Is there ever a good time?

[Kittilicious]

With all of the threads on here asking about getting a puppy, getting another dog, I've noticed that most, if not all, have replies of telling people to wait. Is there ever a "right time" to get a puppy or add another dog to your family? Wouldn't we all be dogless if we waited until everything was 100% perfect?

What were the main things you waited for to bring a dog into your home?
And were there things that you should have waited on before you did? (that question doesn't seem to make sense, but I don't know how else to word it.)

[mysweetkaos]

I don't feel there is ever a "perfect" time to add a puppy. I do however feel that there are times that are so far from perfect that yes waiting is in order.

[LaRen616]

I wanted to wait until my current dog was more mature, more trained and older before bringing in another puppy.

I wanted my males good behavior to influence my female.

I was hoping to wait until my male was 3 years old before bringing in another because I wanted a bigger age gap between them but that's not how it worked out. My breeder had the puppy I was looking for so she came to me earlier than expected.

The closer the dogs are in age the bigger the chance that they will both pass away within months of each other, not to mention that seniors are very expensive.

Also dogs closer in age are more likely to pick fights with each other, especially same sex dogs.

[Mrs.K]

nope there is no right time actually. The question is if you are responsible enough and don't make a hasty decision that you regret later on resulting in the dog ending up in the Shelter.

[Lmilr]

I agree that there isn't necessarily a 'right time'. For us it was a matter of expenses. We wanted to give our new dog the best of everything...food, vet treatment all of that stuff...so we waited until we knew that we could afford to spend what we wanted and not just have to skimp on his stuff.

[W.Oliver]

For me personally, I prefer to be satisfied with the first dog's training, which for me, is about age three. I put in at least 20 hours a week in formal training, and operate under "nothing in life is free" the rest of the time...so to train two pups at once is well beyond my capacity.

I do know very accomplished SchH trainers who have worked two pups at once, and I would say even for them, it is challenging to spend sufficient time with each....it can be done...I am just not good enough.

Of course if your dog is strictly a companion, and you're simply looking to develop good behavior, the time demand is much less.

At the end of the day, it is a personal decision driven by time and resources.

[Liesje]

The last three puppies I've had I got in the fall. I like this best for several reasons. The main reason is that if I can't find someone to come over and let the puppy out multiple times a day, by mid-October it's cool enough (but not too cold) for me to take the puppy in the kennel-van to work. This is ideal for me because I can let him out several times a day on my breaks and use my longer breaks to go for a walk and play. I work at a college so it is an ideal place for socializing a puppy to thousands of people, new sights, sounds, and smells everyday. I take them on various elevators, across glass bridges, around loud construction and lawn equipment, up/down a dozen different types of stairs, we have a pond for swimming if it's warm, open fields for playing/training (as long as I get off for intramural games). Any earlier in the year and it's too hot to have dogs in the van. Any later and it gets really cold and dark. Usually by the time we are in darkness and nonstop snow/blizzard the puppy is 4-5 months old and I start leaving him home and just driving home once or twice for potty breaks.

[fuzzybunny]

For me the right time was determined by:

1. Can I afford the additional expense?
2. Do I have the time and will I devote enough time to the new addition?
3. Is my current dog at a desired level of training?
4. Do I mind potty-training in the winter?

[Gretchen]

My old GSD mix died in the middle of my 3rd semester of nursing school. I thought we could do without a dog, but the whole house was so empty, depressing. Instead of studying, I would be spending my extra time on the internet looking for breeders or just nice pictures of German Shepherds. So the time was right for me when I was done with the part of my class that required grueling paperwork. I got our new one a week before finals - I have a photographic memory (but can't retain anything!) so I knew I could handle a pup and study at the same time.

My daughter lives away from home and goes to college. For her getting a dog was best during her summer break so she could spend some time bonding with it before school started.

[robinhuerta]

For me (personally) there is no "perfect" time.
There is only "when" one feels emotionally, physically and financially stable.
I don't mean.....owning their own home, wealthy or physically taunt.
I mean.....*secure* enough with their dwelling, finances, mental & physical health.
I've been a single mother of 3 small children, lived in an apartment in Chicago...and...worked a 9-5 job.....and we still had family dogs.
I actually had my first introduction to the sport of Schutzhund with my Doberman, while I lived under those circumstances.
*I think being *emotionally* ready is the biggest step........I would never have added a pet into my family.....if I was not *secure* enough (with our needs)....and *honest* about them.
JMO.....