We own a house now.
We have promised the boys that once we own a house we would get a dog.
We own a house now.
With a great back yard….a great fence.
And, we’ve had two offers just this week!
One offer is a seven yr old Beagle. The youth pastor and his wife breed Beagles and this is a momma they need to ‘retire’. We are told she is a great dog. They didn’t debark her but someone else did…we are told that can be a plus in Beagles. But it is still sort of sad. She isn’t housebroken so she’d be an outside dog – that is what she is used to and that is what Eric prefers. Plus, if we should travel, the youth pastor’s wife said they would keep her for us while we are gone. And, she is free! But what if she is too old to transition well into a family? What if she is miserable out back and the boys don’t play with her like she needs?
The other ‘offer’ is not quite an offer but it is…confusing, I know. A family friend’s Australian Shepherd had puppies with unknown poppa and they have 10 puppies that need homes. Ruth visited this week and picked one out for us. LOL But neither Eric or I are wild about the idea of training a puppy. And both of us have had negative experiences with Australian Shepherds. This offer isn’t really an offer because Eric has declared “no puppies”. Hmph! But as I don’t want to be the one training him/her, I’m not pitching a fit.
Plus, I’m still overwhelmed with everything we need to do to make this house our home…is adding a pet really the right thing to be doing?!
I wish I knew!
Edited to clarify – “is adding a pet RIGHT NOW really the right thing to be doing?!”
Hope you can find the perfect pet. 🙂 …. I wouldn’t be thrilled with the idea of training a puppy either. Sounds exhausting! *lol*
I’m assuming the word “promise” means something to both the parents there? I’m on the boy’s side this time!
Give it some time. Moving is a huge deal, Eric is going back to work. Give yourself 6 months to settle in then start looking. Visit the shelters, get to know different breeds, take the whole family down. (hey, it could count for school project!) I have plenty to say on the subject (as you know), so don’t rush into it. 🙂
I suspect that a puppy might be a bit too much on you right now. We’ve enjoyed adopting older dogs that are out of the puppy stage and I suspect you all would too. I don’t know that much about beagles, but maybe your friends would let you take her for a week trial run to see how the dog’s disposition fits with your lifestyle.
I think part of the fun of getting a dog is the looking and researching to find just the right breed or qualities you want in a dog. We have a DK Book of Dog Breeds that is VERY well worn and my kids aren’t afraid to say No to getting a certain dog even if it’s cute or needs a home, because we know how important it is to bring the right dog into our family.
Big step while you are getting used to your new home. I agree with Ashley – take your time and look for the right fit for the family. Shelters are a good source since you will probably be dealing with more mature dogs. Shelters aren’t free but you can look at a lot of different animals and the kids can participate.
My personal feeling – wait. The promise is not being broken – there was never a clause that said “the week after we move into our “owned” home, we will get a dog”. You need time to: 1) figure out the layout of the back yard and garden. 2) Get some shade planted 3) Designate an area for a dog so s/he won’t get in trouble for digging (you know they will, no matter what age – it’s a way to stay cool). I love Ashley’s idea of the entire family going to the shelter and picking out a dog – then no one can complain LOL!!!
Love you!
My 2 cents…we had an Australian Shepherd mix and let’s just say he didn’t do well with children, so………
And one of the good things about having a dog is for “protection.” A dog that doesn’t bark wouldn’t be much help in that department…
HI, sounds like a lot. We just moved into our new house and gota puppy- an Aussi pup. We love it, but its something I knew whatthe workloadwould be. They are HIGH energy dogs and so smart thatits a big commitment. She loves kids but I think you have to love the idea of 2 big walks or runs a day!
Good luck!