Puppies are adorable, sweet and so so funny. And there is something very special about the idea of your kids growing up with a dog. But how do you know when is the right time for a new puppy to join your family? A new puppy is just like a new baby – You can’t just bring one home and hope for the best. Getting a new puppy should not be an impulsive decision, but rather one that the whole family agrees upon. Time for a truth bomb: Even if the kids are the ones who promise to take care of the puppy (cross my heart and hope to die…), the bulk of the work is going to land on YOU. SO, if YOU want a new puppy and have the time and energy for having a baby in the house, go for it!
We are raising a service puppy for the summer, so this is a topic that’s my reality at the moment. Wow – it’s exhausting! My kids are teens now, so I am out of practice in terms of waking up with a baby at night. Before Yara came to live with us, she spent her days with 10 other puppies and a staff of animal caretakers. Like most puppies who come to live in their new homes, she was never alone before. She’s learning about that here, but slowly and with compassion.
During our first several weeks together, I slept in the guest room with her crate next to my bed. We fell asleep simultaneously, with my arm dangling over the edge of the bed, her body pressed against my hand through the wire crate. Now that she is a better sleeper, we moved her crate up to my bedroom, where I can enjoy being back in my own bed. I was worried that she would wake my husband during the night – he has to rise early for work. he is now 12 weeks old and is sleeping through the night, waking at 5 a.m. to go potty…and start her day. Oy – I am not used to such early mornings and will hopefully ease her back to sleep or inch her potty-time a little later, if possible.
New Puppy: Frustrations and Joys
I read, learn and breathe dog training these days…and find that even with all of my experience with positive training strategies, I can still get really frustrated. It bums me out when I am less patient than I want to be. It doesn’t help that Yara is testing her voice, demanding attention when I am trying to make dinner or get some work done. And boy, is her voice piercing…like – I feel it in my bones! At first I felt guilty for ignoring her, and then for finally hiding in another room. But then I realized that all of her needs were met and she was having a tantrum, as any baby might when she is over-tired. The reality is that Yara is going to be a service dog – so she has to learn to self soothe.
I love this new puppy experience for so many reasons, the first of which is that I have so much more compassion for families with new puppies. While we have fostered puppies for our animal shelter a few times, Yara is the first pup to live with us longterm. We are in the thick of it. The late nights, the puppy zoomies, the potty accidents, treats for great behavior, early mornings, and lots and lots of snuggles. She brings us joy. But she also brings us exhaustion, the inability to leave the house for long stretches of time, and the disruption from regular daily chores, like laundry, cooking meals…and sometimes having an uninterrupted conversation with my kids or husband.
Is it worth it? It is, for me. But I don’t think it would be for everyone. Make sure you are really ready for a new puppy. It’s not something to take on lightly.
Before we sign off, here is something else to consider. If you don’t have the bandwidth to cope with a new baby (puppy), perhaps you can consider getting an adult dog? Shelters are filled with wonderful animals looking for the right home. Adult dogs still require a lot of work and clear routines, but their bladders are mature, they are less likely to chew on everything and everyone, and they tend to be calmer. Don’t throw away your idea of adding a dog to your family simply because a new puppy would be too hard. Adult dogs are wonderful, too. And please, let me know if you need any support integrating a dog or puppy into your family. I’d be happy to help.
To watch our journey together, follow us on Facebook and Instagram: @PoochParenting.
xo
Michelle
