https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 17 May 2026 11:59:49 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-think-is-a-good-age-los-age-to-get-a-dog#post-1918305 Mon, 27 Oct 2014 19:29:02 +0000 MapleMoose 1918305@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Not really sure what would be a good age since we got our dog while I was pregnant with LO1 and I'm so glad we did it then. I'm grateful that we were able to get through the puppy stage without having to worry about any LO's on top of all that training and housebreaking and the chewing phase. I've always had German Shepherd mixes and my current dog is no exception. My last two dogs have been rescues so we aren't sure what they were/are mixed with besides Shepherd. I think for *most* dogs, as long as you are diligent, repetitive, and committed to training then you won't have any issues with dogs and LOs. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-think-is-a-good-age-los-age-to-get-a-dog#post-1918185 Mon, 27 Oct 2014 17:27:49 +0000 Boheme 1918185@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lawbee11: Our neighbors foster golden retrievers for our local rescue, and every single one they've fostered has been fantastic with C! It's so funny how ours humors him... He can only throw the tennis ball like, a foot but our dog still acts like it's the best game of fetch he's ever played when C plays with him :heart: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-think-is-a-good-age-los-age-to-get-a-dog#post-1918140 Mon, 27 Oct 2014 17:03:18 +0000 Mrs.KMM 1918140@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I grew up with 3 dogs since the day I was born so I don't really believe your LO has to be any age to be "old enough" to get a dog. We'll have one dog when I give birth to our LO.</p> <p>I have a soft spot for labs/lab mixes. Such sweet and playful dogs! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-think-is-a-good-age-los-age-to-get-a-dog#post-1917267 Mon, 27 Oct 2014 10:54:28 +0000 snowjewelz 1917267@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I agree it's more about when you guys are ready; to train it, take care of it, etc. If you get a puppy, in a lot of ways it's like having another kid for a while! And it will also depends on if you get a brand new young puppy, or a dog at the shelter, etc... </p> <p>For me, I cannot imagine my life without a dog. We have an almost 9 year dog now and we're expecting LO in Dec. We're planning for 2 kids, and if at any point my dog passes away, we'd still get another dog asap even if it's a lot of work (but not if I'm about to give birth or just did). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-think-is-a-good-age-los-age-to-get-a-dog#post-1917245 Mon, 27 Oct 2014 10:41:11 +0000 mrsjyw 1917245@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have two dogs (a 12 lbs yorkie - bigger than average, and a 17 lbs beagle terrier). And while we can't imagine our lives without them, if we didn't have them before LO was here, we probably would have waited until he was school-aged to get a dog! Not for responsibility or expecting DS to take care of them, but just for the dog training to be around babies/etc. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-think-is-a-good-age-los-age-to-get-a-dog#post-1917240 Mon, 27 Oct 2014 10:39:47 +0000 lawbee11 1917240@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@skipper2010: Ha, I appreciate your honesty!</p> <p>@Tanjowen: Yes, if/when the time comes, we will definitely be going the rescue route. I want a dog that I know is good with children. Aside from them being a pain in the ass, puppies scare me because you never know how they're going to react around children. </p> <p>@Ra: Exactly...I want a dog that M can wrestle and cuddle with! :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-think-is-a-good-age-los-age-to-get-a-dog#post-1917166 Mon, 27 Oct 2014 10:12:12 +0000 78h2o 1917166@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would say 3+. My LO is almost 2 and adores our dog, whom we have had for 4-5 years. That being said, we have to be very vigilant when the two are together. LO does not understand that she shouldn't sneak up on the dog or try to pick her up. She is finally starting to understand how to pet her gently and not to pull her tail, but she is still not 100% trustworthy with the dog. Our dog is a sweetheart, but has growled/snapped at LO a few times when LO surprised her or inadvertently hurt her. I think that when LO is older, probably around 3, she will have enough of an understanding not to do those things at all and it won't be as stressful. </p> <p>ETA: Our dog is a papillion mix from a rescue. She's about 10-12 lbs. In general, she is very tolerant of LO and clearly loves her (sleeps by her door, comes to get me if LO is crying, licks LO to death when she comes in the door), but like I said, she's growled when she was sleeping and LO pounced on her, and another time when LO pulled her ear really hard. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-think-is-a-good-age-los-age-to-get-a-dog#post-1917147 Mon, 27 Oct 2014 10:00:53 +0000 Ra 1917147@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Both our Golden Retriever and our Pug are amazing with B. He absolutely adores the dogs. You know I'm in the one-and-done camp with you, and I feel like the dogs serve as playmates for B. He chases them around the house, wrestles with them, cuddles with them, etc. He also really likes helping to feed them, brush them, let them in/outside, and whatnot. I think it's a good way to learn some responsibility. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-think-is-a-good-age-los-age-to-get-a-dog#post-1917108 Mon, 27 Oct 2014 09:37:56 +0000 .twist. 1917108@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have a big, old dog right now and I think it's been GREAT for L. He has learned eyes and ears and nose and tail all using our dog. HA. He learned how to be "gentle" because of our dog (and cat). I honestly think it has been fantastic for him to grow up with our dog, even though I know he isn't going to be with us much longer. :( </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-think-is-a-good-age-los-age-to-get-a-dog#post-1917021 Mon, 27 Oct 2014 09:12:55 +0000 Pirouette 1917021@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>my LO is obsessed with dogs, and we're going to get one in the spring :) i know it will be a ton of work, etc., but both of us really want a dog, and LO loves them, so we're gonna take the plunge! also, for us, having a LO has made us total homebodies, so i figure we're in a better position to take care of a dog than we would've been pre-baby. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-think-is-a-good-age-los-age-to-get-a-dog#post-1916973 Mon, 27 Oct 2014 08:46:40 +0000 oliviaoblivia 1916973@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We had our dog before DD arrived.<br /> When we picked her we were cautious of avoiding breeds with short life expectancies. As morbid as that may be, some popular breeds only average 7 years. We really wanted to avoid losing a pet when our kids are young.</p> <p>It's tough having a dog because she does require care, but the love she had for DD is so so worth it.</p> <p>So my advice is get one yesterday! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-think-is-a-good-age-los-age-to-get-a-dog#post-1916907 Mon, 27 Oct 2014 08:10:34 +0000 lil owl 1916907@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I got my doxie puppy from my grandma when I was 2 years old. We're planing on doing the same with our LO. BUT grandma lived next to us and the puppy pretty much stayed at her place and she trained him and had most of the work... we're living next to my parents now, so I secretly hope that they'll keep the puppy at the beginning, just like my grandma did...<br /> Two years was great for getting a puppy, I haven't had any siblings to grow up with so the puppy was like my brother and we grew up together. (I was 15 when he died. It was so hard) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-think-is-a-good-age-los-age-to-get-a-dog#post-1916900 Mon, 27 Oct 2014 08:06:11 +0000 jetsa 1916900@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have 3 dogs (yes we're crazy :silly: ) a Boston terrier (10 yo), a boston/rat terrier (brat, 8yo) and a weimarner/lab mix (2 yo). The brat is a rescue and is scared of all little kids so she spends her days running from DS. The Boston will put up with him for short amounts of time and then will just run away. The weimarner/lab is amazing with him but she's also still a pup (she was 1 when J was born) so although I've heard that labs are great kid dogs I wonder if it wasn't more her age and temperament vs her breed. She is crazy crazy hyper and still likes to chew at just over 2 so she has other issues but she's great with DS and he loves her. She's also a great size, her parents were both around 90 lbs but she's 40 and a good medium size. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-think-is-a-good-age-los-age-to-get-a-dog#post-1916897 Mon, 27 Oct 2014 08:03:53 +0000 Tanjowen 1916897@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If you are interested, a rescue group is a great way to go to get a dog. You can even ask to only look at dogs that have been fostered with families, so you have the assurance they are used to children! And most foster families have them already trained and housebroken, so the stressful portion of puppyhood is over. I used to foster and loved matching up dogs with families, and we have 2 dogs with our LO - I love seeing them together :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-think-is-a-good-age-los-age-to-get-a-dog#post-1916894 Mon, 27 Oct 2014 07:59:34 +0000 skipper2010 1916894@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lawbee11: Don't do it!! lol Honestly, as much as I love my dog and we had her before LO, if I could turn back time and see what an added stressor it would be having a 15 month old and a dog I wouldn't have done it. It's just really hard right now. They absolutely adore each other, BUT it's ALOT of work. If you really want a dog now go for it, but if you wait there are many perks to that too. There's nothing like the excitement of being a child and knowing that you get to help pick out a doggie to bring home and love. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-think-is-a-good-age-los-age-to-get-a-dog#post-1916874 Mon, 27 Oct 2014 07:52:28 +0000 lawbee11 1916874@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks for all of your thoughts! I really appreciate them. </p> <p>@SugarplumsMom: LOL @ motorized version...not a bad idea!</p> <p>@Chillybear: He actually has a good amount of experience with dog training. I think we'll wait awhile before getting one, but we definitely want to visit some before making a decision. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-think-is-a-good-age-los-age-to-get-a-dog#post-1916858 Mon, 27 Oct 2014 07:44:38 +0000 Mrs. Sunshine 1916858@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>While a dog would make my LO so so happy right now, I think we are going to wait until she's old enough to understand that the dog is a gift for her, that way she will be really excited :happy: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-think-is-a-good-age-los-age-to-get-a-dog#post-1916856 Mon, 27 Oct 2014 07:43:04 +0000 Radish 1916856@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Just one more thing to consider - if you plan to travel a lot have a reliable and affordable boarding plan. Otherwise, you worry about your dog being taken care of properly while you are gone or it is another chunk out of your vacation budget. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-think-is-a-good-age-los-age-to-get-a-dog#post-1916844 Mon, 27 Oct 2014 07:34:02 +0000 illumina 1916844@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have no direct experience, but my neighbours were going back and forth over this for a while...their youngest is 3.5yrs and they just got a dog. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-think-is-a-good-age-los-age-to-get-a-dog#post-1916839 Mon, 27 Oct 2014 07:31:49 +0000 Chillybear 1916839@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>How much experience do you and your husband have with caring for and training dogs? whether you get a puppy or an older dog there is going to be an adjustment period where you will need to train both your dog (whether its a puppy or older dog) and your child what acceptable behaviors are. </p> <p>We got our lab mix as a puppy 4 years ago and he was 3 years old when we had DD, we worked really hard with him over the years to get him ready for that transition and he is so good with Fi and other kids.</p> <p>If you are leaning towards getting a dog, why not research rescues in your area, put your application in and go visit them a few times before taking a dog home. Let the staff get to know you and let them recommend a dog that would be a good fit for your family. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-think-is-a-good-age-los-age-to-get-a-dog#post-1916792 Mon, 27 Oct 2014 06:18:20 +0000 SugarplumsMom 1916792@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DD is so into dogs right now. I think the older kids at daycare are pretending to be dogs and she walks around barking. One of her godmothers got her a toy dog with a carrying bag and she walks around with that thing. She also has a shirt that happens to look like her dog and she's so happy pointing to it while pointing at her dog.</p> <p>However, we don't plan to get her a real one. It's just too much upkeep for us. Maybe she'll get a motorized version :grin: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-think-is-a-good-age-los-age-to-get-a-dog#post-1916772 Mon, 27 Oct 2014 04:55:40 +0000 Dandelion 1916772@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our kids were born with dogs in the house.</p> <p>We have a golden retriever that is very loving. They are great 'nanny" dogs. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-think-is-a-good-age-los-age-to-get-a-dog#post-1916755 Mon, 27 Oct 2014 01:14:39 +0000 QBbride 1916755@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Never! We have a dog and although DS loves her, having a dog is so much work. </p> <p>In your situation, I would say until she is really begging for a dog and she can help with some of the responsibilities. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-think-is-a-good-age-los-age-to-get-a-dog#post-1916735 Mon, 27 Oct 2014 00:05:40 +0000 Mrs. D 1916735@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We weren't planning to get a dog, but one of our neighbours dogs had puppies last fall, and our LO fell in love with the runt of the litter, she was 22 months old when we brought the puppy home. They are great friends, but sometimes the dog is too rough with her, and sometimes she is too rough with the dog, but they are great friends, and at the and of the day they are inseparable. She helps replace the piddle pad, and tries really hard to hold onto the leash on walks.<br /> I would have waited at least a year if we could change things. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-think-is-a-good-age-los-age-to-get-a-dog#post-1916733 Sun, 26 Oct 2014 23:30:58 +0000 Mrs. High Heels 1916733@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If we didn't already have dogs, I probably would wait to get one until they're old enough to take on some of the responsibilities that come with caring for one - like 6-7 years old?</p> <p>That said, our LO's were born into us already owning 2 dogs, and it's been really great for them! They are really affectionate with the dogs, and they're not scared of animals in general. They're actually a little too eager to go up to strange dogs and want to pet them! We have two malti-poos so they're really low maintenance dogs. I think a low maintenance, hypoallergenic dog (most poodle mixes), would be great if you want to introduce a dog now when your daughter is still really young. My kids love taking the dogs for walks!</p> <p>I personally love and prefer big dogs (used to own a beautiful husky!!), so I hope to get one of those when the kids are older, but I know we just don't have it in us to handle one now. We don't have the yard space, and it'd be impossible for me to give it the exercise it needs daily. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-think-is-a-good-age-los-age-to-get-a-dog#post-1916732 Sun, 26 Oct 2014 23:30:40 +0000 mamimami 1916732@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We adopted one when our daughter was around 1 and our son almost 3. It was a pretty good time for my son (and not bad for my daughter, either). They both love the dog so much and my son, now close to 4, can take her on the leash, put the leash on and take it off, put her in the laundry room when we leave and throw the ball for her. My daughter likes to hold the leash but I wouldn't say she's WALKING her per se. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-think-is-a-good-age-los-age-to-get-a-dog#post-1916729 Sun, 26 Oct 2014 23:25:28 +0000 youboots 1916729@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would say when they can actually help and know to keep their hands to themselves. 5/6ish?</p> <p>My Mini Aussie is a dream with kids. So is my rescued Shepard mix. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-think-is-a-good-age-los-age-to-get-a-dog#post-1916690 Sun, 26 Oct 2014 21:54:38 +0000 lawbee11 1916690@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@wonderstruck: We had a dachshund growing up. He was ok with us, but he had lots of back problems so I don't really want to have to deal with that as I know that's common. His name was Whiskey and it was hilarious to see the other parents' faces when my brother would ask my dad if he had Whiskey in the car at school pickup :silly: </p> <p>@Boheme: A family friend is really involved with the golden retriever rescue in our city so there's a good possibility we'd get one of those!</p> <p>@BandDmommy: Ha, yes, true that we will end up taking care of the dog no matter what. </p> <p>@StrawberryBee: I know...that's what is so intimidating about getting a dog. So much responsibility! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-think-is-a-good-age-los-age-to-get-a-dog#post-1916683 Sun, 26 Oct 2014 21:44:12 +0000 StrawberryBee 1916683@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ha, agree to no puppies!</p> <p>Samoyeds are some of the kindest dogs I've known. We had one growing up and my sister basically grew up with him.</p> <p>My relatives have a havanese that has been awesome for them.</p> <p>Some of the herding breeds have been known to try to herd kids (think border collies). With that said, one of ours is a Sheltie and she's awesome, but is probably least into E of the three.</p> <p>Just remember that dog = always having to think about getting home in time to let him/her out, or having someone else available to do it. No spontaneous overnight trips without family or a pet sitter on call. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-think-is-a-good-age-los-age-to-get-a-dog#post-1916680 Sun, 26 Oct 2014 21:36:00 +0000 BandDmommy 1916680@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Leialou: agree. </p> <p>I think it's more about when you are ready versus LOs age. Let's be real, you will still end up taking care of the dog no matter how old hour LO is. </p>