Well...now we did it.

[MaryL]

Dks and I have wanted a puppy for quite some time. It's taken time to warm dh up to the idea. Anyway...he seems up for it now. Now that he's said, "It's your choice"...I'm all freaked out! LOL My heart says "YES!"...but when I use my head it says, "Caution!!!!" I worry that we're gone too much...what about work days...what about vacations (although we know someone who will watch it)...etc. I swear I didn't worry this much about the decision to have kids! Dh is laughing at me about this back and forth emotions I'm having.

So...today we went to the puppy breeder place. OMG!!!! That was a mistake! ;) Who wouldn't want one of those adorable puppies. We just went on a fact finding mission...yah, right!! So now I'm really torn! ;)

I am interested in a puppy that comes home the weekend I get done with school...that way I'd have the whole summer to house train it, bond with it, etc.

My dks are really into it...and I think even dh wants me to do this. LOL He keeps talking about it, "So, are you going to get a puppy?" "Where would it sleep?", etc.

I know it makes more sense to get one from the Humane Society...but I really want a particular type...and, well, I've waited this long (42 years!) to have a dog, I guess I just want what I want. LOL Selfish, huh?

Anyway...now I can't get my mind off of those puppies....they were so darn cute!!!

[PamE]

Aw! I know what you mean about the caution part though! :lol: What breed are you looking at?

[Amy]

We are particular to a breed, but we are too cheap to put forth that kind of money. :lol: Every one that we have had kind of sung to our hearts when we met it. Just go for it! Everything will work out as you go along.

[Diane]

LOL I've had my dog/puppies and have loved having them. They've brought much joy to our hearts and home and I've never been sorry that we had them. Right now that it's just dh and I... I'm glad were dogless :) but every time I see someone walking their cute new little puppy down the street it crosses my mind. I've told dh to just keep me out of the pet shops because I'd probably come home with one or with the idea of going back and bringing one home. LOL

Good luck with your decision... :) (have you thought of any names yet? LOL)

[AnnW]

get a rescue dog!!! i have always had mutts except for one and the pure bread was the only dog that was high maintnence. dd and i were just at petsmart and saw some of the cutest dogs. she is ready to replace our old dog right now! LOL

[littlesista06]

get a rescue dog!!! i have always had mutts except for one and the pure bread was the only dog that was high maintnence. dd and i were just at petsmart and saw some of the cutest dogs. she is ready to replace our old dog right now! LOL


Y'know, I've heard of families doing just that. Knowing their pet may not have the longest time left, and going ahead and getting another animal to ease the pain of a loss as well as eliminating the feeling of "replacing" the deceased pet with another.
Dd just said yesterday she feels bad for getting the new kittens, it's like she's tryting to replace Spooky. :(

[AnnW]

Y'know, I've heard of families doing just that. Knowing their pet may not have the longest time left, and going ahead and getting another animal to ease the pain of a loss as well as eliminating the feeling of "replacing" the deceased pet with another.
Dd just said yesterday she feels bad for getting the new kittens, it's like she's tryting to replace Spooky. :(

the adoption people at petsmart suggested the we go ahead and adopt now. told them that would be like my dh picking out his 2nd wife and bringing her home in anticipation of my death! LOL

if we brought in a 3RD dog, my old dog would either
shoot herself
live forever out of spite

of course we would be trying to replace our dog, so not really sure why that is a bad thing.

[BevJ]

Y'know, I've heard of families doing just that. Knowing their pet may not have the longest time left, and going ahead and getting another animal to ease the pain of a loss as well as eliminating the feeling of "replacing" the deceased pet with another.
Dd just said yesterday she feels bad for getting the new kittens, it's like she's tryting to replace Spooky. :(
I know what you mean. It was 11 days shy of a year when we bought a new Budgie. Ds said he felt bad because it felt like we were trying to replace Ernie. I made sure to get a bird that was a different colour so we wouldn't be reminded of Ernie, but wow...this bird is so totally different on all levels personality and physically that it's definitely not a replacement, lol.

Mary, good luck with your decision.

[MaryL]

get a rescue dog!!! LOL

I know that makes the most sense...but my heart wants me to get the one I really want. LOL This is making me nuts. :crazyroll

[MaryL]

What breed are you looking at?

Oh, sorry. I thought I put that in the original post. I'm loving the "Teddybear"....bichon/****zu mix.

[RCT]

Good luck....I always love having a pet....never really thought of it as replacing one with another, just always liked having something warm, fuzzy and friendly in my life....

[Cathy]

Good luck....I always love having a pet....never really thought of it as replacing one with another, just always liked having something warm, fuzzy and friendly in my life....

Isn't that why you got married??? LOL

[RCT]

Isn't that why you got married??? LOL


:blush: Cathy.....silly rabbit, NO, I got married for the sex.....and so I never have to wash my own car again....

[Cathy]

:blush: Cathy.....silly rabbit, NO, I got married for the sex.....and so I never have to wash my own car again....

Sorry I misunderstood. You did say friendly...... I guess that's where I went wrong. Some of those fluffy little dogs would probably work for carwashing, though, now that you mention it.








NO, I'm not really serious. Geeze- noone takes a joke around here.

[Diane]

Isn't that why you got married??? LOL

:biglaugh: :biglaugh:

[RCT]

NO, I'm not really serious. Geeze- noone takes a joke around here.


Joke????????

(I was serious) :lol: :biglaugh:

[Diane]

:blush: Cathy.....silly rabbit, NO, I got married for the sex.....and so I never have to wash my own car again....

LOL... Renee! :biglaugh:

[Cathy]

Joke????????

(I was serious) :lol: :biglaugh:

I was afraid I might offend the small breed dog lovers.

I know you were serious. You also got the fabulous bonus of a man who COOKS!! Excellent!

[littlesista06]

Oh, sorry. I thought I put that in the original post. I'm loving the "Teddybear"....bichon/****zu mix.

Aw Lord! A woman I work with has one and can you say HIGH MAINTENANCE?!
Granted some of it is her...
They are VERY cute though!!

[littlesista06]

:blush: Cathy.....silly rabbit, NO, I got married for the sex.....and so I never have to wash my own car again....

ROFLMAO!!!!!!!!

[KarlaB]

the adoption people at petsmart suggested the we go ahead and adopt now. told them that would be like my dh picking out his 2nd wife and bringing her home in anticipation of my death! LOL

if we brought in a 3RD dog, my old dog would either
shoot herself
live forever out of spite

LMAO!! :lol:

Isn't that the truth - somehow your 'old' dog would have a miracle cure. :D

[KarlaB]

:blush: Cathy.....silly rabbit, NO, I got married for the sex.....and so I never have to wash my own car again....

OMG! LMAOPMP!!!

What a riot of a thread gals!! :lol:

[KarlaB]

Sorry for getting side-tracked, Mary!!

How exciting about the prospect of a pup! (This coming from someone who would love to get rid of her dog. LOL!) I was on the fence, too, and once we went to look at puppies I was sucked in. (Miniature dachshund pups are so cute. :* :rolleyes: ) Puppies are fun, but I compare them to having a newborn (up at night) and a toddler (potty-training, although with no diaper option & into everything) at the same time...however, you do have the option to leave a pup home alone or to kennel it when you need a break. LOL They're also much less picky than kids about what's for supper. ;)

I think your idea of getting one when you're home for the summer is perfect. We did that with ours when dh was off and it was perfect!

[AnnW]

sh*tzu bison frisees...miniature dachsunds..sheesh, ya'll get fancy dogs!!!
give me a mutt any day! LOL

[Amy]

Mary, what do you want out of your "first" dog? I think the dog breed you picked out are adorable, but a little dog is very high maintenance and more delicate. Their bladders are smaller, they can get hurt more easily, ya can't wrestle around with them, they tend to be ADHD (lol) and will need monthly professional grooming. You have two boys, so are they okay with a small breed? I am not advocating one breed/size or another, just wondering what your expectations are.

[KarlaB]

Mary, what do you want out of your "first" dog? I think the dog breed you picked out are adorable, but a little dog is very high maintenance and more delicate. Their bladders are smaller, they can get hurt more easily, ya can't wrestle around with them, they tend to be ADHD (lol) and will need monthly professional grooming. You have two boys, so are they okay with a small breed? I am not advocating one breed/size or another, just wondering what your expectations are.

Just offering a flip side of this LOL!
I'd go for a small dog over a big dog any day, especially for in the house! Our dog barely sheds and does not slobber all over me like some of the big dogs I have been around. LOL Our does not need professional grooming and doesn't have any bladder issues, BUT he is ADHD some days (I LOL when I read that!!) :crazyroll and he barks - which annoys me to no end. :rolleyes: My boys love having a smaller dog that can sit on their lap and they can easily pick up. I do hate theat I tend to trip over him bcuz he's too dumb to get out of my way. :rolleyes: LOL

My cousin on the other hand had a teacup yorkie and they did have never-ending issues with her bladder and health. :\

Good luck with your decision, Mary! Can't wait to hear what you decide to do....and then see pics and hear names!! :D

[AnnW]

both my kids love little dogs. but ds is adamant that we are getting a golden when the old girl goes (she is his dog) told him he's leaving, he doesn't get a pick! LOL
i wouldn't mind slightly smaller, but a little yappy dog would drive me insane.

[MaryL]

Mary, what do you want out of your "first" dog? I think the dog breed you picked out are adorable, but a little dog is very high maintenance and more delicate. Their bladders are smaller, they can get hurt more easily, ya can't wrestle around with them, they tend to be ADHD (lol) and will need monthly professional grooming. You have two boys, so are they okay with a small breed? I am not advocating one breed/size or another, just wondering what your expectations are.

Good points...

We have experience with the teddybear, as well as ****zu. We puppy sit for friends with both types. The neighbors have a teddybear that we watch for a week at a time, a couple times a year. This Easter, we watched her for 2 full weeks. Now, of course, she is almost 2 years old. I know puppies (esp. new puppies) are quite a handful.

I've told the boys (who want the dog, too) that we're not even going to play the game that it is "their" dog. LOL I get to choose because I'll be doing the majority of the feeding, training, walking, groomer and vet visits, etc. Let's be honest about that! So...IF we get a dog (and it's still a maybe), it will be my choice, and I get naming rights.

I actually want a small dog...the kind that can sit on your lap...doesn't need long walks (although I love to take dogs on short walks)...can't reach the table to beg for food...etc. I'm looking for an indoor house pet.

Can you see where my head and heart are colliding?! :lol: :rolleyes:

[Amy]

I think you have it all planned out. :) I say go for it! Now if you start buying a purse that acts as a carrier, I am going to have you committed. LOL

[KarlaB]

I actually want a small dog...the kind that can sit on your lap...doesn't need long walks (although I love to take dogs on short walks)...can't reach the table to beg for food...etc. I'm looking for an indoor house pet.


Sounds like you have really thought thru all of this. Glad you realize how much of the responsibility will lie on you...no matter how much they promise now. :)

btw - My small dog can't reach the table, but that doesn't stop him from begging. ;)

So, how long 'til you make the decision and announce the big YES to your dks? :D

[MaryL]

I think you have it all planned out. :) I say go for it! Now if you start buying a purse that acts as a carrier, I am going to have you committed. LOL

My dh and dks said ABSOLUTELY no dressing a dog up in clothes! LOL I can't even imagine that! :lol: