What kind of dog is best for...?

Question

an 11 year old girl that is an only child?
What dog is playful and not very expensive? And pretty simple to take care of?

Oh yeah, I live in a house with a pretty small backyard. So I'm going for small dogs. Not dogs that grow to be big.

Answer 1

go to petfinders.com....this is a site for rescue groups, for all different breeds....just put in your Zip code, and be AMAZED at how many choices you have !!....i adopted a Great Pyrenees mix from them, and my dog Sylvester is great !!.... check it out....try it....do a good deed....adopt a dog......good luck to you in your search !!!

Answer 2

I know labs and retrievers are like the most commercial ones, I have a golden retriever, but I dont think that would be a good one for something inexpensive, because they do have a tendency of tearing things up,they're probably better for devoted college students who have a nice backyard of their own, and maybe another dog, and I also have a shitzu, they arent very loving like the retrievers and labs are,and small dogs come with alot more problems than larger breeds, like ,skin issues which cause them to chew their fur off, its kinda gross, unless ur a high maintenance dog person who takes them to the groomer alot, and that would be expensive , so , the best dog would be a midsize dog, very loving, and can handle being alone in a yard without going crazy, I would say basset hound, but they do get pretty big, not dauchshund, they can get pretty aggressive also. hmm, I've got it.. a small collie , they need to have toys to play with(like tennis balls and rubber squeky toys, really cheap) , and they'll be fine, and u can usually find a good looking mixed breed one at a shelter, so you can get a cheap one, and save it from the shelter too. best of both worlds, hope this helps, have fun!

Answer 3

Your best bet for starters would be go to your local Humane Society and see what they have there. You'd be surprised that some of the dogs there, whether cute or not, are very loving and willing to please and VERY well mannered. Plus that could save you the trouble of potty training, chewing, biting, jumping. ALL the puppy stuff. As for mainteance wise, obviously a 3-4 year old will need less exercise than a 6 month old, but still have the energy the keep up with your 11 year old. Also a short-haired dog will require a lot less care as for brushing. But as for shedding, you have the options of a short-haired dog will shed single individual hairs, where a long-haired dog (which needs to be brushed daily) will shed bigger clumps of hair, which you could just pick up and grab with your hand. Also the smaller the dog, the more energy they have. GENERALLY, bigger dogs tend to be a little more mellow. Hope I helped.
P.S. Labs have A LOT of energy!!

Answer 4

A lot of dogs are going to turn out playful depending on how you raise them. As for inexpensive, any kind of purebred dog is going to cost you a bit of money. If you go to an animal shelter or a pound, you might be able to find something you'd like and it will be cheap. Get something with short hair, that is not too large, and it will probably be simple to take care of.

Another really great resource is the newspaper or craigslist (www.craigslist.org) - if they have a craigslist site for your area. There are tons of people - at least in San Francisco - who post about dogs whose owners passed away or are unable to keep them. Those dogs are a lot of times completely trained and wonderful pets for a child to take care of. Good luck!

Answer 5

a small dog with a good temperment. i would also reccomend an akita. the are big dogs that need, lots of room. so you would probably need to live in a single family home. but if they have a good temperment than they are worth it. i have two. they are also good guard dogs so if the girl is out walking or something and she brings the akita with her than she is pretty safe with him/her. the only down is that they are kinda expensive to feed..they eat alot. and they should be trained...because they are instinctively guard dogs and if not trained they may jump at any stranger.


good luck

also i hear golden retrievers and labs are good family dogs...and check in shelters because the people there would know the dog more personally and could tell you more about how they would behave with a kid. dont go to puppymills or big stores!

Answer 6

Check out your local animal shelter, that is the only way to get a dog that costs less than $500. If you really want a purebreed, look online for purebreed rescues, but first do a breed search online to see what breed is best for your needs. However you are not going to find a dog that is simple to take care of, all dogs require a decent amount of work, especially if you want one that is playfull but well trained. Even the best breed of dog can be a monster if you don't spend the time to train it properly. Make sure you have the time to commit to training before you get a dog, otherwise it might get out of control.

Answer 7

A few ppl have said to go to a local animal shelter to rescue a dog..that is a good start...if you are looking to get a purebreed dog, they have rescue centres for those as well.... I rescued a male boxer, which would have cost me well over $1,200 dollars,for a donation of $300.00....labradors,boxers, and shephards are all great dogs..very loyal and very protective..the question you have to ask yourself is what can you handle..the bigger the dog,the bigger the mess...if you are in the market for a smaller dog that offers the qualities of the above mentioned ones , then I suggest any terrier breed, basset hound, or any small mixed breed...good luck..and hope you find the right companion for your 11 yr old

Answer 8

I would go with either a Golden Retriever or a Labrador. My neighbors had a lab for their children growing up and it is the most intelligent and well trained dog I have ever met. They're relatively cheaper than other breeds and are easy to take care of. If you're concerned with cost, I'd consider going down to your local Humane Society to see if they have any Golden Retrievers or Labradors available. Good luck!

Answer 9

If I were that 11 year old girl, I would want a Yorkshire Terrier, a Shih Tzu, dashund, ect. on any small dogs. But that is just my opinion. I don't really care for big dogs.

Answer 10

Take your daughter to a petsmart adoption and let her see them all. Find a rescue that fosters in their homes so that they can tell you the most about the dogs personality. If you want simple don't get a puppy they may be cute but they are extremely hard to take care of.

Answer 11

Go to your local animal shelter. The fees are minimal and the dog will most likely have already had its vaccinations and be spayed/neutered. The staff at the shelter, who work with the dogs every day and often know their histories, will be able to listen to what you are looking for and help you find the dog that most matches what you want.