What breed of dog is most appropriate for a fam. with 2 boys 4 & 1 yr. old?

Question

We wanted to add an addition to our family in the way of a pet. Which breed should we choose that would be good for a home with 2 small boys in it? I was thinking of a Jack Russell, Bulldog, or some other small breed. I am going to purchase it while it's a puppy so we can train him or her to fit our house. Anyone know of any other good breeds that are good with kids? I would prefer it to be under 25 #'s adult size & a short smooth coat.

Thank you.

Answer 1

I wouldn't reccomend getting a jack russel in your situation. I do have one myself and they are lovely breeds but they can be quite yappy, bossy and did you know they need more exercise than a rottweiler. A jack would be too boisterous for your boys and could end up with behaviour problems if it isn't exercised enough. I think a beagle would suit your family because they have a lovely disposition, are gentle(perfect for your kids), short coat and don't need much exercise plus they look cute all through their lives.

There are lots of beagles available at: Puppyfinder.com
I think it's better than pet finder because it's just puupies not adult dogs and not other types of pets.

Hope this all helps!

Answer 2

A very good family dog for childen, that is small, can be easily trained, under 25lbs, and short smooth coat. Jack Russell would be your breed, But do your home work. this breed has a tendency to be hyper and a short attention span. My grand daughter has a chinese pug that she has had since a pup and they bond very well with children. they also have a tendency to be protective around other kids. They also make an excellent playmate. 2 boys can be very rough in play and pugs can handle that. their coats are short and they don't shed much. drawback.. pugs love to lick your face.. It is a sign of affection. Also pugs tend to stay near children when ever they are out in the yard. This breed is very loyal. Bulldogs, I wouldn't recommend. they have a tendency to eat their own poop. not very bright.
If you don't mind a long haired variety, I would recommend shetland sheep dogs or"shelties, this breed and kids go together naturally. the breed is a herding dog and are excellent pets. I have owned this breed for 15 years and have never had a problem with them. also very loyal, and the breed is very intelligent. there are many sites on line that you can check out and talk to breeders. some small breeds do not do well with children.

Answer 3

with children that young i would not suggest going with a small breed dog. you should stick with the mediumish sized ones. the smaller breeds are more fragile and can be injured easier. they are also very temperamental at times and can nip at the children more often than other larger breeds. the larger breeds are just that large and can over-power young children easily.

a labrador is a great dog to have around children. they are just as smart and active as children. they have great "laid-back" temperaments. they can also be protective of children and also can be great guard dogs at times. labs have short hair and do shed (sometimes a lot) but that is only bad during the season changes. they can be easily trained (with patience of course)

when looking at any breed you should always research them. you should adopt (buy) from a local breeder. that way you know how the parent(s) are cared for and can easily tell if the breeder is in it for the money or not. you can also ask the breeder any questions that you may have concerning that breed, they would be able to answer any question easily. you want to spend a at least couple hours with the litter(s) before making a final decision. things you want to watch for are how the puppy interacts with your family.

you also need to find a good vet in your area and make sure that your new "child" is always up to date on his/her shots.

best of luck :)

Answer 4

Shih Tzus are great dogs. They're about the same size as a Jack Russell. Some might be a little bigger. They range from about 8-16 pounds on average. They're very very easy to train and great with kids.

"One of the strongest characteristics of the Shih-Tzu is its personality. The Shih-Tzu is a friendly, nonaggressive dog that is a good companion for children and other breeds of dogs. Shih-Tzus are known for their fun-loving play, romping around the apartment or in the country side.

The Shih-Tzu is a people oriented dog, they cherish no more than the love of people. They will sit patiently, remaining still with their eyes gazing intently on your face waiting for you to call them over to be patted. The Shih-Tzu is not a one person dog. Shih-Tzus are happy to entertain any stranger, once accepted by the family. This is one reason that they are becoming popular. They make friends where ever they go.

The Shih-Tzu has a lap dog personality. It is not high strung nor demanding. The pet Shih-Tzu is content during the day to lie in a corner with his legs stretched out behind him, snoring softly. If he has a choice he would prefer to be curled up in your lap. "

The rest of the information that goes with that quote can be found here... http://www.k9web.com/dog-faqs/breeds/shih-tzus.html and some pictures can be found at the following links...
http://teamanimals.tripod.com/Shitzu.jpg
http://www.buddydoghs.com/html/images/shitzu.jpg

If you're not looking for a "pure bred" the "Shitese" (Shih Tzu / Maltese cross) is a great dog too. Since it's a new breed there's not a lot of solid information about them aside from the fact that they are almost 1/2 the size of a Shih Tzu and they usually have the markings of a Shih-Tzu with the coat(length of fur) of a Maltese. Here is a picture of a "Shitese. " http://pics.hoobly.com/full/GNI79B57DANWR8K5DD.jpg

And if you like short hair dogs... last but certainly not least, is my personal favorite... the Chihuahua. As long as you get a Chihuahua as a puppy and give it plenty of attention (which it sounds like it would def. get with your little boys) and bring it around different people, they won't develop the barking that some Chihuahuas are known for. These dogs are very very easy to train (females tend to be easier to train than males in my experience). I've litterbox trained all my Chihuahuas and they've learned very quickly. My female does a ton of tricks. And my male does too, but only when he wants to. :oP Hope this helped.

Melissa

Answer 5

I think a Boston Terrier, Corgi or my favorite A MUTT. You can usually find out how big a mutt will be if you are getting it as a puppy b/c the owner should know what the dog got pregnant by..and you can know what kind of coat they will have...I wouldn't get too small of a dog b.c they aren't as good with children by nature. Plus if your little ones are as rough as my boy the can accidentally hurt as smaller dog with finer bones. Also, All I know about Jack Russells is from personal experience and they are very hyper! Good luck!

Answer 6

I would recommend looking into getting an english springer spaniel. These dogs are incredibly smart because they have been bread to be able to respond to hunting commands. The dog is about a medium size with a smooth coat that is beautiful. The third is because these dogs are a playful variety. Just because your children are small does not mean that you need a small breed, you just need a dog that isn;t too rough and when your kids are bigger the dog will still be able to out run them and do all sorts of tricks.

Answer 7

I definately would not reccommend a Jack Russell if you have young children, whilst they are good little dogs they are not known for being great with kids and can be quite dominant. A boxer is great with families and kids, but maybe not as small as you would like, but they so affectionate and gentle with children and they have the most beautiful faces. I also have a border collie too, they are great dogs but tend to shed hairs everywhere. Good luck with whatever you decide.

Answer 8

i would reeeeeally advise against getting a small breed with little kids... little breeds dig a lot and will probably scratch the kids... a Lab or a Great Dane would probably be a good choice... they're large, but gentle... and extremely smart. I have a german shepherd -- he's excellent... a lot of people say they're dangerous, but any dog is dangerous if you train them... there's a reason they're used in police work -- they're smart, loyal, and listen.

However.. if you have to have a tiny dog... probably go with a Bulldog or a Corgi

Answer 9

Your best bet is a Boston terrier they are so great with kids if you look it up on the net they are the most recommended pet for family with kids also labs are very good and gentle however all animals and dogs will have spells however Yorke's Shih Tzus and Pomeranian may be cute they have short tempers and are not good to be around kids

Answer 10

Puggs are good dogs if you have young childeren because they are very friendly and dont tend to nip or bite, they also have short fur (good because they dont malt as much) and are small. The best dog a family can get would be a Golden Retriever but they are quite big and need to be walked daily. I wouldnt recomend a jack russel because they can get anoyed easaly, or bite. I hope you find the perfect pooch for your family =)