Tell me to stop being silly? -___-

thorsoak

Quite frankly, when I was breeding, you wouldn't even get an invitation to see my puppies! Until your children are a bit older, I would never, ever, contemplate placing a puppy with a young family.

A couple who were experienced dog owners wouldn't be contemplating adding a dog to their family at this stage of the game - and no reputable rescue is going to place a dog with a family with young children. Rescue dogs need really special homes, with people who recognise that they are going to have special needs in settling in and temperament may be unpredictable.

You really would be well-advised to wait until the children have reached school age. The children will need training as well as the dog!

xbethanyx

Apologies, i did not mean to sound harsh, but as a dog owner and having had puppies, I know how much hard work they are. Its one of the biggest reasons why there are so many abandonded dogs. People think its easy - its most certainly not. I see it quite a lot. Also I forgot to mention COSTS. Food, treats, regular vet vaccinations/check ups, worming, fleaing, the list goes on. My dogs food alone costs me £80 a month. Ear infections cost an eye watering £50 to treat a time. A new football each month costs £10. Little things like that all add up. Dogs need regularly groomed, you would need to factor in time for this at least weekly if not more depnding on the coat.
Also the home check saying you have had no info on the dog really - the charity will not want to go through everything with you to then find out you are not suitable. They will do a home check then assess what dog they believe, if any, to be suitable for you.

Katiehound

Sorry that you are not taking on board what people on here say. You are wasting the home checkers time because 2 young children is a NONO. I am sure even very experienced dog owners with young children will get the 'no thank you!' answer. It is not only safety - I mentioned that before, but a puppy is a HUGE committment.

One reason some dogs end up in rescue is that they haven't been properly socialised as puppies. Not only do puppies have to be house trained, but they have to be trained to behave well with both people and other dogs. Lots of people simply don't realise the amount of work involved and can't be bothered to take them to dog training. It is then like having out of control children who have never been disciplined!! And yes I know, I have had one of those dogs.

When the children are somewhat older you might consider a cat or maybe a couple of degus... neither of those need walking! but they do need attention and that needs time and energy.

neveranymoney

Just giving you a very brief rundown of my own personal experience of rescuing an unknown dog with children (my youngest was 7 at the time and that was hard enough!)

We got a lovely, friendly little rescue boy and all was great, that romantic vision of family walks and teaching tricks lasted for about a week.

My poor man, scampers had extreme fear aggression towards other dogs - something that didn't show up in kennels as he was so shut down and had been rehomed with another dog so why would the overstretched staff at the rescue think anything different?

I basically had to become a dog behaviour expert over night, walks had to be at odd hours with scampers muzzled. We employed a wonderful behaviourist and scampers every move had to be monitored as he was so nervy and showed 'aloofness' towards my son.

This culminated, after doing great work with him basically lunging with his teeth bared at my face after I leant over to talk to him on my bed. After much soul searching, time, effort and money, our behaviourist took the responsibility off my hands and told me that Scampers MUST be rehomed back to the rescue.

I cannot express how utterly gutted my whole family was, we were devastated - we still have his tags, all the photos we took and his bed in the shed.

This is only MY story, thousands of people rescue successfully and you could be one of the lucky ones, but could you possibly cope with that level of work with two little children?

Fast forward to now, and we have a beautiful dog we have raised from a pup. If you think kids are hard work - pups are exactly the same, but with jaggy teeth!

I don't drive, so all the classes we've attended have envolved serious fancy foot work on my husbands part as he works shifts, swapping days off, taking lieu days etc etc. also, adding up how much they cost would turn your hair white.

The insurance, good quality food, toys, chews are financially ruinous and a dog doesn't know that children's toys aren't fair game so they all have to be kept out of mouths reach, can you do that with small children? I sure as hell couldn't when mine were small!

Walking when the rain is coming down horizontally is a norm, there's a row of filthy wellies continually at my back door, what if your dog is a barker, do you have nice neighbours?


It often sounds, when people online ask about wether they should get a dog or not are hit with a barrage of negatives but that isn't really what's happening. People are trying to save others and dogs from what can sometimes end up a very stressful and heartbreaking experience. I've a friend who's rescue dog is a wee dream but suffers the most awful separation anxiety and piddles when left and barks - even when only left for a short while, and it upsets them both greatly.

Our dog now is a pleasure to live with(most of the time) but that is only due to the fact that she started training the day she arrived, isn't left much, walked (and trained to recall so she gets good off lead time, you need your wits about you then and not really able to keep your peepers on two small kids at the same time I'm afraid) moany children are turfed out the back to play ball with her - don't get a dog for your kids btw, they will view it as a toy when very young! She also goes to the aforementioned classes which she loves and meets up with her doggy pals regularly.

My final point would be, do not ignore breed traits either, most pedigree dogs were originally bred to 'do something' and some dogs NEED to do that - I've a retriever so she likes to carry things in her mouth and to bring you stuff! Even in a cross breed, they can still carry traits and you need to know can you manage them and give an appropriate outlet.

Having children myself, I really would say to wait another few years at least, so you can concentrate on your children now and then when you have more time, you can give your all to a dog.

Person_one

Perfect post NAM, thanks for sharing all that.

meritaten

I would say wait until both children are at least in school - it will free up some hours in the day for the necessary 'puppy training'. if you find it stressful with two young children how would it feel with three? one of whom cant wear nappies, needs to be walked three times a day at least and you have to watch like a hawk with the other two kids? also might poo and pee on the floor, barks all night cos its lonely, and generally needs as much if not more attention than the two kids?
because that's the reality of it.
Just seen from another thread that you haven't listened to anyone, you seem bound and determined to get this dog - even if you ARENT suitable.
will see you back here in a couple of months crying that you cant cope I would think.
kayalana, don't ask for advice if you have no intention of listening to anything but your own selfish desires.

Kayalana99

meritaten wrote: »

kayalana, don't ask for advice if you have no intention of listening to anything but your own selfish desires.

I posted in response to the original doggie I wasn't allowed but couldn't get it off my mind..still looking at her adorable photos mind but I know it's for the best. I never asked 'should I get a dog' but more should I get that dog.

I may of given the wrong impression when I said I would avoid a rescue dog, I was more thinking I would avoid the ones that are brought of the street, bad background etc and look for one that was a family pet but has been moved though no fault of their own. (I was under the impression 'rescue' meant unknown / bad background)

I wouldn't even think about a puppy at this stage but if a dog had a good background with children and showed no aggression.

The dog for the check my partner really wants to go ahead but it's not practical She is amazing with children but doesn't like other dogs so it would most likey me to much for me in that respect as on walks as above like neveranymoney I would have to be avoiding other dogs and with a pram in tow I don't see it working.

She did say that she is fine on walks it's just living with them but I find this a bit hard to believe by the description of the dog and that she just would just be better not being near them in general~she was actually the person that came round dog who was fostered but the people she is with now cba with her basically because they have a three year old who is putting stuff in her mouth that the dog is...pretty lame reason but hey ho.

The woman who had the dog to start with is a dog behaviourist & dog has no food aggression at all but just took a dislike to the other dogs she also has.

Person_one

Please please think more carefully about this. You're focusing on what you see as people 'having a go' at you, but try to look past that and see that we're genuinely incredibly concerned that you're going to make a huge mistake.

There will still be plenty of rescue dogs around in 4 or 5 years who will be perfect for your family, and your family will be more ready for them.

Katiehound

Just to point out that the term "rescue" dog simply indicates that the dog is being rehomed through a charity or organisation for myriad reasons. It does not mean that all the dogs have come from the street... many will have come from people who did not realise that having a dog is a full time , longterm commitment (I had had my old boy 14 years when he was pts earlier this year.) Dogs may also come in due to relationship breakdowns, incompatability with existing pets, etc.

Please enjoy your children, bring them up to be well behaved around dogs and then you will be ready in a few years to consider the rehoming route. Families don't have to own pets to experience them!

CH27

You are having problems with your eldest son hitting people & wanting attention away from the baby.
Adding a dog into the mix would be utter madness for everyone concerned.