So I've been thinking about getting a dog for some time now, and I recently found a lab/terrier mix that I absolutely loved. My concern is I'll be at a convention in Minnesota between July 11-15th. I'm currently in California and I won't be able to pick up the pup until around June 25th or so. By that time, the pup will be roughly 10 weeks old. Would rescuing the pup in June then having it stay with the same foster home while I'm out be a bad idea? I know waiting till I got back would be an option, but I'm also afraid that someone else might pick her up by then. Any help/advice would be appreciated
Hi @Alexx, I am not an experienced dog owner but I can't see the harm in having the pup stay in the same place it is now until you are ready to collect. Especially if you really have your heart set on this pup. We got our Harley at 10 weeks and I can't see it making any difference. Eight weeks would have been great but it didn't work out like that for us. I think it sounds like a sensible plan. Good luck.
Yeah I figured it wouldn't hurt, the only thing would be to pay some boarding fee I believe. The time I get back would be in about a month's time, and paying for a whole month of boarding seems a bit excessive to me?
I don't think it's unreasonable for you to pay boarding fees they are looking after the pup for an extra month for you.
Hi Alexx, I think if this is the puppy you really want paying the extra boarding fees, which is reasonable is a small price to pay. Good luck xx
Would you advise against getting the pup earlier and having the foster home look after it for the days I'm gone?
Who is this foster home? Are they experienced with puppies? Wouldn’t they also be charging a fee? Personally, I think it would be better for the puppy’s emotional well-being to stay where he is rather than disrupting his life twice in a short time period, which could easily make him unsettled.
I think it’d be a lot to adjust to moving from place to place. If the pup was already yours you’d have to pay boarding fees... The initial move to their new home is a lot for them. I’d make it easy.
We picked up Nala when she was nearly 9 weeks old, this was because of us being away when she was ready for collection. We were given the option of picking her up earlier but then my parents would have had to look after her, and with such a big change for her I didn't see that's fair. We waited until we got back and she is brilliant, no affect at all. If I was you, i would keep the pup where they are until you can bring her home, that way only one big change for her and she can adjust and explore at her own pace. If it is the pup you want and have the right gut feeling about, do anything for her, it will be worth while in the long run. Keep us posted, Holly and Nala dog x
I don't think you will have guarantees but my feeling is you'd have puppy with you for two weeks if you pick her up June 25. then back to the foster for only 5 days. I'm thinking that's a bit more than I did when I arranged a week off work to stay with puppy, then had to go back to work full time. Many of us had to do that and then get a friend to pop in to look after puppy during the day. Assuming you can be home with puppy, solid, all day, for that first two weeks then I think I'd go for that.
