What’s it really like having kids and a dog?

[Anonymous]

My advice is to dog sit a friend or family member’s dog while they are away for a week or 2. It’s the best way to see if you and your kids are up for the task.

[Anonymous]

Also keep in mind that you make a lifetime commitment to that dog no matter what its issues are. All dogs will have some type of behavior issue or quirks. Some more manageable than others. Our last dog was a love bug with the family but very large and aggressive towards others. We literally could not have people over our house for many, many years.

[Anonymous]

Our kids were four and eight when we got a dog, said dog is now 11 years old and curled up next to me sleeping. She weighs about 8 pounds. She is absolutely one of the biggest sources of sunshine in our family. We love her so much. She is REALLY easy. it’s all about temperament and how much activity they need. I know people love their big goldens and labs and whatever but those dogs need so much activity we could not have managed it over the years. But this little dog is practically like a cat that gives us all the doggy affection we all love so much. I agree with a couple of points mentioned above, though, don’t expect the kids to handle the majority of dog care regardless of what they tell you they will do. I will also say, as in many families, my DH was the last hold out or not wanting one but he is so ridiculously in love with her and has been almost from day one.

[Anonymous]

We are in the middle of puppy life and while it is not easy I think it has been 100% worth it.

But you do need to go in with your eyes wide open.. Puppies don't sleep through the night right away in most cases so plan on 1-2 wakeups a night for a few weeks. We crate trained and that was really helpful. Just start right away and be consistent.

Potty training takes a few months but again, if you are consistent it will be over before you know it.

You also need to be prepared for puppies chewing up everything. Not every dog does this but we made sure to put a baby gate on the upstairs and puppy proof the main level because our dog is definitely a chewer and will swallow socks before you know it.

I would also strongly consider the type of dog you get. We wanted a big dog but it is very difficult for our kids (7.9) to walk her because she pulls so hard. Again, training is key here and we definitely dropped the ball on the early leash training. Neighbors who have chosen smaller dogs are able to send the kids out to walk the puppy with no issues.

You also need to remember that puppies cannot be left for more than a 1-2 hours when they are really little. Then 3-4 hours as they get a bit bigger. Again, crate training is very helpful for keeping the puppy safe while you are out of the house.

I would also make sure you can afford all of the extras that come with a puppy.. vet bills for vaccinations/ checkups, pet insurance ($75-100 a month), daycare if you need it ($75 per day), boarding or pet sitter if you are travelling and unexpected vet bills.

Now to the positive - my son who had no interest in dogs is 100% in love with the dog and spends so much time cuddling and playing with him. The puppy is definitely a big source of joy in our family and encourages everyone to get out more on walks, hikes, etc. Everyone is completely in love with him and we don't regret it all. Just make sure it is the right decision for your family.

[Anonymous]

We have 3 kids and a dog. I will say that we had the dog first before we realized how much work parenthood would be. I’m not sure we would have done it the other way around, but our youngest is a toddler so we’re still in the thick of hands on little kid parenting. Maybe with older kids it wouldn’t be so exhausting.

There are many cons (recently we’ve been spending a ton of money of vet care that I’d love to be spending on something more fun like travel or even more practical like 529s). Dogs can be very expensive medically and boarding/dog sitter to go out of town). Also there are the messes (random accidents even for a potty trained dog, mud tracked in, fur to vacuum, etc.) and noise if you end up with a dog who bars at every Amazon delivery.

But there are positives too. My kids all love our dog (one is very attached) and they play silly games throwing the ball or trying to dress him up in things. Our dog loves little kid energy/attention so it works out well. Also, he is my WFH buddy, always at my feet under my desk. He’s a member of our family and we love him.

That said I don’t think we’ll replace him when he passes, at least not right away.

[Anonymous]

We are a "dog family" but it's a lot of work, additional cleaning, and limitations on your travel. And walks every day in all weather. I agree with the advice you should dog-sit first, and then consider fostering an elderly dog.

Also, you need to go in understanding it will be your (the adult's) pet and responsibility. Your kids may help but they can't do everything, plus they may be in college before the dog dies. The buck will stop with you.

[Anonymous]

We have a golden retriever. Got her at 9 weeks when my kids were 9, 7 and 5. She slept through the night (never barked in the middle of the night. She stayed in our mudroom (no crate… I know they are popular, but I hate animals in cages). Not much accidents, but she did (still does) chew on everything.
My kids play with her a lot, but don’t walk her alone much. We hike with her a lot and she is fine alone for long stretches of time. I work from home though, so she is never really alone. She is wonderful. Except for the shedding and chewing on things, she does not have any other issue. She is amazing with other people and dogs. She has also always been healthy (6 years old now) so no big vet expenses. She travels with us almost everywhere and our old nanny/cleaning lady takes her when we absolutely can’t take her with us.
She is a huge source of joy, but in my experience nowhere near the same amount of work of another kids (not even when she was a puppy).

[Anonymous]

We have a dog and our whole family is in love with her. Puppy years were harder. It's still annoying now having to figure out travel, dog sitters; fit in vet and grooming. But it's been 💯 worth it for us. We walk her as a family. She's really kept us together during the teen years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My advice is to dog sit a friend or family member’s dog while they are away for a week or 2. It’s the best way to see if you and your kids are up for the task.

Disagree with this. The kids will love it for two weeks. Not til later will the fun wear off.

We have always had dogs because my wife and I love them and both grew up with them. We had two dogs before kids, then they both died, now we have one. When the kids are bigger I imagine we'll get a second one.

Having a dog is so much more than just fencing your yard. (I mean I'm sure you know that, but I'm just reiterating) You have to walk dogs. A yard (even a giant one) is not enough exercise/mind stimulation. Of course it can be done w/ two working parents, but it's not easy. We do it - but again, we can't imagine living without a dog. If this isn't you, don't get a dog. It's a lot of work.

[Anonymous]

We have two kids and a dog. The dog is my favorite child. Yes, he barks randomly in the evenings and table surfs but overall he's great.

He's also expensive and we always have to keep him in mind when planning things. My kids play sports but not travel. It would be difficult with travel sports. We do dog care backup for our neighbor who does travel sports. We drug him when we have a party so he's more chill.

We made sure to get a breed that doesn't shed. I just cannot with dog fur. I had a husky when I was younger and never again.

We aimed to get a medium sized dog. He's 35 lbs. I would have preferred him to be slightly smaller.

[Anonymous]

What is your lifestyle, op? We travel quite a lot and I cannot imagine dragging a dog with me or finding/paying for a sitter every time our family goes on a long weekend trip/ hops on a plane.

[Anonymous]

It’s a pain in the butt. I wouldn’t do it.

It will wake you up early on weekends. Say goodbye to sleeping in.

It will cost you a fortune to board it when you travel.

It will eat the food on your counters and rub all over your sofa

It will eat weird things outside and then throw up on your rug

It will leave its fur all over your house, even in rooms it’s not allowed in. After you vacuum, it will look clean for half a day. Its dander will make your home feel dusty.

It will make noises that will drive you crazy- slurping sounds from cleaning and licking himself, abruptly shaking its head, etc

The vet bills will be astronomical even if you have insurance, which is also expensive

You may get a dog that has behaviors that frustrate you- incessant barking, escaping, destructive chewing, anxiety and whining. Luckily mine is sweet and lazy, but even so it’s a lot.

[Anonymous]

If you do get a dog, one thing that you should keep in mind is that if you get training for the dog, make sure the whole family is involved. I was the only one who did the training classes and had to convey the info to my DH and kids but they really weren't as invested in it as I was so the dog got very inconsistent training and it shows.
And yes to the expenses, the mud, the fur, the neediness. But they are so fun and loveable.

[Anonymous]

We do not have a dog currently - I had one before having a family and he passed away when the kids were toddlers. I am definitely a dog lover, but now that the kids play a ton of sports we just couldn’t manage it. Most fields do not allow dogs even if the temperature was moderate enough. I like being able to hang out at the pool all afternoon without worrying about getting home to walk a dog.

We dog sit for friends and enjoy having a dog for a week here and there, but I’m always happy to see it go home by the end of the week 😂

[Anonymous]

Get the dog if you want one, not because your kids are pestering you. It’s a lot of work and a big commitment especially if you like to travel.