[baronfamily2006]

We are thinking of getting a small dog. I raised two Siberian huskies growing up and they were such big babies. But oh my goodness, the power. Those dogs were bred to work and shows in their desire to RUN and PULL!!! I will always, always, always have a place in my heart for huskies. I miss them so much. My baby boy just went missing one day and was never found. My baby girl is still alive and well, but she lives with my dad. And with the drama with him, I don't think I will ever see her again. I have her AKC papers showing me as her owner, but I wouldn't want to rip her away from the only home she has known. My heart aches for her a lot.

Anyways, after raising Sibes, I have come to the conclusion that with small children in our home, we need to have a small dog. I'm not talking teeny, tiny Chihuahuas, but just a small and sturdy breed. I've been researching a couple different breeds and think I've settled on a couple. I'm looking at Miniature Schnauzers and Shih-Tzus. Both are small yet sturdy and as a breed are good with kids and don't require a whole ton of exercise. I'm absolutely cool with daily walks and romps, but the huskies had to run and get their hearts pumping hard in order to be happy. With the kids, I don't have the time to do that.

So the search has begun and the research continues. I am aiming at adopting an adult dog because I'm not sure a puppy is the best choice for us. I've even thought of how cool it would be to adopt a senior dog, but I'm not sure if that would be a good idea. Depending on whether a senior dog was raised around kids, that might be pushing it.

We visited our local humane society yesterday and they actually had 3 miniature Schnauzers. The shelter told us that two of them were not house trained at all and had actually probably never been indoors at all. So they were a no because I want a dog that is used to being indoors. The 3rd one was really sweet. The shelter told us that he had been surrendered because his owner said he kept lifting his leg and peeing on stuff inside, but he'd been at the shelter for 2.5 weeks and hadn't had a single accident inside his cage. So it was hard for them to say whether the lifitng the leg excuse was true or not.

This is really so hard. I want to make the best choice for our family. I want an older dog who has already been raised in a family setting and hopefully has all the training completed (potty trained, no chewing). But I'm so afraid to adopt a shelter dog because you just don't know what you're getting. People can say it's house trained all they want and as soon as you get the dog home it could pee and poo everywhere. Or, since we have an indoor cat, an adult dog might be said to get along with cats and then end up hating cats. Or worse: not liking children! I know I'm not ready right now to raise a little puppy, so it's just out of the question.

*sigh* Any suggestions?

What kind of dog do you own?
Did you buy from a breeder or adopt from a shelter?
Have you ever adopted an adult dog?
What do you think of adopting a senior dog into a family with active children? Good idea or bad idea?

[ub33422]

What kind of dog do you own? Black Lab - DH had her for about 1yr before I met him
Did you buy from a breeder or adopt from a shelter? I think it was a breeder
Have you ever adopted an adult dog? no
What do you think of adopting a senior dog into a family with active children? Good idea or bad idea? IMO, good coz they're more mellow, my Black Lab kept running away from my niece (she's 3 and LOOOOVES to play with dogs). But when it dies there's a lot of explaining to be done...

[Shadeauxe]

I always adopt from animal rescue, so I've never been ale o choose the breed. I've had several mutts that were medium sized and they have all been wonderful.

[blessdmommy]

We adopted our mutt. He was left on my MIL's doorstep in the middle of winter. We believe he is half Char Pe/Yellow Lab. He's a fantastic dog as far as children go. Plays with them really well and has never really made a fuss about them as babies. He's VERY protective.

I wouldn't adopt a senior dog into a family with active children. I don't think that's fair to the older dog, but that's just me.

[queenofthecastle]

What kind of dog do you own? We have 2 shelties (shetland sheepdogs)
Did you buy from a breeder or adopt from a shelter? we adopted our oldest sheltie and got our youngest from a breeder as a puppy.
Have you ever adopted an adult dog? Our oldest sheltie was about 4 when we adopted him.
What do you think of adopting a senior dog into a family with active children? Good idea or bad idea? I think it would depend on the temperment of the dog. Some are better with kids as they age and some aren't. Our 12 y/o sheltie is better with the kids now than he was when we first got him.

Having 1 that we adopted and 1 that we had since he was a puppy, I prefer getting them as a puppy. Of course, you can adopt one as a puppy. Jax will be 2 in August and he LOVES playing with the kids. He runs around with them in the back yard and they play with him in the house. Cody (who is 12) has never liked the boys. Had we known that at the time of the adoption, we would have picked a different dog. He was also abused, so I'm sure that is most of the reason why he is how he is with the kids.

[luvmykids623]

What kind of dog do you own? Golden Retriever
Did you buy from a breeder or adopt from a shelter? We got him from a friend whose dog had puppies.
Have you ever adopted an adult dog? Yes. Before we got our golden we adopted an adult dog from the SPCA. They said that he was calm and would be great with kids (we didn't have any kids yet, but were thinking of the future). When we got him home things went well. DH left for work that afternoon, and when he came home that night the dog wouldn't let him in the house. He growled and snarled and tried to bite him. The dog flipped any time DH came near the house much less near him or me. Turns out that they failed to mention that the dog HATED men, because he lived with and was abused by a bunch of men. We called and had them come and get him. The woman who came out to pick him up was talking down to us, because we were returning him and told us he would never hurt a hair on our heads or that of our future children and we were just not willing to commit. Then she was trying to get him away from me and he bit her and took a giant chunk out of her leg.
What do you think of adopting a senior dog into a family with active children? Good idea or bad idea? I wouldn't adopt a senior dog into a family with active children. Senior dogs can be in a bit of pain and have a low tolerance for the things that they put up with in a house with little kids. I would be afraid that since the dog hadn't grown up with us he might be less inclined to deal well with the kids.

[lillypad]

What kind of dog do you own? He's a golden retriever mix
Did you buy from a breeder or adopt from a shelter? SHELTER!!!
Have you ever adopted an adult dog? My dog was over a year when I got him. Best choice EVER. He's is the most loving, sweet dog in the world! I love puppies but I've had the experience and am over it. I'd much rather adopt a young dog from the shelter that's already house trained and wont be chewing up my stuff all the time!
What do you think of adopting a senior dog into a family with active children? Good idea or bad idea? My aunt and uncle adopted an 8 year old retriever from the shelter when their kids were young and very active. He was GREAT with them!

[Josie+Shpala]

We have a Yorkie and a Husky! Our husky is 8 weeks old and our Yorkie is 7 months old. The husky is a big baby (still pretty much is a baby!) and she is the sweetest thing ever. Our Yorkie, she is a little sass. She does whatever she wants lol.

[pr1madona]

What kind of dog do you own? Great Dane
Did you buy from a breeder or adopt from a shelter? Breeder.
Have you ever adopted an adult dog? No, because having kids I wanted to get a puppy I could train myself.
What do you think of adopting a senior dog into a family with active children? Good idea or bad idea? Personally, I wouldn't. A senior dog may not be as tolerant for kids playing with him.her, and also it would be hard on the kids when the dog passed away.

I worked with dogs for years, and personally I wouldn't get a Shih Tzu around young kids. Most of the ones I worked around weren't very nice. Labs and retrievers are usually good with kids. I have always been a Great Dane or Mastiff person. They may be big, but they have such a mellow temperment and are such obedient, good natured dogs. My Dane lets my toddler crawl all over her, and follows all my kids around the house. While she loves to play, she's not at all hyper. And she was very easy to house train and train in general.

[squishyhomie]

What kind of dog do you own? husky/boston terrier mix.
Did you buy from a breeder or adopt from a shelter? it was actually given to us by a person who was moving into a apartment that wouldn't allow dogs.
Have you ever adopted an adult dog? i would have, just because they are already trained, but i like the fact of my baby being the same age as the puppy.
What do you think of adopting a senior dog into a family with active children? Good idea or bad idea? really depends on the temperment, if they get stirred up easy it wouldn't be a good idea, but a lot of adult dogs have calmed down, so as long as they are friendly and don't mind the noise