What is a good breed for my household type?

Question

I am intrested in a breed that is good with children and that is also protective over the household and family that lives with it. Does anyone know what type of breed matches those criterias but at the same time can live in a decently large Manhattan apartment?

Answer 1

I don't no but if u like small dogs toy poodles are cute, u might think they look ugly but it's only because their owners trimmed it like that other than that they look so adorable and they are one of the smartest dogs. Medium dog I would get bichon frise they are cute too. Big dog I would get a labrador

Answer 2

Try going to dogbreedinfo.com. They have a quiz to take that will match the different dog breeds with your criteria. But I would say like a mastiff or a rottweiler. Labs and golden retrievers are Wonderful with kids, but not the most feared dog for protection. And a lot of people think that rottweilers and matiffs are not good with kids, but they are WONDERFUL with their family, and can also be protective. The only thing is i don't know how large of an appartment you have, and if it is sufficient for that large of a dog. You also have to consider how much grooming you want to do, and how much money you can put into food costs and that. Good Luck, i hope you find the perfect dog for your family.

Answer 3

If you want a slightly larger dog, I'd get a Sheltie. My dog is part Sheltie, and he is medium sized, and does well around my 2 year old niece. Mutts are also very good to get. Just make sure to do some research on the breeds they have mixed into them, they often have very similar personalities. I'd also suggest getting a Bouvier Des Flanders. They are very sweet, intelligent dogs. (Coming from one who owns one, they are large dogs. They can live in apartments, but need to go outside at least 3-4 times a day, they are very active.)If you want a smaller dog, I'd get a Terrier of some sort. They are usually extremely good with children, and are cautious of strangers.

Answer 4

http://www.petplace.com/dogs/top-dog-breeds-for-families/page1.aspx Here is a good list for ones that are good with kids. Boxers would be the most protective of these listed. But research thoroughly and pick the breed that best suits all aspects of your lifestyle. Good luck!

p.s. Again to an above poster who does not understand genetics, but feels qualified to spout scam artist backyard breeder made up 'selling points': Cockapoos are mixed breeds and WILL shed - they can take after either the Cocker Spaniel or Poodle in their mix more. No guarantees can be made on which genes they will get or how they look, and they are a scam bred by unscrupulous people.

Answer 5

Go to DogBreedInfo.com or Petfinder.com and take their "What Breed Is For Me?" test. This test takes into account the attributes you have mentioned, as well as coat type, trainability, activity level (both indoors and outdoors), etc. All of these are factors in picking a breed. That being said, Dobermans are wonderful family dogs, not incredibly active indoors (which would be important in an apartment), highly trainable, protective without being aggressive and overall low maintenance.

Answer 6

At the top end of the size scale, I'd say a "English Shepherd" might fit the bill http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/englishshepherd.htm

Slightly further down the size scale, these sound roughly right:
- English Toy Spaniel
http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/englishtoyspaniel.htm

- Jack Russel Terrier
http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/jackrussellterrier.htm
(same breed as Eddie the Dog off sitcom "Frasier") :-)

Answer 7

Believe it or not, a pit bull. They are good with children, they are always protective of thier ''pack", and people have a great respect for them, or a great fear of them.

I have a 6 yo, and a 2 yo. My dog is a pit, and he's got a great temperment. My 2 yo will sit on him, yell at him, hit him, kick, throw things at him, pull his tail, and step on him, and my dog only looks at him like "are you done yet?", then get up and move. Not once has my dog EVER shown aggressiveness towards any human!

They are very smart, so they train easily. They are very patient, and have an incredibly high energy level! The link below is to a stie just for pit bulls. They do however have agresion towards other animals, but not as much to female dogs. The site should explain everything.

If you don't want a bulldog of any kind, you can try getting a hound dog, or herding dog. Both are protective, and good with children, but both also have their flaws.

Hound dogs can bark alot at night when they hear something outside, or when they want to go out. They need tons of outdoor activities, because they were bred to be outside. They can also have more health problems then most other breeds.

Herding dogs are generally quiet, unless something is trying to invade their home or "pack". They can be very territorial, and might not let your friends through the doorway. They can also, this is a true story too, try to herd your children to where they think is the safest place for them to be at. Therefore they can scare the children, or even nip at them, trying to force them to go here or there.

Small dogs aren't usually good with children, because they have the agression of a mostrous dog! Hunting dogs are good with children, because of their breeding to protect their owners while hunting.

Terriers are very good family dogs. They are excellent with children, and oft times protective. Not usully territorial, so friends can come over, unannounced, and they can even play with the dog if it feels safe around them. They can be very good mousers too! Trust me! I used to have one.

I recomend going to your local shelter, and talking with them about what type of dog to get. You don't want to buy one from a store, as every animal that is bought from a store, that is one animal that is killed because it doesn't have a home. Mutts can actually be better for a family then a pure bred.

I'm not saying dont' get a purebred, but an adopted animal can attach to your family sooner, because it knows that you rescued it, you saved it, and it will thank you by being the best friend your family can own!! So go to your local shelter and look at some of the dogs in the back.

Good luck to you!!

Answer 8

I have found that the breed that works best for my family is one that I grew up around. Most people might no agree that a chihuahua is the best animal to have around kids but growing up with them I am able to help my children adapt to their breed.I know their temperment and can understand their body language so to speak. So if you grew up with a certain kind of dog or cat in your home (and it was a positive experience) maybe think about getting that specific type of animal for your family. If not, ask around and do some research on the internet. One of the worse things you can do is to get a dog/cat that you know nothing about. It can end badly for your family and the animal.

Answer 9

Rottweiler. They are absolutely devoted to their family. They do not require a lot of running room, in fact love to be couch potatos, but can go walkies forever. My Natasha was a real love bug. She was so gentle I could take the tastiest food out of her mouth if I felt the need without any fear of being bitten. While she never had to prove herself, my feeling was that she would have died protecting me. Even though I knew she was a marshmallow, I never feared going anywhere when she was with me as no one dared to give me grief.

Do your homework on this or any breed you decide on. The AKC will have lots of good info on them, both the pros and the cons.

Answer 10

You might want to go to local dog shows and talk with the breeders and see what they say. The breeders at the shows are always will to talk about their breed. It would be one of the best places to get your information. Good luck!!!!!