Are we out of our minds to get a dog right now?

Question

We are currently a family of three-ish: myself, my husband, and my daughter who is six years old. We also have a 10 year old female cat. We have also been actively TTC our second child since April. I am not currently pregnant.
We have always wanted a German Shepherd as a family dog, but always said "one day" without saying when. Part of us feels like there is no time like the present, and the other part feels like we would just be adding another chaotic element to a potential pregnancy and newborn timeline.
I have never had a dog, but always wanted one. My husband grew up always having one. We have been together 14 years and only ever had our cat as a pet. Additionally my family owns a business that imports and sells pet products and manufactures rawhide dog bones and treats. This dog (like our cat) would want for nothing 😉.
My husband is all in, but I have always been the more practical one. Tell me what you think.

Answer

If you can handle it go for it just keep in mind raising a puppy is hard especially when you do become pregnant then have a newborn to take care of in addition to the baby

Answer

I would wait till after you have that second baby. dogs are a lot of work and taking care of 2 under 2 which is what you would be dealing with is way hard. just my opinion not saying it can't be done

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I would get a dog, I wouldn't get a German shepherd though. They require a lot of exercise, and they shed like crazy. Not to mention they are huge. I would look to get something small to medium size. That doesn't require as much work. Pit bulls are great family dogs. I would also consider going to your local shelter and talking to the staff. You're going to want a dog that's good with small children and your senior cat. A puppy will torment the cat. I have three dogs and a 7 month old. But definitely adopt, don't buy a dog, there are too many that need homes. Here's one of mine...

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Our GSD. He's currently 4.5mo old. When we got him versus now! ❤️

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With your situation, maybe get a German Shepherd who's a little bit older. I got mine when she was 2 and she's the sweetest dog you'd ever meet. Just know that German Shepherds shed a LOT.

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Update! We took the plunge and are already in love with this little guy 😍

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We love our German Shepard! Like others have said, they so require a lot of exercise so make sure you have a yard or time to take him for a walk or to a dog park throughout the week. And definitely invest in training so you're not dealing with an untrained puppy while pregnant or while dealing with a baby. Ours went through VERY extensive training to fix his anxiety before our daughter was born. The two love each other 😊

Answer

I have a cat, and German shepherd and an American staffordshire terrier mix my German and Staffy are both still puppies but 70lbs each... we are ttc baby number 1 it's work but if you train your German it will be the best dog just be sure to train them they are high active breeds need a lot of exercise and something to do. It's work with the cat since Germans are high prey drive but training helps with that too for both the cat and the German. Having a dog with a baby is actually good because it will teach them the pecking order of the pack. (The dog that is) 
I would recommend a female German because males can be kind of rough with children because they are their size and see them as playmates where as the female sees them as a baby that they should protect and be gentle around... just food for thought.

Answer

I say that this is going to depend on if you properly train this song and invest a good amount of time with it. we had planned on a border collie. we were 2 weeks away from getting him when I found out I was pregnant. we still decided to get him, and then the week before we got him I hormonally bought another doggie so they would have each other. honestly it has never been a problem having them two while I was pregnant. we actively trained them. they are crate trained, potty trained. they know a good amount if commands. they also have plenty of chew toys and get a lot of love and attention. they also do not get on our couches or beds. and we tauggt them not to jump on people. one is a border collie and the other is a Chihuahua. my daughter is 8 months old now and she loves them and they love her. it was a hard transition

Answer

I mean it's up to you, but fair warning: German Shepherds are crazy. My dog is part German shepherd and they have bad stomachs. He throws up every time something's wrong with him, like an infection, got stung by a bee, etc. and theyre pretty hyper as puppies. It might be a shock to you especially for someone who's never had a dog.

Are we out of our minds to get a dog right now?

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