To have four large dogs in the home with my family?

[fallingdownasteepsteadyslope]

We have 5 children. Wasn't particularly planned as we have two sets of twins. Our oldest two are 9, the middle child is 7 and the youngest two are 4. We have four large dogs (three are what we consider giant breed).
Our 7yr old has made friends with a new girl in the class. We invited her over for a playdate but new girl's mother is refusing to let her come due to our 'big beastly dogs'. She's seen all of them as we take them on dog walks. She then said I was irresponsible to 'have so many dogs and so many children because one of the children will get bit eventually'. It set me off thinking, if you saw me in the street, would you think I was ridiculously irresponsible and 'a inadequate mother'? BTW, this mother has four dogs of her own, three cockerpoos and a cav.

So you think that makes you important? Some kind of an urban heroine perhaps? Bless your cotton socks Havanaclub you do try, don't you? I don't think anyone should have a problem with or be offended by a single word Havanaclub posts. Your pathological need for people to hate you, for you to be banned so you can feel like you have suffered some kind of injustice is rather worrying though. Perhaps you need a pet, something to love you without judging. Maybe you could volunteer at an old peoples home, food bank or homeless shelter. Maybe that would fill the whole you so desperately want to fill with hate, with love and purpose instead.

*hole I was going to type something about being whole but changed phrasing and didn't correct.

I wouldn't think anything of it. I have 4 myself, 2 large breed, 2 small breed.

@havanaclub completely lost me with their first post. I have no idea what he/she is raving about. The Op has dogs, so I don't know why she was telling her to "go ahead".... errr, she did? Years ago?! In multiple?!!

Sounding deranged there, duckie. Best be off to bed with you, your dog free bed, I'm sure.

I wouldn't judge it bit would be wary of DC going round unless assured dogs would be outside/shut away.

Sounds like heaven. I love otterhounds and have a soft spot for pointy noses too. I'd happily let my DS come round to play.
Also, having dogs doesn't = them or the home being smelly! That's a sweeping statement.

TooSleepyToCare Dogs do smell and make the owners home smelly too. People with dogs don't realise, but as soon as you walk into a home with dogs you can just tell as the smell is quite strong to those who haven't become accustomed to it.

I've got six dogs at the moment, have had up to nine at one time. Plus sometimes a litter of puppies running around.

I put my dogs in their pens when children that I don't really know well come around. Not because I'm worried about the dogs attacking the children but because all it takes is for a child that isn't socialised around dogs to put a finger in an eye, or pull an ear too roughly. My job as a dog owner is to never put my dogs in a situation where they should need to defend themselves.

Not everyone likes dogs. I don't understand it myself, but apparently its true. And it won't hurt my dogs to spend a few hours in their pen or crate chewing a bone while my son gets to play with his friend. I also have a kids play area with trampoline, cubby, swing set, etc fenced off, where the dogs aren't allowed into, so no worries about stepping on an overlooked poo. If the child is really interested in the dogs, I'll pull out one or two and let them have a supervised play session with me.

^^ midnight scribbler - very very much the same as our set up here too.

To me, it's the more experienced owners that often have the higher numbers of dogs.

spreadyourhappiness ime everyone's home (whether shared with pets or not) has a unique smell. Depending on what you cook/how often you clean/location even maybe. So if you're not accustomed to that specific smell then you'll notice it of course. My dog has regular baths and my home is cleaned and has various airfresheners. It is not immediately obvious that there is a dog in the home. You're far more likely to notice DH's cooking.

TooSleepyToCare Oh yes, of course every home has a different smell. However, regardless of how many baths your dog takes, it's still going to smell like a dog and you're still going to notice it as the first smell when you walk into a home with a dog (it's not just dogs by the way, pretty much any pet).

To me, it's the more experienced owners that often have the higher numbers of dogs.

Exactly, and a person who knows what they are doing can manage a pack of 4 or more quite easily, whereas others may struggle to own one.

You cannot own and manage large numbers of dogs successfully without being a strong dog owner who understands pack behaviour and how to run one. My house would be chaos if they weren't all trained and socialised properly and didn't respect my role as the pack leader. I put a lot of work into managing my dogs, training them, socialising them, keeping them fit and healthy, because it is what I love to do. My dogs spend their weekends at dog shows and trials, and on the weekdays, four out of my current six take turns coming to school with me and being classroom buddies (one of the other two is too old now, and the other is too young yet).

I would have more trust in my child going to the home of someone with a large number of dogs when that owner successfully manages them than I would to someone with 'Fluffy' who sits wherever they want on the sofa and is allowed to growl when someone tries to take their spot.

Your combination of breeds sounds awesome OP. In 10+ years of being a vet I've yet to be so much as grumbled at by any of those types of dog. Tbh I'd be more wary of a gang of Dachshunds, Chihuahuas or Jack Russells (not really as I'm not wary of any breed or particular type of dog, but those are among the ones who sometimes tend to want to take a chunk out of my hand!).

I'd only think you abiu if you didn't invite me too, I want to meet the dogs :)

I have dog envy 😀

My dsis has a 3.5 yr old and twin 2 yr olds plus 4 dogs, sometimes 5 if she has her bosses dog. Lets put it this way when they are all, thats dc and dogs scattered playing on a dog walk, only 4/5 will automatically sit and await instruction on a whistle blow 😁,

How had I never heard of otterhounds?

I've just looked at a picture of one. Amazeballs!

YANBU btw, that mum is rude.

I Fucking hate that people automatically think a large dog is scarier than a smaller one.

I have a large dog, and some people give him a wide berth because he's 'too big'

Despite the fact that he is actually the friendliest most placid dog you coupd ever meet, who is terrified of small dogs as he has been bitten on the nose a few times by 'friendly, he's only small, you dog could eat my dog, dogs'

wolfie your hound is lovely.
We have an elderly deerhound, had him since a pup and I just love him so much. He is so so chilled.
Many people comment that he is a wolfhound and I say to them that although he's a similar height he is knowhere near as stocky. Both of them are great breeds, esp around children

Same here navy I love how much attention he gets, but hate it when some people just automatically think he's going to rip their heads off, when all he's doing is trotting nicely by my side

Havana looks for a reaction on every thread like an attention seeking child. Just ignore her.....

My DC now desperate to visit house of many large dogs

I want to visit too.

Perhaps we should have a charabanc trip, and descend en masse to meet these terrifying beasts?

I have never seen havana on any thread before, but surely she is as entitled to her views as anyone else.

Clearly, both sides of this argument are ridiculous. There needs to be some middle ground between 'all dogs are lovely fluffy beauties who wouldn't harm a hair on a child's head,' and all the coo-ing and oohing and ahhing about how wonderful they all are, and how much better they are than children (!) and people saying they are hairy murderous beasts who will kill at will, they are smelly and dirty, and just horrible creatures.

Fact is that dogs are lovely, sweet animals who are great company, and a lot of fun, and some are very intelligent. However, there is no getting away from the fact that they are ANIMALS, and are unpredictable. I am sick of the 'my doggy is a big soft old puffalump who wouldn't hurt a fly' claims, and the bullshit posts like 'you can't trust anyone who doesn't have a dog!' (WTF?!)

As lovely as your pet is; many people ARE afraid of dogs they don't know, they ARE afraid to come into your house with a dog there, and they WON'T want their small children there because dogs are unpredictable. And you will NOT be able to stop it if FOUR DOGS go for a small child.

And no matter how many people whine and cry about how big dogs are no less likely to harm and maim than small ones, big dogs (especially FOUR of them!) are going to do a lot more harm than a fucking chihuahua. You're deluded if you think differently. In addition, they are a tie, and they do cost a lot of money. They give a lot back, but you do need to be committed to them.

Some very ignorant, arrogant , and ridiculous posts on this thread; mostly from dog owners! And as a dog owner myself, I am ashamed and disgusted by the attitudes from some people!