Animal Shelters have ALL types of dogs and ages. 25% are purebreds.

I would not go with a puppy for your 4 year old. Puppies bite, chew and need to be housebroken. Your first concern is your son’s safety.

I would go with a more mature dog that has been raised around kids and likes them. Older dogs bond well, if not better with children. The added benefit is; they’re already housebroken, usually know commands, won’t destroy your home and can be trusted around your child.

Tell the shelter exactly what you’re looking for. Many times these dogs end up in the shelter because their owners can’t afford to take care of them anymore because of the lousy economy (here in Michigan anyway). A rescue or humane society is another option.

Again thank you for considering saving a dog!

Age is *NOT* a factor that decides if a dog will bond or not. It’s a myth that somehow dogs older than puppies won’t bond. I’ve never seen this! In fact, an attention starved adult dog is probably going to become like a velcro dog. The advantages of an adult dog (in my opinion), outweigh getting a puppy. Why? Well, you are going to know the temperament - it will likely have been temperment tested at the shelter. You can see what size it will be. You’ll know more about the general health that can be expected.

With puppies, you have your hands full. You have to be careful about socializing it. You have be careful about feeding. You really don’t know what it’s going to be like once it’s an adult dog. Temperaments can change once a puppy grows up. Puppies take a lot more work than an adult dog…and adult dogs can be trained a bit quicker (just my experience - probably because they have longer attention spans).

You really just have to interact with dogs wherever you are looking in order to see what seems most suitable.

Since you want a dog that is geared to having a temperament that is reliably tolerant of children, it would be in your best interest to contact a local animal shelter and they will probably have people that will be more than helpful in setting you on the right path to getting a suitable dog that might fit your situation.

Of course, I would have to ask - Do you want the dog for your son (a 4 year old doesnt know the difference between a plush puppy and an actual dog), or yourself?
Dogs and children just don’t always mix as people fantasize they are supposed to. I have dogs and a nephew and niece. My dogs love to play with them but it’s not long before the dogs are trying their best to get away from them.

I, myself, had dogs when I was 4 yrs old but these dogs were my parents dogs, not myne.

More so, I’ve recognized over time, that dogs rarely ever respect kids under the age of 8. Kids have high pitched voices and they’re tiny. Dogs have no reason to look at kids as effective leaders. Dogs bond best with whomever feeds them - that would be you. But, still dogs will play with kids and clearly dogs do well with families but one should not get a dog as entertainment for a child.

Don’t add a dog to your family unless the dog is going to really be thought of as family. Dogs do not make adequate toys for kids -that’s how good dogs end up back in shelters - at no fault of their own.

Get a gentle, well tempered dog. I would not get a breed that is known for aggression for a young child.
Mixes and mutts make great pets, so be open to not having a pure breed.

A dog a year old or older has a better chance of already being house trained (a BIG bonus).

Make sure you train the dog, and teach your son how to behave with a dog and how to treat a dog.

Good for you for wanting a shelter dog. Speaking from my own experience, they are the best!
You will not be sorry, and you will be saving a dog’s life.

Most ASPCA’s and humane society in every city and rescue groups in every area have websites with pictures listed.

Good luck. Hope this helps.

2) No, it makes no difference whatsoever. Sadly, adult dogs have trouble finding homes for this reason. Most dogs that are euthanized at shelters are adult dogs. Very few are puppies.

For this reason, I would encourage you to adopt an older dog, and not a cute little puppy. Puppies will ALWAYS get adopted, but rarely will the older dogs get the same chance. If you want a younger dog to grow with your son, try within the age range of 1-3 years.

Animal shelters have animals of all ages, adults and puppies alike. If there are no pups, just keep checking back. I would select the dog or puppy which would best suit your needs and lifestyle; an adoption councilor may help in your decision.

As for the age and bonding, I don’t think there is really much of a difference. Oftentimes an adult dog is more suited for a family, as they won’t be into all the puppy stuff, like chewing, and many have had some training.

There is no greater bond than a kid and his dog. Don’t worry about that, just get a dog that best suits your life.
Talk to the shelter attendants. They spend lots of time with the dogs and can show you the perfect pet for your family.

Trust me, bladder control is a good thing in a pet.

Shelter dogs are temperment tested, inexpensive and come with lots of “extras”. All vet care is taken care of for the entire first YEAR of the dog’s life with you. If you buy a dog from a breeder or a pet store, you have to pay hundreds for the dog, then hundreds again in vet bills.

Good luck