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[quote=Anonymous]OP, I would not feel pressured into getting a dog if you don't want one. Your kids will survive without a dog and there are plenty of other ways to learn responsibility.

We recently got our first dog, a standard poodle puppy, from a breeder.  My kids are younger than yours but we too have a very good setup for a dog and I really wanted one (had one as a kid).  We thought a lot about what kind of dog we wanted and whether to go with a breeder or a shelter/rescue.  For someone in your situation, which isn't that different than ours, there are pros to getting a slightly older dog (much less overwhelming, less nippy because they're out of the teething stage) and then there are cons (unknowns of a dog's past and what personality traits might emerge over time).  In our case we decided the craziness of a puppy was worth the upsides, given the dog novices that we are.

In addition to considering what breed, what age, and where to get the dog, also think about how it will fit into your life.  Do your kids have lots of after school activities or will they realistically be available to walk the dog, especially the older one?  Does your family spend long stretches of time away from the house on the weekend?  A dog, especially at the beginning, really upends your life and can be quite a shock to the system.

I would also temper your expectations about how much the kids will help.  Consider how you'll feel if much of the burden falls on you, which it may after an initial honeymoon period.

I'm not trying to talk you out of it--we love our little guy more each day, and he's been a great addition to the family--but it's a BIG life change and an enduring one.
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