UPDATED... Push me one way or the other: should I get a puppy?

[JMS]

UPDATE: I just emailed the puppy woman (and then quickly logged off). I think waiting a little longer is the right decision. Thanks to all you wonderful online friends for helping me see a situation more clearly and less emotionally, although I'm still pretty sad

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I am going to try to make this brief and I'm going to include a poll so I can get a statistical answer

I've had puppy fever for a while. I always said when my youngest was 3, we would consider adopting a dog/puppy. He was 3 in March and loves dog and understands to treat a dog gently as much as possible for a 3 year old.

DH is not 100% on board. He thinks I'm already "crackers" and adding more to my plate will push me over the edge. I know puppies are more work than I truly realize. I am OCD about my house (well, the first floor). It needs to be clean for me to function. It's not hard though for me to keep on top of it - it's how I've always been and I'm used to the routine cleaning and picking up. We don't really have grass in our 1 acre back yard. We renovated our house, regraded the backyard and seeded. It's been very dry here until recently and the seed is just starting to germinate.

The other issue is that there is finally light at the end of the tunnel with getting a little "me" time and DH thinks that will be competely zapped by the puppy b/c I am basically going to be the sole care-giver.

On the flip side, when it is really a good time? Well, maybe the fall would be better b/c I would be home more daytime hours. I definitely want to start w/ a puppy so know matter what, the puppy stage is going to happen at some point, I might as well get it over with, right?

Ok.. now, I found a puppy on petfinder that really fits the description of my ideal mutt. I have been emailing back and forth with the woman who is raising him and she most likely also thinks I'm crackers. Basically, she said "No" right away b/c her opinion is that small dogs and small kids are not a good mix. Basically I begged and begged to be considered and promised our situation was the exception: that my kids are gentle and that I will be supervising at all times. So, I convinced her to consider us and we (me and the 3 kids) are driving 2.5 hrs (one-way) tomorrow to meet the puppies (there are 4) and for this woman to decide which one is a good match, if any.

Now, DH has me rethinking the whole thing. I'm affraid to back out even though it's all email and not like I have to face this person, I still feel bad for wasting her time. I'm also affraid of regretting it and rationally tell myself there will always be another perfect puppy.

In case anyone is wondering, it's a Jack Russell mix (I know, I know) but the mother is on the premises and is a great dog and I grew up with Jack Russells. The father is an unknown but the puppies are small and could be 1/2 beagle or something similiar.

Thanks for reading this novel, I do realize how trivial it is

[maestramommy]

LOL! I saw Jack Russell, and thought, "Aack!! I know, they are sooo cute, but..."

I am not a good person to give advice because I got a dog earlier than I planned. But I am not OCD either, and I did find the first 3 months quite stressful, until my dog was more PT'd. Also, Shep isn't much of a shedder, so I don't really notice hair around the house.

So I'll just say, take a hard look at your expectations, and what you can live with in terms of mess and chaos, before deciding.

[JMS]

Originally Posted by maestramommy

Also, Shep isn't much of a shedder, so I don't really notice hair around the house.

So I'll just say, take a hard look at your expectations, and what you can live with in terms of mess and chaos, before deciding.

Honestly I think I'll do fine w/ the mess component it's the time component that I'm worried about. Summer camps throw us for a loop (I'm driving back and forth all morning for at least a couple weeks) and then we are at our neighborhood pool most of the afternoon so we are probaby home less hours in the day in the summer than during the school year.

[maestramommy]

Originally Posted by JMS

Honestly I think I'll do fine w/ the mess component it's the time component that I'm worried about. Summer camps throw us for a loop (I'm driving back and forth all morning for at least a couple weeks) and then we are at our neighborhood pool most of the afternoon so we are probaby home less hours in the day in the summer than during the school year.

Well then, things will be easier in the fall, but what about next summer? Will you be facing the same issues?

[JMS]

Originally Posted by maestramommy

Well then, things will be easier in the fall, but what about next summer? Will you be facing the same issues?

I guess if I get one in the fall, by the time next summer rolls around we will be more into a routine and farther away from the new puppy stage. They are about 7 weeks old now and will be ready to go home on 5/26.

For the weeks my older two are in camp our day starts w/ leaving the house around 8:45, dropping off the older two and then back home until I leave to pick them up around 11:45. At least 3 days of the 5 I would normally take my 3 year old to run a couple errands or hit the gym (which I desparately need to reprioritize) while they are at camp. I think I would feel compelled to go home and exercise and play with the puppy b/c then we go to the pool from about 1 until 4 or 5 pm.
Is that too long for a puppy to be alone 4 or 5 days a week?

[Puddy73]

A calm, trained older dog - maybe. A Jack Russell mix, puppy, no way! This breed tends to be very smart, high energy and does not like to be left alone. I know it is anecdotal, but we have friends with Jack Russells and they are very destructive. You might not only be dealing with poop and pee messes but chewing and digging issues as well. I know they are so cute and I understand wanting one, but it just doesn't sound like a good fit for you right now.

[Carrots]

NOOOOO WAY!!! Wait until your youngest DS is older. There will always be dogs ready for adoption when you are in a better situation... and you WILL find the right pup.... when you are ready.

[jenfromnj]

I think that getting a dog now (and especially a puppy) is probably not the best idea if you are at all on the fence about it. Puppies are super needy, and always end up being more work than anticipated, for all the reasons that Jennifer/Puddy73 mentioned. Don't get me wrong, we have a dog who we love dearly, but she's a ton of work, and it sounds like your summer will be busy enough without adding a crazy puppy to the mix!

[Green_Tea]

I had puppy fever all winter long. As recently as two weeks ago I was begging DH for a dog. What made me change my mind was that every friend with a dog I have in RL - really, every single one - told me not to get a dog. Pretty much every one I know who has school age kids and full plates thinks their dogs are a PITA. I don't know why, exactly, but it's enough to make me think twice.

[Twin Mom]

Originally Posted by Green_Tea

I had puppy fever all winter long. As recently as two weeks ago I was begging DH for a dog. What made me change my mind was that every friend with a dog I have in RL - really, every single one - told me not to get a dog. Pretty much every one I know who has school age kids and full plates thinks their dogs are a PITA. I don't know why, exactly, but it's enough to make me think twice.

I know you already decided and I haven't read all of the posts but I have to say