Should I get a puppy? Need advice from dog lovers! About This Page:

[MsODancr]

First a little background info!I had a poodle that passed away Dec. 2001 at age 13 & 1/2 [img]graemlins/cry2.gif[/img] . DH's poodle is still with us. They were not blood related, but grew up together with us as they were only a few months apart.

Lately I have been thinking it would be nice to get a puppy as Rio is lonely without Brittany. I talked to one of the owners of the grooming place we go to & he thought it was a good idea, as long as we got a puppy, & not a grown dog already set in it's way's.( I had been thinking of getting a rescue poodle, but those are usually grown up.) He said the older dog always teaches the younger dog a lot. Then I talked to his wife today, & she is kind of on the fence about it... maybe a puppy would be good, but maybe I should let Rio live out her however many last few years as the queen dog of the house. Plus I need to remember the puppy would take up a lot of attetion & to not forget about Rio. But the past year, Rio has really missed her buddy & has been mopey. They really kept each other company.

What do you all think? [img]graemlins/ukid.gif[/img]

I can see both views. We didn't get a puppy right after Britty died because my youngest was only a baby at the time. Now she is almost two. The other two kids are 9 & 6 & have never had a [img]graemlins/love.gif[/img] puppy.

Then again, I am thinking I must be obsessing about this to get my mind off of dealing with cranky dh! It would be one more thing to keep me busy.

Then AGAIN, it is SO COLD [img]images/icons/shocked.gif[/img] here in Mass, maybe I should wait til the spring??? Or should I wait til after our trip to WDW in July? HMMMMMM... what to do, what to do!!!???

Thanks for any ideas....

Barbara [img]graemlins/wavin.gif[/img]

[Fortissimo]

I am in the same predicament, but only with my cat, Fortissimo. We put Pipsqueak to sleep before Christmas and Fortissimo is still going around the house calling for his buddy. Fortissimo is a little over 15 so I don't know how he would handel a kitten or even another cat, but he is so lonely he is even sitting on DH's lap at times. [img]images/icons/shocked.gif[/img]

So guys, what do you think? Should Barbara get a puppy and should I get a kitten, or what?

[Dumbo]

I think a puppy would be in order but only after the July trip.

Forti,
I think you need a kitten or even 2.

[Heidi]

Hi Barbara,

One word of advise from a "Mommy" to a just over a year old Schnoodle, wait til spring. We got Chyna in December 2001 and let me tell you those middle of the night bathroom runs are cold!!!! And that cold air wakes up little puppies who then want to play. Playing ball at 3:00am is not my idea of a good time. Never again at that time of the year! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

Maybe you could see how Rio would react around a puppy by taking her to see one. Do any of your friends of family members have one? You could see first how she will react and maybe that would make it easier. I'm sure once you get one home there will be a bit of an adjustment but I'm sure Rio would love to have some company of her own.

Good luck deciding.

[Belle*]

I would recommend it for both of you! But I also agree to wait until spring. Come spring, the Humane Society's are full of puppies and kittens in need of loving homes. [img]graemlins/love.gif[/img] The Humane Society near us requires "interactions" with the pets already in the homes to avoid any future problems. And the pets have been spayed/neutered and the dogs have had a session with a behaviorist to identify special needs. (i.e. needs to be an only pet, needs a "child free" home, etc.)

I think it's just what the Dr. (Vet [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img] ) ordered to fill the space in your's and your pet's hearts! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

[Boiler Joanne & Tim]

and let me tell you those middle of the night bathroom runs are cold!!!! And that cold air wakes up little puppies who then want to play

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Maybe you could see how Rio would react around a puppy by taking her to see one. Do any of your friends of family members have one? You could see first how she will react and maybe that would make it easier.

<font size="2" face="Comic Sans MS, Arial">Heidi, I agree! Housebreaking would be SO much easier with the weather a little warmer.

I think you would really enjoy a new puppy... the kids are old enough, and if Rio is lonely, a new friend might be just the trick. Our lab Murphy is not happy unless my mom's lab is visiting. He mopes when she sin't around.

It sounds like a great idea to "test" a new puppy on him. Maybe take him to Petsmart or some other pet shop and see how he does around young pups. Since he's used to having another dog around, though, I bet he'll be fine.

Keep us posted!

Joanne