Rehoming dog with toddler

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Lacuna

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I'm now back at work part time and am finding myself checking rescue websites with increasing frequency

Haven't had a dog for over 10 years now and husband's never lived with them (but accepts we'll get one eventually... and has actually identified some types he could live with). I wouldn't want to introduce a dog to the house until B is a bit bigger and doesn't need to be attached to me all the time but I feel we're getting to the point where I could actually think of having one. She is only 12 mths old now and realistically I know this will be more likely to happen next winter at the earliest.

B loves animals and so far has been very good wit h our cats, we're learning to pat rather than grab clumps of fur! I am thinking of older dogs rather than a puppy but many bigger rescues don't seem to offer to homes with younger children (under 5s).

I guess I'm asking what sort of age B should be before thinking about rehoming a dog? and if she's being good with them, where should I look for a nice, calm cat/kid friendly rescue dog? (which is prob likely looking for a needle in a haystack). Or is it best to just put the whole idea back on the shelf :(
 
I don't know if B is walking yet but as soon as she does life changes quite a bit!!! I am finding it quite tough to cope with toddler and three dogs (one is a puppy) even though we live on a farm and this makes some things easier (e.g. going for walks).

I think that having a puppy is a bit like having another baby, but you have less patience with all the things that go wrong, e.g. toilet training accidents. If you can find an older dog that is very well used to young children that would be a better fit. The trick here is finding the right dog. Many dogs are absolutely fine with babies/toddlers (under supervision of course) but you'd need to find one in a rescue and be sure of its history.

Another thing to consider is whether you are planning on expanding your family. A new dog in between two babies might be a bit stressful for everyone.

Having said all that...that's exactly what I did!!!!
 
Well I've been going through the same thought processes for about 5 years now, and have just given a home to a 5 month old lurcher from a rescue last week! My children are 4 and 6, and the younger one started school in September. My husband is also non-doggy - we did a deal 3 years ago where he got something he wanted and we agreed I would get a dog at some point.

I have to say that I think it is absolutely spot on timing. The children are old enough to be told to be gentle with the dog and to follow instructions. But young enough still to grow up with him and not really remember not having a dog. And I work from home, so my time is flexible enough to have time to walk him properly in peace without having to go at child's pace.

It really can be hard work with two small children who are toddling. You don't get enough sleep, the logistics of stuff like potty training whilst feeding a baby, getting out of the house with a double buggy and two wriggling toddling children, and trying to look after yourself (and horses!) are all quite difficult, and throw an unknown dog into the mix and it could be a real headache. If the children are too small to understand that they mustn't harass the dog, it could be dangerous too. If you just have one child, however, it would make it a lot lot easier to keep an eye on child and dog. A friend of mine got a labrador in between her two babies, and she said the other day that in hindsight she would have waited.

Of course, if you look at it from the point of view that your life will be one big chaotic sleepless poo and wee filled few years, you will probably be fine! And if you have help, say your mum living locally, that makes a big difference.

Incidentally, the lady who gave me my dog was quite wary as she said that she doesn't usually rehome to homes with small children, so I had to persuade her. She is a greyhound and lurcher rescue in the North West. Let me know if you would like her number.

Whatever you decide, good luck!
 
My little boy was 7 months old when we got our rottie puppy! She has been a pleasure and is so easy to train. And because my little boy has always had her there he never bothers about her and she also has the same respect for him and knows that if he's playing she has to be calm and quiet. I was dubious when we took her on but I wouldn't have done it any different. I don't see a problem aslong as their are strict boundaries for the child and the dog. I also continue to crate my dog because that is her designated space and with LO running round (now 14 months) there are few spaces where he isn't allowed!!
 
I volunteer for 2 rescues and both with rehome to toddlers provided the parents are well trained (!) and the dogs are of the right temperament. Very often they'll rehome dogs which have previous history of living with children for example.

GRWE is the first one and they are national. They rehome lurchers and greyhounds. A quiet older greyhound could be perfect, they are so gentle, plus clean short coats so you won't get the baby falling in puddles of mud and many walk nicely on lead, so can be managed with a push chair.

If that's too big there are plenty of toy breeds in rescue which tend to be pretty easy going (for example my last foster was a Japanese Chin who loves kids) so you could contact a breed specific rescue (Cavalier spaniels for example) but you have to wait for them to be matched with you since they don't come up very often.
 
In all honesty I think anyone planning on a puppy when they have a toddler is bonkers. Especially if your working as well albeit part time. There are some fabulous dogs out there but a change in circumstances can also be a change in dog and having the worry of child and dog can be a pain in the bottom.

Take my friend... 3 year old daughter (lovely little girl) mums at home and daughter now off to nursery soon to be school so right time to start thinking about a puppy or career return. She did all the wrong things when looking for a puppy. Brought a 'staffy' and I say that loosely because its not got the correct features, off a very rough estate in London no KC registration, no breeder back up and no real idea if the dog was what she thinks she brought because she wanted to save £200 on price... and before anyone asks no she is not short of a bob or two. Puppy is bolshy not suitable for her or her daughter and they now live with her daughter having to wear wellies and protective clothing because the puppy is using her a chew toy. Disaster waiting to happen. The vets have given the 'alpha role' advice which is totally wrong for this dog. Only saving grace is that she will now do the right thing re training and getting help which will cost her more in the long run than a decent puppy from a good breeder.

Its great to plan but give yourself a bit of time after littlun has started school only because your life might change and a dog might not fit in with your plans. In the meantime you can dog walk if you really see the need for a bit of canine companionship there are always pregnant mums or elderly people in an area that are crying out for a bit of neighbourly help.
 
Lots of rescues (blue cross for one) do a home to home rescue service, so the dogs never go to kennels - that could be a good option as dog has never had the trauma of kennels and could come from a home where there are kids :)
 
Tinselface said:
Lots of rescues (blue cross for one) do a home to home rescue service, so the dogs never go to kennels - that could be a good option as dog has never had the trauma of kennels and could come from a home where there are kids :)
Click to expand...

its not always the kennelling that causes the change, its the whole process. Plus going home to home you don't always see the truth about the dogs you have to go based on a short visit and evaluation. Not all owners are 100% truthful about their dogs and one persons acceptable is another persons not acceptable behaviour wise.

Coming from a home with kids is no guarantee either... the problem with the dogs might have been caused by the kids. There are some great dogs out there a good rescue service will be able to match you with a nice dog if you choose to go down that path.
 
Not read all replies as in a rush but we do rehome to young children/baby homes, we assess our dogs more thoroughly than some rescues (that would be there reasons to be fair) their dogs are kenneled maybe and they don't know what they will be like outside of a kennel so air on the side of caution. Obs you have to be sensible in these cases and the owners must prove their sense also;)
We do thoroughly scrutinise the new owner (lots of questions and eventualities) are talked through and we give out advice and paper work with more advice on.
Recently we have home the following dogs to homes with children the youngest being a 2 year old child

A retriever
A cavalier
Possibly a border terrier/jrt or a spaniel this week (lady has the choice of dogs) all loely placid dogs, the new owner is very sensible and experienced with dogs and has an autistic son and will be attending training classes with said dog with the autistic society (as they do them) news to be but very impressive.:)
 
Our year old Spaniel and 2 year old neice who lives next door are inseparable, they have grown up together since spaniel was 7 wks old and neice was just under 1- the dog went to stay next door whilst OH and I were away last weekend, I was officially in the bad books when the dog came home! Had to go round with a tub of Celebrations to console neice with :D
 
I'd just like to second the greyhound suggestion - we got ours when my son was 3. We waited a while till the local rescue had one they thought would be right for us, and we all went as a family (I also have a 9 yr old) to walk hounds and get used to them. We used a crate to start with and had some good ground rules (dint disturb dog when she is in bed/crate/eating etc and dig not allowed on furniture). We've now had her two years and wouldn't be without her :-)
 
Third the greyhound or lurcher if you come across the right mix. We have had retired greys since before my son was born and urrent one is easily the gentlest most tolerant dog we have ever had. Though he isn't very bright.

We have also just acquired what is generally thought (vet/lurcher experts/RGT) to be a lab x grey and at only about five months she is fantastic with my son and seems more trainable than pure grey.

RGT were happy for us to have a young dog and would have equally been happy for us to have an adult grey as long as was 'child friendly' tested.

I find RGT very sensible when it comes to rehoming. We took two when we worked full time and they were fine with us having them and a daily walker.
 
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