My 19Mo. Daughter Is Obsessed with Dogs!

I have a 12 year old Yorkie, and an 8 year old Maltese. I wouldn't recommend a Yorkie with a small child, because they are more independent and stubborn. But, the Maltese breed is sooo lovable and loyal. She was also easy to housebreak, they are a very intelligent little dog. They are also hypoallergenic, so no worry of allergies. My daughter has 5 children and got a Jack Russell Terrier, but I find them way to hyper. Hope this helps.

I have to agree with Marda. Even among breeds that are child-friendly, you'll find dogs that have food-guarding issues, etc. And a toddler isn't going to be able to remember to keep her hands out of the dog's food, water, poop, etc.

Our baby loves dogs, but she also loves elephants, and I'm not planning to get her one. :-)

If I were to get a dog when she's older, I'd get one that had "flunked out" of a guide dog training program. They are very sweet, calm, and well-behaved--only a small percentage graduate because they have to perfect a lot of skills. Be aware though, if you choose a Golden Retriever, that they are really "people dogs" and should not be left alone in the yard or an empty house. They really need to be with their people.

You can get plenty of "I never dreamed my dog would do that!" stories. My girlfriend's dog turned suddenly on their kitten, who had wandered NEAR the dog's food dish, and sank her jaws right through the kitten's skull. The kitten is fine now, but it was rough going (and costly). Their 3-year-old was traumatized by the incident, and of course it could have been her hand or arm instead.

On a happier note, you can get plenty of dog fixes in other ways! You don't have to own a dog to enjoy them!

Our 19-month-old has LOVED dogs for about a year now. We take her down to PetSmart to watch them cavort in the doggie day care--it has a big glass wall and there are usually about 25 dogs goofing around. It's like a giant aquarium full of dogs!

The Parks & Rec department on the west side (Tualatin Hills) hosts an outdoor dog party each summer, with contests, agility demonstrations, and police dog demonstrations. These kinds of events are usually scheduled at county fairs as well.

We also take her to city parks where the dogs are allowed to run, so she can watch them and maybe approach a few people about petting their dogs.

In the meantime, she visits the neighbor's dog a lot, and has some very cuddly dog stuffed animals--some that are plushy and some that are very realistic. Finnegan's has a great selection.

If your primary reason for getting a dog is to make your daughter happy and especially if you've never had the responsibility of dog ownership I suggest that you rethink your decision.

First, taking care of a dog is a lot of work. And it will be even more difficult with a 19 mos old baby. Are you a SAHM? This dog will need to be taken out to potty during the day. Do you have a fenced yard in which the dog can play? You'll need to regularly walk the dog even if you do have a back yard. Without a fenced back yard you will need to exercise him more often. And you will have to supervise him everytime he does go outside.

Second, a dog and a 19 month old baby do not automatically know how to treat each other. Unless you get an older dog who's been around babies and small children you won't even know if the dog will get along with your toddler long term.

You definately do not want to get a puppy unless you plan to spend quite alot of time training and taking care of the puppy as well as always being in the same room when your puppy and daughter are together. My brother had puppies at my house and taking care of them was almost as demanding as taking care of a human baby.

I have my daughter's dog because she moved into an apartment. I got her the dog while she was in high school because she wanted one so bad. I'm retired but I spend a lot of time away from home. Before I do anything that takes longer than a couple of hours I have to consider our dog's needs. Because he's been left alone so often he's developed the habit of pooping on the floor.

When my granddaughter was a toddler he saw her pick up one of his bones. He knocked her over trying to get to it and then nipped at her scratching her cheek. Because he's always been a laid back dog I did not expect this.

Our dog doesn't llke to play with children. He cowers when either of my grandchildren get near him and they are nearly 8 and 5 yo now. My granddaughter just wants to pet him but he runs away. He is obviously not a children's dog and it has nothing to do with his breed. He was 6 or 7 yo when my granddaughter was born and he'd had no experience with babies or children. He has not adjusted well.

It's good that you're asking about breeds. I hope that you do a more general research of how dogs and toddlers get along and know how much time and energy the dog is going to need from you. Many families have successfully managed toddlers and dogs but it doesn't always work out.

It doesn't always work out for adults, even. A co-worker who had had a lot of experience with dogs had his ear nealy bitten off by his dog. He suspects that while playing he'd made a move that the dog saw as aggressive. He didn't blame the dog but he did have to have his ear sewn. And because he had kids he gave away his dog.

My intention is not to scare you or say you shouldn't get a dog. I'm suggesting that you get a dog because you enjoy caring for a dog and are aware that he's not a toy for your daughter.

My grandchildren love their stuffed animals and have accepted them as a substitute. My granddaughter keeps asking for a dog but her mother will not get one because they live on the 3rd floor of an apartment building. Even if she didn't work full time, which was the case for several months, she wouldn't get a dog because he would have to be taken outside and supervised at least 3-4 times during the day so that he could pee and poop. He would also need to be walked, ideally, every day.

Hi,

We have 2 Chihuahuas that I don't think are considered ideal for children due to their small size and fragile bodies. We had our girls (2 dogs) before baby. My girls love our baby!
When picking a dog I read The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Dogs Breeds & Dog Care. It covers a photo of the dog, description, size, temperment, and amount of grooming, exercise, feeding needed.

Here are a couple notes if you decide to get a dog.
1) Be very careful where you get your dog. We purchased our second dog from a breeder in Sutherland and she arrived VERY SICK. She was 7 months old by the time we could get her cleared of all her parasites. If you choose a breeder over the Humane Society be sure that you are able to see the condition of the nursery and meet the parents of the dog. If the breeder does not allow this they may very well be hiding something. Note that when I picked her up she was clearly dirty and I thought that if I simply gave her a bath she would be fine...I quickly learned this was not the case.
2) We also have a potty training issues with our second dog. It was so frustrating that we finally put her in diapers to prevent her from going potty on the carpet. I had wished someone would have recommended diapers to me...would have saved me much grief and clean up. We purchased SUPER cute cloth diapers from a business based out of NC.

S.,

My young boys are the same way. What we do, is have a cat. They chase it, try to ride it, and pull at her tail. She is self efficient and lets them know when she has enough. She also hides well and that keeps them busy looking for her...really funny to see!

Other animals they like, we have stuffed animals that are a little larger. One teddy bear they like is one they insist has to wear shoes and go for walks around the house.

You will figure out something that will work. As a parent of restricted space, you have to be creative. Your child will respond and be innovative on her own.

T.

Maybe talk to the humane society and ask their advice. I personally have a boxer, which loves my children, and they love him. He isn't huge, but he isn't small either. Good luck in your search.

I understand your situation from a variety of angles. We have an 18 mths old son and two jack russel mix dogs that are six years old. Our son loves our dogs and any others that he sees or comes into contact with. Our dogs are extremely well behaved with our son and put up with tons of toddler play... pulling tails, petting a bit too hard, hands in their mouth, etc. We are lucky, but we have been training these dogs for 6 years to accept these behaviors, knowing that we would have children someday. I cant imagine training both the dogs and the child (to be "nice" to the dogs) at the same time given your son's current age. Pets are a wonderful addition to the family, but timing can be everything. Best wishes... D.

Before you decide anything I highly suggest that you visit Cesar Millans website and get a copy of his book 'Your New Dog - First Day and Beyond'. The book will help you decide first of all if you want a dog, then what kind of dog would be best suited to your family's lifestyle (this is VERY IMPORTANT) and then will guide you step-by-step how to begin the relationship with your dog so that it will be integrated into your family without issue.

Large dogs can live anywhere that small dogs can live. Inner city or in the country it really doesn't matter. What really matters is how much effort you are willing to put into making sure the your dog gets proper exercise (daily walks) and proper discipline. THAT is what is going to determine whether or not a large dog could live with you in the city. I caution you here that if you are not fully committed to doing what has to be done in this respect DO NOT get a dog. It's not a toy or a plaything...it is a member of your family. You wouldn't have a baby and never provide all the things they need because it was too hard would you? Of course you wouldn't. A dog is no different. Don't be scared of it though...we all have it within us to be great pack leaders to our dogs and have a happy life with dogs. I'm not one of those nutcases who thinks dogs should be treated like humans, because they aren't human and they shouldn't be treated like one, but simply someone who has truly benefitted in so many ways from learning how to be the right kind of dog owner...a responsible dog owner in every way. When done right having a dog is a blessing without measure.

I have two very large dogs that are a mixture of two of the most feared breeds (Rottweiler and Pit Bull Terrier). My husband, our family in fact, has put a lot of effort into socializing them, making sure they get proper exercise (walking) every day, the proper discipline and then of course tons of affection. We always get comments about how well behaved they are. They live in the house with us with a dog door so they can go into the yard when they need to. They respect our home and greet guests as we tell them to and they never growl at anyone or bark at anyone. Our son, his wife and their ten month old son live with us and the dogs are GREAT with the baby. BUT its not them that deserves the credit for this stellar canine behavior...it is us who have made our selves leaders of the pack and who have learned a great deal from The Dog Whisperer (you might think about watching an episode as you can see what I'm talking about when I say being a pack leader).

Just go to http://www.cesarmillaninc.com/ and take a look.

Having animals around is really truly a blessing to us humans but most of all to children. It teaches responsibility and if done right will teach the child how to be a calm assertive person as opposed to a hyper aggressive person. Trust me, when done right, having a dog helps adults and children alike become happier more successful people.

Good luck.
C.