To Get Another Pup or Not...Advice Needed!

[SailenAero]

Ok...so my SO and I have Aero. He is almost a year old now and it was always our plan that we wanted to get him a companion. We have the space (3 bedroom 2 story town house), a huge fenced backyard, access to the best dog park in Houston, and my SO works with Other Jess at a Raw Feeding Pet Store. Our only issue is that our families think we have too many pets as it is. We have 3 ferrets, a rescue kitten named Nobu and Aero.

Now, we are completely independent and get no help/money from our families. Our only issue is them holding it against us or guilting us or what have you. I know most people would say "so what - you're an adult. Their opinion doesn't matter." but I want to feel joyous about the process...not ashamed.

On the other hand, we both work and do school and besides Other Jess we kinda did some house keeping with our social circle and we don't go out or have people around. Having Aero really helps with the lack of friendship at the moment. Our pets are like our kids and are treated as such (as i know you all do too).

So my question is should we go ahead and get another puppy or wait a few years (probably 3) until we finish school and move elsewhere and have our career jobs? And if you could please tell me why yes or no and pros or cons or if you have been in the situation.

Thanks so much guys

 

[MyHorseMyRules]

Pfft, I'm the only friend you need anyhow.

And you already know my vote.

 

[sillysally]

I would wait, just because of Aero's age. I prefer a dog be be slightly older--2 or 3--before adding a pup. That's just me though.......

 

[SailenAero]

Pfft, I'm the only friend you need anyhow.

And you already know my vote.

Hahahah of course Jess...and thanks for all the links on YIM right now to breeders :rofl1:

 

[JessLough]

My vote is to get a pup.
Although really, coming to chaz to try and get people to talk you out of a pup was probably not a good idea, we sort of fail at that :rofl1:

 

[SailenAero]

My vote is to get a pup.
Although really, coming to chaz to try and get people to talk you out of a pup was probably not a good idea, we sort of fail at that :rofl1:

LOL :rofl1:
I did consider this, but I thought I might at least get a mixed bag of opinions. It's just I'm worried that if we wait then when we get our career jobs we may not have the free time for a puppy. Right now the way my job is I am home most of the time and both of us do online school...but we may not have this much at home time in a few years.

 

[Romy]

Just tell your family it's a "foster". They can't guilt you for trying to help out a puppy. It's not like they live there or anything.

 

[Brattina88]

LOL :rofl1:
I did consider this, but I thought I might at least get a mixed bag of opinions. It's just I'm worried that if we wait then when we get our career jobs we may not have the free time for a puppy. Right now the way my job is I am home most of the time and both of us do online school...but we may not have this much at home time in a few years.

It does sound like it may be a better time to raise a pup. I was young and still in school, so I was home the whole summer when Maddie was a pup, house training, and just training in general was A LOT easier that way IMHO

To me, as long as you're in it for the long run, you already know what it takes to be a good dog owner How much time, effort, and money. To me - you don't have that many animals at all :rofl1: but I'm ALWAYS told I have way too many animals (especially by non-animal people they just don't understand...)

Is what they say going to effect you that much? If yes, then maybe deep down you want to wait? If not then... then the chazzer in me says WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR!? Where are our pics??? LOL

Just tell your family it's a "foster". They can't guilt you for trying to help out a puppy. It's not like they live there or anything.

haha, WIN.

 

[SailenAero]

Just tell your family it's a "foster". They can't guilt you for trying to help out a puppy. It's not like they live there or anything.

LOL funnynthing is...with my family I had to do this with the cat!!!!! They -still- think he is a foster

 

[Kat09Tails]

My usual preference is 2-3 years between dogs so my last dog is fully mature and pretty well close to solid on obedience. I also don't get dogs for the purpose to be companions to my other dogs, I get dogs because I want another dog.

But that all said, the right dog comes along and that whole idea goes out the window.

 

[SailenAero]

Ah, of course it's not just for the purpose of a companion dog. But it would be good for him to have a playmate.

 

[k9krazee]

My usual preference is 2-3 years between dogs

But that all said, the right dog comes along and that whole idea goes out the window.

My preference is 2-3 years between dogs as well, that way they aren't seniors at the same time as well. However, it doesn't always go as planned, I now have two 10 year olds and two 7 year olds.

In your situation, it sounds like it would be a good idea to get a puppy now while you know you have the time to devote to puppyhood. I like the foster idea, I might have to try that one out someday! haha

 

[skittledoo]

I honestly don't care at all what my family thinks about how many animals I have or don't have... but that's just me. That being said... in your case I think it's good that you're weighing the pros and cons to either option... my vote? If you think that you could handle having another puppy right now and you can afford the vet costs, extra food, toys, etc that come along with having another dog in addition to time and training then I say go for it. I told my stepmom today that I'm planning to get an Ibizan in a couple years and that we're eventually going to be getting Josh a hunting dog and she said I'm absolutely crazy. I don't see how having 4 dogs would make me crazy? If we end up in a position to be able to handle that many dogs then I don't see why it's anyone's business but my own.

So... my vote is if you think you can handle and afford another one and you and your SO are both on the same page about it then go for it...

 

[hey_jude]

I got Jonah when Jude was almost 2 and it was a really good age! I think much earlier and he might not have been ready- wouldn't have had enough only child time, wasn't mature enough, etc. I would start looking at breeders now and start to plan for a litter for the fall or winter or so. That will give Aero a bit more time!

I woudl tell your family, "Just so you know we've decided it's the right decision for us to get another dog so Aero has a buddy. I'd love for you to be excited for me- and I hope you can be. As you knwo we're very responsible dog owners who work hard- we're really excited about this." I find sometimes the approach is the most important part with parents I like my moms approval too.

Good luck! can't wait to see a new puppy!

 

[sassafras]

If it were me and I felt ready and that I could afford the money, time, and energy, I'd get the puppy now.

 

[SailenAero]

You guys are so helpful...but I have to ask - has anyone else been in this situation? I kind of feel lame that I'm seeking family approval...but the odd thing is it's both sets of parents. The even weirder thing is that they are all animal lovers....so it doesn't make sense to me.

 

[sassafras]

Has anyone ever been in the situation where family disapproved of a decision they were contemplating? Um, yes.

 

[lizzybeth727]

I was on the waiting list for Keegan pretty much right when he was conceived, and I'd been looking for a puppy for about a year before that. But I waited until he was 4 or 5 weeks old before I told my mom that I was getting a puppy, because I knew she'd be less than happy about it.... And even then I probably wouldn't have told her except that Keegan and I were going to be staying with her for a week and I thought she needed a head's up (or I needed to reserve a pet sitter).

Anyway, I knew she'd be upset, but ultimately, what she thinks doesn't matter so much to me. It helps that she's 900 miles away and hasn't been to visit me in 3 years (I go visit her), so she can't really say anything, but still.

Also I've had two cats for over a year, that she doesn't know anything about.

 

[sillysally]

You guys are so helpful...but I have to ask - has anyone else been in this situation? I kind of feel lame that I'm seeking family approval...but the odd thing is it's both sets of parents. The even weirder thing is that they are all animal lovers....so it doesn't make sense to me.

I had a horse for 4 years that my mom didn't know I owned until I had a new home for him. She was all hurt that I didn't tell her about him, yet I mentioned to her that I was *considering* (and not very seriously) leasing (not even owning, but LEASING) a horse the other day and she and I ended up having one of the worst arguments we've had in years.

One thing that I have learned about my mom is that she will never be happy about us adding any kind of animal ever, from a goldfish on up to a horse. I wish it was different, but it's not, and it's just something I have to accept.

That may be just what you guys have to do....

 

[Beanie]

I told my stepmom today that I'm planning to get an Ibizan in a couple years and that we're eventually going to be getting Josh a hunting dog and she said I'm absolutely crazy. I don't see how having 4 dogs would make me crazy? If we end up in a position to be able to handle that many dogs then I don't see why it's anyone's business but my own.

Yeah, I got that one too. I've always said three is a nice number, but in Louisville I was walking and playing with four, and I got to thinking "you know, four might not be that bad either, really..." I mentioned that to my mom and she just gave me this really disapproving look.


My dad doesn't understand why I want another dog. He thinks Auggie is just so perfect that any other dog will be a disappointment compared to Auggie, and why get another one when Auggie is so perfect? This is what he said for YEARS and why we only ever had one dog when I was a kid - Happy was soooo perfect, we'll NEVER have another dog as good as Happy. Part of me thinks maybe he didn't want another dog because he thought if he loved that dog, too, it wouldn't be fair to Happy's memory... really, it's a miracle my mom ever got him to agree to two children...
I'm pretty sure no matter how many dogs I have, whenever I get another, I will get crap for it from my family. It would be nice to not have passive-aggressive comments made or disapproving looks, or even outright snide comments made, but at least in my family, if it's not one thing it's another. At a certain point you just have to do what is best for you and makes you happy, and hope everybody else gets over it (which they probably will.)