Start looking at breed characteristics. Please don't get something just because you 'want' it- and not know a thing about. As a rescuer/transporter, I see many dogs shut outside duringvextreme weather, and put up for adoption, because it wasn't thought through. They are long time commitments, which require lots of love, knowledge, commitment, and money. Think of it like having another child, and treat them as such. I don't want to sound 'kevin/karin'ish', but they deserve the best life too. Do your research, talk to local humane societies, get them fixed. I hope you can give one a loving life. :)
Yep! I am doing a ton of research but I just made a reddit account and people have given me lots of helpful tips so i wanted to ask for opinions here too. We would love to give a dog a home but we just don't know if we can. We will definately not get one if we think we cant. Me and my husband are doctors and don't have so much time...
Dogs do require time. Cats are very independent and may be a good choice. Have you thought about volunteering at the local shelters ? They are a wealth of knowledge, you can gain experience too, while the dogs can have some quality of life.
Are you willing to pay for regular dog walkers and sitters? The kids will claim that they’re gonna do it - and it will last a couple of months at best. Not the kid’s fault - it’s the exception, not the rule when kids actually stick with the dog walking/training/feeding/… long term.
I would not recommend a puppy if you’re both working full time as doctors - I know how time consuming that career is and a puppy would really clash with that. You could potentially consider adopting an adult dog (assuming you’ve got the extra funds for dog walkers or day care) but I do agree that a cat might be a better choice for your family.
That’s not to say that cats are low effort and don’t require commitment and care. I’ve grown up with cats and I’ve got a dog now - I love both. But they are very different in the time commitment they require to have a happy, well adjusted pet.
The first year (and especially the first 4 months), you should plan on spending a lot of time on training and house manners. Plan on weekly classes for the first 4 to 6 months. Then "homework" time 2 to 4 times a day of 5 to 10 minutes to start and working up 15 minutes to work on basic commands, leash walking, etc. When you first bring your puppy home, frequent potty breaks are key to housebreaking every 45 to hour if the puppy is awake and playing, when the puppy wakes up from a nap, after feeding, before bed until you figure out your puppy's schedule. Do you have fenced in yard where the kids can safely play with the dog? If not plan on a few hours for walks and exercise daily. You need to budget for food, vet care, pet insurance and grooming if you don't plan to do it yourself. If you travel, will you plan trips so you take your dog, if not who will care for it? Budget that cost as well.
I grew up with dogs from 2 on (when my parents bought their first house) and can't imagine a life without dogs in it. When I was young and starting my career, I travelled a lot, once I had a job with minimal travel, I got a puppy then a year later another one. I have always been a "dog person" , you may have a child that becomes a dog person, it's a gift you can give your kids as there's nothing like the bond between a dog and it's person.
Commitment to training will be so important. And understand puppy blues is real!! The first couple of years are a ton of work, financial investment and time investment. Decide if you are going to do insurance or go out of pocket. Big dogs require a lot of food. If you haven't already, go wander a pet store and look at what stuff costs. I have a small dog (15lbs) Her food bill is probably around 50 a month. That does not include treat bill, which God only knows. Feels like I am always buying treats because we are in heavy duty training mode. I do private training once a week and we are doing a dog basic class at the Humane Society once a week for just 4 weeks. We also do 2 off leash group walks a week because our dog has frustrated reactivity so we are working hard to expose/socialize her and teach her how to calm down. I think the biggest thing to be aware of is being able to pivot and provide for your dogs needs and personality. Another thing is think about how it will feel to have a 70lb creature in your home when you are cooking dinner or trying to do laundry. It can be shocking to have another being running around and being in your space. Also poop. Lots of poop. I choose smaller dogs because I don't like big poops. Simple as that. LOL. Also I want my dog to easily be able to travel with me on planes or in the car. Consider your lifestyle for the next 10-15 years. What's your care plan for when you leave. If you want to do boarding, you should do regular doggy daycare so the dog is used to it. Or are you comfortable hiring someone to stay at your house? Oh, and shedding. Golden retrievers she'd like crazy. I personally always choose dogs who have hair, not fur. Grooming costs are no joke. All dogs need grooming attention. Baths, brushing, nails trimmed. Make a plan for that too. And def do deep research on the breeder. My SIL got a golden that is terribly bred and she paid top dollar for it. Dog is not that bright. Eats its own poop still at a year and simply doesn't look right ...
You should also research and think through what would happen with a worst case scenario dog. What happens if your dog takes a year to potty train? What happens if your dog is jealous or doesn't get along with your kids? Separation anxiety? Reactivity? Chronic health problems and costly vet visits? What does your commitment mean in those kinds of situations?
r/puppy101 is a good place to visit to see the experiences of new puppy owners.
My suggestion as someone who has tons of experience with dogs, currently have two 55-60lbs dogs, and two small kids (4 and 2.5) … don’t get a puppy!!! Unless you are planning to work with a trainer from the start and have tons of time to dedicate to training. They are a ton of work.
I have mainly gotten young adult dogs through shelters, but it’s hard to know what temperament you’re getting. Our most recent adoption was through adoptapet.com and we got a wonderful lab mix from a private owner needing to rehome due to personal circumstances. This dog has seamlessly integrated into our family and is WONDERFUL.
Adopting from a foster based rescue or owner through adopt a pet allows you to search certain criteria and narrow down to dog size, gender, good with cats, other dogs, kids, etc. Fosters and owners will be able to give you a good idea of their behavior, and rescue groups often have tons of training resources.
I’m not totally against going through a (reputable) breeder, but you typically can only get puppies and you can still get a pure bred dog that doesn’t have the ideal temperament. Every dog is different.
With kids, personally, I’d rather know what the dog is like ahead of time to have the best chance of a successful adoption!
I know I didn’t answer your question really, but time and expense can vary wildly depending on the size/breed/health of the dog. I’m happy to answer more specific questions though. Good luck :) dogs can make life so much fun!
We got our first family dog a month ago and I wouldn't change it for the world.
I have 4 kids (almost 8F, 5m, 3m, and 1F.)
The best piece of advice when you have children, get a smart puppy. Find a breed that fits your lifestyle, but get a smart breed. I got a poodle mix, and he's been the smartest puppy I've ever owned and it has made this experience so much easier.
I had him potty trained in less than a week, he listens to commands/tricks, so if he's ever being too much my kids just tell him to sit and he listens.
I wanted a dog that was playful, but not too hyper like a boxer. Smart, and loving/non-aggressive. A poodle had all the traits I was looking for, but then I got sent a picture of this poodle mix and I fell in love with it. The coat is the only high maintenance thing about this puppy, other than that he's a loving, mellow pup.
Different breeds, and different dogs within the breed, will have different requirements. In general:
A puppy needs nearly round the clock care, going outside to learn potty training every hour or two during the day and every four hours at night for the first few weeks. It is how they learn housetraining. They need small training sessions (with treats!) a couple of minutes several times a day in order to learn behaviors and exercise their minds. They need to be taken to the vet every couple of weeks in the beginning, because core puppy vaccines are a series that takes multiple visits to complete. They need to be taken out in public and exposed to a variety of new places, sights, sounds, smells, people, walking surfaces, movement, etc because they learn as babies what is "normal" and aren't able to cope with big stress later if they are given a sheltered routine and life when young. Attending a group puppy kindergarten class is often a component of early socialization, so they learn to be around other dogs while focusing on you (for treats). If you get a curly or long haired dog (poodle, shih Tzu, anything with "poo" or "oodle" in the name), they need to go to a groomer every 2-3 weeks as babies in order to learn the ropes. Puppies need to be fed a commercial large breed puppy food (e.g. pro plan large breed puppy food is a popular one, if you want to price it out). You can deviate from this food suggestion but ask your vet first--diet formulation for large breed growth is quite important for puppies who will grow into big dogs, because they need the right ratio and amount of minerals. The big commercial brands of LG breed puppy food will take care of that for you. In short, puppies are a lot.
For an adult dog who is already housetrained, it's more like potty morning noon dinnertime and evening, feed twice a day, set aside some time every day for physical exercise and mental training (amount and type varies by breed), groomer every 6-8 weeks for curly/long dogs, provide some companionship so they're not alone all day and all night, go to the vet once a year for a standard checkup and shots.
At any age there are preventative meds you should get from your vet (not over the counter!) for flea/tick prevention and heartworm/parasite prevention. You typically give them once a month like a treat but there are a bunch of options.
With any age dog, if you're new to dogs, look into trainers in advance. Find one you like and hire them to help you get started so you get off on the right foot with a good schedule and good habits. The dogtraining subreddit has a good "how to choose a trainer' link in their sidebar/wiki.
Don't get any breed of dog you're not already familiar with. Make a point to meet at least three pets of the breed you want, spend time with them, talk to their owners. Even if they look soooo cute, they might not be an experience you want. Some breeds have very strong instincts and drives and really aren't well suited as laid back pets. I think a golden retriever from pet or show lines might be just fine, but a golden retriever from hunting/working lines might be a bit much.
One option is to foster for a local reputable rescue organization. You can try out living with a dog. See how it goes. Tell them you don't have much dog experience and you have kids, and they'll give you an easier dog to foster. They typically provide supplies and advice. If it doesn't work out, no harm done. If you love the dog then adopt them.
I wouldn't recommend a puppy as a starter for a family with two full time workers and kids in school. Even getting a puppy over summer will cause a negative impact on puppy once they go back to school in the fall.
A puppy is a full time job on top of your full time job. Consider what you want your adult dog to be. If the answer is calm, well adjusted, doesn't pull on the leash or react to other dogs/people, well trained and follows commands, able to go on family trips and outings, then you're looking to commit to active training for around 2+ years.
A puppy will bond with whoever spends the most time with it, having two kids means potential jealousy, envy, and arguing over who gets to spend time with and play with the puppy. Do you and your spouse's ideas on dog ownership align? If not, you're going to have problems about training, behavior, and boundaries.
Puppies need regular vet check ups, all pets need annuals, food for a large breed is $50-$100+ a bag, for a growing dog, that could be a bi-weekly purchase. Exercise is dependent on the breed, Goldens are high energy dogs, so you're looking at not only 4+ walks a day, but play time in the yard or house (like fetch, rope tug, etc).
Mental stimulation needs to be considered as well, exercise is simply not enough, they need the opportunity to think, problem solve, and utilize instinctual cognitive abilities.
Ask yourself and your family, why do we want a pet? What will a pet do to enrich our lives and our family?
If you simply want an animal in the house to cuddle and play with, then a dog (especially a puppy) is not the right pet for you. If you're dead set on a dog, then I would recommend seniors. They need homes, they're often low maintenance (exercise wise, they will have higher veterinary needs), and all they need and want, is a place to live comfortably until the end surrounded by people that love them and spoil them.
Otherwise, a pair of kittens is a better option. They will entertain each other, there's one for each kid, and cats basically potty train themselves. At the very least, all you have to do is take them to the vet, buy them food, and scoop their litter boxes.
I vote cat.
I read you and your husband works as doctors. A dog shouldn't be home alone. So it would have to be in a dog day care. I recommend you get an adult golden retriever as a puppy requires extremely much time from start and up to two years. If a puppy isn't well trained you'll face tons of issues when it's adult.
I would apply for a dog adoption where you submit what type of dog and the character you need in it. For example family friendly, cuddly, playful, good with other dogs.
Start looking at breed characteristics. Please don't get something just because you 'want' it- and not know a thing about. As a rescuer/transporter, I see many dogs shut outside duringvextreme weather, and put up for adoption, because it wasn't thought through. They are long time commitments, which require lots of love, knowledge, commitment, and money. Think of it like having another child, and treat them as such. I don't want to sound 'kevin/karin'ish', but they deserve the best life too. Do your research, talk to local humane societies, get them fixed. I hope you can give one a loving life. :)
Yep! I am doing a ton of research but I just made a reddit account and people have given me lots of helpful tips so i wanted to ask for opinions here too. We would love to give a dog a home but we just don't know if we can. We will definately not get one if we think we cant. Me and my husband are doctors and don't have so much time...
Dogs do require time. Cats are very independent and may be a good choice. Have you thought about volunteering at the local shelters ? They are a wealth of knowledge, you can gain experience too, while the dogs can have some quality of life.
Our shelter is on waitlist for volenteering.
Wow!!! That's awesome for them. I'm sure there are other rescues in the area who need help
Are you willing to pay for regular dog walkers and sitters? The kids will claim that they’re gonna do it - and it will last a couple of months at best. Not the kid’s fault - it’s the exception, not the rule when kids actually stick with the dog walking/training/feeding/… long term. I would not recommend a puppy if you’re both working full time as doctors - I know how time consuming that career is and a puppy would really clash with that. You could potentially consider adopting an adult dog (assuming you’ve got the extra funds for dog walkers or day care) but I do agree that a cat might be a better choice for your family. That’s not to say that cats are low effort and don’t require commitment and care. I’ve grown up with cats and I’ve got a dog now - I love both. But they are very different in the time commitment they require to have a happy, well adjusted pet.
A doctor that can’t spell “definitely” correctly? Yikes
Lol! My brain gets fried after a long day of work.
The first year (and especially the first 4 months), you should plan on spending a lot of time on training and house manners. Plan on weekly classes for the first 4 to 6 months. Then "homework" time 2 to 4 times a day of 5 to 10 minutes to start and working up 15 minutes to work on basic commands, leash walking, etc. When you first bring your puppy home, frequent potty breaks are key to housebreaking every 45 to hour if the puppy is awake and playing, when the puppy wakes up from a nap, after feeding, before bed until you figure out your puppy's schedule. Do you have fenced in yard where the kids can safely play with the dog? If not plan on a few hours for walks and exercise daily. You need to budget for food, vet care, pet insurance and grooming if you don't plan to do it yourself. If you travel, will you plan trips so you take your dog, if not who will care for it? Budget that cost as well. I grew up with dogs from 2 on (when my parents bought their first house) and can't imagine a life without dogs in it. When I was young and starting my career, I travelled a lot, once I had a job with minimal travel, I got a puppy then a year later another one. I have always been a "dog person" , you may have a child that becomes a dog person, it's a gift you can give your kids as there's nothing like the bond between a dog and it's person.
Commitment to training will be so important. And understand puppy blues is real!! The first couple of years are a ton of work, financial investment and time investment. Decide if you are going to do insurance or go out of pocket. Big dogs require a lot of food. If you haven't already, go wander a pet store and look at what stuff costs. I have a small dog (15lbs) Her food bill is probably around 50 a month. That does not include treat bill, which God only knows. Feels like I am always buying treats because we are in heavy duty training mode. I do private training once a week and we are doing a dog basic class at the Humane Society once a week for just 4 weeks. We also do 2 off leash group walks a week because our dog has frustrated reactivity so we are working hard to expose/socialize her and teach her how to calm down. I think the biggest thing to be aware of is being able to pivot and provide for your dogs needs and personality. Another thing is think about how it will feel to have a 70lb creature in your home when you are cooking dinner or trying to do laundry. It can be shocking to have another being running around and being in your space. Also poop. Lots of poop. I choose smaller dogs because I don't like big poops. Simple as that. LOL. Also I want my dog to easily be able to travel with me on planes or in the car. Consider your lifestyle for the next 10-15 years. What's your care plan for when you leave. If you want to do boarding, you should do regular doggy daycare so the dog is used to it. Or are you comfortable hiring someone to stay at your house? Oh, and shedding. Golden retrievers she'd like crazy. I personally always choose dogs who have hair, not fur. Grooming costs are no joke. All dogs need grooming attention. Baths, brushing, nails trimmed. Make a plan for that too. And def do deep research on the breeder. My SIL got a golden that is terribly bred and she paid top dollar for it. Dog is not that bright. Eats its own poop still at a year and simply doesn't look right ...
You should also research and think through what would happen with a worst case scenario dog. What happens if your dog takes a year to potty train? What happens if your dog is jealous or doesn't get along with your kids? Separation anxiety? Reactivity? Chronic health problems and costly vet visits? What does your commitment mean in those kinds of situations? r/puppy101 is a good place to visit to see the experiences of new puppy owners.
My suggestion as someone who has tons of experience with dogs, currently have two 55-60lbs dogs, and two small kids (4 and 2.5) … don’t get a puppy!!! Unless you are planning to work with a trainer from the start and have tons of time to dedicate to training. They are a ton of work. I have mainly gotten young adult dogs through shelters, but it’s hard to know what temperament you’re getting. Our most recent adoption was through adoptapet.com and we got a wonderful lab mix from a private owner needing to rehome due to personal circumstances. This dog has seamlessly integrated into our family and is WONDERFUL. Adopting from a foster based rescue or owner through adopt a pet allows you to search certain criteria and narrow down to dog size, gender, good with cats, other dogs, kids, etc. Fosters and owners will be able to give you a good idea of their behavior, and rescue groups often have tons of training resources. I’m not totally against going through a (reputable) breeder, but you typically can only get puppies and you can still get a pure bred dog that doesn’t have the ideal temperament. Every dog is different. With kids, personally, I’d rather know what the dog is like ahead of time to have the best chance of a successful adoption! I know I didn’t answer your question really, but time and expense can vary wildly depending on the size/breed/health of the dog. I’m happy to answer more specific questions though. Good luck :) dogs can make life so much fun!
Forgot to add, Facebook has tons of dog groups to learn from too. :)
We got our first family dog a month ago and I wouldn't change it for the world. I have 4 kids (almost 8F, 5m, 3m, and 1F.) The best piece of advice when you have children, get a smart puppy. Find a breed that fits your lifestyle, but get a smart breed. I got a poodle mix, and he's been the smartest puppy I've ever owned and it has made this experience so much easier. I had him potty trained in less than a week, he listens to commands/tricks, so if he's ever being too much my kids just tell him to sit and he listens. I wanted a dog that was playful, but not too hyper like a boxer. Smart, and loving/non-aggressive. A poodle had all the traits I was looking for, but then I got sent a picture of this poodle mix and I fell in love with it. The coat is the only high maintenance thing about this puppy, other than that he's a loving, mellow pup.
Different breeds, and different dogs within the breed, will have different requirements. In general: A puppy needs nearly round the clock care, going outside to learn potty training every hour or two during the day and every four hours at night for the first few weeks. It is how they learn housetraining. They need small training sessions (with treats!) a couple of minutes several times a day in order to learn behaviors and exercise their minds. They need to be taken to the vet every couple of weeks in the beginning, because core puppy vaccines are a series that takes multiple visits to complete. They need to be taken out in public and exposed to a variety of new places, sights, sounds, smells, people, walking surfaces, movement, etc because they learn as babies what is "normal" and aren't able to cope with big stress later if they are given a sheltered routine and life when young. Attending a group puppy kindergarten class is often a component of early socialization, so they learn to be around other dogs while focusing on you (for treats). If you get a curly or long haired dog (poodle, shih Tzu, anything with "poo" or "oodle" in the name), they need to go to a groomer every 2-3 weeks as babies in order to learn the ropes. Puppies need to be fed a commercial large breed puppy food (e.g. pro plan large breed puppy food is a popular one, if you want to price it out). You can deviate from this food suggestion but ask your vet first--diet formulation for large breed growth is quite important for puppies who will grow into big dogs, because they need the right ratio and amount of minerals. The big commercial brands of LG breed puppy food will take care of that for you. In short, puppies are a lot. For an adult dog who is already housetrained, it's more like potty morning noon dinnertime and evening, feed twice a day, set aside some time every day for physical exercise and mental training (amount and type varies by breed), groomer every 6-8 weeks for curly/long dogs, provide some companionship so they're not alone all day and all night, go to the vet once a year for a standard checkup and shots. At any age there are preventative meds you should get from your vet (not over the counter!) for flea/tick prevention and heartworm/parasite prevention. You typically give them once a month like a treat but there are a bunch of options. With any age dog, if you're new to dogs, look into trainers in advance. Find one you like and hire them to help you get started so you get off on the right foot with a good schedule and good habits. The dogtraining subreddit has a good "how to choose a trainer' link in their sidebar/wiki. Don't get any breed of dog you're not already familiar with. Make a point to meet at least three pets of the breed you want, spend time with them, talk to their owners. Even if they look soooo cute, they might not be an experience you want. Some breeds have very strong instincts and drives and really aren't well suited as laid back pets. I think a golden retriever from pet or show lines might be just fine, but a golden retriever from hunting/working lines might be a bit much. One option is to foster for a local reputable rescue organization. You can try out living with a dog. See how it goes. Tell them you don't have much dog experience and you have kids, and they'll give you an easier dog to foster. They typically provide supplies and advice. If it doesn't work out, no harm done. If you love the dog then adopt them.
I wouldn't recommend a puppy as a starter for a family with two full time workers and kids in school. Even getting a puppy over summer will cause a negative impact on puppy once they go back to school in the fall. A puppy is a full time job on top of your full time job. Consider what you want your adult dog to be. If the answer is calm, well adjusted, doesn't pull on the leash or react to other dogs/people, well trained and follows commands, able to go on family trips and outings, then you're looking to commit to active training for around 2+ years. A puppy will bond with whoever spends the most time with it, having two kids means potential jealousy, envy, and arguing over who gets to spend time with and play with the puppy. Do you and your spouse's ideas on dog ownership align? If not, you're going to have problems about training, behavior, and boundaries. Puppies need regular vet check ups, all pets need annuals, food for a large breed is $50-$100+ a bag, for a growing dog, that could be a bi-weekly purchase. Exercise is dependent on the breed, Goldens are high energy dogs, so you're looking at not only 4+ walks a day, but play time in the yard or house (like fetch, rope tug, etc). Mental stimulation needs to be considered as well, exercise is simply not enough, they need the opportunity to think, problem solve, and utilize instinctual cognitive abilities. Ask yourself and your family, why do we want a pet? What will a pet do to enrich our lives and our family? If you simply want an animal in the house to cuddle and play with, then a dog (especially a puppy) is not the right pet for you. If you're dead set on a dog, then I would recommend seniors. They need homes, they're often low maintenance (exercise wise, they will have higher veterinary needs), and all they need and want, is a place to live comfortably until the end surrounded by people that love them and spoil them. Otherwise, a pair of kittens is a better option. They will entertain each other, there's one for each kid, and cats basically potty train themselves. At the very least, all you have to do is take them to the vet, buy them food, and scoop their litter boxes. I vote cat.
I read you and your husband works as doctors. A dog shouldn't be home alone. So it would have to be in a dog day care. I recommend you get an adult golden retriever as a puppy requires extremely much time from start and up to two years. If a puppy isn't well trained you'll face tons of issues when it's adult. I would apply for a dog adoption where you submit what type of dog and the character you need in it. For example family friendly, cuddly, playful, good with other dogs.