Should I consider it?

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fallenangel123

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I'll try and cut a long story as short as I can, and sorry if I seem to answer my own questions a bit but I could do with an outside perspective.

In December I lost my beloved Dane x rottie, Merlin, to bone cancer. It was awful and the whole family still miss him dreadfully including our other Dane despite us getting a lurcher to keep her company.
Previously I had been in touch with someone who also had a Great Weiler, (see designer name for everything!) and we have kept touch over the last few years exchanged pics etc. we finally got to meet up for a walk a couple of weeks back, and the dogs adored each other, they just looked right running along together. ( this could be just my memory of seeing my two together tho)
Anyhoo I was taken completely by surprise when I was asked the other day if I would consider having him as they were looking to emigrate!!!

My first thought was absolutely, which was my heart speaking. Now my brain has kicked in and is worrying about bringing a big dog that I haven't raised as a pup into my home with the kids. My dogs and kids are never left unsupervised, but there are always the odd few seconds now and again. He is very good with kids, but has never lived with them full time.
Should I realistically consider it?
Please feel free to tell me how stupid I am being, homemade chocolate chip cookies for reading, thanks.
 
Lots of dogs are successfully rehomed into homes with children. If the dogs are happy walking together than that is the first step to seeing if they would happily live together. No dog should ever be seen as completely trustworthy as you just do not know what a child will do, and let's be honest, children will ALWAYS surprise you. (says she who recently put games on the top shelf out of reach only to find youngest nephew climbing up the bookshelf to retrieve it ! )

Why don't you see how the dogs travel together and then ask for a trial period. If all goes well you know you have a settled dog, if not, the owners have time to find another home.
 
I can't comment on the kid aspect, but a few years back I was offered a border terrier under similar-ish circumstances. The decision was the taken out of my hands (dog was sold :o) but I've always wondered 'what if'... No idea what happened to him really, but I know he was sold on at least once :(

If your heart wants him, I'd say take him...not sure how helpful that advice is! :o Let us know what you decide : )
 
If you can manage another dog I'd go with your heart and take him on on a trial basis. Granted not the same size scale but when my brother and I were growing up we had three dogs over the years who we rehomed for friends and they'd all been in kennels, all were about 2 and none had had contact with children until they came to live with us. They adjusted fine.

How old are your kids? My OH's youngest was 3 when she started staying with us, again my dogs (although much smaller again lol) hadn't really had contact with children and she'd never really had much to do with dogs. She was told to let the dogs come to her and then she could make a fuss if they wanted her to, she was to leave them alone when they went away. They were never left alone together like yours, when they were unsupervised.

I don't think you'll have a problem, the dogs and kids will adjust to eachother
 
Thanks guys for not thinking I am stupid to even consider it.
I have spoken to them and we are going to arrange a visit here so I can watch him with the kids, hopefully he won't find them too exciting. If that goes ok he'll come for a week first as a trial.
I know he will never replace Merlin totally but the house will seem a little less empty, probably a lot less empty, tho.
 
As much as they can never be replaced, I've always found it easier to deal with when there are multiple other dogs to look after still.

I have a small zoo (dogs, horses, lizards, OH's kids...) so I wouldn't think you're stupid :p
 
If the kids are calm around dogs generally and know how to behave around them, then a dog shouldn't see any difference from an adult.
 
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