dogs

Lewis and I have decided when we move to gisborne, we'll get a dog. So any suggestinos on breed? We need one that is good with kids - obviously, we'll have a large fenced yard, and have enough time to walk once or twice a day. Now, my preference is for a larger dog. I'm not a fan of toys. Also, I plan to get two kunekune piglets so something that wouldn't eat or attack them would be good too.

We had (I kid you not!) a Rottweiler that we got as a 10 week old pup, and he was soooo great with the kids. We brought him up around th ekids and he wasn't at all aggressive or anything. In fact, the silly thing was so placid that someone stole him out of our back garden and he didn't even bark! Willie was devastated!

My only advice is to get your dog very young so that it is used to the kids from day one. It's harder to introduce an older pup/dog to kids.

I know you said not a toy dog, and she's not a toy dog, but is little, We have a Jack Russell, and she is absolutely fantabulous. I cannot recocomend them highly enough. THey can be "busy" but wonderful, friendly, playful dogs, and not too big or overwhelming, either. Tui loves Jacob, and dosent get mad when he grabs big handfulls of skin and pulls, or bites her ear, they are best mates. We had a Siberian wolfhound (looks like a wolf, like the dogs on snow dogs) and a Lab, both great dogs, but big, always hungry (lab) and DROOL!!!(lab again!) I hate drool!!!! Our little pocket rocket dosent drool, and is very transportable. Friends of ours have a boxer, and she is great, but once again, DROOL!!! Good luck! Dogs are fantastic pets!

not sure about little dogs, as I really do prefer bigger ones. Just read about a jack russell biting the nose of a little girl!!! Although I still think there are no such things as bad dogs, just bad owners!

Why not a pet shop?

if you buy from a breeder you will save yourself hundreds of dollars and you'll be almost gauranteed that all health checks have been done on the parents before breeding ie hips/elbows, heart etc
for instance..we paid $700 for clyde from the breeder and he came with papers that shows his 'family tree'. pet shops charge $1200 for golden retrievers (and the same amount approx for mixed breeds!!!)
if you are interested in a retriever let me know and i can suggest a few breeders up your way as clyde is a show dog and i know of a few lovely kennels up there.

Okay, next q, what age do people recoemmend getting a pupy. We were thinknig about next xmas as Jake will be 2 and B2 will be one, but is that too young? Jake is one now and loves animals....from a distance. But then again, the only dog he's seen is my grandfather's hideous griffin...it had an accident a few years ago and its eye fell out after Grandad slammed it's head (accidently) in the car door. it is truly an ugly dog, i try not to touch it. Anyway, too young do you think?

It's definitely not too young, as long as you are meticulous about hygiene. I'm not planning on having a dog just yet (although I want one eventually), but all our cats will be around from the word go, as I really want my child to grow up around animals and at least learn how to respect and take care of them. And as Toni mentioned the only struggle you might have is finding the time to obedience train the puppy while you've got two wee ones, but then again, I'm sure you'd find a way to make it work

Awwwww I want a dog.... but I fear for its health with Hannah around. She gets a bit excited around animals and already has scared off the neighbours cat.

I love big dogs too.

*chuckles*