Best age to get a dog

[Anonymous]

We just moved to a new house with a yard. Our dog and cat died last year, we still have a 13 year old cat who has been doing great in the new house. We also have a 4 month old and a 3 year old who does not stop talking about her late dog and wants to pet every dog on the street. She is actually great with the cat, very gentle. Dh and I WFH, but I'm worried about bringing in a dog with a baby. We would adopt a 20-50 pound 1-3 year old (preferably) female dog. When should we start looking? What worked for your family?

[Anonymous]

It depends on the dog and the kids. I would say the ideal time is when the kids are capable of respecting boundaries. So when the baby is old enough not to pull tails or to listen if told not to climb on the dog. That said, if you find the right dog - super patient with little ones - obviously many people get dogs or have dogs when their kids are babies and it's fine.

[Anonymous]

When baby is two would save headaches. But you obviously had a dog when the older one was a baby, so you know what you’re doing.

[Anonymous]

Never

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When baby is two would save headaches. But you obviously had a dog when the older one was a baby, so you know what you’re doing.

true, but our dog was 11 when she was born so not young.

[Anonymous]

We just adopted a one year old dog and we have a two and five year old. A few weeks in, the dog started showing mouthiness and play nipping, so we need to keep a very close eye on the two year old and also start training (with a trainer). I definitely don’t regret getting a dog, but it can be a lot to work at home, watch the kids, and keep a close eye on all interactions. So just know what you may be getting yourself into (but know the benefits are great too!)

[Anonymous]

You never adopt a dog with small children - plus they won't let you anyway, so that's helpful.

Wait til your kids are about 7 & older and they can help with a dog.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You never adopt a dog with small children - plus they won't let you anyway, so that's helpful.

Wait til your kids are about 7 & older and they can help with a dog.

that's the dumbest thing I've ever read.

[Anonymous]

I'd say get the dog now before the little one is mobile. That gives the dog the chance to really settle in before you have a grabby, irrational 18 month old on top of the older kid. I assume your 3 year old knows how to respect boundaries and gentle touch already?

And this goes without saying, but you need to be SO SO careful about what dog you adopt. We adopted an adult rescue and she is the gentlest thing in the world, but many adult dogs in general, and rescues with traumatic histories in particular, do not have the tolerance for little kids. Even good little kids make mistakes, and your younger child will have to learn. (On the other hand, wait until the younger one is 3 or 4 and able to understand and exercise impulse control around the dog.) You want a dog that will tolerate mistakes, not react (reasonably) in unacceptable ways. And this may just be us, but my 4.5 year old is pushing physical boundaries with us and our dogs since we've all been stuck at home. She's clingy and gets too rough, which is new stress related behavior for sure, but still one that you may want to consider.

[Anonymous]

Ideally, you would wait until both kids are over 5 and have better impulse control/need less intensive supervision. That would make things easier pn you. If you would rather not wait that long, look for a dog with positive kid experience and prioritize that above all else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'd say get the dog now before the little one is mobile. That gives the dog the chance to really settle in before you have a grabby, irrational 18 month old on top of the older kid. I assume your 3 year old knows how to respect boundaries and gentle touch already?

And this goes without saying, but you need to be SO SO careful about what dog you adopt. We adopted an adult rescue and she is the gentlest thing in the world, but many adult dogs in general, and rescues with traumatic histories in particular, do not have the tolerance for little kids. Even good little kids make mistakes, and your younger child will have to learn. (On the other hand, wait until the younger one is 3 or 4 and able to understand and exercise impulse control around the dog.) You want a dog that will tolerate mistakes, not react (reasonably) in unacceptable ways. And this may just be us, but my 4.5 year old is pushing physical boundaries with us and our dogs since we've all been stuck at home. She's clingy and gets too rough, which is new stress related behavior for sure, but still one that you may want to consider.

OP here - thanks for the thoughtful post. It might be best to wait until the 3 year old is back in daycare. She's really good with the cat, she's very gentle and walks away when I tell her to. She was great with our dog too. Our dog was rescued at 1 years old but wasn't around kids then. She was incredible with them when she was. I miss her.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You never adopt a dog with small children - plus they won't let you anyway, so that's helpful.

Wait til your kids are about 7 & older and they can help with a dog.

that's the dumbest thing I've ever read.

Actually rescues prefer people's kids to be at least 12 so you can take the dumb policy up with them.

if you're talking about BUYING a puppy, then anything goes, obviously.

[Anonymous]

We rescued an exuberant lab that was approx 10 months old in Feb 2012 and then in July 2012 our adoption went through and we brought home our 1 mo old daughter. Did not plan it that way but was awesome. Pretty sure a rescue group would have denied us a bouncy full size lab with an infant but we have no regrets.
We taught our daughter from a very young age how to be gentle to the dogs ( We have two) and how to pet them and give them space. Our shepherd mix was 3 when DD came home and calmer in temperment. She liked to get away from DD as a toddler and we made sure she could, she had a space under a table where she would go and DD was not allowed under there.

DD is now 6 and the lab is 7 and he sleeps with her on her bed every night, they play together in the yard chasing sticks and balls and love each other so much. She can't walk him because he would pull her over if he saw a squirrel but aside from that she takes good care of both dogs, gives them breakfast and dinner both days, lets them out etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You never adopt a dog with small children - plus they won't let you anyway, so that's helpful.

Wait til your kids are about 7 & older and they can help with a dog.

that's the dumbest thing I've ever read.

Actually rescues prefer people's kids to be at least 12 so you can take the dumb policy up with them.

if you're talking about BUYING a puppy, then anything goes, obviously.

I have two kids under five and just adopted a dog. Was approved by lucky dog and homeward trails. So not sure what agencies you’re referring to...

[Anonymous]

We had an older dog that died when the kids were 4 and 1. We got a 2 year old dog soon after. A 2 year old dog is very different than our dog of 11 years who was already 7 when the first child was born. They all get a long well but it would have been easier to adopt another older dog (5+ years old, preferably a very chill breed).

The rescue recommended an older basset hound/lab mix to us that didn't reconcile with my idea of our next dog so we passed but probably shouldn't of. Instead we got an active lab mix that required way more watching and training. All is good 5 years later but it was more stress than we needed at the time.