[KPoos]

I'd like to know what breeder's opinions are on the subject of buying a puppy when you have kids in the home. There are varying opinions on it and I'd like to know the whys of the opinions.

 

[Olie]

Is this question to breeders?

I am not a breeder but I think dogs and children are a wonderful union.

Had to send my daughter off to work, okay - for me as a mother that has had pets with children and without, I cannot imagine not having a dog (I have 3 now) although it is a juggle at times but most of the times it brings families together. It seems in our home we do more together, we get out of the house more and the training is perfect for kids and dogs. Dogs get the socialisation they need and your kids take ownership! They learn to teach/train the dog, take care of them and make them part of the family. So for me, I think devoting the time becomes quality time, because there are more people being a part of the dogs life.

 

[KPoos]

I want different opinions on this one. Some breeders (yes it was geared towards breeders) feel that the union is great and some feel that you don't devote enough time to the puppy if you have kids.

 

[Keithsomething]

I'm not a breeder,I think its fantastic to have a dog and a child ((if the child is old enough to know how to treat and respect a dog))
I always remember having dogs in the house when I was younger and I couldn't imagine not having a dog when I do have children some day

 

[Jenspoo]

I think starting with a puppy and kids is great. My kids are loud and young 6 and 4 I've had my standard for 5 months now and all is great. I did however adopt a 2 year old dog that didn't work out long sad story.
What I have found out is if you are wanting a toy or "tea cup" the breeder may not want to sell to you if you have children because the puppy could be hurt. If you drop them they could break something if the child (or you) sat on him it could kill them...ect. I got my toy before I had kids and it wasn't a problem but I remember being asked by the breeder and vet. The vet even suggested we put a bell on his collar so that we'd know where he was and not step on him.
Again not a breeder but family with kids...

 

[plumcrazy]

I'm also not a breeder, but here's my opinion (I've never been able to follow directions very well! lol!)

Personally, I think pet dogs and kids are the BEST combination!! I've been following the other threads and what I'm wondering is if some breeders have a conflict with show dogs and kids because of the time demands of both kids and show dogs - HOWEVER, my opinion is that if the adults in the family are able to juggle the time to adequately take care of both the kids and the show dog it still would be a great combination. I'm not at all sure it's about the generic issue of kids+dogs as much as it's about the time it takes to keep a poodle in show coat.

I have a friend who is a DYNAMO! She can get more done in 15 minutes of her time than I can get done in HOURS!! This friend would easily be able to take care of a show coat and her kids with time left to spare - *I* would not (I'm a different personality - I get lots of stuff done, it just takes me a long time to do it! I'm also a procrastinator)

My opinion is that most homes/families would benefit from pet dogs - if they like/want dogs... My opinion is also that some homes/families would be very able to take care of their families as well as the time demands of a show poodle - it just depends on the individual!

I remember when a woman was running for vice president and the media asked her what I thought was a HORRIBLE question about whether she'd be able to do her duties as vice president and still be able to find the time to raise her children well (how come they never ask the male presidential/vice presidential candidates that question???)

I believe that as long as an individual has the desire to spend their time doing something specific - they'll make the time to do it well...

End of unsolicited opinion...

 

[KPoos]

I think that before my experience I thought that show dogs should be different than pet dogs. I have changed that opinion now though. I am sure that some people do everything they can to preserve the coat but honestly dogs are pets and they need to be treated like pets coat or not. It might take you longer to finish or you might eventually just give up and stop showing but to treat a dog differently because it's a show dog spells trouble. It's what I did and then no one knew what they could and couldn't do with this cute puppy. The kids would ask if they could pet him because they knew he was a show puppy. I will never make that mistake again.

I guess my opinion on the show puppy vs. pet puppy is that there shouldn't be so much of a distinction. In the end, it's just a dog that wants your attention and affection. Most dogs care nothing about showing, that's all about the owner and what their goals are.

 

[Keithsomething]

I completely agree with you Kpoos
I think precautions might be necessary to save your investment with a show potential
but I think definitely that the distinction between show dog and pet shouldn't be as clear cut as it appears to be

if I had to treat a show dog like it was made of glass and not play with it the way I play with Elphie I don't think I'd ever want to have one haha

 

[KPoos]

I completely agree with you Kpoos
I think precautions might be necessary to save your investment with a show potential
but I think definitely that the distinction between show dog and pet shouldn't be as clear cut as it appears to be

if I had to treat a show dog like it was made of glass and not play with it the way I play with Elphie I don't think I'd ever want to have one haha

It's a lot of pressure that you don't really think about before you get one. I mean people spend a lot of time developing their lines so you feel a sense of responsibility to that and to the breeder that let you take a show prospect so it can be intimidating. I don't think I was ready for it. I also don't have thick enough skin to be involved with some of the things that come up out of it all. I don't want to have to worry so much about things that don't really matter about owning a puppy/dog. I just want to enjoy my experience with the puppy and let the kids gain from it as well. I'm sure the dog doesn't want to be treated with kit gloves because it's a show prospect. Sort of reminds me of the pagents that mother's enter their kids into. They treat them differently than the other kids in their house because they are prefecting the child's talents and that takes a lot of time and energy.

 

[Olie]

It's a lot of pressure that you don't really think about before you get one. I mean people spend a lot of time developing their lines so you feel a sense of responsibility to that and to the breeder that let you take a show prospect so it can be intimidating. I don't think I was ready for it. I also don't have thick enough skin to be involved with some of the things that come up out of it all. I don't want to have to worry so much about things that don't really matter about owning a puppy/dog. I just want to enjoy my experience with the puppy and let the kids gain from it as well. I'm sure the dog doesn't want to be treated with kit gloves because it's a show prospect. Sort of reminds me of the pagents that mother's enter their kids into. They treat them differently than the other kids in their house because they are prefecting the child's talents and that takes a lot of time and energy.

Exactly, well put.

 

[Keithsomething]

Oh I'm sure theres a LOAD of pressure that comes with owning a show potential =]]
I just feel like they should be treated the same as a pet ((again maybe a bit more cautious because they seem a little bit more expensive))

and it does remind me of a kid in pageants haha xD

and I'm sure your kids have learned alot from their experience with your dogs ^_^
I know ((still being a kid slightly)) that I would be a completely different person if it weren't for the dogs that we have had in my lifetime. probably a lot less responsible lol

 

[Purple Poodle]

I am not a breeder...yet but I do rescue dogs and deal with placing them in family homes.

For me it all depends on the dog, how many children there are and how old they are.

Some people are just not good pet owners, children or not and as a breeder you have to decided if you trust the person to care for the dog properly.

I dog sat for some people a few years ago who had a Maltese, this poor thing was only a toy for those kids and spent 20+ hours in an x-pen. They were very nice people and wonderful parents with well behaved children but they were very uneducated about owning a dog.

So in short it all depends, there are lots of things that come into play & just because you have kids does not automatically count you our as a potential owner.

 

[Locket]

I think that before my experience I thought that show dogs should be different than pet dogs... It's what I did and then no one knew what they could and couldn't do with this cute puppy. The kids would ask if they could pet him because they knew he was a show puppy. I will never make that mistake again.

That was the impression I got from your previous posts about Jasper. The show career of a dog is but one TINY bit of their lives. They are our companions first and foremost.


About puppies and kids:
I think its subjective. I would place a puppy in a family with kids if:
- the parents have previous experience owning dogs (beyond "having a dog when I was kid")
- kids are 8+ years (especially if toy breed pup) [some exceptions can be made depending on previous ownership experience]
- puppy under 8 months. won't be left in crate for more than 5 hrs. at a time
- sign contract stating they will attend and complete at least beginners obedience course [exceptions made depending on previous ownership experience]

 

[KPoos]

For some breeds I think it should, like toy breeds with certain age children definitely. Toy breeds don't do well with young kids and visa versa.

 

[KPoos]

That was the impression I got from your previous posts about Jasper. The show career of a dog is but one TINY bit of their lives. They are our companions first and foremost.

Oh yeah it's so true but it's hard to look at things that way with your first show potential especially in this breed. Their coats matter so much and growing coat matters so much. You almost overdo it with the protection because when you are a novice you don't know what's going to break it or ruin it. I remember when I first dried him I literally thought I had ruined his coat because I didn't get a forced air dryer and had to use a regular hair dryer. He came out so fluffy and pretty but I didn't know any better and I just didn't want to fail someone I respected. It's a learning process for someone new and it can be daunting at times. I know now I'm not ready for that kind of pressure but it has nothing to do with kids and how much time I have and it was only pressure I put on myself.

 

[Purple Poodle]

For some breeds I think it should, like toy breeds with certain age children definitely. Toy breeds don't do well with young kids and visa versa.

That's not entirely true, we are dog sitting a little Tiny Chihuahua (I think she weighs 3 1/2 pounds) who lives with two kids (they are 8 & 6) since she was 8 weeks old and is now about 4 years old. She is awesome with my 2yo niece and loves to be with the kids.

It all comes down to the individual dog, I had rescued 3 Chihuahua (from a breeder/miller) and the smallest one (4 pounds) LOVED the kids, she would let them pick him up, sit in their laps what have you. But the other two hated the kids and would run and hide or bark at them. Non of them had been around children before I got them and they were all introduced to kids the same way at the same time.

Anyway...

 

[Keithsomething]

I think perhaps its the individual dog, not the breed
I mean I've seen some toys flourish in homes with kids and I've seen...a few accidents with the kids
but the same is true with larger dogs I've seen a couple kids ((in my neighborhood)) who have dropped large breed puppies and hurt them really bad
so I think its the dogs the kids and lots of other factors to consider

 

[KPoos]

For my kids no toy dogs. I guess it can work in situations where the parent is extremely careful. My thing would be the child picking up the puppy and dropping it or falling on it. Kids fall a lot and puppies like to be right under the feet of a child.

Locket, kids only 8+ years old? For all breeds you are saying that?

 

[highhorse]

Well behaved kids and dogs are a wonderful combination but I will be very careful where my bitch's puppies go. I don't really like them going to homes where the owners are out at work all day, as poodles are bright enough to need more stimulation than being alone all day. I would be looking for a home where they had thought about daily arrangements - doggy day care - dog walkers - home at lunch time etc. As my bitch is a toy (even though a substantial one), I would like to see how the children of prospective owners behaved with the puppies before committing myself to a sale. I would rather have a houseful of puppies than the slightest doubt that the puppies would be well cared for and loved.

 

[Locket]

Locket, kids only 8+ years old? For all breeds you are saying that?

Yeah. I think by 8 years, most kids can contribute to the raising of the puppy and a house is less hectic with kids that are at least 8, as opposed to kids that are 4.