For Those who Have Dogs

[Michelle]

We have 3 dogs, never around the dck's because they are big (huskies) and one bird, one cat, and one rooster, 5 hens, and a few ducks, the kids love to feed them bread and watch their eggs hatch, we even eat their eggs.
We want to get a miniature horse... still looking for the right one that fits our family.

[WImom]

we have one dog, beagle/basset mix and he has run of the upstairs. I have a gate at my stairs and he come down and sits on the stairs and sleeps or watches the kids. He likes to sleep during the day and I don't want the kids bugging him. I let him out during lunch time outside for a while.

It seems to work, even on the weekends he sleeps upstairs on his bed during the day so he must like it.

I want a mastiff so bad but DH says no. My kids and I are working on him though and I'm sure if we bug him enough we'll get one ::. I'm a little worried with having a daycare and a huge dog so I'm glad to see others have them and it's not a problem.

[Christian Mother]

We just got a lab mix puppy...well she is 9 mos so she really isn't a puppy. I was a little nervous bc it's been 5 yrs since having a pet in the house. My whole family have wanted to have one for some time now and just haven't found the perfect fit. So we adopted Harley from another family who was moving into a apt. and couldn't take her w/them. She is a little things only weighs 37 pds and is petite. We've only had her for 2 months and the first month was rough bc she was sooo scared of everyone but me and the kids...but my husband and any of the parents she wld just hide. She is very gentle and doesn't have that puppy energy now. She's tiny...only 37pds. She doesn't much play with the kids. Early in the morning she grabs her toys and plays with them for 30 min. throwing it around and shacking it but then lays down by the gate waiting for the parents to drop off. It took her a month to get used to the parents though bc she would growl and bark. But soooo awesome with the kids. Those where her kids. She is very protective and will follow them behind them and sit in the rooms they play in and watch. She allows them to pet her and pull her ears and mouth and grab her toys. The kids have even tried getting into her food bowl and water bowl and she will just stand back watching. She is not aggressive at all but she def. is learning on trusting adults. I think she had a bad experiences with an adult or something bc she was sooo scared of any adult that came in here now she is more trusting. Some of my part time parents she doesn't even bark at any more she is learning adults are ok...!! But each of my parents understand that it's important to have a pet in the home bc it teaches love and nurturing and being kind. I use her not just for her well being but for the kids well being. I don't worry much about the kids getting hurt. although I have one little guy who waits til I am out of sit to run up jump on Harley and Harley thinks it's time to play so they get on the floor rolling around and she likes to do that get down low on the ground and jump up and down from side to side. Kind of like pouncing...and every time they do that my little guy gets scratched. Just when I think little guy has learned his lesson there they go at it again. But he's learning that when I mean no I mean no more...!!

[Blackcat31]

Ah! Another gentle giant owner! Haven't had a mastiff (yet!) I've had 3 saints and a newfie!

Meeko~ I am a Saint owner and big dog lover too!! My pet is picture in post #16 of this thread https://www.daycare.com/forum/showthread.php?t=25672 These are older photos and he has grown alot since they were taken.

He is our 4th Saint. He is 2.5 years old now and weighs in at 217lbs. His dad came from the same family line as some of the dogs used to film the Beethoven movies. Our last one made it to 11.5 yrs before we had to put him down. Both my DH and I had Saints growing up so it was a given we would have them while our kids were growing up as well. VERY gentle, loving and loyal dogs.

We live in the country so my dog has also learned to go potty in a specific area (one that isn't our yard ) so scoopin' poop is never an issue for us. Ours also visits the daycare once in a while but I hate taking him in the car because although Cujo gave them a bad rap, Beethoven was spot on about the drooling and the slobber!!

[KBCsMommy]

Ah! Another gentle giant owner! Haven't had a mastiff (yet!) I've had 3 saints and a newfie!

LOVE LOVE LOVE her!! I will never have any other doggy!! Except maybe a newfie since they have the same personalities!!
As for the ginormous poop...thankfully she poops in the same spot!!

[SimpleMom]

My dog is very, very gentle. Still, I don't typically allow her around the kids. Mostly because if something did happen (like a bite) she could be put down. If I am right there and the kids want to pet her and such I let them. I have an area gated off so they can see my dog and vice versa.

[Kaddidle Care]

My old Golden (no longer with us ) was always a part of the mix. Children were the light of his life. BUT.. I only had one FT and one PT child beside my own. If I had a bunch I would separate for the most part. Probably by a baby gate so the children could pet the dog but couldn't maul him.

It depends on the animal. My cat - no way - she's a beast.

[Meeko]

Meeko~ I am a Saint owner and big dog lover too!! My pet is picture in post #16 of this thread https://www.daycare.com/forum/showthread.php?t=25672 These are older photos and he has grown alot since they were taken.

He is our 4th Saint. He is 2.5 years old now and weighs in at 217lbs. His dad came from the same family line as some of the dogs used to film the Beethoven movies. Our last one made it to 11.5 yrs before we had to put him down. Both my DH and I had Saints growing up so it was a given we would have them while our kids were growing up as well. VERY gentle, loving and loyal dogs.

We live in the country so my dog has also learned to go potty in a specific area (one that isn't our yard ) so scoopin' poop is never an issue for us. Ours also visits the daycare once in a while but I hate taking him in the car because although Cujo gave them a bad rap, Beethoven was spot on about the drooling and the slobber!!

All the drool and slobber is so worth it! Our second saint was a show champ. I enjoyed the show scene, but it got way too busy and too much travelling, so I won't do it again. Our last saint only lived to a week after his 1st birthday. He had Addisons disease. We were heartbroken to lose him so young. But we got our darling Newf soon after and he fills our lives with so much love (and slobber!) We also just got a new Westie pup.....life is busy!!!