Neither of my parents grew up with a dog. We got a dog when I was 12. Most rescues where I live don’t adopt to families with kids 6 or younger. Also, having a dog is a HUGE responsibility, emotionally and financially. I think the best time is either before your kids are born so the dog has always been there, or when your kids are 10+ so they’re old enough to help out (we had certain responsibilities, like washing dog bowls, picking up after the dog, etc).