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Larger families

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Original poster

anyone with 4 or more children got a dog?

32 replies

kangaroocat · 22/10/2010 09:25

we are thinking of getting a dog, we have 4 children (aged 4 to 11), just wondering whether anyone else has a dog with a largeish family and whether it is just too much to manage the dog as well as the brownies, cubs, swimming, dancing etc runs!

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

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ComeWhineWithMe · 22/10/2010 09:28

Me and yes he is a PITA but we all love him and he is one of the family.

He is a black collie/lab cross.

buttonmoon78 · 22/10/2010 13:06

I have 3 dcs and a collie and ttc #4.

He (also) is a pita but we too all love him. He's fab with ds (3) as they've kind of grown up together (dog is 18m) so I have no worries at all about introducing a new baby to dog.

What sort of breed are you thinking? That might have an impact on how much of a pita it is!

bumpybecky · 22/10/2010 13:17

we've also got a collie/black lab cross and dds 12,10 & 5 and ds who is 2

dog is now very old and so doesn't need much exercise so only really gets taken out on school runs (we walk to school)

can you borrow a dog from friends for a bit to give it a test run?

Original poster

kangaroocat · 22/10/2010 14:14

thinking of a greyhound or lurcher or similar, adult rather than puppy ...

we don't know anyone well enough with a dog to borrow!
And those who do have dogs all seem to have 2 children only. Glad to hear that it doesn't sound a completely mad idea though with more than 2...

OP posts:

4andnotout · 22/10/2010 14:20

We have 4dd's and a dog. She is a 4 y old staffy bitch and is excellent, we wouldn't be without her.

Original poster

kangaroocat · 22/10/2010 15:07

I know this is rather like "but how do you manage with 4 children", but how do you manage to fit in the attention the dog needs with all the running around that you invariably do with 4 children? Does the dog come too, is s/he happy to chill out at home, what time do you have to get up in the morning??!

OP posts:

4andnotout · 22/10/2010 15:09

She comes for the walk to and from school most mornings and as im a sahm she is at home with me all day, at weekends she is happy to be left in the kitchen whilst we go out for a day, sundays we usually end up taking her out for a walk in the woods or on the beach, she really isnt any fuss at all.

4andnotout · 22/10/2010 15:10

Oh and i get up at 7 whenever possible unless dd2,3 and 4 are awake before then :)

slipperandpjsmum · 23/10/2010 15:31

We have 4 dcs (14, 8, 7 and 2) and have a lab collie cross. He is wonderful with the kids! I was surprised how many children are frightened of dogs and having him has really helped the children on our street/children's friends with this issue. I work full time and he goes to work with my husband everyday then at weekends he is at home with his family. He is a wonderful and much cherished member of our family.

Poppyella · 23/10/2010 18:04

I have 4 dc's (9, 6 and 2yr old twins) and we also have 2 dogs, a cocker spaniel and a black lab. We are also in the process of getting a border terrier puppy since our old one died 18 months ago. We also have 14 chickens and a hampster. God, when I write that, I must be mad! BUT, we live in the middle of a field in the country so it all seems to work out fine.

I only work a shift at the weekend so most of the time there is someone with them.

Good luck
x

theagedparent · 23/10/2010 18:09

I have 4 dds and a dog. She shares the same birthday as my youngest (3)so they have grown up together. It can be a pain having the dog sometimes but the kids all love her and it does get us out and about.

Original poster

kangaroocat · 24/10/2010 19:33

thanks all, it is quite exciting to read that it isn't impossible. I do like the idea of having a reason to get out into the fresh air more together too.

OP posts:

bluecardi · 24/10/2010 19:40

Will your dog be a rescue dog? Check it will be ok with your kids & have training for it. Teach your kids to be safe with dogs also. Do you have a garden with space for a dog to run about? With small kids I would get a puppy who can get used to being in a family & knows that he/she is last in line.

lou33 · 24/10/2010 19:52

Four kids and three dogs, though one of them only 75% of the time. And a cat and 3 hamsters.

Its busy but works out

KateEllis · 01/11/2010 16:43

I have 5 kids with another one on the way (don't ask!) and a gorgeous Golden retriever called Sawyer.

Janus · 03/11/2010 19:34

3 dds and one on the way, one dog, chocolate lab, thick as two short planks but very loved!, 2 cats, 6 chickens, 1 hamster, (and until recently 1 fish and 2 rabbits!!). The dog is probably the most 'work' but only in that she needs a walk every day (or I try to every day but some days we don't if it's frantic, dh works away so it's only me in the week to do the walk. We do have a good size garden and a dogflap though which is such a fab idea, she can squeeze out and go loo, wander, whenever she wants, if you have a wooden door I would defo recommend). I do sometimes inwardly moan when I have to walk her and weather is pants or time short but when I'm out there I always enjoy the fact that we're out so it really isn't so bad. Our oldest is 10 but we live on a very busy road so I don't let her walk the dog but maybe your 11 year old could also help out once a week or something? We do have 'helping with the animals' (eg cleaning out chickens and hamster) built into a weekly chart that the kids have to do to get pocket money too so maybe you could do similar but with maybe a chore each day that would save you a little time and could thus free up time to walk the dog?
We love our dog, she's such a star and seriously considering getting another next year, I want a bassett hound to plod next to me!! Others want all sorts, Great Dane, Vizla, tiny, in your handbag thing, you name it, dd1 constantly sourcing our options on the net!!
Good luck with your decision!

girlsyearapart · 03/11/2010 19:47

3dds and just decided to ttc number four and have a staff who is lovely. He is 9 and our eldest child is 3. The dog is great with the kids but I do feel guilty that he doesn't get the attention he used to.
He was there first and there was no question of re homing him though he does have 'respite' visits to fils where he gets walked 4 or 5 times a day and lots of attention!
Will be utterly devastated when he goes to the kennel in the sky but I don't think I'd get another in a hurry either

BrainMash · 07/11/2010 21:09

4 DC's and a dog (who we got when DC#4 was 1 yr old).

Looking back it was daft to get a dog when we did, but LUCKILY it worked out fine and the dog is def one of the family.

GruesomeShellChillingTortoise · 07/11/2010 21:14

4 DC and 2 dogs. (Greyhound and jack russell)
If you are looking for a Greyhound The retired Greyhound trust are brilliant. Got our boy from them.

mygirllollipop · 12/11/2010 12:25

OP we are in same situ, we have 4 DD's aged between 4-11 and in April got a Lurcher.
The dog is a 40MPH couch potato, she has a 30min walk every other day and lazes the rest of the time! She's great and I don't regret getting her.

Original poster

kangaroocat · 15/11/2010 08:04

thanks all we have decided to take the plunge and hopefully have a lurcher coming to live with us in the next couple of weeks!

OP posts:

mumtofourboys · 16/01/2011 15:37

we have 4 dc's and 3 dogs 1 grey hound 1 border collie 1 grey hound cross collie we cope fine walk all the dogs at the same time

MungBeans · 18/01/2011 13:50

Yip, 4 DC's and 1 dog. It's been tough at times (and if I'm honest I probably wouldn't do it again) but the dog is great and is very much part of the family now.

bronze · 21/01/2011 16:26

We have four children and a gsdX. We were looking at getting another puppy.

I'm a weenie bit of all the colliexlabs on here

magnolia74 · 21/01/2011 22:09

We have 5 children and a 6 yr old springer cross. To be honest I would struggle without my 15yr old to do the walking in the evening

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