Good evening!

I was wondering if you could give me some advice.

My husband and I are really really keen to get a dog - a labrador preferably as we've heard these are good family dogs.

Our major concern is the age of our children - 2.5 and 4 years old. Although we know there are a lot of rescue dogs out there, we would probably get a puppy, simply because you don't tend to know the past of rescue dogs and we can't take a risk with the little ones.

Other than the young age of the kids, we consider ourselves to be able to give a good home - the kitchen is closed off by a stairgate and has enough room for the dogs bed (so he can have some space away from the children), we have a garden (albeit smallish), I work evenings so am home during the day and we have a very loving home.

So really I am asking for honest opinions - is it an unwise choice to get your first dog when your children are so young? Our family are unsupportive because of all the dog attacks on children recently.

Honest opinions please....

Thanks

Vix
x

Vix, firstly I must say that I have grown up around dogs, and by doing so, I honestly believe that they have taught me respect, and responsibility.

There is a common misconception that rescue dogs end up in shelters through bad behaviour. Yes, there are obviously some who have received no training and become unruly through no fault of their own. A GOOD rescue centre will NEVER re home an animal that has a bad temperament, and a range of tests are completed before they go up for re homing.

Most breeds will have a rescue section, including Labradors and Retrievers and a google search with give you the details of each one.

It is however, extremely important that children are supervised with dogs, especially young children and babies. Dogs do not understand when feeling pain, and may lash out in self defense. Neither do young children understand that pulling a dogs ears can result in a nip, which can end in disaster.

If you feel that you have the time to offer a good home to any breed, be it rescue or puppy, than I would say good luck, and your children will enjoy immense pleasure growing up with a family dog.

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http://www.ninasnanniesforpets.co.uk
pet sitters

My two girls were brought up with the dogs, in fact without the one the youngest daughter wouldn't be alive today!!!

They are fine as long as there are ground rules, mine were never left on their own in a room with a dog (always supervised) and as long as the dog has his/her own space where they can get away from the children I don't honestly see a problem. Mine were always crate-trained and when they had had enough they would just take themselves to their crates and the girls then knew that they were to leave them alone.

i turn away people for pup with young children under 6
i found over the years people think its good idea then found they cant cope and the dog whos suffers
im not saying you would but its what i found
you got to think the dog is going to grow faster than your children and will bounce about may knock the children over will eat their toys and anything it can, and mostly a lab love its food they are a biggest dustbins going.
you will have to find time to train it. and take it to training classes,
not to be the put you off CHILDREN and dogs go great together.
these other dogs that attacks were proberly not trained right and were in some cases guard dogs
fact for you more people get BITTEN by SMALL DOGS than big dogs it only because they are a big breed they get in the news more often and the anti dog lot.

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www.carolscaninecare.co.uk

i personaly think that not only do you have to train the puppy but the children to, i have 5 children in my house and i do not allow any of them to miss treat the dogs i have in any way, as soft as they are any dog can get fed up with children noise and tantrums, my eldest son and daughter have grown up with dogs and from the begining they were taught to respect the animals, but i also have 3 children that were not raised with dogs and they sometimes find it hard to understand what not to do with the dogs, so in all it is good for kids as they can learn but it can be hard you do have to have the time for the dog and the children

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I was born into having dogs around me and I must admit now I cannot live without dogs in my home - I echo what Nina has said

my children have also always had dogs around them, as long as they learn to respect the dogs, and they are watched when they are together, its all ways been fine,

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Hi,
Not all dogs in rescue centers are there because of bad behaviour, more likely than not there they because of bad owners. I myself was born and bred into a family with dogs, so was my daughter with lots of dogs, including rescue dogs we cared for and rehomed. Its all about common sense and training, not just the dog but the children as well. Its very important that children are not just kind to animals but they have respect for them as well.

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Amanjay Siamese & Animal Healer.

you have beautiful Kidd's Collie i bet they follow their mother???

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http://uk.youtube.com/user/EBTerriers

why thank you garry,,,,my older daughters take after me,,,,,them little two, i aint so sure about,,,