Getting 4 year old daughter dog for christmas which breed would be best?

Question

we have been wanting a dog for a while now when my daughter was asked what she wanted for christmas a dog was her only request.. we live in a townhouse so we need something small when I checked the local paper for what was available for christmas the following breeds were peekapoo, shih-poo, poodle, shih tzu maltese mix, puggle, and chi-poo which of these breeds do you think would be best for a 4 year old girl.. I've always had bigger dogs so I have no experience with the smaller breeds and any information would be so helpful thanks

Answer 1

well as far as the so called, shih-poo, puggle, and chi-poo's those honest to god, are just overpriced mutts.
i LOVE mutts, i have 2 myself...in fact i have a chihuahua/ dachshund mix..that some ppl are calling a chi-hund or chiweenie (ugh). ridiculously they are sold for hundreds of dollars....i found my angel at the SHELTER...she was a throw away from a previous "home", and was already spayed, her total adoption cost to me was $4.00, the discount cost of her shots. since she was already spayed, i wasn't charged for that.
what did i get for my 4 bucks. the sweetest, most gentle little dog in the world. anyone that comes to my house...they all love my dogs..(i have 4, all shelter dogs) but out of all 4 it's my little Peggy Sue that they want to take home...my so called "Chi-hund".
she's a mutt, not a breed....the dogs you mentioned are mutts too. therefore they will have characteristics of both and/or several breeds that are mixed in to that one dog.

you really need to know ALL the characteristics of ALL these breeds to know which would be best for you.
honestly i would encourage you to adopt from a shelter; 25% of shelter dogs are pure bred dogs....i work at the SPCA..we get TONS of small and large pure bred dogs...it's crazy! but if you are set on one of these dogs...here is some breed information on ALL the breed types..AND some common behavior w/the mixing of these breeds.

Pekingese
http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/pekingese.htm
Poodle
http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/standardpoodle.htm
so called "Peekapoo"
http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/pekepoo.htm

Shih Tzu
http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/shihtzu.htm
so called "shih-poo"
http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/shihpoo.htm

Maltese
http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/maltese.htm

Pug
http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/pug.htm
Beagle
http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/beagle.htm
so called "Puggle"
http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/puggle.htm

Chihuahua
http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/chihuahua.htm
so called "Chi-poo"
http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/chipoo.htm



most IMPORTANTLY is to teach your daugther how to respect an animlas space. no matter how great the dog is...when a kid starts to pull or pinch (because they don't understand that it hurts) the dog will do one of two things...yelp and run, or growl and bite. it's flight or fight. that is instinct, NOT aggression.
never let the dog and your daughter play unsupervised. and there are a lot of ppl saying wait until your daugther is older, that's great advise. BUT i have a 10 yr old, and an 8 yr old, and just had an unexpected ( but welcomed) baby 9months ago. i have 4 dogs. the dogs were prepared for the babies arrival w/sounds of crying and smells of her things...likewise i will SLOWLY introduce my daughter to the dogs...my dogs will be taught that she is a pack memeber and that she out ranks them. and my daughter will be taught to respect an animals space, how to treat the dogs, and will NEVER be unsupervised w/my dogs...as my older children are supervised to this day.
if you want to wait till she is older, great. but if not....at least be prepared for the WORK that is ahead of you.

Answer 2

I would go with a peekapoo, I have a cockapoo and a poodle and love them dearly, both are great with my 2 year old. They cockapoo was playful but also very laid back as a puppy. She loves to snuggle and is easy to keep groomed every 3-4 months I just get her a puppy cut. No shedding either a great plus especially if you have allergies. I love my poodle to she is a little more high strung and not found of strangers though and tends to hide when we have company, However she is great with my daughter a lets her hug and kiss on her. I think the poodle crosses are great. Not fond of the maltese my cousins tended to be a one woman dog and is very grouchy and snipey in her later years (could just be hers though)

I also wanted to add that we just adopted a Boxer mix puppy and she great inside. Great with my daughter and the other dogs, she is a big baby. we do play with her alot and make sure she gets enough exercise. She sleeps in her crate and is basically an inside dog. My friend also a Boxer and lives in a 1 bedroom apt her boxer does great, the key with any larger breed is exercise, attention and proper training.

one more thing you might check these sites

www.petfinder.com

www.petharbour.com

on petfinder at the top there are tabs for local shelters and rescue groups there are several purebreed rescues you would be surprised at the number of dogs people return becuase they did not know how much work a dog was :)

Answer 3

Those are all nice breeds. I expecially like shih tzus and puggles. But if you can't find a pure bred dog that you like, or one of those fancy mixes, then try your local shelter! They have LOTS of cute dogs that NEED a home. You'd be giving a christmas gift to your daughter (which, i think a puppy is a wonderful gift) and you'll be giving the puppy a new home for christmas too! If you want more information, there are a lot of dog websites, like the AKC website, and dogbreedinfo.com. Good Luck! have fun with your new puppy! :)

Answer 4

You should not get a dog for your daughter for xmas. The reason is because there is too much excitement at holiday times and the puppy will just be forgotten. Four year olds would much rather play with a toy than a puppy (have 4 kids I know) sure they will be interested at first but the child will quickly lose interest. you should wait until after xmas, maybe you could give her a picture of a dog with a promise of searching for your perfect pup together.
Here is some info on good kid friendly dogs.
The Top Family-Friendly Dogs
If properly trained and embraced as a beloved member of the family, any breed can make a great pet. With that said, some dogs are seen as more “kid-friendly” than others and, as a result, have become extremely popular among families. According to the AKC, the five most popular breeds in the United States are:

Labrador Retrievers are by far America’s most popular dog—more than 140,000 Lab puppies were registered last year with the AKC—and have a reputation for being playful, hardworking and affectionate toward children. The Lab is easily trained and is highly respected for his prowess at many jobs: as a guide dog for the disabled, a search-and-rescue dog, and for narcotics detection.

Golden Retrievers are sporty, easy to train and strong, but their most outstanding trait is character. They are outgoing and devoted companions to people of all ages, happy and trusting. They make great hunting companions, too.

German Shepherd are noble in appearence and character. This breed's courage, steadfast heart, and keen senses have endeared him to families for generations. Active and outdoorsy, German Shepherds are very fond of children and make wonderful companions.

Beagles love being around people and other animals. They are gentle, happy companions who thrive on affection and attention. They are also clever, quick, and, most of all curious. They need plenty of active exercise.

Dachshund has a lively, upbeat personality—spunky, curious and friendly. Originally bred to hunt badgers, Dachshund’s love to dig, romp and run. They are affectionate, especially with children, and enjoy going for walks and other forms of exercise

You should do your research before you bring any animal into your home. A dog your is a responsiblity for the rest of its life and should not be bought on impulse.

Answer 5

Pugs snore and they feel like fat hairy sausages.
Anything poodle mixed may be low allergy. Yorkies and silky terriers are the best small dogs imo, they are not so fragile like a pom or a 'teacup' anything. But remember, the smaller the dog the harder they are to housebreak. DO consider a pound dog or an older dog, so you can really see the temperament of the actual dog iteself, not just the breed. Maltese are sweet. Meet the parents of the pup you choose. Get information on KENNEL TRAINING.

Answer 6

I side with GitEmGang on this one...you are not getting a dog for a four year old, you are getting a dog four yourself and for your family. A four year old cannot handle that responsibility...and if you do get a dog...why don't you start on the right foot and adopt. HOWEVER< you should never adopt a dog at XMas...here's the scenario. Oh mommy, I LOVE him...Oh My God is that a BARBIE...as puppy gets shoved into the corner to munch on the tree lights because no one is paying any attention to him.

If you want a dog for a family, the appropriate thing to do is wait til the kids are 7 or 8 and wrap up a leash and a bowl and a card that sets a date to go to the shelter to pick out a new loving family member after the crazienes of the holidays is through.

Answer 7

The best dog that can be a best friend to a kid or family is a labrador. if it is already 4 it will ahve calmed down and they are the most friendly dog. terriers and small dogs have attitudes and rottweiler and german shpeherds as a known fact have been very mean. labradors arent to hairy like golden retrievers and act like a small dog because they arent too much of a hassle. They literally is the best dog anyone could get. i and many others have had no bad experiences wit these dogs. and little dogs can be snotty and bratty. u dont want a puggle because of the beagle, howling, digging, houndy odor. beagles are good dogs but can be more of a hassle than labradors. wait till you see the irrestible picture of a lab puppy, youll just have to take one home.

Answer 8

I would choose the puggle as both beagles and pugs are great with kids,and they would be easier to keep groomed because of the short hair.They are also sturdy enough for a four-year -old.I would also check out the local shelters-you could find a real gem without having to spend a lot of money,and most shelter dogs are already vaccinated and spayed or neutered.

Answer 9

We live in a townhouse and have a black lab.

I really suggest a labrador retriever - they are the number one family dog in the country - and that's for a reason!!!! They are sweet, lovable, and loyal. They are VERY unlikely to bite children - they love kids and can withstand having their ears tugged on, etc. Our lab doesn't care what you do to him and nothing freaks him out. Just make sure he gets lots of walks/runs/and swimming time.

As other people mentioned, those little dogs aren't going to be as stable and safe like a retriever.

Good luck to you!

Answer 10

Since your daughter is only 4, and the dog will be mature in a year, it should definitely be a small dog. I suggest a beagle; my sister had one for her kids when the older of the two was only six, and he proved to be an excellent pet, and a good size for small children, with an even temperament.