I have a 22 month old daughter and she always enjoys watching our neighbors dog. What breed should I get?

Question

What breeds are good for young children. I don't want an agressive dog. I thought maybe a small dog, but I like the Lab.

Answer 1

You are going to get a thousand different answers from a thousand different people.

In general, you don't want a
- toy breed as they are too fragile for small children
- Super large breed like a mastiff or a great dane. They can accidentally hurt small children
- Sighthound (whippet, saluki, Afghan, borzoi, Italian Greyhound, Greyhound) because if your child leaves the door open or the gate open, the sighthound can run away never to return
- Flight risk dogs like a Husky. Ditto sighthound reason.

Check out your local rescue groups. If you don't have your heart set on a specific purebred dog, they have a ton of great dogs available. Mixed breed and purebred. I see tons of smaller lab mix type dogs (medium sized dogs) come through looking for homes. They are usually very gentle and in need of a loving family. There are also a ton of beagle and beagle mix dogs that come through in my area. Great family dogs.

Good luck in your search! : )


Edit: Don't you just love the thumbs down stalkers? rofl.

Answer 2

A dog is only as aggressive as the people who train it. Even the so called nefarious pitbulls are good dogs as long as you put the time and effort into training it.

For fewer health problems, get a mutt at the humane society. They tend to have less genetically carried problems that "pure breeds" do. It will also be less expensive.

Labs are EXTREMELY high energy dogs. This means that you need to spend a lot of time training and exercising your lab. Also, just a side note, more people are bitten by labs than by pitbulls every year. There are no bad dogs, only bad owners. Don't let the breed fool you. If you are getting a puppy, your puppy will reflect the amount of time and energy that you take to train and socialize your dog.

A lot of this will depend on how much time you have available to put into your dog. That might be difficult with a two year old child running around, but they could grow up together. Realize that a dog could live 10 to 14 years after you get it. Make sure that everyone in the family realizes that they need to be consistent with how the dog is treated from the moment it comes into the house.

My wife and I got a lab/pitbull mix. He is a high energy dog, but he is very smart and well mannered. He needs a lot to chew on and we have to take him out for a lot of walks. He has short hair so no grooming needed. He is more than likely going to get to be about 60 lbs.

No matter what kind of dog you get, you are going to want to make sure that you have the time, paitience, and money to spend on the dog. It is no small undertaking. The breed doesn't matter as much as how much time you have to put into it. Make sure you figure out how much that is before you find out you don't have enough.

Answer 3

This will help: http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/search.htm

An FYI - go to a shelter. Dogs are dropped off there for a variety of reasons. You can find any breed there, along with the famous mongrels (my fav). Also, if you do have your heart set on a pure breed, find a pure breed rescue near you.

The benefits of adopting: The are UTD on vaccines, spayed or neutered, temperament is known, health issues are known, already house trained, some obedience trained, etc. You will not have the expense of the first year like many puppy owners have. Shots every 3-4 weeks until they are 16 weeks, stool checks, dewormed, HWT, spay or neuter expense, etc. All these add up and add up real fast!
http://www.akc.org/future_dog_owner/about_buying_a_dog.cfm
http://www.phouka.com/dogs/dog_cost.html

Good luck!

Answer 4

Being as your child is only 22 months,would suggest you get a pup that isn't the fragile type,as sometimes children play too ruff with the tiny ones,because they don't understand that they may hurt the pup.If you do get a small breed just make sure it is aroung 6 months old,that way the pet can get out of harms way if needed.Most small breeds are all loving little pets with great temperments.The Maltese are a good little pet with children.

Answer 5

I suggest getting a medium-build dog. They're not too small but not to big for the dog to injure your child.
The reason I don't recommend getting a smaller dog is--
1. They can be aggressive @ times
2. They get nervous around small children
3. The child can get too playful with the little dog and it could injure it.

In my experience I have noticed that larger dogs are more tolerant w/ children. They aren't really aggressive and will become good playmates w/ your child.

One breed that I would recommend would be the Cocker Spaniel. I grew up with one and she never hurt me, and I always had fun w/ her, and she also was a good cuddler :D. Also she lived to be 17 years, and didn't have much health problems through her life. it's just a suggestion.

Hope this helps,
KS

Answer 6

The Lab is definitely the best choice. Don't get a terrier, they're way too hyper, yappy, and jumpy for children.

Labs are the best dogs for small children, but I'd warn you that Labs are incredibly difficult to handle the first two years, while they're puppies. After that they are pretty much the perfect dog, but those first two years will make you want to ship the dog off to the pound.

That's the reason why they make 'em cute.

Answer 7

22 months is too young for a puppy, as puppies are too playful and your child will get nipped or scratched almost guaranteed. I also know of a small child that enjoyed watching neighbor's dogs, but went bonkers when she got her own. I would suggest she get more involved with other people's dogs before getting her one. It would be very sad if her new dog would have to be taken from her. My last two dogs were adult golden retrievers from animal rescue (dog pound), very loving, gentle, smart dogs, and neither needed house broken. But, they love the outdoors and exercise.

Answer 8

Labs are big, but they are wonderful dogs for a family.
Ours are big babies and very protective of our two small boys.

Just wanted to add...unless you have the time to devote to some training, don't get a dog. Also, labs need room to run around. They will not do well locked up all day in small yard.

Answer 9

I suggest waiting until your child is older. Getting a puppy is like having another toddler running around the house. Also, puppies are rambunctious, and toddlers are often unintentionally cruel to dogs and puppies (they are too young to know better).

If you MUST get a dog now, I suggest adopting an adult dog so you know exactly what you are getting, and how well the dog gets along with children.

Answer 10

Get a Lab or a Golden. They are kindest to children of all the breeds around.
Small dogs are actually more aggressive because they have more at stake.
I have a silky terrier (small) and he nips at my daughter once in a while (though never bitten her).