best small dog with 9 yr old ?

Question

Looking for the best, sweetest dog. I like them smaller.

Answer 1

There's no breed of dog that's going to be "better" with a child than any other. Individual dogs have individual personalities. They need to be trained to be obedient and have good manners, but the child also has to be trained on how to interact with a dog, and what is appropriate. Any breed of dog of any size will bite a child who gives them cause to.

Answer 2

Bring your child to the local shelter. You will be able to take the dogs for a walk to see what the dog's behavior is. Let the dog pick you, don't force a dog into a situation it does not want to be in. Letting your child have some input will also be a generous gift for a 9 yr. old. Make it an adventure, visit a few shelters. Most children would love a day visiting dogs. The dogs love getting outside also.

The shelter workers will be able to share information with you like, tempermental issues, housebroken or not, and history. Pet store purchases are more likely to require expensive vet care, often do not match that which is expected, and have so many other problems.

I have rescued two wonderful dogs, both love spending time with my 15 nieces and nephews, are great indoors. And, I have had only one mistake indoors in the six years I have had them. The mistake was mine, I didn't let them out in time.

Many shelters are overrun with dogs this year. Save a life, rescue a dog.

Answer 3

I'm a yorkie breeder and I don't like placing yorkie pups with families with young children. Yorkies can be a bit nippy even though they're super fantastic. They also bark and are a grooming problem. Grooming yorkies requires firm committment, something that might be beyond a 9 year old. I would recommend a cavalier king charles spaniel, a beagle, or a pug. Problems with pugs are that they're a bit higher maintenace cause of the wrinkles on their faces. They also tend to have heart problems and if you want the dog to sleep in your child's room, it might keep your child up at night because pugs tend to have respiratory problems and snore alot (due to their being a squashy nosed breed). Don't get me wrong, I love pugs so much i think they're fantastic and they are good with children.

Beagles can be wonderful but if it's your first dog, it will be a challenge to train. Reason being that they're scent dogs so they get really distracted during training sessions (especially as pups cause pups have short attention spans to begin with) by every single smell that's out there.

I like Cavaliers for children. They're really easy to train and they're generally even tempered children.

Make sure you go to a good breeder that you've found from asking for a breeder's list from the Canine Council though. Call around, chat with the breeders, and do visits. Make sure you do a premises inspection (any disgusting conditions will tell you how much they care about their dogs) and see BOTH parents. See papers and check bloodlines. Ppl with champion dogs tend to care for their dogs better (breeders anyway) because you would never risk a champion dog as a breeder - would kill your kennel basically.

I totally disagree with the recommendation of a pitbull. I mean... there are so many poorly bred dogs out there, and pitbulls are fighting dogs. The breed was originally created to FIGHT - therefore they tend to be more agressive. I know that pitbulls get a bad rap, but unfortunately it's because of their purpose and the poorly bred dogs out there. I would never ever leave a pitbull alone with a child. That being said some of them are super fantastic. Oh also, I would never leave a dog alone with a very young child, any dog. Dogs are dogs, you don't know what they're thinking and what they're going to do.

When you do get your dog, teach your child how to approach it properly - fist out, no fingers, under the nose, not over the head etc. Puppies of all breeds will nip as well. Puppies are still learning what's socially acceptable so this is normal. Usually their mother and littermates will teach it that "hey, that was too hard, nip you back" - as its new family you will have to teach them that with firm "nos".

Spend some time researching online and read some dog behaviour/training books. I think growing up with a dog is something most every chid should get to do. Have fun!

Answer 4

A lab would probably be a lovely pet. They aren't very small, but they are incredibly loving gentle dogs, easily trained, eager to please. It'd be great with a 9 year old. Just whatever you do, don't get a terrier unless you like hyper crazy dogs that are liable to snap. They're small, but too highly strung for a house with a child. Careful with the breed you eventually decide on. Some small dogs can't stand up to the occasional carelessness or roughness of a young person.

Answer 5

From personal experience, I would recommend rescuing one from the pound. Go for a mixed breed. Not only have I found that MOST mixed breed dogs have much better temperments, and stay healthier, you're also saving one from death row. :( Also, adult dogs are usually better since they should already have housetraining, and they'll be calmer and are less likely to be chewers (like puppies) etc.

I wouldn't know any small purebreds to recommend for a house with kids (we've got a malti-poo, and she's a good bit tempermental these days), please avoid chihuahuas at all costs. I have been bitten by more than one, and they bark NONSTOP. (No offense to chihuahua lovers, I'm sure there are sweet ones out there, I've just yet to meet one!)

Good luck!

Answer 6

It depends on the nine-year-old! An active, feisty child would do well with most terriers or a pug or boston terrier. A calm child would like most toy breeds - I grew up with yorkies and maltese. Also, think about grooming issues. Make sure your child is AWARE and ABLE to be gentle with any dog - dogs that are raised feeling threatened by children get (understandably) protective, even aggressive. Good luck

Answer 7

I'd agree with all these who have suggested you not go with a purebred dog, hon. Purebreds are bred to meet a PHYSICAL standard, and as such, no regard is spent on personality. Go to your animal shelter, and ask to see some smaller dogs. Ask some of those people who are there if they have a favorite. If none is available, get on the internet, and find some no-kill shelters who have mixed breeds.... Go to places like Petco or Petsmart......Hopefully you are not looking for a breed, you are looking for a personality --- in your words, sweet. As an added benefit, crossbreeds are healthier, too, since breeders tends to breed daughters to their sire or grandsire.

Answer 8

I have two yorkies that are great with people of any age. They love small children as well as older adults. Of course, we had them from the time they were small enough to fit in the palm of your hand, so we raised them like babies. One is exceptionally sweet and is a lap dog. Neither have ever nipped at anyone and are more likely to snuggle you to death than bite. This of course is just my experience. I did have a Yorkie years ago that nipped at me, but terriers on the whole can be a nippy bunch. If you raise them from a young age though and train them correctly, Yorkies are a wonderful breed for any age.

Answer 9

I think the best dog for any family, especially with kids, is a rat terrier. They come in different sizes from 6lbs to 35lbs. They are a wonderful companion. I have an 8 year old female. She's a great little buddy.

Answer 10

By far best answer, a pug.
Pugs live for kids and they are the size you are looking for. They are extremely friendly to others, don't growl at guests you have and they don't bite as part of their personality.
They would love to do nothing but eat and play with kids all day long.
I breed and show pugs and chinese cresteds and honestly, pugs just thrive when they are with kids. And my kids play with ours all the time and the pugs are very tolerant of kid play. Our pugs let our kids sit them on their laps and hold their front feet up and pretend the dogs are talking just like if they were people. The pugs will just sit there and let them play like that. They are also good watch dogs. Terrible guard dogs but good watch dogs.

Answer 11

My parent got a scottie with me and my brother when I was 4 and he was 6. They are small they don't shead and they are generally quiet. The love to play! They are a hearty little breed too. When you look take your child with you. Some dogs are affraid of children (I remember when we were looking) You want a puppy that will seem interested in being around your child. When my parents picked out our scottie we put a few dogs in a play pen with my brother and I ad saw how they interacted. some didn't go near us, others were wary but warmed up. The scottie we got practically jumped in our laps.