best dog for a young family?

Question

Myself and my partner wish to get a dog for my daughter for her first birthday. has anyone got any suggestions??? ps. My partner will NOT walk any toy dogs!

I would just like to add that
A: We have all the funds we need for a dog. We have a very spacious home and over 2 acres of land.
B: We are getting the dog initially for our daughter but are planning to look after it responsibly and have been looking into getting a dog for months.

Answer 1

I think you should get a White West Highland Terrier.

They are small and very easy to look after. They have a great nature. They love being around people especially children as they can get energetic and will love playing games with the kids. Although they do love playing, the rest of the day they spend sleeping and lazing about so they dont get under your feet.

Answer 2

It's not actually a good idea to get a child a pet before the age of five. They don't understand responsibility.
If you get a dog, make sure it's what you and your partner want. You two will be the ones caring for it.
I suggest though for breed of dog... a golden retreiver. If you two don't want to deal with the long hair, then I would go with a greyhound (rescue). Both very good with children. Family oriented breeds. Have the energy level for kids. Both can be rescued. Just look up online for the rescue organizations near you. The cost of a rescue isn't as high as a puppy. Greyhounds are like big cats. They want the cushiest spot in the house to sleep (that may mean your bed... helps to get them their own cushy bed... found out from experience). As retired dogs they want to get out a run a few laps then rest once a day. Otherwise regular potty outings is all the exercise they require. They look funny if you're not used to them, but they are wonderful!

I have to add, because so many are saying labs or terriers, not to go with these. Labs, are big puppies. They need a lot of training because of what they were bred for... hunting. They don't start maturing in attitude until they are 2 years old. Then it's still another few years before they settle down enough to cope with them. I know, I have a lab right now that I got from a friend who couldn't handle it with her family. She didn't train it and the dog was all over the place. She does now, from time to time. But she is much better, because she is getting older. I would like to find her a good hunting home. She loves the hunting season.
Terriers (this includes all terrier breeds) are not good family pets unless in an experienced household. They need a firm hand to discipline. (that does not mean beating... firm meaning to hold your ground and stick with it, don't give in to the puppy dog eyes) It's actually more likely to have a jack russell turn on you then to have a rottweiler turn on you. It's the type of dog they are. Terriers are fighters. They kill. That was what they were bred to do. To chase it down and kill it. They are also a bit snipety. It's why I didn't suggest a whippet... whippets, though from the hound group, are bred from terriers. They chase things down and kill. I have lost a many barn cats to my two whippets in the past. Now that I have only one... I don't have a problem so much.

Answer 3

I doubt very much that a rescue group or shelter would force you to get a toy dog - so you don't need to worry about that -
The best thing about rescue groups is that they take the time to get to know the dog before he or she is adopted out. The dog's foster family would be able to tell you about the dog's history and how he or she behaves (especially with children)
A rescue group will be honest. If a dog is not right for your family, they won't let you take it - it's terrible to have to return a dog due to incompatibility for the family and for the rescuers.
Go to http://www.petfinder.com and have a look there. There are thousands of dogs who need a fresh start - all sizes, all breeds. Purchasing a puppy from a pet store is a bad idea - these puppies are sick, have genetic problems, and come from puppy mills. A Google search for "puppy mill" will provide more info. Good luck!

Answer 4

If you are happy to train it then get a labrador. If not, don't get a dog at all. If you absolutely must have a dog it must know its place at the bottom of the pecking order. I must agree with others that your child is really a bit young and could be in danger from any dog.

Why not reassess in a couple of years.

Incidentally the thing about labs being big puppies is largely because they really need to be dominated early (as does any dog) but they are so loveable that this is often overlooked. They settle really well into a loving discipline.

Answer 5

My vote is a Cocker, they LOVE children. I have a 10 year old cocker that given a choice between meeting another dog or a child, he picks the child hands down. They were very popular in the 80's early 90's because of their love for people and children. They require a normal amount of training and are very loyal dogs. My cocker follows me from room to room, always by my side. Be wise when picking out a pup and make sure you meet the parents.

Your best bet is to do some research on how much training is involved in each kind of dog you consider. The labs and retrievers require tons of training, patience and attention. The terriers can be too hyper for a young child. I've heard good things about the greyhounds, but can't speak from experience.

Good luck!!

Answer 6

That's ridiculous. Unfortunately, if you want a family/companion dog, a toy dog is the way to go. If you get a any other breed, you need to satisfy that breeds purpose.

Last night PBS aired the second in a series on the history of dogs. It discussed the problems in the relationship between people and dogs. People generally do not satisfy the dogs need to work, heard, search, or whatever the intended purpose of the dog.

Most toy dogs do not have a purpose which is why they do so well in the home. I have a pug and a pug-terrier mix. My pug ( a toy breed) is happy sitting around, sleeping, and just being loved but my terrier mix needs constant mental and physical stimulation.

You must pick a breed that properly suits what you are willing to provide.

To many dogs end up in the shelter because people do not understand the commitment and challenges involved in getting a dog.

Answer 7

I don't recommend you get any dog until your daughter is at least 3 years old, rescue centre's won't let you adopt a dog if you have a child under 5years I believe, it's not fair on the dog or child, puppies and very young children demand a lot of attention, what if the puppy is looking to be taken out for a pee and you are feeding the baby or bathing her? the pup will pee on the carpet and then get into trouble for something that's not it's fault.

from the sspca website

If you have a young child and are thinking of adopting a puppy (less than one year old) there are a few things you need to consider.

* Time and energy: Puppies require a lot of time, patience, training and supervision. They also require socialization in order to become well-adjusted adult dogs. This means they need to be taken places and exposed to new things and new people. If you have a young child who already requires a lot of care and time, will you have enough time to care for a puppy, as well?
* Safety: Puppies, because they're babies, are somewhat fragile creatures. A puppy may become frightened, or even injured, by a well-meaning, curious child who wants to constantly pick him up, hug him or explore his body by pulling on his tail or ears.
* Rough play: Puppies have sharp teeth and claws with which they may inadvertently injure a small child. Puppies also tend to jump up on small children and knock them down. All interactions between your child and puppy will need to be closely supervised in order to minimize the chances of either being injured.

Answer 8

For a family I think the top three family pets are....
1.Labrador: a really good family pet, very friendly and short haired so not too dirty. They're very obedient too. The only fault is that the're prone to obesity and a few breahing problems
2. Spaniels are really adorable...the've got all the perks of a lab but remain healthier than them. This would be a good option because the're not TOO small but the're not too large either so they'll be easier to manage around the house. They're a little dirty though becuse they have long fir.
3. A collie A nice pet and has very few problems. I would say that they are sot of like a larger version of spaniels but have more health problems like the lab. They also CRAVE attention and will start sulking if they do not get it.

Answer 9

I would stear clear of puppies for a 1 year old- they will jump all over the baby any chance given. Rescue greyhounds are awesome dogs. They are very loving- they live for their families and are great with kids. Greyhound organizations insist you bring your whole family in when viewing a dog to see what the dynamics are like. They will not place a dog with a family if the first interaction is not positive.

Another suggestions is to take your daughter to a shelter or petstore (though I prefer the first) and let her interact with the dogs and see which one takes to her and vice versa.

Answer 10

Labradors or Golden retrievers are very well behave dogs and they are really good with children, plus they are really easy to train. Personally, I have a Siberian Husky, she can be a handful somtimes but she is very good around children and will do anything for them. You could do research on the internet, there are many dogs that are good with children, if you don't want a "regular" dogs like labradors (not that is bad though)