best dog..?

Question

I am thinking of buying a dog some time next year. I am wanting a dog that is excellent with children and is able to protect us and our home?

Dont say rottweillers they r a big NO!NO! i have heard too many stories of them attacking children., I live in UK so i think american pitt bulls are illegal incase any1 was goin to say that..

opinions xxx

yeah i was thinkgin of a german shepard as my Bf had one, but it bit my *** one day when i was jumping on him. I have been brought up around boxers - amazing dogs and staffys. i just cant decide

Rotties scare the living heck out of me. When i saw about 7 i saw one (off the lead) run up to a little ladys westie and grab it by the neck and tore it to shreads. So the stories about the little kiddies gettern ate by them confirmed that i definately wouldnt concider one

Answer 1

I think you need to write down a list of all the dogs that you WOULD consider owning, and then research those on the internet. There are sites that list the dogs by breed, and talk about all their usual traits. Then you need to pick the one breed that seems the right for you.

http://www.kingdomofpets.com/dogobediencetraining/dogbreeds/index.php
http://www.pgaa.com/canine/general/size.html

When you go to pick out your dog, you need to look into their eyes and pick a dog that has intelligence looking back at you. Believe me, you WILL be able to see this. Ones that make you feel uncertain as to temperament are ones you should reject.

Also, if it comes down to a puppy that completely ignores you, and a puppy that only wants to please you and get your attention, pick the one that wants to please you. This dog is more likely to be trainable by you because it wants to please you to begin with.

Good luck.

Answer 2

I'd recommend an Irish Setter.

They're friendly, happy go lucky dogs with sweet natures & a comical side to their characters. Plus they also look gorgeous.

They're good with children, extremely good. Though they probably would not bite an intruder in your house, they will bark to let you know that someone is there. After all, it's far more important that the dog be safe with your children & their friends.

A large barking dog does look very intimidating & the intruder will not know that the soppy thing is as soft as butter.

However, I've found a quiz online to help chose the right dog for you - can't say how good the quiz actually is ... the questions are a bit odd - it recommends that I should have a Golden Retriever, a German Shepherd, a Poodle or a Chihuahua, lol, quite an eclectic mix!

The second link might be a bit better.... it recommends Airedale, ChowChow, Golden Retriever or Bernese Mountain Dog for me. Actually, this quiz does seem more serious & questions you about things like the amount of time you will spend with the dog, grooming it & walking it, etc. And also, how much you can afford to spend feeding it ... though the money is in Australian dollars.

Hmm, does this mean that I should be trading in my gorgeous Setter for a Goldie?

The third link is a sort of index to different dog types - that give both good points & bad points about the various dogs, along with photos. Maybe a good place to look up a few of the breeds that other people have mentioned.

Hope you find one suitable for you & your lifestyle.

If you decide on a purebred/pedigree dog & decide to get a puppy, rather than rescuing an adult - try the Champdogs site. It gives lists of breeders, along with their location & puppy availabity.

Good luck .

Answer 3

Hi,
Well i would ignore the suggestion to get a labrador as they are less than suitable as guard dogs!

I remember well the story of the two retrievers that stood by and watched their owner get murdered.

If a Rotweiller is too big then there are a number of breeds that would fit this requirement:- the English Bull Terrier (standard or miniature) is usually very good with children but tends to be dog aggressive.

My own loves my little boy but despises small, furry dogs. She will happily grab them without warning (or at least she did until i noticed the issue and kept her on a lead at all times) and this change did not occur until she was 2 years old.

Certainly she is an able protector of the family and a loyal friend but you have to be strong enough to hold on to the lead + I would not recommend them for first time dog owners.

The Staffordshire Bull Terrier could be good- they love kids and are strong for their size but they too tend to scrap with other dogs and can be quite head strong.


If greater obedience is required you may want to look to the Doberman. Unfortunately many have been bred up in size and are now far too big. There are some decent lines, however, and a female will be smaller than most males.

I had a Doberman as a child, a fantastic dog and loyalty personified, she was a great size (more medium) and would have fitted your requirements perfectly.

There is a little known breed called the Glen if Imaal Terrier, which is very heavily built, quieter and better behaved than most terriers but has awesome strength and is known to love children and afford decent protection. They are short but built like tanks, also quite hairy.

A decent small protector is the Japanese Shiba Inu. I have heard great things about them. They are quite independant and aloof but they have decent courage and will look to protect hearth and home.

The same is true of the Schipperke- a small sharp, black dog that lacks the man-stopping weight of breeds like the bull terrier, doberman and so on but is very alert and aggressive when it comes to keeping the family safe.

So really it depends on what you are after- you need to be more specific:- is obedience an important requirement, do you want a short-haired dog, how much can you spend etc....

Answer 4

As you have children it is really important that you don't get a guard dog type but a watch dog type.
The difference is that guard dogs have highly developed protective instincts which means although they protect your home, they also protect toys, individuals, beds, food etc and this is a big risk when you have children in the house.
It is clear from your comment about Rottweilers that you are aware of the risks with these types of dogs which include German Shepherds, Mastiffs, Pitt Bulls etc.
Watch Dogs are dogs which are typically alert and good at barking to warn off intruders, but at the same type known for their gentleness with children. This group includes breed such as Labradors, Collies, Golden Retrievers, Weimeraners etc.
If you want a balance between the different skills of these dogs then why not look out for a cross breed? Cross breeds often inherit the best characteristics from both parents and are cheaper to purchase. A German Shepherd cross Labrador would be an excellent choice.
Good luck!

Answer 5

I think you will have to decide which is more important, excellent with the children or good guard dog?
Personally I think Westie's are great with kids, but they are quite small, our current one would love a burglar to come and visit her!
Staff's are known to be gentle with kids, but they aren't often very good with other dogs... and the same problem with the burglars.
If you look on the kennel club website, you can look at all the breed characteristics. You can also find breeders on there once you have decided which doggie to go for.
Always make sure you get a puppy from somewhere you can meet the mother, that'll show you a lot about how your puppy will grow up, so only get the puppy if you are happy with the mums temperament.
It's a big decision but I'm sure you'll find a breed you are happy with. Happy puppying = )

Answer 6

I'm with the Border Collie suggestion, but again, I have a BC puppy and may be a little biased :)

Border Collies are very intelligent and high energy dogs. They are also protective of their families. They won't be ripping someone to shreds, but they'll certainly make it known if an unwanted visitor comes around.

But this breed isn't for just anyone either. Due to their intelligence and high energy, they can get bored if not properly mentally challenged and being destructive is often the result of this boredom. The daily walk is not enuf for this breed. Dog sports such as agility, flyball and frisbee are great ways to give a BC a job and give them that mental stimulation they so need.

This is a highly trainable breed and will make a wonderful familiy companion in the right family. They just require a little more commitment than the average dog. With our puppy, we are persuing obedience and agility training. Agility looked like a fun sport that we and our puppy would enjoy and we are looking forward to it.

Good Luck in picking out a puppy!

Answer 7

Basic Training of the Puppy - Read here https://tr.im/uwPmA

The new puppy is certainly one of the most adorable and cuddly creatures that has ever been created. It is the most natural thing in the world to shower it with love and affection. However, at the same time it is important to realize that if you want to have a well trained adult dog, you need to begin the training process right away. The dog, like its related ancestor, the wolf, is a pack animal. One of the features of a pack is that it has a single dominant leader. Your new puppy is going to want that leader to be you, but if you do not assume that role from the very beginning, the puppy’s instincts will push him to become the leader.

The most important thing to remember about training the puppy during its first six months of life is that it must see you as the leader of the family pack. The essential thing is gaining the trust and the respect of the puppy from the beginning. You will not do this by allowing the puppy to do whatever it wants to do whenever it wants to do it. On the other hand, a certain amount of patience is required. Most people err in their early training by going to extremes one way or the other. Although you need to begin the basic training process at once, you can not expect your dog to do too much at first. Basic obedience training is fine and should include simple commands like sit, stay, and come. Remember that trying to teach the dog advanced obedience techniques when it is a puppy is much like trying to teach a five year old child algebra.

It is also important to restrain from cruel or abusive treatment of the puppy. You can not beat obedience into your dog, and it certainly is not going to engender feeling of respect and trust. House breaking is an area where this usually becomes a problem because of the anger that is triggered when the puppy fails and creates a mess inside the home. Although this issue must be addressed without anger, it most be addressed. If you allow the puppy to eliminate inside the house, it will continue to do so as an adult dog. The same thing is true of other destructive or dangerous behavior such as chewing and biting. Do not expect the puppy to grow out of it. You are going to need to train the puppy out of it, but you should do so firmly but with a sense of play and fun using positive reinforcement and lots of love and praise for good behavior.

Answer 8

I have a staffordshire bull terrier and he is gorgeous he is the most loving dog I have ever had (I have had a Labrador and a little terrier before). I don't have any kids of my own but other people I know with kids do have this breed of dog and they say they are brilliant because they are so playful and generally quite a tough breed so they can take a child pulling his ears or their tail they just don't care. The kids in our street do call round just visit our dog which he loves they kiss him and stroke him and look in his mouth. As with any dog make sure you go to a proper breeder and get Kennel club papers you will have to pay extra but it is worth it to make sure you know what you are getting. SBT's are renowned for not being keen on other dogs but if you socialise them properly when they are a puppy you should have no problems, we went to puppy classes with ours which were free of charge at out local vets and it really works he has two best mates now a whippet and a boxer.

Answer 9

Hi, i have 4 children from 4-19 and we purchased a lab / crossed with a long haired collie, completely obediant, loves all the children,dogs,people, no vices 4 year old climbs all over him and he loves it, never snapped or bitten or got stroppy in his life with family, visitors. lets you know straight away if there is anyone about the house, garden and i believe would protect if he felt we were threatened!.

Best dog we have ever had, hes 3 now and just gets better.

We had him from a 12 week pup, been neuteured,chipped, wormed and injected every year.

point being as he has been with us from a pup he knows exactley what is / is not allowed, best way to have them.

mongrels temperements seem to be better, heard it said a lot.

most of all love it and excersise it and enjoy, it will love right back.

Answer 10

I know you say NO NO to rottweiler's BUT the stories... honestly any dog can be vicious the rottweilers that have attacked people have been brought up to be guard dogs.I have three loverly rotties and all of them came from a garage,they were all gaurd dogs and all of them would not hurt a fly they dopy!!!! A really good dog also to have is a jack russel they are loyal and will protect you no matter what.

Answer 11

This is an answer I gave before to someone asking the same question:
Contrary to popular belief staffordshire bull terriers are the most soppy gentle dogs i have ever seen, my family has had them for years and when baby relatives have come round they have been able to pull their ears and tales and make lots of noise without the dog getting remotely irritated, I would trust one round my children (if i had children) although slightly worried about posting this as its down to how the individual dog has been treated, so if its been well treated or you get it as a pup i think it would be ok!
Staffs are not dangerous like everyone thinks they are