Am I being insane?

[ZombieBelle]

I am a sahm with 2 DC, a 4 year old and a 18 month DD. I am seriously considering getting a dog (grew up with dogs and have owned them myself too) I live in a flat, but have front and back garden space plus an absolutely massive woodland/park right next door, plus we go for 2-3 hour treks every weekend as a family so the pup would get plenty of exercise. Am I being mad though thinking of bringing a dog into a family with such young children?

As long as everybody is happy with the work involved, you can afford to care for a dog properly and are willing to put in the training time, it's not insane. But you need to be very careful about which dog you choose.

I don't think it sounds insane as long as you pick the right breed/dog. I think you need to be completely realistic there.

We got a pup this year and I have 3 DCs, 5 year old, 2 year old and now 6 month old. After a lot of research we picked a Shih tzu. DH was not very impressed because he would prefer a more 'manly' dog but in terms of our situation they're perfect. Small so DCs can hold the lead without being pulled over but sturdy enough not to get trampled. They don't shed so no hair all over you. They don't need tonnes of exercise but are willing to go for longer walks when you are. Ours is great with the kids and I've absolutely no regrets.

DH and I are going to view some sprocker puppies tomorrow. We're level headed enough not to be swayed by the utter cuteness but have heard good things about the breed (we know they are mad though) and are armed with plenty of questions!

It can get quite chaotic looking after children and dogs and birds and everything else! At least children don't chew things to bits and bark and exhibit weird behaviour you don't understand. Not to the same extent usually. If you have the time and the finance and the commitment to add a new species to your family, go for it! Be prepared for the unexpected. We have 3 collies, and it's been fantastic learning how to be better with them.

Hi I am currently researching different dogs but I have not come across sprockers, could you tell me a bit more about them and why you have chosen them?

I'd second considering a shih-tzu. We have one and he is perfect

Good points:
Doesn't eat much
Isn't yappy
Small, but not tiny
Can walk for miles
Happy with no walks at all
Good with other dogs
Great with children
Doesn't shed hair
easily portable
Doesn't smell

Bad points:
Umm, needs professional grooming/cutting every six weeks
Too stupid to learn tricks
Hates cats
Apparently stubborn to house-train, but ours was a doddle and never pee'd or poo'd overnight

rosy sprockers are part springer spaniel and part cocker spaniel. The ones we are looking at tomorrow, the dad is a cocker and mum is a small springer so the size should be perfect for us. From what we've researched, they are quite easy to train and very active, which suits our lifestyle. Good with children too. Plus DH want a non toy breed of dog.

We had a shih tzu when DS was born, and sadly we had to rehome him due to his jealousy problems. Vets and behaviourists couldn't help.Dog was my baby before i had babies iykwim. I do love the breed, they are such fantastic characters, but i found mine to be so very very stubborn and yes, he was as thick as two short planks.

We did find him a fantastic home with an older family, the woman spoils him rotten and we bumped into him a year after rehoming and he looked great. Very well looked after.

Thankyou for all your encouragement and advice. Shall put up photos tomorrow to let you see the pups. Whether we go for one or not is a different question but i'm so excited regardless

'Very active' in a spaniel cross will mean it needs more than just long weekend hikes, but I'm sure you already know that! It will need 2 really good walks a day once it is an adult and until then, you'll likely have to alter your lifestyle to accommodate a reduction in exercise.

I assume you have free access to your garden space from your flat so then dog can go in and out at will; I think that will be particularly important for the cross breed you are considering, especially if the parents are from working stock.

A dog and young children are not necessarily a bad mix, but I would bear in mind this pup is likely to be a whirlwind of activity.

And although it's also pretty obvious, it's worth saying that each pup won't be a perfect 50/50 mix of the two breeds. Each one will have a very different combination of the two, so it would be wise to research the characteristics of both breeds and be sure you're happy with both sets of behaviours.

It is impossible even in a pedigree dog to predict which proportion of the parents characteristics will carry through into each pup, and with a cross breed, it becomes even more complex.