recovery puppy therapy?

Go for it, girl! It's a great idea. You would have time to bond with the puppy while you're at home, walking it will help with your recovery, and it will be your companion through whatever is ahead. Having had BMX and lots of chemo, I would say it's totally feasible. You should be fine about 3 weeks post op as long as you're not having DIEP or TRAM flap reconstruction.

you sure may call me a cynic. Even though I wholeheartly agree puppy is a fantastic idea, you have have someone living with you for puppy training.

I personally would not get a puppy during recovery. A puppy is much like a baby. They need close attention and care all day and sometimes through the night. If you really want a dog, consider an older rescue dog. You can find many who have already been house trained and possibly obedience trained.

We rescued a Bichon 4 yrs ago. It's been an adventure. The interesting thing about these curly white dogs is that they never stop looking or acting like puppies. They often live to be 15-16-17, still very puppyish. My Bichon is about 9yo we think. You'd never guess it.

My first thought is how much puppy raising experience do you have?

What breed(s) are you looking at/thinking of?

How long do you expect to be off work and once back to work? What plans do you have for it's care?

Costs?

While some will be able to successfully raise a sane, well mannered puppy to adulthood with no experience, it can be quite a chore and is not done overnight or in a month or 2. Of course, it is possible to seek Professional assistance but this can be quite pricey. As with raising 'young'uns' of all kinds - they tend to 'learn' 'bad behavior/manners easier and quicker than good behavior.

Different breeds are very different (beside just 'looks) in what they 'are' and what they need for their mental health. Some breeds were bred to be mellow and 'laid back' which is/was needed for the jobs/work they were bred to do. Other breeds were bred for jobs/work that requires high energy/activities. Of course, within any breed there are individuals who do not posses all the attributes of the breed but especially with a puppy it should be expected to be what it was bred to be.

Mustlovepoodles mentioned her Bishon and the issues with it and time frame - not everyone would be up to this challenge as she is.

Depending on the breed/individual, a puppy will be a baby, child, adolescent for probably at least a year to 18 month or sometimes longer. I've had several Gordon Setters over the years who all mellowed/matured mentally between 15 - 18 months. Not my last Gordon - he finally became a thinking/behaving adult about the time he turned 3. He was 12 when I was DXd and he would not let me be more than 'arms length' from him during that time til he died at 14.

It is highly unlikely that a puppy would have become a mellow adult in the short time from getting it a month post surgery to returning to work. While I am a firm believer in 'crate training', it is not fair to expect a young (or old) dog to be crated for hours upon hours daily.

Getting a dog is a financial commitment that can be quite a bit. Buying/Acquiring a dog is only the beginning. Vet bills (annual shots), health problems that need meds, training/education if you need it, etc. Feed. Grooming depending on the breed. Boarding if traveling.

If you are looking for 'something' to be your 'shungle bud' - puppy is not it. They have a lot of needs as they are babies. There are many adult dogs in Shelters that would love to have someone to love them and give their love to.

Shortly after my DX - Hubby lost his Baby Girl. The day before my UMX I stopped at the local Shelter and saw what he was looking for - a young female B&T Coonhound. After I was back in my room post surgery, he and Son went to the Shelter to see her. He got her, but she had to stay til she was spayed. He picked her up the next day so the day after my UMX, a 15 mth old large dog came home. No problems at all but I have lots of experience dogs - IF you have to ask, probably not a great idea.