buying my first dog?

Question

I am looking to get my first dog and have no idea which breed to get. I have two kids so it would have to be good with children, i am thinking i would like a small to medium size one or maybe a puppy, any ideas would be great

thank you to every one who answerd, i decided to leave it to the panel to choose a best answer as there were to many good answers to choose from

Answer 1

1. Puppies and kids don't mix. Puppies need a firm, consistent, calm household to grow confident and learn manners. Children cannot provide this, so it's better to get an adult dog.

2. Avoid terriers and toy dogs. Both can be nippy and are not generally good choices for children. Any small dog is a bad idea. Ideally, a good adult size for a dog living with children under 2 is 50lbs or more. If the children are over 8 years, you could go down to about 25lbs. Children under 14 should not have a dog that is less than 25lbs, as they can potentially hurt the dog with rough play.

You also need to consider how much exercise the dog will be getting. If you cannot walk your dog for at least an hour twice a day, and do not have a large yard, don't get a herding or working dog such as the Australian Shepherd, Corgi, Border Collie, etc. While they are great dogs, they need tons of exercise.

I would suggest: a Lab, Golden Retriever, Newfoundland, Great Dane, Beagle, Foxhound, Harrier, Standard Poodle, Bloodhound, Staffordshire or Pit Bull terrier, German Shepherd, or Rottweiler. They are all sturdy, loving, child-friendly breeds, and they are large and tough enough to tolerate any amount of rough play by children. Again, it would be best to consider finding an adult (try your local animal shelter or search online for breed rescues. Petfinder.com is a great resource.) Good luck!

Answer 2

krystallo has it absolutely RIGHT! Do NOT buy a dog! The shelters are FULL of fabulous dogs, many purebred--you'll save a dog and have a friend for life. Most shelters these days have experienced adoption counselors who will listen to all your thoughts and needs and point out the best dogs for YOU. And PetFinder.com IS great. You can indicate where you live and browse all the breeds nearby.

Another point, and I can't stress this enough-- Puppies are adorable but take TIME TIME TIME to train and are basically pretty goofy for a full year or two. PLEASE consider a young (or mature dog), --like 8 mo. at least. By THEN you know what his temperament is like. I've worked at a dog care facility for a few years and have owned dogs for 27 years....a rescue or mixed breed is the way to go. Also mixed breeds are frequently FAR healthier in the long run--they have that varied gene pool (survival of the fittest). I couldn't begin to tell you how many purebreds I know with various problems from skin issues to allergies, stomach issues, ear infections, you name it. But if you MUST have a purebred, the shelters have them! I adopted a purebred redtick coonhound about 8 mo. ago when my beloved mixed terrier died.

The breeds others have mentioned sound like good choices-- I'd say DON'T go with a Jack Russell or many of the terriers--often hyper, stubborn and prone to skin problems. I love pit bulls or staffordshire terriers---not for the first time dog owner. Dalmatians and Boxers have some genetic weaknesses (Boxers prone to cancers). Don't choose a dog with a high-maintenance coat unless you're prepared to pay grooming fees of $60 or so every three months or thereabouts. Ask for his health record at the shelter--they'll share it. Above all, go to the shelter with your kids, get a good adoption counselor, and study the dogs. Make contact. Ask to take them outside their cages or runs and take your time to choose the one that touches your soul---DON'T go by LOOKS alone. You find the right dog, you'll see, he'll become to you the most beautiful dog you could imagine.

Answer 3

The real answer is what effort are you willing to put in? Some dogs require more looking after than others.

Do you want to be walking for a couple of miles a day as a minimum? Do you have someone to share this with? If so then most breeds are OK, but if not then consider a dog that's not from a working background.

Look into a dog's background, as this give you clues as to how it may behaviour instinctively, for example hounds particularly beagles are hard to recall if they have a scent. Each breed has it's instinctive behaviours and you need to choose one that you think you can train better.

At the end of the day though a dogs behaviour depends on the work you put into it

Answer 4

If you have small children between 2 and 5 it's probably best to get a small dog. And puppies are ALOT of work, especially w/ children.
Though if you have older kids, they might be able to help out w/ a bigger dog or a puppy. And it is a great way to teach responsibility.
If you like to run or exercise, a Lab would be a good dog because they are very energetic. I have one and he's really nice to run with . But I also have a small mixed breed and she's very sweet and calm.
You should research some of the breeds you like and think about the different things you like to do; and how much maintenance each breed is and go from there.

Answer 5

There are a lot of dogs that would be a good fit for you, I would probably go to the dog shelters and at least look around at dogs you seem to like. I personally have a rescued Pit Bull mix and it is the greatest dog ever, it is not violent in anyway, it even protects my brothers 8 month old baby when the cat gets near the baby. But again, this is my dog, not all pit bulls are the same in my case and the same will apply to you, but I also recommend going to like Petsmart and getting some literature on dogs, make sure you research the breed before you adopt it, as it can turn into a nightmare very quickly.

Answer 6

I also suggest looking at shelters. You can take the kids to meet the dog and see how they interact. Dogs can be expensive to start out with, but when you get a dog from an animal shelter, the dog's often been vaccinated and spayed or neutered (at least most of the time!)

You don't say how old your children are, but small dogs and small children can be risky business. The dogs tend to get dropped, smashed in doors and stepped on accidentally. Small dogs are very breakable. A medium sized dog would probably be the best choice if your kids are still young.

Answer 7

Adopt from your local shelter. Often these are the best pets. They have few health problems and are very friendly. Any dog can be good with kids. Make sure that your kids are good with dogs too. I've had many clients who have kids who are constantly tormenting the dog, and I wonder why the dog hasn't attacked yet. I know I would if I was constantly getting my tail grabbed and my ears pulled. If your kids respect the dog, and the dog has obedience, then everyone should be fine. I would stay away from any dog that is less than 20-25 lbs because to dogs that size, children can be very scary. Good luck!

Answer 8

You are going to hear all kinds of answers... but you really need to think about you and your kids first. Kids always want to have a puppy, but mom always has to take care of it. It is great for kids to learn that responsibility and also the companion ship of an animal... not to mention how to treat them. Is it going to be an inside dog or outside? Will it be going places with you? Do you live in town or in the country?

There are dogs who do well in town and dogs that just need to be in the country. There are dogs who are easy to keep clean and dogs who get smelly...... So, I guess what I am getting at is go to a shelter a couple of times..... pet some of the different dogs... see which one grabs your heart.... then maybe you can rescue on of them....... take your time.... and dont buy an expensive one.... muts are always the best.

Good luck.

Answer 9

Check out dog books and read about different dog breeds. Each have distinctive characteristics that will suit what your looking for. How old are your kids? Do you want indoor or strictly outdoor dogs? Small dogs need a lot of care and attention, and they're mostly indoor only. A Retriever is always good for a family with kids, but they're big when they're fully grown. Dobermans- bad idea! Also pitbulls.
Maybe check out your local shelter too, and see if there are any dogs/puppies there that needs a good home.
Check out the website for the American Kennel Club- akc.org
They have a listing of different breeds and their traits, weight, sizes, care and maintenance, etc.

Answer 10

adopt an older dog - then you will be giving a dog a home and you willbe able to see that you have a friendly dog, and you won't have to do all the training that puppies need - you can't do it properly with 2 small children to look after anyway, you couldn't devote a puppy enough time. It is full -time looking after a pup properly and they need watching all the time, otherwise you just end up scolding it for weeing or chewing what it shouldn't when it isn't puppies fault.