Best type of dog?

Question

I would like a dog maybe a bulldog the only problem is i have a kitten and small children, what the best type of dog with children and other animals?

Answer 1

There's not really an answer for this question as anyone can say i grew up with a certain breed and tell you that their fantastic, there's nothing that a dog cant be taught from a young age, as long as the pup knows that the children are higher up in the "pack" (as you would most likely know that dogs are pack animals and rank in the pack matters). Having a kitten and a pup are great as they do tend to bond better when introduced at a younger age.

So i say go with which ever breed that tickles your fancy a little obedience and training and he/she will fit right into the family = )

Hope that's helped (",)

Answer 2

There are many different types of dogs that are great with kids (with the kitten if it is a pup and kitten it will take time there/maybe not mine loved each other from the start) go to the library get a book on different dog see which are good that you may like.......I have a poodle (no shedding) and a 5yr old and kitten we're all still alive....you do have dogs that tend to be partial to one in the family...chow...you like bulldogs read up on bulldogs that maybe just the right one for you and its what you wanted

Answer 3

Okay, there a many many breeds that can be GREAT with children & cats & just about anything you put them together with.
Sure, characteristics of a breed are important, but WAY more important than that is training, and treatment of the dog. No matter what, with so many variables in the situation already, I'd suggest you start with a young dog, preferably from a breeder so that you know where the pup's coming from, and what kind of experiences have shaped it's personality before it gets to your house.
Then it depends on you. What kind of dog you like, the time you have to spend on training (a puppy is going to be a LOT of work no matter what breed!!) and of course space and exercise needs and all that.
I'd have to say that no matter what breed you go with, find yourself an obedience trainer, and do the lessons with your dog. The trainer should not only be able to help you train your dog to fit in to your family (and train the family to live with the dog!!) but also will know if there are any inherent problems with the dog that can't be trained out of it.
Good luck, hope you find a pup that works for you!

Answer 4

I grew up with rottweilers and they are the most loving I have ever known. They are very steady in temperament and will tolerate a lot from small children. My dogs used to curl up and go to sleep with our cats too. I would obviously say that you should never leave your child alone with a rottie as they are powerful dogs, but that really does go for any dog. Any dog can have an 'off' day and children may not know when to leave well alone. Smaller dogs tend to nip, but you do have the advantage of being able to pick them up and take them out of the room if they are being naughty!

When we were choosing dogs when I was small, my parents used to take me along so they could see how the dog interacted with children. Always check the dogs parents and if they are a pedigree you can do some research into the dogs backgrounds too. Definitely get a dog of some kind though because I loved growing up having dogs in the house.

Answer 5

The best thing to do if you want a pedigree dog, is go to something like discover dogs at Crufts or Earls Court. You get to see owners/breeders with all flavours of dogs, and they are honest about what to expect from their particular breed. After all they don't want owners who are not able to look after the dogs properly.

Everyone says their dog is the best type, but it may not suit you, your lifestyle, your family, your house or your location. So think carefully about, stuff like:

How much exercise it will need - and how much you can give(Hounds as a general rule, like a lot of exercise)

How demanding it will be (Collies as a general rule require a lot of attention and playing with or they can become bored and depressed)

How noisy is it likely to be some breeds can bark - a lot!

The size of the dog, if you live in a small house with a small garden, is it realistic to have a big dog?

Do you want a dog or bi.ch Dogs may need to be neutered, bi.ches almost certainly will need spaying after their first season if you do not intend to breed from them.

Grooming is also another thing to consider, if you don't want dog hair all over your house, a shorter haired breed might be better, longer haired dogs can need stripping and a lot of grooming and clipping. Do you know if your children are allergic to dog fur? Some breeds are better than others, Poodles being one which is good for children with allergies.

Mongrels are great dogs to have as well and you are less likely to have behavioural problems as they are not inbred. However dogs are animals, it's easy to put human emotions and behaviours on them, but they don't think the same way as us!

If you have never had a dog before (and when you were growing up), think very carefully about introducing one into a house where there are children. You need to be the boss with a dog and he needs to know he is at the bottom of the pecking order in your family or you will have all sorts of problems. You need to be sure that you will be able to cope, or it will be unfair on both your family and your dog, who you may find you have to give up because you can't look after it.

Dogs and cats get along just fine so that shouldn't be a problem, especially if you have the cat first.

I have had dogs all my life from a small child, including mongrels, a Beagle, a Dalmatian, a Staffy, many Cocker Spangals and currently Portuguese Podengos and also various flavours of cat, who, make no mistake, were always the boss!

I would recommend getting pet insurance and getting your dog ID chipped. Ensure you buy the puppy from a reputable dealer, pedigrees are expensive, so you should expect to pay anything up to £1000 depending on the breed. If you research on the internet for dog prices and someone offers you one cheaper, be very wary. Like anything, if it seems to good to be true, it probably is. You can buy dogs from breeders which they cannot show or breed from, these can be cheaper, so always ask if they have any available if you aren't bothered. I have a dog with an overshot bottom jaw, it bothers him not a jot, but it did mean he was cheaper.

Get your new dog checked over by the vet within a couple of days of having him.

Happy dog hunting.

Answer 6

I agree with the Golden Retriever, they are a perfect family pet. I also have a friend with an English Bulldog and he's a great pet, good with children, and the cats.

We did recently aquire a Border Collie as a family pet. But we did a ton of research and knew what we were getting into before we made the decision to get one. BCs require lots of excercise and preferably need a job. We're persuing agility with our pup. They can be excellent with children, but you have to work hard to discourage the nipping they tend to do as part of their herding instinct. And they can become bored very easily, so they are a good breed, but require a lot more work in the right direction than some others.

The best advice is to research some of your suggestions here if they appeal to you. Talk to your vet for suggestions and find a good breeder who can give you the right information on the breed you choose to go with. Be sure you pick a reputable breeder. The right breeder will help you with information about your breed of choice, be able to make suggestions for puppy training and trainers, and will be willing to answer questions you may have even 6 months or more down the line. A really good breeder will also request, that if the puppy doesn't work out for you, that you agree to return him/her to them so they can find a suitable home, rather than see them go to a shelter or rescue.

Some dogs are good with other pets and children, some are not the best of choices. Researching the breeds is your best way to make sure you get a breed that will make a nice fit for your family.

Answer 7

I'd like to suggest that you socialize your kitten with some of the neighborhood dogs. Then try to let your kitten let you know what kind of dog she/he gets along with.

The kitten, because she/he is a kitten is young enough to accept a dog friend. And a puppy doesn't know anything but play, eat and sleep. When they grow up together in a loving environment they can become the best of friends.

When my Shih-tzu was young, I took her to the vet. There was a kitten there who was maybe 2-3 weeks old and terrified. He made his way to my dog, cuddled up into her stomach and slept there for about 1/2 till we could all see the vet. I didn't know how my dog would react -- my I guess her maternal instincts came out, and she really cared and calmed for that kitten.

I would be more concerned about the children in the household having to be educated to care, love and not feed junk food to the animals.

Good luck and enjoy your family -- kids, animals and all. :-)

Answer 8

if a kitten is already in the house a new dog will accept the kitten as they have entered the kittens territory, cats and dogs that have grown up together get on fine just remember to continue to give the kitten lots of attention as for the children a labrador golden retriever are very placid breeds and wont cause you any problems, bulldogs are ok they dont live long not my personal taste. any breed of dog that has grown up with children will love them, labradors and golden retrievers are the most friendly breeds.

Answer 9

whoever said a terrier is wrong. Terriers do not like children! I would suggest a mongrel or a Labrador or Golden Retriever. It actually doesn't matter which dog you have so much so long at is is socialsied well and the children know how to treat it well. Most dogs will be wary of small children at first but once they create a bond they will be naturally protective of their little friends. When you get the dog be sure to give it a lot of attention so that it doesn't get too jealous over one particular child (usually the smallest)

Answer 10

As long as you know what kind of dog you want, what that breed requires of you as an owner (excersise-wise, training, breed-related diseases and stuff like that) you can have whatever dog you like.
Having children and cats is no problem with any specific breed as long as you teach them how to interactwith each other (this mostly applies to the children - they HAVE to be taught how to behave around dogs, not to pull their tail, ears , climb all over the dog and they have to learn that the dog has the right of privacy every now and then.)

GOOD LUCK!