What is the best dog to get for a 3 year old.?

Answer 1

A Black Labrador Retriver. They are sweet, kind, and gental. here is some info.
General Appearance
The Labrador Retriever is a strongly built, medium-sized, short-coupled, dog possessing a sound, athletic, well-balanced conformation that enables it to function as a retrieving gun dog; the substance and soundness to hunt waterfowl or upland game for long hours under difficult conditions; the character and quality to win in the show ring; and the temperament to be a family companion. Physical features and mental characteristics should denote a dog bred to perform as an efficient Retriever of game with a stable temperament suitable for a variety of pursuits beyond the hunting environment.

The most distinguishing characteristics of the Labrador Retriever are its short, dense, weather resistant coat; an "otter" tail; a clean-cut head with broad back skull and moderate stop; powerful jaws; and its "kind," friendly eyes, expressing character, intelligence and good temperament.

Above all, a Labrador Retriever must be well balanced, enabling it to move in the show ring or work in the field with little or no effort. The typical Labrador possesses style and quality without over refinement, and substance without lumber or cloddiness. The Labrador is bred primarily as a working gun dog; structure and soundness are of great importance.

Size, Proportion and Substance
Size female is 21½ to 23½ inches. Any variance greater than ½ inch above or below these heights is a disqualification. Approximate weight of dogs and bitches in working condition: dogs 65 to 80 pounds; bitches 55 to 70 pounds.
Coat
The coat is a distinctive feature of the Labrador Retriever. It should be short, straight and very dense, giving a fairly hard feeling to the hand. The Labrador should have a soft, weather-resistant undercoat that provides protection from water, cold and all types of ground cover. A slight wave down the back is permissible. Woolly coats, soft silky coats, and sparse slick coats are not typical of the breed, and should be severely penalized.

Color
The Labrador Retriever coat colors are black, yellow and chocolate. Any other color or a combination of colors is a disqualification. A small white spot on the chest is permissible, but not desirable. White hairs from aging or scarring are not to be misinterpreted as brindling. Black--Blacks are all black. A black with brindle markings or a black with tan markings is a disqualification. Yellow--Yellows may range in color from fox-red to light cream, with variations in shading on the ears, back, and underparts of the dog. Chocolate--Chocolates can vary in shade from light to dark chocolate. Chocolate with brindle or tan markings is a disqualification.

Temperament
True Labrador Retriever temperament is as much a hallmark of the breed as the "otter" tail. The ideal disposition is one of a kindly, outgoing, tractable nature; eager to please and non-aggressive towards man or animal. The Labrador has much that appeals to people; his gentle ways, intelligence and adaptability make him an ideal dog. Aggressiveness towards humans or other animals, or any evidence of shyness in an adult should be severely penalized.
labs forever

Answer 2

I'd recommend one of the Sporting breeds for a child. My all-time favorite mid-sized dog for kids is the English (or Welsh) Springer Spaniel. They require some grooming, but don't shed too much, are generally great with kids and easy to train. Females are a little bit easier than males, but either should make a terrific pet. They will need a good thirty minute walk every day.

Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and Pekingese are great too and need less exercise. They are small, sweet and quiet.

Vizslas, Setters, Labs and Goldens are usually great with kids but they're bigger and are very boisterous until they are about two. Labs shed a LOT.

I'd also suggest reading some really good books on training. Try not to do it randomly - there are a lot of bad books out there also! These are some of my favorites and you can get them on Amazon.com
What All Good Dogs Should Know - Volhard
Good Owners, Great Dogs - Brian Kilcommins
Dog Tricks : Eighty-Eight Challenging Activities for Your Dog from World-Class Trainers by Haggerty and Benjamin
Don't Shoot the Dog - Pryor
Training Your Dog: The Step by Step Method - Volhard
Dog Problems - Benjamin
Cesar's Way - Cesar Millan

Also, watch the Dog Whisperer on the National Geographic Channel. Cesar Millan is the best trainer I've ever seen on TV.


Whatever breed of puppy you decide on DON'T go to a pet shop or buy one off the internet!!!! You'll pay top dollar for what is usually a poor quality puppy mill dog. And you'll be supporting one of the cruelest industries in the country. The breeding animals are kept in deplorable conditions. They probably haven't been vaccinated against contagious diseases or tested for any health or temperament problems or genetic diseases - that costs money and cuts into their profits. A female is often bred every time she comes into heat. When her poor little body can't take it any more, she is often clubbed in the head and tossed into a dumpster or an open ditch. Most puppy mills ship their pups to pet stores at wholesale prices and many pups die before they even get there. These "breeders" have figured out that they can use the internet to ship a dog directly to the customer and thus make more money by cutting out the middleman. If you buy a dog from out of state, good luck getting your money back if there's something wrong with the pup. These people count on you becoming instantly attached to the poor little guy and being willing to spend hundreds or thousands of dollars at the vet to treat whatever is wrong with him.

Find a good breeder by going to www.akc.org or talking to people at dog shows. You can also find info about the breed clubs on the akc site - they probably have a rescue group where you can get an older dog for less money.

Find a breed rescue organization by going to www.akc.org - you can get an older dog for less money. Be VERY careful about getting a shelter dog with children that young. You are often adopting someone else's problem dog. And people often lie about the dog's temperament, hoping he'll get a new home that can deal with him.

Answer 3

Get him/her a stuffed dog toy.

Dogs are a lot of responsibility, for you. The child wont be able to take care of it what so ever. Also, small dogs can be nippy especially with small children, and bigger dogs play to rough and may knock down or hurt a child. Another thing, ANY DOG would have to be constantly supervised around a child, dogs don't like to have their ears, tails, face, etc. pulled on or poked.

Wait until the child is older before you think about bringing a new dog into the family.

Answer 4

Well... it would depend on the size your looking to get, but black and yellow labs are awesome with children. Do not get a puppy if you can avoid it. I mean assuming you don't want to be chasing it around trying to get your socks from him/her. I suggest a black lab that is about 1&1/2 to 2 yrs old, and preferably already trained. They will cost more, but trust me when you have a 3 yr old running around... it's the best plan of action.

I prefer huge dog's to small worthless yapper's. The large ones (pitbulls are excluded) are better with kids usually then small ones. Small ones will bite your children. Big ones, with the proper training can and will save your baby's life someday.
Say your in the park, and u have the dog with you, a kiddnapper will be less likely to bother your baby because the child has a dog with it.

Actually if you really want a big dog... the next one would be St. Bernard. Those are absolutly awesome dogs.

Answer 5

I think a golden retrevier because They are great with kids and the don't bite for any reason. Only make sure you have a Good sized backyard so The dog can run around and play. Just Make you watch the dog and the 3 year old play and don't make forse them to be friends let them get use to each other and bond.

Answer 6

a stuffed one or a hot dog! 2-3 year olds cannot take care of a dog. most kids at that age will only end up hurting the animal whether they mean to or not, wait til your child is 5 or 6 and can understand what a pet is and why its there.

Answer 7

3 year olds don't need dogs. Go ahead and get one...you will be the one to let it out, walk it, feed it, water it, take it to the vet...blah, blah, blah. Why not just buy the 3-yr old a cell phone instead??? Or maybe an x-box 360 or a PS3???

Answer 8

A stuffed one.

I just got a boxer for my three year old. Don't get me wrong-I love Boxers. But I don't know who is worse between the two of them. And they are jealous of each other, as well.
If you must get a real live dog, I would vote for a pound puppy. Your three year old likely doesn't know diddly about breeds and doesn't care. If I could take this beast back that I bought, I would trade her in for a pound puppy.

Answer 9

I have a Bichon Frise and a twelve week old, the dog adores the baby and adores all childeren. I will get another down the road.

Answer 10

none... a child will tug on ears and tails that will make the dog mad... if you get a puppy then you have a puppy to house break and a puppy teething on your 3 year old.