Hi everyone. I am a single working mom, and I committed to getting a puppy. Am I crazy? Have any of you all had good experiences (or bad) with this? Here's my story. I have been separated from xh for over 2.5 years, divorced for almost 1.5. I have a 6 y.o. boy and a 5 y.o girl. I have never owned a dog in my adult life, much less a puppy, but grew up with German Shepherds, the kind I am getting. I have invested over a year of research and thought into this. I made the leap, paid the non-refundable deposit and was supposed to have one in Aug, but the breeding wasn't successful. Now, the puppy will be coming home in late Nov. I'm not excited about getting a puppy during the cold holiday season. Now that the puppy has been born, its real.
How do you walk a dog daily with such young children? I can't leave them alone to take the dog for a walk in the morning, and I can't imagine having them come with us when it's cold and dark (it doesn't get light here until about 7:30 during the darkest weeks of the year). I can see doing the walk in the evenings with the kids, yet it's dark by 5:30 during those dark weeks. I am also planning lunch break walks, which will be quick and without children.
Part of my reasoning for getting the dog is that I live alone in a not-so-great neighborhood. I have an alarm system, but I still am wary of noises at night. I figure a dog barking would be a good deterrent if someone ever tried to come around my house. However, I don't think getting a dog for fear-based reasoning is a good thing. And the dog is not solely for protection, it's the best gift I think I could give my children. However, we also like to walk along the river and foothills where we live, and I like more-secluded places. Having another set of senses around me would be good.
Another thing is that I have a highly stressful job. I work with immigrant DV survivors, and it is emotionally taxing. Some days I come home emotionally and mentally exhausted. I think the dog, once trained, would be a good form of stress relief, and one of my original "callings" to get the dog was to train her as a therapy dog for the veterans' hospital and for DV shelters. Am I deluding myself? I've never even trained a dog before, and now I want to train a therapy dog? Also, if I am successful, and it will be a few years, I will be able to bring my dog to work with me for our counseling clients and also as protection in case a crazy abusive husband ever comes around.
I know this is long, and some of the people posting have much more serious concerns, but I just needed to get this out and see what other single working mothers' experiences with puppy/ dog ownership are. I am feeling very ambivalent. One moment I am excited and ready to take on the challenge and commitment. Other moments I am seriously questioning my sanity (not literally, but this to me is part of being responsible for this decision). If I have to back out, I lose several hundred dollars on the deposit. If I move forward, I pay (I won't tell you how much because then you'll really think I'm crazy) lots of money and am therefore committed to the life of the dog (though the breeder will take her back for any reason). I chose a high quality, and yes, expensive dog because of my goals for her as a service dog.
Do you all have any tips or experiences you'd like to share? thank you for taking the time to read this and share. Much peace and love to you.
How do you walk a dog daily with such young children? I can't leave them alone to take the dog for a walk in the morning, and I can't imagine having them come with us when it's cold and dark (it doesn't get light here until about 7:30 during the darkest weeks of the year). I can see doing the walk in the evenings with the kids, yet it's dark by 5:30 during those dark weeks. I am also planning lunch break walks, which will be quick and without children.
Part of my reasoning for getting the dog is that I live alone in a not-so-great neighborhood. I have an alarm system, but I still am wary of noises at night. I figure a dog barking would be a good deterrent if someone ever tried to come around my house. However, I don't think getting a dog for fear-based reasoning is a good thing. And the dog is not solely for protection, it's the best gift I think I could give my children. However, we also like to walk along the river and foothills where we live, and I like more-secluded places. Having another set of senses around me would be good.
Another thing is that I have a highly stressful job. I work with immigrant DV survivors, and it is emotionally taxing. Some days I come home emotionally and mentally exhausted. I think the dog, once trained, would be a good form of stress relief, and one of my original "callings" to get the dog was to train her as a therapy dog for the veterans' hospital and for DV shelters. Am I deluding myself? I've never even trained a dog before, and now I want to train a therapy dog? Also, if I am successful, and it will be a few years, I will be able to bring my dog to work with me for our counseling clients and also as protection in case a crazy abusive husband ever comes around.
I know this is long, and some of the people posting have much more serious concerns, but I just needed to get this out and see what other single working mothers' experiences with puppy/ dog ownership are. I am feeling very ambivalent. One moment I am excited and ready to take on the challenge and commitment. Other moments I am seriously questioning my sanity (not literally, but this to me is part of being responsible for this decision). If I have to back out, I lose several hundred dollars on the deposit. If I move forward, I pay (I won't tell you how much because then you'll really think I'm crazy) lots of money and am therefore committed to the life of the dog (though the breeder will take her back for any reason). I chose a high quality, and yes, expensive dog because of my goals for her as a service dog.
Do you all have any tips or experiences you'd like to share? thank you for taking the time to read this and share. Much peace and love to you.