what dog should i get?

Question

im thinking about getting a dog but i have kids! i have 2 in mind already a doberman and an alsation, can these dogs be good around children with correct training because i have heard alot of nasty stories. can anyone help me decide?please

Answer 1

i would never get one of these dogs when you have kids. i know you can never trust any dog but a labrador or beagle would be a better bet.

Answer 2

Of course they can be ok with the correct training- training of the kids AND the dogs. But if this is your first dog I would not reccommend the breeds you've asked about, particularly if the kids are young. Both are big dogs and dobermans are really bouncy. Both breeds need loads of exercise and time dedicated to them. Training is not easy and is slow progress. I've noticed people that are not around dogs much do not notice the signals that dogs give out about their feelings- if you and/or the kids are not used to dogs you should go for a smaller breed. A lab or retriever are of course great with kids but also require loads of exercise and are full of energy, they can get distracted by play and can easily bowl a child over, but if the kids are older this shouldn't be a problem. For young children or infant friendly dogs go for a smaller breed or a very tolerant breed like the greyhound.
Your decision should be based on the age of the children, yours and the kids experience with dogs and the amount of time and energy you can dedicate to them.
I grew up with a westie, which tend to be pretty friendly and are a good size for small kids and a collie (which I wouldn't reccommend). The breed you get wont matter if you can train it fine. But if you have no experience training do not think it will be easy.
Overall I'd go with the majority of people here and reccommend the lab or a retriever unless the kids are smaller where a smaller dog may be of order but beware of the snappier hyperactive breeds of terriers. All dogs will bite and nasty stories occur with any breed and if your kids are old enough alsations and dobs are fine. Just be careful about the initial amount of trust you put in your dog and your children to be ok together, it's really the initial period of introduction and training where care should be taken.
Go for it, kids love dogs and the more involved they can get with the dog the better for both.

Answer 3

They can be great but they're powerful, intelligent dogs who need to be well TRAINED. They need mental as well as physical exercise and they must learn their place in the family. It has to be at the bottom, below the children. Any dog can bite large or small. A lot depends on how you bring up a puppy and where you get it. You want a pup that comes from a house not a kennel and one that has been well handled. You also want to meet its parents and find out as much as you can about them. You should talk to breeders and your vet may be able to point you in the direction of a suitable litter.
I hope you find the right dog for your family and enjoy him. It could work well with any breed if you are aware of the dogs needs .Neither alsations nor dobermans are ideal first dogs so if you haven't much experience of them you might be better thinking of a labrador or a spaniel which are also intelligent, respond to training and can be more tolerant of children.

Answer 4

If I were you I would ignore all this 'it isnt the dog its the owner' rubbish - this is the sort of throwaway phrase meant to indicate how overwhelmingly superior the quoter is. The reality of dogs is that they have bigteeth, powerful jaws and can do a child a lot of harm. As long as you are confident that you can allow a dog into the family and MAKE SURE THAT THE DOG IS ALWAYS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PECKING ORDER go ahead and get a breed least likely to turn nasty (i.e ignore doberman, german shepherd etc - they are trained as attack dogs for a reason for goodness sake!).
Labradors and lab crosses are usually lovely dogs and rarely, if ever, turn their powerful frame towards a human. Little breeds will sometimes see children as something to dominate and small dogs might be quite unpredictable because of this. Powerful aggressive (pit bulls etc)dogs tend to be owned by insecure men with small genitals and have no place in a family home.
There's really nothing softer than a little black lab puppy and if you can get the kids involved in his training (they tend not to be one man dogs) he would be a joy for the whole family.

Answer 5

Any dog can be good round kids if you get it as a puppy and train it well.

These 2 breeds need a lot of exercise so be aware of that.

Don't fall for the people saying ALL Labs and Goldie's are great dogs-like any other breed they need careful training,if not they can end up as nasty as anything.More people are bitten by Labs in the UK each yr than any other breed.

Staffies can make great family dogs.I own a Bearded Collie and they too are great family pets although they need a fair amount of grooming.

The golden rule is never to leave a child under the age of about 10 alone with a dog as they can provoke a dog by playing too roughly with it and even the most laid back dog can eventually be pushed too far.Even at 10 only leave them alone if your sure the kid is responsible enough to treat a dog right.

Answer 6

With proper training and care dobermans and alsations can be great family pets. However I would advise training the children on how to treat the dogs correctly, not all dogs like being poked in the face by small fingers. Young handler course / puppy training course will help puppy and children bond.

Answer 7

Don't know about Dobes but have had 4 German shepherds. You don't say how many kids you have or what ages but l wouldn't suggest these breeds with children under 10 due to thier size. They are great dogs but you need to research what a dog was bred to do as even as pets they keep these instincts which are strong in the working breeds.
You also need to consider if you have the time with kids to give them adequate daily excercise both thier mind and body and also the training. They can be demanding and time consuming and if you are not an experienced dog owner l would say definately avoid the working breeds as so many are in Rescue centres because inexperienced owners can't cope anymore with thier demands or bad behaviour due to lack of training.
Far better to look at the breeds that have been bred as companions and have loving, happy and easy-going natures which fit in very well with a busy household and will thrive on the attention of your children, provided the children know how to respect the dog. Also look at the smaller breeds as children love to get involved with walking, playing with and training the dog and need a dog they can stand a chance of controlling.
l would suggest a Cavalier King Charles, Miniature Poodle,
German Spitz, just a few breeds if the kids are young.
For older kids look at the Labrador, Golden Retriever, Standard Poodle, Rough Collie, there are many.
Buy a good dog encyclopedia and read up the background and suitability for your family life. Please be honest about what life you can give your new dog, don't go on what you like the look of! When you have shortlisted about 3 breeds go to the Kennel club website (or appropriate to your country) and search for puppies registered to this breed, then contact the breeders and visit with your children if possible to see how they react to each other. A good breeder will also advise you about whether thier breed is suitable for your lifestyle or not and is more concerned with finding the best homes for thier pups and nothing to do with taking your money.
Hopefully you will find the right pup of the right breed that you will have many happy years with as the new member of your family!

Answer 8

Both breeds can be very sweet dogs if raised correctly, but are pretty protective, so I wouldn't say either is great around kids who may not respect the dog's space. I would get a more mellow breed like a basset hound, lab, or golden retriever, personally.

If you get an alsatian or doberman, be sure to get a puppy to ensure you can control its training, and make sure it is comfortable around your children from the start, so it doesn't view them as rivals. And whatever you do, don't get a pair for breeding, as probably half of dog attacks have to do with their aggression around when females are in heat.

Answer 9

Id suggest an alsation is known to be very good with kids if brought up with them, doberman im not so sure.
We have young children and we wanted a dog and we looked into it greatly and decided on a shortlist of a belgian shepherd (fantastic with children), labradoor (again fantastic with children) or our third choice that we went with a japanese akita.
The akita is a lovely dog, though large they are known to be great with kids infact in the old days the japanese used to leave the akita with their children as babysitters!! Our japanese akita is no different she dotes on our three year old and tho she isnt good with strangers (like most akitas) i trust her fully with my children perhaps more than i would any other breed!!!! But the akita was origianally bred as a fighting dog and care must be taken to bring them up right and socialise them with everything and be able to take the dog in hand and show it who is boss, it is not a dog that you can hit and deffo a dog with a will of its own. They have also been known in the wrong hands to be extremely vicious so tho i recomend this breed i also recomend you get a puppy from a breeder and do a lot of reasearch first into them

Answer 10

Hi
I would question why these breeds come to mind, all dogs can be good with correct, prolonged training, but if you have children i would not recommend them for your lifestyle, your children if not teenagers would not be able to walk these breeds, they are too strong, and they need a big space to live, i am a vet nurse and there are a few breeds that i know are great with kids, Cavalier king charles....adorable, affectionate, med size, very loyal and love children,
Bichon frise are great but alot of grooming involved, are you willing to spend an hour a day brushing and combing??
Be sure before you get a dog, large breeds are lovely but will they fit in your house.....i would highly recommend a Cavalier though......get pet insurance for any dog as well......well worth it.

Answer 11

have you thought of a Golden retriever they are so good with children and are a good loyal happy dog i had an Alsatian cross he was great with the kids but a bit boisterous dobermans are a great dog but i wouldn't have one with small kids any dog is a big commitment walks food jabs and good training etc think hard they also don't like to be left for long periods so going to work and leaving it isn't fair on the dog if you have all this thought out then try and meet some of these breeds talk to breeders they are always happy to help genuine breeders only want there puppy's to go to very good homes and good luck