Advice on getting a puppy?

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Cashstrapped

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I have a 10yr old who has my heart broke looking for a puppy for the last 2 years, while she is a very responsible child I have resisted getting one on the grounds that we live in a housing estate and have a relatively small back garden (newly built house so the usual size these days). I also do not wish to have it in the house and that in itself restricts the type of dog we could get.

I would appreciate views on any dog that would be suitable (if any) for a small garden, be an outdoor dog and child friendly as I also have a 2 year old.

Just for the record this is not anything to do with a Christmas Present.

Thanks!
 
You should check out Paws. They'd probably know what would suit your needs as well as being a good place to get a dog.

But if you've a small garden and you don't want it indoors, I'm not so sure there would be many options open to you. Unless there was someone at home during the day to keep the dog company.

We'd love to have a dog but we realise that we just don't have enough room and would rather have the space outdoors to let him/her go for a good run. When we lived in Sallins we looked after a dog for a couple of months and took her out to the bog out by Prosperous for about 40 mins 2 or 3 times a week.

Whatever you do here, don't ask for advice on getting a poppy :)
 
Please don't get her a dog if it is to be condemned to a life outside in a small garden particularly if it is being left alone for extended periods during the day. While i appreciate the pressure a child can bring to have a puppy any dog should be an integral part of the family unit. Bear in mind too that however responsible she may be you will bear the onus of caring for this dog, feeding, medical care, daily walks etc. etc.
 
You won't get the friendly cuddly family dog your daughter wants if it's kept outside, barking, digging, shivering and generally going nuts. Why do you want it outside?
 
I would appreciate views on any dog that would be suitable (if any) for a small garden, be an outdoor dog and child friendly as I also have a 2 year old.
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I dont believe you can have a PET and keep it outdoors . Also ,having had dogs most of my life , I can tell you that the novelty wears off quickly with children and you will end up exercising the dog 7days a week for as long as the dog lives ,not to mentioned your pooper scooper to clean up the dog's mess outdoor and for accidents if the dog gets indoor. Remember also, you usually cant take a dog on holidays if you go foreign I love dogs but there are not toys
 
Why do you want a dog if you don't want it in the house? Not much of a life for a family pet if it is shut out in the garden away from the family. Your child will get over not having a dog, rather that than an animal suffering.
 
Tricky question. I absolutely don't agree the need of a 'house dog'. A dog by nature does not need to live within the house environment to thrive and it is not hygenic or practical and I have owned dogs all my life also. It is also a fact that dogs who live within the house have a shorter lifespan. They need to be exposed to natural bacterium to create a hardy constitution. They do not need to be treated as humans which many people assume. Ultimately dogs will accept whatever pattern you impose upon them. If you decide to bring them into the house on a particularly cold night and sit them in front of the fire then that is their treat, they will readapt to whatever structure you create.

I disagree with levelpar's post ie - your pet can be completely kept outside and should be, I agree though on their point that a 10 year old's interest may wane and you have to want the dog yourself as the adult and be prepared to mind it if they lose interest and you may know how likely that is from your own child- they may actually adore that pet until it dies or else it's just a fad. I think from experience the 10 year old will take on this pet and know their own mind. If it's a small garden it has to be taken out daily and you need to have a green area near you.

As for veterinary fees, you need to do all the initial innoculations if you take on a pup, but beyond that, the only forseeable expense is something that may go wrong unexpectedly. There is no other expense.

As for breeds there are two ways to take this. Obviously you need a small breed as you have a small garden. If you have a younger child than the ten year old in the house then be extra careful. No matter how loved or placid any dog appears to be - a new dog will be seeking it's place in the family hierarchy as the law of nature. It will respond to one person in the family more than any others as the boss and that will become apparent over time. Usually the person who feeds it.

If you intend to spend money on a breed (and that will be a be few hundred quid) then I would recommend a west highland terrier, equally comfortable indoors or outdoors and a very easy-natured breed. Daschunds, very easy to fall in love with but not as hardy and may have some health problems, but suitable for a child. Jack russells are one of the most adaptable small breeds, if you get the dog young then great, train it, but they need exercise. They are very ok being left alone, as they entertain themselves through a leaf falling off a tree to stalking a bird in the garden . And that yorkshire terrier thing! They are a self-sufficient breed, but are portrayed like poodles, they are a well rounded dog, corgis are ok too but can get lazy, but good with people.

Alternatively go to an animal welfare society and explain the situation. Contrary to popular opinion they don't just give dogs away, and may have a dog to suit your needs, as they will know the dogs personality.

Personally I would go for a female jack russell pup, who would be feisty enough to act as a guard dog (their brains are bigger than than size!) but trained and loved from the beginning and they are extremely loyal and intelligent. They are not house dogs and were never bred for that, they like pampering but are very independent.

Hope that helps
Panathon
 
Thanks to all for your replies and advice. I can totally understand the points raised regarding the dog being left outside but this is for two reasons, firstly on hygiene grounds and secondly, I think it would surely be better for a dog to have the run of a back garden than the sitting room of a home when were not here to look after it.

I think my next stop will be to bring my daughter to somewhere like the Animal Welfare Society/ISPCA so they can talk through the responsibilty involved in owning and looking after a dog before any hasty decisions are made.

Thanks again.
 
Panathon,

As you know so much about dogs and cashstrapped's question appears to have been answered can you give me some general advice about springer spaniels? He was very badly treated before we got him and he is recovering slowly. They appear to be double jointed? I have read that they are pups all their lives?
 
Eurofan said:
Please don't get her a dog if it is to be condemned to a life outside in a small garden particularly if it is being left alone for extended periods during the day. While i appreciate the pressure a child can bring to have a puppy any dog should be an integral part of the family unit. Bear in mind too that however responsible she may be you will bear the onus of caring for this dog, feeding, medical care, daily walks etc. etc.
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Totally agree. Dogs are social animals. When they're not socialised they can become bored/vicious etc. How would you feel being locked up in a small garden all day? Huge commitment to take on for up to 15 years. As she grows up her priorities will change.
 
Can't agree with Panathon on keeping a dog outside IF the intention is for the 10 yr old to have a PET.

If you decide to bring them into the house on a particularly cold night and sit them in front of the fire then that is their treat, they will readapt to whatever structure you create
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On the above , I would imagine that if any dog was brought into the warmth of a fire on what you might consider a cold night, he would want this "treat" every night.
 
"Ultimately dogs will accept whatever pattern you impose upon them. If you decide to bring them into the house on a particularly cold night and sit them in front of the fire then that is their treat"

I sort of half disagree with this. Dogs need structure. By instinct, they want to be in a hierarchy - A dog is happiest when he knows his place (whether that be lording it in his own armchair in the sittingroom or sitting on the doorstep or perhaps just inside the back door - I have seen dogs who know they are permitted into the utility room and no further, and they observe the rules quite well). If a dog is permitted into the house but only rarely, his natural instinct is to try to retain this higher status, by pawing at the door, yapping and trying to get in. Of course the dog will adapt, but I don't think this would be fair on him. Better, I think, not to give the dog conflicting signals.
 
cashstrapped - one other dog worth considering at is a "maltese", They are long haired, but can be kept pet cut ( short ). excellent with kids and dont shed hair. We also went to dog shows, vets, etc and asked owners about their pets, walking in the parks ! Process of elimination brought us to the Maltese.
 
A dog is a social animal, as has been said before. Please do not get a dog if you will not welcome it into your family and into your home. You say that a dog would be happier running around a garden than he would be in a house where nobody was home to keep him company. You're right .... given those two choices, he'd probably be better in the garden. However, and this is so important and (I would have thought) so obvious, you really should not have a dog if nobody is there all day to keep it company!! A dog wants company and love FAR MORE than it wants garden space.
 
Do you have any neighbours or friends with dogs? You/your daughter could offer to walk the dog for them a few times a week. Make a committment to do it for say 2 months. At this time of year, with a poop scoop, the need for a dog will soon wear thin. I love dogs but wouldn't have one in a housing estate.

Fish make good pets, for all ages, the 2 year old will love them and the 10 year old can learn a lot in looking after them, a warm water aquarium needs a bit of work, about enough for a 10 year old. The fish need replacing now and again so she will enjoy picking new ones every 6 months or so. Good way to learn about life and death. If the fish are well looked after they last a long time, if not they die.
 
Please also keep your neighbours in mind when thinking of having a dog outside all the time. My neighbours have two jack russell terriers which are outside all day. The noise they make at all hours is maddening.
 
not being harsh on you and the child. having a dog is utmost like having another child..the VET bill/Food/barking...
i don't think this is a good time for ur child and u to have a dog rite now.
maybe a smaller animal, maybe a fish or something? regarding bringing ur child to RSPCA to have a chat may probably reinforced her thought of having one..i think that may not be a great idea as Children do not think rationally yet! maybe when ur child have grown up and able to looking herself oneday, then u can consider about a dog!
 
Thanks again to all of you for your input some great advice and alot of things I hadn't thought of myself even as an adult so it def. will be put on the back burner for the forseeable future.

MICHAELM I think you may have sorted 2 problems for me, her need for a dog and my need to find something for her from Santa!! What a great idea these are I think she will be over awwed with it and I don't need any poop scoop, vets bills or worrying about it upsetting the neighbours so I think I may be onto a winner.
 
Why not consider a cat?

Even if you don't consider yourself a 'cat' person they can grow on you and are a lot easier to care for than a dog
 
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