if you got a dog after having kids

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We waited until our kids were 7 and 9 before getting a dog. It's like having another child who never grows up (though decidedly more behaved than my feral children)! I don't know if you SAH; I work, but mostly work at home so I'm the primary caregiver and the dog is very attached to me. In some ways, it's like having a toddler who ties you down to the house with their naps- my kids are now at a much more independent stage (8 and 10 now) but we have to make sure we're home every so often to feed and walk the dog. Some dogs can be free fed- ours is a beagle and most decidedly can't be trusted to be anywhere near food.

I guess what I'm saying inarticulately is that I personally needed my kids to be more independent before I could care for yet another dependent creature.

Love that pupper so much though!

LOL aren’t beagles the best?

[Anonymous]

9 and 7.

[Anonymous]

We have a 9, 6, & 3 year old. We got our current dog when our middle was 2 (so kids were 2 & 5). However, we got a 2 year old dog from a rescue, not a puppy. We had had a dog before that had passed away a year prior to getting the new dog, so were not new owners and had experienced having a puppy before. An older dog definitely is easier.

[Anonymous]

It’s best to have a dog in the house when your baby is newborn. It reduces the chances of pet allergies. We have a newborn and two dogs. One 60 lbs one 25 lbs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

what age kids did you think it was useful to wait until to get the dog? I have 3 kids age 6.5, 4, and 11 months. the 6 and 4 year old want a dog SO badly but I feel like I should wait until the baby is potty trained, is more independent etc?

I think if you wait until the kids are 8.5, 6, and 3 you'll be fine depending on what type of dog you get. With younger kids, I would advise going to a breeder and getting a puppy that you raise with the kids.

Rescue dogs were given away by someone for some reason. Even if the reason was that the person didn't want to deal them, its still a red flag because that type of owner probably didn't socialize and train the dog well when they were younger. Some perfectly fine dogs develop issues when they spend time in shelters. With 3 young kid I would not go for a rescue animal unless it was a puppy BUT rescues will often not give puppies to households with small children.

Not necessarily. Our rescue dog was a street dog from the Caribbean and was a hurricane rescue. She is the sweetest thing and great with our kids.

[Anonymous]

10 and newly 13. The 13-year old had been asking since he was 1. I think I should have done by 10 in his case. He’s starting to get to the age where friends matter most and the lyounger brother is more bonded. But, they are both helpful and capable.

I couldn’t ha e handled it when they were younger.

[Anonymous]

Got a rescue beagle when the kids were 8 and 10. Didn’t do it sooner because we waited until we moved to a house with a fenced yard. I knew ahead of time the dog would be primarily my responsibility, and that was fine. The 10 year old could walk him. I did the potty training because I was at home. Had 14 wonderful years with that dog.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

OP here: thanks. I wouldnt get a rescue. I would probably get a puppy OR get a trained dog- some breeders sell therapy dogs etc. that didnt make the cut or 4 month old dogs that have gone through training

So you would either get a dog that requires the absolute minimum of training (servce program dropout) or all the training in the world?

For the sake of whatever animal you end up getting, please think this through a little more.

[Anonymous]

My youngest is 7 and I’m glad I didn’t do it any sooner. It’s a lot of work and both kids can be trusted to take the dog out/stop from chewing/not hurt dog/etc.

You obviously could do it sooner but why would you want to. 3 young kids is a ton of work.