Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Other subjects
Original poster

Dog - when should I buy one, how and where and what type?

82 replies

MeanBean · 31/03/2004 18:10

I'm being constantly nagged to get a dog, by friends etc. My DS is almost 5 and my DD is almost 2. Is this too young? I've been holding out as it represents yet another job for me (I'm a single mother with a part-time job), but I also do like the idea of getting one, know it's good for children to have pets, and don't like the fact that my DS is scared of them and want to cure him by having a lovely golden retriever (possibly). Does anyone know lots about dogs and have any advice on how they mix with kids and what age is good to get one? would be very grateful for any advice.

OP posts:
MrsDoolittle · 02/04/2004 12:11

Sorry maryz I didn't make myself clear. I was wondering if the tomato ketchup works on anything?
I second your post about jumping up though.

beetroot · 02/04/2004 12:34

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

beetroot · 02/04/2004 12:36

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

suedonim · 02/04/2004 20:21

MrsD, our friends in the US use tomato juice if their dogs get sprayed by a skunk (pooooeeey!) so I guess it must work.

miggy · 02/04/2004 21:34

Beetroot-sound like the voice of gloom-but you did ask. Scotties tend to be bit dodgy temperament wise, either snappy or very aloof. Might be alright if you were very careful about breeder but beware they are one of the puppy farm breeds and people will lie through their teeth about their provenance. Cavalier king charles are great for kids, same sort of size, have never known a nasty one, low maintenance type of dog.

Rae1973 · 02/04/2004 22:10

Hiya MeanBean,

I would personally say no, we had one a while ago whilst I was pregnant with dd1 and as the dog was so badly behaved (dh promised to train him but never did) that dh actually split up whilst I was heavily pregnant, the dog couldn't be house trained, I couldn't have visitors as the dog would get so excited he would wee on them, and the mess, there were tumble weeds EVERY day and the house constantly smelt of damp dog.

Dogs are fine if you live where there are lots of fields, you have a big garden and you have the time to walk them every day.

Give me a cat anyday.

stellarmum · 02/04/2004 22:21

MeanBean, we have a dog just about a year old and 3 cats, the dog was the best decision we ever made, he is lovely! after the initial rubbish puppy bit he has turned into the sweetest thing ever, he adores my dd2 9 weeks old, and he ensures I always get a walk every day, even when I come home tired from work, we all go out and get some fresh air!
He was just a mongrel from the RSPCA, I didn't feel I could justify paying for a pedigree when there were so many dogs needing a good home there.

suedonim · 02/04/2004 22:56

Cavaliers are sweet-natured dogs but, speaking from the experience of having had two, they are very needy. They constantly fawn and simper around us, needing to be the centre of attention, dependent on us all the time and requiring constant reassurance. It can be a bind at times when you just want to get on but you've this creature practically attached to your leg! They are also greedy and nothing can be left out for a second without it being pounced on and gobbled down. At heart, I guess I'm a cat person, and I prefer the independence of cats.

Angeliz · 03/04/2004 01:04

When my boxer was a pup, we used the water spray!

Every time he nipped, we'd just spray him,(the water was in an old windolene/detox spray bottle).

The initial shock just stops them.

He was great as a pup, and still is

mummytojames · 03/04/2004 01:10

angel we did exactly the same with my parents dogs when he kept trying to undress the baby we was told that by my antie who worked for the rspca after she asked my parents was there any chance we could get rid of the baby she didnt realize it was there grandchild they thought it was just visitors lol

Angeliz · 03/04/2004 01:14

It's a good tecnique,(had to stop my dp 'enticing' him with the spray though!!)

MEN!!!!!

CountessDracula · 03/04/2004 09:55

kiwi did you get the mail?

MrsDoolittle · 03/04/2004 11:06

Hi Meanbeam, I have been following this thread with interest and I am also learning quite a bit. I hope you don't mind if I add another point which I feel is extemely relevant.
You did say that you wanted the dog for your children, but as you say the work involved in caring for a dog will fall on your shoulders. Therefore it is imperative that YOU like the dog too. They are hard work and for those of us who obviously love our dogs the attention and care they need is given willingly. Dogs know this and will respond to it. They will respond to you most as you will be the main carer. Discipline also depends on this.
If however, it's just another job to you and you keep the dog for your children I believe that you are taking on another unwanted chore for yourself. You may find yourself resenting your dog for it's little 'foibles' and this will cause problems for you and the dog. Result - neither of you will understand each other.
In the end it depends on whether YOU want the dog or not. They are dependants and the degree to which you find that a problem depends on how much you enjoy your dog.
As for mine, she can be needy. She has also dug a hole is our newly mown lawn, she has scattered her biscuits around the kitchen floor and one of us had to get up to walk her this morning. I have also had to bath her 4 times this week for rolling in the most obnoxious substance imaginable. BUT we think she is gorgeous and so would forgive her anything!!!

kiwisbird · 03/04/2004 11:33

got it now CD thanks, just round corner from us!!
Will call her very soon
Thanks loads!!!
xx J

carla · 03/04/2004 14:47

Don't go there. Unless you want half the garden in your kitchen, a dog who incessintly barks at your children (admittently a rescue Springer). But even if you had a puppy, aren't you through with poo?

Blackduck · 03/04/2004 14:58

Agree with a lot of this....I am a cat person and we had a cat for 10+ years (still got her...) Dp desparate for a dog so we did dog and babe in 6 months of each other! On one hand its a pain - the walks, the hair (!) mines a long haired ginger mutt, the doggy smell, the having to arrange where he goes when (if only) we go away, BUT then we have a child so our days of slinging a backpack on and bogging off for a month are a distant memory! Its a commitment, but no more than children are. Having said all that ds's face lights up when he sees the mutt and the mutt lets him pull great chunks of hair out in an attempt to use the dog as something to lean against whilst trying to stand up....and feeding ds is easy - I have a wooden kitchen floor and dog - no dropped, squashed food!
I do, however, agree with MrsDoolittle - as the lions share of the care will fall to you, you really must want it too

MrsDoolittle · 03/04/2004 15:01

Thanks Blackduck - I didn't want to sound too 'preachy' !

Easy · 03/04/2004 15:19

Haven't time to read all this thread, but have picked out bits, sorry if I repeat someone.

We have a king charles cavalier spaniel. She is my second one of the breed, and I would recommend them wholeheartedly as a family dog. They are small, don't tend to be yappy, and have a reputation for good equable tempers (ours is never unpleasant with ds who is 4, even tho he does horrid things to her sometimes).

They don't NEED much exercise, but can walk and run for miles if you want to take long country walks. They are capable of unconditional love, and fit into any lifestyle (my first cavvy used to come to work with me, travelling the length and breadth of the country)

The downsides are

  1. the hair, gets everywhere, and needs a quick groom everyday, unless you have the dog clipped as I do, she's much happier with it.
  2. Not long lived, prone to heart problems so choose one from a breeder who has a record of older dogs (Flora's grandmother lived to 15, a good age for a cavvy)
  3. You can never go anywhere with a cavvy without having to stop every few minutes while people coo over the dog.

Give it consideration. My stepson (who's autistic) was frightened of dogs, but my cavvy got him over it, they're a really good introduction to the dog world)

Oh, one last word. Whatever dog you get, try not to get a REALLY young puppy. Most good breeders would happily keep a puppy for you to 16 weeks, which makes house-training and socialising much easier. Before that it really is like having a new baby in the house, but without the convenience of nappies.

Easy · 03/04/2004 15:23

oh, just seen suedonim's post. Our cavvy is not very demanding of attention. She does spend most evenings on my lap when I'm watching telly, but otherwise, fits around what we're doing.

Oh, and neither of mine have ever been theives. I can leave food anywhere except on the floor (which is reasonable), and although flora will sit near it and gaze at it, she will never touch. So not all cavvies are the same.

carla · 03/04/2004 15:38
  1. They stink
2. Ours pick up and chew ANYTHING on the floor (and how expensive are children's shoes/ wellies? 3 Ours only eat roast chicken (long story) 4. If you're deliberating about getting away, they're an added complication

  1. They add to the cost of your holiday (housesitters).

  2. You can't spend the day shopping without the worry of a pile of poo when you get back

  3. You still need a babygate 'twixt you and the kitchen, unless you want muddy paw prints throughout the house.

  4. You spend many hours getting mudd/muddy dried-on watery-stuff from your kitchen tiles which have dimples in them.

  5. Sweet little piles of bitesized mud, come from paws, that you need to sweep up every 30 mins ....
    Other than that, having dogs is great!!

Blackduck · 03/04/2004 15:59

Our mutt's particular fetish is socks...clean, dirty, doesn't matter....but he hasn't (aside for a sofa and thats another story...) chewed anything else... and for us the baby gate trick doesn't work, he just leaps over it!

carla · 03/04/2004 16:02

Should have added (No. 10) ... unless you're a slut like me

tallulah · 03/04/2004 17:31

CD/secur/other RR experts. When you talk about RRs being aloof, what do you mean? We've had an unexpected reaction from our little dear twice now. She's fine when my mum comes to the house & when we went there, even though we don't see her often. She's fine with FIL & she's fine with DD who lives elsewhere & comes home once a week or less. BUT my aunt came round & the dog snorted at her (like a dragon- it was quite funny!) & barked & snorted until we put her back in her crate. DH took her later to his parents home & she did the same to his mum (but not his dad). She also does it, but not so extreme, to DDs bf.

She LOVES going to the vet (!) & tries to go in when we walk past to go somewhere else, & doesn't bat an eyelid when any of the vets touch her. BUT when we meet someone out walking she hides behind DHs legs. She's 7 months old & we followed all the advice on socialising when we got her, so I'm not sure what we are doing wrong. Any ideas?

MrsDoolittle · 03/04/2004 18:09

I don't think this is just Ridgeback thing, lots of dogs are like this. Many dogs will react differently to men and women. I have seen dogs that definately respond better to men, even if a woman is their main carer and have witnessed whelping bitches that won't let a man within a bar of them.
Don't know why, but it's probably a gender thing and it may never go away. You dog will probably get better with time. Sounds like it lacks a little confidence at the moment.

Paula71 · 03/04/2004 22:55

Sorry Mrs Doolittle I don't know if the tomato ketchup works on all types of poo your dog may choose to roll in but I think it probably should! We have fields and lots of country paths around here which make it easier. A reason I wanted for getting a dog was that I could escape the house leaving DH with the boys while I went for a nice walk, yes, even in the rain! Sometimes it does good to clear the head that way!

Do let us know what you decide MeanBean!