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.

[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

<font size="2" face="Comic Sans MS, Arial">

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

[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]

[katerkat]

Get a cat! Both you and Forti! [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

[Perky2sol]

Barbara, I have experienced this first hand. We lost a beloved dog, and my DH just had to go out and get a new one. We ended up getting two. At this time, we didn't have kids, and so the pets were at home alone for long periods of time while we worked. I figured they needed company. We ended up getting a 4-yr-old Maltese, and a Bichon Frise puppy, 8 weeks old. Since neither one had been to the house before, there were no territory issues to start. They ended up bonding very well.

Then about four years later, we learned of another Maltese that needed a home. He had been rescued by some friends of mine, and was 10 months old. So, we said we'd take him, bringing our total to three dogs (all little, but I wouldn't recommend this to anyone). This new Maltese immediately took control of the home even though the other two had been there for years. Bichon's are more passive, and Maltese are more dominant. So I think checking the breed is important. Its been fine. We lost our first Maltese to disease, so we are back to only two (thankfully).

Don't know if this helps or not, but that's my story. Gail

[MsODancr]

Thank you all for your comments, keep them coming, I'm still on the fence between a puppy & a rescue dog! I found a rescue dog that was just listed, but they only return calls when volunteers work. I also found a possible puppy that would be available at the end of the week. My older dog is going deaf, so a young dog would actually HEAR if someone came to the door!

I know it is cold out, but I would be willing to freeze taking the dog out, I freeze everyday when I have to watch for the school bus anyway! [img]images/icons/shocked.gif[/img]

As as territory stuff goes, I have a poodle & I want a poodle... the rescue one sounds sweet, but who knows maybe someone already adopted it... although it just got posted last night.

As far as a CAT goes, no can do as I am [img]graemlins/achoo.gif[/img] allergic! (That is why I got hooked to poodles, they don't shed!)

As far as waiting til spring or summer goes, I have a little window of opportunity this week with dh very busy with work so I wanted to take advantage of that!( Him not paying [img]images/icons/rolleyes.gif[/img] attention, that is!)Remember I wanted to sneak off to WDW this week? Well, that was a no go because I got invited to my nephews bday so this is plan B!
I'll keep you guys informed!!! Thanks again for all the great ideas.

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

[Bert & Sully]

Originally posted by 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?

<font size="2" face="Comic Sans MS, Arial">Hey Forti take your pick:

Gilbert

or

Sullivan

[Versafox]

If it were me, I'd get the puppy. The pup will help rejuvenate the old dog, without needing to dominate the older dog. You just need to be concious of not paying so much attention to the pup that your old dog feels left out. Jealousy can create real problems between dogs.

[MsODancr]

Hi... well, I think we are going to get a puppy
on Friday [img]graemlins/love.gif[/img] afternoon... all the rescue dogs that were available did not want to go to homes with ANY children, so that make a rescue dog a no go. Although someday in the future, I would really like to take one in & give it a wonderful home.

I have been investigating all over our area looking into poodle pups & think we might be getting one on Friday, I have a couple more phone calls to make tomorrow. It is between a toy & a standard! I have to think about that a little more also... I always had big dogs growing up & dh always had small dogs. I am also checking prices & if they sound like they really take good care of the dogs or just do it for a quick buck.Some people that I have talked to over the phone sound so nice but some sound a little fishy...

Then I will have to prepare as I haven't had a puppy in so long.

Plus I think it would be good to get a dog now because we won't be going away til July & by then the puppy will be more secure & confident, etc. ( I leave the dogs with my parents)

Our dog here will not be ignored one bit, [img]images/icons/rolleyes.gif[/img] if anything she will get more attention so she won't be jealous of the puppy.

I want to crate train, but I don't have a crate, I will have to see if they have them at Walmart, if not it is off to the pet store. I do have those cages that they use for airplanes, is that ok to crate train in or you need the crate because the dog can see all around it better?

Thanks for listening!

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

[Versafox]

The kind of crate you use with the airline will work fine for crate training -- in fact, it works better than the kind where the dog can see out all around.

You should be able to find a suitable crate at Walmart; especially for a Toy Poodle. The size they make for cats should be plenty big enough.

Good luck with the new baby!

[Bert & Sully]

Good luck with the new family member!