would i be mad to get this puppy?

[AwayWithTheFaries]

hes a 12 week old bullmastiff x rottweiler he seems quite placid and is a lot less boisterous than the other boy iv seen the mum and she seems very friendly what do you think?

[thegirlwithnoname]

He is a boy bullmastiff x rottweiler, and you have a 2yr old son, I really wouldn't, sorry but I think you are away with the faries.

[moljam]

personally i wouldnt.

[CHOCOLATEPEANUT]

A bullmastiff or a rottweiler is not a suitable breed for a small child.

But a cross would be worse.

[SpeccieSeccie]

Oh, please don't! I am a serious dog lover and own a dog myself but even I find it difficult to be anywhere near my friend's rottweiler. It's sad as the rotty hasn't got a bad temperament but everyone - good friends like me, casual acquaintances, people the dog passes on the street - make such assumptions. It just means that where other dogs might be welcomed on picnics with children etc, we actually have to say to my friend 'please can you not bring your dog' or the atmosphere is tense.

[krabbiepatty]

That would be insane

[moljam]

i said to dh about getting a dog he said no and got 3 guinea pigs instead

[Dawnybabe]

Be very careful with whatever you get. My gorgeous lovely four year old spaniel who's as soppy as you've ever seen has just started growling and barking at my 8mo dd whenever she crawls towards him. He doesn't want her pulling at his fur and is trying to warn her off. I know him really well, so I know what he means, but how are you going to interpret a strange dog, puppy or otherwise?

Oh god, don't get me started on dogs...

[tatt]

Yes.

[Doodledootoo]

Message withdrawn

[Whooosh]

Completely off yer rocker.....

[AwayWithTheFaries]

ok dont think i will wasnt too sure anyway i had a lab but shes gone now very long story and im really missing having a dog and ds loved the lab i might see if dp will take me to battersea friday but with a 2 yo and a cat i wont hold my breath

[SpeccieSeccie]

Battersea is a good idea - they're great at matching people up with the right dog so you'll get a dog who is family friendly. And with luck you'll get one that's already been housetrained - a big bonus.

[thegirlwithnoname]

Sorry to burst your bubble, and this will probably be contentious, but a vet told me once that a dog from a pets home unless owned by an old lady are likely to be viscious and they are in the home for a reason. We got a Jack Russell from one as our previous dog had just died, the dog was seriously scary, he wouldn't let me up the stairs. (I used to have to go to the neighbours for a wee if dh was at work!) One day I took the dog with me when I went to get a paper, I thought that the kids were at school and they weren't he nipped a kid, I was devasted the kiddy was ok, but that was it for me, so we had him put down. The vet was really understanding and I hadn't thought she would be, but she was quite matter of fact that most dogs from homes are likely to be scared in someway. Good luck and I hope you find what you are looking for.

[SpeccieSeccie]

Ooh noname, that's bad of the home not to take more responsibility. They really should have checked the dog out a bit more first before placing him in a family with children. Actually, there are lots of nice docile dogs looking for a home but I suppose there are also lots of messed up ones looking for a home too. I don't think that should rule out a rescue dog, maybe just make sure the rescue home is reliable and also that they will take the dog back if not suitable for the family.

[SpeccieSeccie]

Oh, and both my vets have dogs from rescue homes - so not all vets write off rescue dogs. (Plus, both vets have kids.)

[twinsetandpearls]

I think to have a puppy with such a young child is a mistake, both need to much attention, any puppy would be hard even before you start mentioning breeds.

[LittleB]

I've got a puppy with a 2 yr old dd, and although its hard work at times its lovely to see them growing up together. Our puppy is a nova scotia duck tolling retriever, so of the gundog temprement but smaller than a lab or goldie. He's 6 mths now and great with her, very gentle although they do run away with each others toys. I've had rescue dogs in the past but wouldn't risk one with a toddler, even if its been assessed by a rescue centre it might be different in a home environment(many won't let you have one with a pre school child too). We also spent a long time researching breeds as we've had collies before but decided they could be a bit too nippy with a toddler. I'd say go for a pup if you're prepared for the hard work but think very carefully about which breed you go for. ( I used to work as a dog warden so know there are many great rescue dogs out there, through no fault of their own, just wouldn't trust them with a toddler).

[MuffinMclay]

Very bad idea.

[MuffinMclay]

Sorry - didn't read properly (trying to stop ds annoying the dog, as it happens ).

Think the original idea was madness. Talking to Battersea is far better.

[tatt]

a child was savaged recently by rottweilers described by their owner as lovely dogs . He had to shoot them to get them to stop attacking the child, her parents kicking the dogs wouldn't keep them away.

Any dog you get will need careful training and to be watched when around a small child. A sick dog may attack a child and the bigger the dog the more damage it can do. Rescue dogs that have been in a home a while will possibly have had some training from the staff - who will be experienced with dogs.

[LadyTophamHatt]

When I was young one of my dad friends was a farmer, he had 2 rotweilers which were family dogs.

One day one of them attacked a cow. A full grown adult cow, it had the cow by the throat. My dads friend tried everything to getthe dog off, even hitting the dog with a plank of wood which was basically a baseball bat...the dog wouldn't let go.

He shot it in the end, and IIRC the cow dies too.




Theres no way one earth I'd have a rottweiler with young children. And a rottweiler/mastiff cross woukd be a recipe for disaster IMO

[LadyTophamHatt]

sorry, the cow died, not dies.....