what kind of dog should i get?

Question

well my little girl is wants a small dog she wants one who will play but not be to wild...one that will like everone who comes to our home one that she can pack in ther arms so help me figer out what would be best for her oh ya she is 10 but acts 14

thanks everyone...

Answer 1

I highly recommend that you take this quick dog breed selector quiz, when your done filling it out, it will tell you what breed of dog you should get.
http://animal.discovery.com/breedselector/dogselector.do

Answer 2

10 is a good age for a dog.

I would opt for a small-medium sized adult mixed-breed dog from the shelter. That way you can tell right away what kind of temperament he will have, how big he will get and how well he gets along with people. Adult dogs are also past the chew-on-everything stage and usually have gotten all the "bouncy-ness" out of their systems as well - still playful - but not destructive (as in muddy paws down your suit trousers).

Put that I want a puppy rubbish out of your mind. Puppies are not for the novice. BUT adult dogs are great first dogs. And the shelter staff can help you pick out one that is young enough to give you at least 7-10 years of constant companionship and undying love. And you will have saved a life.

Answer 3

I would go w/ a Maltese or a Rat Terrier. I've had a Maltese for about 12 years and they are healthy loving dogs. They dont grow to be too big about 10 inch. from the neck down and are always willing to please their owners. I am currently looking to get a Rat Terrier and they seem like a good family dog are loyal, loving and are mostly a healthy breed and will save you some money on those vet bills.

Answer 4

Check with a kennel club. If you're in the US (or even if not) the AKC has some good info (see the references below).

Also, search the web for "dog breed selector" and try out some of the automated questionnaires in the first few hits (like the IAM's one). It will help get you on the right track.

Good luck!

Answer 5

Take her to the local shelter and look for ones that suit your needs.
If you get a puppy, it's hard to tell what they will be like when they get older. If you get an adult dog, there is less guesswork.
The breed of the dog will only tell you so much because there is lots of temperament variances between individual dogs.

Answer 6

spaniels are very lovable but they malt, smell and are very hyper. a good dog for a younger child would be a sheepdog or a labrador. labs usually cost around £600. this is a big desision and you should think about it carefully. prehaps start her off with a smaller she is to taking care of it. as you say she is only 10. could she hanle a dog? hope this helps!

Answer 7

<----Olde English Bulldogge. They are incredibly smart! They have enough energy to play, but, are rather lazy, too. They are great indoor dogs-I have 3 inside all under 1 year old. They love to be lap dogs. Full grown, they are anywhere from 16 to 20 inches tall, and they will weigh in around 60-75lbs, so they do get 'heavy' for their height. I have 4 kids at home, and they LOVE this breed. We also have a shihtzu, he is about 14lbs, also smart, cuddly and cute. But, he is very stubborn at times. I have a German Shepherd, and she is very smart too. All are inside dogs, so we deal with shedding, space limits, chewing issues, etc., the #1 consideration in acquiring ANY dog is TEMPERMENT!!

Research your breed-and the breeder that you are going to get your dog from. For example, many people may recommend maltese or shihtzu or poodle types-but they are very high maintenance-unless you are going to do it yourself, your dog will need to see a groomer at least 1x every 4 weeks. Yorkies are very yappy-at least the ones I have seen. My friends that have 'teacup' type dogs are all very yappy. My OEB's do not bark inside-haven't for the past 6 months, and don't exhibit signs of starting to.

The questions to ask yourself are: What are the basic characterists of the Breed (temperment) ? How much do you intend to spend in maintenance costs over the next 10 YEARS above and beyond food/shelter? Are you or your daughter willing to learn the proper techniques to groom a dog? Are you or your daughter willing to research the breed you have chosen to ensure that you are providing for any special needs? Are you committed to the healthcare costs associated with your breed? Will the dog be home alone alot? (I believe that dogs who are alone alot tend to be more yappy, hyper and behavior issues than dogs that have full time 'parent' at home. Attention works!) Are you committed to participating in proper obedience training, or can you do it at home?

Your daughter sounds mature enough to handle the responsibility-check your local shelter and ask your local vet for referrals. There is nothing wrong with getting older dogs from your local shelter, if you have the time to dedicate to them, they also can be wonderful pets. Getting a pet is a commitment for the next decade, so as long as she knows that, and is willing to dedicate herself, education about the many different breeds is the best place to start.

Oldes are great family choices-good luck!

Answer 8

A shih-poo. It is small and won't grow very big. A hybrid breed between a Shih-tzu and a toy poodle. why don't you image search it? Bottom line: They're freakin awesome.

Answer 9

Cocker Spaniel or Cavalier

Answer 10

i have a maltese/poodle mix, and an 8yr old daughter.... we got the pup for her. perfect little doggie! he's small, not yappy, very smart. doesn't shed. he loves to play, but is not wild at all. this is a mixed dog, referred to as maltipoo. you can find more information at:

http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/maltipoo.htm

Answer 11

I'd get a teacup Yorkshire Terrier if I were you. Most of them are very smart and they're very friendly with people.