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We got our puppy when our baby was 4 months old. I think as long as you are set financially for the wedding then go ahead. Getting a dog definately costs a lot more than I expected. Also keep in mind what you will do with the dog the days surrounding your wedding, you won't be home much and on your honeymoon. If you have family that can dog sit that's great, but keneling can be expensive.
I vote now! They are are a lot of work at first, but it is worth it. I got my puppy at a time that probably wasn't the best (right after purchasing/beginning a remodel on a home), and I wouldn't change it for the world! Her goofy personality and lots of puppy affection make me smile daily (almost a year later). I can't imagine my life without her. That is WAY worth it in my book!
Good luck and enjoy the little bundle of fluff if you get one! Be sure to post pictures! :)
I say wait until after the wedding. I have a dog and he was injured 2 day before the wedding and needing emergency care. It threw a big monkey wrench into planning of who can take care of the dog while we were getting married and while we were away at our honeymoon. Granted he is an older dog.
It takes a lot of time to take care of a puppy and the most crucial time to spend with a pup is early on. Planning a wedding also takes up a lot of time. I would say wait til later when you can spend all your time truly dedicated to that pup.
Just my two cents. :)
I'm not good at waiting so I say NOW! FI and I agreed to get a second dog after the wedding as our "new situation" since we'll already be living together. But during my daily perusal of petfinder.com this past Sept, I came across THE perfect addition, so I sent in an application. Apparently I forgot to mention it to FI, so imagine his surprise when the rescue called him as a reference...oops...
Once I finally filled him in, he was reluctanly on board with moving our adoption up 8 months, and we brought Julesy home 1 wk later=)
I also vote now. This way, you can train your puppy over the summer months when it's nice outside, and not in the snow all winter long! Keeping a 4-8 month old puppy cooped up inside over winter would drive me crazy! Housebreaking can always start with puppy pads until the snow melts.
If you're worried about vet expenses popping up right before your wedding, check out some pet health insurance policies. They're really affordable and can lessen the blow if something happens!
I say wait. Puppies really are a lot of work. If you are going to adopt an older dog I think it's okay because you won't be as involved with the training.
You have to get them used to walking on the leash, things in your house WILL get chewed up no matter how hard you try, you have to train them to go to the bathroom outside which is somewhat stressful, not to mention barking/crying issues the first few months ect... Of course they eventually do make wonderful friends/companions..but i'm just saying it's a lot of work in the beginning.
You should also consider a rescue. =)
We're actually probably going to be doing this! My FI has an internship in another city this fall, and I've been dying for another dog, so he promised he'd get me one before he leaves so that I have two dogs to "protect" me instead of just one, haha. We'll probably be getting the puppy in August, and we're getting married in January, so that's right at 5 months! I definitely think it's manageable!
We got a puppy in December (5 months before the wedding!) and it really hasn't impacted the wedding plans. The two are mutually exclusive in my book.
However, puppies do need to go out A LOT! So take the weather situation into consideration. We tend to let her out far less than she needs to because the weather has been crappy.
Also, don't forget to think about what you'll do with it during the wedding/honeymoon. Kennels can be expensive. And, most won't take dogs that haven't had all their shots. And, puppy vaccines are over a span of months.
Either way, puppies are adorable little bundles of love and puppy kisses! Maybe they're like kids, there's no "right time"!
I think it depends on how old your "puppy" will be. We got our dog Louie when he was one year old. It wasn't the most convenient time, but he was already housebroken, so his training was really limited to leash training and not chewing on random items around the house. If you are buying/adopting a really young puppy, though, you might want to wait until August/September. They require quite a bit more work, and by then you'll have more time to devote to him/her!
i vote get one now! pups are a ton of fun (and some work) but they are great stress relievers and really bring people together! as long as you have a plan (ie you get a crate to crate train, and have toys and such) its not that hard to raise a puppy (i've raised 10).
also i would suggest looking into a golden rescue program! or if you go the breeder route make sure you can see the parents, golden's have lots of skin/allergy problems, and its nice to see how healthy the parents are and hear what they are eating! my golden has such bad skin it took us 2 years to find the right food for him, he now eats a raw/BARF diet and does great!
good luck! and have fun!
i vote get one now! pups are a ton of fun (and some work) but they are great stress relievers and really bring people together! as long as you have a plan (ie you get a crate to crate train, and have toys and such) its not that hard to raise a puppy (i've raised 10).
also i would suggest looking into a golden rescue program! or if you go the breeder route make sure you can see the parents, golden's have lots of skin/allergy problems, and its nice to see how healthy the parents are and hear what they are eating! my golden has such bad skin it took us 2 years to find the right food for him, he now eats a raw/BARF diet and does great!
good luck! and have fun!
I'm with Mrs Spring. It totally depends on the age of the puppy that you want to get. What does your FH think? Getting a puppy now for the doggy company and the doggy therapy is a great idea but in the weeks leading up to your wedding is it going to get stressful planning walks and housebreaking a young pup? Also, who will take care of it on your honeymoon, are your house guests that you're expecting allergic to dogs? There's quite a lot to take into consideration.
But oh I know how it feels. I'd love a dog now, but FH is insisting we wait until we have our own place and are able to care for it properly (ie, have the time to train it and such).
HOLD OFF! A puppy is WAY too much work to try to raise BEFORE your wedding. Plus you'll have to pay to board them for your honeymoon. Even if you have a friend watch them for you, it's still customary to pay them something for their trouble. Puppies are a huge financial commitment, a lot of people don't realize that. On top of the vaccinations they'll need ($$) at the two month, three month, six month, and year mark ($$$$), they also require large upfront costs for the puppy essentials like:
food & water bowls ($)
collar ($)
leash ($)
kennel ($$$)
puppy potty pads ($$)
no chew sprays ($$)
grooming brushes ($-$$)
kennel mats or pads ($$$)
urine cleaner for the carpet ($$)
toys ($$$)
food ($$)
training ($$$) in my mind this is necessary before 1 yr old
Not to mention the cost of all the items you'll have to replace because your house isn't puppy-proofed yet and they always find something to chew on (think tv cords, video game remotes and cords, cell phones, wallets, purses, shoes, slippers, couches, dining furniture, computer cables, hair brushes, hair dryer cords, headsets, headphones, cordless phones, tv remotes, dvr remotes, etc).
The first and last years of a dog's life are usually the most expensive. It's a very big financial commitment to consider. Not to mention the time commitment, since you need to spend a lot of time training a dog in its first year. We got a puppy before the wedding, and I REALLY REALLY wish we would have waited. We had plenty of money, but it was still a stressor in my life that was difficult to deal with on top of all the wedding stuff.
MightySaphhire pretty much hit the nail on the head. I want a puppy SOOO badly, too, but sometimes we need to listen to our heads instead of our hearts!
Puppies are cute, cuddly stress relievers, BUT they are also stress CAUSERS! LOL! Do you want to be running around cleaning up "puddles" and "piles" on the floor while trying to plan a wedding? Do you want to be constantly supervising your new puppy so he or she doesn't chew up your belongings? What would you do if he chewed up something for the wedding...the centerpieces you were working on, your wedding shoes, etc.? Are you prepared for sleepless nights when the puppy can't sleep because he misses his family, or getting up in the middle of the night at least once a night to take him outside? Are you guys going on a honeymoon? Who will take care of the puppy while you're gone? If he's not potty trained by then, are your friends willing to take a puppy who isn't completely housebroken? Would they want items in THEIR house chewed up, or are they able to properly supervise a puppy to make sure he doesn't chew things up?
If you're wanting a puppy, it would be a great time to start LOOKING for responsible breeders in your area, (some guildlines for what makes a breeder responsible: http://www.inch.com/~dogs/breeders.html), if you're looking to buy. Please be aware that many responsible breeders have a waiting list, and most only have a litter or two per year, (or less!), so if you do your research NOW, when you're ready you'll have a breeder lined up who you trust. Or, start looking for a rescue in your area if you want to adopt. If you absolutely MUST have a dog now, I would suggest adopting one that's older, and past the puppy stages of chewing and piddling in the house. Not a senior, per say, although their are some wonderful, wonderful senior dogs who could really use a loving family for their remaining years but are often overlooked because they're not a young pup anymore, (so don't rule them out!).
After discussion and discussion, and a purchase of A Complete Idiot's Guide to Golden Retrievers, I think we're getting a Golden Retriever in March. The girl on the left:)
GoldenPuppies_Smaller.jpg (16.9 KB, 41 downloads) 2 years old
Yeah!! They are so much work, so much money, so much time, and SOOOOOO WORTH EVERY SECOND!! She looks lovely btw.
Seonding MightySapphire. Puppies are A LOT of work and A LOT of money, and weddings are A LOT of work and A LOT of money. I'm assuming you'll also be holding down a job at this time, too? I say don't do it, wait! You don't want your puppy to get second-rate training and loving from you in his most formative months despite your best intentions. And something WILL have to give with all that on your plate.
Yeah, I would wait. I don't know if you have someone who is willing to watch your puppy while you are on your honeymoon. but if you don't you will have to board the puppy. To board my dog for a week, it cost me $400. Plus, do you have to pay for the shots? Plus, luckily, my dog is not a chewer but if your dog is. Can you imagine the dog chewing on furniture and worse, wedding related items? I know I was pretty much going insane 3 months before my wedding, I can't imagine house training or crate training a dog during that crucial time.
I also vote to wait!! Very expensive and very time consuming. Why not volunteer to walk dogs at a shelter or rescue when you need to take a break from wedding stuff?
don't worry too much about housebreaking a puppy in the winter! i got my 3-month old puppy in the middle of february during one of the snowiest and coldest michigan winters, but i actually thought it was easier in some ways. with all the snow, there wasn't anything to really distract her from going potty, and since she was cold too, she'd go quickly. she also LOVED running around the snow -- we have some hilarious videos of this teeny fluffy 7 pound bundle bounding and jumping in the foot of snow... you're not supposed to do a whole of walking with them for the first few months anyways, so once your puppy is ready for that it will be good weather again.
a few things that helped me -- have easy slip-on shoes stationed right near the door as well as everything else you'll need when you take them out (leash, doggie bags, flash light for night time, etc). that way you can move quickly!
and make sure you're really careful in the snow/ice -- i took the puppy out early one morning a few weeks after we got her and she was so excited to go outside she pulled her leash and i totally slipped on the ice on our stairs and twisted my ankle really badly :-( try housebreaking a dog when you can't walk, boo.
one more random winter puppy thing, ok, two:
- your dog probably won't need a coat when it is older, but we found that when our puppy was young (< year) she got cold easily and a little coat helped. LLBean makes a great one that is practical and not at all cheesy.
- if you buy salt to sprinkle on your steps/driveway, make sure you buy the dog-safe kind!
Seconding goodheart about the housebreaking. We got our last puppy in a snowy January, and not only was our puppy housebroken with ease, but we also have some ADORABLE photos of him in the snow!
How cute! I would get a puppy now being 6 months out from the wedding if I could. I moved home to save money for the wedding and my mother let me have one dog at the house and two would be pushing it. It will be nice that all of the training will be done before your wedding. Just make sure you can find someone to watch her on your honeymoon.
Thanks for all of the good advice and considerations everyone! We think she'll be able to come home March 15. I'm really excited to see her.
I can work from home occasionally, so I'll be working from home the first two weeks after we get her. Our wedding is really, really low key. I'm not doing many, if any, decorations (it's hard to compete with nature at an outdoor wedding), so she won't get into that. We'll keep all wedding-related stuff in the guest bedroom closet, and keep the bedroom door shut. She'll be kept on our main floor, where the hardwood floors and tile are, for the first few months anyway.
And right now we're not planning a honeymoon. We'll take two weeks off to go to the lake (where our wedding is) the week before and after the wedding. She'll come with us, as hellooo... retriever and water! We'll probably board her the weekend of the actual wedding though; as cute as bride groom and puppy photos are, I don't want to traumatize her with a fluffy dress and too many people.
We're planning to crate train too. Her name is Harlow, after the famous blonde Jean Harlow. I'm so excited to raise her with FI!
you'll have so much fun! goldens are the CUTEST puppies ever (ok, except for my miniature labradoodle ;-)
i felt like our relationship totally got better and more mature when i get the dog and we had this adorable little creature we were suddenly responsible for. we had been dating about a year at that time and didn't live together, so she was definitely MY puppy expenses-wise when she first came home, but i remember the first time he called her "my dog" and i was so happy he wanted to claim her and felt we were all a family :-) neither of us wants children, so our puppy really plays that role -- my mother in law calls her the "granddog" and had a picture of her on the christmas tree...
if you enjoy the resources that wedding boards provide, you'll probably also like the dog forums online -- there are tons, but i found the breed-specific ones were the most helpful and friendly. i'd never had a dog before (any pet, for that matter) and had tons of questions all the time so the forums were a godsend!
I vote now. I have a 2.5 year old black lab (hannah) and we got her when she was 8 weeks old... in September (which is about when you would get your puppy if you decide to wait). As long as you have a consistent schedule, you should be fine with training and wedding planning. Potty training went pretty quickly for us (and either way you will be doing the bulk of the PT in cold months). As long as you are home often enough, your little pup shouldn't cause too much ruckus. A dog is only as good as a dog can be.. but they can't make mischief when you are watching them!
Also I second goodheart, you are not supposed to do a lot of walking really young puppies. They are really susceptible to many puppy diseases until they complete their vaccination schedule.... and some of those can stay on the ground for a couple of years. Depending on where you live and plan on walking with your dog, there is no way of knowing what dogs have lived in the area/walked the same route for the last few years.
Getting our dog was one of the best decisions we have ever made, and while they do cause some stress at times, most of it can be avoided. Dogs are just opportunists.
So yeah... I vote now. :)
So cute and love the name! I was going to say Dont wait lol! Congrats on your new baby!
Awww, so adorable! 
Glad you're getting her, that's what I would've done too. And very cool you can bring her on the trip.
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Ok peeps, I'm jonesing for a golden retriever puppy BAD. We've been planning on getting a dog in 2010, but are trying to figure out if we should get one this spring, before our July wedding, or next September, after our July wedding and August house guests.
Since we're in wedding prep mode, our spring is pretty low key. We're not broke, but we're trying to save money for the wedding (aren't we all). Our schedules and routines will be pretty consistient, and I think ideal for welcoming a puppy. We do live in Montana, so house training with 2 feet of snow on the ground is a consideration.
My head says maybe we should wait until September, but my heart says I want/ need a puppy NOW! Partly as a therapy dog for stress, partly as someone to go for walks with me, partly as something to make me laugh.
Ok bees, tell me what you think. Get a puppy this spring, or wait till fall?