goggles to peer through my bedroom window at the MILF who lived next door. A week later tiny ran out of other lizards, so I decided that instead of buying the usual crickets, I would purchase some small rodents to please his large appetite. After finishing off all six mice I had purchased within a few hours, I knew that my salary would not be able to accommodate a lizard such as this. Therefore, I decided that the next day I would bring tiny (who was now approximately 22 lbs) back to the pet store. That night I heard my daughter screaming. She has never screamed before, but I figured she was fine. I though that maybe she was having a nightmare or something. Then another scream. I thought, maybe she's having two nightmares. Then another. Finally I decided to take my night vision goggles and go see what she was screaming about. I opened the door to see that tiny was making a meal of my daughters hand! I immediately screamed and ran out of the room in fear of tiny deciding to attack me instead. Upon pondering the situation, I decided to get my barbecue tongs. I mustered up the courage and entered my daughters room. With blood being everywhere, it made it very difficult to clamp the 26 lb lizard. Finally I got a hold of him and threw him out of the open window. My daughter is now missing a hand. To answer your question: I don't know if a dog will be ok, but stay away from horned lizards.

I'm sorry but I don't know if that post is fact or fiction but it actually made me throw up!!! It's wrong in so many ways. I don't give a crap if there was a 2ton grizzly bear in there, there is no way I would run out of the room leaving it in there with my daughter, "incase it went for me instead"!!!! I'd be in there getting it off her!!!!

 

[WANBMUM]

Beanzean -Fiction for sure. practising their story writing techniques perhaps?

In answer to your question Zoe, honestly puppies are such hard work, will you be having it indoors? if so, toilet training can be a nightmare, especially if you have little ones on the floor alot. Even for people without kids, I am always honest and say they are such hard work, you have to think of holidays, realsitically nobody wants to look after them(and it is so hard dropping them to boarding kennels ) vets bills, boosters, regular worming, de-fleaing. Also if you have them indoors, nearly all dogs SHED hair alot, unless you get a poodle type dog(bichon etc)
Dont get me wrong I love my dog to pieces and wouldnt be without him, but the reality is, they are hard work, to look after them properly, as in a big part of the family. Oh and walking, at least twice a day, it all sounds great but think of the bad weather, rain etc and the dirt and water they bring back into the house with them.
I dont mean to put you off, but it is all truth and getting a dog is not something you can take lightly. most live for average 15 years. I say get a smaller animal to start with like a rabbit, to see how you/the kids get on first.
On the other side, you will have a companion for life, they are great company, they love unconditionally, you will spend lovely days out walking etc, you will get out, hail rain or snow as they love going walkies no matter what You and your kids can have hours of fun playing, your kids will get to grow up with them and it is a great learning experience for kids, teaches them to be kind and how to look after things etc.
Ok i shall stop waffffffling on. I am as bad as dragonman, except less traumatic
Let us know what you decide

 

[mariar508]

Beanzean -Fiction for sure. practising their story writing techniques perhaps?

How I wish it was.

 

[lesleyann]

we got our roxy when kyle was a few months old and would not change it for the world, they are best friends and love playing together. yeah it was hard work during house training etc but worth it.. We will be getting a new pup soon to add to our growing family

 

[Zoex89x]

Well thanks for the story mariar but don't worry a horned lizard was defiantly not on the pet list! Thanku very much for the advice wanbmum and lesleyann. Well me and hubby had a long chat and have been thinking about getting a pup for a while anyway and we've decided we defiantly are going to get one but we think it's going to take us at least 6months to save anyway so our youngest will be a year by then two and were be in a much bigger house by then, were going to look into what breeds will be best with the kids although I think hubby has his heart set on a boxer and o do think their adorable but will look into tempermant a bit more first thanks again for your help x

 

[WANBMUM]

Thats great Zoe, boxers are gorgeous, they do have a lovely temperament, they are so sweet, in my experience,but like any pup i spose, can be very boistrous. We had a boxer growing up and she was the sweetest most loyal dog ever.
Have fun When you get your pup, come back and let us know, with pics (i also have some good tips for toilet training, after 10 months trying to get my little fella sorted)

 

[Zoex89x]

Aw thankyou again wanbmum I definatley will cone back and post once we get a pup, I'm really excited now ah glad u said that about boxers I was reading up last night that's their a good breed with children and love attention which it would gets loads of that, oo yeah il def b needing toileting tips hehe thanku!!

 

[lesleyann]

I might re-need those tips too haha been a few years since our roxy was house trained haha Going to be a mad house here as of about the 13/14th of August!

 

[Zoex89x]

I might re-need those tips too haha been a few years since our roxy was house trained haha Going to be a mad house here as of about the 13/14th of August!

What dog is roxy? And what dog are u getting next month? I bet u cant wait

 

[lesleyann]

I might re-need those tips too haha been a few years since our roxy was house trained haha Going to be a mad house here as of about the 13/14th of August!

What dog is roxy? And what dog are u getting next month? I bet u cant wait

Roxy is a German Shepherd and she is having puppys we will be keeping one and have a few homes lined up already, been told there is atlest 3 in there will be starting a thread for her when she's had them to share pictures

 

[WANBMUM]

Cool - cant wait to see pics of both puppies guys.
Ya, boxers are lovely, our one was so good with all kids, she loved everyone, I hate to say this cos I feel bad, but they are a bit stupid, that sounds horrible, but they are big silly buggers, but in a good way. What I mean is, if you told her off, she would just look at you and then take no notice as if you never told her off, whereas other dogs get the hump and sulk. That could have been just our ones personality but from the ones I have met, they are big softies. Aw I miss her

wooo - you must be so excited - how will you pick lesleyann, will be so hard. (i would end up keeping them all if it was me, haha)

 

[Zoex89x]

Lol aww they sound like a great family dog and hopefully will fit in perfectly with our lifestyle and kids ( someone will always be at home with him and we both love going on walks and to the beach and by the sounds of it they enjoy the attention) I'm so excited!! Lesleyann I'm excited for u lol will u pick which one u want or just keep the one that doesn't get sold?

 

[lesleyann]

We will be picking first, Our girl is a Sable so kind of light we have used a dark stud so will proberly keep a colour in the middle, also will depend of its personality, I dont want a too chilled out one but also proberly not the most hyper out of the litter lol The plan is to keep back a girl however if the boys are the best option we will re-consider.. Roxy has lost loads of energy starting to feel sorry for herself i reckon haha

 

[Zoex89x]

Aw bless her feeling sorry for herself I felt sorry for myself waddling Round when I was pregnant too hehe, ahh that sounds good I hope u kno straight away which one u want will be alot easier if u fall in love with one as soon as u see it although in sure they will all be adorable and ur want to keep all of them lol

 

[lesleyann]

Well when we paid the final stud fee I got to see their current litters told A i was going tp put one up my shirt and run away with her lol I can be very picky tbh out of 3 litters there, there was only 1 pup i would of ran away with haha

 

[Zoex89x]

Hi ladies thought I'd let you know that I just couldn't resist any longer so on Friday afternoon me and hubby went to get a little puppy my auntie has a Labrador and bought him over on thurs eve to c how the kids would react, my 6month old didn't do anything but my eldest loved him and was laughing and playing all eve, me and hubby adored him and decided to get a lab instead, we got our pup from a lovely lady who lived on a farm and who has kids herself so the pups had been well socialised, he's an 11week old black lab and we've named him duke he's gorgeous and super laid back (so far hehe) his toilet training is pretty much there I think as he's been following his mum and the other older dogs where he was to go outside only had two accidents indoors, at night he's staying in his cage downstairs fri night he cried for ten mins then at 3.30 am another ten mins and lastnight only a couple of mins he's really good also he's had both jabs so we took him for a walk yesterday and this morning he's quite good on his lead but is scared or other dogs, oh and he loves my youngest boy and won't leave him alone whenever he's on the floor he lays next to him so cute!!! How do I put a pic up?

 

[lesleyann]

Had he gone in his crate at 3:30am as this may of been why he cried then. Also is he fulyl Vaccinated to be going on his walks? I dont mean to sound nasty just checking lol


now POST PICYYSS lol

 

[Zoex89x]

No he went in the cage when we went to bed at about 11pm but woke up again at 3.30am but he may have heard my youngest crying perhaps, lol no u don't sound nasty yeah he's had both vaccinations the lady we got him from gave us the card from the vets and as the last one was done two weeks ago she said he's all good to go for walks how do I get a pic up? Lol sorry I'm rubbish at things like that!!!