getting a puppy - questions

loulou123

As far as dogs and children go, id say its just a case of being sensible, when i was a baby our family pet was a great dane, then when he passed away (i was 6 at this point) we had a burmese mountain dog! I never came to any harm, as i was always monitored when with the dogs. Although both our dogs were rescue dogs and older when we got them, a puppy would grow to be very bouncy and may accidently knock small children over. But i think as long as your sensible then children and dogs have a fantastic relationship.

Personally now, i'd always get a dog or cat netured as soon as they reach the required age. As some illnesses and diseases can be avoided this way. My last dog developed a cancer only associated with animals that have not been castrated and had to be casrated at the age of 10 to slow down the spread of the cancer. As he wasnt a pup when we got him, we never got this done, but in his case it could have saved his life. Obviously his is an extreme case, but my opinion now is that id always have them netured. (not telling you not to breed, just giving youmy opinion.)

Good luck in your doggy seach : )

natalie1974

I have just got a 13 week old Cavalier yesterday . I have an 8 month old , 4 yr old and 9 yr old and I have no problems whatsoever with my kids being brought up with the dog and vice versa , if anything I think my kids ages are ideal , especially the baby , growing up with Daisy , and both learning to respect each other , which in my books is a big thing , respect for the animal and the animal respecting the kids .
This is just my personal opinion

Ruby_Moon

What is with all the doom and gloom with pregnant dog on this forum? In all the while I've worked with animals I have never known a pregnant animal get into any bother what so ever and have never needed any help from me or anyone else. Yes, some dogs need help, some cats do but its very very rare if they are left to their own devices. Human intervention can cause a few c/sections though with the "oh my God,I don't think she's coping" crowd.
If you want to breed your dog then it really is up to you to decide the best for you and your dog.
This lot on here might tell you lots of horror stories about c/sections, dying animals and how many sad cases there are in rescue centres but don't let that put you off. Also, don't let them convince you that you are as bad as all those ones who abandon thier animals too (apparently they are one and the same).
Hope you have lots of fun with the dog, and your kids will love it.

foreign_correspondent

Ruby_Moon wrote: »

What is with all the doom and gloom with pregnant dog on this forum? In all the while I've worked with animals I have never known a pregnant animal get into any bother what so ever and have never needed any help from me or anyone else.

really? what animals have you worked with? Many often need assistance with birth, eg. cows, and all species, (including humans!) can of course, suffer from potentially fatal complications of pregnancy. It is worth noting that pet insurance does not cover any costs for treatments associated with mating, pregnacy, birth or breeding. So, unless you have the funds available to pay for treatment at short notice, this could result in the death of your b1tch and the pups... I think this is worth seriously considering before even thinking about whether to breed.

Realistically, mating can be problematic, pregnancy carries risks, C sections are the norm for some breeds of dog (bulldog etc) and a lot of knowledge is necessary with some breed to make healthy progeny a likelihood, especially where there are health problems relating to years of selective breeding (Syringomyelia, hip dysplasia and cardiac problems are relatively common in CKCS). Responsible breeders health check their dogs, both b1tch and stud, (which can be expensive) before considering breeding, and do not bred from any old pet dog...

Human intervention can cause a few c/sections though with the "oh my God,I don't think she's coping" crowd.

hmm, well seeing as it is the vet who decides this, not the owner, I would have to trust their judgement on this, rather than yours... and I don't think they are prone to hysteria generally.

how many sad cases there are in rescue centres but don't let that put you off.

well, the number of pedigree dogs in rescue does appear to be rising - I don't suppose any of the people who bred them thought they would end up there... however, good breeders will insist that of the dog becomes unwanted at any time during it's life, it is returned to the breeder - however, I guess that is a commitment many of these breeders are probably not prepared to make...

In the first month of 2009, The Mayhew’s Dog Adoption Officer received 162 calls about dogs that owners no longer want -126 of these being pure breeds of dogs – dispelling the myth that people don’t abandon, or give up, pure breed dogs.

The calls from the London area consists of a list of 36 different breeds of dogs, including Pugs, Schnauzer, Border Collies, Labradors, Spaniels, Pointers, Greyhounds and Great Danes.
The top reason given was that the owner simply ‘didn’t want’ the dog anymore, followed by ‘landlord won’t allow’, ‘new baby’, or ‘can’t afford’.

http://www.mayhewanimalhome.org/home/pressandmedia/pressreleases/1/index.html

natalie1974

I would give my kids away before my pets :rotfl:
Only joking I wouldn't give the kids or my pets away .

Just a bit of feedback though on rehoming centres etc , I was actually looking into getting a rescue dog and rang various centres , RSPCA and other local rescues and was told NO as I have kids :eek:

I personally think kids and dogs are a good combo (so long as ground rules are set down for both parties!) , have always had a dog and I am 35 now and my kids had a dog until June when we sadly lost her .

foreign_correspondent

That sort of policy comes from the amount of dogs rescues get taken in (or returned) from families with young kids - maybe because many people are over optimistic and like the idea of idea of their family having a dog, but do not realise the realities and challenges of having dogs and very small children around!

Common reasons for rehoming in these cases seem to be 'it poos on the carpet where the baby plays and I cannot risk my childs health' or 'it nipped my child, and I have to put my child's safety first' or 'I cannot walk the dog with a buggy and a toddler, especially when the weather is bad' or ' it chewed up my son/daughter's brand new x-box/doll/expensive birthday present and my child is heartbroken' !! - essentially, there is often a conflict between the needs/behaviour of a dog and the needs/behaviour of small children, and people will always (understandably) put their child first, when it comes to the crunch!

natalie1974

foreign_correspondent wrote: »

That sort of policy comes from the amount of dogs rescues get taken in (or returned) from families with young kids - maybe because many people are over optimistic and like the idea of idea of their family having a dog, but do not realise the realities and challenges of having dogs and very small children around!

Common reasons for rehoming in these cases seem to be 'it poos on the carpet where the baby plays and I cannot risk my childs health' or 'it nipped my child, and I have to put my child's safety first' or 'I cannot walk the dog with a buggy and a toddler, especially when the weather is bad' or ' it chewed up my son/daughter's brand new x-box/doll/expensive birthday present and my child is heartbroken' !! - essentially, there is often a conflict between the needs/behaviour of a dog and the needs/behaviour of small children, and people will always (understandably) put their child first, when it comes to the crunch!

Just very annoying to those of us who do understand all those things and still want a dog yet can't get one so very un-MSE have to spend £450 on a pedigree .

giantmutantbroccoli

Ruby_Moon wrote: »

What is with all the doom and gloom with pregnant dog on this forum? In all the while I've worked with animals I have never known a pregnant animal get into any bother what so ever and have never needed any help from me or anyone else. Yes, some dogs need help, some cats do but its very very rare if they are left to their own devices.

Well that's good, but just because you haven't encountered it does not mean it doesn't happen, or even that it is rare. I've only dealt with one pregnant !!!!!, but she needed help with a pup that came out backwards, help with a pup that she accidentally sat on, and injections from the vet after retaining two (sadly dead) pups for 24hrs after labour had apparently finished.
Had we left her to her own devices she would most likely have got an infection from retaining the dead pups inside the womb - I'm sure you can imagine that can cause a nasty case of septicaemia.
As far as other animals go I have to say I'm amazed that you've never encountered pregnant animals in distress. I've seen everything from cows that just dropped dead in the field overnight while pregnant (not ours, so I don't know why this was), and numerous unexplained still-born lambs to one extremely pregnant sheep that rolled over to scratch its back and became trapped upside-down, unable to get up. Although I have to admit that last one looked pretty funny.
If you'd actually read the posts people have been making you'd see that it isn't just a knee-jerk "OMG go to a rescue centre there are too many dogs in the world" reaction.

pink_piggy17

You don't necessarily have to go to a rescue, you can get a dog/pup from a pound where AFAIK they don't do homechecks, which is unfortunate in the sense that any idiot can go and get a dog but also if you have been turned down for a reason that you don't believe to be a problem, you can have another chance to help a needy dog.

Also, what are you're reasons for considering breeding the dog?

suki1964

pink_piggy17 wrote: »

You don't necessarily have to go to a rescue, you can get a dog/pup from a pound where AFAIK they don't do homechecks, which is unfortunate in the sense that any idiot can go and get a dog but also if you have been turned down for a reason that you don't believe to be a problem, you can have another chance to help a needy dog.

Also, what are you're reasons for considering breeding the dog?

The pounds here in NI do home checks