Next year I will be cutting down my hours and I plan to have a puppy. All the years I have worked I have had rescue dogs - and a very good thing that is to do I think!

However I have got into training and would like a puppy - a "blank canvas" so to speak and I would also like to do some showing.

I have my name down in the summer for puppy from a well known breeder of wire haired fox terriers - not that easy to come by. I have always had terriers and I think that the Wire (as they call the breed) is stunning.

So I need to do some planning. My husband and I will be home four or five whole days a week but will have to work other days. I do have a cleaning lady who helps me out with my dogs too. At present I have a Westie of 8 yrs and JR/Fox terrier cross who is about 6 (he is rather mad but no malice!)

So I thought when we get the puppy (a dog rather than a bitch if poss) we will take off a couple of weeks straight off. After that until while the dog is still a pup I will have to enlist help. Want some advice as the best way to go.

I have been told crate training is a good idea. So when I have to work (couple of days a week) should I find a local person who could take the puppy (in their house) or should I get someone to come to my house several times a day?

I know I will have to invest some money to ensure the puppy is properly looked after but this is something I want to do soon (I am 61) while I can rather than wait until fully retired - who know what is round the corner!!

I would appreciate your advice as others must have had to sort out this sort of thing? I thought I could maybe advertise for such a person - obviously would need references etc. Or there are dog creches I think?

My cleaning lady is reliable but not really experienced enough with puppies - although she is good with my two older dogs and stays in our house with our dogs and cats when we are on holiday.

Your thoughts and experiences would be helpful.

Thanks

Leonora

Hi Leonara,

There are companies that will do dog walking and house sitiing etc who will be experienced with dogs but they can be costly. These companies police check their employees, is there anyone you know that uses such a company or a single person they could recommend? I personally would not advertise for someone as you will get lots of replies but would you trust any of them with your dog or even in your house?

To be honest if your cleaning lady is good with your other two dogs and looks after them whilst you are on holiday, (what a lovely lady) then why do you think she will be no good with a pup?  She may very well enjoy it, or do you think the toilet training, playing and socialising will be too much for her? To be honest you need to be the trainer and you will be with the pup for 5 days of the week so your cleaning lady need not do anything but the very basics with your pup. :-)

Normally I would not recommend a pup going to someone elses house for a few days a week as I personally think it unsettles them, having two homes and two 'owners' far better for someone to be in your home and your cleaning lady is obviously a regular so for me she is ideal, but not knowing her or yourself perhaps she may not wish to look after a pup? Or she may have other commitments, in this case going to her home would not be so bad as it would be someone your pup has grown accustomed to in your own home.

I don't believe in leaving a very young pup crated in the day time for longer than a couple of hours so if your cleaning lady can not be there to help toilet train, play and socialise your pup, then you will have to find someone who can recommend a pet sitter, dog walker, (sometimes they will take on a dog/pup for the day.)

I've never had this problem as I've always had friends and family if need be, but as already said be very careful if you end up hireing someone, try to get them recommended through, friends, other dog walkers, (whom are usually invaluable, so stop and chat to people whilst out walking your other 2 dogs it's amazing what you can pick up that way) vets, or the breeder.

You never know perhaps someone on the board could also recommend a person close to your area. ;-)

Otherwise it sounds as though you are all set and ready, I wish you luck in any future showing, and hope that you can sort out your two days. :-) 

Thank you for your help.

I expect my cleaning lady would be OK with a pup.  She has rabbits so obviously knows about the care of the young.  I just feel she may not have the time to devote to a young pup with her cleaning duties and she does Avon as well.  She loves my dogs and cats to bits.  Because of the rabbits (!) she has never had my terriers stay at her house -  but of course a puppy may be different (may not associate rabbits with chasing?).

The other thing that has struck me is that I obviously know quite a few people at my dog training sessions and I think some are retired and may be willing to pop in during the day to let pup out.  I think initially though I would want to feel the pup was looked after all day so maybe one of them would be willing to have the pup with his crate in their house.  I would  be willing to pay them of course.  But there are some very experienced people there who may know just the person.  I sort of feel I will need Belinda my cleaning lady plus other support. 

It certainly is an exciting prospect - just hope my other dogs will cope - they are generally good with other dogs.

Leonora