Hey everyone! So I've been craving a new doggie for a while now and I'm desperate for a new canine companion. My family had our dog for about fifteen years but unfortunatley our baby passed away a year ago and now I'd just love another dog, not to replace our old one of course, no animal would ever be able to do that but simply because, I am, and always have been a doggie lover.

My mother says that if I buy the dog myself then I would be allowed to have one, but even though it would take me a while to save up, I'm thinking that even when/if I did have the money I wouldn't buy one just yet. The thing is I want to travel and things while I'm still young and of course I would never get a pup and then bugger off travelling for a year or whatever.

So my point is that even though I want a pup now I'm looking at a few years to get one seeing as I want to travel and things first. I hate the fact of having to wait though but I know it has to be done, I hate being so sensible!

So have any of you guys ever been in the same position where you have really wanted a pup but due to circumstance or whatever, you just had to put it off? How did you get through having to wait? I'm such an impatient sod!

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Last year, I finally talked my husband round to getting a puppy (after he didn't want one because our daughter was so little) and then I fell pregnant (not planned), so he said no to the pup. At least, not until the new baby was a bit bigger. We now have gorgeous 10-month old son, 3-year old daughter and a lovely staffie pup took a long time, but you just have to keep reminding yourself, it'll be worth the wait.
What are you thinking of getting?

Never been in that situation but have you thought about "fostering" if your family if up to it (depends on situation if it is feasible). How about working in any local rescue to get your "doggie fix" or simply volunteering to walk the dogs Just thoughts that popped into my head.

Will say waiting until you are settled down is the right thing to do.

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I wanted a dog since I was a little girl - had to wait until I was 37
I just didn't have the right lifestyle and time for a dog and when the kids were small I wouldn't of coped.

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A dog Possesses Beauty without Vanity,Strength without Insolence, Courage without Ferocity, And all the Virtues of Man without his Vices.

I wanted a dog of my own as soon as I left home, but had to wait about 14 years until circumstances were finally right to get one .

I got my 'doggy' fix by walking friends' dogs, house sitting and really thinking about what breeds I liked and why.

The amount of time that I had waited actually meant that I was in no desperate hurry to find a breeder (as what would months to a year matter after over a decade?), had had lots of time to get together everything I would need, decide what insurance to purchase, what training methods to use etc etc.

I am glad in hindsight that I waited so long as I am a completely different person to that 18 year old who first wanted a dog. It is great to hear that you are considering things so carefully; a real hatred of mine is people who just get a dog because they want one without giving any real thought to how they will care for the dog properly, then rehome it when they realise how much work a dog takes or leave it alone for hours and hours on end because they are not prepared to (or can't) alter their lifestyle.

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I wanted a dog since I was old enough to know what a dog was!

The ONLY reason why I got my puppy is because I was in a perfect situation to raise a puppy (she comes to work with me etc.). Otherwise I probably would have waited until I retire in about 40 years!

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Wow, you are so lucky! Where do you work? I work from home, so my office is on the sofa with pup curled up by my feet. Lovely.

Aw, I bet you're loving your new pup, and your gorgeous little baba of course Well I've been looking at so many breeds but at the moment I'm really loving either a golden retriever, a lab or a german shepherd. But of course, this could all change completley when the time comes.

Oh yes, there is a Dog's Trust right down the road from my house and I did some work experience there a few years back. I am actually thinking of volunteering to walk the dogs from time to time, to get my fix

I agree Dogless, I'd be so tempted to get a pup now if I have the money but I know I need to wait until I'm in the right position. I hate seeing dogs having to be re-homed because owners didn't think things through enough too. It's so sad

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Exactly the same right now with me. I want to buy my first own puppy (due to the current dogs being family dogs rather than mine) I have been researching millions of different breeds over the last 1.5-2 years, spoke to breeders and am mainly responsible for my family dogs. (I feed, walk, look after etc.) I'm still in contact with a few breeders, with a couple of breeds in mind which I've researched down the the ground. Im fairly confident that when I finally buy my puppy I'll know what to expect due to lots of research and some experience with my own dogs. I've put off buying puppies from a few previous litters because of different situations and right now is not the right time, but when the time is right hopefully the wait will have paid off.

Someones idea of going to a local rescue and helping out or walking the dogs is a great idea, to help pass the time or helping out relatives with their dogs?

Good luck in your wait, eventually it will all pay off!

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I would love to bring my OES into work with me. He's such a good boy....the Min Pin, however would run riot!

I wanted a dog as soon as I moved out from the family home. I'd always grown up with dogs so I really wanted one myself. The first place I moved to was with friends, and I was young so it wasn't right for me as I was out partying quite a bit (how times have changed!), then I moved into my own place but it was a flat and my long work hours meant that it wouldn't be fair on the dog. I adopted to cats that I adored. Then 4 years ago, I moved into a house. I waited 6 months before I took the plunge and haven't looked back since

You are definitely doing the right thing in waiting.

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