My neighbor said to wait till the youngest is in kindergarten and I took that advice and it was so good. (He was in first by the time we found a dog). If he’d been younger I think I’d have resented the dog care.

We adopted a rescue dog with a 3 yo. It's great

My kids are 7 and 9 and something like two thirds of their friends got a puppy in the past year. It was as if once the youngest kids reached 1st or 2nd grade, a magic threshold was crossed where people could handle bringing a demanding pet into their lives.

We had a dog before kids who died when my youngest was 4. We waited until he was 6 to get a new one. Puppies are a lot of work and as much as we love dogs, I’m glad we waited.

We waited until kids were 8 and 10. That’s when it was best for ME. It was a good choice for us. The kids could help walk the pup before school (while I was running around getting everyone ready, it was one more thing I didn’t have to stress about). They were able to participate in the training and be consistent about it. They were mature enough to not pull the dog’s Tail, etc. No regrets about waiting. Oldest child will have 7-8 full years before going off to college. Plenty of time to bond with the dog.

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?

We got our first dog when our kids were 12, 4, 4, and 3 months. Looking back, that was sort of crazy--but it all worked out well, and the pup was an integral part of our family life for over 15 years! Since then we've had 2 other dogs, and they've never been as much a part of the kids' lives as that first pup. Kids are now grown & gone, and I remember those early puppy days fondly.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A responsible breeder will not sell you a dog if the youngest child is not at least 7.

WHAT? I dont think that's true, AT ALL. why?

I’m a new poster and I’ve notice this type of limit for some rescues. I see value in it. Sometimes younger kids are really bad at understanding how to treat a dog. I remember how my sister mistreated my puppy when she was 9 and I was 13. She treated her like a fun cuddly toy purely for her own entertainment and the dog was pretty scared of her. You need to know your kids and be willing to teach how to properly interact with a dog.

Anonymous wrote:A responsible breeder will not sell you a dog if the youngest child is not at least 7.

WHAT? I dont think that's true, AT ALL. why?

A responsible breeder will not sell you a dog if the youngest child is not at least 7.

I ignored the kids ages. My first dog had died and after about a year and a half I was ready for another dog. So we got a second dog. Kids ages be dammed.

We got a dog last year when the kids were 7, 9 and 12. It was a pretty easy transition and my 12 yo can actually walk the dog. (We got a rescue who was pretty strong. The others can handle him now.)

My sister just got a puppy for her crew. They're 9, 11 and 13.

Anonymous wrote:We just got a puppy with same age range and it’s been fine. It brought the family together by providing more walks and outdoor playtime. Helped that our pup was crate trained before arriving and that I’m a sahm with napping kids so I’m already home a lot during the day — if I worked I don’t know how it would be working.

Wait, what age range is that? You mean same as me, OP? how old is youngest?

OP here: if I wait till the youngest is 5, then the oldest will be 11, and I dont feel like it's fair to make him wait that long since he loves dogs the most and then will have the shortest time with it before college etc. I feel like if youngest 3, middle 6, and oldest 9?

We just got a puppy with same age range and it’s been fine. It brought the family together by providing more walks and outdoor playtime. Helped that our pup was crate trained before arriving and that I’m a sahm with napping kids so I’m already home a lot during the day — if I worked I don’t know how it would be working.

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!

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?