Insane to get a family dog? If not, which kind?
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Anonymous
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My kids — ages 7, 9 and 10 — have been actively lobbying for a dog. I’ve long-resisted the added responsibility, so I’ve thus far resisted. But I’m beginning to give it serious thought.
My husband and I both work full time, so I worry about a dog being lonely while left alone for long chunks of each day. I also worry about a dog that would require lots of serious exercise each day. We’d need a dog who could manage with several walks around the block most days, with trips to the park or serious runs only on weekends. We own a Capitol Hill townhome with some fenced in outdoor space — not a ton, but better than nothing. We have kids, so we’d need a kid-friendly dog. Is it crazy for us to think about? If not, what breeds? I love beagles, but hear they get lonely and also prefer the country. Maybe a spaniel of some type? |
Anonymous
| Yes, it sounds crazy and unfair to a dog. |
Anonymous
+1 |
Anonymous
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1. Two working parents = not a puppy, preferably already trained 2. Not wanting to exercise the dog = low-energy breed A dog doesn't actually need a yard as much as it needs walking exercise. Canines need to go somewhere, not wander around in the same old spot every day. You will need a dog-walker for the midday walk and pee. That scenario is very common and doable. |
Anonymous
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I don't think it's unfair to the dog. Spouse and I work full time and have a dog. We pay a dog walker who comes midday, and then one of us walks the dog after work. We telework more now than we used to, which helps to keep the dog from getting lonely but doesn't change the walk schedule.
We adopted a young adult dog, so housebreaking wasn't an issue. I'd probably get a puppy if I had to do it over again with kids, though -- our dog has some anxiety issues that I don't love. Housebreaking and puppy proofing will be an issue to start, but that phase is relatively short. Think about how the dog will fit into your weekend activities (can he come with?) and vacations, and how old the dog will be when your kids go to college. My parents waited until I was in high school to allow a dog, so I had only a few years with her before I moved out. |
Anonymous
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I suggest starting at akc.org. It has good descriptions and lists. There is a list of dog breeds good with kids, for example. It has descriptions of all the major dog breeds and you can search by activity level and lots of other characteristics.
A friend of mine did this and then went to a dog show so she could see the dog breeds she'd prescreened "live and in person." She talked to the handlers and got their opinions too. |
Anonymous
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Can’t your kids walk it? They are old enough to do a few laps around the block.
Budget a midday dog walker and you are good. I don’t like big dogs but your kids are old enough for a doodle type if you want that. If you will pay for like a Cav King Charles, that would be ideal. Super cute and low maintenance. |
Anonymous
-1 Sounds fair enough to me. The dog will cope fine with being walked once a day, but can't your kids help? |
Anonymous
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Our rescue beagle was the love of my kids’ life. (One has severe special needs). Mostly he liked to cudddle with them on the sofa. I would walk him in the morning after the kids left for school, and he would be fine until we all got home around 3. The beagle loved all the kids friends, didn’t howl unless you started it first (Howling with your beagle is a hoot!) and he loved going on walks thru the neighborhood.
Beagles as you know need to be either on leash or in a fenced yard. He lived a long healthy life Consider a beagle! |
Anonymous
OMIGOD no. Beagles need a lot of exercise and they need company. You think he was fine. Chances are he howled and barked constantly. |
Anonymous
| A low energy breed like a basset or a greyhound would be okay. Make sure it's an ADULT dog. |
Anonymous
+1 Don’t get a beagle if you can’t give it the exercise and attention the breed requires. |
Anonymous
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Get a dog that is 4-5 years old. Hire a dogwalker to come once a day while you are at work.
www.petfinder.com |
Anonymous
Yes to all this. Labs and goldens are great with kids and really mellow after puppyhood. Maybe a lab mix from a rescue? |
Anonymous
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Op here. Thanks everyone. Just a quick response to a couple of posters—of course we’d walk the dog several times a day. I’m just being practical that we wouldn’t be taking the dog to Lincoln Park every day — that most walks would just be a couple of times around the block.
And, yes, my oldest kids could help. And the youngest could be left alone for 20 minutes while I do the walking. |