What Pet Should We Get?

I have never heard of a dog being declawed before!! Crazy (and cruel!). And, beagles like to roam. If you leave any dog outside for an extended period of time there is a chance they will get bored and try to escape - especially a beagle. They are hound dogs and will follow their nose and won't look back! lol

don't get a dog if you plan on just leaving it outside and only letting it in "sometimes" that is not healthy for the dog and its just as bad if you toss it in a crate all day. I think you need to do lots of research before you get a pet.

Beagles are hounds and not meant to be inside dogs. I have a neighbor with one inside and it is terribly fat because it doesn't get enough exercise. I have another friend with one that pees every time it gets excited. I had hounds when I was young but they always were outside (Tenn) and they were healthy and happy. And yes, still a member of the family! You never know what kind of personality you will get with a pet, just like a child. Ask about a trial period or some places let you shelter one for a while. It is a huge responsibility!

I'd really research breeds before getting a pet for the family.

Some are much higher maintenance than others, some require way more attention/grooming.

We have a large dog who is great with both kids - except for the separation anxiety that developed when our son was 15 months old. We will likely have to replace 2 double windows and moulding because she chews through it when she's not outside with us.

A lot depends on the nature of the animal as well. Dogs are pack animals and naturally sort themselves into their places within the pack. I'm the alpha, but our dog isn't sure about where she or the kids should be. She is, by nature very submissive, to other dogs, even much smaller, more dominant ones.

I agree about the dog declawing thing - never have heard of it, and if you want it to be primarily outdoors, I think it would be a big mistake to select that beagle who wouldn't be able to defend itself as well if needed despite the fence.

Muts are always healthier than pedigree because of inbreeding issues and genetics.

We also have a cat who's luckily very tolerant with our very affectionate 2 year-old daughter. Cats require much less maintenance. Dogs are like having perpetual toddlers. Cats are indifferent and can go for days on end without needing care.

If you're not used to having a pet, I'd lean more towards the cat vs. the dog at this time.

Good luck.

I'm not even going to discuss the fact that someone had this poor dog declawed since it wasn't you. What I do have to say is that you cannot leave a dog outside for any length of time living in TEXAS! Unless your yard is completely shaded and the dog has bowls and bowls of water outside and you are checking on him constantly.

It is totally up to you to teach your son how to treat an animal. Don't use the excuse that he is rough. You need to teach him to be gentle. And if you don't, the dog may very well bite him in his own defense.

Better yet, please leave the beagle where he is. Get some fish.

Declawed? That's a new one. Call a vet and ask. Keep in mind beagles are barkers. I believe it is unkind ot keep outdoor pets. Pets need to be part of a pack an dlive wiht a family. They can also be hurt or stolen out of doors due to pests, other animals, and neighborhood kid. Also, I imagine TX is too hot for a "mostly outdoor" pet. I would love to see you rescue a shelter animal, but you really need ot do your homeowk and be willing to make the pet part of your household. Call a coupdl local vets and ask questions and for suggestions. Most vets want to help becaus ethey don't want to see an animal returned ot a shelter. Also, consider a poodle - no shedding - if that is part of the indoor/outdoor issue. An animal is a wonderful gift to your son in that it will teach him uncondition l love of a smaller more helpless being. But you must surpervise. Cats swipe and dogs bite. You can never take tha tfor granted. Odds are if you are attentive, you will end up teaching your child a lot about kindness!! FYI, I grew up with a beagle, a lab mutt, and two gernman shepards. All great dogs. I also had a cat and have one now and cats are also fabulous kind of take care of themselves other than the litter and food. It all depends on making the right match. .

Please please please PLEASE do LOTS of research into this before you take on a new family member. I am in no way discouraging you from getting a pet (they can be absolutely wonderful!), but please be sure that your eyes are wide open to the responsibility you are taking on. Just the fact that you indicated that it will be a "sometimes indoor but mostly outdoor" dog makes me think that you are not really aware of the true size of the responsibility/job you are taking on. (Maybe I'm wrong; I'm just trying to help).

Dogs are a big responsibility and can be very time consuming. Particularly if you want a well socialized family member without destructive and annoying behaviors. And that includes annoying to your neighbors.

Anybody can bring home a dog and toss it into the fenced back yard, add food and water and call it a pet. But to truly incorporate a dog into a well socialized family dynamic, it takes a lot of work and time spent teaching your pup how he fits into your family. Please scroll back through some of the previous posts on this site about moms who have added a dog to their young family and some of the stress and problems they have encountered as a result. You have a big job already with a 16 month old little boy. And a dog that is 1 year old is still really a puppy. Beagles are known to be barkers/howlers, and can be very stubborn. My pastor's is a digger (digs out of the backyard fence). So research the care, training, and development of dogs in general, and in the beagle breed in particular (since you are looking at a beagle).

While I commend you for being game for getting a pet and rescuing one from the shelter no less, I would caution you to please spend some time researching exactly what will be required on your end to ensure that it is a lasting happy relationship. It takes a LOT more than a bowl and a bed for them to be happy and well adjusted. They need regular walks (even if they have a fenced yard to play in it is NOT the same thing) and discipline. And they need to be part of a "pack". They are not "designed" to spend time isolated from their family members.

As long as you are educated about what you are taking on, and are prepared to follow through with the job, you will be fine with whatever animal you decide to adopt into your family, whether cat or dog or hamster or fish or ___.

Happy adoption to whatever you choose. :)

p.s.
FWIW, When my hubby & I first began discussing getting a dog for our family, I too thought maybe we would do part inside and part outside. The more I read on the proper care and training for dogs, I quickly came to realize that it would not have the end result we wanted and would end up with the dog just being outside and it becoming a chore for us to take care of, rather than a part of our FAMILY. We got a German Shepherd at 10 weeks old. She is 6 1/2 years old now, and a very big part of our family. Yes, she sheds alot, and it can be annoying to clean up. But she is inside with us always, unless one of us goes outside for something-- then she doesn't want to be left behind! :) It is a great comfort having her inside with us, and she truly considers us her pack/family. And we her. The house is not the same when we come home from vacation and she's not here (not yet picked up from the boarding kennel). If you choose wisely, and are willing to be disciplined about some work during the first year or so, you will not regret having an inside dog at all. I never thought I would feel that way. But I cannot even conceive of having ours be outside like the dogs we had when I was a kid.

please don't keep your dog outside -- they're domesticated animals and have a very strong "pack" mentality which means they will want to be around you and your family (his pack!). the poor thing will be miserable outside. if you don't want a dog indoors then don't get one.

and if you do decide that you'll keep him indoors and get one, do your research on the animal you want - in this case, the beagle. the shelters are filled with dogs that people bought on an emotional whim and then realized they didnt fit well with the personality, lifestyle etc. Some dogs need more exercise, more training, etc. so you want to research them thoroughly. the only thing i really know about a beagle is they have a wierd bark which could get annoying b/c i think they like to bark. so anyway, do your research and allow them indoors!

I honestly am all for saving animals at shelters, but it scares the HELL out of me when kids are involved.
I've known too many people that have brought home dogs from shelters that have SERIOUSLY hurt their kids.
Oi why would someone declaw a beagle....F.y.i when they "declaw" and animal its pretty much them cutting off their first knuckle. Imagine if you wanted to take your nails away...top knuckle = bye bye.

I'd say be careful what you get. And REALLY think about it and research what animal you are thinking about getting.

Is he declawed like a cat, so he has no nails, or did he just have his dew claws removed? Dew claw removal is pretty normal and they would still have 4 nails per paw, I'm like many others and have never heard of removing nails. They will sometimes break off short, but will grow back if that is the case.

Beagles can be wonderful pets, but they do need a fair amount of exercise and training, which it sounds like you will be able to do. They are a hunting breed that will follow a scent and sometimes forget about everything else and some really like to sing and howl! I have know quiet ones to that are couch potatoes. I've never owned a beagle, but they are one of my favorite small breeds to visit and play with. Most of them have a ton of personality! Some of them also have a tendency to eat and try to eat many things. If you are interested in this one, I would really talk to the shelter workers and see if you can find out how he ended up there (possibly outgrew the cute puppy age and was barking and destroying the home, thus the nails) and also how he is doing there and what his general temperament is.

I agree with you that a medium size dog may be better with rough playing. I agree with your husband though on keeping the dog mostly inside. Some dogs love to be outside in a fenced yard by themselves for a few hours a day, others really just want to be with the family. Many places will not adopt if the dog is going to be outside most of the time. Make sure you take the whole family to meet him before you decide to see how he does with your son. If he doesn't turn out to be the one, talk to the workers at the shelter and rescue groups to see if they have a dog that is a good fit for you.

If you look into cats, I would suggest one that is past the kitten stage and relaxed around people with a know personality. There are some cats that you can do anything to and you would never know they have teeth or claws and other cats that just think everything is a toy. We have three currently and have had them all since they were kittens. One is very hands off, please just pet me when I ask, the second one(my male) I can do anything to and he just purrs, and the third one (another female) will attack only me sometimes just for being near her (she is sweet to everyone else). They are all great with our dog though.

I know any dog will be thrilled that you are there to play with during the day. You may also want to look into training facility in your area to at least take a basic class, great for socialization, learning the basics, and also practicing them in a new location. Most places are positive training methods now, but check out the ways they train before deciding on one. Good luck in your pet search and hope you have a wonderful addition to your family soon!

Please check out this website:
http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/beagle.htm

Beagles are great family dogs but take A LOT of training otherwise they can become aggressive. They are mainly an indoor dog, but enjoy the outdoors since they have an hunters insinct (this can also cause issues because it is hard for them to break thought chain if they are tracking an animal). Since they are hunters it is best to not have other animals (unless it is another dog same size or larger) because it could track and hunt it.

Dogs usually are not declawed, and it really should not be outside if declawed (just like a cat) since they have no protection.

Lastly since you live in texas leaving a dog outside all the time is a very bad idea... they are just like humans and need the coolness, protection from the heat/sun, shade and so on. I would plan on getting an indoor dog. Maybe get an "easier" pet like a fish if you do not want an indoor dog.

I would not get a beagle. They howl constantly.

http://dogbreedinfo.com as suggested a really good site. It helped us see that a particular dog we were interested in wouldn't work for our situation.

Good family dogs for families with young kids are Golden Retrievers, Labradors, and Shepherd mixes. You'll want to stay away from Chows, Border Collies and 'herding dogs' as they will nip at your child trying to 'herd' him.

We used www.petfinder.com to find the dog we just rescued.
M.

I would not recommend a dog if you're going to just leave it outside - what's the point. Dogs are pack animals and like to be with their pack/family. An "outdoor pet" is an oxymoron. If you're just leaving the animal outside to fend for itself, it is definitely not your pet.

Why would someone declaw a dog?? How cruel!
I would absolutely not get a Beagle. I have one. I also have two shepherds. My shepherds are very intelligent, calm dogs. The beagle, and I will be fair she is only part Beagle, is a hyper spaz. She is the dumbest thing in this house and that includes the box of rocks downstairs.

Beagles drool all over the house after they drink their water, so you will have a river from wherever the water bowl is to everywhere else. I also have many friends with Beagles and they have the same issue.

She has been trainable to an extent. She is now 4. She sits and stays, sometimes comes. She chews everything STILL!! All crayons, pencils, cardboard, ribbon, you name it she eats it. I do give her chew bones.

She howls and barks if left alone for too long and will still potty down in the basement if excited or scared.

I will never own another Beagle. Shepherds, labs, Goldens, Poodles, even Dobermans but never a Beagle.

Incidently if you look up smart dogs/dumb dogs, Beagles are number 9 on the stupid dog list.

From personal experience, I would recommend Labs or Miniature Schnauzers. I included my reasons below if you care for explanations. :-)

We had a Beagle that was very sweet, but the howling, inability to get him house broke or crate trained, and his constant escapes from our yard (which upset neighbors) forced us to find him a better suited home. My son loved him and we tried for 4 years to train him, but nothing worked. We would take him outside he would pee several times and poop, and when we brought him in, he would pee on the carpet within 10 min everytime. He would even jump off the top bunk in my son's bed to pee on the floor in the night, and then howl until he woke my son up and he would climb down and get the dog and put him back up in the bed. If we put him in a crate he would howl ALL night.... With that all being said, we got him because we researched breeds and they were supposed to be so smart and easy to train (I am a cat person, and had was raised with outdoor BIG dogs and never had to housebreak one) and durable/strong (my son was 5, and I had a newborn when we got him).

We now have a Miniature Schnauzer, and he is amazing. He house trained in about 1 wk and will go in his kennel or sleep with my son (now almost 12) with no interruptions. He fetches, sits, & stays. He is protective of our family, but has never bit anybody, just warned strangers with barks or growls. He is very playful and loves to play with the kids on the trampoline or running after them on their bikes, scooters, and motorcycles. He stays in our yard without any trouble and never tries to escape. We have taken him on vacations and he is great in the car.

As for labs, we have had some indoor and some in and outdoor labs. They are loyal, smart, easily trained, and lower maintenance than smaller breeds (they love water, and don't mind baths, so you don't have the grooming as with schanuzers). From the time I was very young, my family has had black, yellow, and chocolate labs, and I think the chocolate is the only one we had that gave us any trouble. He is great, but has done some roaming that the others never did. Only warning on labs is that they WILL chew on almost anything and everything for the first year or two. If you make it through those first 2 years, you will have a wonderful loyal pet!!! (We had one that died recently that was 20 years old)

Best of luck in your decision!!!

K.

You've gotten a lot of responses so I'll try to be brief. I suggest you research the breeds because some can be very high energy, or prone to biting (just found out chiuaua's are #5 on the biting list!), etc. Glad to hear you're looking at shelter dogs - clearly this beagle needs a good home because what kind of monster would declaw a dog!? I grew up with labrador retriever mix dogs and they are smart and very family friendly although they can get big (especially the males). But I've heard that beagles are good dogs, too. But please do not leave this dog outdoors! First off, it is way too hot in the summer. Second, I have neighbors across the street who have two dogs they leave out and those dogs just bark like crazy all the time, mostly because I think they want a little attention. I grew up with indoor dogs and it was the best because I loved having them curl up by my feet while watching TV, reading a book, etc. And my parents still have a lab mix dog to this day and she's an indoor dog although my dad has made her into a trained bird dog and goes hunting with him.

Hi J.. I agree with the posts about the beagles....I don't think it's a good fit for anyone except a hunter or jogger or somebody in the country with the closest neighbors a mile away LOL. They're sweet dogs, but they DO make a lot of noise. We live in the country and have one across the street (nearly a half mile away) and he still wakes us up all night howling. Unfortunately, his owners stick him outside with their bloodhound and doberman....none of their dogs are 'pets' .... I don't know why they have them. I never see anyone interact with them at all. It's so sad. But the beagle is the only one that protests loudly .... which gets him a lot of attention - all bad!

Please don't panic - get a Great Dane - or a Dane mix. Yes, they're big. BUT, they are just as happy stretching out on the sofa and napping with your youngster as they are romping in the back yard with him. Our Dane practically raised our grandkids .... they'd hold onto her and learned to walk that way, then they would take a short lead and take her for walks. They are very tolerant .... ours was never possessive of anything (except our kids and cats). She was like a big mother to everything. One granddaughter would squat by her while she was eating and if she dropped anything out of her mouth, Emily would pick it up (feed dry food only) and hand it to her. She would very gently take the kibble and chew it and then give Emily a lick on her hand. They aren't very good watchdogs EXCEPT that their size and their bark are a GREAT deterrent for anyone up to no good. Fortunately, we never had to test that but one time when at the vet and a stranger came up to granddaughter Raley and started to reach out and pat her.....KC moved immediately between the stranger and Raley and sat down and looked at the lady, like, "uh uh - you're just a little too close to my girl" .... The lady moved away. I intervened and told KC is was all right. She responded by lying down where she was. The lady came on over and continued her visit. KC was fine, but she watched her closely and never let down her guard until the lady back away after a bit. I've never seen her 'bristle up" (hair raised up along the back). Her tail never quits wagging. And when my mom passed away, the granddaughters would look at pictures and cry about their great gramma....KC would walk over, lay on their laps and kiss them and nuzzle them. I've never had an animal that was more like a person.....than this wonderful lady. Unfortunately we lost her in February at the age of 12 1/2 .... unusual for a Great Dane, but she lived in the house with us, went everywhere with us. I love the 'wash-n-wear' style. Not much grooming, they love to be brushed and the girls loved doing that. The only drawback is that we allowed her to sleep with us when she was a puppy. As she grew to 130 pounds, she didn't realize she wasn't a lap dog anymore and it was like having 3 adults in the bed - she slept with her head on a pillow...LOL.... They're very easy to train and socialize. The only BAD thing about them is: you need a big car! We bought a mini van for her.....best car we've ever had too!

Your dog will be so many thigns to your son and will provide him with years of love and companionship. There are Dane rescues all over. Our KC was 3/4 Great Dane and 1/4 English Mastiff .... she looked like a harlequin (white with black patches- sort of like a dalmatian, but much bigger and prettier and calmer!

Whatever you decide on, you MUST keep your dog inside. That is the only way they will truly become part of your family. You will never regret it!

If you have any questions, feel free to get in touch with me at
____@____.com

Good luck!

I would echo what others have said about the dog being a new family member and against keeping the dog outside, especially in Texas. That being said, if your looking for a new family that would be good with kids, able to handle a little "roughhousing" and good with outdoor family activities I would say a Lab ( Lab mix) would be a great choice. My husband grew up with Labs and we have one with our kids.

Hi, we have a now 5 yr old girl and a Shi Tzu dog. We love this dog. I've had several dogs over the last 20 years and this one is my favorite. Here is why: number one is that she doesn't shed! Yup, no shedding. So no hairs on me, my kids clothes or my furniture! I thought we needed a bigger dog because my girls was almost 3 and rough with dogs. Well, Shi Tzu's are stout and strong little dogs. Ours is 13 lbs but very stout and big feet and able to handle any roughness. The third thing is that she does NOT stink when she stays outside to play with us! She is an inside dog and we take her outside to play with or while we're playing on the water slide or something, she doesn't smell like a stinky wet dog! Love this about her. Anyway, I"m sure there are many breeds of dogs that are great, but thought I'd share with you about our dog. Oh, we keep her hair short in a puppy cut. If you type Shi Tzu in on yoru computer, I'm sure you'll see lots of long hair pictures. Thats too much trouble, we just keep it short and its cute. Good luck!

Why can't you have an indoor dog that you take out doors with you while you play? I have had a ton of dogs over the years and even if you have a mostly in door dog, there's no reason why you can't take them out doors when you want to go outside and play or garden or whatever. As long as you have a proper fence, it's good for even in door dogs to run around outside.
Also a dogs strongest defense is it's mouth, not its nails/claws. It will bark, and bite. Its a natural reflex for dogs when faced with a threat of some sort (not saying they dont use their paws, just not it's first reaction).
And yes dogs can get their nails removed. We had our doberman's removed due to her chewing on them to the point where she would bleed and get her paws infected. Once they were removed, no more chewing, no more infections, and her paws were saved!
Good Luck on choosing your dog. We are holding off till our baby is 2 or older to get one, but it's killing me wanting one right now! =)

I agree with all the others about the whole declawing thing- I have never heard of it or seen it done- I work at a veterinary clinic and at a local shelter. Really think about keeping a pet outside in this heat! I have seen too many pets this year for hyperthermia. As for the breed- they are a hyper breed and a VERY VOCAL one too!!! Training is a must and socialization is key when training. Also when adopting a pet you must get history why the animal was surrendered to the shelter- was he aggresive towards kids? distructive? owner couldnt take care of him? These are all things that people should take into consideration before adopting. As for other breeds that make good pets- any pet can make a good family member- it just takes the correct training and socialization. I have many clients with very small children and they have very large dogs- I have a 1 year old little girl and she gets along great with my 10 year old 150 pound mastiff. If he gets tired of her sitting on him- he just get up and leaves. I also have clients with very small dogs. Small dogs make me nervous around kids. I am not sure why, bu t they seem to have a shorter fuse than larger dogs. I think beagles make great family members, but if they are left outside and not given the attention they seek... they become distructive. If you have any other questions about puppies I will be glad to chat with you. good luck and kudos to you for visiting the local shelters. Too many loving pets need forever home and never get the chance to make a little boy or girl smile.

You have received lots of advice about what kind of dog to get. I want to give a little advice about shelters. They are not created equal. Do the research on the one you choose. We got a yorkie pup from a "rescue" on petfinder.com. He looked healthy, seemed healthy. Developed kennel cough two days later, had parasites, and a tapeworm. When I gave him his first bath, I was shocked at how skinny he was. His fluffy hair made him look chunky. We have spent a fortune on vet bills. Of course, the paperwork from the rescue says there is "no health guarantee". Didn't see that in the fine print until he got sick. My advice if you decide on a dog, if you want to get a rescue dog, pay more for one that is in a good rescue group with foster care or find a really good, clean shelter. Fosters are great because they can tell you more about the dogs personality, bad habits, if it is housetrained, etc. Make sure it was completely "vetted" and ask what that includes. Ask for proof from a vet. I will rescue a dog again but will be much more careful next time.

There is a reason rescues will not adopt to families with children this young - they do not know how to treat animals and the pet has a right to be safe from ear-pulling, tail pulling, hitting, sitting on etc. Animals will defend themselves which they should and they should not be punished for it. As to outside? It is against the law in many places to leave a dog outside all the time or even most of the time...why get one if you do this unless it is just a sometime playtoy...please rethink this!

Your son is real young to know how to handle any pet, even a fish.

If your son is rough, it doesn't matter how small or big a pet is. A pet can get irked and/or territorial....

So: the Main thing is the temperament/breed of the dog, and cat.
Research breeds and temperaments. Some are more child friendly in disposition.

Dogs, are like having another child in upkeep and requires LOTS more training. So keep that in mind. And YOU will probably be the one who ultimately gets stuck caring for it. Really.
I am the "Mom" for all our pets... and my kids are much older than yours. Not even my Husband will help with the pets.

Beagles, can be real yappers. And need a lot of attention. My friend has one.
I would NOT get the Beagle. Although they are cute. But that is not a deciding factor.

Being "cute" is not the only factor in deciding which pet to get.... you NEED to go by its disposition and/or if it is good with kids.
Once an animal is de-clawed, you HAVE TO keep it indoors all the time. They cannot defend themselves outside. Even if you have a fence around your yard.

Cats are more independent and easier. I have had cats too. Good pets.

Rabbits are good pets too. We have one. They use a little box and the poop is easy to clean up, it being just pellets.

No matter what pet, be aware of the costs and upkeep costs and vet costs and food costs. If that matters.

All the best,
Susan

I would go for a pet you can keep inside. It is way too hot in Dallas to keep a pet outside for an extended period of time. Fine to take them out for brief periods to play with or walk of course, but I think its inhumane to leave them out there when it is 100 degrees and even higher, or in the winter when it freezes. Indoors pets are delightful and seem more part of the family.

We have had many dogs in my life and I have to say, when it comes to kids, I can trust our Collie whole heartedly! This dog puts up with EVERYTHING! He has never once showed the slightest anger at all. He's not yippy or anything. He doesn't go upstairs or get on any furniture - I"m guessing his size prevents him from trying either of those. We mostly keep him shaved to keep the hair under controll but there are also very short haired collies. Anyway, it has been the perfect breed for our family - 5 kids (soon to be 6) ages 14months to 10.
Good luck in your search! Hope this helps!

De-clawed! Poor dog, I've never heard of such a thing. If you grew up with beagles, then this is the dog for you. A mid-size dog is a good idea. but I think that all dogs enjoy being outside every once in a while.

I cannot imagine why a beagle would be declawed. They are very family friendly but very energetic. I have had 2 beagles who are now 11 years old. They do need exercise and more than running around the yard. They are better behaved when they have a daily walk.

Depending on where you live, they can spend lots of time outdoors, In TX it is SOOO hot, I cannot imagine leaving any dog outdoors all the time.

THEY LOVE food. With a toddler you may have trouble keeping the dog away from the child who walks around wiht food, LOL.

They ARE the sweetest dogs as you know since you had them as a child. I would go for it!!

K. V.

J.,
Why would someone declaw a Beagle? Was he a digger. I have never heard of declawing a dog. An indoor pet is will be a much better family pet. It is to hot in Texas to leave a pet outside. They never bond and become part of your family. I would suggest a Pug or a Boston Terrier both sturdy good family dogs. You can get a rescue Pug at www.dfwpugrescue.com.