Looking for our first dog!

mon1o

We are looking for our first family pet and after weighing up pros and cons of cats and dogs have decided upon a dog. We have 3 children aged 6, 3 and 7months (I'm fully aware of not leaving dogs unattended with children) and we are considering a 16month old patterjack terrier he's fully house trained, microchipped, vaccinated etc. His owner is giving him away due to marriage breakdown. Is there anything we need to be aware of with this particular crossbreed? The owner says the dog is very good around children and in the presence of other animals. I've researched the separate breeds (jack Russell and patterdale) and I've noticed that a pure patterdale can be a handful - is the jack Russell in him likely to calm him down or will that make no difference? we are going to see him tomorrow.

Our other option is a Lhasa apso pup (they were born Monday so we won't be getting her until end of may if we decide on her) I know from research they can be very stubborn but she is likely to be a more relaxed breed than the patterjack.

I don't want to rush into it and get the wrong dog. We are after a smallish dog and the husband won't discuss a staffy although I've read if reared correctly they make wonderful family pets.

Sorry for the essay

tango

Having just got a dog through the first 6 months of puppy hood I would research very well what dog to get,you have 3 young children and all together I think it will be difficult,but that is just my opinion !

mon1o

Thank you x This is why I'm looking at the older patterjack as I think the Lhasa apso pup might be taking on too much. I've been researching for a while and there are pros and cons to every breed I've looked at. Will visit the patterjack tomorrow as planned but will continue researching in the meantime.

tango

mon1o wrote: »

Thank you x This is why I'm looking at the older patterjack as I think the Lhasa apso pup might be taking on too much. I've been researching for a while and there are pros and cons to every breed I've looked at. Will visit the patterjack tomorrow as planned but will continue researching in the meantime.

Sounds like a plan..my youngest was 11 when we got our pup and that was hard as all the pup wants to do is nip and jump,and although we say we won't leave them alone together, it is very hard for this to always be the case..

Saying that the right dog can add so much to family life

mon1o

Thank you x I agree totally. My in laws and my aunt both have dogs and they really are fantastic characters. Hopefully we will find the right one for us!

soupdragon10

I personally found Jack Russells very variable in temperament, I've met some really laid back ones and some hyper snappy ones. Lhasa Apsos are great, just be prepared for all the brushing and as you have mentioned can be stubborn.

Have you looked at the Cavalier King Charles spaniel as another option. They are a happy calm and bright, without being too big, and although they have a longish coat, it's nothing like as long as a Lhasa.

Shelties are another small breed to throw into the mix, although again they come with grooming issues with three small children will you have enough time for this.

Miniature/toy poodles? No shedding minimal grooming compared to the other breeds. Might be worth meeting a few different animals from various breeds so you can better assess what kind of temperament will suit you best.

mon1o

Thank you I do love the king Charles spaniel but haven't looked at poodles or shelties as yet x

olias

I would say a definate no to a terrier. They can be snappy, and with children that young, they are bound to pull it's tail/ear etc etc which is exactly the sort of thing to provoke a snap. Also having smaller, sharper teeth, that snap is also much more likley to break the skin.
Shelties - No, they need an awful lot of excercise and stimulus which I can't imaging you will have the time and energy for with children that age.

I personally think you should wait a while, maybe until the youngest is about 4 years old. Can you honestly really devote the time and energy to proper training and excercise of a boisterous puppy while still having a babe in arms to look after?

Olias

merlin68

I have a 3 and a half month jack russell puppy and although he is adorable. I wouldn't have had one with young children as they are nippy. I would look into an older dog. As your children are so young.

Mrs_P_Pincher

We had our lurcher b*tch when my younger DD was about 18 months and her older sister was 6. I have to say it was like having another child, but what she gave us as a family over the next 14 years was immeasurable and getting her was definitely the right thing to do.

I have to say that she nipped both the girls at one time or another, in isolated incidents, but I looked at it as not doing anything to my children that she would not have done to her own. Dressing her up was not a good idea - that school blazer was a very poor fit! The girls soon learnt to treat her, and other dogs, with respect and no harm was done.

I think we did the right thing getting a b*tch rather than a dog - she was very good with the children and their friends and very protective of them.

Heck I miss her :-(

Mrs P P

rising_from_the_ashes

I have to say I'd avoid a terrier with such young children and they can indeed be a bit nippy - they do also need a fair bit of exercise despite their small size and trying to walk an energetic dog with a pram, toddler and youngster may be a bit of a handful!

I'd also suggest a slightly older dog who will love the attention of the kids and be more likely to tolerate ears/tails being pulled (to a certain extent).

Good luck