Help finding a toy dog breed?

Question

I'm looking to purchase a toy dog and need some help selecting a breed.

I need a dog that

1. is very small (hence toy dog)
2. good with young kids
3. easy to train, must be house broken easily
4. is good by itself as I am at work 9-5 daily
5. does not shed.

Any help would be kindly appreciated.

Thanks

Answer 1

I'm not so sure a toy breed would be good with kids. Smaller dogs tend to be more cautious than larger dogs due to their size. They can be scared around children and that turns into a biter. Sometimes kids are a little too rough, I'm not saying yours are, and they don't know how to handle such a small, fragile dog.
A good family dog is something like a Beagle. They don't get too large. Another one is a Boston Terrier. They're pretty tough. I had one growing up and they're great with kids. They get to be about 20 pounds.
Good luck.

Answer 2

You've had loads of good advice from everyone - I just wanted to add a few more breeds for you to check out:

Australian Silky Terrier
- this weighs in at around 10 lbs (a little bit larger than a Yorkie) & has a non-shedding coat - though you will need to brush it - I believe that it is reckoned to get on well with children.

Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen
- small dog, with a wiry coat that doesn't shed too much, though it does need clipping, it sounds a fun dog for children but I think you'd have to be careful that it didn't get bored being left alone for too long

Minature Poodle
- I think that this one is slightly bigger than the toy poodle that has already been recommended to you (if I've got that the wrong way around, apologies)

Portugese Water Dog
- they don't shed too much but are, apparently very intelligent, so like the Petit Griffon might need things to occupy themselves with if left alone

Pug
- hmm, just read that they are prone to flatulence, lol

I'd reckon that the Silky or the Poodle would be your best bet.

Answer 3

In average, toy breeds are not the simplest to potty teach. I recognize Italian Greyhounds, Chihuahua, and Miniature Pinschers are recognized for being very problematic to potty teach. My first min pin, took approximately two years earlier than he was once reliably potty educated, and my moment took approximately five-6 months. I've heard from professional IG house owners that experience gotten the potty coaching all the way down to a technology, that IG are certainly not potty educated earlier than no less than 6 months of age. A particularly well instructor might get any puppy potty educated rapidly, however I'm now not a particularly well puppy instructor, so it takes my puppies a at the same time. I do recognize that Chinese Shar Pei and Chow Chows are very very convenient to potty teach, however headstrong and problematic for extra green house owners to manage.

Answer 4

First - I would honestly recommend a shelter dog. I know... when you're set on a breed, you're set, but the best dog you may ever know may be waiting for you to save its life.

Second - Experiencing it for myself - purebred dogs can have issues of their own. I had an Italian Greyhound that was fearful, bit 3 people, and so on. Partially my own fault, but I should have known better what to look for when I got him.

Third - Most small dogs aren't good by themselves. Most dogs, in general, aren't good by themselves. You're going to have to crate your dog (no, it isn't cruel), unless you want possible distruction in your home. Dogs are pack animals so you might want to rethink a dog at this time in favor for a cat.

Fourth - I, too, have young kids. You're going to have to really make sure you are ready to watch them like a hawk. Things can turn ugly in a matter of moments, even with a trusted animal. Kids can be a little more rough than they realize, and since they are smaller, the dog can decide it needs to dominate them for stature in the pack. You'll have to be ready to train this dog that the children are above it, and that takes time.

Fifth - Good luck! I do hope you can find a dog that will fit your criteria. Just make sure you really, really, really consider the work you're going to have to put in to make the new family member a permanent one. :)

Answer 5

Bischon Frise
Maltese

Answer 6

Start with the AKC breed decriptions:

http://www.akc.org/breeds/index.cfm?nav_area=breeds

Go here and read about the toy breeds:

http://www.akc.org/breeds/toy_group.cfm

Now you say "young kids". Many toy breeds do NOT do well with the under 5 set. They are so small that they are wary of being stepped on. A small child falling on one of these dogs can injure or kill it - and the dog will bite in an effort to protect itself. I never recommend a toy breed, with only one or two exceptions, with children under 3-4, the age at which they can be made to grasp that the dog can only take so much physical rough housing.

In the toy group stay with:

Pugs - but only one from a reliable reputable breeder (see below) as they are running over 60% with hip and elbows dysplasia and 12% with patella problems (knee caps displaces)

Toy poodle - bit yappy but they don't shed and are fairly sturdy nd definitely playful with children.

You want something that is going to be at least 10 lbs and bettter 15 lbs or so.

Also, while there are some very small breeds in terriers, this is not a good idea with very small children. They were bred to chase, catch and kill vermin. They can get a little nippy when excited in play - not meaning to hurt but thinking it a game.

You may want to step up just a notch to a little bit sturdier breed who is still small but can take playing with small children and love every minute of it.

Look in the non-sporting group: http://www.akc.org/breeds/non-sporting_group.cfm

Bostons are great - grew up with them from birth and they and I were inseparable. Started competing my one Boston In AKC obedience when I was 9-10. Might say they are trainable - trained, handled and competed by a child against adults, he was the second in his breed to get the highest obedience degree (this was many years ago.)

French bulldogs are other playful but sturdy little fellows.

GIVE THE AMERICAN ESKIMO SPITZ A PASS - they can be nippy.

Schipperkes are neat little dogs. Super smart and trainable, they are very devoted and will hover on the children and play eith them for hours.

Now the ONLY breed that meets all the requirements (sort of) of (1) very small (2) trainable (3) can amuse itself during the day (4) good with small children - well, if they aren;t too rough with it and (4) does NOT shed is the toy poodle. That is it.

You may have to give up something on the list to get the most important things which are good with young kids and trainable and can amuse itself all day.


Now, in those links when you click on the picture of the dog and go to the page for that breed, on the left is a column.

At the bottom of the column, is a link captioned "National Breed Club". Click on it - that takes you to the link to the National Club for that breed that sets the breed standards.

The Clubs' websites will give you an ENORMOUS amount of information about the breed - the good, the bad, and the why or why not to get that breed. The clubs websites also have:

1) a breeders list - all of whom have agreed to abide by the breeders code of ethics (which you can read)

(2) a link to the breed rescue for their breed

Do give serious thought to adopting from an adult from a breed rescue. The clubs' breed rescues go to a great deal of trouble to determine the dog's temperment, personality, likes and dislikes (particularly kids and cats and other dogs in the household), health, and level of training. They make a huge effort to match the right dog to the right home - and if they don't have one they think will be suitable for your home, they won't place it. Great way to avoid the puppy training, newpapers, chewing.......They have dogs that are purebred and part-bred (1/2 or so of their breed.) A dog who comes through rescue is often more loving and bonded to than the dog who has had the perfect life - being so thrilled to have a loving forever home after being abandoned by the owenr to a shelter or rescue. Dogs lose thier homes for reaons not their fault - owner moves and can't keep them; death; divorce; famly or financial prolbems....

If you decide to get a puppy so they grow up with the childen, please use one of the breeders who are members of the breed club. A well-bred pet puppy may not be a candidate for the show ring (that nose being 1/8th of an inch to long or something else very picky) but they will be very healthy, the parents carefully screened for hereditary health problems, and from a breeder who has devoted a great deal of time to understanding the breed and bloodlines. A responsible breeder will have a written contract with a health guarantee for hereditary problems; require that if for any reason you ever have to give up the dog that it comes back to them; and always be available for help, assistance and advice about your dog. Such a breeder will tell you if they don't think their breed is right for you based upon your needs. They want a perfect forever home for the puppies - not the money. (In 43 years in the dog show world, I have never known a breeder of that caliber who has made a profit on their dogs - it is labor of love.)

A puppy from such a breeder costs no more - and often less since poorly bred dogs tend to have large vet bills over the years - than from a backyard breeder who doesn't do the health checks, knows nothing about the breed or bloodlines, doesn't give a guarantee, never wants to hear about the puppy again and has breed from mediocre or poor quality dogs.

Never ever go to a pet store - those poor pupise came out of puppy mills from terrible conditions and dreadful breeding - anything breed to anything to get puppy to sell and make as much money as possible and the parents are literally bred to death.

IF A SERIOUS BREEDER OR RESCUE TELLS YOU THAT THE BREED IS NOT SUITED FOR YOUR SITUATION - BELIEVE THEM - NO MATTER HOW MUCH YOU LIKE THE WAY THE DOG LOOKS

Now once you know what the tendencies and traits of the breeds are, you are prepared to think about adopting a mixed breed. Now you know when they say "mastiff/collie" cross, what you are geting into. PLEASE consider adopting from your shelter. they make just as wonderful pets as those with a pedigree. They are often more loyal and bond more closely when they know that they can trust you not to leave them having already been abandoned and deserted in their lives, and thankful for a loving home. You can go to your local shelter.

Answer 7

There may be something of use here.

Answer 8

perfect place its in chicago.