What is the best dog breed for this family?

Question

In my family, there is a 12 year old, a 15 year old, and obviously 2 adults. We are owned by a guinea pig and 2 birds. The 12 and 15 year old go to school and have afterschool activities. We want a small breed. Also, we live in a hotter area, in a single home. Any ideas?

Answer 1

Well the first thing is; will your kids be up to taking the dog for walks? If so an energetic dog like a Beagle or Terrier would be great. I would suggest going to your local shelter and look for a mutt. If you don't mind spending the money for a dog a Beagle is great. I would really suggest an APBT, but they are not real small, maybe 60 lbs. My Pit is the most loveable dog I have ever had. Contrary to what most people say my Beagle is the least hyper and least noisy of my dogs. My little Chihuahua, Terrier mix is my watch dog, he barks at the slightest noise, which starts the Pit. The Beagle ignores it all until he thinks it might be a real problem then he tries to bark, but being a hound it ends up as a howl.
When I was a kid about your youngster’s age we had this little Terrier mix. I would take him for a walk every day when I got home from school. My mom said the dog was always underfoot until about the time I would get home then he would go and sit at the front window waiting for me. He had a great internal clock.
All the dogs I have mentioned are short hair and will have no problem with hot weather; it gets into the 90's here in the summer.
Since you have your own house, I would suggest a dog door in the back door so the dog can get in and out when he wants, easier to house train them. I assume you have a fenced yard.
Have fun with your new puppy.

Answer 2

Check out the bichon family. I have a 2 1/2 yr Havanese & recently adopted a 1 1/2 yr coton de tulear. When I got the Havanese, I took some online pet quizzes & that breed came up. I had never heard of it, but I liked the fact that they are small 8-13#, don't shed, good for allergies, smart & are "sturdy" - which was important since I have 3 grandsons. They were once the Havana, Cuba top dog ( I live in CA), so heat is not a problem. The breed is fabulous (downside is they are expensive ($1-2,000) & require grooming). The maltese & bichon friese are part of this same family. My experience is the bichon friese is less expensive than the other breeds ($600-750), but have the same traits. My brother has a rat terrier who is a very good dog - little bigger, more energy, sheds, but very loving & very inexpensive ($350). Hope this helps -- I love my small dogs!

Answer 3

Check with your local rescue organizations as they often have small-med. dogs available, and every breed has a regional rescue organization.
The ASPCA and animal control have websites with pics of dogs listed.
Yorkie, Maltese, cockapoo, all good choices, but don't rule out the good old mix or mutt. They make the best pets.
Your kids are great ages to have pets.
I have a Maltese and Cockapoo (both rescue) and live in Fl. They do fine as long as I don't walk them in the heat of the day.

Answer 4

I have a Maltese, and thay are just adorable. Whatever you do do not get a Jack Russel, my neighbors attacked my youngest Maltese and killed him, worst day of my life. But yea..maltese are the best dogs ever!!! Good Luck

Answer 5

do research on your own...

try dogbreedinfo.com

it depends on your lifestyle, activity level, how much you are home...etc etc...

i would probably stay away from the tiny toy dogs, just because your family seems active, and with two teenagers the tiny dogs are quite fragile.

Answer 6

you don't want a hound or terrier unless you want to spend alot of time breaking them from eating your cavies, though there are exceptions (my doxie doesn't care about my cavies or rabbits) but I would recommend a shihtzu, poodle, min pin, chihuahua, or a pug

Answer 7

maybe a
maltese a
beagle or a
cocker spaniel

Answer 8

maybe a corgi or maltese or toy poodle

Answer 9

a taco bell dog...aka a chiauawa

Answer 10

beagle or a weener dog