are we nutty if we get a puppy when we have a toddler?

Question

My family looked at lab puppies over the weekend. We've got 3 kids- a 7 yr old, a 5 yr old, and a 15 month old. We love dogs, even the 15 month old loves dogs, and these puppies, of course, were very cute. Also, we found 2 that were calm and non-chewy, even at 9 weeks. That is, they played but didn't try to knock down the baby. When they tried chewing on our hands and we pushed them gently away, they simply stopped, whereas the others just tried to chew shoelaces. I don't know how unusual it is to find Lab pups that can be that calm so quickly, the others I've seen were all high, high energy. Anyway, we are thinking of adding these two puppies to our family, but I wonder if we are nutty! We would crate train them, my husband gets up at 5 to go to work and he'd walk them first thing; I stay home; we have a fenced yard and a large home; we'd take them to dog beach and park; they'd be indoor family pets. My toddler is an easy kid. We can do the work, will it be too much work?

Answer 1

As long as you are attentive and thoughful how to train and educate them both, together, it can be a benefit. If you already find it hard to have the time for either, then a puppy will be a burden, it being a time consuming responsibility that can't be taken with you when out or traveling in all cases, and hence restricts your possible involvement with other people.

It's your choice, to know how you want to spend your time, and then be responsible to that choice.

Answer 2

It looks like you are considering the extra work that owning a puppy will bring. Kudos. I can think of nothing more special than a family pet...but beware, there may be a few "warning whistles" that I am hearing.

1-Labs are notorious for being obnoxious puppies--and I mean puppies until they are around 3 yrs old. But they are GREAT dogs to have with children. They are big enough that you don't have to worry that your toddler will pick them up and throw them off the deck (this is why it isn't recommended to have a small breed dog with small children). But...the 2 that you've found that were calm, may have just been waking from a nap, ready for a nap after a particularly rough tumble, or anything. You aren't going to find a puppy that doesn't do puppy things. So, just because they didn't do it today, doesn't mean they never will.

2--It really isn't recommended to get 2 puppies from the same litter. These dogs are bonded together and you will have added difficulties retraining them that you are now the pack leader and that they need to do what you want them to do.

3--Two puppies at the same time with all of your other kids may be biting off a little more than necessary. Unless there is an absolute need to have 2 dogs right now. Just get one and see where that takes you. You can always add another pet a year or two down the road.

4--Nobody can tell you what you can handle but you. I have 3 dogs ranging from a 7lb Yorkie to a 90lb German Shephard Mix. We recently added the 3rd--a now 6 month old Jack Russell Terrier mix. Don't kid yourself...puppies are a lot of work. We actually forgot how much work. So be sure that the reward is worth it to you.

Everyone called us "nutty" for getting a new baby--but we did and he's the best. But...there is definitely a reason God made puppies cute...sometimes "cute" is all they got when they really start getting mischievious.

Answer 3

Having a pup and a toddler can be fun only if you understand a dogs behavior. All puppies must chew just as your kids had to while teething. What looks calm and non chewy now will soon be a hyper active chain saw once the baby teeth need to come out. Don't disillusion yourself into believing anything with part Lab will not chew or become very nippy and active until trained properly. Keep the time with the smallest child minimal. Only allow them to interact under your supervision. Read up on puppies and learn what they are really like. There was a question here just yesterday of someone wanting to get rid of a 15 wk old pup that bit their child over a piece of food. That's what dogs do until trained otherwise. Expect the worst and you could only be happy. It WILL be a lot of work but in time you will enjoy them. What you will basically have is three toddlers, a five yr old and a seven yr old.

Answer 4

Adding two puppies right now would be very crazy. LOL

It IS manageable to have one puppy, but it is a ton of work and with a 15 month old it will be very hard. By the time the pup is 4 months old he will be unintentionally knocking the kid down, jumping all over the kid.... even a lab at one year is physically an adult but still mentally a kid.

Just because the pups were mellow AT THAT MOMENT does not mean they are that way all of the time.

Has the breeder made arrangements to have them temperament tested? The Volhard Puppy Test (when done by someone who knows what they are doing) is one way to get a true picture of the pup's temperament rather than a snapshot.

You know your home and kids best. Personally I would wait until the toddler is 3 and better able to communicate and deal with a bouncy puppy.

If you do go ahead, find someone who has a trainer do the Volhard Test or a similar one and match you with a pup that fits your family.

Here is a link to what the test looks like.
http://www.volhard.com/puppy/pat.htm

My last word: two pups would not be a good idea.

Good luck.

Answer 5

Wow! It is so refreshing to see someone who has done all of their homework and considered it from mostly every angle. I think that you have found the perfect match for your home. When you have childredn, labs are my #1 pick for famliy pet (as far as dogs go). They are usually so gentle and easy going, they can take most of the abuse a kid can so innocently give. Don't feel bad about the crate training either. You are actually doing your pet a favor by doing that so long as you have the time to dedicate to it. You absolutely must be home for about 2 weeks to dedicate to this. Once the dog understands the concept of going potty outside, they come out of the crate. It is as simple of that. The only thing is that even though you have a large, fenced in yard (which is fabulous), I still reccomend you bring the dog(s) for leashed walks. Not only is it good exercise, it is a bonding thing. I don't think it would be too much work even with the three kids. When you have done the research that you have, you have inessence created a plan. When you start with a plan, you already know more or less how much work it will be. Good Luck!

Answer 6

First off, you said LABS!!!!!! You would be CRAZY to get one lab puppy right now. let alone two! Labs can be good dogs, but are not the "perfect breed" everyone makes them out to be. they are VERY headstrong. They need A TON of exercise. And they they go through a stage where they are kinda (OK, alot) dumb. I'm not being mean, just honest. You have alot on your plate right now, so if I was you and wanted a dog, I would consider ONE of another breed. Labs just take up too much time and energy. I know they are calm and don't chew now, but they are in a fear stage in their development. The are also small. Labs bodies grow faster than their mental maturity, so they are large, boisterous, and unaware of their size and strength, which can spell disaster with kids that small. Its not that labs are not good with kids, Its just that they can do alot of damage unintentionally, especially the puppies. It's better if the kids are at LEAST 10. Also as said earlier, If you get two puppies at the same time, They will bond to each other and not to you.

Answer 7

It really depends on you. Puppies are a lot of work, 2 seems a little much to start off with, but it is personal preference. Dogs are a wonderful addition to a family and I think they benefit children's behavior even. They need at least one 45 minute walk each day. Please make sure to take the time to properly train the puppy now rather than have problems later. It's going to take a lot of time making sure your children and dog interact with each other properly. Set limits, make sure the children know what they can and can't do with the dog...even the 15 month old. Dogs can be very tolerable of toddlers, but you never want to see them take advantage of the dog. Check out http://cesarmillaninc.com if you do decide to get a dog. Cesar is awesome! I hope whatever you choose is the best for your family...good luck :-)

Answer 8

Just remember that a puppy is a puppy and will behave like a puppy until he is taught different.

You have seen other peoples kids out in public that have absolutely no discipline and run out of control? They were not taught how to behave but you have taught your kids different cause you disciplined them. You did not try to be a friend or anything like that to them, you taught them the right and wrong.

A puppy has to learn just like the kids did. You do not want to punish the puppy, you want to correct him. a correction can be a thumb nail pinch to a ear, squirt with a spray bottle, and of course you can use two fingers and rap him on the nose (especially for biting or nipping). You need to do this fairly hard cause think about how rough the puppies will play with each other with those sharp teeth. As a general rule if he does not sneeze after you rap him on the nose you can rap a little harder the next time.

Keep in mind that the temperament of the pup and correct accordingly. You wouldn't want to go ballistic with a timid pup, you would break his spirit nor would you want to simply say no and expect a rowdy, tough, hardheaded puppy to learn what you want him to learn.

Labs are good dogs as family pets but can be very strong and rowdy.

Good luck.

Answer 9

There are pros and cons,
Pros

they will grow with your children and be more likely to be child friendly. You know they don't have a history of violence with children. When you adopt an older dog, you really never know if that dog was ever hit by a child and therefore might bite a child if an ear was pulled. or something.

Cons,
Until the puppy is housetrained your toddler might find some "treats" left on the floor that you will have to stay on top of.


I had some friends that had some Rotweiler dogs that grew up with the children. Everyone said they were crazy, I was one of them. But those dogs were so protective of the kiddos, and the kids could pull on ears, tails or jump on the dogs and they never NEVER acted like they were bothered by it. They were really close.

Answer 10

I agree with the previous poster that says adopt an older dog(even 6 months old) from the local shelter, chances are they will be housebroken and that is well worth missing the cute "puppy" stage for. Also consider a mixed breed, they tend to be healthier, smarter and have a much better temperment than purebreds. I have 3 shelter dogs, different ages and all are mixed, all were around 6months old when adopted and none needed to be housebroken. Give homeless pets a second chance, you'll be glad you did!