What is the best kind of "family" dog?

Question

I have 3 children under the age of 4 and I was wondering what is the best kind of dog to adopt. I am not a big animal lover, but I am willing to put it aside for my kids.

Answer 1

A lot of people here are going to tell the breed of dog they have is the best dog for kids, well a lot of them are wrong. You need to research the many different breeds and make an educated decision on what you think is the best breed for you and your families lifesyle. AKC has a web site with descriptions of all recognized breeds of dog. AKC.org You could also read a few books like Encyclopedia of Dog Breeds, or Idiots Guide to Chosing, Buying and Raising a Dog.

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. If breed is not a concern you could adopt a dog or puppy from your local pound or shelter. The dog would be a lot cheaper then a mix, it will already have been spayed or neutered and vaccination would also be given. A dog your is a responsiblity for the rest of its life and should not be bought on impulse. I would also recommend that you really think about whether or not you should get a dog because YOU are going to be the one that is going to end up with all the dog responsibilities.

Answer 2

Okay, well, this is like saying that even though a husband and wife don't love each other and want to get a divorce, they stay together "for the sake of the children." The children know there are problems and it hurts them anyway. If you are not ready to put your heart into loving this dog, the dog will know it and it will become depressed or will cause you other problems. You need to be really into it because these children, as much as they may love the dog, are not of an age where they can take care of it, so it's going to all be up to you. The dog will sense the fact that you resent it if you're feeling obligated of taking care of it and hating the whole process. This isn't fair to the dog. Also, please don't get a dog if you are going to relegate it to the backyard, on a chain or in a doghouse or dogrun. This is very cruel to the animal. If you can't let the dog into your home as part of the family, please don't get one. As a responsible dog owner, you also need to take your dog to training lessons. Your children are still young enough that they will not feel "deprived" if they do not get a dog. Perhaps wait until they get older and are capable of feeding the dog, walking the dog, playing with the dog and giving the dog the attention that it will need.
That said, if you are really ready to give this dog your heart and the attention it needs, you need to very carefully research dogs' personalities as compared to the dynamics of your particular family. Traditionally, golden lab, chocolate lab or black lab is a good choice. Golden Retrievers are wonderful dogs, but avoiding dogs with long hair will be one less maintenance problem you will have to deal with. While small dogs are seen as less bother, they are often not appreciative of little hands pulling their ears and poking their fingers in their eyes. Labs have the patience of Job in this regard. If you have a sedentary lifestyle or not much time and you don't want a dog that you have to take out for a lot of play time, don't get a dog like a Jack Russell or a Beagle. They are high energy and need to be allowed to run and play a lot. Bassett hounds are a medium size dog that is very content to lay around all day. So, those are some "for instances." Evaluate your family's lifestyle and compare it to an animals personality and needs, and then choose the appropriate animal. I hope this helps. Oh, and sorry so long!

Answer 3

Are you looking for large or small dogs? What are the ages of your children? Do you want a dog that is active or laid back?

Each breed of dog has its own specific personality traits. However, there are some breeds that are proven (with the very rare exception) to be better with kids than other breeds. The four main ones are:
For large dogs: lab or a golden retriver.
For small dogs: bassetts or pugs

The links below will give youmore detailed information on the breeds and others that are good with kids as well. Look at different breeds and then do research on that specific breed to determine if their needs are ones that will fit into your life (grooming, exercise needs, size etc) and go from there.

Good luck!

Answer 4

I think the best dog their is, is a Newfoundland! But they get anywhere from 150 to 200 lbs! They are known as the gentle giants! They have the greatest temperament their very laid back! And have almost a mothering instinct with children! They are #1 to me! Their are records all over the world of toddlers taking their first steps holding onto these dogs! But other popular family dogs are Golden Retrivers, Labradors, Beagles! You should try to avoid very small dogs with small children they can be easily broken. Also they are known to nip if they are handled to roughly! But unless you are planning buying a purebred you'd be better off checking out your local pound or rescue! They can usually tell you is the dogs are good with children and how their temperaments are! Good Luck and do A LOT of research first! Don't settle, you don't want end up with a dog that gets agrivated with your children and bites them! Here's some good links on dogs good with children!

Answer 5

Since your kids are so young I'm sure you realize that you will be doing almost all of the care. They can help with things but of course you won't be able to rely on them just yet.

I think you might be better off getting an older, calmer dog than a puppy. Puppies are a lot of work and you probably already have your hands full. Young kids don't/can't always understand that pulling tails and ears is not appropriate, and if they do that to a puppy, they might get bitten. And the puppy might grow up to be aggressive since it would always be defending itself.

I would recommend going to your local shelter and talking to the people there. There are a lot of overlooked older dogs in shelters. I wouldn't look for any particular breed--see what is available and which dogs work best with your family.

You might find a dog whose owner had to surrender him and gave the shelter lots of information about his personality. And even if the dog's history isn't known, most shelters do temperament evaluations and should have a good idea of how a particular dog will do with kids, cats, etc. And of course older dogs are calmer and might put up better with being "kidhandled".

Good luck!

Answer 6

If you want a large breed non protective dogs try one that is friendly like the lab, golden retriever and some of the sporting breeds.There are more.

Most working breeds can be protective- A few are the Doberman,German Shepherd , R.wilder Ect If you get one of these breeds in order for them to be a good family pet, [ EXCELLENT STABLE TEMPERAMENT IS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY ] KNOW WHO YOU ARE BUYING FROM.I would rule out PET SHOPS and Back yard breeder. You should be provided a 5 Generation Pedigree . and Reg. Papers And a certificate of vet health check on the spot if they cant- Pass.
In small breed Schipperke [ Highly Recommend ] There are several nice small breeds. You may ask your vet for a recommendation as they know a lot about it as they see different breeds on a daily basis

Answer 7

Mutt, definately a mutt. I would check your local shelter for a middle age dog, that was surrendered by its ownebecause they had to move or something, that way youll be able to get back ground on the dog. Lots of people think that labs make the best family pet, but they forget that labs are incredibly active dogs that need lots of excercise and play, with 3 small children who arent really capable of taking care of a dog or themselves i dont know how much time you will be able to devote to that, especially since you dont really like dogs anyway.

Answer 8

i think a good kin of dog if you are adopting a dog is not to get a totally new puppy but to get a medium age dog ..... and a good breed would not be a big dog ! i know from lots of experience that they will sit on your face! and thats not good with kids. i know someone whos got a boy about 3 1/2 and they have 2 dogs .... she was a pretty quiet but fun dog and she was a mix ... normally mixed dogs are better .... like she was a yorkie which is small and a beagle mix. Thats pretty good .

Answer 9

I had a golden Retriever and it was calm never in it's life bit anyone or growled. But not i have a carin terrier (the same kind of dog as Todo from the Wizard of Oz) and she is a very good family dog

Answer 10

Any dog can be the best dog there is but it depends on you.
Dogs are not toys and should never be treated as human.
If you are not into having a dog, I mean ready to do what the dog needs (walks, food, water, shelter, vet bills, shots, obedience, etc.), both you and the dog will suffer.
The first objective is to learn as much as possible about dogs as far as what THEY need; then they will deeply enrich your life and the lives of your children.