Getting a puppy before or after buying a house?

lh843905

Hi everyone! My boyfriend and I are trying to decide if we should get a puppy before or after buying a house? We are looking to start serious house hunting and buying within the next 3-6 months but are having serious puppy fever! Just wondering what your thoughts are and if someone has been in that situation. Thanks! )

KatiesCats

After, after, after!  House hunting is more stressful than I ever imagined it would be.  I thought it'd be all fun and excitement.  Even after we were in contract, there were inspections, certifications, counters, etc.  It was crazy up to the last minute.  Then there's moving.  That's insane also.

You could go volunteer at your local shelter to help with the puppy fever.  Maybe eventually you'll meet a dog there that you'd like to adopt, and it would be a win win situation!

Read the FAQ on the first page of this board to learn where to get a dog and how to go about it...it's full of tons of awesome advice.

marriedonmaui

After after after as well.

Buying a house SUCKED. I am SO happy that we have our house now and we love it so much, but I'm so glad we waited to get a pet until afterwards. 

dexteroni

Definitely after.  That way the pup will only have to adjust to a new home once instead of twice.

nital

After.  Packing and unpacking will be full of suck if you're also wrangling and trying to housebreaking a curious puppy

sandollar1010

Just going to join the rest with a big AFTER! Aside for the stress of buying, having a puppy is a giant stress - way too much at once.  You also want to figure out if your on a busy street/need a fence, what your commute will be like/do you need a dog walker, and a whole lot more of what-ifs.  Both are very exciting, but they should be fun, not stressful.  Good Luck!

sakelp

I'm going to be the only BEFORE vote. 

I was glad that we had housebroken dogs when we moved into our new house, so that they didn't make messes on our new carpets etc.

Yes, moving with dogs is stressful, but moving in general is stressful, and I don't think that having a dog during a move is really that much MORE stressful 

kellbell1919

It depends on what your schedules are like now and what you're looking for in a dog.  Potty training our dog in an apt did suck and we did lose a security deposit.  House hunting for us was NBD and the closing process went smoothly.  We had planned to move and get settled before fostering again but I picked up a foster puppy literally the night before we moved.  It made the whole process a lot more stressful b.c. he had to be monitored 24/7 and had to be potty trained, but I was happy to be doing it in the house v. an apt with security deposit (our house is almost all tile and hardwood b.c. of the beasts).  We didn't get settled until he was adopted, adopted an adult dog right after, and she has been fully potty trained and otherwise beautifully behaved.  I think either way can work, just make sure you pick a good dog for you.