help me find a dog
- Thread starter border collie
- Start date
border collie said:
i was hoping to find a small dog that is not to timid. I have all the time in the world to raise my kids and a dog, i have managed to raise the kids where they are today, along with a ferret, 2 iguanas, a burmese python, 2 parakeets, and my gruop of egg laying hens. i know i can handle a dog, i;m still a spring chicken!!
Things were fine for awhile until the boys were getting older and more in to everything. And Pepe though very well trained started acting out for attention. One day he turned around and nipped the youngest in the hand. Pepe was then given to my grandmother. And my sister admitted it was a bad time to take on a dog because of so much she had on her plate with the boys.
And so she waited until her boys were 6 and 3 and though she really wasent planning on a dog for sure 7 year old Jenny came into her life. Jenny and my dog Pixie were supposed to be adopted together but we couldn't. So my sister came in filled them in on the situation and applied to adopt Jenny. With the boys older things are a bit easier and her oldest son feeds and gives Jenny water every day and both boys help my sister bath and brush her.
Wait wait a thousand times wait.
I have an awsome breed for you!! It is called a stuffed dog and I would suggest the Gund brand or the TY brand. They withstand the loving affection of a 1-2 year old, they don't jump, they don't bite, and they don't bark! What more could you want from a dog?
No offense, but a dog is going to jump, bite, nip, pee on the floor, and wreck havoc in your house. I was shocked that you even considered a Border Collie with children so young and that you got rid of it just because it jumped on your little boy. I'm still in shock. Yes, I can understand that it injured him, but when Rose used to jump on us and we'd have nice long bleeding rake type scratches down our backs we didn't get rid of her. We just trained her not to jump. (Isn't that a strange concept...training a dog. Huh. Who would have thought?)
Ok, now that I got that out of my system and that I have a very lousy first impression, here is my advice:
1.) I really do suggest you get a stuffed dog, just like I said earlier. They are awsome family pets.
2.) If you are really set on getting a dog, I'd wait. You're children are too young for a small dog, and apparentally, you don't want to take the time to train a larger dog to stop them from injuring your kids, so a large dog is out of the option too.
You should not buy a dog for your child. That is just a no no. Especially one so little. My 10yr old sister still doesn't have enough responsibility to handle a dog, what the heck makes you think a one your old can?
If you do decide to get a dog, get an adult dog that is already trained, housebroken, and is lazy enough to not jump on anybody or knock your kids down. I saw that somebody mentioned a Lab. Labs are wonderful dogs and I find it terrible that you are judging the whole intire Lab breed on one experience. How sad. Anyways, if you do look into one, do NOT NOT NOT NOT NOT NOT NOT NOT NOT NOT get one under two years of age, becasue they will jump and chew like no other. My five year old sister is terrified of Sadie (or Lab pup) because she jumps and nips. I shudder to think how she would be with a baby.
Also: a toy breed is our of the question. They are just as capable as hurting a little child as a big breed and they are so fragile that a little child could kill them easily.
Think through this very carefully before you get another dog and then find out it is dead because your toddler squished it, or it too jumps and nips on your kids so it ends up in another home because you didn't do your research.
No offense, but a dog is going to jump, bite, nip, pee on the floor, and wreck havoc in your house. I was shocked that you even considered a Border Collie with children so young and that you got rid of it just because it jumped on your little boy. I'm still in shock. Yes, I can understand that it injured him, but when Rose used to jump on us and we'd have nice long bleeding rake type scratches down our backs we didn't get rid of her. We just trained her not to jump. (Isn't that a strange concept...training a dog. Huh. Who would have thought?)
Ok, now that I got that out of my system and that I have a very lousy first impression, here is my advice:
1.) I really do suggest you get a stuffed dog, just like I said earlier. They are awsome family pets.
2.) If you are really set on getting a dog, I'd wait. You're children are too young for a small dog, and apparentally, you don't want to take the time to train a larger dog to stop them from injuring your kids, so a large dog is out of the option too.
You should not buy a dog for your child. That is just a no no. Especially one so little. My 10yr old sister still doesn't have enough responsibility to handle a dog, what the heck makes you think a one your old can?
If you do decide to get a dog, get an adult dog that is already trained, housebroken, and is lazy enough to not jump on anybody or knock your kids down. I saw that somebody mentioned a Lab. Labs are wonderful dogs and I find it terrible that you are judging the whole intire Lab breed on one experience. How sad. Anyways, if you do look into one, do NOT NOT NOT NOT NOT NOT NOT NOT NOT NOT get one under two years of age, becasue they will jump and chew like no other. My five year old sister is terrified of Sadie (or Lab pup) because she jumps and nips. I shudder to think how she would be with a baby.
Also: a toy breed is our of the question. They are just as capable as hurting a little child as a big breed and they are so fragile that a little child could kill them easily.
Think through this very carefully before you get another dog and then find out it is dead because your toddler squished it, or it too jumps and nips on your kids so it ends up in another home because you didn't do your research.
I can't remember what author said it, but it's one of my favorite quotes:
"A puppy is the best possible playmate for a young child. But a child is a horrible playmate for a puppy."
It's probably not an exact quote because of my rusty memory, but the sentiment is right. A young child just doesn't have the control to know when they're hurting something. Toy dogs in particular are very delicate. A toddler can accidentally kill a toy dog just by dropping it. And as your children get older, they're going to want to play fetch, run, etc., with the dog. And tiny breeds usually can't stand up to rough play.
I think that if you get a dog, go for an adult dog that's at least 2 years old. They're past the puppy rambunctiousness, and you can tell exactly what its temperament is like. NOT a toy breed. I wouldn't get anything smaller than 30 lbs. Go to a rescue, one that keeps dogs in foster homes. That way, you know how the dog will behave in a real home situation.
"A puppy is the best possible playmate for a young child. But a child is a horrible playmate for a puppy."
It's probably not an exact quote because of my rusty memory, but the sentiment is right. A young child just doesn't have the control to know when they're hurting something. Toy dogs in particular are very delicate. A toddler can accidentally kill a toy dog just by dropping it. And as your children get older, they're going to want to play fetch, run, etc., with the dog. And tiny breeds usually can't stand up to rough play.
I think that if you get a dog, go for an adult dog that's at least 2 years old. They're past the puppy rambunctiousness, and you can tell exactly what its temperament is like. NOT a toy breed. I wouldn't get anything smaller than 30 lbs. Go to a rescue, one that keeps dogs in foster homes. That way, you know how the dog will behave in a real home situation.
Speaking of little breeds being nippy. My cousin had a Yorki/Pap (Tippy) years ago and she loved her very much. Then my cousin had a baby (Josie) and everything was good for awhile with the baby and the dog. I spent a weekend at my cousins house and the baby was still small not even a year yet. I was sitting on the floor while my cousin and her daughter sat on the couch and Tippy at the other. Tippy kept on trying to climb on Karens lap (my cousin) and Karent kept telling her no over and over.
Her tone got harsher the last time she told Tippy no and that must not have set right because Tippy went off. I don't know if she was going for Karen or the baby but she got the baby and bit her so bad she took off most of her ear lobe!!!! Tippy was not a fawned over lap dog she was treated like my cousins other dog a Boxer mix. She was well trained and we thought well behaved until that moment.
They unfortunatly ended up putting Tippy down because she got into the habit of growling at the baby. My cousin and her daughter now 9 (and still missing most of her ear lobe) have never owned a small dog since. She said maybe when Josie is 13 or so she will get a small dog.
But this is just proof that little dogs can be quite brutal.
Her tone got harsher the last time she told Tippy no and that must not have set right because Tippy went off. I don't know if she was going for Karen or the baby but she got the baby and bit her so bad she took off most of her ear lobe!!!! Tippy was not a fawned over lap dog she was treated like my cousins other dog a Boxer mix. She was well trained and we thought well behaved until that moment.
They unfortunatly ended up putting Tippy down because she got into the habit of growling at the baby. My cousin and her daughter now 9 (and still missing most of her ear lobe) have never owned a small dog since. She said maybe when Josie is 13 or so she will get a small dog.
But this is just proof that little dogs can be quite brutal.
i had a little shnauzer poodle mix stray that i grew up with..she was my protector (mama had to lock her up to give me a whipping and yes i got a few) and she was my best friend. Slept on my pillow from the time i was about 6 years old until i was a jr in highschool. she rode my horse with me by bracing her little feet against the saddle and her back she supported against my body. She was a fabulous rider! Not all little dogs are snippy..if they are raised right..not all big dogs are rambuctious..if they are raised right. It takes a good parent to raise a dog, and if the job is done right you can enjoy the best part of having a family dog... It is lack of training, lack of good socialization, lack of common sense that makes dogs react this way. I found my little dog in the icy creek, but i could have just as easly have found her at petsaver.com
I'd say wait till all the kids are at least five. A dog no matter what size cna knock your kids down and if you will rehome them over that you need to wait a while. I have dogs knock me over now Smaller breeds are often not what kids need and can be hurt by them falling on them. If a older lab won't work then jsut give it a while.
Smaller breeds are often not what kids need and can be hurt by them falling on them. If a older lab won't work then jsut give it a while.
joce said:
I'd say wait till all the kids are at least five. A dog no matter what size cna knock your kids down and if you will rehome them over that you need to wait a while. I have dogs knock me over now Smaller breeds are often not what kids need and can be hurt by them falling on them. If a older lab won't work then jsut give it a while.
Smaller breeds are often not what kids need and can be hurt by them falling on them. If a older lab won't work then jsut give it a while.