Looking for a small or medium-breed dog?

Question

I am looking for a small or medium-sized dog for our family. We have a 10-year-old and a cat. We don't want a dog who barks/ yips all the time, nor one who is very hyper-active. One of our friends has a cockapoo and he seems like a good dog.
I am in the initial stages right now and am looking for breeds. Once I narrow it down, I'll do research on certain breeds, but right now I'm looking for people who have experience and may have any suggestions for breeds that may be what we are looking for.

Answer 1

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel make perfect family pets. Are highly intelligent.They hardly ever bark unless they have a reason too. They have a temperament of a golden retriever only not at all as hyper. Cavaliers are very loving and affectionate are happy just sitting on your lap all day. They are eager to please and love companionship.

The breed is highly affectionate, and some have called the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel "the ultimate lap dog". Most dogs of the breed are playful, extremely patient and eager to please. As such, dogs of the breed are usually good with children and other dogs. A well-socialized Cavalier will not be shy about socializing with much larger dogs. (However, on occasion, this tendency can be dangerous, as many cavaliers will presume all other dogs to be equally friendly, and may attempt to greet and play with aggressive dogs.)
However, the extremely social nature of the Cavalier KC Spaniel means that they require almost constant companionship from humans or other dogs, and are not suited to spending long periods of time on their own. This breed is the friendliest of the toy group.

Answer 2

What you want is the greatest family dog in the world. An APBT. I know the worst dog there is. Not true. They are the most lovable dog there is.
If raised from a puppy it will get along great with your cat.
As far as with children they are great. Mine is a very bad mannered dog, she jumps on everyone. She loves them and wants attention. The funny thing is she never jumps on children, she just wiggles around them.
The first time my daughter brought my baby grandson over, a month old, she sat him on the floor in his carrier and the Pit went over and took a sniff, she then lay down next to him and stayed there for the next hour. Now when she comes over and holds the baby in her lap my pit will go to the baby and put her head in his hand and let him play with her ears while she licks his toes.
She is about 60 lbs, so not really big.
There are two other breeds that are great family dogs.
An Old English Sheepdog. A big loveable clown. Takes a lot of grooming. Probably bigger than you want. The one I had was 90 lbs. He, like my Pit, did not have a mean bone in his body. He would chase my cats. But if the cat did not run he did not know what to do. He would bark at them trying to get them to run. I guess it was the chase.
Another great dog is a Beagle. They are a smaller dog that will get along with everyone. They are also clowns. They are a sad sack with the big long ears and big brown eyes. You can’t help but love them and give anything they want. Then you end up with a fat dog. They are chow hounds.
Good luck on finding your finding right dog.
Don't forget to check the shelters. Some of the best dogs are mutts. I have had a lot.

Answer 3

Well, u are right about the medium size, cuz small dogs yip and bite ALL the time!!! Hmmm... look on petfinder when u find the type u want. For now, here r some choices.

1. Cockapoo
2. Cavalier King Charles Spaniels (wonderful sweet dogs!)
3. Dalmatian (WARNING: A lot of exercise!)
4. Standard or miniature poodle.
5. Boxer
6. American Cocker Spaniel
7. Welsh Springer Spaniel (exercise needs!)
8. Standard Schnauzer (cute whiskers!)
9. Carin Terrier
10. Pug!
11. I also strongly advise you to look around your local shelter, they have MANY MANY dogs like this waiting for their forever homes.
12. When u find your breed, go 2 this website and find out about it just put the breed in the search engine.

Good Luck and Hope I helped!!!
:):):)

Answer 4

Personally, I love golden retrievers. But here's some ideas:

Here are some very general guidelines. Of course, we won't list every dog breed on the planet, but they'll get you thinking in the right direction:

Intelligent dogs

Poodle
German Shepherd
Australian Sheepdog
Belgian Sheepdog
Keeshond

Dogs that don't require much exercise

Dachshund
Brussels Griffon
French Bulldog
Manchester Terrier
toy breeds (such as a Chihuahua or Pekingese)

Good with kids

Pug
English Cocker Spaniel
Beagle
Basset Hound
Brittany Spaniel
Old English Sheepdog

Good city dogs

Pug
Basenji
Boston Terrier
Bulldog
Lhasa Apso
Welsh Corgi
Scottish Terrier

Quiet dogs

Basenji
Borzoi
Chesapeake Bay Retriever
Greater Swiss Mountain Dog
Whippet

Friendly dogs

Brittany Spaniel
Bichon Frise
Old English Sheepdog
Bearded Collie
Golden Retriever
Labrador Retriever

Answer 5

Choosing a dog is a very big deal. It will be a part of your life up to 16 years. We all have our favorites, but I highly suggest that you try this breed selector from Animal Planet. You have some critera listed, but not trainability, or grooming needs. http://animal.discovery.com/breedselector/dogselector.do
A mutt, like a cocker spainel poodle mix, maybe what you are looking for but there are many dogs with those qualities. I would suggest that you try the breed selector and then those breeds or those breed crosses at http://www.petfinder.com/ Great thing about resuces is that they often tell you if they get along with kids and cats.

Answer 6

The best dog I can think of is a Boston Terrier. They are trainable doesn't shed and gets long perfectly with other pets and other children. They are a good size, probably just the size you're looking for, they are about 20 or 25 pounds. They are social and very good to strangers. I can tell you what not to get. I used to have a hound and it would run away just about every night. Once they got caught by the SPCA. And we had to give them up. We didn't get her when she was a puppy which could have been a good idea, because she was virtually impossible to train. That is the best dog advice I can tell you. I hope you found this answer helpful. :-)

Answer 7

I would not really listen to many people here. Most seem to automatically claim their dog is the best..of course they do. Also, by perusing some of the extremely ignorant questions asked, it will give you a clue. But some here are very good with advice. So consider your source.

I would go to www.akc.org and search breeds. Look up if there are any conformation shows in your area so you can see these breeds in person.

There are generalizations to breeds, you realize, because you are asking. Little dogs can easily develop complexes and easily tend to be nippy. I would go for a medium size dog. Then, consider what the breed was developed "to do". Most terriers are feisty, hunting dogs to eleminate "vermin" and can be quite challenging to train.

As far as mixes...they are dogs too. Just as fine pets as any pure bred can be..........if you train the dog. But the deal is because they are a mix, there is no "generalization" of what the dog should or would be. And, contrary to what a lot of people might claim, most of them one just can't really tell what mix of breeds one may be.

Consider the role you want your dog to play within your family, inside? outside? Mostly to be your dog? Your son's dog? Do you go camping? How much grooming do you want to do? Willing to take the dog to a groomer?

How good of a dog trainer are you? How much time do you want to devote to training?

Good luck! Do your research. Don't pick the most hyper, active pup, nor the shy one. Pick one in the middle. Learn about how to train and make a plan for training ahead of time!

Answer 8

small sized dogs:
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel - moderate amount of exercise which they can get by playing in the house with the family, friendly dog, good with children, true lap dog.

Chihuahua - True lap dog, will do well in a small-sized home or apartment, alert, active, happy, loyal, devoted to thier owners, due to their size do good with older children.

French Bulldog - should never be forced to exercise, happy, lively, good-natured companion dogs, should be indoors most of the time, enjoy being with thier family.

Pug - good with children, make good family dogs, get along with other animals most of the time, if the owner is more laid back and less active, the pug will be more laid back and less active.

Medium breeds:
Basset Hound - laid back, social, good with children.

Bulldog - not a very active breed, good with children, typically calm and gentle yet protective guard dog.

Answer 9

We Have 6 Cockapoo Puppies Available out of a litter of 10 Pups
Born July 11 2007.
Mother is Black American Cocker 20lbs.
Daddy is Apricot/White Parti Mini Poodle 15lbs.
We are located in Eastern Indiana and can offer shipping.
Our Puppies are raise in our home with kids(one being special needs)
and other animals. All Pups have had their tails docked and dew claws
removed and will receive all shots and wormings required prior to sale
$375.00each. To View photos and read more about our Pups visit our
website at www.freewebs.com/moonshinebabies

Answer 10

Basenjis are a barkless dog. They are a smaller dog.
Schnauzers are GREAT compainions.
Pugs are a good bread too.

It's easier to housebreak if you get a dog around a year old. Puppies can only hold thier bladder for about 1 hour for every month they are alive.