Can you advise on whether to get a dog please.

[AcquiredTaste]

I have two children (7 & 8) and am considering getting a dog. My youngest desperately wants a dog. She has some SN and there have been some incidences where she has been devasted that we would not let her keep other peoples dogs. Crying and saying the dog is hers.

As a result we are considering a getting a dog. My other child likes them and occasionally asks for one or a cat, or a dog, or a cat etc. My partner is ok with the idea and despite growing up with cats is actually really starting to like the idea Of a dog. I grew up with a dog but was young and cant remember much about it.

I would be grateful if you could advise on the cons of having a dog and how to care for one. (How many walks, wet/dry/both foods, how frequent/what are regular vet needs.)

We are looking at getting a small older dog (preferably house trained), that doesnt shed much or preferably at all, quietish that is good with children but wont bark all the time. Also I am a SAHM so will be in to give the dog walks/attention As well as having a garden.
Thank you for reading all this and huge thanks to anyone that advises.

I am not sure how DD would react with a dog which is why I am struggling to decide. She (for the last year/2 years) has been devastated when we dont let her keep other peoples dogs.However she used to be scared of them and has only been close to small dogs since (fine with them). I am not sure if she would be able to understand that dog needs space.
The only real deal breaker i would have is that a dog would need to be able to cope with a shouting child if DD gets angry/frustrated. I have had a small look at different dogs and quite like the look of a bull dog as apparently they are laid back and great family dogs. I dont imagine them as a very barky dog and they apparently have low grooming needs. But that is my idea of them and obviously I would need to look more closly at different types and whether to get one.
I apologise if I haven't answered everyone but I am taking in what you are all saying.

Also I understand bull dogs are medium sized. However as long as its not a big dog then thats fine.

I really really wouldn't advise you to get a bulldog - they are susceptible to multiple, very distressing and potentially extremely expensive health problems

Have a look at this site:

www.dogbreedhealth.com/bulldog/

I got my first ever dog two years ago. She is gorgeous and I love her to bits.
She was a four year old rescue dog. She is a Westie. She's never been an ounce of trouble and is brilliant with kids and other dogs. I would highly recommend.

My friend has a child with sn and she has dobermanns, they're brilliant with him. But they do have energy

Oops just seen you don't want a large dog, both of my dogs best friend is a shih tzu, needs grooming but not at all small dog ish iykwim

Thanks Basildonbond. Considering that I think maybe a different choice. If a dog liked being brushed then I wouldn't mind a long haired one. How often can you brush - daily? (Thinking of the misthought bath plan and I don't want to irritate their skin.) Really the only neccessary point is small/medium and able to cope with noise/shouting). One that doesn't require huge walks (are there dogs that need 2/3 walks totaling 2-4 hours a day plus we have a garden?) One with minimal grooming or more grooming that likes being brushed. One that is laid back about kids and shouting. Enjoys being petted and affection. Male dog (don't want to deal with heat) and has a good temper. No major health concerns like bull dogs just a typical health dog. Ok so what are official opinions - does such a dog exist and if so should I look for him.
Also is there anything else I need to think about.

I haven't got a dog yet so not really qualified to answer, but we are planning on getting a whippet. As I understand it they are fairly lazy so don't require a lot of exercise, good with children, affectionate, quiet, don't smell and need very little grooming. However they can be quite sensitive so maybe won't be good with the shouting - also not sure if they fit in the medium bracket or not. Hopefully a whippet owner will come along and advise more?

As a starting point have you done the Kennel Club's 'which breed is right for me' questionnaire?

Take the exercise requirements bit with a pinch of salt but it might give you some suggestions

Basildon- thank you so much for linking that questionaire. It is very helpful as a start point of where to look.

I just did that test on the Kennel Club's website and NOT ONE of the 32 breeds it recommended me is one that I would even consider.
It seemed to be very focussed on the type of living accomodation you're in and garden size. Not one question about how much time you could invest in training the dog, how much you could afford in food, bills etc, nothing about being child-friendly or not, nothing about how long it might be regularly left alone....

Thekitchenwitch but it gives me a starting point of breeds to look into more closely. I can always expand my search if none suit.

Longhaired dogs should be brushed daily...it's the shampoo that's not fantastic for their skin.

Some of the things you mention - they aren't breed traits, they're down to personality and training.

Liking being groomed and ok with noise for instance, things like that just depend on the individual dog more than anything.

How about going along -with your child - to a local dog training class? My friend wants a dog but her youngest is / was terrified of them so she had a chat with a local dog trainer and went along with the child to meet the trainers dogs and learn about interacting with them at classes. Now he is "much better" and they can think about getting a dog, with some good advice from the trainer thrown in about type of dog etc. That way you would see how well your daughter does with learning dog rules with someone experienced around to advise.
It is always going to be a bit of a leap into the unknown, but you are thinking about all the right things. Some good advice on here !

I love my bichon cross. He is a pretty quiet dog, very loving and affectionate. Clean and doesn't shed. He does need regular bathing due to his fur matting- once a week- and he gets a trip to the groomer every 6 weeks. He is amazing with kids. I'm not getting rid of him, but bichon crosses are something to consider (mines is a cavachon- bichon x cavalier king charles.)

What mummyina ask said.
It's a 15 year commitment and please get pet insurance. If you choose not to get insurance do not complain about the cost of appropriate veterinary care for it. It's your legal responsible to pay for it medical needs as well as everything else.

From your post op you seem to be looking for some sort of dog of convenience. Dogs are amazing, I have 4 (and cats/chickens/children) and love them all but really all dogs shed, most eat poo and all dogs bark (in America they de-voice them thankfully in the uk we are animal lovers and this cruelty is illegal)

Please either make a full commitment or get a stuffed you for children

Can I join this thread rather than start a new one? Very related question. Have 10 and 12 year old DSs, and working circumstances have changed such that I am only going to be working the odd evening and weekend, when DH and the DSs will be in. So, we realised that the long-wished for time is here when we could consider getting a dog.

Went to local rescue centre yesterday with an open mind, but thinking staffie/staffie cross, as should be good with kids.

DSs fell for a staffie there, but we have a holiday booked in two weeks' time so are not able to reserve him yet, as it would be unfair to make him wait when the next person might be ready to have him sooner. As we were filling out the questionnaire and having the initial vetting chat with the staff member, she asked if we would consider a puppy. I said, well, absolutely, it's not out of the question, and the next minute we were being shown a litter of 4 week old pups. Mum a staffie, Dad staffie/lab cross.

We will be rung when they are old enough to be properly 'met' and handled. We haven't signed up for anything yet, but obviously the DSs are super-keen.

I'm thinking nighttime toileting, puppy training, chewing etc...this is all something we've no experience of. But as long as we have our eyes open that the first few months will be hard, the benefits should be that we can socialise the little dude to the way her/his life will be with us.

Any top tips/advice on useful books etc from those who've done the puppy thing?

Letsgoforawalk- thanks thats a great idea and I think I will definately do that before anything else now.

Beesandbutterflies- I initially read your last post as make a full commitement or get stuffed. Luckily I reread it as get a stuffed one. But yes I am setting out with the idea of a very convenient dog because 1) I remember my grandads dog as always lying around in the house, going for long field walks and playing hide and seek in a cornfield with him. As a child it seemed idealic and I want a dog that I can find that happiness with.
2) I know what I am looking for probably doesn't exist but also I think I am being taken a bit literally. For example when I say one thats not barky/doesn't bark. I don't mean at all. I mean one that doesn't do it constantly. I am expecting barking at the door, getting excited, probably at the motorbike we hear outside, when a cat is noticed, walks and random occaisions through the day. We have a neighbou and their dog can bark for 1/2 an hour to an hour at a time and there doesn't seem to be a reason and that is what I don't want.

Mixedpeel- my thread is your thread! Please join us have some and settle in.
Maybe people can share stories as well. What about it, anyone willing to share? Funniest/cutest puppy/dog experience and the experience that will make us think about if we are really ready for this (think mud or chewing things etc.)

But they aren't convenient - that's really not part of the description of any dog afaik. Much like children, in fact. They each come with their own personalities and character traits, and even when you train them and they grow up with you and your family, they will sometimes have really f-ing annoying habits quirks which you'd rather they didn't .

Sorry, that sounds like it's all negative - I don't mean that at all.
I LOVE having dogs. I think it is fabulous, and I can't imagine life without one.
They are a great source of joy and amusement. Ddog2 has been wonderful with ds, whereas ddog1 was never at all interested in him. But that was more luck than anything else - I got ddog2 because I wanted another dog. The fact that she happens to be fabulous with kids is an extra bonus, afaic.
They are also, both of them, a great source of comfort to me, and the bond that we have is like no other.
Things have been very, very difficult here for the last year or so, and my daily walks with them have, at times, saved my sanity.

Dogs aren't convenient...at best, you end up with an amiable companion who will track mud through your house and will always have one issue that you just can't train out of it, chewing, food stealing...something...but is worth the inconvenience.

At worst it can go horribly wrong and you end up with a huge responsibility.

Convenience isn't really part of it at all.

If you want a pet that slots in as your life is already, try a Siamese cat, all the affection and playfulness of a dog without the exercise needs or any of the issues over leaving it alone or having to worry about how its behaviour could impact on other people.