We're aiming for 1st or 2nd grade. I don't have illusions that DS will be responsible for the dog, but we do want DS to be able to do most of his own self-care. That is, he can make his own bowl of cereal, brush his own teeth, etc so that we then have time to handle dog duties.

Yeah, I would say more like 8 years old or older.

Agree, when children are more independent.

We got our puppy when our twins were 6. I think it is easier once your children are more independent, otherwise it's like adding another baby to the mix.

In your experiences / opinions, when is the best time in a baby / infant / toddler / child's life to adopt a puppy? DH and I had a wonderful German Shepherd who passed when I was 6.5 months pregnant with DD, so we're not first time dog owners, but we would be first time parents + dog owners. I know there are a lot of variables - size of the house, time we can devote to the dog, etc. I'm more interested in your opinions and experiences about the ideal time for the child to bond and grow with the dog.