lord_seagrave Posted March 3, 2016 Report Share Posted March 3, 2016 Is there such a thing as an ideal age for a child at which a new puppy should be introduced into the household? Just thinking out loud really. Little Lord Seagrave is barely a year and a half old - how young is too young? Have I romanticised the notion of a boy and his dog a bit? Did any of you chaps grow up with a puppy? LS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malkiserow Posted March 3, 2016 Report Share Posted March 3, 2016 This may seem an odd comment but is an observation from many families who did just this at a young age........ Just when the kids are doing their key exams their beloved pet dog/cat dies of old age..... and it is like a bereavement in the family. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosd Posted March 3, 2016 Report Share Posted March 3, 2016 depending on your son, he shouldn't be intimidated by a small pup, and both will get used to each other as the pup will grow very quickly. Every kid is different, pup will be fine. I think kids and pets is a wonderful idea, for me it completes the family. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenboy Posted March 3, 2016 Report Share Posted March 3, 2016 I am sure there are plenty of family's with dogs that have children of your sons age . My dogs are kenneleld outside but my two young grandchildren ( 1 and 2 ) have been introduced to them and look forward to seeing them when they visit. Of course it will be down to you to ensure they are not left alone unsupervised especially as neither the dog or child would be at a age where they knew right from wrong. It would not put me off getting a dog as long as common sense is used from the start. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loriusgarrulus Posted March 3, 2016 Report Share Posted March 3, 2016 Our first dog a Labrador cross was bought when my daughter was a year old and just walking and my son was nearly three. It was fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WGD Posted March 3, 2016 Report Share Posted March 3, 2016 My parents got a lab pup about three months before I was born, and although she got old and fat and didn't do very much by the time I paid her any attention it was like the death of grandparent when she was PTS in my early teens. I got my first spaniel when I was 10 or 11, the romantic notion of a boy an his dog going fishing and raking around did come into play. The less romantic notion was that when my mates were going to each other's houses after school on dark wintry nights I had to get home and take the dog out in all weathers. And then I went off to uni and my mum got left to take the dog out every day unless I was home for holidays. A dog in the house will be absolutely fine with the kids, we've had dogs and pups in and out since my boys were born, but you'll be the one looking after it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted March 3, 2016 Report Share Posted March 3, 2016 Some of this depends on the pup, at that age they will play together and the child can hurt the pup. We have two gwp,'s the younger is 3 months older than our daughter. They get on fantastically and being the size they are the worst we have had is the odd Yelp when an ear gets pulled. Personally I'd say go for it youngsters get so much out of dogs there is nothing worse than seeing children who are scared of them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mentalmac Posted March 4, 2016 Report Share Posted March 4, 2016 I have a lab pup (well, she's now 8.5 months) and I have a 2.5 and a 4 year old. My friend has also come over with her little year old and Lola (my pup) likes to have a sniff but I am always very close to supervise. The only problem I faced was teaching Lola not to jump up at the kids, and to be careful of the paws as my pup had fairly sharp claws to start with. Even now, when Lola is very excited she'll jump up at me and I'll have to tell her off - but she will not jump up at the kids regardless. The hardest part in my opinion is stopping the kids undoing training that you are doing when you aren't about. Oh, lastly, the only thing I struggled with a bit was teaching the dog to stop stealing the kids toys Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duckandswing Posted March 4, 2016 Report Share Posted March 4, 2016 I got my first pup when my boy was one, then a succession of pups since. Then I had a daughter and bought her a pup. Got six dogs now. So far no issues. I just established the pecking order early on. The dogs listen to the kids and know their place. The kids also know the rules with the dogs. Stay away when they are eating. If they are in their beds leave them alone etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted March 4, 2016 Report Share Posted March 4, 2016 Depends. I think what you don't want is a baby and a puppy to care for at the same time or a grumpy dog and a toddler There exceptions but best keep the assessment to what you know A big friendly but slightly dumb dog can hurt a child just by bumping into it All young kids need supervising with dogs at all times of course. Even the friendliest dogs can have issues. Before my youngest child was elevated to a leader position in the dogs eyes he had to be watched closely or better still put away with her friends present as he saw it as his responsibility to keep her safe. Dogs are very clever and very dumb at the same time Do what you think just put the kid first Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy135 Posted March 4, 2016 Report Share Posted March 4, 2016 Our ESS pup arrived when our youngest was 5 months and our eldest was 3. Everything worked out fine but I'd recommend to the OP to keep kid & pup segregated or chaperone their interactions closely whilst the pup is very young (to protect the pup) and during teething/learning bite inhibition (to protect the kid - puppy teeth are like little needles!). OP might also want to consider crate training for the pup - I found it was a life saver for our dog with small kids around as the crate is her safe space that the kids are not allowed to go into. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbird Posted March 8, 2016 Report Share Posted March 8, 2016 This may seem an odd comment but is an observation from many families who did just this at a young age........ Just when the kids are doing their key exams their beloved pet dog/cat dies of old age..... and it is like a bereavement in the family. That's a very good point and one I'd not thought about before Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted March 8, 2016 Report Share Posted March 8, 2016 Kids should understand a dog is a dog and you only get them so long because if we had them longer we couldn't bear it when they went Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
treetree Posted March 9, 2016 Report Share Posted March 9, 2016 Got mine when the baby was one. All has worked out well one year on. However, just bear in mind, that when baby has finally been bathed and is in bed, where as you'd normally be able to collapse from exhaustion onto your sofa and relax, instead you'll still be chasing after a pup stopping it from chewing and weeing everywhere. That said, nothing has given the little one more pleasure and laughs than the dog. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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