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If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

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If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

The doghouse

How old should the DCs be before we can get a dog

37 replies

TheABC · 08/12/2016 20:19

Been drooling over recent arrivals at the Dogs Trust, but with a toddler and a baby, I know I cannot give a dog the time it deserves at the moment. So, how long so you think I will need to wait?

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Wolfiefan · 08/12/2016 20:23

Depends whether you mean a pup or an older dog. I have a puppy and a 6 year old. It's bloody hard work!
An older dog? I would wait until the kids can be relied upon not to scream or grab the dog. They need to know when to leave the dog alone.

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Hoppinggreen · 08/12/2016 20:25

I waited until mine were 7 and 11 and was very glad I did.
We got a large puppy and I think I would have been tipped over the edge with small children as well.

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TheABC · 08/12/2016 20:27

I am going through sleep deprivation with DD at the moment - not sure I would voluntarily do it again for a puppy. I know what you mean about the shrieking abd grabbing. DS has already had it drummed into him to respect dogs, but realistically, we would not leave him alone with an animal at the moment.

OP posts:

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Sweetwater · 08/12/2016 20:33

I waited until they could walk the dog without an adult, which was nine and twelve for us. Depends on the child and where you live though.

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Shriek · 08/12/2016 20:40

Depends on the breed as big dog breed come under legislation and have to be managed by over 16's only and labs etc come into that category.
For the dc safety they should be a lot older.

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TheABC · 08/12/2016 20:41

. Only 7 years to wait...but I can see the sense in your suggestions.

OP posts:

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Shriek · 08/12/2016 20:44

And the best thing you can do for yourself and the dog is not to drool over the look of dogs as it is meaningless in terms of fit for you allor the personality and traits
Its like looking at litters of pup and 'falling in love' because if its looks with no idea to health the xhallenges it brings and it temperament etc
Thoroughly research in the light of what you have to offer a dog and young ones offer nothing to a dog How much time, exercise, space in house lifestyle fitttiing in with family and other animals

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LaPharisienne · 08/12/2016 20:50

We already had a dog when we had kids and it was fine, but I've always had dogs and he was well trained and perfect temperament etc.

Have you had dogs before? If yes you'll know what's best. If not I'd wait until the kids were ten-ish at least, maybe older. And think very carefully about buying a dog that suits your life.

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Bubble2bubble · 08/12/2016 21:17

Depends. If you're prepared to chuck the DC in a sling/buggy and go walking whatever the weather even if you've been up all night, and have someone to babysit while you go to training or go on longer walks, then fine.

If I had it to do again I would probably have waited until my dc were nursery or school age, just because it gives me some child free time to walk the dogs, and realistically my dogs needed to walk further than my toddler was able to.

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tabulahrasa · 08/12/2016 21:47

"Depends on the breed as big dog breed come under legislation and have to be managed by over 16's only and labs etc come into that category."

That's not true...it's dogs must be under control and so a large dog with a child who was unable to hold it would be out of control. Not a specific size and age.

And it's only relevant for walking a dog without an adult, not when's a good age to get a dog in general.

OP - you want the youngest child to reliably be able to follow instructions, which realistically for most children who aren't used to dogs is going to be school age.

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Shriek · 09/12/2016 00:33

Its how dogs trust and dog wardens interpret the law as under 16's are not accountable for stuff happening so under 16's shoukdnt be out walking and very wise especially with the bigger dogs which is another pretty important thing to know as part of considerations

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tabulahrasa · 09/12/2016 01:34

You're confusing two different issues, you as the owner are responsible if your dog does something in public that would be considered dangerous and you have sent the dog out with someone who couldn't possibly be considered responsible, like a child or an adult who wouldn't be considered competent.

And separately dogs must be under control, so a large dog who could overpower a child would not be under control.

But if there was an incident where it wasn't your dog at fault, it had in fact been controlled by a large enough teenager, there wouldn't suddenly be a legal issue because they weren't 16.

Besides, the main reason for not letting children take dogs out without an adult is other people's dogs, it makes no difference at all if they can control their own dog if they meet a dog that isn't.

And it's hardly likely to be a huge deciding factor for someone with a toddler and a baby, I'm pretty sure the OP wasn't thinking about getting a dog and sending the toddler off to walk it.

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DarkNanny · 09/12/2016 01:43

I had triplets and a dog King Charles Cavalier easy peasy just be organised and consistent set your boundaries KC reg well adjusted pup and raise em with your children puppies and children are kinda similar anyhow lol

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DarkNanny · 09/12/2016 01:45

They were three btw if that helps

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MakeItStopNeville · 09/12/2016 02:11

My youngest was 6. I could have got one much earlier but I didn't realize I was a dog person until then!

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avamiah · 09/12/2016 02:13

DarkNanny,
Totally agree with you .
As long as you get a pup and make sure it's KC reg then your half way there.

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Hoppinggreen · 09/12/2016 08:04

Our pup is KC reg - he came from a puppy farm.

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everythingis · 09/12/2016 08:09

We got the idiot spaniel when dds were 2.5 and 6.5. It's all been fine but I wish I'd waited a few months before dd2 had completely ditched the buggy

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2cats2many · 09/12/2016 08:14

We got ours when the children were 3 and 5. In hindsight, it would have been easier to wait until now when they are 8 and 9 and can stay home on rainy mornings instead of being dragged around with me. BUT they also would have missed out on all of that lovely tine growing up with a dog in their life.

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AngelBlue12 · 09/12/2016 08:32

I always had dogs growing up, we got our Border Collie when our eldest was 2, never had any issues with new babies around her. Dog is now 10, baby number 6 is due in March and we are contemplating getting another puppy in the next year or so

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BastardGoDarkly · 09/12/2016 08:38

We got our puppy when DS was 18 months. Rescue centres wouldn't let us rescue because of DS age, so we got a pedigree Ridgeback, best dog we've ever had, and his and DS are now almost 8&9 they've grown up together, and it's been just lovely.

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IJustWantABrew · 09/12/2016 08:38

My parents got a puppy when me and my brother was 4 and 6 respectively. I couldn't imagine having a baby and a dog. That sounds like pure hell!
Just play it by ear, you may get to a stage when the kids are 3 and think that there ready, you may find that there 10 and not ready or responsible enough.

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punter · 09/12/2016 10:19

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Shriek · 09/12/2016 17:21

Rood! TAB

Dont wanna derail thread. like I said it is interpreted this way as 16 is age of liability (Dogs Trust/Wardens/big dog breeders). We see it differently tab

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Pluto30 · 10/12/2016 03:58

I've had dogs all my life, and loved them all. But I really appreciated dogs from the age of about 10/11.

I got a Cavalier King Charles puppy (unexpectedly) at that age and was bloody OBSESSED. Christ I loved that dog. I had had dogs previously and loved and played with them, but didn't feel a responsibility for them. They didn't feel like they were mine or a family dog, they were my mum's dogs.

Our dogs came before our DC, but though all of them love them and are happy to play with them, only one of them (DS 5.5) considers them beyond that. He likes the whole thing: feeding them, picking up their poop (what on Earth! Hope this never changes!), walking them, coming with me to the vet, always considers what time we're going to be home for them so they're not on their own too long etc. He's a ham. But I don't think he's a typical kid in that sense. I think my other two are more normal (ages 7yo and 20mo).