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young kids & dog adoption...thoughts?
We lost our 14 year old lab a little over a month ago. I've always been an animal lover & feel like something is missing without a dog. DH & I have been discussing adopting another dog. I'm hoping for a dog in the 2-4 yr age range but I have two young sons (4 & 1 yr old) so I'm worried about bringing a new dog into the mix. Since I had our lab for 10 yrs before having children I knew her personality & always felt the kids were perfectly safe around her. With a new dog I won't know their personality or be able to judge as accurately how they would handle things a child might do...like pull hair, step on them, etc. Of course our plan would be not to leave the kids & dog unsupervised for quite awhile, until we get a better feel for their personality but I'm worried about realistically being able to not only keep an eye on them but be close enough to prevent anything awful from happening at all times. I've been researching breeds to try & find a dog that's a good fit for our lifestyle & the fact that we have children but of course any breed can bite or not bite in various circumstances. I'm also thinking I should go with a dog from a foster environment vs straight out of a shelter b/c they may have a better idea of the dog's personality, whether they're good with kids, etc. (We live in a house with a backyard but the dog would primarily be indoors.)
Just wanted to get some thoughts...Is it foolish of me to consider getting a new dog with young children? Is there anything else I should do besides what I've mentioned that would help ensure the safety of the kids? Although I know the kids would be thrilled to get another dog & my husband is on board with it I'm the one who's pushing it the most so I want to make sure I'm really thinking it through & doing what's best for the kids. TIA!
Re: young kids & dog adoption...thoughts?
I think looking for a dog in foster care with young children is a good start.
As is your plan to never leave the children and dog together unsupervised, and physically separating them whenever you can't (with baby gates, a crate, a door, etc.).
If you are constantly supervising, your children shouldn't have the opportunity to pull tails, ears, fur, etc. Children should be taught early and often that this is unacceptable and dogs shouldn't be expected to put up with it.
Familiarize yourself with dog body language and their stress signals (averting their eyes, yawning, etc.), so you can anticipate a problem and prevent it. Also, never reprimand a dog for growling -- that is their warning that you missed earlier non-verbal signals.