I am thinking of getting a dog for a pet but want to train the dog as well. I have seen different kind of breeds and mutts included. I like to hear from what y'all think. =)
2007-01-29 02:43:25 · 33 answers · asked by Jadesparrow 3 in Pets ➔ Dogs
I have an 8 month old Aussie (Australian Shepherd) and my family & I love her to pieces!! She's extremely loveable, playful, smart, obedient, beautiful & has the best personality!! However, she does require lots of excersice every day. I do daycare, so a dog that was great with children was a must. Most bigger dogs are good with small children, it is usually the smaller breeds you need to watch. Buy from a breeder, if not for any other reason, than for the fact that most reputible breeders will not sell you a dog that does not suit your lifestyle (be honest, though).
Most puppies if socialized properly will be awesome dogs. Lots & LOTS of socialization!! Meet lots of different kinds of people, different places, and all kinds of experiences.... this is key. Training is a must to. As the saying goes ... "there are no bad dogs, just bad owners!".
Also, pick a dog which you like the look of when it is fully grown, since all puppies are cute! The internet is a great tool for finding all kinds of different breeds. Take the quiz below to see which is for you.
2007-01-29 03:25:10 · answer #1 · answered by incredimom2 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Lots of dogs are good with children. Some other things you will want to consider though are-
-How much free time will you have to play/train with the animal? This will determine how old of a dog you get as puppies wil generally require a lot more time than an adult will and also what kind of energy level will be tolerable.
-Your living situation. Home or apartment? Big or small yard? Some dogs will require more space to run and don't do well with a small yard or in an apartment.
I personally like beagle and beagle mixes as family pets. They're fairly low maintenance in terms of energy level and grooming and are extremly friendly. You won't have to worry about them knocking over your children either. They're pretty easy going, laid back animals (except when they pick up a smell of course) They do well in most home environments. Great family pets
2007-01-29 02:59:15 · answer #2 · answered by dog7788 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
One of the best things that you could do would be to go to the local animal rescue shelter or pound. Many have pure breed dogs and many are older and already trained and extremely loving. They are so thankful to have a family and it really shows. I had a dog from a shelter and she grew up with me when I was young and was the sweetest dispositioned dog I have ever known. Some of the dogs are from seniors to puppies and are sometimes turned in by the owner for reasons such as they are going into a nursing home and you could talke to them about the characteristics of the dog before bringing them home!
2007-01-29 03:37:55 · answer #3 · answered by luawai 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As a long time "mutt" owner, I have a fondness for mutts. I think they're healthier than their pure bred counterparts. If you want a dog good with kids, I'd suggest a larger breed dog, such as a golden retriever (fantastic with kids). We have a golden retriever/collie mix and a golden retriever/black lab mix, they both adore kids. My dog which we lost a couple of years ago died at the age of 15, and adored kids her whole life, she was german shepherd and black lab. Small dogs are sometimes frightened of kids because kids run around a lot and the dog is afraid it'll get stepped on, so many of the small breed dogs will end up not liking children after it gets our of puppyhood.
I would also suggest a female, because they seem to be gentler with very small kids than the males, but that's not always the case. Our golden/collie mix jumps on eveyone, we have a hard time training her to stop, whereas our sherpherd/lab mix we had never jumped on a child, always walked very carefully around babies because she was afraid of stepping on them. She was the one large dog you could put a baby on the floor around, and she'd never step on it. Of course, the one we have now would plop right down on them.
2007-01-29 02:52:27 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
My sister had a Jack Russel and loved it- I couldn't stand it- it was hyper and "pinged" all over-jumping into my plants, breaking things, digging-ARGH!
I grew up with Labradors-not retrievers. They are great for protection but not agressive. Short haired (good bonus!) We used to swim with them and literally climb all over them. Very loving and smart dogs. Wonderful- I would love one now but don't have the yard!
Now I have a Japanese chin- about 12 lbs. B/W with a squished nose- smart, acts like a cat in terms of sleeping and grooming, NOT yippy! But children must be old enough with small dogs to beware that they are small and could get hurt.
My best deal was do something like this question, plus decide if I wanted big or little and go online and read the personality traits for the individual breeds-its readily available-check out "wiener dogs" too! When you have kids you want them to interact, be safe and enjoy and a short haired breed is a big plus too as you don't need more work. My vote is for a Lab!
2007-01-29 02:58:43 · answer #5 · answered by ARTmom 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
If you MUST get a dog, I recommend some kind of smaller black lab, if available. Not a "small" dog, but not german shepherd size either. Too big is annoying and messy, too small is just too small.
But I think the best breed of dog, at any price, is a cat, for a long list of reasons. If you don't already have one, you should seriously consider one (indoor/outdoor that can take care of its business outside), because they are like the 0 annoyance, 0 mess, 0 cleanup version of dogs, and are clean enough to hug and hold.
2007-01-29 02:48:58 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Getting a dog is a big responsibility. If your lucky you will own one special dog in your lifetime. Your best bet is to go to the animals shelters and dog pounds or the aspca or other organizations that have dogs. Take your time and try and get to know the dogs there. I suggest a mutt they are the hardiest healthiest and smartest. 90% of pure breed dogs have genetic weaknesses. Check all the local dog shelters and when you have looked over all the dogs in all the shelters i'm sure one dog will stand out as that dog has to have us and we have to him or her. If you have a secure fenced yard i suggest a female, if your dog could get loose i suggest a male.
2007-01-29 02:55:56 · answer #7 · answered by Tim O 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My family has a golden retriever. She's a GREAT dog. If you go for a pure breed be sure you do your home work regarding the breeder. Most pet store dogs come from puppy mills, which usually means they are messed up. We first got a rescue dog, which we think was a product of a puppy mill - he was a disaster. Second time around we researched, visited several breeders until we found our Emma. Smart, loyal, gentle, fun to play with. My kids are teens, but there are little kids in the neighborhood and Emma gets along great with them.
2007-01-29 02:51:40 · answer #8 · answered by Fester Frump 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I think Bulldogs (English or French) are a great dog for anyone. They bond to a whole family not just 1 or 2 people. They are not aggressive. These dogs love everyone, and do not know a stranger. I would try researching these breeds and see which you like best.
2007-01-29 04:13:53 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Mutts are wonderful! They tend to be the best traits from both dogs. Labs, Golden Retrievers, Pit bulls, and Australian Cattle Dogs (Blue Heelers) are AMAZING dogs.
Look at your life style (activities, time, space etc) and based off of that you should find your perfect dog.
You have to consider maintance, grooming, temperment, breed tendencies and things like that.
There are hundreds of wonderful pure breeds and THOUSANDS of wonderful mixed breeds to choose from.
Good Luck
2007-01-29 02:48:49 · answer #10 · answered by sillybuttmunky 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋