What is a good family dog.?

Question

Not a huge dog, but not a xsmall dog ethier. My youngest child is 14, so I dont have any young babies or anything.

Answer 1

Get a shelter mutt. They are temperment tested, inexpensive and you get lots of "extras" for one low price. You are saving a life too, can't beat that.

Answer 2

It depends on so many more things than what you have listed. How much exercize would this dog get, and would it be left alone at home all day, for example? Two good web sites to try are: www.nextdaypets.com/directory/breeds/
which tells about all the different breeds, with such details as how good a pet is with kids, how much exercize it needs, etc. The other is: www.dogbreedinfo.com/search.htm
This is a fun site that asks you a few questions about your lifestyle and what you want in a pet, and then recommends a few breeds. Then, once you've figured out a few breeds that interest you, you should go to www.petfinder.com and see if there are any dogs near where you live that interest you. This is how I found my dog, and I spent a LOT of time on all these sites and others researching breeds and looking at different dogs, and now I have exactly what I wanted. If you put the time in, you'll find someone good. Myself, I'm particular to breeding herds such as border collie, australian shepherd, etc. If you are going to have *lots* of time to exercize the dog, you'll be rewarded with a smart, friendly, athletic dog. Anyway, whatever you want, good luck!!

Answer 3

this question's answer depends entirely on the kind of life that you and your family lead. if you don't go outdoors everyday, or have a pet friendly park you can visit daily then, something like a cocker spaniel or schnauzer would be good. often smaller dogs are your best bet if this is the case because they can get plenty of exercise from playing with you in the house. if you are an active family and enjoy the outdoors i recommend the laborador or a golden retriever. these dogs don't need a lot of grooming, and are excellent with children and adults a like. keep in mind pet maintenence. do you want a dog that needs daily brushing, is a long haired dog for you or a short haired dog. this is a big step, bringing home a pet. it's very important that you really consider all of your options before setteling on a breed. also keep in mind health issues of each breed. you may have your heart set on a doberman, but they are very sensitive and get upset easily. if you want a basset hound remember that they may need eye surgery after some time, and are proned to ear infections...just choose carefully and good luck to you.

Answer 4

Have a play with this site & see what comes up ...
http://www.selectsmart.com/beta_dog/index.html

I've had a go, guessing at what you might answer to some of the questions & it suggests a Field Spaniel, Keeshond or Portugese Water Dog ... amongst others in descending order of the website's considered suitability.

Field Spaniel:
.Approximate size range: 40 to 59 lbs. Group: Sporting. Coat: soft, straight, short. Minimal grooming required. A good watchdog. Good with kids. Generally a non-biting breed.

Keeshond:
Approximate size range: 40 to 59 lbs. Group: Non-Sporting. Coat: soft, silky, straight, long or double coated, Comparatively easy to train. Good with kids. Generally a non-biting breed.

Portugese Water Dog:
Approximate size range: 40 to 59 lbs. Group: Working. Coat: soft, curly or wavy, medium length. A breed that some allergic dog-lovers can tolerate. Generally a non-biting breed. They are often difficult for a novice owner to own, unless the committment to training is strong.


Hope that this is a help.

Answer 5

We have an English Bulldog and she is the best family dog! Our youngest is two and our oldest is 15 and she plays with each of them accordingly, which is pretty amazing. They don't get huge but are not too tiny either. Super affectionate and pretty lazy sometimes, but so much fun. She also doesn't care if she is left alone sometimes, like when the kids are at school. Visit a reputable English Bulldog Breeder, or do a search of Bulldog Rescues and you will fall in love, I know it! ;)

Answer 6

You cannot beat a mongrel as a family pet. Their temperaments are usually excellent and they tend not to suffer with breed specific illnesses that a large number of breeds do.

If you get a rescue dog, you know a little about it's behaviour before bringing it home and you'll have a chance to play with it first. You'll also be giving a dog a home.

I've had lots of rescue dogs and they're always so grateful to get a home.

I would never choose to have a thorough bred dog for the above reasons.

Whatever you get, I know you'll adore it.

Hope this helps.

Answer 7

Labs are good dogs but might be too large for you. Go to your local animal shelter, they have tons of dogs needing a good family. Each dog has a behavior card w/it and you'll be able to see which ones are good w/kids, housebroken, whether it was abandoned, sick, that kind of thing. Also, some shelters have online access, so just type in www.(your town)humanesociety.com and you can check out prices too. Good luck.

Answer 8

Bassett hounds r great, I have 4 and use to breed they are medium size, layed back, very loyal, let u know if someones outside, and i ve even seen my male growl at someone, great with kids, great dogs, and i haveowned some dogs in my 43 years. I have a total of 5 now. but my dogs r my children

Answer 9

Take your 14 year old to the local shelter and, believe me, he will find one to bond with - they will look at each other and something will just click! Plus, you'll be saving a life. I've heard that Beagles and Shih Tzu's are good family dogs, but Shih Tzu's have to be groomed.

Answer 10

Border collie they are great fun amd if the youngest child is 14years old the dog will great companion for him/her and a agood watch dog when the children are out and about,
when i was in scholl my folks wouldnt let me out at nite without our collie cos they knew if a astranger approach me the dog would eat them!

Answer 11

Basset hounds are great family dogs. They're pack-oriented, so they like to stick to their pack, whether it's dogs or people! They adapt to their environment, so they'll be happy to go on walks or stay inside and watch tv with you. You would need to have a fenced-in back yard due to the fact that they are scent hounds and like to wander wherever their nose takes them...and no, they didn't pay attention to how they got lost. (Ours enjoy the scent of rabbits...) The average basset weighs 45-60lbs...and they're easy to train because they're also food-oriented, so they'll do whatever you want as long as you give them a treat. Check out your local basset rescue to learn more and adopt one!!