i was thinking on getting a dog but want advice on which is the best to get as i have young children.
Answers:
Please consider rescuing a dog.. there are many out there who are desperate to find a loving home.
Guess it depends what you want, puppies do tend to get snapped up pretty quickly, which means some of the older dogs get passed over.
Kennel staff will be pleased and able to advise you on the dogs and your children, this will probably depend on the age of them.
Both of my dogs have been rescued, I had Barney for about 15 years, from the age of 4 months old and I now have Leo who was 4 when I got him, and is now nearly 7.
Both were x breeds - which means you get a 'one off' orginal, and nobody has one the same anywhere. Plus they tend to be a bit more robust as they haven't got any of the problems that are caused by breeding - which happens in some pure breeds.
Good luck with your search.
I'm sure you will find the right dog for your family, and as in my case, when rescuing, you'll find the dog/pup normally ends up picking you!!!
golden retrievers or labs are good family dogs and are gentle around children. Most little dogs attach to one person and can become violent with little children if the kids get to playful.
Labs are great especially if you get one about 2 yrs old that has been raised past the chewing stage. They are very friendly and sweet. Ours is 4 yrs old now and he follows the kids every where. If you do get them younger ask to see the whole litter together and pick the laziest one out of the bunch. Both times we got the lazy ones they are the best dogs we have had!! Very laid back and easy to train.
i have a six year old staff she`s dull as a brush and loves kids, i will never get any other breed its how you bring them up
If you have young children, it is best to get a larger breed so that it can't be hurt as easily. Children can be rough even when they dont' mean to be, so it's a good idea to get a sturdy dog even though most people think that small dogs are better for children. In my opinion, mixed breeds are the way to go. They get all of the good qualities of what they are mixed with. And, you can save a homeless animal. I got my dogs off of Petfinder. All you have to do is put in your zip code and what kind of dog you are looking for and ta-da, it will show you all of the homeless dogs in your area. There are some shelters that aren't on it yet, but the majority of them are. Saving an animals life is one of the best experiences you'll ever have!!! Good Luck!!!
Retreivers and Labradors, or if you want small a little Havanese or Maltese.
We have a Greyhound who is absolutely brilliant with kids. When we pick ours up from school she is swamped with kids who all adore her. The downside is they eat so much, you cant leave anything around , it will go !!
I agree with the other answers, labs and retrievers are the most laid back and gentle. Alot of the terriers are yappy and snippy. Border collies are extremely smart but are very high energy.
it depends on how young. don't get a poodle. retrievers and labs are really good with kids, but they will quickly outgrow them, if they're little kids. it really depends on how they're raised. boston terriers and some jack russels are great with kids and they're small, but they're both really hyper. don't get a chow or a pomeranian. they usually don't do well with smaller kids. it all depends on the kids, really...
go to the shelter and get a good mutt. the people there can probably help you, but take your kids too.
Many dogs are great with children, I would recommend a local rescue. For young children I recommend an adult dog, while puppies are cute you can look forward to 1.5 years of growing. As well as the headache of traininig.
Older dogs are settled, and often come already house broken. Do expect some initial problems as it takes a few days for the dog to adjust. Do some research on breeds, even if you go for a mixed breed have an idea of the type of dog your dog is part of.
Retrivers, lab crosses and hounds are good with children I find. You want a dog that will be patient with young kids if they are playing with them.
One test, is submission test. put the dog on his back and hold him there. If the dog gives in quickly and stays on his back, it is a sign of submission. If he struggles and fights you then there is a potential problem as you need a dog that knows he is on the bottom of the pack.
Feed the dog, give him a treat like a chewie stick or something then go to take it. If you can take it from his mouth and praise him when you do that. Chances are he will not be protective of his food if a child sticks his hand in his food bowl or goes to pet him while he is eating.
If you get a dog, I recommend a Crate, and crate train him. Feed him, water him and give him his treats in his crate. make sure he has a comfy blanke that is his. This crate is not a punishment crate, but a crate for him to go to be safe. When the dog is in his crate the kids should leave him alone and let him sleep, eat or just be lazy.
Call the dog out of his crate if you want to pet him or play with him.
Dogs are wonderful creatures, and have there own personalities.
harry
http://thediabeticrunner.blogspot.com...
I am so happy to see so many people recommending going to a shelter! Most shelters do behavior evaluations of their dogs and can tell you which should be good with children.
While I like most of Yen's answer, I will recommend that you not do the tests he suggested. Let the kennel staff do that - and they have if they do behavior tests. It would be terrific if the dog you liked let you take a toy from him, but what if he didn't? If he bit you, you would be hurt and the dog would probably have to be put to sleep. Let the people who are trained to do these things put themselves at risk. They know the warning signs so are not usually hurt, anyway (I do them, so I know).
Good luck!
get a staff ive had them all my life even as babys they were great with us
Any dog if raised properly can be great with kids,it doesn't matter whether there pedigree or crossbreed/mongrel etc.If your a first time dog owner make sure you do your homework,find out everything you can about a certain breed your interested in,ask yourself important questions about your lifestyle and what dog would best suit your family.If you have a small house your not going to be thinking of getting a large breed of dog etc.A dog is a huge responsibility which you could have for the next 15yrs so you need to be totally commited to finding the right dog.Some breeds that are known for being very good with children are,
labrador
golden retreiver
staffordshire bull terrier
cavilier king charles spaniel
cocker spaniel
There is loads more i could add,but as i said earlier it's all down to the way you raise it whatever the breed!!Good luck.
Please give the ages of your children. If they are too young, it would not be fair to either the dog or the children. You sound as though you have no experience whatsoever with dogs, so here are some questions for thought:
If you have several young children, can you realistically AFFORD a dog? Dogs require more than food, water, shelter from the elements, and a collar and leash. They also require medical care. Too many people go onto "PetQnA.com " and ask for home remedies so they can avoid getting the care their pets need. Dogs require annual checkups, immunizations, and teeth cleanings. Office visits are an additional charge on top of any 'work' done while there. In addition, even young dogs can get cancer, kidney failure, or a host of other chronic problems. And the recent pet food recall shows that any dog can get kidney failure from bad food. Do you have the $$$ or credit to continually care for a chronic health problem?
Getting a dog is a LIFETIME commitment and not to be taken lightly. Will someone be at home with the dog, or do both parents work and the kids are in daycare? Dogs are social animals and left alone for hours can begin destructive behavior due to frustration such as chewing, biting, howling (always nice for the neighbors), digging, scratching furniture, peeing inappropriately, etc. If such behavior begins, do you have the time and patience to work with the dog? A dog is not a vase or a pair of bookends that you can put aside. A dog requires love, care and attention much as a child does.
So if your hands are full dealing with your children, don't assume the dog will be your babysitter. And please, if you do decide to get a dog, then when you bring him/her home you should give him/her a quiet place and a bed. Keep the kids away at first until the dog is familiar and comfortable with the new surroundings. Don't overwhelm the dog. And getting an older dog would be best. Puppies are like babies and you don't need one peeing all over the house if you have small children crawling on the floor. Older dogs are usually housetrained already and have the wisdom and patience to deal with kids.
Are you a fussy housekeeper? Don't get a dog, then keep him or her outside and away from the family just because you don't like hair on clothes and furniture.
And if you are looking for one, please check your local humane society first. Most have a small fenced area where you and the kids can 'try out' the dog and get acquainted first before you decide to take him/her home. That way both sides get to find out if it's a 'match.' It's also a good way to find out if anyone is strongly allergic to the dog.
If more people gave consideration to these issues, there would be less suffering in the world, not only for dogs but for other animals - and children! Just because something is wanted does not necessarily mean it is right to do, at least not at that time, until one is ready. There are responsibilities that accompany the privileges. These are just some of the issues to consider. So do your homework, take your time and don't rush into it. Then you will truly have a good match. And while a good match is important for the family, it's absolutely crucial for the dog, since he or she has no voice and their fate depends on the kindness and loyalty of the family that adopts them.
jules got there before me.
visit your local dog refuge, take the kids %26 let the perfect dog pick you.
Take a couple "pet quizzes" on the internet %26 see what breeds come up that meet your criteria. I believe petfinders.com has such a quiz. My grandsons have labs %26 they are wonderful family pets, as are the golden retrievers. But, these are large dogs %26 they shed. I have pups in the bichon family %26 they are very good with children also, but they are small (10-12#) and often times, breeders do not want to sell to families with very young children because the pups may accidently get injured. I got my 1st puppy at 10 weeks and my 2nd dog at just over 1 yr. He came fully trained -- including potty trained - whoppeee! I agree with the suggestions to check out your local dog shelters and rescue groups. perfinders.com is a good place to get started. Good Luck!
Greyhounds have lovely soft and gentle temperaments and are good with children. Try your local greyhound rescue centre. They also don't need a lot of exercise.
if you go to the pedigree website there is a questionnaire on that.
it asks loads of questions about lifestyle, exercise, family etc and based on your answers it gives you a list of dogs that would be suitable for you from professionals!
also u can sign up for a monthly email newsletter which is full of great tips and ideas...and best of all it's free!!!
i would write down a few different breeds you might like,big or small, then i would look each one up on the Internet,see which suit you and your family best,the worst thing is to go out an get any.my mum decided she wanted 2 yorkie's..lol..she is quite old and doesnt go out much...they are a night-mare..so hypo..she always locks them up now.. so they chew her house up because they are boared(not enough exercise) and she wonders why..ha? i think it is very cruel,its her own fault,for not listening and being compulsive!...not all dogs are little fluffy bundles of joy..lol.. or ideal for everybody.
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