somethingshiny
Ideal_Rock
- Joined
- Jul 22, 2007
- Messages
- 6,746
I need help figuring out IF and WHAT KIND of dog to get. Our son will be 3 in Feb, so I''m not sure if he''s ready to have a pup (or my attention being on something other than him...) so I need the pros and cons of pups and little ones.
I''m actually allergic to dogs although I''ve put up with it most of my life. I realize some dogs are "hypoallergenic" and that may be the route I need to go.
I''ve had (growing up) St Bernards, Blood hounds, Coon dogs, German Shepherd, lab, chow, something that I think was a Pekinese mutt, and a terrier mutt. None of them seem to be the kind of dog I''m looking for. However, we bred dogs and had working dogs (hunting) so I don''t know if the dog was more of a "pet" if I''d have the same inclination.
We need a dog that can manage on its own (although I''m a SAHM so I''ll be around), preferably non-shedding (!) or at least non-stinking (yes, I know a dog will roll in anything it finds). Our house is small so probably a smaller dog, although we have a good sized yard for a bigger dog.
Obviously manners are taught, but I''d prefer a dog that doesn''t have a bad reputation. (please hold all of the "it''s the owner with a bad reputation", because I''m not taking chances when I have a toddler in the house.)
I''m thinking of having a kennel in the basement so I need a dog that would be comfortable with sleeping away from us. (the basement isn''t an "icky" basement, it''s got a family room in it--albeit concrete floor and piped ceilings). This would be to avoid any unmonitored time with our son and to avoid accidents upstairs.
I live in an easy walking neighborhood and close to parks and even farms for extra fun. But, it''s IL, so we get some rough winters.
I guess most of my issues go along with having a child in the house. We always had dogs as children (usually many at one time), and though they were trained really well and we knew how to behave with a dog, there were still injuries to all of us kids (all in the face). I know this is because a dog is an animal first, a friend second. But, I''d like to avoid the facial lacerations at all costs (even if it means waiting a couple years).
Any input is welcome!! TIA!
I''m actually allergic to dogs although I''ve put up with it most of my life. I realize some dogs are "hypoallergenic" and that may be the route I need to go.
I''ve had (growing up) St Bernards, Blood hounds, Coon dogs, German Shepherd, lab, chow, something that I think was a Pekinese mutt, and a terrier mutt. None of them seem to be the kind of dog I''m looking for. However, we bred dogs and had working dogs (hunting) so I don''t know if the dog was more of a "pet" if I''d have the same inclination.
We need a dog that can manage on its own (although I''m a SAHM so I''ll be around), preferably non-shedding (!) or at least non-stinking (yes, I know a dog will roll in anything it finds). Our house is small so probably a smaller dog, although we have a good sized yard for a bigger dog.
Obviously manners are taught, but I''d prefer a dog that doesn''t have a bad reputation. (please hold all of the "it''s the owner with a bad reputation", because I''m not taking chances when I have a toddler in the house.)
I''m thinking of having a kennel in the basement so I need a dog that would be comfortable with sleeping away from us. (the basement isn''t an "icky" basement, it''s got a family room in it--albeit concrete floor and piped ceilings). This would be to avoid any unmonitored time with our son and to avoid accidents upstairs.
I live in an easy walking neighborhood and close to parks and even farms for extra fun. But, it''s IL, so we get some rough winters.
I guess most of my issues go along with having a child in the house. We always had dogs as children (usually many at one time), and though they were trained really well and we knew how to behave with a dog, there were still injuries to all of us kids (all in the face). I know this is because a dog is an animal first, a friend second. But, I''d like to avoid the facial lacerations at all costs (even if it means waiting a couple years).
Any input is welcome!! TIA!
