I have three kids under four and my dog is by far my hardest (fourth) child.

Small dogs are a lot less mess

If you do get a dog do some research and make sure you get the correct breed for your family. People who get Border Collies and then keep them in apartments all day are asking for trouble.

We have always had labs (two at a time - they love having a friend) and we always plan to. But we live somewhere that we can play fetch with them, swim with them, and walk them regularly (fetch and walking happens every day if it's not raining, swimming it weather-dependent).

It's harder to travel when you have a dog because you have to make plans to board it or have someone watch it. Same with if you're gone all day at sports games or something. So consider your lifestyle and make sure someone is home enough (or you can outsource the care).

My parents had shih tsu s growing up and they were pretty cute and perfect little lap dogs.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m crowd sourcing advice because I really don’t know the reality of having a dog and kids. I have 3 active kids ages 11, 9, and 7. My middle and youngest deeply want a dog. My oldest has no interest. My husband and I both work full time. We have a large backyard that we could easily fence. I had birds and hamsters growing up so I don’t have the experience of growing up with a family dog. Thoughts??

I’m a dog lover so the sacrifices are worth it to me. But there definitely are challenges such as traveling, staying in pet friendly hotels or finding reliable boarding, they require behavioral training, hair grooming, etc… BUT they give the most unconditional love and emotional support.

I have a golden doodle and she is like another child and a lot of work!

Anonymous wrote:I’m crowd sourcing advice because I really don’t know the reality of having a dog and kids. I have 3 active kids ages 11, 9, and 7. My middle and youngest deeply want a dog. My oldest has no interest. My husband and I both work full time. We have a large backyard that we could easily fence. I had birds and hamsters growing up so I don’t have the experience of growing up with a family dog. Thoughts??

I’m a dog lover so the sacrifices are worth it to me. But there definitely are challenges such as traveling, staying in pet friendly hotels or finding reliable boarding, they require behavioral training, hair grooming, etc… BUT they give the most unconditional love and emotional support.

Anonymous wrote:My goal was to get a lazy, non-shedding, slightly dumb dog. That's pretty much what we got and, besides a couple of quirks, he's perfect.

That’s us too!! She’s perfect for us, so easy and low maintenance. I don’t understand how I’ve NEVER seen a bit of her fur in the house or the vacuum cleaner but no shedding at all.

Anonymous wrote:I’m crowd sourcing advice because I really don’t know the reality of having a dog and kids. I have 3 active kids ages 11, 9, and 7. My middle and youngest deeply want a dog. My oldest has no interest. My husband and I both work full time. We have a large backyard that we could easily fence. I had birds and hamsters growing up so I don’t have the experience of growing up with a family dog. Thoughts??

In your situation, I would get an older dog or none. For two working parents it is unfair to the dog. You will be like the pp who rehomes him when you tire.

Your kids will not take responsibility.

It's great! Definitely fence in your yard so you can just let them out for a quick potty. We have a havapoo (havanese toy poodle mix) and he's great because he's small, easy to control, and doesn't shed. My husband is allergic. The no shedding dogs are fantastic because it reallllllly cuts down on the mess and cleaning. Potty training them can be challenging - but using a crate really helps with that.

Anonymous wrote:My goal was to get a lazy, non-shedding, slightly dumb dog. That's pretty much what we got and, besides a couple of quirks, he's perfect.

(insert husband joke here)

My goal was to get a lazy, non-shedding, slightly dumb dog. That's pretty much what we got and, besides a couple of quirks, he's perfect.

Anonymous wrote:It’s a lot of work and mess and expense. If you haven’t always wanted a dog, don’t get one.

A fenced yard is fine for quick potty breaks but it’s not a substitute for regular walks. Thinking your dog will love “running around in the backyard” without you is a recipe for behavior problems.

A dog is your child,'s best friend. Animals teach unconditional love because a dig loves you no matter what. Untrained dogs steva mess but as the owner it is your responsibility to train the dog.

People who don't like dogs are untrustworthy.

Anonymous wrote:As I finished typing that, my dog who has been potty trained for years, just pooped on my carpet and my son stepped in it and is now screaming and crying. My husband is shouting at both the dog and the kid and gagging as he tries to clean it up. I'm obviously far too busy doing important work to go help

Ugh you’re annoying af but I bet you think you’re super fun 🤩

And the dog hair! Everywhere! All the time! The robovac runs every day and she’s not allowed on the furniture and there is still dog hair all over. I hate it!

I love my dog. He's my easiest kid. He brings me pure joy with little pain or effort. He's an aussie, so he needs a couple of walks and a fetch session daily -- my kids handle the fetch, and I do the walks. Someone has to be home all day the first few months to housetrain. I have two girls, 8 and 11, and they adore our dog. Our life is much fuller with him in it.

I will say, my dog does not wake me up ever--he sleeps in later than I do and holds his pee for 16 hours sometimes. He does eat weird things in the yard and then puke in the house regularly. And he needs a good brushing, but that's like once a month. Vet is once a year, costs around $200, plus we use monthly heartworm/flea preventable.