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| Member |
We put our dog down back in August. At some point we will get another dog. I would prefer to get an adult rescue but I am concerned about my 3 and 6 yr old children. I know most reputable rescues do evaluations on the dogs but I still have reservations about trusting the dog. I know I will also have train my children about do/don't with a dog but its hard because those little shits just don't listen. Any advice on how to proceed? | ||
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Member |
My wife and I have been involved with Greyhound rescue for several years. I don't know what other organizations do but our groups foster and check the dogs temperament thoroughly. They're checked for kid friendly, other pet friendly, cat friendly, and there's a home visit or two before adoption. That might give you some questions to ask when you start looking. | |||
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| Just because you can, doesn't mean you should |
I'd start by taking them to their place to meet any potential dogs and spend some time with them. Also, no matter the size or age, be sure to own a crate (and be familiar with the concept of crate training) for at least the early days. Explain the rules, do's and don't's to the kiddo's as well as you can at that age. ___________________________ Avoid buying ChiCom/CCP products whenever possible. | |||
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| Eye on the Silver Lining |
I don’t think you have too much to worry about. I used to do rescue and one of the things that we would do is determine whether or not an animal is suitable for a house with small children. Be honest. Understand that there are some rescues that will not adopt to you because your children are so young. Don’t get stuck on a “type” of dog. Clearly, your kids have already been around dogs if you recently had to euthanize one, so they know the rules, so to speak. There’s always going to be a meeting and usually an introductory period. Good luck, I can’t imagine a home where I didn’t have a pet, especially as a child! __________________________ "Trust, but verify." | |||
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| Run Silent Run Deep  |
You want to work with a rescue that has reputable fosters that properly evaluate each rescue in various areas, including getting along with small children. If you do not see a thorough evaluation by the foster along with the dog being placed with the foster long enough to do the proper evaluation, move onto another dog that has a good evaluation done. Then I would ask to speak to the foster to get a feel for the dog and how they think it would fit into your family. Finally a meet and greet with everyone involved to see if there are any issues. Also make sure there is a policy in the slight chance there is a failed adoption. We are on our third rescue and have also fostered a few along the way. Don’t rush, take your time, go through the steps and enjoy your family member! _____________________________ Pledge allegiance or pack your bag! The problem with Socialism is that eventually you run out of other people's money. - Margaret Thatcher Spread my work ethic, not my wealth | |||
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| Eye on the Silver Lining |
I’m just going to add this, because it seems since you’re smart enough to ask about this before jumping in- simple starting rule..kids cannot handle dog without you present for the first few weeks! Get a camera on the dog’s space and enforce the rule. If you’ve had a dog, I think you’ve got a pretty good sense of whether or not a new dog is going to be unreliable within a few weeks. __________________________ "Trust, but verify." | |||
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Down With The Sickness |
Good info here. My wife and I volunteer at a rescue and this is pretty much how we do it. Everyone living in the house has to meet the dog at our rescue. We want to set our dogs up for success so if we have one that isn't kid friendly we won't put them in a home with kids even if the family wants to give it a go. We also have a foster to adopt option so you have an out if it doesn't work out. Of course if someone else applies to adopt the dog then it's time to shit or get off the pot. Big thing is giving the dogs a few days to decompress and get used to his new surroundings. Have the kids give him space when he's eating. Good luck! | |||
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| Not your average kind of girl  |
Definitely look at the foster based rescues first vs your local shelters. They often have more time to vet the dogs in a home environment to determine temperament and ideal forever homes. Also, the adults in the home should familiarize themselves with dog body language. This way they can prevent human behaviors which make the dog uncomfortable and can lead to bad outcomes. Never let children interact with a new dog out of a responsible adult’s sight until they are of an age where they themselves can learn dog body language and respect it. Good resources below. I work for a NP rescue and also volunteer for a NP lost pet trapping group. Remember the 3 3 3 rule… https://www.rescuedogs101.com/...dog-home-3-3-3-rule/ https://www.rescuedogs101.com/...friendly-dog-breeds/ https://www.safekidssafedogs.c...e/body-language.html Best of luck to you!This message has been edited. Last edited by: P226RN, If it won't matter in 5 years don't give it more than 5 minutes. | |||
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