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Original poster

What age (of DS) to get a dog?

30 replies

lisalollipop · 18/05/2009 21:07

When I was pregnant we sadly lost both of our old lady dogs to cancer.

I know I'm quite mad but DS is now just 1, but I so would like a dog. DS is just starting to walk and of course there are toys everywhere. What age would you wait until?

Have always had rescue dogs in the past but I know most rescue places won't re-home with children under 12 which is fair enough. So would a puppy be the way to go?

Really must be mad...

OP posts:
Lilyloo · 18/05/2009 21:12

I have a 1 year old and i wouldn't choose to get a dog now. As much as dd loves ours i have to keep a very close eye on her.
My others are 4 and 7 and they are fine with her.
I personally would wait until at least school age tbh
Am hoping that as ds 7 get's older he may be able to take a more active roll in exercising her etc

Original poster
lisalollipop · 18/05/2009 21:20

School age

Can I send him to school age 2??

Only joking, thanks for advice.

OP posts:
Mutt · 18/05/2009 21:23

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Haribosmummy · 18/05/2009 21:25

That's a difficult one.

I have a 6YO labrador and a 1YO son.

I don't think I'd like to be trying to train a puppy at the same time - I have enough trouble trying to stop the baby biting / grabbing / jumping on the dog!!!

I understand your desire though - they are best of friends.

Original poster
lisalollipop · 18/05/2009 21:34

No - puppy would definitely be double trouble! But if not a rescue then what? Just be patient I guess

OP posts:
bella29 · 19/05/2009 07:55

Personally I wouldn't do it until ds is walking and potty trained, and can fully understand when you tell him not to do x, y or z to the dog.

Good luck whatever you do.

throckenholt · 19/05/2009 08:04

I hate to agree with the others - but I think a puppy and under 6s don't mix very well. My youngest was 5 when we got our puppy and I have to say that the 6 year old was much better with him. And my lot grew up with an older dog too (6 when the first child was born) so they were used to dogs - but adding a puppy to the mix did highlight the maturity of the children.

I think probably you have to resign yourself to being dog free for a while.

TrinityIsLovingHerLittleRhino · 19/05/2009 08:11

we have just rehomed a 7 month old collie cross
girls are 9,4 and 2

i have to watch the 2 year old treats him nicely but apart from that all is fine

nickschick · 19/05/2009 08:21

Our youngest ds was 8 and thats worked great for us -older kids to walk in the rain evening and a younger child to run and play with during long walks in the day.

newpup · 19/05/2009 08:25

My youngest DD was 6 when we got our puppy. She was old enough to understand how to treat her, when to leave her alone and to say no to her.

Personally I would wait until he is old enough to go to school.

Good Luck!

KingCanuteIAm · 19/05/2009 09:58

I rehomed an oldie rescue when dd was not much older than your ds (about 18 months). It worked fantastically because she really was the perfect dog in all ways and dd soon learnt the rules WRT leaving her alone in her bed and so on. However, a puppy at this stage would have been a complete nightmare.

The down side to an oldie, of course, is that she died fairly soon after, we only had her 2 years, this was long enough for everyone to be properly attached and was devestating for all concerned and I would not be able to do that again whilst the dc are at home.

Breed rescues will often home dogs with younger children but they do not always carry out the same tests on behaviour and personality that places like the RSPCA do so you may be unlucky and have to send a dog back because they are not suitable. It can be a bit of a lottery.

My honest advice would be to wait until ds is 3 ish and then look at rehoming an older (ie over 2yo) rescue from a breed society but do your homework and make sure you get to know the dog properly before you take it home. (Or wait until he is about 5 if you want to get a puppy)

Sorry to hear about your dogs, I can certainly relate to that pain
Good luck with your decision.

KingCanuteIAm · 19/05/2009 09:58

Lol - must type faster

bella29 · 19/05/2009 10:09

It can be done though - if you keep pup and ds separate when not supervised, etc.

Just depends how much chaos/work/disruption you can cope with

throckenholt · 19/05/2009 10:43

if you do go for a puppy make sure you get a crate and that DS knows that is a no go area for him. That way the dog has a safe haven away from the toddler which will make things much safer.

Original poster
lisalollipop · 19/05/2009 10:44

Ok I hear you. Thanks.

Boo though

OP posts:
KingCanuteIAm · 19/05/2009 11:26

My problem with a puppy and a mobile baby is when they are going through the mouthy stage (the puppy that is). It only takes the baby being caught a couple of times to make them nervous of the dog who, in turn, becomes nervous of the baby because the baby squeals when they come close and you end up grabbing one or the other all the time...

I am painting a black picture but even older children can find puppies hard work!

It can be done, you are right but be prepared is my view

bella29 · 19/05/2009 11:35

I know...I think tbh it's not an ideal time right now for the OP but I really don't feel I, of all people, can tell someone to wait 4 years for a dog. Really depends on how well you manage the situation.

KingCanuteIAm · 19/05/2009 11:37

I know what you mean, it took me all my restraint to wait this long before getting another and now I have broken the seal I am having trouble holding back the floodgates

doggiesayswoof · 19/05/2009 17:01

Well - I'll add a link to my thread from a few weeks back, when I was asking myself the same question as you.

here

Most people on that thread advised me not to go for it for at least another couple of years.

But... we have decided to do it anyway and we're picking up the pup in 2 weeks

Yes, I think we must be mad.

As bella says, we realise we will have to work hard at keeping ds and the pup away from each other and I will need to watch dd (4.10) carefully too.

Must start another thread actually...

bella29 · 19/05/2009 17:07

Oooh, exciting - what are you getting, doggiesayswoof?

KingCanuteIAm · 19/05/2009 17:40

Bella, I was wondering if you may have some words of wisdom to add here it seems she is having a bit of a hard time, I don't know if she will come back but thought it would be nice if there was some helpful stuff there if/when she did.

KingCanuteIAm · 19/05/2009 17:40

(sorry for the hijack BTW)

bella29 · 19/05/2009 20:10

On AIBU? Are you mad? I don't go there!!!!

Will do a very quick post and run straight back out...

bella29 · 19/05/2009 20:17

Sorry for hijack.

Original poster
lisalollipop · 19/05/2009 20:17

Thanks all.

doggiesayswoof - what are you getting. How exciting. Keep MN informed and I'll think more while reading how you get on!

OP posts: