Cross Breeds

Need advice on small puppy situation?

So my mom's friend rescued this 6 month old chi-poo from a family who was abusing it. She called to see if we wanted the puppy bc my mom had told her previously I was thinking about adopting one. Here is the thing. I've never owned a dog (grew up with them as a kid but they were never my responsibility). I have concerns. 1 being I have 2 cats who have never been around dogs. My male cat is very much like a baby. He follows me around the house like a pup and lays with me as soon as I sit down. I'm afraid he's really not going to be happy. My other concern is the puppy is timid. When I went to pet it it coward down (a clear sign someone abused the poor baby). They say she's good with dogs, cats and kids but I worry that this dog could be unpredictible. Also how often do little dogs have to go out? They said she's pee pad trained but for me I don't want that to be her way of eliminating but then again I also am a person who likes 8 hours of sleep and everyone tells me I'll have to get up in the middle of the night to let her out! So all in all with all these concerns I'm thinking that maybe it's not a good idea. At the same time I would love to have her. I'm so torn on what to do! I am sure she's gonna find a home if I don't take her so I'm not really worried but I would hate to give up on a free (well until the vet bills come) adorably cute puppy!

Public Comments

1. All I can tell you is if you have ANY doubts at all, and it sounds as if you do, don't take her on. You are right, if she's as cute as you say, she's bound to find a loving home out there. It would be awesome if you did take her on, but only if you are 100% about this.
2. Your cats will be fine. Just make sure the pup doesn't bother them to much. Change the dogs name when you get it. Believe it or not when they leave a abusive situation and keep the same name they had when they were abused they mentally relate their name to being abused. So change the name. 6 months your puppy is still a baby and you have plenty of time to re-train. Dogs are not fully potty trained anyways til about 1-1.5 years old since their bladders are still developing and to be honest they forget when they are having fun playing. I would recommend socializing her and when you do take her to the groomers tell them she was abused so they can approach her with extra TLC.
3. 1. up to you to introduce and supervise training doesn't say a thing about being abused, just you scared her they need to go out every hour until you figure out how long she can hold it leash and take out, tell potty leash in house, watch and take out crate when you can'[t watch, no more than 4 hours get up at night every four hours to take out get a puppy book and read take to trainer and learn then take to trainer and learn how to train, work at it every day you don't sound like you need a puppy and as an over bred byb you will be having high vet bills need a $5000 emergency vet fund need at least $1000 first year vet need $275 for supplies puppies usually the cheapest part of owning takes 24/7 training for two weeks to get a good start on it needs at least an hour of training a day for basic manners needs at least 3 hours of exercise a day maybe do more research on what all is involved in owning a puppy or older dog
4. If the puppy isn't right for you right now, forget it. Once you agree to keeping it, it will be your responsibility. And you'll feel bad if you decide that it's too much for you right now. I bought my puppy on a whim and I can't say that I regret it because I love her, but it has made life a little difficult. Potty training straight up sucks, point blank. Small, abused dogs can be even more difficult because they may eliminate when scared, which could be often. I have attempted to help my friend's chihuahua but every time you approach her with a leash in attempt to take her outside, she pees, because she is so timid. I know the pup is free and it's cute but you'll find many more free and cute pups in your lifetime that you can consider. Also it doesn't sound like you'll have much help. I have a boyfriend who takes her out early in the morning (I am NOT a morning person) and when it's raining because she's difficult then. Ultimately, it's up to you. I would recommend not taking the pup at the moment. If you feel like you might be ready for a new family member, shop around at shelters and online until you find the perfect fit. And as much as I stress this to people, puppies are like babies but worse. They're awesome but the chewing and potty training is the most difficult thing ever. If you're looking for something playful, consider a Boston Terrier or a mix. They stay playful like puppies forever. They're small but not small enough to have bladder problems. And they're goofy:) Good luck on whatever you choose!
5. By the thoughtfulness of your questions I can tell that you are definitely a responsible pet owner. In all likelihood your cats will not like the new family member, at first. But animals, when given time will adjust and learn to live in harmony or at the least learn to respect each other's space. The behavior that the pup is showing is typical of a dog that has been abused. It will need a lot of training and time to trust you but with dedication it is possible. As far as the pee-pee pads go, I'm not a fan. They smell and make a mess and really don't belong in a home. All dogs, no matter the size or breed can learn to go outside. I have a full grown terrier who is only 10 lbs. She can hold her bladder the whole night while I am sleeping. Potty-training is just like everything else. It just takes time. In the beginning when she was a pup I had to get up every few hours and take her outside. I crate trained her so she let me know when she needed to go. I believe it taught her 2 things. One being that I prefer that she did her business outside, and two that she could count on me to take her. I was building trust from the beginning. Which will be crucial for you to do if you do decide to adopt this pup. Also consider that her accidents might be submissive urination stemming from the trauma of being abused and not her inability to hold her bladder. Carefully weigh the pro's and con's of adopting this pup. If in the end it feels like a good fit for you then go for it. It will take time and a lot of work but in the end the rewards are endless. Good luck!!
6. is there any way you can take the pup on a trial period if so unless it's really bed give it at least a month