SIZE MATTERS

In honor of St. Patrick’s Day, I have decided to highlight an Irish Wolfhound named Guinness who practically towers over my son as the photo of choice for this month’s blog. The tallest breed of dog in the world is described as a Gentle Giant by many; however, this description can be deceiving to first time owners.

Guinness is only 1 year old; therefore, he has not completed his growing phase. He weighs 130 lbs. and his length of body is as remarkable as his incredible height. My 80 lb. Labrador, Cruiser looks like a Cocker Spaniel next to him. As gentle as his temperament appears, his presence can be interpreted as obtrusive due to his enormous size. In fact, Guinness is extremely social however; a simple greeting to visitors is sometimes overwhelming.

Last month’s blog covered my recommendations on choosing the right dog according to what I look for in mental and physical soundness. After the birth of my son 4 years ago, my experiences have taught me a great deal regarding how essential it is to choose the correct size of dog for your family. My son quickly reminded me of this when I asked him to pose for the photo with Guinness.

Retrievers are often referred to as the perfect family dog; however I do not recommend them for families with young children. I own a Labrador Retriever and even though he is one of my son’s favorite dogs I am constantly aware of the potential threat of his size when he is running or playing ball. Fortunately, Cruiser, my Lab, was an adult when my son was born; however, when he was a puppy he was clumsy and very oral. These traits are common in most Retriever puppies and are very difficult to deal with when you add a toddler to the picture. In fact, on a few occasions Cruiser has unintentionally bit my hand attempting to get a toy and has knocked me down during a play session even as an adult dog.

I have found that my son at 4 years of age enjoys his relationship with my Terriers the most primarily due to their size. All of them weigh less than 20 lbs. This size allows my son the comfort of interacting with them in a very fun and safe manner.

In general, puppies are difficult to raise around families with young children. If asked, I recommend that the children in the family are at least 5 years of age before adopting their first dog. The biggest challenges I have experienced with my son and my dogs have occurred during the puppy stages of their development. Due to the nature of my work I have adopted and fostered several dogs while raising my son. As a baby then toddler, my son’s needs were at times difficult to coordinate with the needs of the dogs. It seemed like they both had to have their potty breaks at the same time. In addition, most puppies are very oral. This means that their mouths are like a child’s hands. It appeared as if my son’s toys were always on the floor and in the puppy’s mouth. In fact, when my son learned to use crayons my dogs had the most colorful poops around.

The topic of dogs and young children has intrigued me as a trainer because I am often asked to recommend a breed of choice for a family with kids. In my case as a child of 11 years of age I remember the first great experience owning a dog was with a mixed breed that weighed 25 lbs.

Please keep in mind that my intentions are not to discourage anyone from adopting a large dog for their family. Smaller dogs can present their share of problems as well. Toy breeds are generally more fragile therefore not ideal for young children. In addition, small breeds can be highly defensive. They can get nippy when they feel threatened by rough gestures or handling.

My advice to families when looking for a dog is to step back and look at the world of dog’s through the eyes of your child. Supervise your child’s or children’s interaction with all types of familiar dogs. Carefully observe to see what kind of dog is most enjoyable to your family. Large or small. Energetic or calm. Research various breeds. Speak to breeders. Contact rescue organizations. Speak to Foster families.

Choosing the right dog for your family can make a significant difference on how your child perceives dogs in general……and in most cases size matters.

Good Luck and Happy St. Patrick’s Day!