I’m also late to this – but I think that you should wait until Rex arrives, and maybe he’ll manage to appease your inner cluck?

I always said we’d get a dog once I was at home, but a close friend asked me recently if we were still had those plans, and I said “Fuck No!”. I can’t imagine having to manage a puppy AND a toddler, nevermind the fact that we have #2 on the way too.

Ahh, forget the dog, Sas – have a BABY!!! :D

I’m late to this but I’d say let the cute furry face go to a home where there’s someone there during the day. I have to say that I had to scroll cute furry face up out the way before I typed this comment.

If you can afford daycare that’s better for a puppy as they’d have constant company (and maybe some training). Puppies do get lonely and anxious. An older dog can handle a walker coming in mid-day for a nice long walk. I think 4-5 hours alone is about the max you can expect and that’s quite tough on a pack animal.

My experience with cat/dog households is that the cat’s personality holds the key, not the dog’s. If the cat lays down the law while the dog is small, he will forever be ruler of their world. My 17 year old doddery cat regularly bats the hell out of the 10 year old Jack Russell, just for a laugh, because at one time he was bigger than him. Dogs only chase something that runs.

No such thing as a doggie munter :)

I am as biased as they come but I think you should do it because then I get to see lots of puppy pics. But consider the breed carefully: coat, barking, prey drive etc. But you know that :)

my honest opinion? don’t do it

You love your weekends away and last minute adventures. If you have a dog, your flexibility to do that would stop.

They’re great but I wouldn’t do it.

Find someone with a dog and borrow it when you feel the need. That means you get all the fun and none of the hard work.

Our chain of pet ownership has gone: cat-dog-cat.
Cat2 was obtained to keep Cat1 company when Dog came into our lives.
Cat2 and Dog are besties.
Cat1 is still pissed and will occasionally piddle on my carpeting.

Dogs are VERY needy.
Like it’s been said, you can’t just up and go for the weekend, someone’s got to let the barker out.

I suggest doing some research into breed vs. personality vs. energy level vs. interaction with other pets.

No easy way of saying this. No. It’s one thing to consider it now, but in the middle of January when it’s shitting down with rain 24/7 and the ambient temp is a balmy 4c? How attractive is that to you?

I work at home a day a week and the air outside is full of dogs howling because their owners think it is acceptable to go to work, leaving the little (big) mutts out with the run of the garden. Howling and barking non-stop is not a sign of doggy-friendliness; it’s cruelty, no matter how well-intentioned.

oh my goodness. Thats a chocolate labraddodle isn’t it?! We were going to get one last year when we moved into our house but we couln’t find a single breeder who would sell one to us as we work during the day despite the fact we’d be able to pop back at lunch to take the dog for a walk and take it to a sitter in the afternoon so I have to say with their advice we decided it wouldn’t be fair on the dog…so we got 2 british blue cats instead :)

Ha yes, a spoodle.

http://sunnyo.blogspot.com/2005/09/designer-dogs.html

Why are they always crossed with poodles anyway?

Thats so much for your comments and helpful advice. We’ll have a think about it over the next few months.

Cos a dog is for life, not just for Christmas. Or to placate maternal 35 year olds.

dont get it

Don’t do it. Dogs do not belong in cities. They belong in paddocks, chasing ducks, rounding up sheep etc. If you are clucking like a chicken, get a chicken. They don’t live as long, you don’t have to walk them and they at least give you eggs.

Its actually a labradoodle. Which is completely different. Obviously.

I my attempts to delete myself from certain blog directories for various, uh, reasons, I notice you’re ’round the corner’. If you see a giant baby, do be nice.

Hmmm. I know I’m a little late to this party, but I’ll chime in with anyway…

Just to get it out there: I’m completely biased in favour of dogs. Completely and totally. Especially with that face!

That said, it does sound like there are some pretty significant complicating factors to consider here:

* Spontaneous trips away
* Longer working hours
* Lack of significant backyard-y type space for pooch to hang out in during the day when you’re at work

Also, consider the fact that:

* Puppies are INCREDIBLY needy for the first few years. Think training, walking, proper socialisation (SO IMPORTANT!), regular feeds (when very young – including at night), etc. But you knew that already.

* Your cat may decide that a puppy is either a fun toy or a mortal enemy. The dog usually copes OK, but the cat will probably hold a grudge against you forever for bringing in an intruder…

* Ditto Robin’s comment about neediness: dogs need a lot of interaction (that’s why I love them, but then again, that’s me)

* VET BILLS. Big ones. Especially when they’re young and they think that it’s a great idea to eat rat poison/whole blocks of dark chocolate/paint/plastic/etc… (Not that I speak from experience, or anything).

Good luck!

Thursday – I think you are right. It wouldn’t be fair on the pooch. Once Rexy gets here I won’t want to piss him off any more than we already have by sticking him on a plane for 24 hours.

J9 – Yeah, but don’t babies take away all of your reading time? Selfish.

As a former dog (2 actually, beagles) owner and lifelong cat owner, I must say that the dogs were darn cute and lovable and loving and I miss them (the ex took them). But I do not miss their constant neediness. It’s like having a baby. Forever. You will be leaving parties early to make sure someone gets his evening walk. No more sleeping in on weekend mornings – someone needs his walk. No working late unless someone can get home in time to walk the dog. You will be awoken in the middle of the night with upset tummy because someone found their way into the trash and ate who-knows-what, resulting in a midnight trip to the expensive emergency vet. They are always right there. They do not entertain themselves well.

That being said, whenever I see a cute dog I wish I had one again (current fave is King Charles Cavalier Spaniel). My cats are great but they don’t exactly greet me at the door with wagging tails and unconditional love (unless it’s past their dinner hour, and then the love is conditional).

My suggestion to you (since dogs adapt very well to new surroundings): borrow a friend’s dog for a few days. Then you will know if you can handle the demands on your time.

That is an awfully cute dog though…

That’s good advice to borrow a dog for while.

Dogs sleep most of the day anyway (as you’ll discover when you have a day off), but you can get perfectly serviceable “runs” to keep them safe from harm & mischief when you’re not there.

Get the little fucker.

oh yes, labradoodle

quite

hustle, hustle, hustle

fweng you are being a giant baby! there is no need for you to change anything. let her stew over what she’s missed.
aside from this minor point, i will of course, be very nice :)

oh my god

its a fucking spoodle

and you’re clucking like a chicken?!

i feel violated.

Now dogless, but loved mine dearly.

Read ‘The Art of Raising a Puppy by The Monks of New Skete.

And also look into doggie health insurance and buy it the day you get your dog.

Best of luck!

better get on the waiting list for the nearest hundgarten