Do you think I'm in the right place for adopting a puppy?

As far as money, if you can still save while caring for all the typical expenses then I think it’s ok. Since you are saving you will be able to pay for an unexpected illness if it happens. If you will be living check to check and barely have savings to begin with, then I say wait and save so you have a cushion. Just put away the money you would spend on the dog every week, and in a month or two you have a cushion for illnesses. If he never gets sick the money is good to have anyway. Don’t risk being in debt when you could easily just wait a little bit and be better prepared.

Since you have a dog I think you are probably a good judge of how much work another dog will be, so I don’t question your judgement regarding that.

You asked this question last July. Do the same details apply? Do you still have Nerina? Are you still a student?
If you still have Nerina (who is almost a year older) I still stand by my previous answer: ” A puppy can be really hard on an older dog, all the romping and hanging off of ears and lips with sharp puppy teeth and such. If you do get a puppy, please consider one that will not be larger than Nerina when grown, that can be really hard on her”

Are you living with your sister, is that why the puppy will be a concern for the Maltese?

What breed is the puppy? (Some are much easier to raise than others)

I gather it’s been a while since you’ve had a puppy, remember, they are a lot of work and distraction.

The training to turn a pup into a therapy dog is pretty intense and very rewarding. If you do this, have fun!
I love the smell of puppy breath!

@JLeslie I have a bit of a cushion, but it’s not that much. However, barring unforeseen problems, I would still be able to save with that added dog.

@canidmajor Not quite. Nerina has learned to set boundaries, for one. She has also been less of a single dog, because I’ve fostered numerous dogs in the last year. She very obviously enjoys being queen of the house, and she looks forward to all visiting dogs. I don’t know whether it’s my outlook that’s changed, or hers…but something has definitely changed.

Nope, not living with my sister. The Maltese is a concern time-wise.

The pup would be another Labrador.

Remember, it hasn’t been that long since I raised a puppy – Amy (the Maltese) is only three, and I was very involved with her. I also work at a dog training centre, so I see rambunctious puppies all the time. I do very much appreciate your telling me again, though! These are things I need to hear, and I need to be completely sure I can do this.

The thing is, I don’t know at which point I will have a paying job. On the other hand, that dog would be part of my plan for obtaining a paying job. Not a well-paying one, but it is exactly what I’d like to be doing.

Ungh. Decisions.

Here’s another option you might want to consider. It would cover any major unexpected medical expenses as well as provide you with more experience with therapy dogs as well as excellent references for your future employment in this field.

There are some therapy dog groups which breed their own dogs for future placements rather than relying upon finding the right qualifications in miscellaneous shelter dogs.

One of their constant primary needs is for what they term “puppy raisers”. These are volunteers who bring the puppies into their own homes until they are old enough for formal assistance training (I believe that’s around 18 months old).

This serves the purpose of socializing the puppies, basic obedience training as well as exposure to as wide a spectrum of experiences in the world as possible.

The puppies wear the official therapy dog vests when in public so are not restricted in where they can be allowed.

So, in essence, you would be doing all the training prior to specific assistance behavior and getting the pup acclimated being in all the types of situations they might encounter later on in their service life.

You would be able (and expected) to take puppy with you to a wide variety of public places as part of this training.

The organization covers any medical expenses. (I’m not sure about the food situation.)

Generally the dogs are either labs or goldens and I’m not sure whether or not you’d be able to specify which you’d prefer.

Of course there is one semi-downside to volunteering as a puppy raiser. This is, of course, that after raising this pup for a year or so, they then go back to the organization and eventually to a disabled person in need.

But there are lots of people who repeatedly volunteer as puppy raisers year after year because they recognize how crucial this service is in the shaping of an assistance dog.

Hopefully there is an organization near you in need of puppy raisers and can answer any questions you have about the process more thoroughly.

And who knows, perhaps it could also be future employment in the field you’ve chosen since you’d already be known to them whenever there’s a vacancy for a trainer position.

Anyhow, it’s something you might want to consider to see if it would be the right fit for you.

Oh, one more thing I just remembered. Occasionally, one of the dogs proves to be unfit to be an assistance dog in their program (for either physical or temperament issues). So, then the puppy raisers would be given first dibs on adopting the dog.

Just another thing to keep in mind. Hope this info is helpful to you.

EDIT
Here’s just one quick link to an example of an organization and some info about puppy raisers.

A Google search will provide dozens more in many areas of the US (hopefully one convenient to you).

www.2gofi.com

@Buttonstc Thanks for that lovely long answer!

The terminology may be different in English. Over here, we differentiate between “therapy” dogs and “assistance” dogs. What you’re describing would be an “assistance” dog. A therapy dog typically stays with his owners throughout his life. He accompanies his owner to places he might be needed – a school, for example, or a hospice. The owner gets paid for those visits.

I don’t think I’d be able to give up a puppy after raising him. That’s why I’m leaning toward therapy dog training, as opposed to training guiding dogs for the blind, or dogs who detect an episode of epilepsy coming on.

Now, if I knew I’d happen to get an “unfit” puppy, your plan would be perfect…but I wouldn’t be rooting for this puppy, and that would be horribly unfair to both the dog and the people paying for him.

I’m not sure where “over here” refers to but I assume you’re not in the States.

But, you know yourself better than anyone and if you don’t feel you could give the puppy back then you need to honor that.

Re: “therapy” vs. “assistance” dogs: each organization is different but, for instance, the group in the link deals with both.

@Buttonstc She lives in Germany.

@longgone Do they have pet health insurance available where you live? That could help with the emergency care concerns.

And generally, I would make the distinction between therapy dogs where the owner brings the dog to various institutions, service dogs which assist the owner in some practical way and now emotional support dogs which also assist the owner.

Life can change in a nano second and all we can do is try and make good decisions in the moment. I have spent thousands and thousands on my animals over the years but now am in a position where anything beyond the basics would be impossible. My cats are spayed, neutered, vaccinated and get a decent, middle of the road diet, downgraded from premium a year ago when I hit the financial skids. As long as you can afford the basics and are providing a loving home you are still 100% ahead of many peoples situations.

Not everyone can afford a 2, 3 or 5k medical bill for a pet, and you shouldn’t feel that you should have to.
This is like saying you shouldn’t have children of you can’t send them to Harvard.
In the event some catastrophic medical situation unfolds you can determine, at that time, whether it is something you can financially cope with. Even if the dog lived 5 years and you had to euthanize it because of an extreme financial burden, it is still better off having had those 5 years with you than it could have been.

You never know what twists and turns life can take and you can’t predict the future. If you feel reasonably “secure” NOW, well, that is all there is.
When I adopted my two cats over 5 years ago I still had 2 jobs I loved and plenty of cash in the bank, that has all changed now due to the economic downturn, but, my cats are still happy, healthy and, as hard as it would be, IF something major happens, well, it might be a “goodbye dear friend” situation. This is life, do your best as you can.

Put it this way, if you came to me looking for a rescue dog I would be so happy based on what I already know about you. With this in mind I believe that you are in the right place for a puppy mentally. Finance wise, could you afford to make monthly payments for insurance? That would give you peace of mind if pup did need medical treatment. With the right introduction I think Amy would settle quickly and I don’t think you will let the ball drop with her progress, your dedication to her so far has been great. I am more than happy to help with introductions etc via email if needed. Please come and work with me!!

@janbb Love, love love the suggestion of pet health insurance! I’ve looked it up just now, and I think I’ve found an offer that would work!

@OpryLeigh Definitely taking you up on that offer! I have loads to tell you about Amy not all good, sadly, but we have an exciting new plan!, sending you an e-mail in a second. Oh, I would so love to work with you for a while. Maybe I’ll take Wilson to meet you…once he is actually born, and mine ;)

EDIT: Wilson will be this new puppy’s name, in case that wasn’t clear!

^^^^ Wilson…haha, that is so cute.

Thank you, I agree. A chocolate Lab, too! :]

@longgone Wilson is cute. I work regularly with an Airedale called Wilson :)

Update, because I just stumbled on this thread:

Wilson is almost six months old now, and there are lenthly play sessions every day. They are very often initiated by Nerina, and Wilson is kind enough to play lying down so he won’t push her over accidentally-on-purpose. Amy is warming up to him, I manage not to neglect her – and money is tight, but I am saving and not starving :]