This week, David asked if I was interested in getting a dog...out of nowhere. He knows that I’ve been ready for a dog for years! But with trying to sell our condo, this hasn’t been a possibility for us or else I would have been begging, trust me. I believe we can thank our friends, the Falters, for putting this this sudden idea in David’s head. They have the coolest Boston Terrier, Otis, who has won both of our hearts. So, in this spirit, I’ve been out asking questions of dog owners and pet goods store owners whether now (only 5 or so months before baby is here) is a good time to get a dog.
Responses are mixed, but what I’ve put together is this: we can do it before baby comes if a) breed has a history of being good with children; and b) dog is of right age to accept new things or has the right personality.
Until I met Otis, I’ve had my heart set on a Golden Retriever, which is such a happy-go-lucky, loving breed, and is the kind of dog I grew up with. I also think Labs, German Shorthair Pointers, and Australian Shepherd mixes are great dogs. David found a Boylan Spaniel the other day and was really interested in it. All of these breeds are medium to large dogs who are smart and playful and usually great with children.
So, I’ve been looking online and am now considering a fostering opportunity for the remainder of the summer, to see if we can make it work or if we should wait until after baby is here and getting older. The other major element of this is: we move every 10-12 weeks to a new city. The dog would have to be good with new environments and I know not all dogs are. I only know of one couple who goes through this with a dog - they travel all over the world - and have the sweetest, most well-mannered dog I know, Rocky. Not sure that is an easy dog to find.
Any thoughts on fostering or perspectives from the doggy owners out there?
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