Puppy, kids,CF

[Rebjane]

Well, the kids and my husband really , really want a puppy. I am an animal lover ,too but I'm sure I'll be the "care-taker" for the most part of the pup's needs. Looking for advice and info about what it's like to take care of a puppy, probobly have to housebreak as well the pup. I'm super busy taking care of Maggie(with her treatments) as well as Sammy. I work part-time now too. I just know it's a big responsibilty taking care of a new puppy and I don't want to take on too much. that being said I think a family dog would be a wonderful experience for us. I worry alittle about fur being around the house. We have two cats, so it'll start being like crazy with all the animals, don't want it to negatively affect maggie's lungs. We were thinking of a boxer pup cause a friend of mine has one, super sweet family dog, not long furred and there are pups available in march from someone from my hubby's work. BTW, maggie wants to be a vet when she grows up(that's what I wanted to be too!) but I became a nurse instead.

TIA

 

[Rebjane]

Well, the kids and my husband really , really want a puppy. I am an animal lover ,too but I'm sure I'll be the "care-taker" for the most part of the pup's needs. Looking for advice and info about what it's like to take care of a puppy, probobly have to housebreak as well the pup. I'm super busy taking care of Maggie(with her treatments) as well as Sammy. I work part-time now too. I just know it's a big responsibilty taking care of a new puppy and I don't want to take on too much. that being said I think a family dog would be a wonderful experience for us. I worry alittle about fur being around the house. We have two cats, so it'll start being like crazy with all the animals, don't want it to negatively affect maggie's lungs. We were thinking of a boxer pup cause a friend of mine has one, super sweet family dog, not long furred and there are pups available in march from someone from my hubby's work. BTW, maggie wants to be a vet when she grows up(that's what I wanted to be too!) but I became a nurse instead.

TIA

 

[Rebjane]

Well, the kids and my husband really , really want a puppy. I am an animal lover ,too but I'm sure I'll be the "care-taker" for the most part of the pup's needs. Looking for advice and info about what it's like to take care of a puppy, probobly have to housebreak as well the pup. I'm super busy taking care of Maggie(with her treatments) as well as Sammy. I work part-time now too. I just know it's a big responsibilty taking care of a new puppy and I don't want to take on too much. that being said I think a family dog would be a wonderful experience for us. I worry alittle about fur being around the house. We have two cats, so it'll start being like crazy with all the animals, don't want it to negatively affect maggie's lungs. We were thinking of a boxer pup cause a friend of mine has one, super sweet family dog, not long furred and there are pups available in march from someone from my hubby's work. BTW, maggie wants to be a vet when she grows up(that's what I wanted to be too!) but I became a nurse instead.

TIA

 

[Ratatosk]

We're looking at getting a new dog; however, being that I was the primary caregiver, poop picker upper... I don't want to deal with housetraining a puppy. Nor do I really want to deal with the trauma of having a puppy chew up DS's toys, books... Our last dog we got at the shelter, was housetrained and neutered. So I'm in the process of looking for a similar one, have contacted some rescue groups and looking online at available pets at the local shelters. Our local park district offers doggy obedience courses, so figure whatever we get, we'll attend some classes again, as we did with our previous dog.

I've never housetrained a dog -- some of my coworkers have. They used an indoor kennel -- dogs won't poop where they eat and sleep.

DS didn't have any issues with our previous dog. The dog did shed, so we tried to sweep the floors on regular basis. Was also an ill-mannered food hound. Made the mistake of feeding him table scraps during meals.


I'm looking forward to getting a dog, so we can go on family walks in the evenings.

 

[Ratatosk]

We're looking at getting a new dog; however, being that I was the primary caregiver, poop picker upper... I don't want to deal with housetraining a puppy. Nor do I really want to deal with the trauma of having a puppy chew up DS's toys, books... Our last dog we got at the shelter, was housetrained and neutered. So I'm in the process of looking for a similar one, have contacted some rescue groups and looking online at available pets at the local shelters. Our local park district offers doggy obedience courses, so figure whatever we get, we'll attend some classes again, as we did with our previous dog.

I've never housetrained a dog -- some of my coworkers have. They used an indoor kennel -- dogs won't poop where they eat and sleep.

DS didn't have any issues with our previous dog. The dog did shed, so we tried to sweep the floors on regular basis. Was also an ill-mannered food hound. Made the mistake of feeding him table scraps during meals.


I'm looking forward to getting a dog, so we can go on family walks in the evenings.

 

[Ratatosk]

We're looking at getting a new dog; however, being that I was the primary caregiver, poop picker upper... I don't want to deal with housetraining a puppy. Nor do I really want to deal with the trauma of having a puppy chew up DS's toys, books... Our last dog we got at the shelter, was housetrained and neutered. So I'm in the process of looking for a similar one, have contacted some rescue groups and looking online at available pets at the local shelters. Our local park district offers doggy obedience courses, so figure whatever we get, we'll attend some classes again, as we did with our previous dog.

I've never housetrained a dog -- some of my coworkers have. They used an indoor kennel -- dogs won't poop where they eat and sleep.

DS didn't have any issues with our previous dog. The dog did shed, so we tried to sweep the floors on regular basis. Was also an ill-mannered food hound. Made the mistake of feeding him table scraps during meals.


I'm looking forward to getting a dog, so we can go on family walks in the evenings.

 

[sue35]

If you get the dog in March are you going to take time off from work? A new puppy is a huge amount of work especially if you are housetraining. You have to be there all the time because you have to let the dog out all the time in the beginning. It is also my opinion that if you get a dog and leave it alone right away for a long time it is mean to the dog. I think dogs are great for families and I had a pug growing up my whole life but I had to housetrain my second dog and it is a lot of work! Good luck!

 

[sue35]

If you get the dog in March are you going to take time off from work? A new puppy is a huge amount of work especially if you are housetraining. You have to be there all the time because you have to let the dog out all the time in the beginning. It is also my opinion that if you get a dog and leave it alone right away for a long time it is mean to the dog. I think dogs are great for families and I had a pug growing up my whole life but I had to housetrain my second dog and it is a lot of work! Good luck!

 

[sue35]

If you get the dog in March are you going to take time off from work? A new puppy is a huge amount of work especially if you are housetraining. You have to be there all the time because you have to let the dog out all the time in the beginning. It is also my opinion that if you get a dog and leave it alone right away for a long time it is mean to the dog. I think dogs are great for families and I had a pug growing up my whole life but I had to housetrain my second dog and it is a lot of work! Good luck!

 

[Rebjane]

The pup would not be alone, I work usually 4 hours at a time like from 7p-11p. So my hubby is home at this time to do evening treatments, bedtime stuff kids and boiling nebs for the day. I know it's goining to be alot of work that's why i want to really think about this. We'ld need to get a crate for training , keep the advice coming!

 

[Rebjane]

The pup would not be alone, I work usually 4 hours at a time like from 7p-11p. So my hubby is home at this time to do evening treatments, bedtime stuff kids and boiling nebs for the day. I know it's goining to be alot of work that's why i want to really think about this. We'ld need to get a crate for training , keep the advice coming!

 

[Rebjane]

The pup would not be alone, I work usually 4 hours at a time like from 7p-11p. So my hubby is home at this time to do evening treatments, bedtime stuff kids and boiling nebs for the day. I know it's goining to be alot of work that's why i want to really think about this. We'ld need to get a crate for training , keep the advice coming!

 

[Ratatosk]

There's that dog training monks book... Can't remember the name off the top of my head.

Even though our dog was housetrained when we first got him. He still had a lot of puppy in him and tended to get into things when we weren't around -- cupboards with food, plastic and wood -- he'd chew on it. We got him a kennel, but kept it in the lower level with a wooden gate in front of the door. That way he didn't have to be confined to his kennel and had access to his food and water. I came home at noon, so he was never alone more than 4 hours. We also didn't let him have run of the house at first, so we got gates to put in front of our bedroom door -- the kind you put at the top of the stairs to keep your toddler from tumbling down <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

I'd also encourage you, your husband and/or kids to take part in obedience classes. A lot of the major petstore chains have puppy kindergarten and beginner classes. For us it was more for me and DH to learn how to care for a dog, be consistent... Plus it was a great opportunity to bond.

 

[Ratatosk]

There's that dog training monks book... Can't remember the name off the top of my head.

Even though our dog was housetrained when we first got him. He still had a lot of puppy in him and tended to get into things when we weren't around -- cupboards with food, plastic and wood -- he'd chew on it. We got him a kennel, but kept it in the lower level with a wooden gate in front of the door. That way he didn't have to be confined to his kennel and had access to his food and water. I came home at noon, so he was never alone more than 4 hours. We also didn't let him have run of the house at first, so we got gates to put in front of our bedroom door -- the kind you put at the top of the stairs to keep your toddler from tumbling down <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

I'd also encourage you, your husband and/or kids to take part in obedience classes. A lot of the major petstore chains have puppy kindergarten and beginner classes. For us it was more for me and DH to learn how to care for a dog, be consistent... Plus it was a great opportunity to bond.

 

[Ratatosk]

There's that dog training monks book... Can't remember the name off the top of my head.

Even though our dog was housetrained when we first got him. He still had a lot of puppy in him and tended to get into things when we weren't around -- cupboards with food, plastic and wood -- he'd chew on it. We got him a kennel, but kept it in the lower level with a wooden gate in front of the door. That way he didn't have to be confined to his kennel and had access to his food and water. I came home at noon, so he was never alone more than 4 hours. We also didn't let him have run of the house at first, so we got gates to put in front of our bedroom door -- the kind you put at the top of the stairs to keep your toddler from tumbling down <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

I'd also encourage you, your husband and/or kids to take part in obedience classes. A lot of the major petstore chains have puppy kindergarten and beginner classes. For us it was more for me and DH to learn how to care for a dog, be consistent... Plus it was a great opportunity to bond.

 

[Rebjane]

The gate is a good idea, we took down a safety gate a while ago, looks like I'll have to scrounge in the basement for it. the kids are not going to like a puupy chewing on their stuffed animals, toys, etc. maybe it will be a good incentive for them to pick up their stuff and keep it in their room.

 

[Rebjane]

The gate is a good idea, we took down a safety gate a while ago, looks like I'll have to scrounge in the basement for it. the kids are not going to like a puupy chewing on their stuffed animals, toys, etc. maybe it will be a good incentive for them to pick up their stuff and keep it in their room.

 

[Rebjane]

The gate is a good idea, we took down a safety gate a while ago, looks like I'll have to scrounge in the basement for it. the kids are not going to like a puupy chewing on their stuffed animals, toys, etc. maybe it will be a good incentive for them to pick up their stuff and keep it in their room.

 

[Breezy]

We have 3 dogs and 2 cats, it can be done!!!! lol. It just takes patients and dedication, and if you get your kids involved in the training, make it out to be a fun thing, it will help out a lot!!!

 

[Breezy]

We have 3 dogs and 2 cats, it can be done!!!! lol. It just takes patients and dedication, and if you get your kids involved in the training, make it out to be a fun thing, it will help out a lot!!!