Puppy or not to puppy?

[Clodagh]

I’ve got 4 dogs of working age. Eldest only 5, youngest not yet 2. Four workers is a good number. You would hope they could work hard until ten, all being well.
I’ve had my name down on a litter for 2 years now, if all goes well they should happen next year.
But I really don’t need another dog at this time.
Do I accept it’s not a perfect time but it’s perfect breeding and bite the bullet?
Or do I acknowledge that my main employer is cutting down hugely next year and even four will be more than enough?
I know no one else can really answer this, but what would you do?

 

[CorvusCorax]

If in doubt, leave it out!

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

I have never knowingly refused to take a dog ( well except for the year we were offered several Border Collies and only took 1 - but we were up to 7 by then), so my answer us the opposite to CC's.

 

[Clodagh]

Well you two are no help at all, between you ?

 

[CorvusCorax]

I guess it's cause I live on my own with no help and with three, it can definitely be a bit of a grind sometimes at this time of year when they all have different exercise and training needs. Also while I'm not Methuselah, I am more conscious that as I get older, any injury or illness (for me) will mean it will be more difficult to keep them occupied.

ETA realise this sounds very doom and gloom but I was out for an hour last night in the pitch black and pissing rain and wind at gone 11pm as neither of the boys would do a dump and I'm still a bit sore about it ?

 

[Moobli]

If it were me, I’d say no to the puppy. Our saying is “if in doubt, do nowt!”
Extra dogs means spreading yourself more thinly with the ones you already have, and a puppy especially so as they need so much one to one time.
My OH took service pups rather than stud fees last year (twice!) and then I rescued two collies that were, to all intents and purposes, surplus to requirements. We berate ourselves daily! The rising cost of living including dog food, vets bills etc etc as well as trying to find time for individual exercising and training is fraying nerves right now. (To be fair both of us suffering the after effects of Covid isn’t helping either).
So, from the voice of current experience, skip this litter but plan for another in a few years.

 

[druid]

I try to have a puppy every two years to provide the next trial/working dog. If one washes then I replace it usually.

Next year I have three on the cards, possibly with at least one more to run on so I'm of no help.

 

[Christmascinnamoncookie]

Depends how comfortable you are financially, I think. Outlay of purchase price then associated vet fees, food, housing-I suppose it would go outside? For me, 4 would be capacity, but that's because all of mine are purely pets and they carousel on my knee. You have 5 in total, don't you? Will Red ever work properly?

What Moobli says about spreading yourself too thinis true. A woman I know had 13 spaniels at last count, they aren't working, they certainly don't get the attention I think they should.

Having said all that, I'd get the puppy, probably two. ?

 

[stangs]

You wouldn’t have made this thread if, subconsciously, you were planning to go ahead with this. So it’s a no from me.

 

[FestiveG]

We have decided that our numbers are limited by the room in the car? we decided that we would get a car where we could get the dogs and passengers in. (It also means that if we buy anything when we are out that the front seat passenger doesn't have to sit under the shopping). So we have our three and the day care dog and we are full, which is a well, as there was a Rottie bitch needing a home recently.

 

[Spotherisk]

It’s a no from me! Well you already knew that, I don’t think there will be enough to keep them busy. You could wait two years before starting another, and your youngsters now will only be 7/8 then so that still works.

 

[blackcob]

With a good spread of ages - leave it out. Anything bunched up together - get the puppy.

I’ve gone too quickly from three to one and the one is a four year old now. With nothing solidly in the pipeline just yet I’m getting a bit wibbly, even if I magicked up a dog tomorrow he’d be six by the time the next one was doing anything useful. ?

 

[CorvusCorax]

I guess it's cause I live on my own with no help and with three, it can definitely be a bit of a grind sometimes at this time of year when they all have different exercise and training needs. Also while I'm not Methuselah, I am more conscious that as I get older, any injury or illness (for me) will mean it will be more difficult to keep them occupied.

ETA realise this sounds very doom and gloom but I was out for an hour last night in the pitch black and pissing rain and wind at gone 11pm as neither of the boys would do a dump and I'm still a bit sore about it ?

Guess who went to the toilet like absolute champions tonight ??

 

[Clodagh]

I started this thread as really I don’t want her.
I just feel like a time waster, but accept that the way the shoots here are going there’s going to be a lot of surplus dogs.
We have 6 ATM and tbh it’s hard work. OH helps a bit but they are mine, my responsibility and my job to plan.

 

[Clodagh]

Red does work, she’s never going to be amazing but she’s got a good nose and is very persistent.
Scout is blooming and because of injuries is A team this week. He’s as surprised as I am ?.

 

[Clodagh]

Guess who went to the toilet like absolute champions tonight ??

Ffee has got stitches and cannot poo with a bag on her leg. She hasn’t been since Tuesday. ?. She’ll explode soon.

 

[MurphysMinder]

I got a GSD pup last month, she was 4 months and house trained etc so easier. My other 2 are 11.5 and nearly 2 . I am finding it quite challenging finding the time to give the pup all the work she needs plus continuing the ongoing training for agility for the nearly 2 year old, plus their various classes aren't cheap.
I don't regret getting her at all, but if you are having doubts and still have a young dog I would maybe say don't do it.

 

[Christmascinnamoncookie]

I started this thread as really I don’t want her.
I just feel like a time waster, but accept that the way the shoots here are going there’s going to be a lot of surplus dogs.
We have 6 ATM and tbh it’s hard work. OH helps a bit but they are mine, my responsibility and my job to plan.

I think we need pictures and names as a reminder. I don’t know who I’m missing, I can only count 5. Tawny, Penny, Red, Ffee, Scout-who have I left out (how rude of me, I can’t believe I’ve forgotten one!)

 

[Clodagh]

I think we need pictures and names as a reminder. I don’t know who I’m missing, I can only count 5. Tawny, Penny, Red, Ffee, Scout-who have I left out (how rude of me, I can’t believe I’ve forgotten one!)

Brandy. She’s 14 in November and no longer poses for photos!

 

[Christmascinnamoncookie]

Brandy. She’s 14 in November and no longer poses for photos!

I can’t believe I forgot Brandy! *shameful*

 

[Thistle]

Well, you know me too well, I'd say yes, but only if I could afford it and had space. Scout is the youngest, so there will be 2.5/3 years between him and pup probably a nice gap. He'll be 4/5 by the time pup is fully on the team. Tawny will be drawing her pension, Brandy will be out of the equation, Penny will also be getting on a bit by the time pup is trained too. Fee will be 5, Red 6/7? I think if I've got the numbers right.

I have no idea if we'll still be shooting by then ir if the whole industry will have imploded though.

 

[BallyJ]

Buy the puppy!

Always! Think we're in the market for next year hoping for a relative of Willow though

 

[druid]

It's easy to say get the puppy but time to train and care for them is harder. I'm incredibly lucky that I can train literally on my doorstep, that I have kennels and a retired parent who takes over seamlessly when I'm away. Food and vet care is also at cost. A priviledged situation to be in. When I was driving 2 hours to pay €150 for a training day in lightning and hail this month I was stiull questioning my sanity.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

I must admit that I said yesterday, I'm never having 2 dogs again with less than 12 months between them that are not from the same litter! No matter who offers what.
But I see from Thistle's post that doesn't apply to you if you do get a pup.
Really it all books down to do you have enough time to give to a new pup, not just the 'training' but all the socialising and new experiences that young dogs need. If you know that you haven't got that time it wouldn't be fair to the pup. I'm sure the breeder will understand that things have changed for you since you expressed your interest

 

[Tiddlypom]

You work your 4 working dogs, but the work is drying up? The current youngest canine is not yet 2?

I'm going to be sensible and say hold fire re getting another pup for a fair while longer yet.

 

[Clodagh]

I’ve been invited to two more shoots today!
I can’t actually do them as they clash with other prebooked days but the work seems to still be out there.
It’s the bonding and training that I find hard if I have too many. Although Scout is very difficult as he won’t pick dummies so I would enjoy it more if it was easier. Say we all, always.

 

[Thistle]

You deserve to have another one to start from scratch yourself. Bonding with cute puppies is easy (yeah I know, you're odd and don't really like puppies). The last two that you've trained have come with baggage.

 

[Clodagh]

You deserve to have another one to start from scratch yourself. Bonding with cute puppies is easy (yeah I know, you're odd and don't really like puppies). The last two that you've trained have come with baggage.

Good point. I’m going to not decide until the end of the season. I can procrastinate!

 

[CorvusCorax]

If it was easy, everyone would be doing it

I'm not a huge baby puppy person either TBH, massively cute as my young one was.

 

[Clodagh]

If it was easy, everyone would be doing it

I’ve decided its all smoke and mirrors ?