Attention Dog owners

[antnee]

What kind of dog do you have?? Is that type best for small children?? My mom and sister each have a black Lab, but my sisters dog is a little more obedient. My mom's dog is a very hyper female and jumps to much, but my sister's although somewhat hyper does eventually relax. Both are large but I was wondering what kind of dog would you recommend with small children around???

 

[phins_jazy]

We've got a 13 lb shih-tzu that we adopted from the pound almost a year ago. He's so very mellow and obedient. We've also got a 4 year old dd. She sometimes tends to pick him up and carry him like a baby. They are the best of friends and play well together. My best friend has a miniature american eskimo that is about 19 lbs. That dog is a different story. He's very hyper and into everything. She's got a 4 year old dd as well and she's not able to play with her dog as much as my dd is able to play with our dog.

 

[jamsmom]

Because of allergies, I had a poodle while growing up. He would let me put baby clothes on him and push him in my doll stroller down the street. I would put him in teh terry-cloth onsies that were long-sleeved and long-pants. He would just let me do it


I love chihauhaus and they tend to really attach themselves to 1 person. My youngest niece has a Westie that is very protective of her. Even growled at my brother-in-law when he was scolding her one time.

 

[tkd lisa]

We had a chocolate lab. We had him before the kids, and when the kids came around he was great! I'd say that we trained him from the very beginning to keep all four feet on the ground, and that his place was the floor, not furniture. Although he was a little excitable as a puppy (mostly over it by the time he was 18 months), those two simple rules made him a great pet!

When DD came home from the hospital and everyone came to visit, he would go through his entire routine of tricks trying to get people to notice him. It was really comical!

We always said that the pecking order was my DH, me, the dog, then the kids, and that was only because they fed him!

The only time he even growled at them was when dd (about 2 at the time) BIT his ear! He did have a habit of getting up when they laid on him, but it never hurt him or the kids.

My in-laws have a brittany spaniel. She's also good with kids but she's pretty hyper.

 

[MerryPoppins]

We have 2 bichons. They are great with kids. My kids have dragged them everywhere and they never complain. They are a little headstrong, so training is a little challenging. They aren't yippy or highstrung. I can't imagine them ever biting anyone.

We've also had 2 mutts. Both excellent dogs. Sometimes I think rescued dogs are even more special than purebred.

 

[jipsy]

Who is going to be taking care of the dog? You or the kids? How old are your kids now? Do you want a puppy or are you going to adopt an older dog which may already be trained? How much time do you have to spend on grooming and training? Do you want this dog for companionship for the kids or for protection or both? Are you partial to large dogs or small dogs? Do you plan on breeding? Do you have a fenced yard? If not, who will walk the dog every day or how will you exercise it? Are you in an apartment?

There are alot of things that you need to ask yourselves. Once you have a list of criteria for your personal needs, go to this site:

http://www.akc.org/

You can research specific breeds with descriptions of what types of families and lifestyles each breed fits best.

That being said: I tend to like mutt breeds myself. I have one lab/greyhound mix and one lab/hounddog mix. They are both intelligent, gentle and easy to please. They are good around kids, although a little overbearing at times because of their energy and size. Since we live in an apartment, we walk them nearly every day in a park nearby so they can get needed exercise.

 

[janette]

We have a Bichon and a Catahoula mix. Due to my 8yo DD's allergies we can only have a Bichon or Poodle type bred in the house so we are pretty limited in our choice.

The Catahoula is an outside dog and we got her from the pound when she was about 6yo. She is a great dog and is wonderful with my 8yo DD. She has never been at all aggressive toward kids or adults. Her favorite activity is playing ball & being petted. Her tolerance for our puppies antics amazes me.

The Bichon is only about 8mths right now. He loves kids, doesn't like strange adults but will warm up some eventually. My girls have dressed him up and tend to carry him around more than necessary but for the most part I think he likes it. He's sad when they aren't home. He has nipped my younger DD sometimes but only when provoked and never enough to qualify as a bite. I've had my great neice and nephew over who are 10mths and 2yo and they love him. I don't let them play with him alone because the tend to pull on him and he's not old enough to know they aren't playing and it's not okay to nip them.

If we get another dog it will probably be a Bichon, we've really enjoyed our puppy and although he's active at this age it's apparent that he'll be a pretty calm dog. Really has made a great pet for us.

 

[Serena]

Do your research. Read books about them, websites, etc.

The major things that decide if a dog can be a family dog are training, love, and how much time you have to spend with them.

Goodluck

Oops, we have a lab mix. She's very smart, lovable, protective and is great with kids.
I didn't do so well with training her to stay off of furniture. I wish I had.
Oh and she sheds terribly.

 

[browneyes]

I have a baby Pomeranian (see my siggy, he's 8 1/2 weeks old). He's great with my kids. My brother has a dog that is part Pom and she's really good with kids too.

 

[Dizzy-Disney4]

We have a 11 month old beagle /fox hound (we think) mix. She is just a big mush and lets the kids climb on her, play with her tail, and all kinds of stuff. She is a sweetie, although a bit larger than we first figured and full of energy. Being a puppy she is such a klutz...she hasn't grown into her legs yet. She is so good with the kids much better than our Bichon was. I think some small dogs get nervous around kids...can't say that I blame them, they make me nervous too.

 

[Shannon G]

We have a yellow lab, who is approaching 3 years old. Our DD is 7 months old, so she came along after the dog. He is great with her. The only concern we ever has is that he will accidently hit her with his paw and scratch her - like if he's laying on the floor next to her, and gets up quickly, I'm afraid he's accidently going to scratch her - he's got really big feet, so his nails can hurt if they get you on bare skin.

But overall he is wonderful with her. I think labs, being such friednly dogs, are generally very good with kids. I have never had any concerns abour him biting her or anything like that. Just the other day, the three of us were laying on the floor together, and DD was pulluing on his ears and his fur, and he just lay there and let her. He will also periodically just walk up to her and lick her face. When she is in her jumpy seat (one of those ones that you hang up and they jump around in) he will play with her. He knows where she can reach him and where she can't, so he'll lay or sit just within her reach, and when she jumps on him, he'll push her with his nose, making her swing in her seat. It's really cute! He is also really good with our nieces and nephews are a little older - he and our five year old nephew run up and down the hallway together. Although he does sometimes still jump on adults, he does not jump on the kids - I think it has to do with the fact that they are already down at his eye level.

 

[Mermaid02]

We have a 5 year old weimaraner.... she is great with the kids- a real family dog, wants to be with us all the time, very protective (barks at EVERYONE who comes near the house).

 

[CookieGVB]

Yo, Ant - long time no see!

I think labs are traditionally very good with kids - you'll want to find a breed that is more tolerant and gentle. I'm assuming the more hyper dog is probably much younger than the other one?

Me, personally, even though I think puppies are absolutely adorable, I don't think I could deal with the whole housebreaking, teething, etc., etc., period that puppies go through. I'd much rather go and adopt an adult dog, but that could cause some other problems.

Browneyes - I wanted to tell you before - you Pom baby is a real cutie!

 

[WilmaBud]

I have 4 Beagles. They're wonderful with children of all ages (including babies). I grew up with Weimaraners, and my parents still have them. They're lovely with children, too.

 

[adamak]

Here is a dog breed selector you can use....
http://animal.discovery.com/guides/dogs/selector/selector1.jsp

Lab and Retrievers are the best family dogs. I have a Sheltie, and he's great. He's very very sweet to kids and babies. Just the best.

 

[AMClvsMKY]

We have had a Great Dane and a couple German Shepards. All were great with my boys ( now 9 & 13) The dane was the best, I could be a little partial because he was a B-Day present. My youngest was 2 yo when we got him.

Both Shepards have been very protective of the family. Our vet thinks the shepard we have now was abused as a puppy, before we bought him. After having him a year, he is alot better with being relaxed around strangers then when we first got him.

Anyway, based on my personal experince with both breeds, I would recommend either around small children.

 

[Disney Dee]

According to my vet, because I did daycare for 28 yrs and different children have different personalities and the ever changing clientele my dogs had to be accepting of changes and calm to hiper personalities. She suggested either a lab, or if I wanted a smaller dog, Pugs. I have had both, and they are very good with children!

 

[phanomouse]

I have 3 dogs... a 20lb cocker spaniel and two 160-190 lb Malamutes... all three of mine have been around my Nieces and Nephews there whole lives so they are good with kids... Cockers tend to be very loyal and very jealous. but malamutes like a big family so yeah...

 

[browneyes]

Originally posted by CookieGVB
Browneyes - I wanted to tell you before - you Pom baby is a real cutie!

Thanks CGVB. He's such a sweet baby too.