Best Dog to get for Daughter?

Question

small dog

Answer 1

How old is you daughter? I would suggest taking her to the animal shelter and adopting one? You daughter will feel great because she got to pick the puppy and they do need help trying to find good homes. Plus it is less expensive.

Answer 2

I have had pets all my life and have worked at a humane society. Some of the best dogs are mixes. Also, young adult and adult dogs can be better for children, than puppies. These dogs are already house-trained, and have made it through the excitable-jumping-nipping stage. I recommend walking through the local humane societies or http://www.petfinder.com. If you are looking for something they don't have, let the animal shelter know. They often have "looking for pets" list. Then, when a dog comes in matching your desired description, you'll get a call and often a first chance. Spend a lot of time with the prospective pooch, tug on ears, pick up feet, and ask the staff. All of this also depends on the age of your daughter. A good gift may be a coupon for her to come to the animal shelter to pick out her own dog. If you prefer a pure breed, try breed rescues.

Breed isn't always the key. Any small dog can become territorial, nippy, yippy, or overprotective without proper training. A small dog should be treated like a big dog. Dogs like to learn and love to please. They are much better behaved with training because they want to do whatever makes YOU happy.

Every dog is an individual and not all are like their breed description. Terriers tend to be more tenacious. Lhasas and Shih Tzus can get "grumpy" with old age. Beagles are very scent and prey driven - may bay (howl) and/or run off to chase a rabbit. Corgis were dogs of royal queens. Poodles tend not to shed.

Good luck!

Answer 3

I'm a firm believer in that you need to match the person to the dog. All breeds have their quirks, pluses and minuses and all people have their opinions on which breed they like best.

Unless you have your heart set on a particular breed, I would recommend that you visit your local shelter. The handlers there should have a really good idea of the animal's behavior and know how they react to children. Then give your daughter and the dog a chance to play together and see how they interact. If they hit it off like long lost friends, you have a winner! If not, then keep looking. The right pup (even old dogs like to feel young sometimes!) will come along! Don't make the mistake of getting in a hurry. Finding a new family member can take time.

Good luck!

Answer 4

I would go with a Shelty (miniature Collie). These dogs are affectionate, very loyal, and intelligent; I am speaking from previous research and personal experience. However, if you are looking for a smaller dog than this, I would look into Alaskan Huskies crossed with a smaller dog; I have an Alaskan Husky/chiwawa cross that is small and a perfect lap dog, not to mention smart.

Answer 5

I always had Cocker Spaniels growing up, and now have one of my own. I love the breed and as long as they are raised in loving households, like any other breed of dog, they will grow to be loving animals. My favorite Cocker Spaniels are the Black and White mixtures. From the Cocker Spaniels I've had, they are loyal, loving, playful and just overall a joy to be around. But I also think it would be a good idea to go to the local pound and adopt one from there. There are a bunch of loving dogs there that have been abandoned that need caring, loving families. :) Good luck!

Answer 6

There is no right answer to this question.

How old is your daughter?
How much upkeep do you want?
What does she expect in a dog?
Is she going to become disinterested in the dog after the puppy stage is gone?
How big is small?
How long are you gone during the day time?
Is it going to sleep in a cage, or do you want to leave it outside? (Small dogs DO NOT get left outside)
How gentle is your daughter with dogs?

There are more things to ask yourself before you go pick a dog.

Now, my answer to everyone question to what kind of dog should I get is a Dachshund. They are fun, playful and as long as you are careful not to let kids pick them up wrong and drop them they are pretty hardy! The long haired ones are cuter (and tend to stay looking like a puppy if you groom it correctly), and tend to also be friendlier to children than the smooth coat if they have a good experience with kids from the get go.

The bad thing is, if they get overweight they can have leg and hip problems and if you do end up with long haired, the require a bit of grooming. But overall they are a very energetic and fun dog to have!


Note: other people have given suggestions that I would like to dispute!
--Shih Tzu's do not have fur! They have hair, they require regular grooming becuase their hair, just like yours, grows CONSTANTLY! They are good lap dogs but can be a lot of up keep.
--Cocker Spaniel, these dogs tend to be moody and if not raised properly can be very hard to train and even be aggressive and tempremental...

--Beagles, these dogs are VERY vocal, but overall really good dogs.
--Shelties are good dogs, lots of hair to shed in the house.
--Boston Terriers are real good dogs
--Pugs are good family dogs, but they tend to have trouble breathing because of their mooshed in face. Make sure if you get this dog you dont let it get overly fat, it can restrict their ability to breathe.
--English bulldogs are good dogs, but very expensive and not to playful after puppy-hood.

Be sure you research the breed very carefully to make sure it will fit into your lifestyle before making a decision.

Dogs to stay away from: Chihuahua's, Yorkies, anything teacup size is not good for little kids (teacup Yorkies, Teacup Poodles).

Answer 7

COCKER SPANIELS (OR COCKER POODLE MIXES) ARE THE ONLY SMALL DOGS I LIKE. HOW OLD IS YOUR DAUGHTER? DO YOU HAVE AN APARTMENT OR A HOUSE? ARE THERE OTHER CHILDREN? GO TO A SHELTER (WITH YOUR DAUGHTER) AND LET THEM MATCH YOU TO THE RIGHT DOG.

Answer 8

When I was little my dad bought me a cocker spaniel and I loved that dog, small, cute, just hard to potty train.

Answer 9

well, depending on your daughters personality......if she is really energetic and likes to play outside then i would go for a farm dog(collies, retrievers, labs) however if she enjoys the indoors more and you plan on keeping the dog inside i would go for something smaller(cockier spaniels are extremely sweet, beagles, Scottish terriers). However, in all cases i would avoid dalmatians, German Sheppard, and most smaller dogs, they tend to bite.

Answer 10

A Boxer, they are great family dogs, and wonderful with children