Getting a Golden Retreiver with a 7 month old and a 2 3/4 year old boys HONESTLY??

[Lil_Apple]

Hi Ladies,

I would love your totally honest opinons... I am thinking of adding a Golden Retreiver to our family a puppy or a slightly older dog.

I am at home full time with my 7 month old son and my 2yr 3/4 son who keep me busy for sure but I feel that I could cope with the extra work a dog brings. We can afford it financially and my 2 year old although can be a bit rough I am sure would just love a puppy. I have had a dog as a child, I know the time that needs to be put into a dog, the extra expenses that may crop up etc and my husband was brought up with Golden Retreivers.

I guess I am all for getting this dog, as is my husband, although we are not sure when is 'the best time' We have been blessed with our two boys and do not wish for anymore children. And lets face it when really will be the 'right' time?!

I would LOVE your honest full opinions expecially those dog lovers out there who may be in/have been in similar situations?

Thanks in advance ladies

 

[nugget80]

i think its a fab idea...! i got a cocker spaniel puppy 2 months before i had lo as my oh wanted the baby to grow up with a dog and it was one of the best things we did...! so now i have an 8 month pup (daisy) and a 3 month baby to look after and they are no trouble. daisy is great with lo and when i put him on his play mat or baby gym she likes to bring him her toys and curl up next to him!
it sounds like you have thought it through and know what you are letting yourself in for so just go for it...! x

 

[midori1999]

I breed/show Golden Retrievers.

You will find that many good, reputable breeders may show concerns over the fact you have small children and some will point blank refuse to home a puppy to you. This is because research shows that homes with small children or babies are most likely to give dogs up. Of course, that doesn't mean all homes with small children will, but they do count for a very high proportion or rehomings. Another aspect is that dogs bite. The threshold at which dogs will bite varies from dog to dog, but it is much more likely in a household with small children who are allowed to pester it or not old enough to understand they can't. Most often though, breeders will consider each home on a case by case basis.

A bit like having a baby, nothing can prepare you for having a puppy like having a puppy can, no matter what people tell you beforehand. You might get lucky and it might be really easy, but on the other hand, it might be your worst nightmare.

Have you thought about the maybe less obvious things like how you'll cope with constant trips to the garden for toilet training, which might mean having to stand out there for half an hour at a time in the cold and rain with the puppy at first? About how you'll manage to teach the puppy to walk politely on a lead with a pram or sling and a young child? Puppies need 2 or 3 short walks per day, then once they get to a year old a Golden will need 2 hours plus off exercise a day.

Older, housetrained dogs are often available from breed rescue. Sometimes these are older puppies, under a year old and usually they come with a full and known history. Sometimes these are dogs which have been returned to the breeder or which the breeder kept to grow on for showing, but decided they weren't good enough. For the latter reason, breeders sometimes have older pups needing homes too.

A good breeder will be happy for you to visit them as many times as you like and will be more than happy to answer any questions you have. I know it's not what you asked, but the best place to find a breeder is via the breed club and NOT the Kennel Club, over 90% of KC registrations are from 'volume breeders' or puppy farmers. The puppy should be KC registered, but this is only a minimum standard. Please beware of non reputable breeders who don't health test parents, not only do you risk your puppy having a future health problem that may not be covered by insurance, but you risk temprment problems too, which, with children, you can't afford to risk, obviously. You might also need to wait a while to find a good breeder with a puppy, often you'll have to 'book' before the litter is born or even before the bitch is mated. This is good in lots of ways as you can get to know the breeder, their dogs, and once the puppies are born you can visit them from a fairly young age and they can get to know you and know their name, which makes bringing them home easier.

Of course, you might already know all of the above, in which case, ignore me.

Goldens are a pretty good choice of dog, they are easy to train and pretty laid back in the scheme of things. Like with most breeds, show lines are a little easier than working lines and will probably suit a pet home the most. They really are gorgeous dogs.

 

[truly_blessed]

I'd be tempted to wait a little longer. This baby will be my first but I have had 3 dogs in the past and every one of them has needed so much attention for the first 6 months, it would have been difficult with children as well. If you want a well behaved dog, you really do need to put the time and effort in at the start.

I have a friend with a little girl who is 3 at the weekend. She is a single stay at home mum and she got a puppy about 6 months ago. Needless to say within 3 months she ended up rehoming it (thankfully someone else was willing to take it on) as it took up so much of her time, she couldn't toilet train it, she couldn't get it to settle at night and she was forever complaining about the dog chasing her little girl or her little girl tormenting the dog. She claims that the puppy bit her little girl and the's why she got rid of it, I suspect it was more too much work for her.

I've no doubt many people do take puppies on when they have young children but given the choice, I wouldn't choose to do so.

 

[moomin_troll]

zane loves dogs but having a young baby im not getting him one just yet, so im waiting till corey is about 3 before i get a dog.

we had a jack russel when zane was 1, he was crazy about her but i was always stopping him diving on her and pulling her tail.

i think a toddler, 7 month old and a dog would be very hard work

 

[SophiasMummy]

I grew up with a labrador we got her when I was 2 and she lived until she was 17, I loved growing up with my dog she was my bestfriend, once I have the money I will be getting a dog for my LO to grow up with, in my opinion dogs arnt that hard to take care of infact I managed to train mine to search and find things when I was just 11, if you think you will have the time then go for it, I know I will be hopefully within the next year, and golden retrievers are lovely family dogs ive known a couple of people with them xx

 

[michelle82]

My honest opinion is DON'T DO IT!!!!

We are currently thinking about rehoming our 3 year old beagle, as she has been pretty neglected since Leo arrived

I do think its lovely for kids to grow up with dogs and retreivers are great family pets, but I think you'd be better to wait until the kids are a bit older, so that you can dedicate a bit more time to the dog.

Good luck with whatever you decide xx

 

[Destiny08]

i think its a great idea! as soon as we can afford it, we're getting a husky puppy lol i think kids growing up with a pet is fantastic. and the younger you start, the earlier they get attached and the closer they can be. thats my opinion anyway

 

[bellablue]

Dog lovers will say yes

none dog lovers will say no

dog lover here! I have 5 dogs all well behaved and i do animal rescue

i have 2 am staff terriers excellent with the baby!

1 boston terrier tiny guy also great with baby

1 black lab

and a chinese sharpei

they aLL great with the baby theyhave no choice they better be the sooner you get training on the pupp it will be a better household you dont want a wild pup running crazy lol!

In the end its ur family do what you want to do but if you do get the dog please no that they are a big responsibility and dont get rid of him cause its to much so think about it alot

there are alot of dogs who are in shelters caus eof neglect

good luck on your decision

 

[truly_blessed]

I disagree, I'm an avid dog lover and say a big no.

 

[Babushka99]

I think its a great idea, my friend has twins and they were around her labradoodle since birth and the dog was a puppy too and it was absolutely fine. I think a golden retriever is a real family dog since they have such a lovely nature and the dog can keep you company when the children are playing in the park. Sounds ideal!

 

[doolittle]

fantastic advice from midori1999, nothing else to add

 

[pinklizzy]

I got my BFP three weeks after we got a puppy, not great planning! It's true that they will grow up together and we've had no problems, apart from protecting the dog from LO-I don't think it's fair that any dog is allowed to be prodded and pulled about by a babychild, no matter how 'good' they are about it If someone pulled your hair and poked you in the eye etc over and over, eventually you'd get fed up and snap, when the dog gets fed up, they bite!
Would I do the same again, no, much as I love my dog and wouldn't be without her now, I'd rather have had more time to devote to her. I'm limited to the training classes we can get to as I have to arrange childcare and our plans to do agility with her have been put on hold.
It has also made going out to baby groups etc more challenging as I have to fit in LO's naps and a walk for the dog before we can go out anywhere. If I'm desperate I can pop her into the garden for a bit but she needs a proper walk with a chance to run to burn off some energy at least once a day and she's a small breed (mini poodle) Some days we just run out of time!
Ultimately it's your decision, just thought I'd give my perspective, as a dog lover too!

 

[HellBunny]

Hey, yeah i think its a great idea! Like you say if you can afford one financially/have the time, love support etc and patience then go for it.
Its not the same thuough in 2009 we adopted a border collie cross, he is the most loving lively dog i've met! He was 5 at the time and is now almost 8 years old, and is still so excitable and fun. He got on amazingly with my LO (13 month old) they're best friends really! They need alot of walking/interaction but if thats not a problem then i'm sure its a great idea

On the puppy hand, my sister recently got a puppy labrador, gets on great with her kids, lots of cleaning up whilst in the mids of toilet training him but apart from that its going well!

 

[bellablue]

Only you can make the decision whats right for your family think about it long and hard and go with you desicion you can read 100 comments saying yes no maybe but its your family in the end just do what you feel i grew up with dogs my whole entire life and had one ever since i was born never had problems and i have had all types of breeds! Never was bit never a problem in 27 years!

 

[Dizzymum]

We have a 6 year old golden Reteiver, who was a nightmare as a puppy lol

I thought I was getting an easy going breed of dog, but hadn't taken into account the puppy stage...................she was awful tbh! She used to dig huge holes in the garden, eat and chew everything in sight, and she even used to bite my mum and I really hard(not my DH, it was her trying to be the alpha female apparently!).

Then when she reached a year old, she totally calmed down, and turned into a different dog! Now, she's amazing, and I wouldn't be without her. She is great with the children, even Jessica who has started to grab at her from time to time. I notice she will sit as close to Jess as she can, and follows her around the house, it's really sweet. I think they will be great friends! She doesn't bark, she will walk nicely without a lead, and she is just a really lovely dog.

I think in your situation with younger children, I would consider getting a slightly older dog, as the puppy stage is such hard work, and there are so many dogs that need rehoming at the moment.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

 

[rocketb]

I'm a dog lover, grew up with dogs and we have 2 dogs right now (a corgi and a beagle). Both were rescues so we never saw their puppy stage. Adult dogs are enough work, I wouldn't want to deal with a baby and a puppy at the same time.

I recommend an older dog (older than 1-2 years old), with the caveat that either you or your partner MUST make a commitment to going through obedience training classes with the dog. Trained dogs are much easier to live with (and you feel like you have options/strategies when bad habits arise).

 

[Tor]

I'm a dog lover and have a 7yr old GSD, she is excellent with the baby but i have to say there is no way i would get a puppy with young children its far too much work!

There is no way i could ever rehome my dog but i do feel extremely guilty that she doesn't get the attention that she used to now that LO is here, I would a couple more years but thats just me.

The main thing i would think about is how you are going to walk with 2 young children and a golden retriever as before its properly trained that could be quite difficult.

 

[divadexie]

I havent read the replies

But

YOU are the only person who knows whether you can cope or not.

When LO was born we had 2 dogs (3 and 2 years old) and when LO was 14 months ( 11 months corrected but she wasnt crawling much yet or sitting up) we added a collie/lab puppy (who by the way is mental) but I KNEW that I would be able to cope.

If it is your first puppy then be prepared for stressy momens but if you have had dogs befor and know what you are doing then it should be easier. I would have gone mad had my dogs not been crate trained as it meant they go to bed when LO is on the floor (well the older dogs would just lie on the chair) and I walk them before and after kids are up and about. I KNEW that I would have time to take puppy out seperately and train her when LO was napping in the day etc, and I'm glad I added puppy before LO on her feet because toilet training was easier that LO was in her chair or playpen meaning I could safely nip out the front with pup- accidents would have happened more frequently if I'd had to put LO somewhere safe first.

On top of all this I do agility with my older dog once a week, puppy class once a week and have a day at the stables- as well as walking a friends dog two days a week when she works, letting another friends dogs out for the loo 3 days a week, dog sitting my neighbours two dogs for a week and then a friends dog for a week.... but I have been around dogs my whole life and its something that comes naturally to me.

 

[bellablue]

I havent read the replies

But

YOU are the only person who knows whether you can cope or not.

When LO was born we had 2 dogs (3 and 2 years old) and when LO was 14 months ( 11 months corrected but she wasnt crawling much yet or sitting up) we added a collie/lab puppy (who by the way is mental) but I KNEW that I would be able to cope.

If it is your first puppy then be prepared for stressy momens but if you have had dogs befor and know what you are doing then it should be easier. I would have gone mad had my dogs not been crate trained as it meant they go to bed when LO is on the floor (well the older dogs would just lie on the chair) and I walk them before and after kids are up and about. I KNEW that I would have time to take puppy out seperately and train her when LO was napping in the day etc, and I'm glad I added puppy before LO on her feet because toilet training was easier that LO was in her chair or playpen meaning I could safely nip out the front with pup- accidents would have happened more frequently if I'd had to put LO somewhere safe first.

On top of all this I do agility with my older dog once a week, puppy class once a week and have a day at the stables- as well as walking a friends dog two days a week when she works, letting another friends dogs out for the loo 3 days a week, dog sitting my neighbours two dogs for a week and then a friends dog for a week.... but I have been around dogs my whole life and its something that comes naturally to me.

totally agree with all you said if you been around dogs youknow what to expect if not there will be stressful moments and only she knows whats best for her n family