to get a doberman puppy with a 7 year old child?

[macthekwife]

just that, would this be just the worst idea?

to train them as a family pet, with classes and not leave them alone together, but is it inherently a stupid idea?

we have cats as well and are trying for another baby.

It was a three-year-old dog when brought into the home. An entirely different situation to one bought as a puppy and raised with children. Thinking about it, I have never heard of a dog raised from a puppy with children attacking a child.

Please don't get any puppy. I am a lifelong dog owner but didn't have one when my kids were babies. It's too much responsibility and not fair on either the dog or your children. Both breeds you mentioned are not ideal as high energy and intelligent dogs need 1-2hrs minimum walking per day. Please dont get a dog just to have something to 'cuddle'.

I know this is a zombie thread it I took care of a Doberman puppy (18 weeks old) a couple of weeks ago while the owner went for a weekend away

Never, ever will I ever do that again. He’s a gorgeous dog, and so affectionate, it when puppies are enormous and can get into your kitchen worktops it’s so stressful. And the high pitched screaming when I went to the loo or left the room went right through me. I was counting down the hours until BIL came to collect him. I actually found it all quite depressing

Screaming?!

Dobermans are very very strong. Imagine trying to push a pram and hold o e on a lead? They need plenty of exercise and this would make it very difficult to walk it regularly. Also there is no chance that a 7 year old could control it or hold it on a lead. I would suggest something much smaller and easy to control so that your older child can walk it and and play with it easily. It is never a good idea to chose a dog solely because you like the way it looks.

Puppies and kids together sound like hard work.

Yes, it was basically a scream, never heard anything like it. He is such a gorgeous puppy but it was depressingly hard work.

Holy moly that’s not normal for a puppy, Doberman or otherwise!

Any dog and young children is a bad idea.

I don’t know if this a new feature on mumsnet but at the bottom of the page I’m being recommended ancient posts related to the one I’m reading.