Hi everyone! I'm Sarah from Canada, and I am so excited about getting an English Cocker. I have 2 daughters, one just turned 2 and the other just turned 10 months. I am going to be waiting a year before I get my puppy, but I thought I'd join here and learn all I can, as well as get my English Cocker fix! Does anyone out there have any advice, words of wisdom to offer me? I've heard lots of pros and cons with having a puppy and very young kids, but I'm sure I can handle it. I'm a stay at home mom (for the next 5 years) and I can't wait to have a pup.
Welcome! As long as you do your research and have realistic expectations, it is possible to survive puppyhood with young children - but I have to admit, I didn't enjoy it as much as some people expected me to
It is hard work - I don't think I sat down for more than 20 minutes at a time for the first 12 months - once I had settled lil'bit down for the night (my daughter, who was three when we got Molo), then I would spend the rest of the evening playing/training Molo
When they are together, you can't take your eyes off them for a minute - and even when you are watching, the pup
will bite your children, it will hurt and they will cry (and so will you) - I lost count of the number of times lil'bit asked when Molo was leaving.....she eventually started sitting on the back of the sofa where Molo couldn't reach her
However,now Molo is grown up, and lil'bit has learnt how to behave around him, it is a joy to watch them every day
She has participated in clicker training with me, and has begun to learn how to handle him in agility - he will do anything for her
I think there is an expectation that puppies and children are a match made in heaven - but in my experience, during the puppy period, it is not like that....but it is defintely worth the hard work when you see them become friends once the puppy is a dog
Enjoy