Puppy Seeking Advice for Family with 3 Kids

We have a puggle (pug and beagle mix) and I would highly recommend this breed. He is smart and super sweet! They are average 25 lbs and great with kids. My 17 month old will go up and lay on him and take things right out of his mouth. He is so good with her. He is the best dog I have owned and so sweet. Good Luck!

I have a Vizsla. He is an amazing, wonderful dog. I had another one that died and I was a Vizsla rescue worker. I had Vizslas in my home for 2 wks while I evaluated them for adoption. I would never have any other breed than this one. They have a great temperment, are excellent with kids and are very easy to train. Here is a web link, http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/vizsla.htm

My Vizsla lives in a house with 5 kids, two of them toddlers. He has been through my babysitting days when I had more kids in my house. He has never nipped or bitten or anything like that. He loves to sleep on the my son's bed, under his covers. He is a velcro dog that gets stuck on you.

I would look at a rescue dog because you get an older one that you don't have to toilet train and chew train. You can let the rescue society know what you want and what you cannot tolerate and they will find the perfect dog for you.

Good Luck, let me know what you end up with.
J.

We Love cocker spaniels! We have had 2-the 1st was before kids and when the kids came he was great with them-very tolerant. He did not "piddle" when we greeted him and we got him shaved about 3 times a year. We didn't have any problems with him-however he died of a tumor when he was about 7 years. Then we got another as a puppy and the kids were 7,5,2 and he is great. He was a year old when we added another child and he follows me and the youngest all over the house. He tolerates the ear pulls, holding onto his feet so he can't walk. We lived in an apartment with him and he is trained to go out without a leash so it worked well-he went out about 8 feet, piddled, then came right back in. He is also crate trained so when we are not home he can't make any messes. Crate training with any dog is the way to go-it is so successful and it helps with potty training and saves on the wear and tear of the carpets! Have fun with it!
Blessings, J.

Most people will probably just tell you that whatever dog they happen to own is the best. I found a website that lists all the different dog breeds and ranks them on a scale of 1 to 5 in reference to their reliability with children. A 1 is excellent with children, 2 is usually good with children, 3 is good only when raised with them from puppyhood, 4 is best with older considerate children, and 5 is not recommended for children. I personally wouldn't choose a dog for my children unless it was given a 1. Some of the dogs people have recommended to you have been at level 4, which to me sounds dangerous. Sure, there are going to be people out there who've had good experiences with these dogs, but that doesn't mean you will.

I've looked at the list, and if it were me choosing...of the #1s on the list, I'd think these would suit you as a dog at 40 pounds or less: Beagle or Pug (though I think they're ugly as they come). It's too bad you have a weight limit that is so low. Most of the really good tempered dogs known for doing well with children are a tiny bit larger (golden retriever, lab, boxer, collie).

K.,
We have a Mini Australian Shepherd. I as well did lots of research before actually getting a dog. He is full grown and weighs almost 12 pounds. The first year is always the hardest...But if you train the dog right in the first 12 months the rest of your life with the dog is a breeze.

Aussies are great dogs...very smart, and very loyal to their families. They do have alot of energy and need good play time and GOOD chewing toys.

I crate trained our dog and he is very good...I even trained him to ring a bell when he wants to go outside to do his business...he has very minimal shedding and I bath him once a month...he could probably use it more but I'm too tired.

Try this sight to look them up and research them.

http://puppydogweb.com/breeders/miniatureaustralianshephe...

Jen

K.;
Although it is not an exotic breed I think a Beagle is what you might be looking for. They are good rough and tumble dogs for kids. Cute as puppies and stay puppish even older. They are not as hard to house break as some breeds. Grooming is almost non esential. The breed has survived so long because it is so good. I do not know where to get a beagle but in the south it should not be hard to find. A beagle took top honors this year at Westminster. Good Luck.
S. N.

Personally I think that beagles are the best dogs in the world. They do need a place to run - fenced, if there is a road nearby. But they have the best nature and love kids. We have two that live in the house with us and when the grandkids come they are so sweet with them! My husband and I have also raised several litters over the years, and they were ALL good dogs.

We've got a pug & rottweiler (obviously the rott is not in the size range LOL) but the pug is WONDERFUL w/ our toddler. She lets him roll on her kiss on her & they play like crazy. They shed a bit tho but brushing once every week or 2 would help w/ that

I have a Dachsund and he does well, although, you might have issues with the long back and injury to it with the three kids. I know several people with Cock-a-poo mix or peek-a-poo mixes which are good choices as they are smaller and playful with a very good disposition. Pomeranians are a good choice but they can be a little hyper, so you would need lots of play time. Collies in general are also a good choice but then you have shedding. Poodles are not a good choice in my opinion. Labs are the best but the female does get as much as 60 lbs. Look for a lab mixed with a smaller dog to remedy the size issue. Best dog I ever owned was a lab mix and he was 50lbs. He was playful yet he was also lazy and let my daughter climb all over him without a care. That is how a lab's personality is though. I feel mixes tend to be better "pets".

Hello K.! My husband is a vet and I asked him about your question. He said unfortunately most of the little dog breeds are many times not good great with children and most need pretty regular grooming as well. However, he thinks a Papillion (sp?) is a good breed to try. They are good with kids and don't necessarily need grooming, just daily brushing. They usually get to be about 15-20 pounds and are playful, energetic, not nippy, not shy, outgoing and friendly. I don't know of any breeders, but you can check online for more info. Hope this helps! Also he said that you are going to want to introduce the kids to the dog before purchasing to make sure the dog is not afraid of quick movements, loud sounds and general chaos (I mean we are talking about little kids... haha). Also make sure to instruct the kids on how to handle the dog (i.e. don't pull tail/ears, don't scream at them, etc.) Good luck!

Well we have a minature pinscher. He's a great dog. Our son will be 3 in July and they get along great. The only time he growls at my son is when he tries to sit on him and that's it. We don't have a fenced in yard so he does pretty good just on a chain in our front yard. Grooming is very maintained also, yea he sheds but his hair is so small you can hardly see it. On average they only get to about 15lbs full grown. I think mine is weighing about 10lbs now. Hope this helps.

We have had a cocker spaniel for 2 years and she is really great with my little boy. We lived in an apartment for about a year and a half and she seemed to do really well adjusting to being on a leash and letting us know when she needed to go out.

Goldendoodles are great with kids! They are recognized by the AKC even though they are a mix breed. They are a low/no shed dog (for those of us with allergies). They have the calmness of a mini poodle, the fun-loving of a Golden Retreiver, the ability to learn tricks quick like a Retreiver,etc. There are two sizes of a Goldendoodle. It depends if the mother was the Mini Poodle or the Golden Retreiver. I have the smaller dog. My doctor friend has the larger one. She uses it as a facility dog in her practice. It comes in the room with her and helps assess the kids. It will take their socks off, turn on/off lights, and whatever else it is asked to do. You can check them out online. I didn't get one with AKC papers so mine was a great deal cheaper. Good luck!

Most of the dogs from the Humane Society are very sweet dogs. I have found (I'm a rescurer) that they are so grateful to have a good home. They are the sweetest. YOu might want to try a jack russell terrior. They are sweet and don't get very big. They don't need grooming either and are great with kids. Happy hunting.

We just have one child but we got a beagle mix puppy and she is absoluely wonderful with our daughter. She won't get too big. She is about six months and 25 lbs. We're told she will probably only get 10 lbs bigger at the most. She is a great indoor dog although we try to take her to a bark park where she can run around at least once a week and we walk her daily. She is a really great dog. Some say that beagles howl a lot but ours doesn't. Hope this helps.

My Girl Scout troop recently took a tour of the Union County animal shelter and surprisingly, they had a lot of really great dogs (all sizes) there that were so loving and cute. We have a 9 month old petit basset griffon vendeen and he is wonderful with kids and will be medium in size when full grown. He is the cutest. He tended to bite a lot when he was younger, but most puppies do. He's been pretty easy to train, too. There is a breeder in Indian Trail (http://www.pbgv.org/).

I have a miniature Schnauzer, the best dog in the world! I have had all breeds, but this is by far, in my experience, the best with a family. They get usually no more than 15 pds. Very gentle and submissive, yet smart. I would NOT recommend a cocker spaniel, that was my worst dog ever.

Boston Terriors are great with kids. They have little shedding and good temperments.Good luck.

K.,
My first recommendation would be a husky because I have 2 and know that they are GREAT with kids. They also need to have a fenced in yard because they like to run. They are loyal, loving very friendly. Most will shed 2 x a year, females tend to be under 35 lbs and they are very intelligent. They are also my personal favorite. The only thing to consider is that they tend to not get along with cats unless raised around them from a puppy.
Putting my personal choice aside I would recommend a beagle.
They also have most of the above traits. They are smaller and don't shed as much.

Hope this helps,
S. J
www.ShazzArtisticVisions.com

Beagles are great with kids- but they can be a little bit high strung and like to run. They are "hounds". We have dachshunds that are great. We had to get rid of our lab, but we had her before we had the babies, and she resented not being the baby anymore and tried to bite our daughter in the face. I think lots of breeds will have pros and cons- and will have dogs that can be good or bad. It's better getting one like you're doing where it will grow up with the kids. A lot of times it's the "mutts" that have the best personalities. You would probably be better off getting it as a puppy though- even though you have to go thru all the potty training stuff. That way the dog grows up used to the children, and you don't inherit someone else's problems. Good luck. Animals make an awesome addition to the family! :)

Dear K.,

I may not be able to tell you exactly what breed will be good for your children, but I can tell you what I, as another mother who has grown up around a lot of different breeds, to stay away from.
Start your research by looking up the top 10 most dangerous and the top 10 best house dogs. This will give you a good solid start.
Pay very close attention to how easily trainable each breed is. With 3 children, the last thing you need on you hands is a hard headed puppy.
Go through a certified breeder. Be careful of "puppy mills" and the promise of a life gurantee. We did this with both of our Shi-Tzu's and as much as I love them, I will never do it again.
Speaking of, Shi-tzu's are excellent family dogs, easly to train, very smart...but they are high maintenance in the grooming department. Doberman are awesome dogs. Very family friendly and protective. Our doberman, Skye, as a child, followed my baby brother around like Lassie did Timmy. My Aunt's doberman, Star, did the same with me when I was younger. They are exceptionally smart, easy to train, low maintenance, and adapt to most living arrangments. My Aunt has 2 Doberman in her 2 bedroom apartment, before moving to the country.
Going through the Humane Society to adopt is a great cause, but you don't know for certain the quality of the pup, the background of the genetics, of the way it was being treated. Though I support the Human Society 100% and I donate annually, I personally, would never adopt.
I am eager to learn how your search goes, but the best advise I really have for you is to do research on particular breeds prior to actually beginning your search for a pup. It will help you narrow your search tremendously.

Happy puppy shopping!!

AKC has an excellent page where you can answer questions about the type of dog you want and the environment of your home, and it comes up with choosing the right dog for your needs/wants. It does recommend purebred dogs, but not just because mixed breeds, or even random breds, don't guarantee temperament or size or grooming needs, but also because you don't know their background nor that of their parents, and you could be getting the only "Mad" lab in the world, or the biggest Chihuahua on record.....and SO many breeds have terrier in them - but so many terriers are very different from one another,
If that page doesn't help, try www.dogbreedinfo.com/searchcategories.htm or..... www.iams.com/.../sw_BreedSelector_page.jhtml?li=en_BI&amp... or..... www.selectsmart.com/DOG/

GOOD LUCK!!

Hi K.,

You might consider a rat terrier. We have a 6 yr. old female rat/feist mix and she's great with our kids (jumps over or walks around the baby like she's not even there LOL). She's just a little over 9 pounds and has short, fine hair.

I've always had rat terriers and like someone else said, I agree that mixes are sometimes more calm. The purebreds can be needy and high maintanence due to inbreeding.

While rescuing a dog/puppy from the humane society is a wonderful and worthy cause, you're right to be a bit wary. It's a big step and you should consider taking the kids with you to see how they get along.

Good luck, I hope you find the right pet for your family.

Start contacting rescue groups, they will get you a dog who is right for a family with small children. A grown dog will be better, as, you will see the dog's personality, and they are in foster care, where their plus's and minus's will show. Dogs who have been rescued are a special breed, as they have been given a second chance. Think long and hard about your extra responsibility too, as you will take on one more job, busy mommy. Dogs are very social, and pack animals, they need to be with their people. So, if you plan to leave this dog out all day, don't bother getting one at all.

I have four kids and just adopted a puppy yesterday from the Charlotte Humane Society... go rescue if it feels right, but give it a chance! Do be careful about breed and how they interact with your kids... some dogs are just loveys and some would just rather be with other dogs due to how they were handled young.

Do you know what you are getting into with a puppy? It is a lot of work and a big commitment, but worth it!

Petfinder.com will show you pics of shelter dogs (and others)... when you find one that speaks to your heart, you can google the breed and get info on temperment, etc. Go see the dog if you like what you read and see if you feel a connection! Good luck!

Toy poodle....shizu....carigo....

I don't have a dog, but I know of a dog groomer who refuses to groom any breed that starts with "C" Chihuaua (sp?) Cocker Spaniel, etc... he says they are very difficult with people that they don't know, and since kids will invite friends to the house over the years, his approach may be helpful to you :) good luck!!

oh please please please reconsider a puppy from the humane society. all those animals want is a home. and if you spend a lot of time with the animal before making a decision, you should be able to see any behavior issues before you get him/her home. also, the workers at the humane society are all so familiar with all of the animals, and they want them to go to the right home. they would love to help you find just the right dog. we have a boxer who we got from a boxer rescue. she is out of the size range you are looking for, but the best dog we have ever had. she lets my children dress her up, climb on her and out right torture her. she is so easy going and sweet. she sheds, but require no more that a bath about three times a year and a once a month or so brushing to keep her from being dirty or smelly.

Hi K.,
we did alot of research too. I didn't want a big dog, we've had them before and now we are in an apartment. we finally narrowed it down to Bichon and King Charles Cavalier. Both are very pleasant personalities. But we chose the Cavalier, he is great with apartment living, stays at 20 lbs or less and really wants to be a lap dog. very patient with two little kids and not too energetic! Not much maintenance. Some people said they would shed alot, but we havent't seen that. i have occasionally brushed him with a lint roller when it was dry out...Hope it helps! L.

Wow K., I bet you are more confused now than you were before you asked the question! :) I have had dogs all my life and I feel that becasue you have children you might want to go with an older more settled dog. That doesn't mean someone about 10 years, but possibly in the 8 months to 18 month range. Here are my reasons and I have had both little puppies and dogs that were a little older. 1. They have more bladder control when they are over 6 months old. 2. Many times the previous owner has been able to housebreak them. 3. They may have had a family situation before and would be used to children. In a rescue situation, many times the rescue dogs have a history and the person in charge can give you pertinent information. Regardless of what you decide, animals are as much work as children. I would stay away from long haired animals unless you love to brush and groom your dog on a daily basis. Many mixed breeds seem to be healthier because they haven't the temperament and health issues some purebreds seem to inherit. I have a toy poodle that I adore and she is 15. I also have a mix keeshond/whatever? that is a nice pet as well. Both are healthy and well loved and enjoy children. It isn't necessarily the breed but the owners that determine how the dog behaves. You as the "pack leader" must set rules and abide by them. Just as your children have rules so must your animal. I thoroughly approve of crate training. Not only does it give your dog a place to rest when it gets tired of horsing around with the children, it is a haven for them...but it gives you a chance to know that the dog can't chew on (sofas, chairs, electrical wires etc) while you are out of the house. Peace of mind is what its all about. Make the crate the dog's friend and don't put up with nonsense from the dog or the kids :) If it's a puppy, it will need some toy for company to curl up with when it gets sleepy and you will need to make sure that it goes potty immediately upon releasing from the crate. This lets puppy know that potty time is outside the crate and it won't go where it sleeps. It is the best housebreaking tool around. But you have to let it out several times to go potty so it knows the rules. Get Cesar Milan's book or tapes to help you and your children train your pup. I wish you many years of happiness with your pup. It is a blessing but you have to be firm in the training so that it stays a blessing and not a curse. I think the nicest dog I ever had was a golden retriever. He was mellow and lovely, but he is too big for your purposes. The smartest dogs I am familiar with are the golden, the poodle, the keeshond, the chihuahua, and llasa apso but mixes like the puggle (a pug and beagle) or the other small dogs mixed with a poodle have been very successful because they are more hypoallergenic with the poodle and don't shed like other animals these dogs include the maltapoo, the cockerpoo etc...
My son has a chihuahua/yorkie mix and he is a smart lovely energetic pup that gets along great with his 11 and 9 year olds.
I think that having a dog is a wonderful blessing because they warn you of visitors and make you feel safer in your home becasue of their bark. People are less likely to enter ahome that has a dog. I think you will make a great choice. I do agree that you can find a wonderful animal at a shelter and think you should seriously consider it. You might consider asking the shelter who their vet is and call the vet for a recommendation about the various dogs he has seen there. It is difficult to go to the shelter because I would want to take them all, but be tough and look at each dog. Do not choose the dogs that cower in the corner. They are skitish and won't make a good pet for a family. Look for clear eyes, a perky intelligent look. You will see what I am talking about. A mutt is a great dog too so you will find the perfect pet with a little homework and a lot of care. It might be best to be the main person to pick the pet rather than taking the whole family. If you know someone that really understands dogs, pets, what to look for etc, take them along but in the end, you will be living with this pet and have to make the final decision. Call the humane society and talk with them about the pet ou want and they will give you guidelines as well. Good luck and let us know if you get your pet.

K.,
My sister has a mini-Dachsund and it is GREAT with my three kids. He is now full grown and is a whole 15 lbs IF even that. He has lots of energy. He is a people dog and loves to run and play with the boys in the yard and he loves to curl up and be loving as well. He is so great with my kids(boys - 7,5,2) that my husband and I are thinking that a mini-D would be a great addition to our family after our current dog (a austrailian shepherd mix) passes on. Our dog is also great with kids - when she was younger she would play with them and keep them "herded" where she thought they needed to be. Now that she is older - she prefers to watch them play and bark if one of the kids is out of where she thinks they need to be.
Now about the mini-D - no one in my family has ever had a dog this small and have always actually made fun of them. But we love it.

Good Luck in the search for the dog that fits your family!

T.

hello,

one thing that i will say is to keep in mind that it is always better when the dog is raised around the kids never get an half rasied dog also make sure that the dog know the kids and family member that will be around them daily

Mixed breed females are general calmer than pure breeds. Pure bred dogs tend to get high strung because they are often inter bred. Just a thought.

You might look into toy poodles. They do not shed, are small (perfect for apartment living), and if brought up with children as a puppy, are excellent with children. They are easily trained and very smart. They will require grooming occasionally, and daily brushing keeps their coat in check, which is also a great job for the kids. Good luck in your search...

We have had two Dachshunds over the last 19 years and I can't say that there has been a better dog with our children. Dobie (our 3 year old Dachshund) loves our 6 month old granddaughter to the point that when she is at the house he does not leave her side. Both dogs have been gentle and loving with our kids and are easy to maintain. On the other side they can be pretty stubborn but the loving attitude out weighs the stubborness.

after we had to give up our st. bernard (he didn't like our toddler much), i didn't want another dog! too much drool and hair. last year, we got a shih-tzu, and we are very pleased! he's small, friendly, playful, does not shed (or drool!) and absolutely adores our daughter. i really can't think of any negatives (other than the normal puppy training!)

good luck!

K., all of our dogs have been rescues. They make the best pets because they are grateful. Our beagle is not a full-breed he is the most loving pet you can have and normally great with children and can adapt to apartment living. Our latest is a terrier mix (jack russell and we think rat terrier mix), she is 3 years old and when she isn't playing ball she follows me around.I am just suggesting adoption. Lots of luck! C. from Charlotte

Wow it looks like you have a ton of reading to do, so I'll be as brief as I can... We got Izzie, our puppy from the humane society. She is a beagle lab mix. exactly what we were looking for as both breeds are good with kids. She is Extremely Gentle and loving. she is so smart that she picked up on her name only hours after we brought her home (we changed the name they gave her - she was 9 weeks old). The humane society can tell you almost as much as the pet store would. Getting Izzie there was the best thing we have ever done. Incidentally I was not a "dog" person, but I am now. she is very low maintenance and a joy to have. Don't rule out on the shelters, just do some checking first. Good luck.

Hi K.,
You might want to try a Fiest. They make very good loyal pets and they stay small and most love kids and are very protective of them. If you go to the humane society though, make sure you get a puppy. They tend to do better if raised with the kids and the family where they are going to stay. Good luck!

For years we had a Sheltie that was wondeful with children and we lived in a town house. They love children as a matter of fact twice Zack hurded 2 children that were walking toward the street right back up to the condo. The first time Zack was less than a year old. the children were visting neighbors and he saw what was happening and before I could run to get the children he would gently bump the children to safety. They are wonderful dogs and take a lot. I loved ours to the day he died. he was over 14 years old
D.