I have a 11 month old baby Prince who just LOVES his gammy's puppies. He is just learning how to walk, among other things, and I thought maybe I should start thinking about getting him his own puppy... Advice anyone?
2006-06-21 09:10:54 · 38 answers · asked by T O 1 in Family & Relationships ➔ Family
The rule in my house was no puppies until the kid stops putting things into their mouth all the time. That way icky puppy things don't mix with icky baby things.
2006-06-21 09:13:54 · answer #1 · answered by double_nubbins 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you get your baby a puppy,you are inviting disaster! The child isn't old enough to understand that he if he hits the puppy or mistreats it in any way,the puppy will eventually bite the child and that could be very bad for your child and if the bite is serious enough for medical attention the dog would be put down!Babies put everything in their mouths,it's a learning experience.puppy's have a tendency to poop just about everywhere! And the final down side of getting a baby a puppy.Just about the time your son is at an age to appreciate the dog.The dog will die! or have to be put down and that can be devastating for a young child.Wait till your son is between six and 10 yrs old.Then he will be responsible for the dog and when the dogs life is nearing an end,your son will be old enough to accept why it's ending!
2006-06-21 09:21:19 · answer #2 · answered by Jo 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hi! I have a 12 month old and we have 5 dogs. All of which were a part of our household before the baby, so I have lots of advice on this situation. 1st off my son LOVES the dogs. However, a puppy adds ALOT of responsibility to you as he isnt old enough to help take care yet and you will have to go thru the chewing and barking and housebreaking stages which can last 1 yr and more. That said they are a great joy for you and your family as long as you can make it thru the puppy stage and as long as you do your research on whats right for a baby and your lifestyle. For instance you dont want a herding dog (collie, welsh corgie, shepherd) as they are likely to try and "herd" your son and nip ankles and dominate. You also dont want anything too small and yippy (chihuahua, toy poodle etc..) your son will most likely pull on its ears, tail etc.. and if they are too small he could hurt them resulting in a defensive bite from the dog... I would choose Lab breeds, great dane (however they are huge so thats a no for an apartment or anything) even shitzu's are great even though they are a small breed they usually have a good temperment and they dont shed which is wonderful for maintenance reasons for you. Good Luck!
2006-06-21 09:21:38 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would wait till he's about 3-4 years old.
and make it a medium sized breed (like an australian shepard-great dogs, and gentle)they do "herd" a bit but it's usually when your kids are running through the house, never had a problem w/ ours, for a larger breed, go boxer, they are wonderful family dogs, great with kids.I would stay away from too small a breed
keep letting him play w/ her puppy a lot in the meanwhile so he's used to being around dogs.
I really think it's best to wait though. it saves your family (and the puppy you do end up getting) from a lot of problems.
2006-06-21 09:24:03 · answer #4 · answered by drgn grl 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can, but you must make clear to him the rules of living with a dog. You know, how to treat them, how to take care of them. He is a bit young for anything besides teaching him how NOT to hurt them, but if he already loves animals, it would be ok to wait until he is about 4 or 5 and THEN get him one. At that age, you can ask him to help you feed and care for the animal. He will get a better idea of the responsibility and still at a young enough age to be influenced. Any sooner and you will be doing all the caring for the animal. (That isn't a bad thing by any means. If dogs make him happy and you are willing to add a family member, then by all means do it! Just keep in mind that it is a committment to that animal for it's life. Don't get one planning on getting rid of it at the first sign of trouble, because it will definitely be a LOT of work.)
2006-06-21 09:15:53 · answer #5 · answered by ? 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Wait until he is old enough to understand that the puppy can be injured if not handled with care. That age varies from child to child, but 1 yearolds won't understand why the puppy quit breathing just because he was fallen on.
2006-06-21 09:15:52 · answer #6 · answered by Hums2oldies 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Being the father of a 2 1/2 old boy, the perfect age is 3 years old. Providing that they have had experience with animals before.
2006-06-21 09:14:53 · answer #7 · answered by american_badass_25414 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, I think it will be very difficult for you to house train a puppy and take care of a baby at the same time.....I think you should not worry about getting him a puppy until he is actually old enough to take care of it. Best wishes
2006-06-21 09:13:59 · answer #8 · answered by colorist 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No offense, but gag me now...
I would say do it when YOU feel he and your family are really ready. Consider how fast any potential breed is going to grow and how big compared to your child's growth. It would be probably best to avoid a breed that could be too overpowering to your child at this age. Unless you plan on one of those teeny tiny dogs, it may be better to wait a couple more years until your child is old enough to really run around with the dog and handle the size when it is grown.
2006-06-21 09:51:20 · answer #9 · answered by Indigo 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can get him a puppy at any age. I got a puppy when I was 1 and we got to grow up together and it was the best friend I ever had. Kinda like the movie My Dog Skip.
2006-06-21 09:19:41 · answer #10 · answered by Manda Bear 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋