New Jersey (Brick) HELPPPPP PLEASE!!!!!!

[Reese1]

Originally Posted by Rhetts_mama

Labs are wonderful dogs when they are properly trained. The problem most people don't realize is that their bodies grow so much faster than their brains do. You very quickly have a 60 pound puppy who's teething and jumping all over you.

That's very true! We had a black Lab growing up and she was gentle and loving, but they are strong and need to be properly trained like any dog!
Otherwise they are apt to jump up on you and walk you instead of you walking them!

[cthalhofer]

hello just wanted to share my story to help you out a little first i waited until my youngest daughter was 6 before i brought kingston home and even at 6 she cant be trusted to make sure the doors are shut ect. so i have to watch them like a hawk as we do indeed have hawks in the area who would love him for a snack also small children drop puppies and yorkies need extra care my 9 year old daughter dropped my moms cute little girl s**tzu bichion mix and that pup cried so no matter how old they get theres dangers you just are better off waiting also the memory of said puppy will last longer with an older child how well do you remember being two cause i sure as heck dont.......
Also i got kingston for 700 and olny because the breeder felt bad about me getting ripped of locally so she made up the 300 i lost so he would have been 1000 then on top of that the shots the the fixing that was in the breeders contract.......
So Please Do lots Of Research Before Making A Decision

[Ladymom]

Originally Posted by Rhetts_mama

Labs are wonderful dogs when they are properly trained. The problem most people don't realize is that their bodies grow so much faster than their brains do. You very quickly have a 60 pound puppy who's teething and jumping all over you.

Lots of time, energy and obedience classes are a must for anyone who gets a Lab or Golden puppy! Also lots of patience to get through those first two years!

I really wanted a small dog when my children were young, but my vet wisely told me "the smaller the children, the bigger the dog". I got my soulmate, Petie, a Golden mix, when my youngest was potty trained at three years old. I adopted Petie from the SPCA when he was just a puppy. He looked just like a smaller version (35-40 lbs) of a Golden. People mistook him for a puppy all the time.

I could not have picked a better dog for my family. There are wonderful mixed breed dogs at local shelters who make wonderful family pets.

I waited to get a "little fufu" dog until I had an empty nest.

[Tinksmygirl]

I think waiting until your daughter is 6-9 years old would be best if you really have your heart set on a yorkie.

I have 2 grandchildren that spend quite bit of time at my home as they live less than 10 minutes away. My grandson is almost 4 years old and he still cannot be trusted alone with my little yorkie Tinkerbell. He moves too fast and has tripped over her a couple of times already. Tink is definitely nervous around him now. On the other hand my grandaughter is 10 and is great with her. If I had my grandson here more than he is I think I would have a nervous breakdown supervising him all the time. It only takes a second for an accident to occur and we are responsible for protecting these little angels.

Good luck with your decision.

[Dianab28]

There have been some wonderful points made and I just wanted to add that in addition to all the above there is also the physical threat to a curious puppy that chews on Christmas lights or tensil (which is poisonous) or small toys that are left out It's very difficult to watch your puppy with so much going on.

[shodanusmc]

Back in 1974 we were living at Camp Lejeune, NC, small baby. I wanted a dog to keep my wife company since I was always deploying someplace. Well, we went a got a Basset Hound as I figured it would be a gentle dog that just slept. How wrong we were. It was the devil dog from hell. It would attack the baby is we were not careful, chewed up the walls and floors, broke out of the screened in porch, chewed up my Uniforms if I left them out, growled at everyone, hated everyone. It was a bad experience. Finally, I found a farmer in the area that adopted it as we were afraid to leave it anyplace near the kid. The dog adapted with him no kids, etc. Goes to show that you thing a breed is a certain wat and you get one totally different. Next dog was a Golden, and he would just sit and look at the kids when they were little. The most gentle dog we ever had. I would never do it again with small kids, but then again, I will never be having anymore. Grandkids come and go. Maxine does not like kids.....we have to be careful with her when they are over. Carlo at 130 pounds, is ever so gentle with them. I just wish he was like that with me and my aching shoulders.