what dog breed would be suitable?

Question

My eldest child is 4 and keeps raving on about wanting a puppy and my youngest is just 20 months.Personally i would prefer a labrador/retriever as i know these are great family dogs and soft around children but on the otherhand i know how big these breeds get so i am wondering if there might be a smaller breed out there which would have the similar temperment as a labrador etc.Any ideas would be much appreciated.Thankyou

Answer 1

Thye best thing to do is to go to a professional for advice. Perhaps a vet or re homing center. There are lots of factors that need to be taken into account when getting a dog, including how much you are willing to walk, how much grooming you are prepared to do, how much training you can have etc etc. They could take all of this into account and give you a list of sutable breeds (or if a rehoming center cross breeds they may have). It is worth getting it right first time! The one thing I would say is stay away from Collies or their crosses.......although they don't get to the size of a full lab as mentoned, they are herding dogs and are likely to nip and herd children. Good luck!

Answer 2

If you go for a Labrador or Golden Retriever in the UK buy from a very good breeder.These breeds are very popular and so many are now bred by dodgy backstreet breeders.

Because of this and the assumption that they are fine for kids even without lots of training they are now responsible for as many dog bites on children as any other breed.

If you get it from a good breeder and train it well I would recommend the following breeds: Bearded Collie,Boxer,Rottweiler and Staffie.

Remember that no dog can be safely left alone with your kids till they are old enough to know how to treat it-which will be a few years yet even for your 4 year old.It's best not to leave kids under 10 alone with any dog.

Answer 3

I've had several dogs and worked in a shelter, since your children are so young,a lab puppy if not a good idea, they are great family dogs, but with young kids in mind, they take a very long time to settle down, they are constant puppies untill five or so, and since they are so big it can be a hassle with young small children. When they are both in or above kindergarden a lab would be great. IF you want a small dog, don't got mininture, young kids, not matter how well behaved,can intentionally hurt little tiny dogs. Terriors aren't realiable with small children and prefer older children (gradeschool) Just because a dog is bigger dosen't mean worse, Saint Bernards are HUGE but their disposition is a gentle giant, unlike labs who are rambunicous. (the saint was just an exampe not a recomendation) Frankly any dog would work other than the general ones mentioned, rescue dogs are great, but be wary and visit them several times, dont' just go and pick one out, you need to see what they are like since you do not know what sort of home they came from.
Good luck (personally I have a golden retriever which are also amazing with children of all ages, even as puppies but they are servely overbred so more prone to health issues, and there is the long, LONG hair)

Answer 4

there are wonderful mix breeds you can get at a shelter that have a mix of the two breeds that you have mentioned. I own a Chow/Lab mix that weighs around 50 lbs. He has the temperament of a Lab and protects like a Chow. He retreives like a Lab, but looks like a Chow. Great all around dog. Both breeds you mentioned do well when mixed with another breed. If I were you I'd look into a local shelter first. When you go to a shelter you have to remember your not purchasing "clothing" so the first dog you fall in love w/ may not be the right dog. Think of it as buying a "car" check the(tires and engine) check the history. Narrow your choice down to four dogs and interact w/ each one of them. Look for the dog that is calm when in your presence. If you pick a dog that is "hyper" in the shelter imagine how much more "hyper" he will be once you get him home?! In that same breath make sure the calm dog is not "skittish" CLAP you hands if he cowers in a corner he's skittish! Plenty of sights on the web that can help you find the perfect dog. DO YOUR HOMEWORK!

Answer 5

I'm not going to suggest 1 particular breed but a magazine. If you get a copy of Dogs Today magazine it has pictures of a couple of hundred breeds in the back along with some details of each. Once you have chosen some likely candidates they also have telephone contacts for general advice and specific breed advice. I'd suggest speaking to specific breed advice people on the breeds you have chosen and then go from there.

If you can't choose between a couple of breeds once you have done the above then I suggest contacting breeders of those breeds in your area and arranging to visit. Most breeders are happy to have visitors and you can then make your choice.

Answer 6

labradors are fine! They only get to about above your hips when they're fully grown and are so gentle with children! Just make sure u train them not to jump up when they are a puppy as it can scare u to death when a 2 year old fully grown labrador jump up all of a sudden!!!

also, labs act like puppies for ages! They soon settle down when they are about 3 years old. But this is great for your kids as they can play with them all day long!

P.S. smaller dogs are OK, i guess, but little dogs tend to bark alot more and scare the life out of your 20 month old child! golden retrievers and labradors are perfect 4 u. i suggest to get a lab or golden, although labs are the best choice as they dont have masses of fur! (but both breeds shed twice a year)

P.P.S. make sure your research ur chosen breed carefully. Find a local vet and tell them about your lifestyle. they may suggest a better breed 4 u. and as soon as u get ur puppy, make sure u take it to the vet on the way home to make sure that theres nothing wrong with it as if there is, u wont be attatched to the puppy and then give it away again! (although u get attached 2 a puppy as soon as you see one!)

P.P.P.S. Good luck!

Answer 7

My children are not as young as yours, but we recently got a bassett hound puppy and she is wonderful. Besides all the puppy habits (like potty-training and nipping), she is a great dog. She does bark, but I wouldn't say anymore than any other dog. They also make a gadget that you can place in the room with the dog that will activate when they bark-it will emit a sound that only the dog will hear that will discourage loud and annoying barking and/or howling. We had a black lab and we ended up giving him to a friend because he was too big to be an inside dog. He also chewed on anything and everything except for his chew toys!

Answer 8

Growing up we always had mutts...you can go to petfinder, type in Lab cross and get a medium sized dog with Lab characteristics. Our mixed breed dogs always seemed to be healthier than our purebred Dobie was. I am sending you info on 2 cute puppies that are lab mixes so you have an idea of what you can find out there. There are tons of different mixed-breed dogs that are wonderful. Good Luck!!

Answer 9

My sister has small children which have grown up around her dogs. They are both Shitzus and they are very playful and soft.

If you have your heart on a labrador type then how about a CollieXLab as these look very similar to labs and have really good personalities, but don't grow as large as a full pedigree Lab.

The only thing I would say is that any dog can turn nasty if not trained well, so you need to think carefully before buying a dog as you will be having a young toddler around it.

Answer 10

One thing you should consider is that smaller breeds are more subject to injury from young children who might play too roughly with them. Labs can handle more rough and tumble play and if properly raised and socialized, the worst they are likely to do is knock somebody over with their puppy exuberance. Either way, large or small dog, you are going to have to supervise all the time until your kids are a bit older. For this reason, some breeders and shelters won't adopt to families with children under a certain age.