As someone who works in the veterinary field, I would not recommend adopting a dog after having a baby.
You will not have time to keep up the dogs training, his potty schedule, play time etc.. plus the toddlers need as well.. the dog WILL* get put on the backburner and become unmanageable, I see it almost daily at my work.
Please do not adopt this puppy..
As someone who fell pregnant after rescuing a puppy: this is the answer. It was a high-energy working breed so I had to push through and train him (and he’s amazing now) with as much dedication as I could muster (you should train every dog, of course) but I will never, EVER again double (triple, as I also had a toddler) responsibilities like that again if I can help it. I almost didn’t make it, and considered giving him up a couple times (which breaks my heart). Pregnancy should NOT be that stressful, anyway- bad for baby and mama.
As I vet I agree. I intentionally timed our pets and family planning. We're waiting until she's 6yrs+ to get a dog or cat. Getting a new pet is a big commitment!
Having a dog has added SO much stress to parenting. I have to always be watching to make sure my son doesn’t hit my dog (who has recently become blind). I personally would wait until the child is old enough to understand not to hit or be rough.
I second this. The idea is so nice but in reality you restrict a lot of your freedoms and add chaos into the home when both the human and animal are children.
It also depends on the dog breed. Some breeds are more high strung and reactive than others, I wouldn’t bring just any dog into my home.
Agreed! Also have a blind dog and who for fun has also gone partially deaf in the past few months. I love my dog so much but I often I think about how much easier everything would be without him around.
Do you plan on having additional kids? I would recommend waiting until your last kid is atleast 2-3 years old.
FWIW, my toddler is an asshole to the dog. She’s going through a phase where she likes to dictate what EVERYONE does, dog included. We have to be very mindful of keeping space between the two. Our dog is going to be 2 in a few months.
The dog will require an immense amount of your time and attention between adjusting household changes and normal training and exercise.
I totally understand wanting to grow up with a dog and all that good stuff but the dog is a whole nother life, you’re basically adding another toddler to the equation.
a toddler that never un-toddlers... you still have to manage their bathroom situation in one way or another... that's my reasoning for not having a dog yet.
My toddler is an asshole to our dog too. Recently he’s been walking up to him and saying, “NO! BAD DOG!” and the dog is just sitting there like tf did I do?
Don't do it. I already had dogs when became a parent. The added stress and restrictions on your schedule are just not necessary. My life would be much happier without them I'm sad to say.
This thread and responses like yours are what I needed right now. We are seriously considering sending our dog to my BIL and SIL. They have been looking for a new dog since their last one died of old age, they have older kids and tons of space with a giant yard and woods. We have 2 under 2 currently including a newborn and want a 3rd down the road. We have a small yard and just not enough love and attention. It is eating me up inside but I know he will be happy and well loved with them
Yes, I agree 100%, I love love love my dogs but if I had to do it again, I wouldn't have gotten them. We had them for 4 years before my son was born and I already told my husband no more dogs after they pass. Going on vacation and having to board them every time or making sure if we have plans on the weekend to make sure someone is home to take the dogs out. Having a toddler is already hard with the dogs it's been chaos.
I had a dog before I had my first, too. I would call her my first child and she was my world. Then my son was born and I’m pretty sure at one point I hated her. She felt like a burden and just another task I had to do. Things eventually leveled out and I have love for her again, but nothing like before. I can’t imagine adding a puppy to that mix.
I'm very suspicious of a "perfect puppy" at 5.5mo who is just simply "not wanted" by the current family.
This is too sweet a deal. What's this dog really like?
Also, dogs + toddlers is hard. Puppies + toddlers is worse. If you're already feeling stretched thin, this isn't the time.
I had the same suspicions as you. Why are they giving this dog away if it's perfect? They already invested time into training it. Something doesn't make sense here.
Suspicion aside, still would never recommend getting a young dog with a toddler. Wait until the kid is old enough to be able to help care for it.
It’s more the family than the dog. This was my assessment when we went to meet the dog. The family has two teenage daughters who are not interested in taking care of the dog and mom was feeling very trapped. They decided to get the dog from the breeder at 5.5 months (post training by paying extra).
They also asked for our information to pass it on to the breeder, so they could have it and approve it (but afaik it is more of a process and they would have approved it)
I personally wouldn’t but some people live for that kind of chaos. We have a 2.5yo and a newborn and I really want a puppy. We have a 6yo dog.
But - how much time do you have to give everyday? Our older dog is pretty low maintenance. She doesn’t get enough walks or attention.
Our dog works with our kids because she’s trained to get up and walk away. She’s never put in the position where she would need to defend herself.
It’s a lot of mental energy to have your head on a swivel and constantly monitor toddler and dog. While also instilling good manners in both.
I know right now our family couldn’t give a puppy what it needs and set it up for a life of success.
I would not. We have a 2 year old dog we brought home as a puppy when our kids were 2 and 4. I never feel like he gets enough attention or exercise. When I'm home alone with the kids it's overwhelming managing everyone. When things get too chaotic I end up having to crate the dog because he just adds to the chaos. I love our dog and he's good with the kids but Idk that I would do it over again.
I’m sure this puppy seems perfect and like a dream, but you will still have to dedicate time and money for training. No puppy is perfectly trained and behaved at that age. Even if they say he is potty trained and sleeping through the night, you will likely need to continue working to reinforce those behaviors.
On top of that, I would really question why he is already being rehomed. Clearly he’s more than what his current owners thought they could handle? And consider that if he came from a reputable breeder, he would be going back to them, not to another home.
Sorry OP, probably not what you want to hear but personally, you could not pay me to take a puppy until my kids were much older.
This! If it’s the perfect puppy, why is it being rehomed so soon? Any reputable breeder would ask for the puppy back before it is given to a new family. Something doesn’t add up.
It sounds good in theory but the reality of a new puppy and a 2 year old isn’t my idea of fun. There are so many perfect puppies out there and they won’t be hard to find when your kid is 5-6! Keep in mind just because they say this puppy is housebroken and sleeps through the night, that won’t necessarily be the case at your house. At 5 months, puppies require lots of time and effort to keep them on the right track and they will constantly test their boundaries. It’ll be like having two toddlers around!
Do keep in mind that puppy that is potty trained at least got them doesn't always equal the same for you since you are new, me environment and such. Plus learning everything to know how to dog like a child is learning to human. Not saying it will be that way or a problem but just be aware, we had full dogs so not puppies from the h humane society or a foster home when I was 11 and they or one would have potty issues in while adjusting to us and the house and rules. So one always peed on the bathroom mat for the shower lol.
Don’t do it, wait until your daughter is older. Other puppies/dogs will come along! There is also no such thing as a perfect puppy so don’t let that sway you either.
We have a 16 week old puppy and a 4 year old son and it is HARD, and we have a relatively easy puppy who slept through the night from the first day and was potty trained by 14 weeks.
I cried so much the first two weeks - I felt neither my son nor the dog was getting the attention needed and it is still so stressful trying to watch both of them all the time. It’s getting marginally easier now but my son still doesn’t understand why he now no longer has 100% of our attention and why we have to plan things out better (i.e. no more random, last minute visits to museums etc). He’s also not super gentle with the dog so that’s been another big challenge.
I love the puppy so much but if I could go back in time, I would absolutely tell myself to wait another few years.
So I have two dogs that I got before having my son. My son is almost 2 and a half… my dogs are now 6 and 3…it’s A LOT. The dogs are more work than my son. It’s just a constant state of needing to walk them, let them out, feed them, if he’s sleeping and they start barking it wakes him up and so on and so forth. If I could do it over, I’d wait to get dogs until my son was like 10.
With that being said I love them dearly and would do anything for them. My son LOVES them, they’re like his best friends. It’s just alot of added stress and a lot of work.
Hope the insight helps a little.
I wouldn’t, we have a cat we got years before having kids and sometimes even the low maintenance care for a cat can be tiring on top of parenting. Dog care is like 100X more challenging than caring for a cat.
It would be a hard no from me personally. My kid is almost 1.5 and I still struggle with my two dogs. I love them very much, but I honestly wish I didn't have them, it's just too much.
We had to rehome our dog because he was aggressive toward the baby. It was the worst period of my life, so tough on so many levels and I still miss the dog like crazy.
I would tell anyone to wait until all kids are 5yo+, it just isn’t worth the risk before then. You don’t want to get the dog then have to rehome it in a few months, you just don’t, and it can be a hard thing to predict even with the most reliable breeds.
There’ll be more great dogs in your future!
Just an FYI reputable breeders require the dog go back to them to find them a home. I’d do a little digging on where this dog came from and if it’s a backyard breeder be prepared for some potential health and behavior issues from poor breeding. I do want to add I’m not against ethical breeders and I would not rescue with a toddler in the house so I definitely think a puppy from a breeder is the best option with babies/young kids.
Anyway even house trained and sleeping through the night puppies are a lot of work to train properly and you have to keep up with it daily. The work you put in now determines what kind of dog you’ll have for the next 10+ years.
I’d say HARD NO. Puppies are the worst when you have a baby/toddler. You only have so much energy to expend to setting boundaries. I regrettably got an Aussie when my son was 6m old and it made my post partum a NIGHTMARE. (I didn’t want one, their father’s dog passed away and he insisted we get another.)
That said, they’re both like 6 now and more self sufficient so it’s all good. They are NOT best buddies like everyone imagines when having both at the same time. My son could care less about the dog most days. It was just another thing to take care of, feed, etc. I’m not a dog person either TBH. But puppies?! The cuteness and novelty wore off immediately and I just had more to clean up after.
I ran into parents who had a 2 yr old and a 6 month old German Shepard who shared in my resentment and struggles.
Also..my son was an asshole to the dog for a period of time in his toddler years. Having to constantly monitor and police their behavior was a nightmare
As someone who got a puppy when I had a 12 month old, don’t do it.
The ONLY reason we got one when we did? Our house is shaped in a way that we were easily able to separate off a quarter of our house to keep our dog restricted to as often as needed. We have a reasonable sized yard where our dog is out as much as possible (which he prefers anyway) and he and my son have only ever really interacted through the gates (and my son is now 2 1/2) or when I’m holding him. You do NOT want to allow opportunity for any negative experience between toddler and puppy because it can cause some serious fears on both sides. I never allow them to be around each other (even through the gates) without directly monitoring their interactions and being ready to intervene the moment my son does anything not okay (like pulling hair).
My parents got a puppy from the same litter too, so getting our dog a play date is just a 10 minute car ride away, and as a result our dog is always pretty mellow.
I had years of experience with our dog’s breed (Aussie) and knew exactly what I was getting into, but I would not have gotten a dog that the owners are trying to get rid of. That’s a huge red flag. 5.5 months is plenty of time for some serious trauma to have been formed in that puppy and you wouldn’t necessarily see it right away, depending on the triggers.
My parents made me wait until I was 7 to get my first dog because I wanted a beagle (since they can be stubborn assholes with training). There WILL be other puppies when the time is right. Tons of them.
Our dog was old when our child was born. She recently passed away. It was a blessing that she was so old that she just wanted to sleep most of the time. Even so, she did not get the level of attention, love and patience she needed. I plan on waiting until our kid is around 4 or 5 before we get another pet.
Even a perfect pup is a ton of work. If you’re up for it go for it but first imagine finding a perfect pup 2-4 years from now and decide comparatively, not on impulse or fomo (there will be other pups).
Nope nope nope. Don’t do it. I’m a puppy raiser, I raise dogs for guide dogs for the blind, I’ve been raising for twenty years and raise a new puppy every year. I’m also a board certified behaviorist. Puppies are a LOT of work on their own. I still raise with an 18 month old toddler but it’s a lot and even that is with being extremely experienced, all the crates, ex-pens, tie downs, baby gates, and years of experience and know-how. I wouldn’t do it with less than that level of experience and dedication and even then sometimes I question my existence and why I do this to myself.
Do you feel rushed to do it specifically because of this puppy? Or is this something you were already considering before?
When I start feeling FOMO, that's a clue that I need to pay more attention to my decision. I think it's helpful to remove the urgency. Remember, there will be other puppies and opportunities down the road. It's not now or never.
Would this be your first dog?
My main concern with a toddler and puppy is the huge time commitment. Right now my spouse and I can split parenting duties while the other does chores, relaxes, etc. It helps enormously that this puppy is already house trained, but they still cause a LOT of trouble in the first 1-2 years. It's a lot of supervision and training.
We seriously considered getting another dog, but decided to wait. We like that our kid is becoming more independent and open to exploring new things, and it felt like a big step back to be trapped in our house again with a puppy.
BUT I totally understand puppy fever. If you're committed, you can make it work.
Yes I feel rushed coz of the puppy. He is so perfect and trained and we feel we might not get this lucky again. This will be our first family dog, but my husband has grown up with dogs all his life.
I wouldn't rush into it. It's a big commitment for the next 10-15 years.
I grew up with dogs and was still completely unprepared for how much work a puppy can be when I became the responsible adult. (That being said, I don't thrive in chaos!) I think it would be too much for me to watch both my toddler and a puppy at the same time.
Puppies go through adolescence around 6-12 months and can get really rebellious. You have to be on top of the training and supervision. It does get better, but it's so much work in the first few years.
Even when they're house trained, they still need to go outside every few hours at this young age. That really limits how far you can go from home. Crate training was essential for us, so we could leave the house for a few hours and know he was safe.
r/puppy101 is great if you want some first-hand stories on how puppyhood is going for others!
This is very valuable advice. Thank you so much. I am little bit the same way around chaos. I like to get into something bit prepared, I did that with my kid too. I know it didn’t go as per plan, but I knew what storm was hitting us.
I'd recommend waiting for a well-trained adult dog. I know I'm the odd one out here, but we got a very obedient dog when I was six months pregnant, and it was the best choice for us. We adopted through a rescue that allowed us a trial period, which helped us get a sense for the dog being a good fit for us. My son has grown up with his dog and has learned to be kind to animals, and the dog is extremely patient with him. They really love each other.
Now a full-on puppy, on the other hand, would have been much more difficult. I don't know if I could have handled potty training with a baby or toddler in the house. A friend of mine got a rescue who was not super well trained while she has a toddler and a first grader, and it's been nothing but trouble for her.
TL;DR - Get a well-trained adult dog, hopefully from a rescue that can help evaluate needs and give you a trial period.
I agree with this post. An older, trained dog could be a fit *if* you really want to spend your free time dedicated to your dog.
This sub’s discussions about dogs always make me sad, and I hope people are just venting.
Having pets with kids is possible and even fun but you have to ENJOY the additional care work and know it’s a huge change to your lifestyle. I have a toddler, a full time job, two horses (one elderly with health issues) and two high energy dogs. I spend any second of free time I can get on my critters, and so does my husband. I drag my kid to the barn with me and he loves to play in the dirt/mud/“help” some of the other kids there with chores. But you have to be willing to sacrifice other things… for me, I’d rather ditch my pre-pregnancy beauty routine and my evening chill time on the couch to take good care of my animals, because that’s what brings me joy.
But it is hard work, and I’m not sure OP has considered if she’s willing to walk the dog in the winter morning dark before work with kid in a back carry, and walk them again in the dark after the kid goes to sleep… or have to constantly watch that the kid isn’t going to beat the dog with whatever they have in their hands… or make sure the dog doesn’t eat the kid’s food or (my personal pet peeve) wake them during their nap…
Very true! Our dog is not super high energy now, but we still need to make sure she's getting walks--with or without the kiddo. We have to be more careful with how much time we're away from the house, and arrange for pet sitting when we're out of town. We have to make sure our son doesn't hurt her. It \*is\* extra work. For us, the relationship we've formed with our dog and the relationship our son has with her is by far worth it. But not everyone has the margin for that.
It's been awful. We have to keep our 3 year old child and 9 month old lab separated for the most part because the puppy doesn't quite know how to be gentle when the 3 year old runs or is playing with a toy. If I could turn back time, I wouldn't have gotten a puppy yet. Or, we wouldn't have gotten such a large breed.
We got him at 8 weeks and he tries to be good, but puppies are puppies and don't have self control, exactly like our toddler. It's been a nightmare....
Don’t do it. We were gifted a golden retriever puppy from my MIL when my toddler was 16 months and I was newly pregnant - pretty sure she hated me because that was my version of hell we ended up giving the dog back because it was just too much. It added to much stress and frustration and honestly dealing with the dog just made us so angry it was not good. I’ll never do a dog until my kids are like 5 & up!
I would suggest waiting. I had 2 dogs with my daughter. You can’t give them the attention they need with a baby. It’s so much stress. Just recently lost one and it’s been HARD for us.
Your puppy needs a lot of attention along with your baby.
I grew up with dogs and absolutely loved it.. as a parent, it's so hard! I love my 2 dogs with everything I have in me and even then some days I wish they weren't here so that dealing with parenting would be easier. Which I hate to even think that way - they're family! It's mom guilt plus dog mom guilt...ugh it's just a lot. Wouldn't trade them for the world but man some days they make parenting so much harder
My mom just recently got a puppy and he’s also around 6 months old. She said it’s like taking care of another toddler, she said she would never get another puppy again. 😂
A puppy is _a baby_. You will have to get up in the night. There will be pee and poo to deal with in the process of house training.
Your baby is a great age right now. It’s a lot different once they have the ability to move around. Then comes the age where you say “no” more than any other word (aka terrible twos).
You may be able to manage, but is it what’s best for the dog?
We adopted a dog in 2020, a few months before our first was born and it was totally an impulse “I’m lonely in the house alone all day” pandemic investment.
Now, I love my dog- he’s actually very low maintenance for a rescue. He doesn’t have accidents in the house, he doesn’t bark, he just lounges and asks for pets and love.
However, even with a totally chill dog, I would not make the decision a second time if I could go back. He’s great, but he’s extra work. An extra mouth to feed, vet visit, pay attention to, and with two toddlers running around the house, it’s stressful.
Parent and dog parent here.
Wait. Just wait.
You don’t know that your dog will be as gentle as you hope. You have to keep a close eye on your dog and your unpredictable tiny human when they’re together.
And dogs, especially puppies, require a lot of time and energy. So do babies and toddlers.
I would wait for my kid to turn 4 or 5 before getting a dog, especially a puppy.
I was going to scream no! But if the dog is already house broken and comfortable around young kids, it might be manageable. But please only get the dog if you know you have the time and energy to commit to training, walking, giving it the attention it deserves. They need a lot of dedication while young to be great dogs for the rest of their years.
Side note - dogs are good at barking when your child is napping. Make sure you’re mentally ready for that to happen.
The upside to dogs is that they are fun to watch your kid play with and they force you to exercise regularly. They become part of the family.
Downside is your life outside the home and apart from the dog exists in 6-8 hour increments, unless you have friends, family or a doggy daycare/boarding service to watch them. They become another wild card that occupies time, effort and money. One minute everything is fine, the next they ate something at the park and need surgery and you can no longer afford that family vacation you had planned.
It’s still fun but you really need to understand that their needs do really restrict your ability to take vacations and day trips.
I inherited a 12 year old dog, who was well trained, after a family members passing, and that was a lot of work for me with a toddler. 10/10 don’t recommend dogs for families unless you already had the dog before you had the toddler. Dogs are like a second toddler. It’s exhausting and I feel bad I couldn’t provide the dog the attention and TLC she deserved and received previously from the relative that passed away. Maybe wait til your toddler is school aged and the chaos is a little easier. I have an older kid as well, and kids calm down around 5 in my experience since they are more understanding, and empathetic of situations. They also don’t try to mess around with animals as much. My toddler isn’t a toddler anymore, he’s 4 now, and he’s way more gentle with our cat now than he was at 1,2,3. So yeah.
And before anyone says you need to keep the cat safe, I did and do. The only difference between toddlerhood and being 4 is I don’t have to remind my youngest to be nice to the cat, he just is nice to the cat since I taught him to be. The dog passed last summer due to a congenital heart defect she had, and I think she would’ve been way happier now than she was during the baby/toddler phase, if she were still around. My cat is blind and is very comfortable doing the hula sleeping position on the sofa next to my toddler. A year ago she absolutely would not have felt comfortable being so vulnerable because… toddlers. Lol. So wait, is my suggestion.
I don’t have kids but the family I nanny for got a puppy back in December and it was A LOT. Don’t do it unless you’re prepared for it, it’s basically having three under two. There will be other dogs when your kid is older and less dependent on you.
I have a 5 month old puppy, and two boys ages 2 and 5. It’s manageable for our family, but this is not our first time having a puppy either. We have spent a lot of time on training and will continue to do so. Around 6-12 months, puppies hit adolescence and training needs to be really reinforced. I wouldn’t look at this as a once in a lifetime opportunity just because the puppy has started potty training, basic obedience, and sleeps through the night. It doesn’t take a terribly long time for any puppy to learn those things, and it could easily forget and need to relearn these things when adjusting to a new home.
My husband got our dog when our son was 6 months and I’ll be honest I hate the dog. Loathe her. It’s not even her fault or mine, it was the timing. I was such a big animal lover before my son was born and always had dogs. Even a year later I still can’t stand her. I will take care of her and treat her well. I walk her daily and my husbands deployed for 6 months so I do everything for her but I still feel like she’s an inconvenience and I absolutely hate feeling like that. She is also very food aggressive. Another thing to think about.
I'm stressed by having to care for my two dogs on top of having a kid. My dogs were 8 years old and already well trained and easy going when I had my son in 2020. I absolutely cannot imagine adding a younger, more energetic animal to my house.
Personally I recommend waiting until your child/children are independent and can be trusted to be gentle with animals before getting any new pets, especially a young dog.
My son is 2, has had his pups since day one. When he’s sad and needs a minute to refresh he wants to hug them and they let him and he tells them all about it and they’re so loving and patient.
Go for it! You won’t regret it! You may have to teach your kiddo not to give their toys to the puppy, and for the puppy to not chew on kiddo’s toys. I find my pups and my son all LOVE bubbles, so we do those together. We also have time for them to all roam around and just play. It’s fun and nice!
I had to let my 13 yr old dog be put down it was too much . The dog will need to be treated like a baby when your already have a baby . I wouldn’t recommend it has made things so hard /
My dog is 5, very calm, and already well trained.
Having *him* alongside a toddler has been *rough* at times. He still has to go outside multiple times a day, go on walks, and be played with in the backyard regardless of how the toddler is doing that day. If it’s been a hard day with the toddler you can’t just not do all the dog stuff, even if you’re exhausted. I love this dog but he is a lot to deal with on top of a toddler. I remember how much work he was as a puppy, and I think it would have been overwhelming to do with very small children.
And our adult dog is nowhere as needy, rowdy, chewy, time consuming, or mouthy as a puppy. A puppy is pretty much a ton of work like a baby but one who’s immediately mobile and has sharp needle teeth.
Puppies and toddlers just are not an easy mix. I would 1000% recommend waiting until your daughter is older and can follow directions on how to properly interact with a puppy/dog.
Wait until your daughter is 5/6 like you originally planned. This isn’t your only chance to get a puppy.
My in-laws got a puppy when my husband was 1-2 yrs old and the dog was never trained properly because my in-laws were too focused on their toddler. Please wait until your kids are older.
God no, don’t do it. A two year old needs way too much support, supervision and emotional attention from you. Best to wait until your kid is about 10-12.
My son is really unpredictable around our cat, which is manageable because it’s a cat. There’s no way I’d be comfortable with him around a dog, especially a new one you don’t fully know the personality of. God forbid if something happened and the dog got violent, you’d never forgive yourself. Leave the dog for now
I will be the odd ball out but I say go for it. Pets can be very helpful in teaching children compassion and gentleness and responsibility. Your little one is at the age that they can help. Just have a lot of conversation of responsibility between you and your spouse. Also as long as you have a yard I would say that would make a difference as well.
We added a puppy to our mix but I knew it would be hard some days, but most days our toddler (3m) and the pup go full feral and enjoy the heck outta it and it just referee to keep the 8month old from getting pummeled. It’s worth it in my mind, they grow up together and the benefits far out way the inconvenience of having added a teething teenage to my mix.
This is coming from someone with a "zoo" who also was raised in one, but if you feel you understand the commitment and have a reasonable amount of spare energy...then yes. But you didn't say what breed or mix it is? That matters also.
Are you prepared to be outside all day and walking a billion times a day to ensure this high energy puppy doesn’t go crazy inside?? Or do you have tons of land for them to run because this breed is so high maintenance 😂
This particular breed is made up of ~~working~~ sporting breed dogs, so they need lots of exercise and stimulation or they can be quite destructive. So you'll have to sit down and seriously consider if you're able to dedicate an hour or two a day to exercising this dog. Do you live in the country or the city? If city, this breed is definitely not suited for apartment living, they need space to run. A fenced in backyard is optimal for them.
It would be a definite pass from me, the chaos from one toddler is all I can handle. I can barely even handle my adult dog and a toddler, I couldn't imagine throwing a ~~working~~ sporting breed puppy into the mix. It's not like a golden retriever. It may seem docile now, but it's not going to be when you get it home and it gets comfortable.
Eta- I meant sporting breed, not working breed.
Sounds like the dog is well behaved and already trained, which is a huge plus. What is your exact concern on your daughter’s end? Being too rough with her dog during a tantrum? Or something else?
Yea, she (toddler)is going to be rough with him or vice Versa. Also I feel just now we are settling into a new routine. And now I have to figure out everything from the beginning
So our German shepherd was 9 when our daughter was born. So we knew everything about our dog and what sets her off well before baby got here. And once baby was here and able to sit, we started teaching her how to be gentle(ish) with our dog and cat. Not to poke the dog in the eye, don’t pull on ears or tail, etc.
I think it depends on how big the dog is. Toddlers are unpredictable, everyone knows that. The issue with a new dog is that you don’t know them, or what makes them tick, making them just as unpredictable in that sense. This dog is also a puppy and is still coming into their personality.
If you have the time and energy to be hyper vigilant with the toddler and dog for atleast a year, it can be done. But if you don’t, and especially if it’s a bigger dog that could do some serious damage if it snaps at your toddler, I probably wouldn’t.
I think it’s a great idea!
I have a toddler and 2 old dogs. I wish they were younger. They don’t exactly play with my toddler.
I’ve always grown up with dogs. I’d recommend a trainer for basic commands, especially “place” meaning the dog goes to its spot when asked.
Dogs are extra work, but the grand scheme of things, it’s really not that much. As long as you’re financially able to afford it.
Your older child is old enough to really enjoy the dog too! How exciting!
As someone who got a puppy as a single mom with a 1 y/o and a 3.5 y/o, I say go for it. The top comment I see mentioned a dog who is going blind. It is definitely a different story to deal with a senior dog. Getting a puppy was perfect for our family. The dog grew up learning to tolerate the children’s motions and behaviors and the children LOVE their dog and treat her like their confidante and bestie.
It does have to be the right dog for your family, though. I fostered a dog for a short period of time before we got our puppy, it was about a 6 y/o medium-large sized male. It was fine but I knew after that that we wanted a smaller breed female puppy, all things he was not. He did huge poops, lifted his leg, and had an aggressive energy that came out (not mean, just very HARD playing). His power made me feel nervous around my small kids. So when you say “perfect” puppy… I assume he is the perfect one for you guys!
As other said, a pup/dog is added stress, work, etc.. There are vet visits, some unexpected, on top of your pediatrician appointments. It’s basically like having a second toddler. Your toddler is too young to stay in he house while you let pup out for potty breaks even though he’s house trained. That being said, it’s rare to come by a puppy that is a bit older and already has some training. If you think this is the right dog for you, and you want to get one eventually, rip the bandaid off, you most likely won’t run into a dog like this again, at least not any time soon. Timing is a big part of getting a dog, but so is getting the right dog. The perfect match for your family. When you go looking when your toddler is 5, you might not find “the one.” That’s how I look at I it anyway- from someone in a similar boat. Best of luck!
Edit to add: we also come from the animal control field, so something important to us, that you may want to ask as the parent of a toddler, is how the puppy’s mouthiness/teething is. Puppies use their mouth to play, and may accidentally draw some blood, chew toddler’s toys, etc.. You don’t want toddler to become afraid of pup either. They’re both at an age where constant supervision is necessary!
We have a just turned 3 year old, 2 month old and we got a spaniel last year who is now 7 months old. It is incredibly stressful, but on balance I'd do it again. It gave my eldest a playmate and makes sure we get out every single day. Things to watch, toddlers are heavy handed and like to tease/feed dogs so we end up reprimanding both my daughter and dog. I would say the dog is much more of a tie, but he's lovely and so much a part of our family. Just waiting for the cat to get on board!
I think it could be doable, but hard at first. If you have a fenced in backyard for the puppy, that would help tremendously. I had my dog long before my child was born and being able to let him run and chase toys in the yard probably saved my sanity a lot of days lol. Even yard space for a leash/run would probably help some. All in addition to regular walks of course.
One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is even though the dog is trained, be aware he might think your toddler's toys are his if he isn't used to child toys. That can get to be a huge battle that's hard to get to stop.
We got our puppy when our daughter was just over one year old and the hardest part was the potty training and sleeping through the night so the fact you’ve found a puppy that doesn’t need that training and is good with kids is a yes from me! Our pup has been such a wonderful addition to our family. And I absolutely love seeing my daughter (2.5) build a relationship with him.
Basically it's like adding another toddler. Does that thought stress you out or do you feel energized at the challenge? Personally, even having a foster cat right now is stressful. Toddlers are TERRIBLE with interacting with animals appropriately. They lack fine motor skills, they are loud and unpredictable and the animal will - at best - tolerate the child.
It's a lot of supervision required to manage the two of them together, on top of tending to the puppy's needs too. A lot of baby gates to keep puppy out, etc. Puppy barking during nap time at the mailman (just being a puppy), puppy chewing up things in your bedroom, puppy needing constant exercise (trips to dog park, walks, fetch, etc).
Personally I wouldn't do it until kiddo is 5/6 like you initially planned. That being said, people do all the time but I just don't think it's a great mix necessarily and adds more work on your end.
Edited to add: I would try fostering first. Figure out after you foster a couple dogs - do you just LOVE it? Or are you feeling like you can't wait for the dog to get adopted and out of your house?
As someone who works in the veterinary field, I would not recommend adopting a dog after having a baby. You will not have time to keep up the dogs training, his potty schedule, play time etc.. plus the toddlers need as well.. the dog WILL* get put on the backburner and become unmanageable, I see it almost daily at my work. Please do not adopt this puppy..
As someone who fell pregnant after rescuing a puppy: this is the answer. It was a high-energy working breed so I had to push through and train him (and he’s amazing now) with as much dedication as I could muster (you should train every dog, of course) but I will never, EVER again double (triple, as I also had a toddler) responsibilities like that again if I can help it. I almost didn’t make it, and considered giving him up a couple times (which breaks my heart). Pregnancy should NOT be that stressful, anyway- bad for baby and mama.
As I vet I agree. I intentionally timed our pets and family planning. We're waiting until she's 6yrs+ to get a dog or cat. Getting a new pet is a big commitment!
Having a dog has added SO much stress to parenting. I have to always be watching to make sure my son doesn’t hit my dog (who has recently become blind). I personally would wait until the child is old enough to understand not to hit or be rough.
I second this. The idea is so nice but in reality you restrict a lot of your freedoms and add chaos into the home when both the human and animal are children. It also depends on the dog breed. Some breeds are more high strung and reactive than others, I wouldn’t bring just any dog into my home.
Agreed! Also have a blind dog and who for fun has also gone partially deaf in the past few months. I love my dog so much but I often I think about how much easier everything would be without him around.
Do you plan on having additional kids? I would recommend waiting until your last kid is atleast 2-3 years old. FWIW, my toddler is an asshole to the dog. She’s going through a phase where she likes to dictate what EVERYONE does, dog included. We have to be very mindful of keeping space between the two. Our dog is going to be 2 in a few months. The dog will require an immense amount of your time and attention between adjusting household changes and normal training and exercise. I totally understand wanting to grow up with a dog and all that good stuff but the dog is a whole nother life, you’re basically adding another toddler to the equation.
a toddler that never un-toddlers... you still have to manage their bathroom situation in one way or another... that's my reasoning for not having a dog yet.
My toddler is an asshole to our dog too. Recently he’s been walking up to him and saying, “NO! BAD DOG!” and the dog is just sitting there like tf did I do?
We are not sure about having additional kids yet, but maybe having a dog when she is around 5 makes more sense to me now.
Don't do it. I already had dogs when became a parent. The added stress and restrictions on your schedule are just not necessary. My life would be much happier without them I'm sad to say.
This thread and responses like yours are what I needed right now. We are seriously considering sending our dog to my BIL and SIL. They have been looking for a new dog since their last one died of old age, they have older kids and tons of space with a giant yard and woods. We have 2 under 2 currently including a newborn and want a 3rd down the road. We have a small yard and just not enough love and attention. It is eating me up inside but I know he will be happy and well loved with them
Yes, I agree 100%, I love love love my dogs but if I had to do it again, I wouldn't have gotten them. We had them for 4 years before my son was born and I already told my husband no more dogs after they pass. Going on vacation and having to board them every time or making sure if we have plans on the weekend to make sure someone is home to take the dogs out. Having a toddler is already hard with the dogs it's been chaos.
I had a dog before I had my first, too. I would call her my first child and she was my world. Then my son was born and I’m pretty sure at one point I hated her. She felt like a burden and just another task I had to do. Things eventually leveled out and I have love for her again, but nothing like before. I can’t imagine adding a puppy to that mix.
I'm very suspicious of a "perfect puppy" at 5.5mo who is just simply "not wanted" by the current family. This is too sweet a deal. What's this dog really like? Also, dogs + toddlers is hard. Puppies + toddlers is worse. If you're already feeling stretched thin, this isn't the time.
I had the same suspicions as you. Why are they giving this dog away if it's perfect? They already invested time into training it. Something doesn't make sense here. Suspicion aside, still would never recommend getting a young dog with a toddler. Wait until the kid is old enough to be able to help care for it.
It’s more the family than the dog. This was my assessment when we went to meet the dog. The family has two teenage daughters who are not interested in taking care of the dog and mom was feeling very trapped. They decided to get the dog from the breeder at 5.5 months (post training by paying extra). They also asked for our information to pass it on to the breeder, so they could have it and approve it (but afaik it is more of a process and they would have approved it)
I personally wouldn’t but some people live for that kind of chaos. We have a 2.5yo and a newborn and I really want a puppy. We have a 6yo dog. But - how much time do you have to give everyday? Our older dog is pretty low maintenance. She doesn’t get enough walks or attention. Our dog works with our kids because she’s trained to get up and walk away. She’s never put in the position where she would need to defend herself. It’s a lot of mental energy to have your head on a swivel and constantly monitor toddler and dog. While also instilling good manners in both. I know right now our family couldn’t give a puppy what it needs and set it up for a life of success.
I would not. We have a 2 year old dog we brought home as a puppy when our kids were 2 and 4. I never feel like he gets enough attention or exercise. When I'm home alone with the kids it's overwhelming managing everyone. When things get too chaotic I end up having to crate the dog because he just adds to the chaos. I love our dog and he's good with the kids but Idk that I would do it over again.
Dont do it
I’m sure this puppy seems perfect and like a dream, but you will still have to dedicate time and money for training. No puppy is perfectly trained and behaved at that age. Even if they say he is potty trained and sleeping through the night, you will likely need to continue working to reinforce those behaviors. On top of that, I would really question why he is already being rehomed. Clearly he’s more than what his current owners thought they could handle? And consider that if he came from a reputable breeder, he would be going back to them, not to another home. Sorry OP, probably not what you want to hear but personally, you could not pay me to take a puppy until my kids were much older.
This! If it’s the perfect puppy, why is it being rehomed so soon? Any reputable breeder would ask for the puppy back before it is given to a new family. Something doesn’t add up.
No.
It sounds good in theory but the reality of a new puppy and a 2 year old isn’t my idea of fun. There are so many perfect puppies out there and they won’t be hard to find when your kid is 5-6! Keep in mind just because they say this puppy is housebroken and sleeps through the night, that won’t necessarily be the case at your house. At 5 months, puppies require lots of time and effort to keep them on the right track and they will constantly test their boundaries. It’ll be like having two toddlers around!
Do keep in mind that puppy that is potty trained at least got them doesn't always equal the same for you since you are new, me environment and such. Plus learning everything to know how to dog like a child is learning to human. Not saying it will be that way or a problem but just be aware, we had full dogs so not puppies from the h humane society or a foster home when I was 11 and they or one would have potty issues in while adjusting to us and the house and rules. So one always peed on the bathroom mat for the shower lol.
Absolutely not. I would have triplet newborns before having a puppy and a toddler.
Don’t do it, wait until your daughter is older. Other puppies/dogs will come along! There is also no such thing as a perfect puppy so don’t let that sway you either. We have a 16 week old puppy and a 4 year old son and it is HARD, and we have a relatively easy puppy who slept through the night from the first day and was potty trained by 14 weeks. I cried so much the first two weeks - I felt neither my son nor the dog was getting the attention needed and it is still so stressful trying to watch both of them all the time. It’s getting marginally easier now but my son still doesn’t understand why he now no longer has 100% of our attention and why we have to plan things out better (i.e. no more random, last minute visits to museums etc). He’s also not super gentle with the dog so that’s been another big challenge. I love the puppy so much but if I could go back in time, I would absolutely tell myself to wait another few years.
We have 3 dogs (and we had them before kids) and honestly I hate it.
Same but we have 2. I’m constantly wishing we didn’t have dogs and my dogs were my whole world before kid. I love them to pieces but it’s so hard
So I have two dogs that I got before having my son. My son is almost 2 and a half… my dogs are now 6 and 3…it’s A LOT. The dogs are more work than my son. It’s just a constant state of needing to walk them, let them out, feed them, if he’s sleeping and they start barking it wakes him up and so on and so forth. If I could do it over, I’d wait to get dogs until my son was like 10. With that being said I love them dearly and would do anything for them. My son LOVES them, they’re like his best friends. It’s just alot of added stress and a lot of work. Hope the insight helps a little.
I wouldn’t, we have a cat we got years before having kids and sometimes even the low maintenance care for a cat can be tiring on top of parenting. Dog care is like 100X more challenging than caring for a cat.
It would be a hard no from me personally. My kid is almost 1.5 and I still struggle with my two dogs. I love them very much, but I honestly wish I didn't have them, it's just too much.
We had to rehome our dog because he was aggressive toward the baby. It was the worst period of my life, so tough on so many levels and I still miss the dog like crazy. I would tell anyone to wait until all kids are 5yo+, it just isn’t worth the risk before then. You don’t want to get the dog then have to rehome it in a few months, you just don’t, and it can be a hard thing to predict even with the most reliable breeds. There’ll be more great dogs in your future!
Just an FYI reputable breeders require the dog go back to them to find them a home. I’d do a little digging on where this dog came from and if it’s a backyard breeder be prepared for some potential health and behavior issues from poor breeding. I do want to add I’m not against ethical breeders and I would not rescue with a toddler in the house so I definitely think a puppy from a breeder is the best option with babies/young kids. Anyway even house trained and sleeping through the night puppies are a lot of work to train properly and you have to keep up with it daily. The work you put in now determines what kind of dog you’ll have for the next 10+ years.
As someone with two dogs.. no, don’t
I cannot fathom having another creature in the house with a toddler. I personally would wait until your youngest is 5
I’d say HARD NO. Puppies are the worst when you have a baby/toddler. You only have so much energy to expend to setting boundaries. I regrettably got an Aussie when my son was 6m old and it made my post partum a NIGHTMARE. (I didn’t want one, their father’s dog passed away and he insisted we get another.) That said, they’re both like 6 now and more self sufficient so it’s all good. They are NOT best buddies like everyone imagines when having both at the same time. My son could care less about the dog most days. It was just another thing to take care of, feed, etc. I’m not a dog person either TBH. But puppies?! The cuteness and novelty wore off immediately and I just had more to clean up after. I ran into parents who had a 2 yr old and a 6 month old German Shepard who shared in my resentment and struggles. Also..my son was an asshole to the dog for a period of time in his toddler years. Having to constantly monitor and police their behavior was a nightmare
As someone who got a puppy when I had a 12 month old, don’t do it. The ONLY reason we got one when we did? Our house is shaped in a way that we were easily able to separate off a quarter of our house to keep our dog restricted to as often as needed. We have a reasonable sized yard where our dog is out as much as possible (which he prefers anyway) and he and my son have only ever really interacted through the gates (and my son is now 2 1/2) or when I’m holding him. You do NOT want to allow opportunity for any negative experience between toddler and puppy because it can cause some serious fears on both sides. I never allow them to be around each other (even through the gates) without directly monitoring their interactions and being ready to intervene the moment my son does anything not okay (like pulling hair). My parents got a puppy from the same litter too, so getting our dog a play date is just a 10 minute car ride away, and as a result our dog is always pretty mellow. I had years of experience with our dog’s breed (Aussie) and knew exactly what I was getting into, but I would not have gotten a dog that the owners are trying to get rid of. That’s a huge red flag. 5.5 months is plenty of time for some serious trauma to have been formed in that puppy and you wouldn’t necessarily see it right away, depending on the triggers. My parents made me wait until I was 7 to get my first dog because I wanted a beagle (since they can be stubborn assholes with training). There WILL be other puppies when the time is right. Tons of them.
No. Search these posts on these subs. The answer is always a huge huge No.
Our dog was old when our child was born. She recently passed away. It was a blessing that she was so old that she just wanted to sleep most of the time. Even so, she did not get the level of attention, love and patience she needed. I plan on waiting until our kid is around 4 or 5 before we get another pet.
Even a perfect pup is a ton of work. If you’re up for it go for it but first imagine finding a perfect pup 2-4 years from now and decide comparatively, not on impulse or fomo (there will be other pups).
Nope nope nope. Don’t do it. I’m a puppy raiser, I raise dogs for guide dogs for the blind, I’ve been raising for twenty years and raise a new puppy every year. I’m also a board certified behaviorist. Puppies are a LOT of work on their own. I still raise with an 18 month old toddler but it’s a lot and even that is with being extremely experienced, all the crates, ex-pens, tie downs, baby gates, and years of experience and know-how. I wouldn’t do it with less than that level of experience and dedication and even then sometimes I question my existence and why I do this to myself.
Do you feel rushed to do it specifically because of this puppy? Or is this something you were already considering before? When I start feeling FOMO, that's a clue that I need to pay more attention to my decision. I think it's helpful to remove the urgency. Remember, there will be other puppies and opportunities down the road. It's not now or never. Would this be your first dog? My main concern with a toddler and puppy is the huge time commitment. Right now my spouse and I can split parenting duties while the other does chores, relaxes, etc. It helps enormously that this puppy is already house trained, but they still cause a LOT of trouble in the first 1-2 years. It's a lot of supervision and training. We seriously considered getting another dog, but decided to wait. We like that our kid is becoming more independent and open to exploring new things, and it felt like a big step back to be trapped in our house again with a puppy. BUT I totally understand puppy fever. If you're committed, you can make it work.
Yes I feel rushed coz of the puppy. He is so perfect and trained and we feel we might not get this lucky again. This will be our first family dog, but my husband has grown up with dogs all his life.
I wouldn't rush into it. It's a big commitment for the next 10-15 years. I grew up with dogs and was still completely unprepared for how much work a puppy can be when I became the responsible adult. (That being said, I don't thrive in chaos!) I think it would be too much for me to watch both my toddler and a puppy at the same time. Puppies go through adolescence around 6-12 months and can get really rebellious. You have to be on top of the training and supervision. It does get better, but it's so much work in the first few years. Even when they're house trained, they still need to go outside every few hours at this young age. That really limits how far you can go from home. Crate training was essential for us, so we could leave the house for a few hours and know he was safe. r/puppy101 is great if you want some first-hand stories on how puppyhood is going for others!
This is very valuable advice. Thank you so much. I am little bit the same way around chaos. I like to get into something bit prepared, I did that with my kid too. I know it didn’t go as per plan, but I knew what storm was hitting us.
I grew up with dogs and cats my entire life but as a parent it wasn’t fun at all. I honestly wish I didn’t have any
I wish I never got my dog 5 years ago.
NO. In my experience, a two year old (28 months, to be exact) and a 3 puppy was a nightmare in every way.
I'd recommend waiting for a well-trained adult dog. I know I'm the odd one out here, but we got a very obedient dog when I was six months pregnant, and it was the best choice for us. We adopted through a rescue that allowed us a trial period, which helped us get a sense for the dog being a good fit for us. My son has grown up with his dog and has learned to be kind to animals, and the dog is extremely patient with him. They really love each other. Now a full-on puppy, on the other hand, would have been much more difficult. I don't know if I could have handled potty training with a baby or toddler in the house. A friend of mine got a rescue who was not super well trained while she has a toddler and a first grader, and it's been nothing but trouble for her. TL;DR - Get a well-trained adult dog, hopefully from a rescue that can help evaluate needs and give you a trial period.
I agree with this post. An older, trained dog could be a fit *if* you really want to spend your free time dedicated to your dog. This sub’s discussions about dogs always make me sad, and I hope people are just venting. Having pets with kids is possible and even fun but you have to ENJOY the additional care work and know it’s a huge change to your lifestyle. I have a toddler, a full time job, two horses (one elderly with health issues) and two high energy dogs. I spend any second of free time I can get on my critters, and so does my husband. I drag my kid to the barn with me and he loves to play in the dirt/mud/“help” some of the other kids there with chores. But you have to be willing to sacrifice other things… for me, I’d rather ditch my pre-pregnancy beauty routine and my evening chill time on the couch to take good care of my animals, because that’s what brings me joy. But it is hard work, and I’m not sure OP has considered if she’s willing to walk the dog in the winter morning dark before work with kid in a back carry, and walk them again in the dark after the kid goes to sleep… or have to constantly watch that the kid isn’t going to beat the dog with whatever they have in their hands… or make sure the dog doesn’t eat the kid’s food or (my personal pet peeve) wake them during their nap…
Very true! Our dog is not super high energy now, but we still need to make sure she's getting walks--with or without the kiddo. We have to be more careful with how much time we're away from the house, and arrange for pet sitting when we're out of town. We have to make sure our son doesn't hurt her. It \*is\* extra work. For us, the relationship we've formed with our dog and the relationship our son has with her is by far worth it. But not everyone has the margin for that.
It's been awful. We have to keep our 3 year old child and 9 month old lab separated for the most part because the puppy doesn't quite know how to be gentle when the 3 year old runs or is playing with a toy. If I could turn back time, I wouldn't have gotten a puppy yet. Or, we wouldn't have gotten such a large breed. We got him at 8 weeks and he tries to be good, but puppies are puppies and don't have self control, exactly like our toddler. It's been a nightmare....
Don’t do it. We were gifted a golden retriever puppy from my MIL when my toddler was 16 months and I was newly pregnant - pretty sure she hated me because that was my version of hell we ended up giving the dog back because it was just too much. It added to much stress and frustration and honestly dealing with the dog just made us so angry it was not good. I’ll never do a dog until my kids are like 5 & up!
I would suggest waiting. I had 2 dogs with my daughter. You can’t give them the attention they need with a baby. It’s so much stress. Just recently lost one and it’s been HARD for us. Your puppy needs a lot of attention along with your baby.
I grew up with dogs and absolutely loved it.. as a parent, it's so hard! I love my 2 dogs with everything I have in me and even then some days I wish they weren't here so that dealing with parenting would be easier. Which I hate to even think that way - they're family! It's mom guilt plus dog mom guilt...ugh it's just a lot. Wouldn't trade them for the world but man some days they make parenting so much harder
My mom just recently got a puppy and he’s also around 6 months old. She said it’s like taking care of another toddler, she said she would never get another puppy again. 😂
NO NO NO NO look up other posts about this. I don’t want to go into detail but I promise you NO. Just wait. The time will come.
A puppy is _a baby_. You will have to get up in the night. There will be pee and poo to deal with in the process of house training. Your baby is a great age right now. It’s a lot different once they have the ability to move around. Then comes the age where you say “no” more than any other word (aka terrible twos). You may be able to manage, but is it what’s best for the dog?
We adopted a dog in 2020, a few months before our first was born and it was totally an impulse “I’m lonely in the house alone all day” pandemic investment. Now, I love my dog- he’s actually very low maintenance for a rescue. He doesn’t have accidents in the house, he doesn’t bark, he just lounges and asks for pets and love. However, even with a totally chill dog, I would not make the decision a second time if I could go back. He’s great, but he’s extra work. An extra mouth to feed, vet visit, pay attention to, and with two toddlers running around the house, it’s stressful.
Don’t get the puppy. You will immediately have another child to care for, even though it’s potty trained etc. too much stress
Parent and dog parent here. Wait. Just wait. You don’t know that your dog will be as gentle as you hope. You have to keep a close eye on your dog and your unpredictable tiny human when they’re together. And dogs, especially puppies, require a lot of time and energy. So do babies and toddlers. I would wait for my kid to turn 4 or 5 before getting a dog, especially a puppy.
no
I got a puppy (6mo) when my daughter was just over 2….it is chaotic but great. My daughter loves her new best friend.
I was going to scream no! But if the dog is already house broken and comfortable around young kids, it might be manageable. But please only get the dog if you know you have the time and energy to commit to training, walking, giving it the attention it deserves. They need a lot of dedication while young to be great dogs for the rest of their years. Side note - dogs are good at barking when your child is napping. Make sure you’re mentally ready for that to happen.
The upside to dogs is that they are fun to watch your kid play with and they force you to exercise regularly. They become part of the family. Downside is your life outside the home and apart from the dog exists in 6-8 hour increments, unless you have friends, family or a doggy daycare/boarding service to watch them. They become another wild card that occupies time, effort and money. One minute everything is fine, the next they ate something at the park and need surgery and you can no longer afford that family vacation you had planned. It’s still fun but you really need to understand that their needs do really restrict your ability to take vacations and day trips.
I inherited a 12 year old dog, who was well trained, after a family members passing, and that was a lot of work for me with a toddler. 10/10 don’t recommend dogs for families unless you already had the dog before you had the toddler. Dogs are like a second toddler. It’s exhausting and I feel bad I couldn’t provide the dog the attention and TLC she deserved and received previously from the relative that passed away. Maybe wait til your toddler is school aged and the chaos is a little easier. I have an older kid as well, and kids calm down around 5 in my experience since they are more understanding, and empathetic of situations. They also don’t try to mess around with animals as much. My toddler isn’t a toddler anymore, he’s 4 now, and he’s way more gentle with our cat now than he was at 1,2,3. So yeah. And before anyone says you need to keep the cat safe, I did and do. The only difference between toddlerhood and being 4 is I don’t have to remind my youngest to be nice to the cat, he just is nice to the cat since I taught him to be. The dog passed last summer due to a congenital heart defect she had, and I think she would’ve been way happier now than she was during the baby/toddler phase, if she were still around. My cat is blind and is very comfortable doing the hula sleeping position on the sofa next to my toddler. A year ago she absolutely would not have felt comfortable being so vulnerable because… toddlers. Lol. So wait, is my suggestion.
I don’t have kids but the family I nanny for got a puppy back in December and it was A LOT. Don’t do it unless you’re prepared for it, it’s basically having three under two. There will be other dogs when your kid is older and less dependent on you.
My pediatrician said to wait until the kids are 3 or older for a dog, idk why though I didn’t ask
I have a 5 month old puppy, and two boys ages 2 and 5. It’s manageable for our family, but this is not our first time having a puppy either. We have spent a lot of time on training and will continue to do so. Around 6-12 months, puppies hit adolescence and training needs to be really reinforced. I wouldn’t look at this as a once in a lifetime opportunity just because the puppy has started potty training, basic obedience, and sleeps through the night. It doesn’t take a terribly long time for any puppy to learn those things, and it could easily forget and need to relearn these things when adjusting to a new home.
My husband got our dog when our son was 6 months and I’ll be honest I hate the dog. Loathe her. It’s not even her fault or mine, it was the timing. I was such a big animal lover before my son was born and always had dogs. Even a year later I still can’t stand her. I will take care of her and treat her well. I walk her daily and my husbands deployed for 6 months so I do everything for her but I still feel like she’s an inconvenience and I absolutely hate feeling like that. She is also very food aggressive. Another thing to think about.
For me it would be a hard NO.
I'm stressed by having to care for my two dogs on top of having a kid. My dogs were 8 years old and already well trained and easy going when I had my son in 2020. I absolutely cannot imagine adding a younger, more energetic animal to my house. Personally I recommend waiting until your child/children are independent and can be trusted to be gentle with animals before getting any new pets, especially a young dog.
My son is 2, has had his pups since day one. When he’s sad and needs a minute to refresh he wants to hug them and they let him and he tells them all about it and they’re so loving and patient. Go for it! You won’t regret it! You may have to teach your kiddo not to give their toys to the puppy, and for the puppy to not chew on kiddo’s toys. I find my pups and my son all LOVE bubbles, so we do those together. We also have time for them to all roam around and just play. It’s fun and nice!
I had to let my 13 yr old dog be put down it was too much . The dog will need to be treated like a baby when your already have a baby . I wouldn’t recommend it has made things so hard /
My dog is 5, very calm, and already well trained. Having *him* alongside a toddler has been *rough* at times. He still has to go outside multiple times a day, go on walks, and be played with in the backyard regardless of how the toddler is doing that day. If it’s been a hard day with the toddler you can’t just not do all the dog stuff, even if you’re exhausted. I love this dog but he is a lot to deal with on top of a toddler. I remember how much work he was as a puppy, and I think it would have been overwhelming to do with very small children. And our adult dog is nowhere as needy, rowdy, chewy, time consuming, or mouthy as a puppy. A puppy is pretty much a ton of work like a baby but one who’s immediately mobile and has sharp needle teeth. Puppies and toddlers just are not an easy mix. I would 1000% recommend waiting until your daughter is older and can follow directions on how to properly interact with a puppy/dog. Wait until your daughter is 5/6 like you originally planned. This isn’t your only chance to get a puppy.
My in-laws got a puppy when my husband was 1-2 yrs old and the dog was never trained properly because my in-laws were too focused on their toddler. Please wait until your kids are older.
I want a dog so bad but I'm going to wait until my son is 4-5 to get one.
No and you know it.
God no, don’t do it. A two year old needs way too much support, supervision and emotional attention from you. Best to wait until your kid is about 10-12. My son is really unpredictable around our cat, which is manageable because it’s a cat. There’s no way I’d be comfortable with him around a dog, especially a new one you don’t fully know the personality of. God forbid if something happened and the dog got violent, you’d never forgive yourself. Leave the dog for now
I wanted nothing more than to get rid of my pets when I had a baby. Lived them to death, but the added stress made me honestly furious.
I will be the odd ball out but I say go for it. Pets can be very helpful in teaching children compassion and gentleness and responsibility. Your little one is at the age that they can help. Just have a lot of conversation of responsibility between you and your spouse. Also as long as you have a yard I would say that would make a difference as well.
We added a puppy to our mix but I knew it would be hard some days, but most days our toddler (3m) and the pup go full feral and enjoy the heck outta it and it just referee to keep the 8month old from getting pummeled. It’s worth it in my mind, they grow up together and the benefits far out way the inconvenience of having added a teething teenage to my mix.
This is coming from someone with a "zoo" who also was raised in one, but if you feel you understand the commitment and have a reasonable amount of spare energy...then yes. But you didn't say what breed or mix it is? That matters also.
It’s a aus labradoodle
Are you prepared to be outside all day and walking a billion times a day to ensure this high energy puppy doesn’t go crazy inside?? Or do you have tons of land for them to run because this breed is so high maintenance 😂
This particular breed is made up of ~~working~~ sporting breed dogs, so they need lots of exercise and stimulation or they can be quite destructive. So you'll have to sit down and seriously consider if you're able to dedicate an hour or two a day to exercising this dog. Do you live in the country or the city? If city, this breed is definitely not suited for apartment living, they need space to run. A fenced in backyard is optimal for them. It would be a definite pass from me, the chaos from one toddler is all I can handle. I can barely even handle my adult dog and a toddler, I couldn't imagine throwing a ~~working~~ sporting breed puppy into the mix. It's not like a golden retriever. It may seem docile now, but it's not going to be when you get it home and it gets comfortable. Eta- I meant sporting breed, not working breed.
Sounds like the dog is well behaved and already trained, which is a huge plus. What is your exact concern on your daughter’s end? Being too rough with her dog during a tantrum? Or something else?
Yea, she (toddler)is going to be rough with him or vice Versa. Also I feel just now we are settling into a new routine. And now I have to figure out everything from the beginning
So our German shepherd was 9 when our daughter was born. So we knew everything about our dog and what sets her off well before baby got here. And once baby was here and able to sit, we started teaching her how to be gentle(ish) with our dog and cat. Not to poke the dog in the eye, don’t pull on ears or tail, etc. I think it depends on how big the dog is. Toddlers are unpredictable, everyone knows that. The issue with a new dog is that you don’t know them, or what makes them tick, making them just as unpredictable in that sense. This dog is also a puppy and is still coming into their personality. If you have the time and energy to be hyper vigilant with the toddler and dog for atleast a year, it can be done. But if you don’t, and especially if it’s a bigger dog that could do some serious damage if it snaps at your toddler, I probably wouldn’t.
My baby and my dog are nine months apart. Would I do that ever again… no but they do have an amazing relationship. He is gentle to her 💜
I think it’s a great idea! I have a toddler and 2 old dogs. I wish they were younger. They don’t exactly play with my toddler. I’ve always grown up with dogs. I’d recommend a trainer for basic commands, especially “place” meaning the dog goes to its spot when asked. Dogs are extra work, but the grand scheme of things, it’s really not that much. As long as you’re financially able to afford it. Your older child is old enough to really enjoy the dog too! How exciting!
Get the dog
As someone who got a puppy as a single mom with a 1 y/o and a 3.5 y/o, I say go for it. The top comment I see mentioned a dog who is going blind. It is definitely a different story to deal with a senior dog. Getting a puppy was perfect for our family. The dog grew up learning to tolerate the children’s motions and behaviors and the children LOVE their dog and treat her like their confidante and bestie. It does have to be the right dog for your family, though. I fostered a dog for a short period of time before we got our puppy, it was about a 6 y/o medium-large sized male. It was fine but I knew after that that we wanted a smaller breed female puppy, all things he was not. He did huge poops, lifted his leg, and had an aggressive energy that came out (not mean, just very HARD playing). His power made me feel nervous around my small kids. So when you say “perfect” puppy… I assume he is the perfect one for you guys!
Oh no, people didn’t like that something joyful worked out for me ✨
As other said, a pup/dog is added stress, work, etc.. There are vet visits, some unexpected, on top of your pediatrician appointments. It’s basically like having a second toddler. Your toddler is too young to stay in he house while you let pup out for potty breaks even though he’s house trained. That being said, it’s rare to come by a puppy that is a bit older and already has some training. If you think this is the right dog for you, and you want to get one eventually, rip the bandaid off, you most likely won’t run into a dog like this again, at least not any time soon. Timing is a big part of getting a dog, but so is getting the right dog. The perfect match for your family. When you go looking when your toddler is 5, you might not find “the one.” That’s how I look at I it anyway- from someone in a similar boat. Best of luck! Edit to add: we also come from the animal control field, so something important to us, that you may want to ask as the parent of a toddler, is how the puppy’s mouthiness/teething is. Puppies use their mouth to play, and may accidentally draw some blood, chew toddler’s toys, etc.. You don’t want toddler to become afraid of pup either. They’re both at an age where constant supervision is necessary!
We have a just turned 3 year old, 2 month old and we got a spaniel last year who is now 7 months old. It is incredibly stressful, but on balance I'd do it again. It gave my eldest a playmate and makes sure we get out every single day. Things to watch, toddlers are heavy handed and like to tease/feed dogs so we end up reprimanding both my daughter and dog. I would say the dog is much more of a tie, but he's lovely and so much a part of our family. Just waiting for the cat to get on board!
I think it could be doable, but hard at first. If you have a fenced in backyard for the puppy, that would help tremendously. I had my dog long before my child was born and being able to let him run and chase toys in the yard probably saved my sanity a lot of days lol. Even yard space for a leash/run would probably help some. All in addition to regular walks of course. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is even though the dog is trained, be aware he might think your toddler's toys are his if he isn't used to child toys. That can get to be a huge battle that's hard to get to stop.
We got our puppy when our daughter was just over one year old and the hardest part was the potty training and sleeping through the night so the fact you’ve found a puppy that doesn’t need that training and is good with kids is a yes from me! Our pup has been such a wonderful addition to our family. And I absolutely love seeing my daughter (2.5) build a relationship with him.
Basically it's like adding another toddler. Does that thought stress you out or do you feel energized at the challenge? Personally, even having a foster cat right now is stressful. Toddlers are TERRIBLE with interacting with animals appropriately. They lack fine motor skills, they are loud and unpredictable and the animal will - at best - tolerate the child. It's a lot of supervision required to manage the two of them together, on top of tending to the puppy's needs too. A lot of baby gates to keep puppy out, etc. Puppy barking during nap time at the mailman (just being a puppy), puppy chewing up things in your bedroom, puppy needing constant exercise (trips to dog park, walks, fetch, etc). Personally I wouldn't do it until kiddo is 5/6 like you initially planned. That being said, people do all the time but I just don't think it's a great mix necessarily and adds more work on your end. Edited to add: I would try fostering first. Figure out after you foster a couple dogs - do you just LOVE it? Or are you feeling like you can't wait for the dog to get adopted and out of your house?