Puppies. 🤦‍♀️

[Clodagh]

So an ideal pup with my perfect breeding wants is available. I said no, being a grown up, but he’s just messaged me again to say she is still available.
She will be 8 weeks old mid July.
That’s easy.
But come 1st September I hope and intend to be out with the dogs all day, 4 days a week. How would I manage? OH, who is a saint, says I’m mad, he’s not helping and he will be busy anyway.
How could I make it work?
People who I have already bored with this subject just look away.

 

[SkylarkAscending]

Easily - just do it. You will have to pay for cover in the short term, it’s worth it

 

[BallyRoanBaubles]

Do you have anyone else who can help? Can you make it work by taking pup with you in car?

 

[ArklePig]

This kind of conundrum is why I've often wondered why au pairs for dogs aren't a thing.

 

[Christmascinnamoncookie]

Realistically, how many days out are you planning or is it how long is a piece of string stuff? Would the pup be outdoor reared? Could you leave T as babysitter or would she go nuts at being left behind? What about Red?

I'm the worst person to answer, I was puppy broody today. If it's the perfect breeding, will you massively regret not getting her?

 

[gallopingby]

What’s meant to be……. Looks like she’s waiting for you?

 

[CanteringCarrot]

Can't wait to see pics of your new puppy.

 

[Sprout]

What’s meant to be won’t pass you by.
I am supposed to be having spinal surgery and 2 knee replacements, but it keeps getting knocked back. On the day I was told this again, I heard a puppy was available from the breeder we got Peggy from, who we lost at just 4 years old last year, so I thought s*d it, life is too short and this is meant to be, so Winnie is now very much part of the family, 4 months old, and somehow I am making it work.
Go for it.

 

[Clodagh]

Can’t take pup in the car, I work in estate vehicles.
I’m just too much of a control freak to use dog day care.
Tawny stays at home anyway but I don’t leave dogs and pups in together. Red HATES all puppies and is really OTT nasty to them (I don’t blame her for that).
Anyone want a superbly bred black lab bitch?

 

[Spotherisk]

Chuck it in the kennel and deal with the poop when you get home. There will be other dogs next to it at all times.

 

[P3LH]

You do find a way to make it work regardless, but it can be more stressful and I know you and I have chatted about our mutual taboo which can’t be spoken aloud, of not liking pups as it is.

One we liked, but had been earmarked elsewhere, from a breeder a friend has one from who we loved, became available and we uhmmed and ahhed because of various factors (some similar to yours about general life). I’ll be honest it’s felt much harder work than the other pups and I’ve repeatedly said ‘sending him back’, and I do think that’s partly because it is much more hard work due to circumstances- and the bits that feel a chore generally with pups feel more of a chore/less enjoyable. That said, it’s a few months hassle and stress that will be worth it in the end.

I still hate puppies though.

I await to hear what you call her.

 

[Hormonal Filly]

All of ours as puppies came in crates in our 4x4 on shoot days but doesn’t sound like that’s an option for you. Could you use your own vehicle for a few weeks until she’s old enough to stay at home?

 

[Clodagh]

All of ours as puppies came in crates in our 4x4 on shoot days but doesn’t sound like that’s an option for you. Could you use your own vehicle for a few weeks until she’s old enough to stay at home?

Most shoots it’s not allowed (and I’m not an experienced enough offroad driver for some terrain) and I only have a mock 4wd anyway (Vitara). And what if she howled all through the drive!

As @P3LH says I don’t actually like puppies very much, which doesn’t help.

And I couldn’t leave a 4 month old pup to cry and poo in a kennel all day. I could not live with myself, the neighbours would kill me and mine are all house trained and spend time in and out.

Worst thing is with some changes in keepers on the partridge shoots there have been a lot of team changes and as a newbie I don’t know if I’m going to get any days. And they take forever to confirm with you. If I don’t get many partridge days I can manage a pup. It’s so hard.

 

[P3LH]

Most shoots it’s not allowed (and I’m not an experienced enough offroad driver for some terrain) and I only have a mock 4wd anyway (Vitara). And what if she howled all through the drive!

As @P3LH says I don’t actually like puppies very much, which doesn’t help.

And I couldn’t leave a 4 month old pup to cry and poo in a kennel all day. I could not live with myself, the neighbours would kill me and mine are all house trained and spend time in and out.

Worst thing is with some changes in keepers on the partridge shoots there have been a lot of team changes and as a newbie I don’t know if I’m going to get any days. And they take forever to confirm with you. If I don’t get many partridge days I can manage a pup. It’s so hard.

House training is one thing I’ve noted is much harder.
It’s slow. I think that’s the over arching theme. Everything is much slower due to circumstances. Even crate training/short periods alone - muuuuch slower and more hassle than with the others.
Not entirely undoable but definitely at times more stressful. My gin shelf is much more depleted than usual.

 

[SAujla]

Get the puppy

 

[SAujla]

If it's the perfect breeding, will you massively regret not getting her?

Yes she will!

 

[I'm Dun]

This kind of conundrum is why I've often wondered why au pairs for dogs aren't a thing.

God that would make my life so much easier! The clingy velcro whippet would be in heaven with his own slave, sorry au pair!

 

[I'm Dun]

Most shoots it’s not allowed (and I’m not an experienced enough offroad driver for some terrain) and I only have a mock 4wd anyway (Vitara). And what if she howled all through the drive!

As @P3LH says I don’t actually like puppies very much, which doesn’t help.

And I couldn’t leave a 4 month old pup to cry and poo in a kennel all day. I could not live with myself, the neighbours would kill me and mine are all house trained and spend time in and out.

Worst thing is with some changes in keepers on the partridge shoots there have been a lot of team changes and as a newbie I don’t know if I’m going to get any days. And they take forever to confirm with you. If I don’t get many partridge days I can manage a pup. It’s so hard.

Can you turn down some partridge days if they offer you loads? I don't know how it works, but surely you can say, thanks, but I can do x, y, z days but can do a, b, c?

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

Most shoots it’s not allowed (and I’m not an experienced enough offroad driver for some terrain) and I only have a mock 4wd anyway (Vitara). And what if she howled all through the drive!

As @P3LH says I don’t actually like puppies very much, which doesn’t help.

And I couldn’t leave a 4 month old pup to cry and poo in a kennel all day. I could not live with myself, the neighbours would kill me and mine are all house trained and spend time in and out.

Worst thing is with some changes in keepers on the partridge shoots there have been a lot of team changes and as a newbie I don’t know if I’m going to get any days. And they take forever to confirm with you. If I don’t get many partridge days I can manage a pup. It’s so hard.

If you don't get many days, will you regret not getting the puppy?

Eta, I don't know about you but I always think it is better to start your own puppy than have to correct someone else's training mistakes with an older dog.

 

[Clodagh]

Can you turn down some partridge days if they offer you loads? I don't know how it works, but surely you can say, thanks, but I can do x, y, z days but can do a, b, c?

No, as I have already handed in my availability it’s important to be reliable. And partridge is good earning, and i enjoy it, and I’m sure this isn’t the only black lab in the world… but it might be

 

[Clodagh]

If you don't get many days, will you regret not getting the puppy?

A bit, but not hugely, I’ll go racing more

 

[Clodagh]

Get the puppy

If you were a real friend you’d keep it from 1st September to 1st Feb for me.

 

[Christmascinnamoncookie]

Can’t take pup in the car, I work in estate vehicles.
I’m just too much of a control freak to use dog day care.
Tawny stays at home anyway but I don’t leave dogs and pups in together. Red HATES all puppies and is really OTT nasty to them (I don’t blame her for that).
Anyone want a superbly bred black lab bitch?

Ooh, she's black? The only colour I'd consider! I think they're super smart looking. Superficial, moi?!

You do find a way to make it work regardless, but it can be more stressful and I know you and I have chatted about our mutual taboo which can’t be spoken aloud, of not liking pups as it is.

One we liked, but had been earmarked elsewhere, from a breeder a friend has one from who we loved, became available and we uhmmed and ahhed because of various factors (some similar to yours about general life). I’ll be honest it’s felt much harder work than the other pups and I’ve repeatedly said ‘sending him back’, and I do think that’s partly because it is much more hard work due to circumstances- and the bits that feel a chore generally with pups feel more of a chore/less enjoyable. That said, it’s a few months hassle and stress that will be worth it in the end.

I still hate puppies though.

I await to hear what you call her.

I found the current two very hard work as puppies, Mitch was destructive, he hated his cage, even put a hole in his Tuffie (but is weirdly OK with it currently-mostly) I don't know if it was me being older and less tolerant. Strangely, I'm more than happy to get up at silly o'clock to toilet them then go back to bed, which I would have hated with the others.

Get the puppy. You'll make it work.

 

[BallyRoanBaubles]

Do pups of the same breeding come up often?

 

[SAujla]

If you were a real friend you’d keep it from 1st September to 1st Feb for me.

You'd never get it back, and a perfectly bred working dog would be wasted living a hard show Labrador life like Clover. I couldn't possibly do that to you or your new puppy

 

[Clodagh]

Do pups of the same breeding come up often?

Not unheard of, but the dog is getting older and will stand down at some point.
I’m never going to trial, I just like the trials bred hard wired Uber driven dogs.
I really need a pup born December/ January that will be calm, settled and ok in a kennel or for OH to be able to walk with the others by September.

 

[Squeak]

Would it be possible to find someone to look after the puppy for the days you're shooting? I'm not keen on trusting others with my animals either but as a short term fix if I was stuck I could probably find someone.

 

[SAujla]

Looking ahead this pup would be around 16-18 months next shooting season, which would be great so one difficult period now for long term gain. Could see if someone can check in once whilst you are out as well, at 4 months old the pup should be sleeping a lot anyway. Your OH will struggle to not melt in front of a black lab puppy, we all would

 

[Clodagh]

Would it be possible to find someone to look after the puppy for the days you're shooting? I'm not keen on trusting others with my animals either but as a short term fix if I was stuck I could probably find someone.

i can’t think of anyone I would trust. Things like you never tell a worker off for carrying or chewing, even if it’s your diamond necklace or your new Jimmy Choos. There’s so much early stuff that can make your life difficult if done wrong. Quite possibly this will be my last worker so I’m treating myself to something without baggage. I don’t then want it to collect some growing up!
Next door have offered but their collies free range and their last lab they ran over.

 

[Clodagh]

Looking ahead this pup would be around 16-18 months next shooting season, which would be great so one difficult period now for long term gain. Could see if someone can check in once whilst you are out as well, at 4 months old the pup should be sleeping a lot anyway. Your OH will struggle to not melt in front of a black lab puppy, we all would

He’s tougher than you