We are a family of four. Husband, wife with two kids (5 and 3), We both work full time. I wanted to have a dog since a long time but my wife says NO. According to her, having a dog is an additional responsibility as it is an additional member of the family. we have to treat the dog like another child. You haven't been able to manage your own kids then how can you manage two kids and a dog? Her other concern is when we go out for a couple of days especially interstate by flight. I also want to know whether it is too costly to own a dog? I am thinking to get a German Shepherd or English Staffy breed.
Get a Dog? Yes or No
PROZ on 22/09/2020 - 11:35
Last edited 22/09/2020 - 11:36
Last edited 22/09/2020 - 11:36
Poll Options
- 110Yes - Now
- 35Yes - After 3 years
- 676No
Comments
"As someone who has never had a child, i am assuming this is what having kids is like"
A week of having broken sleep and getting to sleep in until 6am?
Yeah, pretty similar to raising a human.I said assuming, I can imagine what a child is like and see the outcomes of peoples attitudes hence I am never having kids
If you need validation online whether to get a dog or not, then you probably shouldn't get one.
- Convince geographically close friend/cousin/relative to get dog.
- Visit them.
dogs… dog shit… dog food… nup no way
She clearly has the brains of the house. You are lucky to have her.
We are two active young-ish people with no kids and the dog is keeping us super busy. He's quite reactive and we need to dedicate a lot of time to training and exercising him, there is no guarantee you will get the perfect dog with sweet temperament. If you are tired/time poor/want to save then don't get a dog, they need a lot of love and attention… and once you fall in love with your dog they will manipulate you into buying premium food/treats/gadgets/care for them and drain your savings… but in saying that i'm obsessed with my dog he's the best!
Getting a dog, especially a large breed is a huge undertaking. Grooming, walking at least once a day, annual vet check up, emergency vet care (at will happen), spending time with it, training it, feeding it. It might be better to start with a small breed as they can be less work, and more part of the family if you get a dog flap. It's a great time to get a dog for your kids if you can manage it. However, if you're out of the house most of the time, don't do it.
Personally wait till the kids are older unless they are really mature, dogs & kids don't always mix due to kids harassing the dog & not reading the signs to leave it alone which can result in dog bites.
Also as a co owner of a german shepherd don't go for a pure breed (or at all) unless its genetically sound. My sisters one who I care for is pure bred but given to her, she is a gorgeous dog but has extremely bad hips & back pain due to her breeding so she is on 2 types of supplements, pain meds twice a day & anxiety meds due to behaviour issues partly from the pain, she is only 7yrs old. Also I own a kelpie mix & going from that to helping with her the fur load is massive not to mention the grooming.
Also only go for a working breed if you want to provide lots of enrichment & walking, mine mainly needs the mental stimulation so puzzle toys work great.
I agree with trying fostering though when your ready, helps you see how you need to change your household & stuff. Also recommend going for something at least a year old, then its calmed down a bit & you don't need to worry about toilet training & destructive tendencies (not guaranteed).I'm not going to comment about the dog because I have no experience, but I will question the comment your wife made about you not being able to handle your kids.
Is it just as the mum she thinks she does a better job, or are you kinda like this guy:
https://www.reddit.com/r/AmItheAsshole/comments/isnpr2/aita_…
cheerio
Make sure if you do get a dog, you adopt one from a pound or RSPCA or some rescue shelter and not buy one from a puppy farm / pet store.
yep because getting a g shepard or staffy with a potentially abusive past is a genius idea around small children…
Obviously I'm not for puppy farms/stores, but theyre dangerous dogs - adopt a far smaller, friendlier dog
Yup spoken like someone who doesnt have a clue what they are talking about. Staffies were called nanny dogs for a reason.They absolutely love kids and were used as to keep kids occupied and look after them back in the day as well as were shown to be extremely tolerant to kids yanking and bothering them without them ever getting annoyed or aggressive back. Are there exceptions of course…
I adopted a rescue staffy with a abusive past by the way. She loves all human beings and has shown no signs to RSPCA or my vet or anyone who has met her a single sign of violence. Rescue shelters and RSPCA check dogs psychological behaviours after being rescued and before adopting them out or they have warnings about them based on what has been learnt. Smaller dogs are generally more violent and less tolerant of kids by the way. Before my staffy, i had a Beagle and before him a Dachsund / terrier. The dachshund / terrier was the most aggressive one of the 3 i have had and was not as good with kids as he got annoyed or bothered by them after a while.
And finally did i say go and adopt a shepard or a staffy? I said a rescue dog. There are many kinds and each kind is suited to different types of households and you will be told what kind of environment suits them. So you can pick and choose what will work with your environment.
Your wife is probably, rightly, concerned this will be another responsibility that will simply fall on her as it sounds like you leave a lot of parenting up to her? Dogs are a large commitment both in time and cost, especially a large breed like a German shepherd. So what you need to honestly ask yourself is will you really be devoting the 5-10 hours a week minimum to the dogs welfare and are happy for all the associated costs (vet, boarding, food etc).
We have a 5 year old maltese, 2 year old and 3 month old. Dog is great. He's basically a living teddy bear.
Which entered the household first?
Dog. 3 years before child 1 appeared.
I'm gonna have to vote no.
I've sat for dozens of dogs and have owned numerous dogs.
The three biggest issues for you may likely be:
Separation anxiety - its extremely difficult to deal with and to train out of.
Toilet training - if its an indoor dog, this requires serious training and compromises, to train to toilet in the bathroom if it can't go outside.
Barking - this can occur when the dog barks at anything visible pass its boundary/fencing.
Certainly most holidays and vacations away you will have to consider if your furbaby is welcomed, or dumped with family or friends for the duration.
No impromptu getaways for the weekend unless you know the place is pet friendly.
Unable to go out and come back late the dog will have separation anxiety after dark.
No guarantee the dog will be what you expect it to be, it might be a dumbass and social idiot.
Why should they expect friends or family to have to look after the dog? They could ask, but they should be prepared to:
- find a professional dog kennel; or
- take the dog with them; or
- not go.
All these people saying you can't work full time and have a dog.. Of course you can!
Dogs need a lot of love, attention and exercise but as long as you have a decent sized yard they can spend some time at home too. I've never not had a dog and I wouldn't want to not have one. They get walked basically every day and I make sure to spend time with them before and after work. We're fortunate to have family that can dog sit if we need to get away.
All my dogs have been from the rspca and they have all been beautiful friendly dogs - avoid the breeders.
But in saying that, this guy definitely shouldn't be getting a dog. Pull your weight and look after your kids first!
I owned two German Shepherd in my lift time, they're are wonders in my life, till this day I still remember them running around in my backyard.
I wish I could get another one but like most people says there is lot of responsibility owning one and you will need to dedicate times for them, they're not a home dogs that sit in your backyard or your house for the whole day.
A dog is an additional dependant that will require about 10 years of commitment. I'll try to detail the basic effort/ expenses you'll have to go through, and keep in mind different dog breeds have different maintenance costs and prone to specific illnesses/injuries.
Startup expenses apart from the puppy/dog itself
- Vet (desexing, vaccinations)
- Dog bed(s), crate, fences, pet door, leash, blanket, towel
- Puppy obedience school
- Puppy proofing the houseOngoing Expenses
- Annual pet rego
- Food (daily food, obedience treats + dental treats)
- Toys (to keep the dog busy - otherwise, it'll start chewing on other things like shoes, furniture, cables. Esp true for male dogs)
- Vet bills (injury, illness prevention, checkups)
- Supplements: treatments on flea and worming
- Grooming (haircut, shampoo, conditioner)
- Boarding (when on holidays)
- Pee pads (for apartments/ strictly indoor homes, or puppy toilet training)
- Waste bags
- Odour remover and baking sodaOngoing efforts
- Nail clipping, grooming, cleaning, feeding, socialisations (humans and dogs), exercises
- Training (toilet, social and barking)
- Plenty of time, patience and attentionI'm sure I missed a few things here and there, plus the expenses and efforts above also depend on the dog breed, personality and quality of items. To answer your question on cost, your miles may vary but I put my start up expenses at about $2,000 (excluding the dog itself) and ongoing expenses at about $300/mth including provisions for vet bills.
Some of them you can do it yourself but overall spot on.
$300 a month?
Do you feed your dog caviar?
Raw food diet - about $5 a day, flea treatment $70/ 3 months, worm treatment $30/ 4 months on top of $160 annual vet heartworm injection and and all the extra amount (about $100/m) goes into a provision account for vet bills (instead of paying for pet insurance and excess). Like I said, YMMV.
Foster and try it out.
German shepherd will destroy your yard. I had one before marriage so a yard wasnt exactly high priority - more the fact that he was awesome company and looked after the place (well guarded) while I was at work. felt sorry for him, got another, then I got 2x the damage and 2 dogs sitting around waiting for me to get home lol
on a serious note, fast forward 20+ years, kids wanted a dog, missus didnt. the trick is to get one the missus would like. We got a japanese spitz - awesome dog, doesnt eat much and really is one of the family. sure, we have fights over whose turn it is to walk her (we're all home so she gets 3 walks!) no damage to the house or yard, she doesnt chew anything (most likely because of all the walking) and has never taken a dump in the back yard (again she's somehow been trained to only poo on walks) - we go through a heck of a lot of doggy bags LOL
we dont do pet insurance, (cheaper to just pay upfront) - touch wood (we;'ve never had an issue so far) - super paranoid about cooked bones
grooming costs a bit - amazingly its the missus that insists the dog gets a haircut LOLwe got her as a 2yo - so we didnt go through the puppy stage which is just stressful and alot of work / damage / potty training. who knows, maybe I was just lucky?
your missus is onto something with the pet boarding when on holidays. fortunantly we have friends who love having her which we utilise maybe 80% of the time (dont want to abuse the friendship)
a pretrained dog just makes eveyrthing so much easier (struck gold!)
JS are great dogs but do not need haircuts - just regular brushing to keep the fur from matting, and trimming the fur between the paws to stop them slipping.
Shaving a JS damages its double coat, which it needs to regulate temperature in summer and winter.
My wife says the exact same thing.
The issue would be the time commitment and ongoing responsibility. Unless you have a family member who can take care of the dog when you go away frequently I wouldn't do it.
That said, if it's really important to you, you should do it.
You can sign up for guide dogs that can be trained, you only take care of them for a year or so I believe so there is no long term commitment.
Jim Jefferies would probably say you already have a dog.
yuk
If you must get a dog get a smaller breed.
I have had 7 German Shepherds in my life.
Starting out as a single bloke in suburbia - not the ideal way to have a shepherd, they need heaps of room & heaps of exercise
Then I finished up in the bush with no job & plenty of time & room for the shepherds - the ideal situationUnless you have a monster of a big back yard, don't get a shepherd; my 4th shepherd Zak, he played ball for an hour, rest for an hour, ball for an hour, rest for an hour, rinse & repeat; I never saw a movie all the way through and I got out of the habit of doing so
My 5th boy Ben would just chase the car for 20 minutes until he got tired; got a back yard big enough?
German Shepherds need a really lot of exercise.
I have a bad back, had it for a few years now, so I could not have anymore Shepherds after the Zakman passed away, he was 16 & a half; I have cats now and they come for walks with me, but I do miss my ShepherdsHow about a black lab?
Get a cat instead
House opposite me got a shepherd, it spent the first 2 years barking 24/7, but now only barks a few hours a day. When they take it for a walk, it's out of control, barks at every one and goes for other dogs. You have to hope they hang on to its leash otherwise, who knows what it would do.
A dog left alone for hours per day and not socialised. Poor treatment.
Yeah, these breads in particular need a lot of exercise, training and socialising. People just get them because they look good or tough, then dump them outside and wonder why they go crazy.
We have two fluffy dogs, stink pup junior and stink pup senior (not their real names). Perhaps you could borrow them to try out OP? 6 - 12 months would be a good start.
Don't get a dog. Your wife is right. Dog is an additional responsibility and your children will be broken hearted when it dies. I know this because I had a Labrador and we had to put it down two years ago due to untreatable tumor inside his nose. Technically it was my brother's dog but the dog became a family member. We just didn't expect his life expectancy to be shorter than usual and we cried our hearts out when we put it down. If you and your wife both work full time and would be leaving the dog by itself most of the day, I would suggest not to get it. On the last day of its life, I told my dog I was sorry we couldn't be there for him most of the time because we all had to go out to work. There were so many things we could have done together but we were just too busy with our own things. I vowed to never own a pet ever again because I don't want to go through the pain of losing it.
If you're still keen in owning a dog, do it when you're retired as you can keep the dog company all day.
your children will be broken hearted when it dies.
It will teach them the cycle of life and make them strong, nothing is permenent and you have to part with the loved ones. I had many pets and but had to part with them, so sad but it is the life.
Look at a breed that's low maintenance both to maintain and to keep, for example, Grayhound or Whippet.
German Sheppard is hard work and so are most of the other breeds which need a lot of exercise, are prone to health issues and need daily grooming.
I don't think it's responsible to get a dog if you're both working full time away from the house. You're kidding yourself if you think the dog will quietly cope with being left alone for many hours every day.
When your wife had decided after 3 years, then why do you even think more or even put on OzB. What wife says you have to obey. She will enforce it one way or another. Period.
Dog ownership in Australia has dropped precipitously over the last 20 years, and people are mostly purchasing munckin breeds like kavoodles. Cats might be a better choice for a low maintainence animal that will be left home alome 50% of the time.
If you work full-time you won't have the time to take care of a dog. They need food, attention, exercise (A LOT OF IT), grooming, toys, vet visits, and the list goes on. Wait till your children are old enough to be involved in the responsibility. You're wife's right.
If you’re not going to look after it properly (good quality food, at least basic training, vaccinations, daily walks etc, etc, etc) then DO NOT get a dog. There are far too many dogs being dumped on the RSPCA and other charities by people who are not committed to caring for the pet correctly.
How about pet robo dog ? Another option to consider with no maintenance and I heard it learns new skills every now and then
I've also been wanting to get a dog for many years now, but the only thing stopping me is having to pick up it's poo.
You get over that real quick. The real challenge is when your dogs anal glands release a fishy substance all over your new couch. Or when they leave a nugget under your bed sheets that you discover with your toes at 2am.
You can foster a dog through a rescue group to see how it goes, you pay only for it’s food. Then you can adopt this dog or another if it’s for you.
I grew up with adopted dogs all my life, big ones(German Shepard, Rottweiler, Mareema), had to feed them and pick up poop since I was 5 or 6yo. Always well-behaved, outdoor-only, dogs with clicker training. All the usual sit, stay etc then important stuff like heel and stopping and waiting before crossing roads off leash. Then we’d train silly stuff like jumping through hoops.
If you didn’t have dog/s a kid you won’t be as good with them as an adult and prob require professional training.How about you take over looking after the kids and your wife can look after the dog, but on holidays swap - she takes the kids and you stay home with the dog.
I have 4 dogs and 2 kids. They’re a massive financial burden and stops us from going on family holidays. Wouldn’t give them away though.
The kids or the dogs?
Probably the kids lol
Yes
Will you feed it, yes or no.
I will vote YES, but on the condition that you adopt an older dog from a rescue.
You don't have the time or devotion for a puppy, get a 5 year old that wont need as much exercise, just a home and love.
A hard no from me, especially since you brought up you wanted a German Shepherd!
The only reason my SO and I, both working full time, are getting a dog is because he'll be my Assistance Dog and therefore, will be with me all the time to help me live.
Go to shelters, go to the Dog Show and the Royal Shows and ask breeders about various breeds and research thoroughly!
If you want a dog, get one with a low exercise drive like a Greyhound, but even then.
Costs include the dog itself ($$ very dependent on breed), food, regular vaccinations, grooming, worming treatment etc, pet insurance.
We have two golden retrievers. They are a wonderful addition to the family, but the ongoing costs aren't cheap. Vet bills can be very large so insurance is a good idea (cue self insurance/savings account arguments that are good in theory but practiced properly by few), a decent policy might be close to $100 per month. One of our dogs was diagnosed with epilepsy after two years with us and is now on ongoing medication. Insurance covers the cost of that. Obviously accidents and illnesses can happen.
It also definitely interferes with things like holidays. We've found Air Bnb type places that allow them to come with us on occasions, but if going overseas they will need to be cared for. We're lucky enough to have relatives who have looked after them for us which is a great help.
On the plus side they add a lot to life, force you to get outside to exercise/walk them and will bark the street down if anyone they don't know comes near the house so provide security. Oh and unlike teenage kids, they are always happy to see you.
My dog's general wellbeing incl. her vaccinations and worming costs maybe 2k a year. Her vet bills are outrageously expensive, and the vet I go to is not outrageously priced - sometimes they even throw in free consults since they see how much I've paid. Her last two years have cost me around 20k in vet bills, including consultations at SASH. She's family and I am fortunate enough that I can afford it but keep that cost in mind.
If u can afford to take care of then why not…
No, why get a dog if you both work full time? So the poor thing can sit in your yard alone for 8-10 hours a day? And your wife is right, it will be a hassle if you ever want to go away, making it harder to do things spontaneously. Wait until you retire and can spend more time with it :)
How much time a day do you have to give to a dog??
Is it going to be locked up on its own for 8-10 hours a day?? it will get bored and start digging and eating things.
I feel like you should check the reddit "AITA" for 'AITA for leaving my husband because he got a dog when I told him I don't want to look after our 2 kids and a dog'
Maybe you should convince one of your friends to get a dog and go visit their dog, and take their dog for a walk. It's the same as having a dog but with less stress and responsibility.
A dog is a long long term commitment and high maintenance + of course the inevitable vet fees. Too many people get dogs as an impulse buy only to regret their decision later on. Just remember a dog needs to be walked each and every day, fed each day, washed every week or so and then have their mess cleaned up each time you walk it, etc.
Then there is the cost - food, council registration, flea and worming tablets, etc plus vet fees which aren't cheap - and particularly if the dog gets sick or is injured.
And if the dog likes to bark then this may well upset your neighbours.
Nooo! I learnt it in a hard way.
My wife and kids 5 and 10 harassed for 6 month before I gave up. I didn't even fully gave up, it was a minute weakness when I said "do whatever you want, leave me alone."
As a result, we have been living with this creature for 10 months:
1. his dog is destructive letiterally and financially. I have stopped counting all items damage by the doggo. My garden is completely destroyed. No more fancy plants , all dead/rooted out.
2. However, I keep counting the expenses, and it is $2700 by now (excluding the cost of purchase and food).
3. We stopped travelling completely because it is a headache if you have a dog.
4. Most important, we have conflicts because of the dog almost every day, i would say 5 day a week. And by "conflicts I mean they are at the serious level.
I started thinking of divorce as the only way to get rid of this dog from my life. I begged and threatened to sell the doggo but no one of the 3 cares.For me, it is probably one of the biggest mistake I have made in my life by now in terms of a toll on my mental health definitely the biggest.
We stopped travelling completely because it is a headache if you have a dog.
That's what kennels are for. Just keep your dog at the Vet and pay a fortune to have the vet's office take care of them for the length of your stay.
It not about money, money is my second or even third concern, the first one is the level of internal and external destruction caused by the doggo.
Sorry to hear this. I can sort of relate. What type of dog did you get? It may get better when the Doggo gets older and settles down. in my case,I had to pave my whole backyard to stop the digging. All my fly screens are broken from his jumping, he even ripped off our back flyscreen door. Spent 1000s in vet bills and dog boarding, food, medicine, and training. I also injured my shoulder while taking him for a run. I had to give up cricket for good. He also got a bit jealous when we had a baby, kept barking at the bub.
Now he is quite old, will be turning 12 years soon, and seems to be calming down a bit.
I had dogs before and they were all well behaved, not sure what happened with this one.The problem is not with this particular dog (english springer spaniel), the doggo is not worse than any other average dog.
I simply cannot explain what si the point of this financial and emotional burden. Seems pointless to me, pain with no gain.
Anyway, that was my mistake. On the other hand, I don't think that my missus is happier now than before because, unfortunately, I am not an angel and I constantly in a bad mood when the doggo is around
It is unlikely a big pleasure to have grumpy middle-age man, so we are square.
ive been having this "discussion" with my wife for over 10 years.
if you manage to get a dog and survive, report backJust get a small white puppy. They're all over the city. lol
If you travel quite often, don't get a dog. Every time we travel, we have to factor in the dog boarding fees to the overall cost as well. Also, you can't do any spontaneous overnight trips etc. Because you need to figure out who is gonna be with the dog while we are away.
Are there any breeds of dog that don't hate being left alone all day? Cat's are much better at amusing themselves, sleeping, killing native wildlife, sleeping etc.
There are some hounds and pye-dogs, just need to give some food and they will guard you. I think their closest relatives in here are the dingos.
having a pet is one of the greatest joys of a child's life
Having a pet = probably some benefits.
Having a dog = maybe not so much, depending on how committed the whole family is to looking after a very dependant, emotionally connected animal.I'd go with a goldfish or similar.
We have two dogs.. we love them but wish we never got them.. we are prisoners in our own home.. we cant go anywhere do anything and always have to keep them and their needs in mind before ours.
Yes that's awful.
Having a pet is a huge responsibility.
As a child I had many pets, what I learnt was they always died (not of old age) and decided not to keep pets anymore.
Try plants instead but they seem to die too.
Both need water 👍
Get Tomadachi, proof your wife she’s wrong. Afterward reward yourself with 10 dogs.
Maybe meet each other half way and get a cat instead? Much more independent than dogs and easier to look after.
Getting a pet is my idea of a nightmare if you work fulltime and have kids. Pets are a lot of work and cost money. Just like a kid. Yes, they can give a lot in return but I cannot see it being worth it unless you have very little life stress, heaps of free time (aka, no kids) and heaps of spare cash.
Remember - "happy wife, happy life".
Consider fostering first. We were ‘Foster fails’ with our dog i.e. we were just going to foster but fell in love and adopted. Don’t regret it at all and he’s been with us 7 years. Neighbours have been great for looking after him when we go away. It is lots of work, but lots of benefits too. Fostering will give you a bit of an idea how a particular dog could fit with your family.
Have another kid and another one first. Human > dog
I have 4 year old and 2 year old humans, so in a worse predicament than you kid wise, but living the same experience. We always had 2 dogs, one passed away recently, and now have a 16 week old puppy to fill that void. They're cavvies, so small dogs with a hobby of sleeping.
In principle, a dog is great. If you've mastered the art of child rearing, a puppy is a walk in the park. Other puppies we had when we both worked, you just need a place to keep them contained while your at work with water and toys. The first dogs we had together were 2 puppies, so they helped keep each other entertained….like children sort of, but no fighting so better.
Also you're right about going away. We're having a relative house sit for a few days while we go away for a few days soon. They've also stayed at nan/pops for a few months while we were on a big holiday. If you have family/friends willing to help, that will help a lot, otherwise there's boarding kennels.
However, consider the breed. Both of those need a lot of stimulation, and exercise. If you don't have the time for that…which you won't because you have young kids, look for another breed.
Cost wise, $30 a month for food or there abouts. Worming a few dollars a month every month. That's about it for ongoing costs. Other one off costs are nothing compared to the cost of a dog ($3k) these days.
Get a tamagotchi, if you can survive a week without a ghost and gravestone, I'd say you're in the clear to get one
This is OzBargain. A dog is not a bargain.
You can get a dog, but if youre a busy couple maybe dont get a staffy or german sheppard. Staffies especially will want to be with you as much as possible. They can get quite anxious (which can lead to a lot of behavioural issues) and need a lot of attention. They are really cool dogs though. German sheppard will probably need a lot of exercise and attention too.
You may be able to get a dog that is a bit more chill, like a cocker spaniel, or kings cavalier. They are more inside dogs and arent as intense. Just my 2 cents
Dogs are the best but i think you need to consider getting a greyhound. Perfect family dog that sleeps most of the day and just needs 1 walk a day.
This would probably be the worst time to get a dog.
It might seem a good idea during work from home, but what would happen next year when you have to go back to work??
Disagree. He could spend time now training the dog that he wouldn't have if not for the situation. Some people take their leave to do that. It does require a commitment to still care for the dog when he goes back to work.
Get a dingo, so called dog breeds are high in maintenance.
I got a puppy when I was living alone and working full time. It was stressful and a shock to my lifestyle for about the first week or two when the pup was super needy. You'll need to dedicate a few months to obedience classes, and practice that as strictly as you choose. Overall as you adjust it just becomes normal life, much like adjusting to parenthood but much less hands on in a lot shorter a timeframe. I've had my dog for two years and it's really easy and normal now. So many people warned me about how much responsibility it is etc. etc. but I tend to disagree. My dog has brought so much joy not just to my life but to my family and friends, even the trades people who come by the house. It is totally worth it.
What type of dog do you have? Male or female?
The dog appears to be an "it".
As someone who has just acquired a puppy
As someone who has never had a child, i am assuming this is what having kids is like
We regretted getting the puppy for 2 weeks but realized we just need to be patient. We now love this naughty lil puppper and cant live without her.
Remember to think think think. We got the puppy after 5 years of deciding.
Working full time and leaving the dog alone is a no no. Prepare to stay at home for 6 months miniumum before you even think of travelling.
Listen to your wife.