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Child Item

I want to get a dog

memomtoo

Hi all
Can anyone please advise
I never had a pet but kids really want one
Confused but i would love the idea of smallest funny furry pet that hardly grows big
Hearing ****zu or teacup Pomeranian should do best for kids
Can anyone suggest how easy to maintain and feed and potty train?
What to look at and best price

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em_cat

Just for info, you won’t get a reputable breeder selling “tea cup” breeds.

Personally, I wouldn’t get a dog just because the kids asked for one as they often have no idea what goes into caring for them and it ends up being the parents that do in the long term.

Cherry Blossom

A lot of small breeds such as chihuahuas and yorkies etc can be very fragile and not suitable for homes with boisterous younger children as they can be very easily hurt. So called ‘Teacup’ dogs are bred from runts and is only done by unscrupulous people. They can come with some very expensive to treat veterinary issues so beware.

memomtoo

Oh no didnt even think that way at all
Think boys are gentle and i might wish to help them littlebit too as long as they are happy with cuddles

But smallest cute furry one i would love
But where can we find best breeds

Seth Brundle

It's possible that I'm misreading it but I can't help feeling that you're looking for a toy rather than an animal.
My instinct is saying to me that you should not get a dog, especially a delicate one that, as has been mentioned, won't withstand young boys.

cocker5

memomtoo wrote: »

Oh no didnt even think that way at all
Think boys are gentle and i might wish to help them littlebit too as long as they are happy with cuddles

But smallest cute furry one i would love
But where can we find best breeds

Hmm I think OP a another animal might be best .. have you considered a gerbil? Hamster? (Depends on ages)
What age are your kids?

There is no such thing as a small cute best breed.. all dogs are different and have different personalities (with some breed tendencies) and needs (stimulation, exercise etc)

Honestly OP be under no illusion.. depending on your kids ages .. the animal will no be theirs but belong to you and the majority of feeding, cleaning, walking, and training will rest with you .. it will be your pet ðŸ‘

radiotrickster

cocker5 wrote: »

Hmm I think OP a another animal might be best .. have you considered a gerbil? Hamster? (Depends on ages)
What age are your kids?

There is no such thing as a small cute best breed.. all dogs are different and have different personalities (with some breed tendencies) and needs (stimulation, exercise etc)

Honestly OP be under no illusion.. depending on your kids ages .. the animal will no be theirs but belong to you and the majority of feeding, cleaning, walking, and training will rest with you .. it will be your pet ðŸ‘

OP, listen to this advice. You’re the adult and no matter way you try to phrase it or no matter how much your kids say they’ll look after the dog, you will be responsible for it. You’ll have to feed it (extra cost every month), groom it (fluffy small dogs can be hard work on that end), make sure it’s walked regularly, get its vaccinations, keep an eye out for any health issues and ensure it’s properly trained. Your kids will probably be interested for the first few days but you’ll be taking on a responsibility that will last years.

Don’t become one of those people that gets a puppy and gives it up after a couple of months or a year because it’s harder than you expected and the kids aren’t helping. It’s not fair on the dog.

It really doesn’t sound like a pet is right for you and your family. Even hamsters and gerbils can be hard work. You need to want the dog and accept everything that comes with it. A small dog isn’t much less work just because it’s small. It’s just as much work but in different ways.

Ginger83

As a dog owner I would say to consider things carefully. There is quite a bit of looking after in a dog and kids can lose interest which leaves everything to you. As well as the everyday stuff if you decide to go out for the day or on holiday plans must be made not to mention bills. Our lady got out one day and got hit by a car. She needed surgery which wasn't cheap but in a way we were lucky the car kept going or we could have been facing another bill.

Think carefully OP.

Zak Flaps

OP - heed all this advice.
I would suggest fostering from a rescue. You'll know after a couple of weeks if a dog is for you.
But there is actually a shortage of small dogs in the rescues at the moment.

SpacialNeeds

What age are you, OP?

I only ask because I'm worried about your ability to care for the dog. You don't seem to realise what pet ownership entails at all.

memomtoo wrote: »

Think boys are gentle and i might wish to help them littlebit too as long as they are happy with cuddles

But smallest cute furry one i would love

Like, a dog is an animal with a personality. Your ability to intuit how it's feeling and empathise with it is very important to keeping it healthy, looked after, well behaved. It seems like you just want something that you can pay attention to when you're in the mood and ignore the rest of the time.

You might think a small dog would be perfect for that sort of neglect but I can tell you now, dogs won't put up with that. Small dogs are just as liable as big ones to bite back when you're not interested.

Fair warning, sorry if it comes off as tough love but I have the creeps reading your posts because it's obvious what's going on.

Yester

It might be worth looking at a Bichon Frise. They are a lovely small dog and should be good with kids.

radiotrickster

SpacialNeeds wrote: »

Like, a dog is an animal with a personality. Your ability to intuit how it's feeling and empathise with it is very important to keeping it healthy, looked after, well behaved. It seems like you just want something that you can pay attention to when you're in the mood and ignore the rest of the time.
.

This is 100% true. We have two dogs and the six year old will still look to play with you for an hour a day minimum. We expected her to grow out of needing that much playtime, but six years on and she’ll bark until you listen that it’s time for her to be played with. She’s a small dog but quite active and needs a lot of interaction and stimulation. Sometimes it’s a pain when you just want to relax but animals have their wants and needs as well, and it’s up to you to ensure they’re well cared for.

And the poster who mentioned holidays is 100% spot on. You and the kids can’t just stay over at a family members house, or stay out for hours on end at weekends. You need to be there for that dog. There can’t be any spontaneous trips or weekends away as you’ll always need to factor in a dog sitter. It completely changes how you plan your life and it’s a commitment for the entirety of the dogs life.

If you do go for a dog, as another poster said a Bichon would be a good choice, but you’re looking at spending about €50 every six weeks on grooming them, plus brushing them yourself pretty much every evening. They can be quite prone to allergies from my experience as well so you might need special food for them (otherwise they can get extremely itchy and require more regular vet trips). Mine went through having a lot of ear infections for a while and used to visit the vet every month for almost a year until we found the right food and removed all other allergens.

Cherry Blossom

Yester wrote: »

It might be worth looking at a Bichon Frise. They are a lovely small dog and should be good with kids.

They are also notoriously difficult to house train. My sister has one and he is still toileting in the house at the age of three. He goes for rugs especially.

radiotrickster

Cherry Blossom wrote: »

They are also notoriously difficult to house train. My sister has one and he is still toileting in the house at the age of three. He goes for rugs especially.

They can be easier to train if neutered/spayed, but I 100% agree. Our peed on the corners of the skirting boards so much it warped.

exador

My Son wanted a dog from the time he could talk. After 25 years we eventually got one last year as the kids are now adults and I just would not have the time to give the dog all the care and attention it needed and deserved. We got the dog about 7 months ago and we have all put in a huge amount of time, more than I had thought.

I wouldn't change a thing and he is a member of the family now but it would not have been possible to give the time and attention before now.

Unless you are really prepared to put the time and effort into the dog then it would not be fair on the dog.

Glad I waited as it is most rewarding but hard work

YellowLead

When choosing a dog as already stressed here you need to consider the personality/characteristics of the dog type, their specific needs and whether your set up is compatible with both. Choosing a dog based on looks seems silly - you can get a teddy bear for that.
Adopting a dog (once you are SURE you understand all that is involved in dog ownership, and that it’s you that is responsible for the animal not your children) is a good thing to do, to give a home to a dog that needs one.

memomtoo

Definitely agree
This is the reason i took so many years but trust me these days i atleast watch funny videos and feel so exited to have such a company
At same heard a lot that they become anti depressants naturally with that funny behaviors
I understand what it takes to keep a little life with us
Budgies already leading a happy life but i know a dog takes it more and absolutely welcome the efforts to put

memomtoo

Definitely i cannot manage a big sized dog

YellowLead wrote: »

When choosing a dog as already stressed here you need to consider the personality/characteristics of the dog type, their specific needs and whether your set up is compatible with both. Choosing a dog based on looks seems silly - you can get a teddy bear for that.
Adopting a dog (once you are SURE you understand all that is involved in dog ownership, and that it’s you that is responsible for the animal not your children) is a good thing to do, to give a home to a dog that needs one.

Rubberchikken

If it's just a small cute little dog to post photos on social media then think twice and then forget it.
A dog is for life - it's not just a saying.

You need to realise that you will be responsible for the dog. You will walk him, feed him etc.
Yes kids are great with dogs but their attention span is limited and their ability to walk him, feed him, take him to the vet etc is outside their responsibility as such.

If you're really considering a dog then foster or adopt a rescue. Do your homework on what's needed. Be prepared for some work and effort.

They are so worth it and are fabulous family members.

SEPT 23 1989

King Charles

Not the sharpest tools in the shed but great dogs great with children

No allergies either

memomtoo

Kids are 9 and 5
So i think they are gentle enough to handle but because im prepared mentally im more confident now
But need to learn a lot i know

Which smaller breeds are extremely friendly and easy to manage?
And who are good sellers in ireland?

cocker5 wrote: »

Hmm I think OP a another animal might be best .. have you considered a gerbil? Hamster? (Depends on ages)
What age are your kids?

There is no such thing as a small cute best breed.. all dogs are different and have different personalities (with some breed tendencies) and needs (stimulation, exercise etc)

Honestly OP be under no illusion.. depending on your kids ages .. the animal will no be theirs but belong to you and the majority of feeding, cleaning, walking, and training will rest with you .. it will be your pet ðŸ‘

SEPT 23 1989

memomtoo wrote: »

Kids are 9 and 5
So i think they are gentle enough to handle but because im prepared mentally im more confident now
But need to learn a lot i know

Which smaller breeds are extremely friendly and easy to manage?
And who are good sellers in ireland?

King Charles

Granadino

Please adopt ! There are lots of dogs looking for a home.

Cherry Blossom

If you approach a reputable rescue or breeder and tell them you want the smallest, cute, furry one because you watched funny videos and feel excited to have such company they will not take you seriously and will file your enquiry in the bin.

Icantthinkof1

We waited 14years to get a dog. Our youngest child is 7 and I’m so glad I waited and didn’t get one when the kids were younger
We got a medium sized dog who was an absolute nightmare for biting at the beginning
I had these visions of my children and the puppy playing happily together- the reality is our puppy was like a terrorist around the house and everyone of us has been bitten so many times, bites that broke the skin while he was teething
Getting a puppy is seriously like having another child. They are like toddlers that can run really fast with super sharp teeth
Also be prepared for the separation anxiety if I even go upstairs to go to the bathroom he’s downstairs crying.
We love him to death, he’s currently snuggled up next to me but the reality is he is hard work and having one takes a lot of dedication with regards to training them

Cherry Blossom

What level of grooming are you prepared to do? Are you willing to pay €50 every 6 weeks to have the dog professionally groomed? How far will you walk the dog every day? How much training are you prepared to do every day?

Owning a dog is not comparable to owning a budgie, it’s comparable to having a baby that doesn’t wear nappies, runs around and chews your furniture and the kids toys if they are not put away.

[Deleted User]

I'd suggest starting with something like this;

anewme

Some of the comments are not needed.

It's not about the message that needs to be delivered sometimes, but how its delivered.

krissovo

Granadino wrote: »

Please adopt ! There are lots of dogs looking for a home.

No there is not, unless you want a big breed or really old dog.

We picked up a Cavapoo a couple of months ago, its a mix of King Charles and poodle. They are a lovely mix and hardy enough for small boys, my kids are 10 & 6 and have great fun with her. Great temperament with the right levels of energy to be fun but not overly demanding. So far she is easy to train, they love treats so training is quite easy and we are nearly there with house training.

Granadino

krissovo wrote: »

No there is not, unless you want a big breed or really old dog.

Sorry but that’s just not true. I can’t understand why you would pay for a dog. There are associations abroad who will rehome dogs to Ireland. These have so many dogs of all sizes and ages looking for another chance in life. But if folk want to pay for a fancy breed then best of luck to them too. I can’t advise there.

daheff

OP

I'm fully in favour of people getting a dog when it suits their life and they can give the dog the love, care and attention they need.

If your kids are under 6 or so I'd be inclined to wait. Kids need a lot of time & attention as do dogs..... especially a puppy.

I would urge you to talk to rescues first, but if you have younger kids I wouldn't hold your breath waiting on them to get back to you.

Somebody else said to look at fostering...great start if you can get selected to do it.

Think about the cost. I paid roughly 140 EUR for first year shots...plus another 40e to be chipped. Then food, bedding toys, chew sticks, training treats, collar, lead, harness poo bags etc etc. All adds up.

Then think about how busy your life is and how you can fit in another (at least) hour of exercise & play time a day on top of what you already do. And for a puppy sleepless nights the first couple of months.

Once you've gotten your head around all that and are still eager then research breeds. Try talk with owners about the dogs and how they behave.

As for breeds looked at Cavalier King Charles, Maltese, Bichon Frise, Pug, Border Terrier, French bulldog. Research them and their good & bad sides.

Most of all good luck with the new dog (when you get it)