What dog would you recommend for a family with an active 6 y/o, have time for dog but not a lot for training?

Question

no time for training is due to that I am a firefighter and gone 24 hrs and believe that training is something that needs to be daily and consistant

I am a firefighter and gone for 24 hrs and believe that training needs to be daily and consistance. not hit and miss. have time for walks, play, and grooming

Answer 1

No time for training? You will only become frustrated and eventually get rid of the dog. I wouldn't recommend a dog, I would recommend a cat.

Answer 2

If you dpn't have time to train, but want to enjoy a dog, I suggest adopting an adult dog from your local animal shelter or humane society. There are some really great adult dogs that get overlooked just because they are adults. Many places offer a discount for adult pets. With a kid in the family, too, it's an even better idea to adopt an adult dog. Many people think it's a great idea to raise kids and dogs together, but it can lead to problems, especially when training is an issue. I think it would be fun for your child to go with you to the shelter and let him/her decide what dog to get. You ca usually meet and play with the dog first to get a feel for its attitude and whther or not it would fit into your family. Breed has nothing to do with it, really.Little dogs tend to be nippy, and f you don't have time for training you probably won't have much for grooming either, so I would recommend a medium-sized short coated dog, perhaps something along the lines of a boxer or lab mix.

Answer 3

Get an older dog from a shelter or pound. I promise you will find some of the best dogs in the world there. They are ALWAYS grateful too. Most people think they need a puppy, but don't realize how much effort a puppy is. I think you should really check into a dog that is already a couple of years old. By then they are usually past all those bad "puppy habits"

Answer 4

Check with your local pound or animal shelter for an adult dog. Puppies and young dogs usually need a lot of training in the beginning.

Go to
http://www.petfinder.com/

I don't have a specific breed recommendation because there are general characteristics for each breed but it is not always the same- Example I had 2 dogs of the same breed one was a couch potato and the other one bounced off the walls.

Please don't buy from a pet shop- their dogs come from Puppy Mills (horrible/cruel living conditions)
Try to adopt a homeless or rescued dog. If you go to a breeder ask for references or you could end up with an unhealthy animal and or behavior problems.

Answer 5

Adopt an older lab or retriever mix, something with a calm personality. A puppy will require a lot of training and time in the first few years, but there are a lot of older dogs in need of good homes who are already trained.

Answer 6

A female Keeshond. In case you don't know what this is, it looks like a small, long-haired husky but with none of the husky traits. I recommend a female because the males I've been around have gotten grumpy around age 7. Our female never did.
Keeshonds try hard to please and learn very quickly. They are very protective of the family, especially children. They can "rough and tumble" or be very gentle, according to each family member's preference.
Purebred Keeshonds only shed spring and fall. Get one from a good breeder. A friend got one from a pet store that turned out not to be purebred and sheds daily.
We lived in the country where people dumped dogs. We placed at least a dozen dogs in loving homes according to their personalities. Each was either too docile for my boys, or too active for me. (I like calm and quiet.) The Keeshond we met at a friend's house was docile around me yet could "outromp" the boys. We found a good breeder and got a dog that fit our family perfectly.

Labs would be my second choice. They are sweet, protective dogs. But the lab we rescued and my daughter's roommate's lab shed constantly and were easily excited, especially when visitors came. I don't like being jumped on when entering a house. Or having to physically restrain a dog in my care while I'm welcoming visitors. Labs are friendly but too exuberant for me.
Be sure you are ready to give attention and care to whatever breed you decide on. They all require lots of love and discipline such as you would give your children.

Answer 7

This may sound a little odd, but a greyhound might work. Retired racers are all usually trained before you get them and racer rescues will be able to line you up with one that is good with kids.

Contrary to general belief, greyhounds sleep most of the day and have a couple short bursts of energy, good for a long walk a couple times a day. Be careful though, because if they get bored, they do doggy things like chew.

Answer 8

When I was growing up, my mom had toy poodles - from the time I was a baby until one year ago. My mom doesn't have patience to train a dog with tricks - but they are easily trained regardless. Never once did either of the three dogs we have nip or hurt me as a child. They don't require a lot of walking and are happy playing in the house most of the time. Just something to consider. Plus no mess with shedding hair. I wouldn't say you shouldn't get a dog if you can't train them. It depends on what type of training you are talking. Potty training or training to do tricks? Toy poodles are very obedient and learn quickly no means no.

Answer 9

I am familiar with most every breed of dog through dog shows. I have my personel favorites, but it seems that more people are happiest with a Golden Retriever for a family with a young, active child. Goldens are very gentle with kids. They have a lot of energy so they can keep up with active kids, but they are also very gentle. It would be best to get a puppy that is already house broken.
The only down side I can think of is that their fur is a bit long. The will need to be bathed about once a month and brushed about one a week to keep out tangles. But any breed of dog will need brushing and bathing!

Answer 10

If you are looking for a well mannered dog with low exercise and energy demands a retired greyhound can be a good match, as long as your child is respectful and not rough with dogs.

info on this page, an adoption group will help to pick out a greyhound who would best suit your family since they come in a large range of personalities.

http://adopt-a-greyhound.org/