I grew up on a farm and my folks bred and trained [name]German[/name] Shepherds, PitBulls, Great Danes, Mastifs and Rotwrillers for polices. hunting, farming, ect. My wife and I want a pitbull puppy and a great dance since we both grew up with these dogs(she grew up with the great dane) and we want to have them but are worried with our son on the way. She was 12 when her parents got their great dane, but i grew up with these dogs since the day i was born. (literally i was born on my folks farm with dogs running around. (thus being how i got my middle name Hound)). I know how to raise these dogs to he gkod, social, family dogs since ive been doing it with my dad when I was 8 and on my own when I was 15. With my experiencs, should I get the dogs? my parents want us to get two puppies from their three litters as late christmas gifts. the litters are great dane, pit, and grey hound.
I’ve heard Great Danes recommended as good dogs around children, Pit Bulls, not so much. Of course it helps if you know what you are doing (and you go to a reputable breeder), but I have a passion for breed books, and I’ve never read one that said Pit Bulls are a good choice for a family with children. It probably won’t end tragically, but no one who knows dogs is saying this is a great way to go.
A [name]Dane[/name] might lean on the child – and he might not be the most fun as a playmate, but properly bred and raised, a [name]Dane[/name] should at not pose a threat. You realize it will be a long while before your child is able to walk this dog – perhaps eight years. Maybe you should think about it from the child’s point of view – but in that case, you might decide to wait until the child is old enough to have a preference and to enjoy the dog. Maybe the child will want a small, cuddly dog (like a Cavalier) or a dog that will chase sticks and also curl up on his bed at night (like a [name]Golden[/name]).
Right now, you might want to get a dog you and your wife enjoy, a dog that can share your child’s childhood, but that will distinctly be your dog.
It’s really important you get the right type of dog. Great Danes are good with children, but I’d never get a Pit Bull. Labradors are brilliant with children if you’re open to a different breed. [name]Do[/name] you have any other small children or just the baby on the way?
I had to think about this for a minute. While I think you are in the right direction with knowing the breeds and how to train them I have to ask if your wife is as familiar with pitbulls as you are. A puppy and a new baby is a lot of work let alone two puppies and a baby. I see nothing wrong with the pitbull breed around kids and I know people who have them and kids I do think you need to what you’re doing though and it sounds like you do. If you are hesitant I wouldn’t do it though. Not until you are comfortable maybe when the baby is bigger.
Well we are expecting but my brothers and sister in law bring their kids and grandkids over a lot when he hang out at the house. They’re kids are ages 18, 16, 7, and the eighteen and sixteen year olds bring their kids over too. the eighteen year old has twin two year olds and a 7 month old while the sixteen year old has a two month old. We’re worried about the kids with getting a big dog like that.
my wife is since we were best friends since kids and dated through middle and high school. she helped me raise the first litter of puppies my dog had until theg were wheened. sorry horrible at spelling.
I’d say if you have any concerns about getting a dog with the number of small children regularly in your house, then maybe put those plans on hold for a while. Keep in mind that two months from now there will be a small baby and a puppy only a few months old in your care. Actually, I really advise you against getting a dog at this stage. It will be neglected a lot once the baby arrives, even if your intentions are good.
If your experienced around dogs and you are worried I would advise against it.
We have a bull mastiff male, and a St. [name]Bernard[/name] cross female and a 10mnth old little girl, but the dogs were 3 and 2 when [name]Ayla[/name] was born so we knew their personalitys and had made sure they spent plenty of time with kids. My husband also used to randomly take bones and food off them so there was no aggression around food if a child was to touch them during meals. I would never leave [name]Ayla[/name] with them completely alone at the moment only because they might knock her over or roll on her but I let her play with them while I’m busy doing other tasks, and they are all very cute together (she likes to hold their leads sitting in her pram when we walk )
I dont know much about great danes or pit bulls, But you know the breed well and should recognize behavioral issues, so if you do go ahead keep in mind small babies are a 24/7 job. I would not want to be toilet training and obedience training a pup with my daughter crawling about, in fact I don’t think I could, i wouldn’t have the time! Are you at home during the day or can you take the puppy to work so it gets the attention it needs? because its very unlikely your wife will have the time to train him/ her.
I think kids need pets but it may pay to wait a year or two.
Good luck whatever you decide.
I believe any breed of dog, if raised right, can be good with kids. But, you should still NEVER [name]EVER[/name] trust an animal alone with young children. They have to be supervised 100% of the time, no exceptions. You just never know what could happen. Training a puppy is SO much work, and adjusting to a new baby is even harder. The first few weeks after my daughter was born, I barely had enough time or energy just to take care of her and myself. There is absolutely NO [name]WAY[/name] I would consider getting a new dog with a baby on the way.
I cant imagine having a three or four month old with a puppy too. I have a fila or a brazilian mastiff and a shepard mix both where grown when I had my first though at 2 and 4 years old. My fila is xlarge and he is great with my kids. Like I said though he was 2 and had my sole attention that whole time and had months to get used to the idea of a baby as I used blankets car seats and dolls to getvhim used to the sounds and sights. Honestly if you really want a dog I would get one that needs less attention to train a beagle or boston terrier or a puggle or even a poodle they are smaller in size and great for families.
I’d advise against getting a puppy while expecting a new baby. In particular, pits are puppies for a few years, and even well trained ones will get excited and knock a baby over (I’d say the same about labs, and any dog that has a long puppy-hood/high energy level). Personally, I’d wait until you’re either taking a 3-4 year break between kids, or until your youngest is 3-4 before you get a puppy. Pits are great with young families though, provided that they don’t have fighting bloodlines and are raised with children underfoot. I’d recommend having “strange” kids visit often, so that they don’t become overly protective of their family. Some breeds are just more prone to that, and pits are one of them (as is my border collie mix). I’ve heard that Danes are amazing with kids, too.
There is nothing wrong with getting either breed as long as you are aware of the breeds specific needs and are willing to fill those needs despite having a new baby on the way! (aka you will be a very busy guy!) Pit Bulls are amazing/wonderful/intelligent but incredibly misunderstood dogs often portrayed by the media to be “killers.” The truth is they are no different then any other dog. They tend to draw in the wrong crowd due to their bad rap, so those dogs obviously develop issues. Pit bulls are very high energy/intelligent dogs, meaning you should do puppy classes and ensure it has plenty of exercise EVERYDAY! Begin basic training young and always maintain a consistent routine. Great danes are medium energy dogs and the biggest worry for them is their sheer size. training them not to lean on things is a big one as well as always avoiding over-stimulation (aka bull-in-china shop mode). These dogs were originally bred to be a menacing looking guard dog, and as such can be very stubborn. Due to their size, again, start training early! You want both these breeds, especially the pit to be ambassadors for their breeds as they really cant afford more of a bad name then they already have. Another thing to consider is the price in owning both these breeds, on top of having a new baby. first 3 sets of vaccines, done at 6,9, and 12 weeks average approx 150$ each visit, and then there is that spay/neuter which for your pit should happen at 6 months, and your great dane at 1 year (large breeds take longer to mature physically). spay is usually more as it is an invasive procedure. expect to pay between 250-600$ for this. Pits are prone to allergies/cardiomyopathy where as great danes are prone to hip dysplasia/bloat/ joint issues, all of which can be pricey to treat and are long term issues. Also it is always good to wait a minimum of 1 year between getting puppies. this way, they bond to you instead of each other, making them more dependable/ obedient dogs. After you have considered all of these things and have a plan of action, do what ya gotta do! its just important to remember that pets are living beings too who look to you for their entire life. If you arent absolutely ready, dont do it. A pitbull in a shelter is an almost guaranteed death wish. Im also going to recommend one other breed to you. Since you like pitties, look up the “Staffordshire Bull Terrier.” These are essentially mini pitbulls that end up being about the same size as a beagle. [name]May[/name] be a better option for a young baby. Still high energy, big enough for it to be a “real dog” and withstand baby poking and prodding, but also not overbearing.