Adopting a puppy

[Mikey]

I've deliberated and put off this for about 12 months but I've finally relented and allowed my daughter to adopt a puppy.

Our home is being vetted the early part of next week to make sure we are suitable, but fingers crossed all will go well.

This is a picture of the little fluffball, he's 8 weeks old at the moment, and is a yorkie X, we think probably as JRT, but can't be sure.

[veggiechicken]

He's gorgeous, Mikey, just the right size for your daughter to love

[VirginVegGrower]

Remember with dogs and children mix, to put the pet's bowls of food down and chewies, but take them away as they are eating, give them back and keep repeating the exercise. That way they don't get possessive. Children very often pet kids as they are eating. As the dogs are standing still.
I'm thrilled you've adopted and I wish your daughter many happy doggy days together.
I have often thought of myself as a mother of four, when seeing two dogs and two kids chasing around the garden and all bouncing on a trampoline...bedlam

[scarey55]

Awww, he's a real cutie. If he's crossed with a JRT you'll soon know because he will bark at anything! (well, that's what our Jack Russell - Trevor, does)

[mrswadders]

He's gorgeous, looks very much like our latest little bundle. Gino was abandoned and not claimed so we've rehomed him (he's the little brown pup) Bella loves him as you can see.

If the little one your looking at is anything like my two you'll love him, Bella is a JRT/chi and we think Gino is possibly the same but a smaller JRT - not sure though

Love my babies wouldn' be without them now

[Mikey]

Thank you all for the kind words, things have taken a slight change this afternoon and its now all up in the air.

I work partly from home and partly from an office which is at my business partners home. My partners had agreed initially to the puppy coming to work with me at the office where they have a labrador, but have since rescinded saying that they would rather not give over their home and garden to someone elses dog.

Bit peeved TBH, I can understand their point of view and respect their decision, it doesn't make it any easier for me to have to tell my daughter, as I think it will probably mean we won't be able to re home.

I've informed the re homing centre of the change and am now waiting for them to make a decision as to whether they think it would be in the interest of the puppy.

I'll have to wait and hope.

[mrswadders]

fingers crossed for you mikey,hope it all works out

[veggiechicken]

Bumm How many hours would the pup be home alone? We always had dogs, even though we were both at work all day - with the occasional lunchtime visit. A dog flap into the garden helps.

[WendyC]

That's a shame. We have just adopted two kittens and being out at work 3 days was initially a stumbling block. We were at first told we could only have an older kitten but when we went to view we were told we could have younger ones. My neighbour is coming in to do lunch time feed and the kittens are doing well. I hope you manage to come to some arrangement. Fingers crossed.

[Mikey]

5-6 hours 3 days a week, the re-homing centre have guidelines and prefer it not to be more than 4 hours, and in the case of some of the more nervous dogs shorter than this.

Oh well, what will be will be, if the home thinks its not going to work out I'm sure they'll let me know. The pup is one of 4 in a litter, and I have offered to take 2 if it would be better for them to have company.

They are only pint sized somewhere between a hamster and a guinea pig at the moment. Fingers Crossed.

[Mikey]

They came back and said what I thought they would, due to our circumstances we couldn't be considered for adoption. Daughter is at home in tears, but its all probably for the best.

[VirginVegGrower]

Will your work partner not allow you to work at home 100% for a period or use a crate at their house?

[Veggielot]

That's a pity, I can understand why they would prefer someone to be a home all the time but that excludes an awful lot of people. With all the animals that need rehoming 5-6hours three days a week does seem that bad to me.

[Newton]

What is adopting? Why not just buy one? Is it different from rescuing? I'm confused. Can someone explain the differences?

[Potstubsdustbins]

I might get a kicking for this but.

Until recently I have had dogs all my life, and I have never found leaving them for a period as short as six hours to be a problem. If you leave them properly supplied with water and something to play with plus some where to rest and sleep they don't miss you. After all most puppies sleep most of the time.

I had a similar argument with the RSPCA (I lost by the way). My argument went along the lines of would you sooner see a dog in an otherwise good home or would you sooner put it down? They were unable to give me what I considered a reasonable answer. After some research I found out just how many healthy dogs they put down so I cancelled my monthly donation to them.

Potty