is it a bad idea to buy

[cheeryface]

an older dog, a six year old one? would i be better to get a puppy?
have seen one for sale, says good with kids etc but not sure.

its likely that a puppy would be better as an older dog will soon lose its patience as its get older with children.Also with a puppym they will grow up knowing kids and be more patient with them and treat them qwith respect where as the older one may just get pissed off with kids playing with it and attracting attention towards it as it gets older it might tend to start snapping or growing and then it owuldnt be safe with kids and you would have to come up with a solution of how your gunna stop ll this when later in life its hard to break a dogs habit rather then train them from puppies.

I am all for rehoming older dogs but to be honest if you have young children I would be slightly wary of getting an older dog. Children oer 10 or so should be fine even a little younger as they are much more able to understand how to treat a rescue dog. Young children may pull it around a bit too much and although all children should be taught how to behave with a dog, a puppy or young dog will tolerate a bit more than an older dog

We breed poodles

Im allergiv to all breed of dogs except poodles because they dont mault at all and ive been fine all my life! we have quite a few!

hi kat,
how does your allergy show up, is it a rash? and are you very allergic?

i am worried ds2 might have a really bad reaction and then i'd feel terrible! also don't want to break their hearts having to re-home it.

i have seen a couple of poodles for sale now in loot, one aged 8 months. it's a shame i can't just borrow it for a while!

although i have been told that allergies can come on worse a year or so later anyway, don't know how true that is.

Well we show dogs aswell and before a dog show i have to dose up on antihestimines because i sneeze alot my eyes swell and face swells up im like it with all animals that lsoe coat, ive been living with poodles all my life and not yet have i had a reaction to them!
Where do you live?

Sorry *lose coat

i live in heywood, it's near manchester.

oh right um well we live in somerset, i could make one suggestion to you...what about going to a dog show..letting him be near poodles (there are poodle shows with just poodles) and let him touch them and see how he copes and see if a reaction occurs after a few days if not then he should be ok. We've let people have poodles who have allergic reactions to all other animals and dog etc and some have been gone 11 years and not yet once have we ever had one come back and say we've had a reaction!i think a poodle is the safest bet if hes allerigc like that.

thanx for the advice/suggestions. ds1 isn't allergic to dogs (just ds2) and his beloved german shepherd (lived next door ) that he spent so much time with has gone to spain. he's gutted.

i really really want one myself, dh thinks its bcause i have decided no more children lol

anyway, sorry to ramble, thanx again.

Aww, thats ok good luck with your search!

Please be wary about buying an older dog that is for Sale. If the owners had the dogs best interest at heart they really wouldn't pass it on to the first person who came up with the dosh! that would be enough to make me question the motives of sale and the truth behind the ad. I think older dogs can be excellent pets but please go to a rescue where the workers have had time to test the dog and it's temperment. Most good rescues will do a children / cat etc test before rehoming.

i also agree with the comment horseshoe made,has the owner of this dog tried to find out anythingnabout you e.g where you live? if you have children? if you've had dogs in the past,if you know how to look after a dog, if your going to be at work all day everyday, if you have anyone to come and see your dog during the day etc etc ?