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pup or adult dog for family with lots of young kids?
#38843 - 08/16/2001 10:16 PM |
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I have a friend who is contemplating getting a working breed of dog, rott, GSD, bouv etc.
He has 7 kids aged under 10. Several are still in diapers. His wife occasional yells at the kids and wacks them with the wooden spoon when they really play up. The kids fight one another as kids do. Would a working dog be able to discern a mother yelling at her kids or kids wrestling and pulling hair etc. as not behaviour to be concerned over? I took my dog to judo one time, she got very wound up just watching people training.
I sugested he get a pup as a pup would have time to 'grow into' the family and the family become accustomed to it. But then I was thinking a pup might mature into something unsuitiable because of its genetic make up despite the best rearing enviroment, maybe also a pup would be traumatised by being in such rowdy enviroment. I think I gave the right advice but Im not sure any input would be appreciated.
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Re: pup or adult dog for family with lots of young kids?
[Re: Brendan 'The Diplomat' Powning ]
#38844 - 08/16/2001 10:36 PM |
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I have 2 young children. Their ages are 8 and 4. I have 2 cupcake dogs, a Lab and a Golden Retriever. My Lab went through a dominant stage for a while with my kids but now I seem to have the situation well under control. My point is that I can only imagine the chaos that can exist in a house with 7 kids! Now you throw a dog thats far from a cupcake into the mix and it could become very interesting. My biggest problem is that I have to have eyes behind my head to make sure that my 4 year old is treating the dogs correctly. I'm not saying that it cannot work, but this family had better run a tight ship. 2 kids and 2 dogs mean 4 potential problems. 7 kids and a Rott could if not handled well, spell double trouble! Are these people "dog experienced"?
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Re: pup or adult dog for family with lots of young kids?
[Re: Brendan 'The Diplomat' Powning ]
#38845 - 08/17/2001 09:44 AM |
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I have no kids and I am not a behavior therapist so I cannot give you an educated response. Could I make this work? You bet. I am my dogs pack leader. I make ALL the rules. I tell him when he and who he can fight. And I determine the pack order. My dog would know he was last on the totem pole. Now I will leave it to the other 300+ members to give you a more experienced answer.
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Re: pup or adult dog for family with lots of young kids?
[Re: Brendan 'The Diplomat' Powning ]
#38846 - 08/17/2001 10:08 AM |
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I agree with Vince. The thing is though, in this situation they may end up not having a dog problem, it may end up being a kid problem. That's why I was wondering if these people ever had dogs before. No matter what kind of dog, they have to be the lowest in the "family pack". Small children make very sudden movements which can easily confuse a dog. Believe me, I certainly am not some know it all expert. Perhaps there are others on this board who have 5 or more kids and a dog that can give some advice. The bottom line is, if the children aren't supervised as closely as the dog, there will be problems.
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Re: pup or adult dog for family with lots of young kids?
[Re: Brendan 'The Diplomat' Powning ]
#38847 - 08/17/2001 10:14 AM |
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Unless these folks have access to a working dog breeder who produces dogs w/stable temperaments and nerves of absolute steel, along w/serious socialization in early puppyhood, *and* the adults are capable of being good handlers, and have time to train the dog, forget it. The 1st toddler tantrum could cause disaster. Do they really need to bring a dog into all this chaos? If they are bent on it, have them get a nice, sound Lab from rescue.
Sometimes it would be nice if people would consider the best interest of the *dog* once in awhile.
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Re: pup or adult dog for family with lots of young kids?
[Re: Brendan 'The Diplomat' Powning ]
#38848 - 08/17/2001 10:37 AM |
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I would recommend a Golden Retriever from a sound breeder. With children, these dogs have few equals. Even then, the parents still have to establish the dog as the lowest in the pack. Even Goldens have teeth too! The children must know how to properly treat a dog. If done right, it should work out.
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Re: pup or adult dog for family with lots of young kids?
[Re: Brendan 'The Diplomat' Powning ]
#38849 - 08/17/2001 10:49 AM |
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Good advice from Chuck F. -- but pay special attention when he says GOOD BREEDER. Goldens are being overbred these days, just like GSDs and Labs. The spookiest dog in my neighborhood is the Golden across the street (and I live in a town full of working-breed dogs). This dog is aggressive to ALL people and ALL animals, and recently bit my GSD in the face in a totally unprovoked attack.
If you want to consider a Golden, try to look at litters from breeders who still breed for hunting/retrieving ability. They do exist if you look hard enough.
Pete Felknor
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Re: pup or adult dog for family with lots of young kids?
[Re: Brendan 'The Diplomat' Powning ]
#38850 - 08/17/2001 12:26 PM |
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Brendan,
I'm sorry to say this but....first, I would definitely not bring an older dog into the kind of household with young kids you describe......and, second, I would not recommend a puppy for that kind of household either no matter how good the puppy's genetics might supposedly be. To develop properly puppies need a sense of order -- social order & respect are taught & learned even in (especially in) the wild. IMO a puppy in the household you describe would most likely just become another one of the "rowdies" -- only with nice big teeth to get it into nice big, serious trouble. Why do it?
Ellen Nickelsberg |
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Re: pup or adult dog for family with lots of young kids?
[Re: Brendan 'The Diplomat' Powning ]
#38851 - 08/17/2001 12:57 PM |
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I have to agree w/Pete about Goldens. It has been (literally) *years* since I've seen a good one. I've seen no less than six (6!) growling, lunging fear biting screwballs. Most locally are scared to death of loud noises as well, real nice trait for a *gun dog*.
I just don't understand why these folks think they need a dog right now. They need to raise their kids first.
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Re: pup or adult dog for family with lots of young kids?
[Re: Brendan 'The Diplomat' Powning ]
#38852 - 08/17/2001 01:33 PM |
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I agree with Ellen and DesertThunder. These people have their hands full with 7 kids uner the age of 10! Adding either an adult dog or a puppy to the mix at this point, is just too risky, whether this is a house pet OR a working dog kept kenneled when not working. They should wait until the children are older. It'll be better for everyone that way.
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