Which of these 3 dog breeds is best for a family w/kids?

Question

I'm looking for a puppy/family dog for our family, we've narrowed our breeds to three. Miniature Dachshund, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, or a Beagle. I'd like a dog my kids can play with and also be a calm smart family dog, easy to train and not snappy or aggressive.

Answer 1

didn't u already ask this????

Beagle playful,,,can be trained easier then the other 2...i don't think i've ever seen a ill tempered beagle...they are all about fun...and most don't bray non stop in the house...its the ones stuck on a chain day in day out.

i've seen many a snappy dachshunds

and the charlie i don't kow much about....but its a spaniel and some spaniel are not good with kids...


oh and go to the shelter...i'm sure there is a sweet beagle waiting form a home..and someone to save its life.... petfinder.com

Answer 2

Either the King Charles spaniel or a beagle. Both are sweet, loving breeds of dogs that get along well with children.

But: King Charles spaniels don't live much past 11 years old. They are a type of dog that acquire health problems at a younger age than most dogs, and don't live as long as other breeds. Beagles, on the other hand, can be horribly noisy because of their howling. And, NEVER NEVER NEVER let a beagle off their leash, once the nose catches a scent, that dog will be gone in a heartbeat and you'll most likely never see it again. Beagles are dumb dogs in the fact that when they're tired, they don't stop running. In the 'old days', while hunting, beagles would literally run themselves to death to catch their prey. Keep it on a leash at all times!

Answer 3

Hi,

the particular dog (of whatever breed) is the important thing as many dogs differ from other dogs of the same breed. This is largely the result (or fault) of the training each dog gets from its owners.

Of the three breeds you mention, though, there are characteristics which tend to occur in many dogs of the breed.
Daschunds are sometimes quite snappy (though others really are very tolerant of playful children) they also suffer from back problems, so if your children are the type that may climb or jump on the back of your dog I would suggest this is NOT a suitable choice.

Cavalier KIng Charles spaniels (or any other spaniel is usually a good choice for children, as they are generally tolerant and they have a sweet friendly nature. They do, along with other spaniel types, though, have two things you may wish to consider before buying.
They are frequently 'chewers' and will destroy your furniture, or anything they take a fancy to. Avoiding this inherent fault can be difficult and, once ingrained, it can be difficult to get rid of.
The other thing is...they have long, easily grasped ears, so your children need to be aware that pulling them is wrong! Any dog, if treated badly will snap if its ears are painfully pulled.

These faults apart, you will have a gentle, loving pet full of character.

The Beagle, too has long ears and will react if they are pulled. (as with the spaniel) but they are a strong dog with a loving nature which will be friendly to everyone in your household. They have no generally occurring faults and usually make very good housepets and do seem to like playing with children.

Whichever dog you choose I would suggest taking the children with you before buying so they will feel an instant attachment to the dog (and vice versa) and let them play with the particular dog to see how it reacts.

As I said earlier, ANY dog will react if mistreated, so train your children along with the chosen pet.

Good luck, whatever type you choose, hope this has been a help.

BobSpain

Answer 4

Dachshunds are very nice little dogs-my son's day care now has 2 that come often with a teacher and love the attention. However, they are small and the kids must know how to take care of them (esp the back so as to avoid injury-you don't swing these guys butts when you pick them up under the front legs or you may have a problem). They were bred to hunt-so they dig and can be very headstrong at times. I know about 7 of them, all are great with the family they have.

CKCS are a breed I am not overly familiar with-I didn't consider them when we got a dog due to overbreeding and trouble finding a well bred CKCS (you don't want vet bills from bad breeding).

Beagles were on my short list last summer-they are great dogs. I ruled them out for a few reasons. They are known to be a little tough to train, they are smart but they are independent. They like to roam and will take off after a scent and get 4 miles down the road in no time-they need a good fence or leashes at all times the first 1-2 years (and likely always will, they don't outgrow the urge to hunt). They can have a little bit of a "hound" odor. SOrry, but they can get that smell that seems to me to be a hound thing.

I think that you have to look at what you mean by easy to train-no dog will take one class and thrive with no refresher. You will have to do training sessions all the time to keep things fresh. And smart dogs get bored easy. Any dog can be snappy-that is all in how YOU raise them. I personally went for a Brittany (spaniel). I talked to breed rescue folks, breed clubs, and found a breeder at the AKC website who had certified the parents for hip problems. Britts are good with kids, midsize (under 40 pounds), smart, and low upkeep-groom 2 times a year.

Any dog you get means more work-I have found about 3 times more work than I planned on. Good luck.

Answer 5

Beagle, dachshunds have a problem with kids and tend to be nippy. I've never really been around a King Charles Spaniel before so I'm not sure. My dad had beagles while I was growing up and they were good dogs but you need to keep them active. I currently have 2 shar peis and 3 kids and my dogs are excellent family dogs.

Answer 6

I would get a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel if I were you. Dachshunds and Beagles are great dogs as well but being hounds they can be a bit more challenging to train.

Answer 7

Whether the dog is easy to train, smart and not aggressive really only depends on one thing - your family. Dogs are not inherently stupid, aggressive or hard to train, people make them that way. If I were you I would talk to breeders a great deal more. These breeds are all very different in temperment. The biggest problem people have in getting a dog is that they did not spend enough time learning about the breed's personality and drive level. Spend time now with breed professionals so you get the right dog.
Then make sure to enter your dog in obedience classes so you can learn how to train your dog.

Answer 8

For sure go with the Beagle. I have never heard of any bad things about these dogs, and I have two small children, and if I were to trust a dog with them it would definately be the Beagle. They are calm, but playful, and they are not snappy. They're easy to train and I have never heard of any aggressive behavior.

Answer 9

you need info for each dog first-- like some spaniels like playful biting, and are a little sensistive to their ears being pulled. beagles are also good family pet and quiet but quite stubborn, so children might find it frustrating to play with them. Daschunds bark a lot and you have to train them not to be too playful or they'll always want to play. Remember that most of the time small/toy dogs are not suitable for children because they are sensitive and demands time and attention and could be jealous of children. Most websites recommend bigger breeds that can stand to the stress caused by children, like labrador retriever. Anyway, among the three I think your best bet is the beagle.

Answer 10

May I recommend that you may want to get a Border Collie, a Bearded Collie, or a Cocker Spaniel? Although I adore miniature dachshunds, they are extremely hyper and are known to snap at little ones. Both spaniels and beagles are also very hyper and easily distracted.

Border Collies have been labeled as the smartest and easiest dogs to train by the AKC. They are loving, loyal, and protective of little ones. Bearded collies (I have one) are nicknamed "tailwaggers because they are so even tempered and happy. My Cassie has never been mean or cranky to a child, and is extremely smart, easily trained, and protective. Cocker Spaniels have always had the great label of being as loving as angels and as protective as a mother bear. They are wonderful animals, but they are a bit harder to train.

Whatever you decide, I just think you can't go wrong by adding man's best friend to your family. They are the greatest friend a person could ask for! Have a great day! Annie