toddlers and pets

Donna - posted on 01/09/2011

i have bassett and a boxer grown dogs and a boxer puppy and 2 cats with my 4 yr old and my 2 yr old i say ya kids can be mean to them pull there tail pull on there hair and its hard to get them to stop but if u get a good breed they wont care. my kids can climb on there dogs beat them up and they wont hurt them and never have attempted to..... if i leave my kids in a room the dogs will watch over them kids to make sure they dont get into stuff.....

Laura - posted on 01/09/2011

i got my daughter a gorgeous kitten for her 3rd birthday, and its like having 2 kids, when one is sleeping, the other is watching them and vice versa. they love each other, but you have to be on your guard constantly to make sure that both parts play nice. at times even a 3year old doesnt want to play and same with a young cat. she has been with us for 7months now and they are just getting to grips with each others boundaries. if my daughter can continue with the responsible attitude she has acquired i have no problems with getting a dog or another cat for her next birthday. especially now she is in school so any pets get a good long break!! i think before you get an animal, you have got to be ready for another child as they take almost as much work, with training them that your kitchen is not their toilet and that they cant hit out they must simply walk away. all animals and children are different, so make sure you get to know the animal in their current surroundings before you take them out of their comfort zone. as moving is stressful for anyone and just as much animals as humans. once you have thought about every eventuality and still want to go ahead, at least you will be mentally prepared for any consequences, good or bad xx

Tabby - posted on 01/08/2011

We have 2 big dogs and a 1 year old. One dog is a German Shepherd (4 years old) and the other a German Shepherd/Lab mix (1 year old). Some people are nervous having big dogs around kids but I'm comfortable with it. I've started teaching my daughter how to "be nice", like no pulling ears and no hitting. Both dogs are more than willing to lay there and take her abuse (the Lab mix lets her sit on him while they watch TV together lol) but I know not every dog is like that. We got one dog before she was born and the other when she was 6 months old. I don't suggest getting a dog as a "present" because a 3 year old may quickly lose interest in it so you have to expect to be the one caring for them and giving them love. I would also research the different breeds and find out which one would best suit your family. Some dogs are known for not liking children... also you might want to consider getting a puppy vs adult dog. Some puppies can be overwhelming for a young child... my daughter gets along great with our dogs but she gets very nervous around small dogs like puppies.

Melissa - posted on 01/08/2011

Ya i heard poodles bite. i would get a lab or a rottweiler something calm. i got a dog for my son when he was 10 months old. they got along great

Dashanda - posted on 01/08/2011

We have a dog that my husband got from one of his friends when he was a puppy 2006.When we brought our son home I was scared he wasn't going like my son,but he did barked everytime my son cried after while he got use to my son they are best friends now always playing together.We just got our son a 30 gallon fish tank for christmas and he LOVES his fish.Good Luck with finding a pet.

Holly - posted on 01/08/2011

We are planning on getting a dog soon as well I think It depends on how well your children listen.and they're character . We tryed having them around other animals and we came across a couple of issues like puppies like to jump and lick .If your child is timid and small, this can be quite the annoance. My children love animals, although they are still too young, for most dogs. Our dog will probably grow faster than our kids at this age (2 and 3) Picking on someone your own size may become an issue. We do have a 33 gallon fish tank they like to watch and feed.

Jessica - posted on 12/31/2010

I would say that if you're going to get a puppy for your daughters birhtday I would recommend doing your research about puppies that tolerate children well. I have two dogs and a cat that are great around my kids. We really lucked out on Gil, my cat since we had him before the children. We got our pug and beagle afterwards. Toby and Lucy both love spending as much time around my kids. There are websites that you can go to that will help you match your family needs to general breed needs. Remember, each animal could vary from the "normal" breed, but I probably wouldn't go with a toy or small poddle. If you're thinking standard poddle, they are much more friendly with kids.

http://dogtime.com/matchup/start

That website is a sample of different dog matching tools. But there are alot out there. I've grown up around lots of animals, so if you have any ?'s message me :)

Trisha - posted on 12/30/2010

i have a 3 yr old daughter and we also have 2 kittens, they dont exactly like her because she is not all that nice 2 them. she hold them by their head and all really crazy but some kids are different maybe your kid will be different.....

good luck

Melissa - posted on 12/30/2010

My cats I had before the baby came. Now baby is 19 months. She thoroughly enjoys seeing them around the house and will pet them in our presence. But doubt she'd miss much if they weren't around. Perhaps it's different with dogs. If you do get one, I would consider it your dog. Dogs need a master and a 3 yr old isn't it. A 3 yr old would do better to treat it like a sibbling instead of a toy to be owned. They may enjoy helping you with the chores of having to care for a pet, than to be responsible for them. I find that kids who have pets that were around before they were do better at enjoying their company than those that get them later and find out how much work they are. I just recommend making sure YOU want the dog more than you want the dog for your child.

Christine - posted on 12/29/2010

We have 2 dogs, but they are 10 and 11 years old They are about 30 lbs each. Since they were there from day one she loves them and the put up with her bugging them. I love dogs but toddlers are usually pretty hard on them especially if they didn't grow up with them, so you have a higher chance of the dog snapping at the child when they pull their ear or poking them in the eye. I think maybe waiting a few more years until she's older because if you introduce a new dog into your home and things don't work out then you have to give the dog another home or the pound or worst yet you'll feel bad and make it an outside dog, and if you can't have it live inside no use having one. My 11 year old spent the first 7 years of his life outside before we adopted him and it's now way for a dog to live. Plus you don't want to risk the chance of the dog hurting your child. IF you do get one get a more family friendly dog like a lab or golden, research good pet breads for small children. "The Standard (large) poodle is very good with children and is not overly excitable. The Miniature poodle is the most affectionate. The Toy poodle is not generally considered to be as suitable a family pet as the Standard and Miniature because of its higher rankings on snapping at children." http://www.gopetsamerica.com/dogs/dogs-g...

Laura - posted on 12/29/2010

Do what you are comfortable with. We have a cat and a dog. We have a Stafforshire Terrior (Pit Bull) who is GREAT with our one year old! We got her almost four years ago, so before our little peanut was born. She is the best dog ever and would def recommend her breed to other families!! I would maybe rethink the poodle idea too-I've known a few and all the ones I knew were kind of snippy when they didn't want to be bugged. Could have just been those dogs though. Good luck!

Lynda - posted on 12/29/2010

I have been a Veterinary Technician since 1983 and I think it is great for young children to be taught how to play and interact with animals. That being said, please do a ton of research before you get this animal and try to see how your daughter reacts with friends or if a local rescue has dogs that she could interact with to see her reaction. Make this a family pet, not her pet because at this age YOU will being doing all the work (potty training, walking, grooming, as well as shots and spaying/neutering). I would get a mixed breed unless you know of someone with a poodle with a particularly good temperment. Poodles and most small dogs can be nippy. Our son will be 4 in February and we got a Chihuahua/Pomeranian/Toy Poodle mix. While these 3 breeds of themselves have characteristics I am not fond of (nervousness, nippyness, shyness), mixed together, this dog, a female, has a beautiful personality and is wonderful at tolerating our son. We do watch him interact with her (he adores her) and make sure he does not get too rough with her. We have an area in the kitchen where she can get away from him if she needs to and I can close off the kitchen when he gets too wild, as kids this age often do. He is learning what he can and can't do and that is terribly important. So, do your research, have your daughter interact with dogs and other animals and if you do take this very important step, make sure this is a family pet, something you all want. Be prepared to do most of the work and make sure this is an animal that will fit well into your family ( house size, travel ,etc). Good luck and don't rush it.

Misty - posted on 12/29/2010

We have an Italian Grehound that we've had before our daughter was born. As for getting pets that belong to a kid, my husband and I have decided to wait until she's old enough to be able to take care of a pet somewhat.

Atasha - posted on 12/28/2010

I have a 3 year old and she has a boxer. She was 1 when we got the boxer puppy. They are best friends. My daughter can get pretty rough with the dog and because the dog grew up with her she just gets up and moves if shes done playing with my daughter. Boxers are great with kids! but they do have alot of energy! (good for us cause my little one is too!)

Shelley - posted on 12/28/2010

Our little dog & toddler get along fantastic they play & play he talks to her all the time & pretends a bit with her its super cute. She has had her hair pulled ect & never has gotten mad at him.

Teckla - posted on 12/28/2010

I am all for it! When my daughter was about 8 months we got a Cockapoo for her named Barkie-- she loved that dog about 2 months ago he was ran over by a car he got off the leash and ran in the street she was devistated- although she did not see it she knows he is gone- about a week afterwards we got her a new dog a terrier named pepper she loves him very much he is SO good with her, she dances with him and plays around all the time with him and he just lets her do whatever she wants. He nipped at her one time when we first got him home but he was punished and has never done it since. We have baby #2 on the way so its good that we have a companion for her so that she is not in such shock when the new baby gets here-- this is just my opinion though.

Kristin - posted on 12/28/2010

We have a dog and three boys. Two of the boys joined us after the dog. We got the dog because my husband and I both wanted a dog for our family and knew that we (my husband and I) would be the one's responsible for him. I wouldn't trust our oldest to do more than feed him and this kids is almost 6.

If you do choose to get a pet, contact a vet to discuss family friendly breeds and to direct you to reputable breeders or rescues. You would be amazed at the quality pets you can find at the humane society. A good one will screen you before sending a pet home with you since they don't want that animal to come back to them.

You should also think about how it will impact your finances, travel, and family life. Are you going to have more kids? Do you like to travel? Can you afford the medical, grooming, and everyday care for this animal? What about allergies? What will happen to the animal in that case or will the person be on meds? Do you have time to take this dog to obedience classes? What about it's exercise needs? There are a million questions that you need to take into consideration.

I love having our dog. But in truth, he is almost as big a time suck as a child. Having him is wonderful for both the adults and the kids. So, I don't want to turn you off from adopting a furry family member.

Just remember, this animal will be your animal, not your daughters. Good luck in your decision making.

Krista - posted on 12/28/2010

If you get a pet, get it for your family, not for your daughter. It's not like she'd be responsible at that age for the dog anyway, right? This is something into which you want to put a LOT of thought -- make sure you're getting a breed that is good with children, and whose energy level is similar to your own. Do your homework to make sure that the dog will be a good fit with your family, and then do even more homework so that you have a good plan for how you're going to introduce your toddler to the dog, and vice versa. So many people don't do enough research before getting a dog, often with the result of the poor dog winding up being put down or dumped at a shelter.

Personally, I would wait until your daughter is a bit older -- old enough to be taught how to act around a dog. Too many times, I see dogs being blamed for biting a child, when the child was actually the one tormenting the animal.

- - posted on 12/28/2010

I got my son a kitten for his 3rd bday! He still loves him lol :) It worked out well tbh.
I also have a jack russell. Got her before my son was born.
I used to have a pet goat too, lol. So my son's great with heaps of different animals :)

Jinjer - posted on 12/28/2010

I would get a dog, definitely. But, poodles are short tempered and not the best dogs for small children. My mom had a poodle before my sister and I were born and my mom had to keep us separated after I was born because the dog was nippy with us.

I would definitely do some research on the breeds before getting any dog. We have a rat terrier/besenji mix, which we got from the shelter and our previous dog was a dachshund/jack russell from a rescue, and my sister has a golden retriever and all three breeds have been wonderful with both my toddlers; 2 and 4 years old. Our dachshund/jack was with us before our children were born and he took very well to both children but last year we found out he was born with a deadly disease, which we didn't know until it was too late and he showed no signs until it was too late, so we had to have him put to sleep. We got our second dog and had a visit and she is awesome with our toddlers, she even plays with them in the backyard on the play scape going down the slide and swinging with the kids.

Dogs are amazing animals but be sure you do your research on the breed before just going out and getting a dog. I prefer goldens, labs, or smaller mixed breeds because they are the only ones I have seen that adapt well to a home with small children.

Good luck.

Ashley - posted on 12/28/2010

My daughter will be 2 in feb, and we have one small dog. She loves our dog however she pulls his tail and is very rough with him. If you do get your child a dog Id get her a big one there for she wouldnt be able to hurt it, because I have to keep my little dog in a different room from my daughter.

Candice - posted on 12/27/2010

i think the important thing is to train the pet and the child. I am a huge believer that children should be taught how to interact with animals properly, and that they should NOT be left alone with animals. (i have an amazing cat, and i still don't let my daughter play with him when i'm not in the room). i don't believe pets should have to tolerate being pushed, pulled, chased, and roughhoused with a child...it's just a recipe for disaster.

Kelly - posted on 12/27/2010

IMO I think you should wait until she is older. That being said, I do have 3 dogs who were all here before my 3 yr old was here. One likes her, one tolerates her and one avoids her whenever he can. Toddlers / little kids can be trying for dogs / cats ... often kids don't know their own strength, will relentlessly pursue them trying to play (even if the animal doesn't want to play) or they treat them like toys. I don't think there is a best breed for families regardless of species. Generally speaking, young children and pets are not a good mix. If you do decide to go forward I would suggest looking into a foster situation where you can "date" a dog (a jeuvenille or adult dog) Look into your local breed rescues or spca who will help you pick a dog that will fit your family lifestyle.

Nicole - posted on 12/23/2010

I think a pet is a great idea. We have 2 cats and they both love our daughter and one has actually become an extra watchful/protector around her. Anyway, rethink the breed. Do some research or contact your local vet and talk to them about breeds for young children. Aust. Shep are great but you need lots of running room or extra walks for them. Just do your research so you can find a great pairing for your home! Good Luck.

Evelyn - posted on 12/22/2010

i agree to your post, anyone saying about children and rots is all true, the breed is just amazing around kids, i had a rot when i was prego and before and she was absolutly amazing, things can be different for everyone its just how you raise your dogs depends on the outcome of how well they behave, but never ever take that for granted even if they are the smallest dog, they still have instincts so just watch your child around animals and take appropriate action if needed, never leave a small child unattended with a pet unless they are old enough to sit up and stand to prevent from being laid on, i hope this helps,

Nikkole - posted on 12/22/2010

Yea i would def rethink poodle all the ones i have met are bitters and yappers! I am getting our kids an Australian Shepherd! I hear boxers are good,Labs,Rottweilers,and Doberman pincher!

Renee - posted on 12/22/2010

I have always been raised with Rottweilers, and I got one before I knew I was pregnant. I would have had one either way, but dogs tend to be jealous, so it's good your getting one after the baby. I however, never had any problems, and now my 2 year old gets along great with our dog. I also have 2 cats, and 2 turtles. I am deff an animal lover! My son loves animals almost as much as I do. We also foster animals, and he loooved the kittens we had! He would pick them up and carry them around. It was the cutest thing ever!

Anyways, about getting a poodle, I would maybe re-think that breed, as it doesn't really have patients for children. They are (believe it or not) close to the top of the list of the dogs that bite the most per year. Definitely research child friendly breeds before getting one! Good Luck!

Susan - posted on 12/22/2010

We have two cats. We had them before my daughter was born (she's 28 months). They aren't a real fan of her because she tends to pet them a little roughly. They normally just walk away, but we have had a few instances where the one swats her. I don't think there is anything wrong with getting your daughter a dog. It can teach her some responsibility I suppose. Our daughter likes to help feed the cats. Your daughter is definitely too young to really take care of the dog though so you will be doing all the work. You just want to make sure she understands the proper way to play with a dog - not to pull the tail, ears, fur, etc. You also want to do some research on dogs that are typically good with children or certainly find out from wherever you get it if it does well with children because I'm sure it will take some time for them to get used to each other.