I have puppy fever ... Am I crazy???

Hey guys, I have been having puppy fever for a whole now & lately it's gotten really bad. t the end of march I will be going back home & will be there indefinitely due to family issues. So space & time aren't an issue.

The problem is I want one from a breeder but I feel guilty doing that because there are so many needy animals out there without homes. But only 2 of my dogs in all the dogs I have ever had ever have been from breeders (Izze, & Bear) so on the other hand I feel like I have "paid my debt" so to speak to rescuing. The puppy will be an ACD definitely, & have been in contact with a few reputable breeders (I think) the problem is most of them are like ... A days drive from me & I just don't think I can make the drive there are a few "hobby" breeders in my area who have "ranch" ACDs who don't show conformation but their dogs are healthy & seem (haven't gone to see any yet) happy, they only have a few dogs & only breed a few times a year.

I'm at least 10 years out from ever getting another dog (no new dogs until this crew has passed on) so it gives me a lot of time to debate.

I have firmly banned puppies in the house.. and then I take it back every so often. CURRENTLY I'd like to only get adult rescues but man, I would like a beezer.

I thought I was also a "no puppy" person too because in some ways an adult dog is easier, but there are some things in the adult rescues that, if I had had them from the get go, that wouldn't have happened so I think in some aspects it's better to start from scratch then to try to fix what someone else messed up ... You know?

Not knocking adult rescues ... Cuz they are great too ... But thee are some things about buddy & the others I have had that I know proper upbringing would have made a non issue.

No, I definitely feel that aspect as well. In some ways, it was much more positive to have Sham and Smalls as babies. I still remember all their awfulness as puppies, but as adults they're well rounded. Sham rolls over and offers me his feet in the air to trim his nails. I love what they've become growing up here.. I just don't love all of what puppies come with in general, heh. I also prefer to take the dogs that otherwise wouldn't be placed or would need a really specific environment.

My boyfriend questions my logic at least! He doesn't understand why I hate all the normal puppy stuff so much but happily take a totally unsocialized adult, or a dog that will bite over an issue. Like I said, at least I (hope) have a long time before I have to decide on a next dog. Sham is the youngest at slightly over 2, and then every one else is 6-10. I can accept that in 10 years not every one will be here (and likely sooner than that :\) but logically Sham should still be around and only then will I add another. If I add.. I also think about just fostering. Then DA dogs could be fostered here.

We're not getting another until atleast one of
our two have passed on, but we're definitely set on getting an ACD, be it from a breeder or rescue. We have time to figure it out ourselves, but if we go the breeder route, we're most likely getting them from a friend of mine who breeds ACDs in Sacramento. I love her dogs, as well as her ethics and her love and knowledge of the breed. We'll see what we decide when the time comes or what comes first.

you will be fine, you have had Ma'ii as your teacher . he is a good example of a "working" ACD. Izze was a lot like him, she was a "take no crap" kind of dog. Unless she was in public, then she was kind of like an SD in many ways, she would "put up" with people stepping on her, bumping into her, strollers running up on to her heels (though i did give all those careless folks a piece of my mind when they thought it was 'no big deal')

but at home she was a different animal, or if she was "working" she was all business & dont **** with her. LOL I loved that dog ... which is why i want another breeder pup, so i can have that again. I know i will prolly be posting in the whining/venting thread "whoa whoa as me why did i do thi to my self" at some point ... but it will pass i know & once they mature they become great dogs, but its my belief that they have to be 'started' early in order for you to 'mold ' them into thedog you want them to be.

I'd have another in a heartbeat and Fred is only 7 months...

So no! I just keep reminding myself of all the things I want to do with him that we aren't even close to yet! I think once we get more established with a club or trainer then ill not want for another for a bit.

I'm keeping my puppy fever at bay atm by running 2-3 puppy classes a week. Plenty of cuddles and puppy breathe with mountains of reminders of all the difficult parts of puppy raising.

I'm also finally feeling like I'm making some inways with Quinn's issues so I'm more than happy to just keep working hard on her for now.

Plus I have totally fallen in love with my trainers GSD's so now I have to decide if next dog is to be GSD, BC or Malinois.

I'm leaning towards BC just because I still think GSD's are just too big for me but I'm loving their temperaments.

I'm also thinking if I wait another 3 or so years for a dog I might have enough hands on training experience to get a Malinois puppy. So I wait and dream.

Before Squash, I had always gotten older puppies (6 months+) or adult dogs and was a HUGE fan of it. I always said I wasn't a puppy person.

Then I got Squash. I hated 90% of puppyhood. I hated house training. I hated the all-encompassing nature of supervising a puppy and teaching him how to behave in the house. I hated his adolescence. I hated worrying over every little thing was normal, or whether this or that thing that I had done or decision I had made had ruined or would ruin him.

But now that he's 2 and that's all behind me... god help me, I love having gone through all of that with him. I don't know that I will ever get a puppy again, and I do actually really love getting the 6-9 month olds, too... but I know I'm not NOT a puppy person anymore.

Oh I don't stress over ruining them, if I did that we wouldn't have any fun at all & part of having a puppy is the fun of it.

I actually don't mind the house training & teaching one how to behave in the house (they stay outside during the day & only come in at night ... Of course the puppy will be in a smaller enclosure until he gets bigger & I can "show him the ropes" of where he is & isn't allowed to go in the yard (even tho everywhere they aren't supposed to go is fenced off ... But still ...).

Also trying a your pup out is EASY having a young puppy is easy in many ways because they are so easy to tire out, then when thy get older they get easier because thy don't have to go out as often

Well....I am going to have a Chessie puppy in a one bedroom apartment, with three other dogs...I routinely ask if I am crazy all of the time.

The ONLY reason I'm even considering it is because 1.) the apartment is in the country, so we have a small yard (unfenced) and there is a GIANT public field right down the road that Puppy can run in, 2.) I can take puppy to work with me, 3.) we will hopefully not be living in this apartment for too much longer.

I desperately want a puppy. In fact I almost got a kitten the other weekend because my puppy want is so bad. I don't even want a cat. I just wanted a baby to distract me from getting a puppy.

I remind myself about all the things I have yet to do with Duke, he's only 2.5yrs. He's a great dog, and he's unused potential. I'd like to get him into rally-o and tracking, and I won't consider getting a puppy until those things are done. It's not fair to Duke to be overshadowed by a new comer.

But it just comes down to weighing the pros and cons.

No puppies here until the current crew passes.

The idea of getting an adult (whether it be a rescue or a breeder rehome) is very appealing. I'm not saying I'll never get a puppy again... and I love cuddling other people's pups, but I just love when they finally become adults.

Abby was a pretty fun puppy, no more work than any other puppy I've had, but her adolescence was a bit tumultuous lol. Grace was actually more destructive as a puppy, but is just an easier dog all around.

Josefina was a terribly easy puppy, but as an adult she is doing all the things she should have done as a pup :/ go figure. IME a "tough" puppy usually (not always but usually) becomes a better dog.

I have absolutely no desires to get another dog any time soon, but that could be because Tyrion is still a puppy, and is quite a handful. I can't even imagine having two of him!

I totally understand the feeling though. I've had kitten fever really bad recently because my two cats are so easy. I keep thinking "I could totally have another cat with no issue!" But I think my husband wouldn't be too happy...and neither would the existing cats probably.

LOL my OH isnt too excatic about a new pup either ... BUT he is going to be OOT through all of this, as in he will not have to listen to the whining, the midnight potty breaks, etc ... so, he didnt say "you cant have another dog" but if he had, i would have said "you wont be there to deal with it, what do you care?"