Want to get a puppy...and thinking that I want to get it before I have a baby. I have 2 cats right now who rule the roost and I want to get a puppy that will not get to be too big (15-20 lbs max) that way it can stay inside some. What dog breeds tend to be better with small children? I know a golden retreiver is really good, but that is a little on the BIG side for right now...THANKS!!!!
2006-12-27 13:57:53 · 23 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Dogs
I had a mutt , and her two daughters at the same time . My kids and the dogs, and our cat,"Flowers", had a ball, playing all the time. The mother was a long eared hound type of dog. She let the kids do anything to her, She even let the youngest ride on her back.
My neighbor has two black lab mix, and they're great with all the kids in the neighborhood.
Hope this will help you.
2006-12-27 14:09:16 · answer #1 · answered by puplove 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Here's some of the testimonial of people with pets & kids
1.) My family and I rescued a Tibetan Terrier from the SPCA about 4 years ago. We now have a 14 month old daughter, and we worried about how this high-strung dog would behave around the baby. In the end, he has been wonderful, but not because he is patient: rather, he is very skilled at getting out of her way when she wants to "love on him" with high-pitched squeals and hair pulling. The baby will also try to "cuddle" with the dog, by laying down in front of him and getting very close. He will allow that for a few seconds and then get up and walk away. All in all, we trust him with the baby and he is very protective of her, as long as we let him get away when he wants to. I think the baby's experience with a medium-sized dog has been a good one. She is not fearful of animals (or of anything else much, it seems), and we know that we will have to teach her soon to be cautious. My only concern with a Tibetan is that this is a herding dog, and a watchdog, and ours has a tendency to bark and run around when excited. However, he becomes very calm when the house is full of people, even if some of them are small children running around. I should caution you that we had this dog professionally trained away from our home for about a month, since we could see immediately that his normal high-strung nature would need to be controlled at times for the safety of the family, visitors, and neighbors. But he is a wonderful pet, and is good with the baby, my older stepchildren, and visitors.
2.) Generally terriers are not the best dogs for children but there are exceptions to the "general" part. Beagles are generally good - although I believe they have a tendency to dig - now whether they can dig a hole under a fence big enough for both the dog and the child to escape on an adventure, I don't know.
2006-12-27 15:52:37 · answer #2 · answered by binibining pilipina 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Small dogs DO tend to be nervous, I have known and owned way too many and it was common in ALL of them. Because of them being small, kids playing, running, jumping, etc.makes them nervous because they can get hurt so easily. Yorkies are NOT good with kids!! My Mom owned 2, they grew up around kids (she bought them before my sister had her son and before I had my kids). Every single kid was bitten for no good reason and without warning. My oldest was bitten simply for walking past when he was 2! Both the parents and 2 other siblings were the same way as is my aunt's Yorkie, not even from that bloodline.
Smaller dogs GREAT with kids though are Shelties. My aunt breeds them and has 3 kids and they are amazing dogs. Extremely smart and basically babysit the kids. Because they are herding dogs, they like everyone to stay together and in a familiar area so if my aunt's kids (and mine when I'm there) try to leave the yard, they bark and run around them to corral them back into the yard. It's really cute! And one of her kids wasn't even nice to them but none have ever bitten or even growled at the kids.
Added to say that you should check your local humane society for a smaller dog that needs a good home. Spend time with it before making the decision though and take a kid or two with you, get whatever history you can, etc. of the dog. Some mixed breeds can be the best for kids! Good luck!
2006-12-27 14:17:55 · answer #3 · answered by MasLoozinIt76 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I had a golden retriever when my son was born and she was very sweet with him. She was 3 years old. My son is 9 now and we just had a baby. We have a black lab now that is 3 years old. He is amazing with the children. He is very protective of his pack(family). He is a bigger lab(80 pounds), but is so amazingly gentle. My daughter can pull on his ears and tail and he stands patiently. When she is walking around he is very aware of her and follows her to make sure she doesn't fall. I think it is not wise to have a puppy around a baby. All puppies nip and scratch a bit and want to play with the baby like a puppy..A bit older dog is better.
2006-12-27 14:24:37 · answer #4 · answered by TBECK 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The problem with small dogs is that they can be easily hurt by overzealous babies and toddlers. They might also tend to be more nervous around your baby than a big dog because they are smaller and can sometimes be more easily intimidated. If you're not already pregnant, I would get a bigger dog. There are several mild-mannered and nurturing/protective breeds, like the golden retriever than you mentioned.
2006-12-27 14:05:52 · answer #5 · answered by AK 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
The problem is the most smaller size dogs are not as family friendly as the larger breed. I have a lab and yes she is big but my kid can get in her bed with her, hold on to her, play rough and pull ears (my son is 14 mon not encouraged to but sometimes happens) and she will sit there and still be with him. We got her first and she adjusted very well. We also had a min pin who was very jealous of the baby a to the point of snapping and he had to go to a new home. Good Luck
2006-12-27 14:01:51 · answer #6 · answered by fyrechick 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Any breed is good with small children as long as they have the proper training and don't see the cats and the child(Childern) as part of their pack as them the leader. you should always supervise the dog when the child is around because it is the dog enimy b.c it's eye 2 eye with the dog
2006-12-27 14:32:22 · answer #7 · answered by Weird W 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Beagles. they are large with youthful ones and cats. they are the sweetest canines interior the international, though each and every now and then somewhat obdurate yet now to not a fault. actual, their moderate stubborness will develop into quite endearing correct off the bat. they are solid for your non-backyard having concern because they are notorious for paying for out of fenced-in yards. they are %. animals and love being round different individuals/animals. i have were given a 4-year previous blind beagle, have under no circumstances had any issues of him, and he's palms down the magnificent canines of all-time. now to not tutor we've an 8-month previous male kitten who has rapidly develop into the canines's ideal buddy(i imagine the kitten thinks he himself is a beagle). Beagles really are the perfect puppy you would possibly want to ever have(though i wager i'm somewhat bias).
2016-10-16 21:58:18 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You might want to consider a English Springer Spaniel. They are a medium sized dog; they are smaller than a Golden. My parents got one right after they had me, I wasn't even one. I had two sisters born less than two years after me. We use to tug on his ears and use him for a pillow.
2006-12-27 14:30:25 · answer #9 · answered by Tiffany 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My lab grew up with my daughter and he is 90+ lbs and is as gentle with her as a small kitten.my daughter is 6 years old now and Charlie a yellow lab is so protective over her.He's rough with me and my wife ,but when ever she comes around he completely turns into a mouse.Get a lab
2006-12-27 14:15:13 · answer #10 · answered by charles 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋