What is a good breed of dog that would make a good family pet and is good with young children?

Question

I used to own an American Bulldog who sadly met a most unfortunate accident and was put to sleep. Needless to say it took sometime to get over the loss of a great dog. Now it's roughly a year later and I think I'm ready to get a new pet. Finding an American Bulldog without going throuhg a breeder is next to impossible. But to hear my dear mother tell it, it can be done. So I need some other options, what other type of dog can I get; large breed preferably, that won't cause me to shell out a large portion of my pockets.

Answer 1

have you tried rescue sites??

http://www.americanbulldogrescue.com/

Perfect if you love the breed.


(Pitbulls? With small children? You've got to be kidding me. Good grief. Just try to get homeowners insurance while owning a pitbull. Not going to happen)

Answer 2

With proper training, many breeds can be good with children really. Acutally, Golden Retrievers and Labs are at the top of the list for family dogs. But there are so many more. You really have to evaluate your family and activity level too. A greyhound loves to run them races, but they're actually quite gentle giants and you can adopt a retired racer that's already got some basic training. Our children are also 5 and 3, boys, and they have a HIGH energy level, so we wanted a breed that could keep up with that. We now have a 4 month old Border Collie. But the BC isn't for everyone. They're very smart and get bored really easily, so they have to be mentally challenged to avoid the boredom which can bring on destructive behavior. We are persuing agility with ours, simply on a fun level. Fun for us and her and great excercise. Also gives her a good amount of training, too. A smaller breed might suit you well too, assuming your children aren't as high energy as mine, but remember that sometimes small dogs and children can be of issue if the children have a hard time being gentle and learning how to properly treat and handle the dog (like not carrying the pup around the house all the time). I prefer at least a medium size dog, as the full grown size enables the dog to be able to "escape" an uncomfy situation if need be. Harder for a child to corner. Good questions to ask yourself are... How active is your family? If you're not very active, then something like a BC isn't for you. How much time will you need to be away from your dog on a daily basis (like for work/school)? Some breeds are more likely to suffer from separation anxiety than others. How will your children be with a new pup? Will they easily learn how to properly treat a dog? What kind of space do you have? Is there a large yard what a larger dog can have a good run, or do you live in a small place, like an apartment where a smaller dog would be more reasonable? I definitely suggest researching the breeds you are thinking about, compare them and talk to breeders of any breed you are considering. They can really be helpful in helping you decide if a particular breed is right for you. Whatever breed you choose to go with, getting some obedience training is a great way to teach your dog some basic manners, such as learning not to jump on your family or visitors. I wouldn't have a dog without persuing it!

Answer 3

There is no perfectly safe breed of dog. A survey of dog bites in Britain showed that Golden Retrievers were actually the most common attackers, despite the media hype about "dangerous dog breeds". Thus, there are docile Rottweilers and aggressive Labradors; meanwhile toy breeds (eg. the Chihuahua) - often selected for children because of their small size - can be nervous and snappy whilst many of the giant breeds can be surprisingly gentle despite their huge size.
Many of the giant breeds, such as the Newfoundland, St Bernard and Great Dane are renowned for their placid natures and gentle tolerance of children.
Why not look at the SPCA? Thy also get purebreeds in.
Here are a few to consider, when the obedience training is done:
Bulldogs
American Eskimo Dog
American Foxhound
American Mastiff
American Pit Bull Terrier
Australian Shepherd
Beagle
Bearded Collie
Bernese Mountain Dog
Bloodhound
Border Terrier
Bull Boxer
Collie (Rough and Smooth)
Dachshund
English & Irish Setter
Retrievers
Golden Retriever
Gordon Setter
Great Dane
Miniature Australian Bulldog
Miniature Australian Shepherd
Mastiffs
Pug
Saint Bernard
Standard Poodle

Best of luck!

Answer 4

Shar Pei? Doberman? Pit Bull? Chow? All of those breeds require CONSTANT training from a very experienced handler. Very few people have the time to do that. It's not worth the risk of having an untrained dog with that temperament and size. Chows, Shar Peis and Pits were bred to fight. Not a good idea.

English Springer Spaniels are nice dogs. They are of medium size, but can be a little boisterous. They are good with kids too and are extremely kind in temperament.

Answer 5

I would go for a siberian husky. I got my siberian husky and mallamue mixed last year. She is the best dog I have ever had. She is a large breed, but not huge. She does great around my younger cousins who are 5 and 6 and does great around people in general. She loves people and loves to be pet and loved. I love her and think she is an excellent dog. I had always had german sheppards in the past and they were usally big and I loved my german sheppards but they weren't very good around my younger cousins. Cheyanna is a great dog and a perfect breed for my family. She is great around younger kids and loves people and is part of the family. She wasn't very much, we got her from a family who was moving and couldn't bring her with them. She came with all her shots and was around 65$. I don't remember exactly. The only issue is that SOME huskys AREN"T good with children. I have met a few other proud owners of huskys and they have no problems. Cheyanna loves the kids and plays with them with no problem. I would strongly recommend a siberian husky, I would get a mixed breed if I were you. Perferably siberian husky and malamue. I hope you get a great dog either way. :)

Answer 6

I have two Jack Russel's, a Chow and a mixed Lab/terrier.
My Jacks are very protective, loyal and high strung. They need lots of attention, exercise etc. However, they are good around small children as long as the children are manageable. One of my Jacks bit a very undisciplined lil girl in the face. She kept pestering him. He kept moving to other parts of the room then the house. She kept pestering him. He came into the office with me and got under the desk. She found him got under the desk to pester him and he bit her. But you did say you wanted a large dog.
I would really stay away from Pit bulls. As for large dogs I suggest Labs and/or Chows. They both have calm wonderful personalities. Chows have a rep of being mean but mine and others I have met were not. But they mine is VERY protective. My lab is not as protective but I have had others that have. The Labs (FULL) I have had in the past were wanderers/escape artist, except for the females.
Hope this helps. Oh my chow is a very light and picky eater.

Answer 7

Hi,

Have you considered getting a German Shepherd, (Heidelberg), puppy?

They are excellent watchdogs not only for the property, but also for personal protection and they are ideal and good natured with small children.

We had one when I was growing up, that was so good natured that when the female cat had a litter of kittens, the kittens used to crawl all over Duke's head and stomach area and Duke never got mad or angry with any of the kittens, in fact, his biggest problem was getting up, with all the kittens hanging onto his fur, without hurting any of them.

Another good 'protector' is a New England New Found land,
even tempered, good natured, BIG and very protective, and obedient as well.

Or, you might just go down to the ASPCA or animal shelter and see what types of big puppies or dogs they have put up for adoption. In fact, I would strongly recommend going to these places before going to a breeder for the German Shepherd or the New England New Found Land.

Hope this answer helps you to save the life of a couple of big dogs at the shelter or the ASPCA, they deserve a second chance, and will love and protect you and your family for the rest of their life.

Answer 8

It mostly depends on the owner and how willing they are to train the dog. Most breeds are fine, if you attend an obedience class and learn how to manage the dog. A dog should never be left unattended with a small child. No dog.

Answer 9

Why don't you rescue a dog? You will be expected to pay a small fee and the cost of the spay or neuter. Go to your nearest dog shelter or Humane Society center. Six years ago, my husband rescued the most beautiful and even tempered German shepherd that we were so proud to have in our home. Just recently we rescued a Pomeranian. He's a handful, but we love him.

Answer 10

I would get a Lab. I have a 4 year old and 20 month old twins and 4 labs. They are all great with the kids. Plus you can find lots of labs that are in shelters or rescues that need homes. Good luck!

Answer 11

In my household we own a Maltese puppy. According to dog breeders, the altese dog is compassionate, low maintenance, and extremely social. This dog is highly recommended o families who live busy lives, and is popular among the elderly. My Maltese puppy is named Teddy, and he is obedient, and is often spoiled rotten. On your pet search find a dog with a low temperament, like the classic American Bulldog. I send my condolences to you companion.

Here is a picture of teddy
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f336/uniquebassist/car2.jpg