Also as happened with my daughter, when Kizi was born she was to be my daughters (then 10 years old) dog.  She took ehr to Ringcraft and handled her at all the shows including soem Junior handling for two years.

By 13 she had become a nightmare teenager and wanted nothing to do wityh the dogs, and actually found them ande my interest an embarassment as it didn't give her street cred.

At 18 she only tolerates the dogs because she knows it isn't her decision and is aware that they are my way of life, and her erstwhile special friend hangs on the least crumb of rare attention she cares to throw her way.  She is just recently realising (after we lost our two eldest) that she really owes a bit of time to Kizi and that her feelings are hurt when she is ignored.

I absolutely agree with you and I'm willing to take full responsibility for the dog.  The bottom line is that the dog will be part of our family.  I view it like having another baby - sometimes my dd might like having a sibling, sometimes not.. but she would have to at least tolerate it and behave reasonably towards it.  That's the minimum standard and as other posters have mentioned, it takes time and training for both the dog and the child!

I will do my best to make sure we are one big happy family, and fingers crossed that's how it will work out, but if not the dog will still have plenty of love and attention from me :)

We have just traded in our Ford Maverick for a long wheel base Transit mini bus!  We have taken out 2 rows of seats and can now get all 5 children and 5 dogs (2 Danes, 2 Weimaraners, 1 Ridgeback) in in comfort.  I love it, but have had a few funny looks off the neighbours!

Hi Alicey,
I would just like to put a nice story to your dilemma! i have a now 3 year old and 8 year old and a 10 month Dobermann, now my daughter 8 yo has never had a problem with dogs no matter what their size, my son had never had a dog around. Like you I took a long time to decide on breed etc after about a year of searching for breeder  and doing research decided on our gorgeous dobe :-D he is the most affectionate dog I have ever had (not saying for you to get one as they are very hard work!!) but my son obviously not used to him or any puppy around found it a bit difficult as he was chased the most and mouthed the most, but blade soon learnt after alot of training that the mouthing wasn't acceptable(this will come from any breed of pup by the way just a process they go through!) so a bit of training for my son too was not to run if puppy was in chase as he would chase even more.
We now have a pretty perfect househlod and the children absolutely adore the dog, especially my son, even though blade is bigger than him
a bit long winded I'm sorry, but it doesn't always end in tears! If you can teach your child how to act around the pup/dog then it makes the whole process alot easier!
good luck in your choice of dog

Emz

My son was raised for the first 7yrs with my Mum longhaired mini Dachsie[Rusty] but would go nuts if he saw a strange dog out in the street,so much so he would run into the road to avoid them.
When he was 7 I decided to look for a puppy Dachsie of our own,I had no luck so got a Cocker Spaniel [which I'd grown up with so knew what they were like],my son was besotted with him from the word go and visa versa,he'd practise in the house walking him on the lead not very successfully and when my son started hanging out with his mates the dog[ Kim]went too. Unfortunately Kim passed away last July age 161/2 yrs,I got my Dachsie almost 12 months earlier.

I would highly recommend a cocker,not too big or small,with dachsies you have to be careful with their backs so they are better with an older child who can be taught how to carry them properly.

I have Citroen Berlingo too,plenty of room for 2 dachsies[1 is Mum's] harnessed on the back seat and all our stuff[Mum + mine] for a holiday piled in the boot.

Good luck with your search for a new car + 4 legged friend

Thank you for that Emz!  It's good to hear about happy endings.  I'm pretty confident that my daughter will learn quickly.  She went to the Children and Dog Safety display at Crufts (sorry forgotten what it's called) and still remembers how to cross her arms across her chest and look down if she gets unwanted attention from dogs.  In fact, she did it when we saw the Briards.  (It didn't work very well, I must say, but they were only puppies!)

She's a very receptive child and has quickly learned other rules and now follows them even when I'm not looking (eg take shoes off in the house, etc).  She is keen to get a puppy and talks about it daily.  In fact she has just got a new book: "We Honestly Can Look After Your Dog", a Charlie and Lola book in which Lola loves dogs.  She currently wants me to read it every day :D  She was invited to a birthday party on the same day as we are going to the National Dog Show, and when I gently explained she wouldn't be able to go, she said "That's OK, we are going to see the dogs!"  Normally the turning down of party invitations results in a screaming tantrum, so I was surprised that she didn't seem bothered.

So there's a few good signs that she'll adapt.  I think she just has to get used to puppy exhuberance, having never had one in the house before.  I do foresee problems, but I think they are surmountable :)

Alice

With the correct handling most problems are surmountable.  My youngest had only just turned  3, and my middle son was 4 when we got Saffy and although it was definitely NOT all plain sailing, we got through it and now all have a fantastic relationship.  I  am sure you will cope if you are determined enough.

Wee Bo my GWP is whizzed around in Luxury in a Saab 9-5 Aero Estate, very spacious for him in the back

cb