Which Dog Breed?

Question

Which of these dog breeds are good with children and strangers?
Siberian Husky
Dalmation
Italian Greyhound
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Papillon

Answer 1

It would be best if you researched each breed and chose which one best matched your lifestyle and needs.
Any dog can react badly to children or strangers under certain conditions.

Answer 2

The CKCS and Papillions are the only two I would recommend at all to a home with kids. But by far the best dogs temparement wise are mixed breeds. Also, I can tell you that picking a pet based on breed is only half the battle. All dogs are different. A pit bull raised around kids is safer than a cocker spaniel that is not used to them.
My advice is to go the SPCA and take a look. They are the best place to find loving dogs, and are much cheaper and they are not out to make money. A pet store or breeder will sell you anything to make a buck. (By the way, all the breeds you listed are generally very expensive to buy.)
Huskies in general, while beautiful and one of my favorites, are not very affectionate and are notorious escape artists. They need constant grooming also.
DO NOT GET A DALMATION, they are very temperamental due to all the inbreeding required to get their natural look.
Italian greyhound I don't know a lot about, but regular greyhounds have a very strong chase instinct, obviously not good for houses with children running around. Also not always very affectionate.
Please consider adopting, if you don't see a dog you like on your first visit to a shelter, get their number and keep checking, most get new dogs every day. You won't be sorry.

Answer 3

Wow, it sounds like you and a lady (maybe your wife) are trying to decide on a dog. You have some very different breed choices going on there. They really have very different traits, appearances, sizes and coats, all of which is just as important as what your asking. All dogs have their own personalities, although it is true that different breeds are much more likely to have different traits. So although generalizations can be made, the lines the dog comes from, and the environment it is in, will make a difference and generalities will not always hold true.
Siberians are usually pretty friendly; in fact I think of them as a breed that a stranger could (in many cases) put a leash on and walk off with. They can be left out a little longer in frigid temperatures than any of the other breeds you have mentioned in case you are thinking the dog could go out for a romp in a fenced yard during winter months.

The Dalmatian does not have the coat that the Siberian has. It will need far less care as far as brushing or bathing. They had become popular because of Disney movies and it would be wise to choose a Dalmatian after visiting with its parents and observing the temperaments on those particular dogs. (That pretty much holds true for anything that you choose.)

The Italian Greyhound (a breed I do know a lot about) is a TOY greyhound. It is not a recently developed breed but has been in existence for 2000 years. Very little coat care there, if any to speak of. They are NOT (or should not be) yappy. I have seen some lines that I consider yappy but in general this is not a toy breed that barks more than any larger breed might. I have seen some people house break them to the point that they ask to go out but they are not as easy to house break as a Cavalier. Although you might not find them a breed that many people think of as good with children, that depends on the children you have. If you have daughters who like to lounge around in bed all day long they might find a nice bed warmer in the IG. On the other hand this is not a breed that I would expect to rough house with a Frisbee with compared to the other breeds listed.

Cavaliers are very sweet. Larger than the Papillion, not as likely to bark or be yappy. They also shed as all the breeds listed, its a matter of how much hair they have to shed, that might make a difference to you. The cavalier is not as easy to carry around as a Papillion as it is slightly larger but it can easily be carried, although it is also fine walking. That might make a difference if someone is thinking they may be picking the dog up a lot as the Papillion is smaller. The Cavalier is in general more likely to take longer naps than the Papillion, and not be quite as energetic. Papillions are smaller though so the energy of a Pap is easy to deal with.

I think the question that you all should be asking yourselves is this: When the dog has an upset stomach on the sofa, or urinated on the Persian carpet that you just bought, which one has a face that will melt your heart anyway? Which breed appeals to you so much that even the messy incidents that will happen will not reduce your affection for the dog? The dog that melts your heart will be the one that has a secure and loving home. The one that has that look or expression that you can do nothing except forgive it.


I'm not saying that you shouldn't train it, you should. I'm just saying that it is the one that appeals to you most that you will make the best home for. Your children aren't the ones that are going to feed it; they usually tire of dogs, and often leave home before the dog expires. Your children aren't the ones who would decide that the dog isn't working out. Parents make those decisions, and parents should get the dog that appeals to them most because the dog may be there long after the children have grown and left home.

You can go to AKC.ORG and look up each breed, pay attention to what they were bred for to help with an estimation of the traits they have. There are usually little video clips on each breed page which might give you a better idea. Another thing to do would be watch the Westminster dog show this Monday and Tuesday evening, and of course you could always go to a dog show in your area, and see if one breed appeals to you more than any other. Infodog.com might point you to a local dog show.

Answer 4

HOnestly I've had the best luck with husky's, they are great dogs and tend to be good with everyone. Do not get a dalmation. After 101 dalmations the movie came out many people went out and got them for their children not reading up on the breed. The Dalmations are typically not good with children.

Answer 5

Papillon or King Charles. The others are need TONS of exercise EVERY DAY!! Huskies were bred to run all day. Thats why they are notorious for running away. King Charles were bred SPECIFICALLY for their temeperament around people. Best dog there is except they CAN have a bad heart defect so check out the breeder carefully.

Answer 6

I have worked in kennels and been around all the breeds you mentioned.
My mother has 2 papillions. They are gentle and sweet although they can become "barky".
I have a dalmatian. They are active/aggressive with strangers but kind with their family.
Italian greyhounds are skittish.
Huskies are aggressive.
CKCS are hyper and barky and pee alot when excited (most spaniels do).

There are exceptions to every rule and dogs are like people, every one has it's own personality. The above descriptions are just my opinion and very generalized.
When I wanted to find out about a particular breed, I would just enter the name in the search bar and several sites come up to teach more.

Answer 7

The husky would probably be the best with children, rescued greyhounds are normally gentle too, dalmatians are too inbreed really to be good with children, small dogs can be snappish. As for strangers normally it's how you train your dog.I have 3 dogs, 2 German Shepard's and a black lab all 3 will bark at strangers at the gate, but are fine once introductions are made.Hope this is helpful to you.

Answer 8

Dalmations are cute and all but have a mean temperment....
Huskys are so pretty and are OK with kids if raised with kids
Italian Greyhounds are so fragile I wouldnt...or depending on the kids ages....They are so skinny and just brittle...so sweet too!!!
Spaniels are good great for hunting very intelegent also
Papillons are ver sweet just they have "little" dog syndrome...can be mean
Hope this helps!!!

Answer 9

A papillon would be your best choice, but are on the hyper side, a greyhound would be another, they are very docile creatures. But like I aways tell people a dog is what you make it and how you raise it.

Answer 10

I think a Dalmation is good with kids. As far as strangers, maybe you don't want a dog who's good with them. For the kid's sake.