what is the best dog for my family?

Question

I have an 2 year old daughter my husband has a 8 year old daughter I want a smaller dog that is pretty easy to train and is generally gentle with children we live in a condo with a small yard

Answer 1

I would suggest a King Charles Spaniel , they are great with Children very gentle. A Rough Collie , Lassie Type these are very gentle and easy to train. A Labrador These are Also very gentle and easy to train.

Answer 2

I'd say probably any dog is good no matter the size. Just get it as a puppy as young as possible and let it get to know the two year old, you don't really have to worry about the eight year old. Also, get it obidience trained and teach it not to bite. If it bites anyone, even playfully or a soft bite, lock it up in its cage for at least ten minutes. It would learn not to bite soon. One dog you shouldnt get is a JACK RUSSELL TERRIER! These dogs are small but very energetic and scrappy towards other animals and little kids like your two year old. They also need a lot of exercise and will not do good in a condo. Believe me, I have a Jack Russell Terrier puppy. Believe it or not, it has thrown a chihuahua down the stairs, punched a three year old four times, snatched a cookie from the hands of a two year old, fought a german shepard, tried to attack three five year olds, tackled down a four year old for touching its bone, and bit a two year old in the arm. But it is very friendly to older kids and adults and Jack Russell's are very good dogs. So just get any dog execpt a Jack Russell Terrier unless you buy a house and your two year old becomes about eight. Pretty much any other dog will do, just do not keep it unsupervised with any of your kids.

Answer 3

Every one here is 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 an issue you could always adopt a pup from your local pound or shelter they have all sizes breeds and ages, they come spayed or netered and shots already done and they are a lot less expensive. As I stated in the beginning any dog can be good with children it is a matter of how the are trained and socialized but generally it is better to get a medium to large breed when you have young children. Small children should never be left alone with dogs so always supervise.

Answer 4

If you want a pure bred - try a boston terrier. They are small and good with kids. Just make sure you find a reputable breeder. Check out the AKC website for a breeder near you. Otherwise, mutts are sometimes the best dogs. look for no-kill shelters that use foster parents with the dogs. The fosters can tell you the dogs habits, most dogs get some form of obedience training and are usually house broken by the foster. Which can come in very handy with a small child around.

Answer 5

I would suggest a mini schnauzer..I have a 2 yr old as well and a 6 yr old..My puppy loves them! My 2 yr old is sometimes a little rough with her and my 2 yr old neice is too..She doesn't mind..Just make sure that you socialize your new pup with as many people and animals at a young age..
Also I would suggest a shih tuz..My little sister was severely handicapped and we got one for her..She had seizures and a movement disorder and "Ma'Leigh" would always stay by her side..She would go and check on her when she had a seizure and when she was moving and kicking, Ma'Leigh just layed their..However, she was very protective of "her girl"..But she was the one of the best dogs that we ever had around kids, besides my schnauzer..
You could do research on dogbreedinfo.com and look up some small dog breeds there..It will tell you which ones are good to have around children and which ones aren't ..Plus you can see different pics of them
GOOD LUCK!!

Answer 6

I was initially going to say german shepard - those are such awesome dogs - but if you want a smaller dog, and you're not sure what to get, you can always call a pet store near by or go talk with the people you are considering buying from and ask what the best dog for a family like yours would be. They'll be honest.

Answer 7

labs are great dogs for families with children. but if you want a smaller dog, you might want to check into your local animal shelters as they do have the dogs histories, and can tell you about them. generally smaller dogs , like yorkies, poodles and the such don't really liked to messed with and they will bite more so than a lab would. i've had chocolate labs for 6 years now and have 3 children bewteen 11 and 6.

Answer 8

Go to your local shelter. They have history on most of the dogs there, including whether or not they are accustomed to being around children. We got our first puppy when my daughter was 2, and it was challenging because puppies are very rambunctious and also tend to nip a lot. An older dog--who has a history with small children--is your best bet, regardless of breed or size.

Answer 9

There is a book called "Dogalog" which we used to find our first dog (an Otterhound). It allows you to find the right dog by comparing a number of attributes and describes the character and needs of the breed well. Since you have young children, it is very important that you consider the character. I used to be against the idea of purebreed dogs, but you can more easily (although never exactly) predict the character of a purebreed dog, which was important to us as we are also planning a family. Otterhounds are wonderful with kids by the way, but they need lots of excercise and you have to not be house proud!

Answer 10

I have a husky/collie mix and a yorkie. they are both very friendly. that is because we spent alot of time with them. I would recommend a yorkie. They do not shed, and can live in small apartments. My yorkie reeses, is so funny sometimes, he goes on the couch and does somersaults. the only problem is, your 2yr old might think iit is a stuffed animal. But overall, i think a yorkie would be the best choice. I would not recommend a german shepard or pit bull or bull dog, they can get pretty agressive.

here is a site that tells you a little bit about yorkies.

http://www.puppyfind.com/breed/?breed_id=114&back=%2Fsearch%2F%3Fsubmit%3D1%26str%3Dyorkie%26page%3D1