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Toddlers: 24 Months+
LoveEeyore
member
It's time to get a dog.
LoveEeyore
member
Apparently 3 kids, 2 cats, 2 aquariums and a travelling DH aren't enough for me. So I started a garden. Doesn't fill that spot. He won't let me have another 4 or 5 kids. So we're going to get a dog.
From your experience, what's a good age (dog's age) to adopt for kids? What's your favorite breed?
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Re: It's time to get a dog.
I'd probably find a dog that is around a year old. That way they should be house trained (although not a guarantee with a rescue) but should still be young enough that is will be easier break any bad habits.
I'd work with a rescue organization that has foster homes. They can then help to ensure that you get a dog that will be good with kids and cats. And beyond how they are with kids and other animals, I'd consider what activity (daily walks? laze around the house? a running partner?) and maintenance (daily brushing? grooming? sheds a lot? sheds little?) level you're comfortable with.
We have two lab mixes that are amazing with the kids. I'd recommend labs in a heartbeat, however they do shed A LOT and need a good amount of exercise when young. Heck, one of our dogs is 10 and still has the energy level of a 2 year old dog. I'll take him on a 5 mile run and when we're done he'll look at me as if to say "What's next??"
And I'm sure you know this but with any dog, do your research. Spend a lot of time with the dog before adopting him/her. Since adopting a pet is a lifetime committment make sure he/she is a good fit with your house and that everyone in the family is on board with this dog.
Holy cow, I don't know how you do it. I have one kid and one dog. DH works crazy hours, but I can't imagine taking care of all of that by myself! Hats off to you. If you INSIST on getting a dog...lol...I only can go off of what I have and DD loves her. Dorie is a mix of Jack Russell and something else, not sure what. She is fantastic with S and is a fetch obsessed machine. We literally TRIED to tire her out one day and it didn't work. So they are good as far as playing with kids and such. Other than that...I have nothing for you. What about golf? That's a good hobby.
ETA: We had Dorie before S...she's 7 years old...so again I'm no help with that, but what PP said...I definitely wouldn't get a puppy.
DD1 Feb 2010
DD2 Sept 2011
Ha. I think I am slightly insane. But truth be told, I grew up with dogs and really miss it. The kids love dogs, too. My littlest is an animal whisperer; she disappears and I find her laying on the floor with a cat on her belly and even collects scratches from the cat kneading, but doesn't complain and she talks tongues to this cat it is so weird and fascinating. The other kids rarely can get near her before she scoots off. DD#2 is so exuberant with every movement (a bit spazzy at times) but can coax the cats from hiding... it's amazing. She definitely needs a dog.
I usually recommend a 6-18 month old if you still desire a "puppy" but even some older dogs are WONDERFUL additions to a family. We foster puppies (litters typically) and it is an amazing amount of work... we have three dogs, four cats, and the toddler on top of it but it also means our foster pups get exposure to all of the above.
I foster/adoption counsel for a breed-specific rescue (German Shepherds). They are not for everyone - they shed, they're protective and need to be with their pack (inside the house, not good backyard dogs), and they're large which is something to consider. A common misconception is that dogs in rescue/shelter have something "wrong" with them - it's rarely the case, it's usually moving, having a baby, got too big, etc. My current foster (and her seven, 7 week old puppies) was given up to a shelter because her owner's home was foreclosed on.
I'd start thinking what type of situation do you want for your new family member - where they'll sleep, spend most of their time, do you want someone to run with, will take to dog parks, etc. Once you've figured out your basics, I'd approach a few dog rescues and let them know what you're looking for (ie. medium breed that'll sleep in a crate inside at night that likes cats/kids and doesn't need a high amount of exercise). They should be able to match you up, even if not right away, with someone that'll be the perfect fit.
Socializing foster puppies since 2009
Chart for TTC#2
Lots of great advice. DH doesn't think a rescue would give us a dog given the size and age of my own litter. I will have to just start making calls. I gre up with many breeds- my pitty was so awesome, and I had a boxer as a pre teen/teenager- again amazing. I have never been a big fan of labs, but DD"s boyfriend has one and they bring her over to play and she really is amazing- 4 kids running wild- I would consider one based on her!
Thanks 5dogs. More great advice. I had a shepherd growing up too. My mom has pics of him pulling me around by the diaper in the yard when I got too close to the driveway or road.
I think you're right- use my resources- contact the rescue, give them my situation and let THEM find a match.
CRATE? I grew up on a farm and never used a crate or kennel. It seems everyone I know does now. Is this a new thing, a suburban thing? Recommended? I always felt sad seeing a dog locked up in a box but am always assured they're happy...
FWIW, I have in the last six months adopted dogs to families who have five+ kids & cats, or lived on a boat, or in an apartment, or who already had 2-3 dogs, & a truck driver who took his dog on the road with him. Not all rescues are the same! If you work with a breed specific rescue, another option may be to look at the mixed breeds (we do shepherd mixes as well, my current pups are probably either newfoundland or lab mixes with a purebred GSD mama).
Socializing foster puppies since 2009
Chart for TTC#2
I think a crate is a great thing for a new dog (whether it is a puppy or an adult). Crates can actually make a dog feel more secure as they often see it as their "den". It makes housetraining easier, and can keep your dog safer when you aren't there. If they are crated when you aren't home (at least until you are certain they are well behaved enough to have free roam) then they can't get into the cupboards and the variety off food they shouldn't have, can't chew shoes/stuffed animals/cell phone, can't chew the woodwork, etc.
That said we did have a foster once that could not be crated. He had pretty severe separation anxiety and would bite or scratch at the crate until he bled. He was fine if he was left with our other two dogs, so when we weren't home we just confined them to a dog-safe room.
I agree with this to a point. Most rescue dogs don't have something "wrong" with them, but I do think any potential adopters should realize that adopting a rescue can be a lot of work. We fostered a good number of dogs - several were puppies that just needed the normal puppy training. But we had a few with severe separation anxiety, one that had fence aggression (but was sweet as can be if both dogs were on the same side of the fence), several that weren't housetrained, one that wanted to eat our cat, and several that would runaway the first second they could and would not come when called. All the issues were things that could be dealt with (except for the cat issue - that dog had to be placed in a home with no small animals) but it required a good amount of training and behavior work.
Personally, I would recommend a boxer. They have wonderful personalities and are great with kids. We have 2, 1 who was a rescue.
That being said, I might consider getting a puppy rather than an older rescue. We got our female boxer from a really reputable rescue organization. They had vetted her for behavior and for the first two or three months we had her she was awesome. Then, it was like she suddenly figured out we weren't going to get rid of her and she started getting really aggressive toward our other dog. This was prior to DD thankfully and she was never aggressive toward people but the fights she and dog #1 got into definitely could have hurt a kid by accident. Thankfully we were able to nip it in the bud with a really good trainer but I will admit that it has made me a bit biased toward getting another rescue until DD and her soon to be sibling are much older (like at least 10 or so). Granted, this same dog is amazing with DD now but sometimes I think it's hard with a rescue to know their full personality for several months and with little kids around that's a risk I would rather not take. Puppies are more of a blank slate.
This is true - it happens & those type of dogs shouldn't be marketed to a family that is looking for X, Y, & Z. Finding a dog that's been in foster should help wade out those issues which is why I didn't advise going straight to a shelter. I am brutally honest with every adopter of my fosters - not doing so does an incredible disservice to the dog, the rescue, and the adopter. I'd rather have someone pass over one of my dogs than place them in a situation that isn't a good fit. I've been a foster parent for 10 & a half years, I've had some fosters stay as long as 2 years because the right fit wasn't there.
Training & behavior work should be a foundation for ANY dog, whether it came from a breeder, a rescuer, a shelter, or a box in front of the grocery store.
Socializing foster puppies since 2009
Chart for TTC#2