#1
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Thinking of a puppy AND a kitten...
OK for once and for all, I'm going to see how allergic I am to cats. I know it's faded in the last few years, but I always thought I could never have one because of my allergies... anyways, this christmas season my bf and I will be taking in a friends cat while they go to their hometown for the holidays. This way I'll know for once and for all if I'm too allergic to have a cat (I can live with very minor allergies no problem). I suspect the experiment will prove that my allergies have improved enough to actually get a cat... OK, now to the point of all this...
Some of you may know that I plan to get a dog in the new year. I was just at the dog show in Montreal today and I was talking to a great pug breeder (I have always wanted a pug). They seemed to imply that it would be fine for me to have a puppy and go to work, since my bf will be home for lunch everyday, so long as we expect accidents. He says if we keep our baby in the bathroom with some newspaper and water, he/she will be fine and simply sleep most of the day. Is this OK for a puppy? I was considering getting a kitten at the same time (if I am not very allergic, as I suspect) so the puppy could have company and they could grow up together and form a great bond. Would it be irresponsible for me to get a puppy and/or a kitten since I work 9-5? My bf will be home at lunch... but is that enough? Note that outdoor potty training for puggie could really only occur in spring because of their sensitivity to extreme temperatures... so paper training would be acceptable for the time being. What do you all think? Honest opinions please. Not that I had to ask.
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"If a dog will not come to you after having looked you in the face, you should go home and examine your conscience." - Woodrow Wilson |
#2
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Wow! A pup and a kitten! I'd probably never consider that myself - but that's just because I know I'd go nuts! We got our kitten when our dog was 4yrs old. Personally, I'd wait until the pup is at least fairly reliably house trained. If you think you can handle both of them at the same time, then I say go for it!
As for paper training, we did it with our first dog, and she turned out fine. But she wasn't a toy breed, which we've been told can be harder to house train. |
#3
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Spring Training for Puppy
This is just my opinion on this.
I am not sure how soon after the new year you are thinking of getting a puppy but you did mention that you would paper train the puppy indoors until spring when the temps are not so cold. My experience is that you should only "paper train" puppies for a very short time and that the sooner they can associate outside and doing their business there the better off you are. I would not personally paper train a puppy for a long period of time and then expect them not to leave "presents" on my papers after they are "trained" I would suspect the puppy would wonder why you are upset with him for doing his business where you taught him he was supposed to do it. My suggestion is to wait until the weather is more favorable for outside "potty training" . I think the wait would be far easier to handle than a puppy who will leave you "presents" as he was trained to do. That is just my opinion though,,,,,, anyone else have suggestions? |
#4
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My honest opinion: I myself would not get either a puppy or a kitten unless I took the time off to be with the new baby. (I did that with Yin Yin- I cannot imagine having a new kitten and then just rushing off to work. I rearranged my schedule around it and made sure I could work my hours around her arrival) And two of them would be well, almost cruel! Two kittens might be easier - especially if they were from the same litter - but they would have to have their own room or a small section where they could become aquainted with you and your home. They would be able to play with each other. Even so, I'ds make sure I have time to do this.
These are new little beings coming into your care and they need mega support and help to get to know you, their new home, and to emotionally bond with you and your family. Kittens and puppies need much attention when they leave their mom and familiar surroundings and come to a new place. If you adopt two, you would need a seperate place for each one since you could not leave the two of them together. If you can take at keast two weeks off, I'd consider adopting it. There are situations that occur through no control of our own - ie a cat or dog is found near our home and we must care for him or her until we found out where it came from for example. But if you can control this situation (the date et al), then it really would be irresponsible to adopt a new puppy (much less two) unless you can take time to help the young one adapt to you and the new surroundings. Once the puppy is used to you and your bf, then you could have your bf come to feed him. Still, you will need someone to walk him - When he was single,my brother had someone come in, feed and walk his dog several times a day when he was at work. It was a neighbour who also had a dog and they shared those kind of responsibilities. A young dog especially will need to go out more often and should not be left alone for a couple weeks at a minimum! The same is true for a kitten and unless these two already know one another, you need to add extra time for them to adjust to one another. Good luck! (and I hope you have an employer who will be kind). Many of my students when they graduate now will take jobs only with employers who allow them to bring their dog to work or provide doggie or kitty day care. (It is a field in demand so the employers have to often give in and I foresee time off for a new pet as a next benefit!!) |
#5
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This has always been a question in my mind about pugs, because not only do they not fare well in winter temps, a hot summer day is almost even worse... they really have to be kept cool (and warm in winter!). I would never punish my baby for doing something she/he was taught (going on paper) but ideally I would like to be able to have him/her elminate outside and inside, depending on the weather... NO clue how that would work though... perhaps the only option would be to have them always go on paper/puppy pads and just be happy if baby decides to eliminate outside while on a walk? Not sure. Perhaps I'll consult a trainer there... or, any advice here?
As for the kitty, maybe I will wait till puppy is bigger, but I would love them to have eachother as company while I work and there would be no difficult adjustment period for my dog down the road... This is all just a brainstorm at this point, because until today's chat with a breeder, I thought there was no way I could have a puppy... I don't know... what's the right thing to do here?
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"If a dog will not come to you after having looked you in the face, you should go home and examine your conscience." - Woodrow Wilson |
#6
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I sure get caught up in "possibilities" easily... but I know, as I've always known, in my heart of hearts, that I could not get a puppy until I had the time for one. It's just not right, no matter what the breeder says.
I think I'll stick with my initial plan of rescuing an older dog in the new year, and waiting till I work from home for a puppy. Unfortunately, I don't think my employer would be so understanding to let me stay home two weeks at this point, especially since I just started this job a month and a half ago! As for a kitten, almost the same thing... first I'll wait and see how allergic I am, and if that goes well , I'll consider an older cat down the road to befriend (hopefully!) my rescue dog. I've always wanted a home full of animals, but happy animals! I know that a lonely puppy/kitty is a sad puppy/kitty :sad: I hope my older rescue dog will be happy under my circumstances... Thanks for your opinions all.
__________________
"If a dog will not come to you after having looked you in the face, you should go home and examine your conscience." - Woodrow Wilson |
#7
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I don't know much about cats as I am allergic, but possibly the breeder you talked to about pugs could answer this question for you...
My worry with a kitten and a pug is that pugs have very bulbous eyes, which if scratched by a kitten could do permanent damage. There must be a way to avoid this, but as I said...I do not know. This would simply be something I would check out if looking into having both a dog and a cat. I know that even with humans pugs are in danger of getting their eyes scratched...when playing with my sisters pug I was always nervous my rings would hurt the little one's eyes....it's a danger zone with them so prominently placed on the face!! Best of luck in your decision making!! |
#8
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#9
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Getting a young puppy when no one is home is very difficult with regards to housetraining, not to mention that puppy separated from it's mom and siblings may bark and cry all day for awhile if it's left totally alone. This is a consideration in an apartment. Yes, with a new puppy - or any age dog who is newly adopted - you should take a week off and gradually get it used to your absences.
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A puppy and a kitten at the same time is not a good idea. You couldn't leave them alone together all day anyway while they are small so they wouldn't be much company for each other. In my opinion, the best combination is an adult dog who is used to cats, and a kitten. The worst combination (usually) is an adult cat not used to dogs and a puppy. |
#10
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I have experience with this! Someone in my family has always had pugs!They are not that intolerant to the cold outdoors as I think you believe.....I personally trained 3 (my sister lived with me when she aquired her pug)We then trained 2 more for my mother.They are extremely intelligent and train very quickly when not receiving mixed signals.On the very coldest days they learn quickly to go potty quick .I used to carry them until we got to their "potty grounds", put them down ,let them do their business ,then pick the puppy up and bring her/him
inside. Being a smaller breed they won't be going outside for half hour walks with you but they definately can and do go out to do thier business!Just very quickly and a couple times more often than large breeds that get a chance to pee a dozen times in one outing LOL. You can also tuck her/him in your coat to keep warm or a flannel blankie or a doggie coat. As for summer,a must have would be an air conditioner .It doesn't have to be central air but I would not consider getting a pug without first buying an air conditioner . BTW...I only trained one at a time LOL |
#11
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Go for the older rescue dog you will be so happy. They are work as well but not as much as a puppy and my honest opinion and I have had pups from breeders and older rescues my choice would be the rescue dog. Rescues I think really understand a loving home more than pups who assume that this is what life is always in a loving home. Dogs who have lived the opposite and then come to a loving owner and home really do appreciated with all their hearts and show you how much everyday.
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Robin A dog has so many friends because they wag their tails not their tongues. R.I.P. Buddy 2002-2008 The best Mastiff ever. Now owned by Clark the Crazy American Bulldog |
#12
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I agree with you Mastifflover. BTW pug puppies are really really energetic!(what puppy isn't) but....of all the pug babies i've seen ,they were nuts! Kinda like an exorcist baby puppy.It may seem like....OMG what have I gotten myself into!This puppy is nuts and showing no signs of calming ever ,even slightly! They do with time
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#13
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When I put her on the deck, I have to make sure I remember her, cause she would NEVER bark or scratch to come in. She just accepts anything as her fate. She is so incredibly happy and grateful for anything given to her. She wakes up with a wigglebutt, and it only stops when she sleeps. :love: |
#14
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Awwwwwwwwww Lucky, she sounds utterly adorable!!! I have heard that about rescued dogs too - they seem to know they've been given a new life and appreciate it. They DO understand the difference of their former life of neglect and someone like you who I am sure is a wonderful mom!
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