[MotownJohnny]

I have the opportunity in the near future to get a puppy if I want one.

Part of me says taking on the rearing of a pup would be an exciting new relationship and opportunity. It might lift me out of my doldrums.

The other part says no way, no time, too much right now.

????

[Soul Quake]

If it's "too much" and you don't have enough time, forget about it. Puppies and dogs alike need time among other things. You have to clean up their mess, potty train them, discipline. It's not a small undertaking.

Weigh the pros and cons.

Originally Posted by MotownJohnny

I have the opportunity in the near future to get a puppy if I want one.

Part of me says taking on the rearing of a pup would be an exciting new relationship and opportunity. It might lift me out of my doldrums.

The other part says no way, no time, too much right now.

????

My suggestion is to adopt a young adult dog from a reputable companion animal rescue organization.

[doglover1979]

Having a puppy is exactly like having a baby. The only difference is that puppies are smarter in someways, mature way faster, and bite. Puppies are also very expensive, even if the puppy itself is free.

If you wouldn't have time for a baby, you wouldn't have time for a puppy.

I'm a big fan of dogs as therapy, but an adult dog with the right personality is a better for a therapy pet than a puppy. Consulting with a dog trainer who can help you select a shelter dog is the way to go.

[Teacake]

What breed?

I think you should have a dog. They are great companions. Your be a good dog owner and I sense you need something to care for and love. We all do. Some living thing. Ive grown fond of my garter snakes that used to scare. me to death.

Im going to start with guinea hens and a barn cat. If I take to farm life im going to need a dog.

I guess it also depends on your leash laws, since you bike in the city.

[Hellion]

I'd love a dog, though admittedly not sure I could do a very good job raising a puppy...especially in my current living situation as my mom and her boyfriend would not be very tolerant of instances of the dog peeing/pooping on the floor while still being potty trained if I had my own apartment I would potentially be able to manage except...vet bills/vaccinations could add up which would be a concern.

But getting a full grown dog who's already been trained might be a good option since you'd get the companionship of a dog but without having to go through all the trouble of training them....though dogs regardless of how old do require a fair amount of attention moreso than cats.

[Teacake]

If its a vote, I vote for Johnny to take a puppy.

IDK Motown, sounds like you may have answered your own question. If you're already saying part of you says "no time, too busy right now". To take on that responsibility only to find out you were wrong wouldn't be fair to that poor creature. maybe you could foster one first and then that could help you decide if your ready for that kind of commitment.

[Teacake]

Times Ive been really on the brink, caring for another even casually brought me back. Medicaid pays for a car and driver so i save gas money. You see why I want to hang myself. But...the driver blushes and stammers, no english and I fall into teacher drills of thirty years ago. Water cools the radiator. You cool the radiator with water. The radiator cools the engine. You cool the engine with water in the radiator. He grins. I shrug. He repeats. Its fun.

Or the young yardman (dig it, I have medicaid and food assistance and cabs and a yardman) wants to know what those vines are. Turns out he has a new little yard. I tell him how much fun a garden is and despise im an elder who knows things.

I start to feel obliged to survive. Who else will teach these young people?

[Teacake]

A puppy needs water and food and warmth and love. It gets scared of the dark and of thunderstorms.

[Teacake]

A puppy can being a person back to the living.

Originally Posted by Teacake

A puppy can being a person back to the living.

so can a child, but it's not guaranteed and failure usually means something doesn't get the true attention it needs. Is that a test that should be taken with a living being? [/I][/I][/I]

[CalmingOcean]

I have 4 dogs and I can tell you, super rewarding, there is no love like that of an animal, but please for the sake of the animal just make sure you are ready to take in an animal.

I work with rescues and I'm co-founder of an organization that helps rescues and sometimes the worst cases of neglect are the ones that appear to love the animal so much.

When they say dogs need a walk everyday, this isn't just because it is physically good for them, mentally they need is as well. They need socialization- this could help you get out more but, to share a personal story, if you are anything like my husband, you could mess a dog up royally.

He got a puppy about the same time he went into a major depression. For 2 years that pup was his 'best friend', but for 2 years that dog lived a very reclusive life alongside my husband (before we met btw). Slowly, that dog went crazy (mind you, you have to pay attention to what breed, even a mutt, will work with your life style)- a heeled, does not do good not able to run and 'herd'. I came into the picture when Rascal (the dog) was 6. He is ten now and I still work with hm constantly, he will never be 'fixed', and many a fights my husband (then bf) got into over how he 'raised' Rascal.

Just be aware. Do your research on dog psychology, look into obedience training, know the dog has to keep busy from going crazy just like us (certain breeds obviously more so than others). Maybe look into volunteering with local rescues or shelters? See if they have a foster program? That is how I found my babies

On the plus I owe a lot to my dogs. Because they pick up on your mood and emotions (like little kids) I learned to steady my moods in front of them... In a way they kept me sane.

I wish everybody in the world would own a dog, but I also wish everyone who owns a dog damn well knows how to take care of it. (Not implying that you wouldn't- I have just seen too much neglect of these innocent creatures to take this subject lightly).

[Teacake]

You don't suppose we are projecting onto the puppy.Johnny might take home, do you?

Dogs are NOT children. They ARE people, but ...dogs have been bred to work with us. Work for us. Like horses. We bred them to suit our purposes. They bred us in subtler ways. We evolved beside them.
While its very wrong to have a human child to meet our needs, its what dogs were bred for, and aobit is their nature, and their desire. I'm sure treating a working or hunting dog like a child would send him into neurotic fits of inferiority feelings.

I know that in the worst part of my illness I feared that my depression would contaminate or harm a puppy. I yearned for something to love and care for. But I really believed I exuded such pain that I would hurt a tender animal. It is the saddest thing I've ever known. Ptsd cuts us off from humanity. I felt cut from all mammalian life.

I came to care for some pumpkins. Then a green garter snake about whom I was quit ambivilent. Then an extension cord orange colored garter snake. Then a human male who has healed me of a lot. I'll know I'm firmly entrenched in the will to live when I can commit to a puppy.

I met a service dog today, trained to recognise seizures. Beautiful intelligent animal. Id love to learn to train them.

I vote yes to dogs.

[ChildlikeEmpress]

Yeah I agree, make sure you are ready. Dogs really are very high maintenance animals. It would not be fair to a dog to not be able to pay much attention to him or leave him out all the time. They are very social, some even "clingy" and need a ton of interaction.
But if you are ready, a dog would happily be your constant companion!

[MotownJohnny]

Thanks for the responses.

The situation is - I can have a puppy from a breeder in Oct if I want one - a gift.

I have a dog now, he is older but still has a few good years.

I've had 3 dogs over the years. Been through all kinds of things - obedience classes and daycare and surgeries and a 3 year course of chemo and deaths from age and disease.

So I'm not exactly a novice. Just considering the pros and cons. Like housebreaking and daycare and all of it.

I dunno - I don't have to decide for 3-4 weeks.

[Parley]

I'm considering a dog to Motown but I don't have the experience that you do. I haven't had a dog for almost 20 years. This thread confirmed that I do NOT want a puppy. We've been considering one for more than a year now but I wasn't ready for the responsibility. I think I'm ready and we will probably go looking this weekend.

Personally, I think you'd be great with a dog. You've already had them and you like exercise so I image they will get lots of park time.

[MotownJohnny]

Oh, don't throw that in there, please - I know, my boy now is too old to run with me. I was already thinking running partner - nothing like justifying this in my mind, huh???

I got all of mine at around 8 weeks from breeders, so I know what puppies are all about. They are a lot of work in some ways, but I look at it as getting to see them grow and develop their personalities.

[doglover1979]

Originally Posted by MotownJohnny

Oh, don't throw that in there, please - I know, my boy now is too old to run with me. I was already thinking running partner - nothing like justifying this in my mind, huh???

I got all of mine at around 8 weeks from breeders, so I know what puppies are all about. They are a lot of work in some ways, but I look at it as getting to see them grow and develop their personalities.

If you know what having a puppy is all about then go for it! Puppies are awesome.

[Teacake]

Originally Posted by MotownJohnny

Oh, don't throw that in there, please - I know, my boy now is too old to run with me. I was already thinking running partner - nothing like justifying this in my mind, huh???

I got all of mine at around 8 weeks from breeders, so I know what puppies are all about. They are a lot of work in some ways, but I look at it as getting to see them grow and develop their personalities.

You deserve a good running partner. It's no good running alone. It's always more fun to have someone to match pace with. It's good for your brain. Its called limbic resonance and we need to be in sync with other people. Dogs are people as much as horses and humans .

What were you thinking to name your puppy?

[MotownJohnny]

Oh, good God, I can't go there yet, TeaC - if I do that it's as if I said yes already.

[Teacake]

Well, I guess you haven't chosen your puppy yet so the name has to wait.

From the sounds of it you have definitely had lots of experience with having dogs already and only you can truly know what kind of a place your in and if you have the time to devote to a new animal, you must already know the joys of having one. Good luck!

[Teacake]

I don't know, John, they are awfully wiggly. That's how they get where they need to go. I'd go ahead and think about names just in case.

Yes yes yes. I am too but not a puppy, a 4yo Plummer Terrier. Im excited.
Could you maybe consider adopting/rescuing a dog instead of buying from a breeder? No house training and dogs need homes ^_^