I have a serious question.?

Question

We always wanted a dog that would be a friend for life.And we heard of a breed like the doberman but we heard from alot of people they can be very aggressive if somebody kicks them or yells or something so we dont know if its safe to buy one we have alot of little kids we dont really want a golden retriever,we want a dog that when someone comes into the door they would say WOW and we want it to be a friend not a lab or anything we want something unusual so maybe you can help us thank you for all the answers!

Answer 1

How about a Poodle. They are gentle with kids, loyal and love meeting new people.

Answer 2

Doberman Pinschers are just fine with children if they are raised around them.I have raised this breed around my children and grand children and never once,out of nine Dobies, did one ever bite a child. Hey, do you know any big dog that has any smarts about himself that would not bite back if someone was to kick them? Yes, Dobermans can and more than likely could be aggressive if they are abused. They are intelligent, assertive, fearless and with tremendous strength. On the other hand if treated with love and respect they are devoted, loyal and very affectionate.I must tell you though they are not good for the novice owner. Unusual???? Why do you class them as unusual? Honestly, I think you should consider another breed. Good luck on what ever dog you may get.

Answer 3

Doberman's can make great pets. It's all in how you raise and train them. Like NorthernGirl, I own two Rhodesian Ridgebacks. They are beautiful dogs, very affectionate and intelligent. They are great family dogs. I'm constantly amazed as to how many perple have either never heard of the breed or have never seen one. They are truely a WOW dog. If this sounds like a breed for you, check out the Ridgeback website link for breeders near you. As always, you should visit a dog in your area to get a first hand look at the breeds that interest you. As a reference, the males are around 85lbs and the females are around 75lbs.

Answer 4

These articles may help:

Choosing the right dog to join your pack:
http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&A=1678&S=1&SourceID=47

Choosing a Dog for Children:
http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&A=1531&S=1&SourceID=47

If you have a lot of kids around, please consider carefully before getting a dog. Unless you're 100% confident that you will be able to closely supervise EVERY interaction between children and dog 100% of the time, then it's best to wait to get a dog until the children are old enough to understand how to treat a dog properly (12 years or so). No dog, no matter how patient and tolerant, should be subjected to kicking and yelling. There are limits to any feeling creature's patience, no matter the breed, and if those limits are reached, the consequences could be serious for the child and for the dog.

Doggone Safe - Dog Bite Prevention & Safety, including great information for children:
http://www.doggonesafe.com/


Kids and Dogs
http://hssv.org/docs/behavior/dog_kidsndogs.pdf

Answer 5

We have a Red Heeler that has grown up with our children and never hurt them, as a matter of fact she doesn't let them or and one else raise their voice or raise a hand to anyone else with out having a fit. When someone comes to the door she is always protective and listens very well. She is 7 now and we are going to breed her and keep 2 of her pups because they are such good all around family dogs. Good Luck

Answer 6

I personally wouldnt get a poodle because almost every poddle I have dealt with is either crazy (like spinning in circles non stop for days-crazy) or have short tempers. Some times you can get a good one and raise it with no mistreatment what so ever and they can snap at little things. But honestly every breed is like that. My golden mix is the sweetest dog in the world but if she is laying stretched out and you go to lay your head on her she freaks out and starts snapping. She also does this if my cat tries to lay on her. Are you wanting a big dog or does it matter? If you want a sweet large dog that is kind of exotic you might try a Spinone Italiano. We had one at my clinic and he was the sweetest dog. the only time he ever got upset was if he thought we were a threat to his owner. you might also think about a blood hound. my friend has a black and tan coonhound and a bloodhound and they are the sweetest dogs ever (they just dont like their toenails clipped). If you want a smaller dog I would recommend italian greyhounds they are adorable and very sweet. I have other breeds in mind if you want to email me. Good luck and I hope this helps

Answer 7

I've got a Rhodesian Ridgeback, and he's awesome in every single way. He's absolutely beautiful (this coming from his Momma...) and I've been stopped on the street several times by people who ask all sorts of questions about him. He was a challenge to train as a pup, but has come around very nicely; he's very social and friendly. Some people will say that Ridgebacks are aggressive dogs, but if you go to a reputable breeder who breeds for temperament and raise the puppy gently but firmly, they are excellent family pets. His best friend in the world is our cat, Buttons. Not bad for a lion-hunting dog, eh?
You can check out our breeder at:
www.angelridge(con't next line)
rhodesianridgebacks.com
Ariel is our little guy's mom...
Best of luck finding your perfect dog!!

Answer 8

Well, the way a dog behaves depends on how its treated and how it was bread. For a householdlike yours you probably want a tolerant and somewhat large dog so if it is accidentally stepped on or something by the kids, he won't get snappy. I can't really tell you a breed of dog you should get, since you ruled out most of the breeds I would have mentioned. Except one, a german shepard. They could be what you are looking for and are very protective. You will definantly sleep soundly at night w/ one of those. Hope this helps!!!!

Answer 9

For me, you can't beat a boxer. They are exactly what you describe and more. We have 3, and people definitely think twice before messing with you when they see them, but I have nephews who learned to walk by hanging onto my oldest dog's torso and "walking" with him. They are especially known for loving kids, and their family, and actually are generally nice to people--they are HUGE comedians. I can't imagine having anything else. But they do need to be around people, can't tolerate extreme heat or cold, so they really need to be able to live in the house with you, and not in an outdoor kennel. They don't do well in an environment with limited social interaction.

Other minor pluses: short hair is nicer in the house, and they are pretty loyal guys--they really do look out for you. The don't tend to bark necessarily, ours really only bark when we really wind them up or someone's at the door. They have a reputation for being hyper, but more often than not, they're napping by our feet as long as we're working in the house, but always ready to go out for a run. In fact, we have to spell the word "G-O" because they get very excited...

Having said that, in the distant past, they were bred for hunting large game and keeping bulls in line for the butchers, so there is a slim possibility of getting one with some aggression--but it is pretty rare. I work with a boxer rescue that places 80-100 purebred boxers each year, and in the 4 years I've worked with them, we've only had to euthanize 2 that I can remember for aggression. And that is in a group of dogs that has been neglected or abandoned at best, and horribly abused at worst. Both cases were dog-aggressive, too, not people-aggressive.

The things you should look for when you start looking for a boxer: Make sure your breeder is checking tempraments very carefully--sometimes they pay more attention to the shape of their head than the solidity of thier brains. Also, there is a somewhat common genetic disease particularly common to boxers called cardiomyopathy--it will eventually kill the dog, so make sure that's been tested for. Also, as with all large dogs, hips should have been checked for displaysia, and thyroid problems are common, so that's another important one. If you go to a consiencious breeder, these things will all likely have been addressed already, and you can have great confidence in having a wonderful life companion in your new boxer. PLEASE just be careful when you look at back-yard breeders. In the long run, the higher cost of a tested, pet-grade puppy from a good breeder will outweigh the heartbreak and vet bills from an inexpensive dog with unknown background...speaking from experience.

Best of luck!

Answer 10

A great wow-factor dog is the Treeing Walker Coonhound. They're gorgeous animals with a history of faithful service to their human families.

Answer 11

Most dogs, when raised with children, grow to love them and accept them.

However, it goes without saying that even though children do things to animals they may not understand (step on tails, etc.), the parents must teach the children to respect the animals.

Look at the many breeds at the AKC website: