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Which Dog for a child
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I know alot of westie owners and they would agree with me that they are not suitable as a pet for young children
xx
I can see where this opinion comes from. There are 4 kids here every day and the oldest is 6 and they all get on great with my dog BUT I have put an awful lot of time and effort into teaching both the dog and the kids what is appropriate and what is not. These kids are also well aware of how to act around animals as they are used to being around horses all the time and have safety drummed into them, the oldest two (aged 6 and 4) can safely catch a pony in a field and lead it into the stables (under strict supervision of course!).0 -
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Ive had 2 westies, carin, yorkie, maltese and my dog now is a mix between a pom and a sheltie and ALL of them required at least an hour a day.
Ruby (pom/sheltie) was up the Dublin mountains for 5 hours yesterday and still ran around after the cat for 2 hours last night. There is no tiring her at all!!!:D We've done the running alongside the bike for over an hour and she was still raring to go.
Depends on the dog, my first dog was actually my nannys yorkie,she would only walk in the direction of home. But that was because my nanny had carried her everywhere (this was in the 80's before the Hiltons started it) Needless to say my dad was not going to be carrying her around, we tried everything but that dog hated exercise.
I love westies but they aren't always the best with kids, my male tolerated kids but was glad to see them leave. The female loved kids. As does my little one now, she adores kids. Think thats more of the Sheltie coming out in her0 -
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Well that's fine, only no-one on here suggested a toy poodle.(yet!) However, if, everything else aside, a toy poodle was recommended as being great for children, why would the OP consider for a second his manliness or self-image over the suitability of the dog for his child? That is why I suggested it was not a good idea for him to get a dog with that state of mind.
Because the OP wants a dog for himself but also wants to consider his daughter. In making a responsible decision on which dog to get it's important to consider your lifestyle as a whole, what you want from the dog and that it's exercise needs can be satisfied by the owner. What becomes of the (insert whichever cute/fluffy breed you wish here) when the child has no interest in the dog and neither does the adult because it wasn't acquired with the adults preferences/circumstances in mind? Would you not agree that the wellbeing of the potential dog has as much importance as anything else?
You have also made a lot of assumptions of the OP from that one sentance, the title of this thread is 'Which dog for a child?' I would have thought that conveyed his main priority, this doesn't mean it has to be the only priority and it shouldn't be.We are not really comparing like with like here.
This is what you said, I got the impression this was a generalisation and the two breeds you mentioned was an exampleFirst off, the 'manlier' the dog, the more exercise/attention it will need.Several people suggested getting a German shepherd. A suggestion I have nothing against by the way. No-body however suggested he get a greyhound.(yet!) Would you concede that broadly speaking, breed to breed, A German Shepherd needs more exercise than a Scottish or Yorkshire Terrier?
I can't conceed anything about that as I don't personally know any Scotties or Yorkies but I do know that my uncles GSD is more than happy with his hour walk every day whereas my Westie would be bouncing off the walls and tearing the place apart if all she got was an hours walk every day.
Personally I would never recommend a small terrier or toy dog to someone with a small child that isn't well used to dogs and doesn't know how to behave around them, they won't tollerate poking, proding or hair-pulling and running away is usually percieved by the dog as a game of chase which wouldn't go down too well with the OP's daughter imo. 'Some' large breeds can be too boisterous and knock a child over easily due to their size, this is why I reccommended a Staffie, not too big but well able to tollerate being sat on etc. and still fulfills the adult's requirement.0 -
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Hi OP, I don't know what your experience with dogs is, so I'm just going to dole out advice - hopefully you'll have already have considered most of these points already! Apologies for the long post...
At 3 years old, I would say your daughter is still far to young to have any responsibility towards a dog at all. She could never (repeat: NEVER) be left alone with a dog which means they would need constant supervision. Kids that age have a tendency to poke, pull and be overly rough with animals as they don't know or understand the necessary boundaries and don't realise their own strength. For this reason I would not recommend a young puppy.
Puppies need stability, routine and constant care (house training, socialisation and training) and should be protected from situations that freak them out or cause them harm. A negative experience as a young pup can have lasting consequences as they grow into an adult which can be difficult to deal with (nervousness, fear aggression).
Also puppies are by no means quiet and for the first couple of years at least will be extremely energetic and excitable.
If you then consider a grown up dog instead you will need to be very very careful of its temperment and background.
We had Springers growing up and they are indeed lovely dogs but tend to have very very very energetic and hyper hyper personalities. Saying that though, one of our guys was a bit of a slob a lot of the time, but as Springers go he was definitely in the minority. We were older kids (youngest was 7 or 8 I think) when we got our first dog. They need a lot of exercise and space to run, they love to jump on and swing out of people and run like mad. They love to root and sniff in smelly places, they love to chase birds and roll in mud. They love their food and would eat anything, sometimes to their detriment (a cousin of ours lost his Springer to poison). They're very affectionate and social and absolutely hate being on their own (cannot emphasise that enough!). They were both escape artists and could climb over a 5 ft wire fence, find every tiny hole in the perimeter wire fence and wiggle through into the field behind until my Dad had to redo the entire fence around our half-acre. They could open doors by pulling on doorhandle. Our guys also pulled like mad on the lead. They will need considerable training but will respond well to it as they're clever.
You might consider a greyhound which I've heard make great family pets as they are basically lazy gentle slobs. Don't need much exercise and have a reputation of being good with kids. Don't be fooled by the perception that small dog = less work and easier to exercise. Some small dogs like jack russells need more exercise than most breeds and can become yappy and destructive without adequate exercise.
Puppies, and any grown-up dog for that matter, are a lot of work, and I mean a LOT of work (I have two)...are you sure you will be able to find the time to dedicate to them? With a 3 year old in the house, time is usually in short supply.You'll need to find time, every single day, to walk, train and play with the dog. To give them attention and care.
Where will they live? In your house or outside? (indoors with their family is infinitely more preferable, in my opinion, and people who think otherwise should reconsider getting a dog, again in my opinion...others on this forum will likely blast me for saying this)
If they live inside you'll have issues keeping your house clean. Dogs produce a lot of dust and hair that gets EVERYWHERE and will reappear about 30 seconds after you just dusted/hoovered, no matter how often you dust or hoover; Also mud and dirt tracked in from outside; Dog beds and blankets that will smell ranging from slight (if you change their blankets every 2 days) to strong. Also the "wet dog" smell in bad weather is particularly special...
Are you fussy about your daughter and exposure to dirt and mess? Will you freak if she gets licked all over her face by a dog that was rooting in under a hedge in the garden 2 mins before?
IF you are going to have the dog live outside (which is a horrible life for such a social animal as a dog in my opinion) you'll need to provide a suitable kennel / house in a sizable run or back garden that is completely secure. The kennel will need to be watertight, raised off the ground, properly insulated, with ventilation for summer and heated in winter. Warm bedding will need to be provided and changed every few days at least, EVERY day in wet weather.
Do you work full- or part-time? Where will you keep the dog while you're out? A dog should not be left alone for more than four hours at a time. So if you're going to be regularly gone more than that then you'll need to organise someone to call in for an hour in the middle of the day EVERY day to let them go to the toilet (if they're kept indoors) and give them some attention, and maybe even walk them. This is usually not an option for most ordinary people unless they have very good neighbours or family members willing to commit to doing this for free. If you're in Dublin then you could consider doggy daycare in Dog Training Ireland (not sure if there are other places around the country that do this). But again, it's expense.
The next best thing is to get two dogs, so that at least they'll have company and provide access to a secure outdoor area. Of course two dogs comes with it's own set of issues.
Will you be able to afford the ongoing costs of food, toys, bedding, vet's bills and pet insurance premiums? The cost of vaccines, neutering, any medications? Take my two dogs for instance, seemingly perfectly healthy at time of getting them...one has developed chronic ear and skin problems which need special food supplements and special medication applied every two days for the rest of his life. The other has a chronic pancreatic condition which also requires constant monitoring and treatment. Then there was the time we had to rush one of them to the vet hospital in Dublin at 3 in the morning. Or the blood tests the other had to have, the neutering operations and aftercare (I took a week off work), the stomach bug they caught, the ear infection the other guy had...and we've only had them 9 months! And vet's are NOT cheap let me tell you.
Where will the dog go when you want to go on holidays? Or even if you're going away for just one night somewhere? Will you be able to take him with you? Can you afford a pet-sitter or excellent quality kennelling facility? Can a friend or family member be called upon to look after them? Will they know how to look after them?
Anyway, I know I probably sound overly negative but I think sometimes people don't realise or don't fully consider what they're getting themselves into when they get a dog! If you have considered all of these things (and all of the other things I've forgotten to mention!!) and are happy and willing to sacrifice the necessary time and money for the next 10 to 15 years...then best of luck to you! A well-cared-for dog is a joy and will enhance your life, and god knows this country needs more good, caring and responsible ownersnicecupotay wrote: »I never intended to put my preference of a dog over its suitability for my daughter.....I just meant I wouldn't be looking for something resembling a cute fluffy cloud wearing ribbons:D
Essentially it will be my dog,but I need one that is also good with kids
All what Sionnaic said, and more! I got a puppy for my 7yr. old, now 9, who was scared of most boisterous dogs.....I waited till I was sure I could handle one in my life myself and then headed for the local rescue centre. Originally I wanted a small dog (terrier or something) but fell in love with a collie pup. One of three, this one was less 'in your face' than her siblings, and sat at the back of the pen with her ears up - just looking on.....
I never had cause to regret my choice. She is a noble and loyal hound and loves us all indiscriminately!
On the other hand, I did regret taking charge of a demented cocker spaniel, and had to find another home for him. They are easily spoiled, and demanding. This one resented any attention that I gave to my (small) children, and the last straw came when I was in the middle of tying my son's shoelaces and the dog grabbed my wrist with his teeth to try and regain the attention. To my mind, he might have snapped at my children next. Spaniels can be very peevish if they're not trained properly.
A nice wicklow/welsh collie is good! Never met one I didn't like.....:)0 -
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I would say a Corgi bitch or a boxer bitch. They've always kept corgis at home, and I grew up with a corgi bitch, and I can still remember how she used to 'guard' me all the time, and run outside me when I was on my tricycle. She was super protective of me in a good way, and very docile and a good family pet too. Any other corgi bitches we've had were exactly the same.
A boxer bitch would be a good choice too; they are so good with kids and kids are so entertained by them. Yes, they can be boisterous, but I have found that the boxer bitchs intuitively know not to be rough with a young child. They make wonderful family pets overall. We find the neighbours kids just love our boxer. They are 4&5 and call to see her regularly, our boxer is great with them and they spend their time roaring laughing; it's great fun:p 0 -
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