What kind of dog should we get?

Question

Hello. My husband and I are both animal lovers, and want to get a dog! We just are not sure what kind to get, because we have a 1 year old daughter. If you have any ideas of kinds of dogs, that are kid-friendly and not too much trouble to take care of, they would be greatly appreciated! Thanks.

Answer 1

Your daughter is 1 yr old so you should get a dog that is long lived so it doesnt die before she gets mature enough to handle the death. Most large dogs only have a 9-12 year lifespan however small dogs lifespans are 14-20 years old depending on how well it is taken care of. Smaller dogs are also less food bills which can add up over the years!, less dangerous, less care , less vet bills (because theyre longer lived) and some people think the most important is their poop is tiny compared to large dog cowpies which DOES make a difference believe me!
Most large dogs are either sporting or working dogs which require more exercise as well. But small dogs do love walks too. I walk mine 2 miles a day rain or shine.

Large dogs being sporting working dogs are more apt to get hit by a car as well as they are more prone to chase squirrels and cats than small dogs. Much of the chase instinct has been bred out of the small dogs because they wer bred as companion lap dogs. This makes them much easier to walk as well. Most large dogs pull very hard on the leash which is very tiring and upsetting after awhile.

Further I would recommend a mixed small dog as unfortunately so many purebreds are cursed with genetic disorders of all sorts. A mixed breed is much less likely to have these problems as many of the disorders need the 2 recesive alleles to express the disorder. Two dogs of the same breed with the same weak genes then then will give you a much greater chance that the disorder will be expressed in the pup.

ANother important consideration is smaller size is just a lot more handy. Less bed space, less car space, less couch space. This makes it more viable to have 2 small dogs that can keep each other company while everybody is gone to work or school.

Another consideration is shedding. Try to get a dog mix that doesnt shed. Anything mixed with a miniature poodle usually doesnt shed. The same with maltese, bichon, shi tzu etc. By the way, my sister did research before she got her current dog and found out that the shitzu is rated the BEST family pet of all.
I have a terrier/poodle mix 12 pounds and I think he is the best dog I've ever known. Very smart, gentle, loving and obedient. Very easy to train. Good luck.

Answer 2

Samoyeds. They are white and fluffy and great with kids. Theyre generally very docile and calm, and are almost always loyal. PLus they make great pillows =] I have one, we got her when the youngest member of the household was 2 and she's been amazing, we all love her to death. Although sheddnig seems like it would be a problem with these dogs, its actually not that big of a deal because their fur isnt oily so it removes very easily and they dont really start shedding at all until they're an adult, which for this breed is age three. Excersize.. while they do need to be walked generally once a day, it isnt a big deal as long as theyre getting some it'll be fine. Grooming... brush once every week or two is usually enough.Good luck and have fun with your new dog!

Answer 3

I'm not sure what you mean by "not too much trouble to take care of". Every dog needs grooming and regular excercise, and of course food, water and love. I work at a dog day care and can attest that smaller dogs are much more active than larger dogs. The one exception that I have seen is a west highland terrier. (We have three and all are very sedate and gentle.) Larger dogs that are good with smaller children are labs and golden retrievers.
But please keep in mind that if you get a puppy, they are no different than your toddler, they need to understand correct behavior around your daughter as your daughter needs to understand correct behavior around the puppy/dog.
The AKC website has a very helpful questionaire in helping to determine the right dog for you.
I also hope you consider a mixed breed or a rescue.

Answer 4

Labradors are ideal. Thea are not aggressive and will take a lot of tugging and pushing that children often dish out at that age. They are intelligent and dry-mouthed. They don't shed a whole lot. (All dogs will leave fur to some degree)
The only thing is if you decide to get a puppy you're going to need several months to break it in and puppies have super-sharp teeth. Not that it will be aggressive but rather not know any better.
If you adopt one, take some time to get to know the dog a little before taking it home. Most animal shelters will even require it.
Good luck!

Answer 5

I don't have my dogs any more, but I used to have 3, and one died. One was Calypso. I'm not sure what breed he was but I'm pretty sure he was a mutt terrier. I didn't have him for long before he died, since he ate something bad. My second dog was named Max and he was a bichon frise. I have him for about two years until we had to give him away because we were moving to a new state in an apartment that did not allow dogs. Max was really energetic and he was such a sweet dog that could roam the yard free with supervision of course. He used to wait for me outside of my school for when I came out for the day and it was really cute. He practically trained himself in a way and he was a very intelligent dog. I love him. My third dog I got recently, and my mother gave her to a friend when she was about 2 months old or so. Her name was Chloe and she was a husky/golden ret mix, very playful but she used to bite really hard.

Answer 6

When you say "not too much trouble to take care of" what do you mean exactly? Not having to groom a long coat? Not having to do a lot of training? Not having to provide a large yard/exercise? All of the above?

You can look up different purebred dog breeds here:

http://www.akc.org/index.cfm

Offhand, I would say some dog breeds that are known to be very intelligent and/or high energy (Jack Russell Terriers, Border Collies, Viszlas, or almost any terrier/herder/working dog) will get bored easily unless you spend a lot of time with them and give them a chance to exercise. They can also be willful, so you have to be very focused when training them. So, these probably wouldn't be your best bet.

Some of the big, loyal, "old faithful" kinds of dogs like Golden Retrievers, German Shepherds, Saint Bernards, etc., would probably love your kid to pieces, but are not only large, but also they need to be groomed. So, might be a bit much work for you also.

Some dogs tend to bark a lot; I have noticed this with some Collies, Border Collies, and Huskies. I think some herders and sled dogs use this trait as a means of communication in their "work" so you can't really fault them for it, but it can be hard to deal with a loud dog.

Sighthounds (Greyhounds, Whippets, Borzois, Afghans, etc.) tend to be very quiet, and most of them have short hair. They tend to be aloof, almost like a cat in personality. Not super affectionate, but not aggressive. For the most part, a pretty easy dog, but ideally they would need a lot of exercise.

Labrador Retrievers, Bassett Hounds, and any size of Poodle seem to be pretty easy to care for. Intelligent, pretty friendly, low grooming maintenance. They would still need exercise, but I think not as much as a dog whose "job" it is to constantly run at full speed.

All that being said, lots of different breeds can be fine with kids, especially if they were raised with your family from puppyhood.

Really you'd have to find the individual dog that is best for your family, regardless of breed. Sometimes a dog of a particular breed will surprise you, and also, there is a lot to be said for the good old mutt!

Answer 7

Go to YAHOO! and type in "dog breed selector" Several questionnaires will come up. They will ask you about your lifestyle and preferences. This should give you a good idea about the breed good for you. Once you get it narrowed down, go to akc.com and look at the breed standard. then you may want to volunteer at a shelter or rescue so you can meet the dogs in person and see if you connect. Another resource might be to go to a dog show. Whatever you do, don't go to a pet shop or a backyard breeder

Answer 8

Get a mutt from the humane society. Not only will you find them to be the best pet, you'll also be doing them a favor by giving them a home. :)
And here's some unsolicited advice: Consider crate training your new dog. There are people that are against it, and people that swear by it. Do some research on the internet about it just to be informed. I crate trained my dog twelve years ago. And she's the BEST dog in the WORLD! Not that I'm biased or anything... Good luck.

Answer 9

With a one year old , you might not want the hard work of potty training a small puppy. Check with your local Humane Society and see about adopting a dog that has already had a little training, and is more calm. They can help you decide what would work best for you and your family. Good luck and have fun.

Answer 10

Get a Australian terrier or Cairn terrier

Australian terrier
1.Easy to train
2.Good with children
3.Will not easily tolorate cats and other dogs
4.Don't need a lot of grooming.
Size:Height 25.5 cm/10 ins,Weigh 5-6kg/12-14lb.
Lifespan:14 years


Cairn Terrier
1.Good with children
2.1 of the easiest terrier to train
Size:Height 25-31 cm/10/12ins,Weigh6-7.5kg/13-16lb
Lifespan:14 years