I have a 3 month old baby girl. I've been told to get a dog. What kind of dog should I get or should we not?

Question

My mom has a dog and it helped my niece learn to walk. He was very sweet around her and would sleep next to her, he would come get us if she cried while we weren't around. He was very good with her. The strange thing is that instead of talking now at 3 years old, she sometimes barks... its cute. Is it ok? Should we not get a dog? What type of dog is good around newborns?

Answer 1

Told to get a dog? You should only get a dog if YOU really want one - YOU will be doing all the work and paying all the bills. The baby will learn to walk just fine - with or without a dog.

A quality pup can cost $1000 or more. Puppy shots are another $200, then $100 a year for boosters. Annual Heartworm test and preventative medication $100. Professional trainer $600 and up. Going on vacation? Boarding kennel at least $40/day. Spaying? $250.

Dogs can either be great with kids or an absolute nightmare. Dogs have to be walked at least four times a day. Puppies need to be housebroken and trained - you can't just hope for the best that the dog will turn out fine.

If you really want one, I'd recommend one of the Sporting breeds for a child. My all-time favorite mid-sized dog for kids is the English (or Welsh) Springer Spaniel. They require some grooming, but don't shed too much, are generally great with kids and easy to train. Females are a little bit easier than males, but either should make a terrific pet. They will need a good thirty minute walk every day.

Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and Pekingese are great too and need less exercise. They are small, sweet and quiet.

Vizslas, Setters, Labs and Goldens are usually great with kids but they're bigger and are very boisterous until they are about two. Labs shed a LOT.

Find a good breeder by going to www.akc.org or talking to people at dog shows. You can also find info about the breed clubs on the akc site - they probably have a rescue group where you can get an older dog for less money. The best breeders will be members of their breed club and really care about whether you're going to give their pup a good home.

I'd also suggest reading some really good books on training. Try not to do it randomly - there are a lot of bad books out there also! These are some of my favorites and you can get them on Amazon.com
What All Good Dogs Should Know - Volhard
Good Owners, Great Dogs - Brian Kilcommins
Don't Shoot the Dog - Pryor
Training Your Dog: The Step by Step Method - Volhard
Dog Problems - Benjamin
Cesar's Way - Cesar Millan

Also, watch the Dog Whisperer on the National Geographic Channel. Cesar Millan is the best trainer I've ever seen on TV.

Whatever breed of puppy you decide on DON'T go to a pet shop or buy one off the internet!!!! You'll pay top dollar for what is usually a poor quality puppy mill dog. And you'll be supporting one of the cruelest industries in the country. The breeding animals are kept in deplorable conditions. They probably haven't been vaccinated against contagious diseases or tested for any health or temperament problems or genetic diseases - that costs money and cuts into their profits. A female is often bred every time she comes into heat. When her poor little body can't take it any more, she is often clubbed in the head and tossed into a dumpster or an open ditch. Most puppy mills ship their pups to pet stores at wholesale prices and many pups die before they even get there. These "breeders" have figured out that they can use the internet to ship a dog directly to the customer and thus make more money by cutting out the middleman. If you buy a dog from out of state, good luck getting your money back if there's something wrong with the pup. These people count on you becoming instantly attached to the poor little guy and being willing to spend hundreds or thousands of dollars at the vet to treat whatever is wrong with him.

Answer 2

I agree with some of the others who have answered that it might be better to wait until your daughter is a little older, around 1 year old. Personally, i think larger dogs are better with kids than little dogs, as little dogs can often be intimidated by the kids and are on the same level. However, so much can be said for how the dog is raised, large or small. Have you considered a corgi, a beagle, a lab (although exuberant and high energy, would need lots of walks and exercise) or a standard poodle?

Answer 3

A dog is nearly as much commitment as a baby. I would wait until your baby is a toddler, and see if you still have time for the puppy, to train , etc.
getting a dog because of another person's suggestion is never a good idea, because they are really a commitment. before taking on such a commitment, you need to really, really want a dog.

If you decide you wanna go for it, Boston Terriers and Pugs are great with kids, and easily trained. They stay cute and small, and will make a long-time playmate. They are quite sturdy, and tolerate toddler accidents. A mix of either of these breeds would also work well.

Answer 4

getting a dog for a infant is a tricky thing make sure the baby isn't allergic and also not only do you have to take care of a new baby you have to take time w/ a puppy !both are alot of work. i think waiting after you pottytrain the child is a good time to start looking for a new dog. try some local pet stores and see how the baby interacts with the different kinds of dogs before making the commitment.

Answer 5

do not get a puppy...call your ASPCA and ask if they have any dogs that were turned in that are used to kids....toddlers can be very tough on dogs, you may want to wait for a while. You can also keep your eye on the newspapers and watch for the ad that says
need home for dog good with kids...that way you get to check the environment it comes from. also do not get a small fragile dog, big is best. I raised my kids with a rescued lab mix and a rescued dobbie...only problem I had is the Dobie really loved those kids and protected them...little girls scream and my dog would chase off her friends.

Answer 6

By adopting a dog, you're basically adding another baby to the house...are you ready for that? Do you have enough time for a 3 month old baby and a brand new one (a dog?) We usually don't advise new parents into getting a dog.

Answer 7

Get a Pug that is what kind of dog my parents got when I was 6months old and the dog lived to be 19 years old. I now have a Puggle which is half Pug and half Beagle which is a great dog too. P.S. I'm alot older than 19 now too.

Answer 8

Most often I have seen larger dog breeds like German Shephards, Black Labs and Golden Retrievers with smaller children. But, every dog is different. My year-old neice gets along grandly with my sister-in-law's pomeranian and pomeranian/rat terrier mix(She barks, too. Very cute). There are dogs of every breed that do well with children, and that do poorly with them. My suggestion would be to be patient. Find an adult dog that has had good previous experiences with young children. Look in your local shelter(sometimes they get that type of information), in your local newspaper, and ask around. Also, if you do find a good dog, be sure not to leave it alone with your daughter until it has shown that it gets along with and will not hurt her.

Answer 9

I see how it helped your niece learn to walk but I would wait till your baby is maybe a year old. Sometimes puppies are too rough because they don't know any better and if she is 3 months she wouldn't be able to protect herself. Plus she wouldn't be able to play with the dog or talk to it. But it's up to you.

Answer 10

I'm surprised that you want even more responsibility at this point. A puppy would be just like having another baby. They don't sleep through the night, have accidents all the time and need constant attention so as not to chew up anything and everything in your house.