Help! Puppy Advice....

dachounds are great for little ones. Also if you haven't seen a Puggle yet - google it. They are the cutest!

If you want to wait, I would have a heart-to-heart with him and tell him that taking care of a toddler is quite a demanding job and that unless he's prepared to take on the responsibility, it might need to wait a year or two. Having a new puppy and a one year old can be fun, but if HE is the one who wants it, then HE needs to be ready to walk it, feed it, and clean up after it.
I can understand that he would like them to grow up together. That's probably a good idea for them to bond. I just don't know if I'd do it THIS birthday. The puppy will need lots of focused attention and so does a one year old. Good luck! :o)

I grew up with Beagles. Great hunting dogs, especially outside, but they bark and howl alot. Bassett Hounds are adorable, but I don't know much about their demeaner(sp?). I love the way they are so relaxed about life. I kinda thought about getting one for our next pet. We now have a wonderful, fantastic, awesome, best dog ever, Golden Retriever/Collie mix. He is now nine years old and we've had him since he was two months old. He is so good with the kids (we have three)and so loyal to us. He is very much a people person dog and everyone loves him. People have told us through the years that our dog is the coolest dog. He lives in the house with us, but the shedding is something else to deal with. We finally got him shaved for the first time in nine years. We've never had a flea problem. He is a very clean and healthy dog. Some dogs are extremely hyper and some are not. Some are good for hunting and some are not. Do some research before you buy. I hope you find the perfect dog for your family. Deborah

I have a one year old and also a new puppy. Our puppy is a large breed dog and lives in the house with us. My little girl loves her and they play very well together. If the puppy seems to be getting to excited I just put her in her kennel and allow her to calm down and then they are at it again. With the puppy living outside you shouldn't have very much trouble with and both of the breeds that your husband has selected are excellent with children and also good watch dogs. I think your son is going to love it if you do decide to get the puppy. Let me know how they interact with each other.

I too have a one year old and a new pup. She was going to be an inside dog but that didnt last long. Puppies have really sharp teeth and love to play. My son loves the puppy as long as he can look at it(through the glass door)! I agree with the othe mom about beagles being active. We had a basset hound when my daughter was 2 and he was wonderful, she loved him and they are more laid back. I remember going in her room and noticed that Comet was no longer lemon and white he had some blue on him. She had colored him with a marker while he just sat there. Do you have a yard? I'm not sure but I have heard that hounds can track any sent but their own, which means if they wonder off they may not make it back, but like I said, I'm not sure how true that is. Good luck and I hope your son enjoys his new pup.

M.,

I had 2 adult dogs, 3 cats and a parrot BEFORE my son was born. He is now 2-1/2 years-old and our zoo consists of the same 2 dogs, we are down to 2 cats, fish, frogs, lizards, and I am looking into getting a ferret -- the parrot had passed when he was 8 years-old (2 months ago). I AM A SINGLE PARENT and my son has been around animals from the start.

It is very important to me that my son have no (uncalled for)animal fears and at least a well-earned respect for different animals. He is learning how to hold a tree frog without squishing it, when the cats say "leave me alone" they mean it, and that the dogs play rough.

I have a Blue Heeler mix and a Pit Bull. They just look at my son as another animal and want to play with him. Hearding dogs are ESPECIALLY good with children (I had Collies growing up). Believe it or not, a Pit Bull is actually a very good choice for a child, if gotten as a puppy. The reason is that the Pits have such a high tollerance for pain that they don't have a problem with all he proding and pulling that a child will do to in. Petie from the Little Rascals was a Pit.

Anyway, I think it is a good idea to get a dog for your child while he is so young. He will grow up knowing what has to be done to take care of the dog just as he does with cleaning his room. Dogs are ALWAYS estatic to see you, which could help to boost self-esteem (if that becomes an issue). Plus, when your child is old enough, he can attend dog obedience lessons which will further his training to properly treat dogs (Red River Obedience is great!)

Your concerns did not state why you were concerned about have a dog with you child so young. A puppy will accept and play with your child as it would with another puppy. Just always remember to supervise their play to keep each from getting accidentially hurt.

I would not try to sell you on a breed. You and your family pick what you like, but I would consider urging you to look into the Heading Group before you absolutely decide on a breed.

Good luck.

S.

M., My advice would be YES get a dog but be careful of a hound dog of any sort. my family has 2 hound dogs, I love them and they are great with kids but horrible with strangers and that howling. Be prepared for it to drive you crazy in the middle of the night!!!! I personally would suggest getting either a Australian Shepherd or a Golden Retriever, neither bark to much and they are great with children and strangers. We have 2 Australian Shepherds and since the day we had both of my girls (1 is 5 and my baby is 1 year old) the 2 dogs have took care of them so much. When my youngest falls in the yard. Wiggy (the youngest Australian Shepherd) will go to her and nudge her to get up...:-) Good luck though with the dog of your choice.

Great idea! Every child should grow up with a animal!

We got a puppy when our son was 10 months old. My husband got me a boxer for my birthday. We love our pup (Cosmo), but he is a ton of work. First keep in mind how much energy puppies have. Also, remember the 3 am feedings you no longer have to get for, puppies get up as much as a newborn because their bladders are so small they have to go out frequently. Also, while you may be getting a puppy "for" your 1 year old, really you willl be getting it for you because a one year old can't handle the responsibility of a puppy or even help with the doggie chores. If you are set on getting a dog, you may be better off with a dog who is one or two years old and is out of puppydom. As far as breeds, boxers are great family dogs, but they are ill suited to stay outside for long periods of time. Beagles are sweet but very high energy and they howl. As with any majoyr purchase, do your homeowrk, make sure you fully researh any breed before you buy and make sure it suits your lifstlyle.

Hope you and your husband are ready to WORK. A baby and a baby animal do not mix well. It took a lot of convincing but I got my husband to hold off until my youngest was three. It worked out well because I was still a stay at home mom and so I could care for the puppy as well and train him. Dogs do not mature and thus calm the heck down until after they are two. Two years of hyper puppy is enough to get to the best of us. I love my dog now, but I recall all the times I just wanted to give him away. He is three and half now and the nest darn dog ever but dang its been a hard time gettin here and my breed is no where near as hiper as a Beagle.

My husband got the bright idea to get a dog right before our youngest was born. It hasn't worked out well. IT was his idea, but guess who ended up taking care of it. Also, I don't see any reason why the dog can't stay outside, they have been doing it for centuries and are still a thriving animal, I also have a few that are dumb as rocks. Good Luck, but 1 does sound a little young for a dog, but I know how men are when they get those ideas. And I feel so bad sometimes for wanting to put down my husband's "brilliant" ideas for our children.

Beagles are really friendly dogs, and will grow to be small size. I think that's a pretty good choice.

hi there.

my advice is do alot of research 1st.
u dont want a dog that will b hyper or bites.

c if u can find 1 that will b good 2 b around babies.

--T.

I would recommend going to your local shelter and checking out the dogs they have there. I have two dachshunds and we love them dearly. They are good with my two children. They tend to bark at noises and people alot, though. When you do pick out a dog, make sure you supervise your child with it. Little kids don't understand they can hurt a small dog very easily and if hurt a dog may bite. If you really don't want a dog now, I would talk to your husband about waiting. I am a stay at home mom, and pets are left to me. Get it straight with your husband that this is his chore. You'll resent the puppy if you get stuck with it later, and that's not the dog's fault. Good luck!

M.: Being a long time dog lover, trainer, and exhibitor, I can tell you that if you plan on having your dog live outside most of the time, you will more than likely end up with a very lonely, frustrated dog. Dogs are "pack" animals, and do not do well left alone. Outside dogs tend to chew and dig out of boredom and will dig holes to produce a cool place to rest during the hot Houston months. A beagle is in the hound group, which means although they make great family dogs, they will howl constantly when left outside. If you plan on having your new pet join you in the house when you are at home, the other factor to consider is that when the dog is housed outside for the greater part of the day, he/she will be dirty and smelly, and once the newness of the dog wares off, your family will more than likely avoid taking the dog inside, which is really not fair to the dog. Owning a dog is very much like having another child: double the responsibility, double the care, food, doctor's visits, etc., but when done correctly, can be very rewarding. I would suggest that you do a lot of reading on your breed of choice and invest in a good book on caring for your new dog (before you get the dog) so that you have all your ducks in a row beforehand and know what to expect and how to prepare for your new family member. As far as keeping the dog outside, my suggestion would be to crate train your dog so that he/she may stay either crated indoors or baby-gated in a utility room while you are away, and able to be with you when you are at home. It will make for not only a happier and safer companion, but a happier family as well. If I haven't insulted you with this email (I sure hope not!), and you have questions, please do not hesitate to email me. I've been a dog groomer, trainer, owner, exhibitor and dog lover all my life, and would love nothing more for you guys to find the perfect fit between you and your future companion. Af far as considering a beagle beagle/cross, I feel that generally, this breed breed/mix would make an excellent family dog. They are gentle, medium size, and don't require as much exercise as say a Jack Russell or some of the sporting breeds. The true test; however, is to have your child meet the dog and spend some time with him/her so that you may observe how the dog reacts to ear pulling, teasing, and general baby rough housing. You are fortunate that you will be introducing a new dog into your family vs. introducing a new baby to a pet who has been used to having you all to itself. We had two dogs when my child was born. The male has always been a sweet, mild mannered dog, and he did just fine with our daughter. Our female, on the other had, just couldn't adapt to having a baby around and we could never trust her with our daughter, so we had to find her a new home. It broke my heart, but what do you do? Anyway, good luck and I hope you find the perfect dog for your family.

I live on a ranch, which includes eight dogs. Small dogs are tough for kids because they get easily hurt and then can become scared or aggressive. Large high energy dogs such as a lab require a lot of attention and takes awhile for their brain to catch up with their bodies so you will have a really large puppy, which can be too rough. Stay away from short nosed dogs such as a boxer or pug, they do not do well out in the Tx heat. I have a rough collie and it is the worlds best dog, very gentle and obedient even though he has never been trained he is just naturally like that just from being loved on. I would look into collies, they come in all different sizes, or herding dogs in general they tend to be smart and gentle. Shelters are great places to find pets, lots of full breeds,and I think the dogs act like they are grateful.

YOU NEED TO REALLY WAIT TILL YOUR SON IS 4 OR 5 YRS. OF AGE,
AGE 1 IS VERY YOUNG FOR A PUPPY AND HE CAN POSSIBLY HURT THE PUPPY. THE PUPPY IS ALOT OF WORK SO GET READY!!
BEEN THERE BEFORE! I WAITED TILL MY SON WAS 5............
YOU ALSO CAN'T LEAVE A PUPPY OUTSIDE, IT WILL HAVE TO BE IN THE HOUSE, BECAUSE THEY WINE ALOT!!!!!!!!! ~
GOOD LUCK !! ~

Hi there I just thought I would respond and give you a little advice. I used to work for a veterinary clinic for 4 years. Basset Hounds tend to have problems with their ears and skin and being outside only makes that worse. Both beagle and bassets have loud barks and require alot of attention. I agree with you, I do think a year old is a bit young for a puppy. I have 2 dogs, a pitbull and boxer mix. I had both of them before having my son. They stay in the house and are the absolute best dogs! Whatever you decide there are many rescue organizations in cypress and in the houston area that have pets that need good homes. Check them out. If you need more info on those, please let me know. Good luck!

I own a miniture schnauzer that was with me before I had my children and I was afraid of how he would react to my first born. He wasn't to thrilled a first but warmed up to them eventually. My advice to you is to be aware that small puppies can't handle being shook up and roughed up by a toddler. You just have to be on surveillance when your son is playing with the puppy. Different breeds of dogs have different attitudes. Some or couch potatoes others are destructive. Beware of the breeds that's known for biting. The last I heard Dalmations was common for this. I would suggest contacting a local vet or pet shop and asking what breed is good for young children.