Schnauzer VS. Yorkshire Terrier

Schnauzers and Yorkies are a bit yippie for us. Have you considered a Westie? (West Highland White Terrier) We have had one for 14 years. He is the best dog. Great with kids (We have 3) and great with allergies. Just a thought.

Growing up we had a schnauzer he was a very smart and loyal dog and great with kids. He is the only schnauzer I know. I have however known 10 yorkies and I have never met a Yorkie that was good with kids. I fact all of the ones I have known have nipped at or bitten a child. It imore self protective they are.

I think adopting from a rescue center or the humane society is always the best- so many good dogs and puppies need homes! As for which breed, I've known a couple of Schnauzers that were really crazy (aggressive, loud, and generally scary), but maybe that's not the norm. I'd definitely lean toward a Yorkie over the Schnauzer, but I don't know if I'd get a small dog with such young children (or a dog yet at all, as busy as you must be!). What about rescuing a standard poodle- hypoallergenic and supposedly very sweet.

I HIGHLY recommend getting your dog from a rescue. We wanted a male westie who was not a puppy, but still young and good with kids. After watching and waiting (at rescues and on petfinder.com) we found our boy. He was 8 months old, potty trained (well, they said he wasn't, but he certainly was) and after his initial shyness is great with the kids. I don't know much about allergies, but I really do recommend a rescue dog. We had many options to get a very young puppy too, but that's not what we wanted. Enjoy looking for the right dog and save a pup at the same time. We spend about $100 for a purebred westie. A great deal. Enjoy your pup, your kids will love it (much of the time anyway!)

K.

Hi, C.
First of all, do NOT buy either of these breeds. I am a former vet assistant and I can tell you in all honesty that neither of these breeds are good with little kids. The rule of thumb that vets live by is never have a pet that weighs less than your baby. Yorkies are very tempermental, and require extensive grooming. Also, most have allergies and the meds are very expensive. The schnauzer is the better choice between the two, but they also require extensive grooming. I would recomend a larger hypo-allergenic breed such as a labradoodle. They are wonderful with children and don't require so much care. Please, for the safety of your child and the dog, do not get a little dog for a pet. Little dogs and little kids do not mix.

Dear C.,

I guess I've not heard of a hypoallergic dog, they all have hair and dander???? They don't shed like some other breeds, but they do shed skin cells in your home. So if your child is sensitive I'd be very weary.

I hate to burst your bubble, but with young children I don't believe yorkies are good with children. Mostly because they are so interbreeded and they are very "yappie". They are very small and young children don't mean to hurt a small animal, but they can still fall on them and hurt them. If you are willing to take the time, then go for it.

I think schauzer a bit more tolerant, but I thing a good old mutt is the best. There again, allergies etc., would hate for you to get a dog and be disappointed because you're child's allergies get worst. Best wishes!

I can't tell you anything about these dogs, but can I suggest that you go to a rescue agency instead of a breeder? You would be doing a WONDERFUL thing, and not have to spend several hundred dollars at a breeder and you will not be supporting a possible backyard breeder/puppy mill. http://stoppuppymills.org/ (Humane Society of the United States) Please do NOT purchase from a pet store, unless that store is 'selling' rescued animals. Puppies/kittens at pet stores are almost always from puppy/kitten mills in horrible conditions. There are breeds at shelters, and you might even find an older dog (puppies can be a handful) that does not need housebreaking and may already have manners. Millions of animals are destroyed in shelters every year, so please consider a shelter/rescue agency. http://www.petfinder.com/

And PLEASE make sure the animal is spayed/neutered. If from a shelter, this would be done. http://www.hsmo.org/m_vetcare/benefits.php Humane Society of MO

I would also like to suggest NOT for Christmas. There is just too much other commotion at Christmas w/people and things. After Christmas, the holidays, then it would be time to go to a shelter.

I applaud you for doing research!!

I can't help a whole lot, but I can give you a little of my experiences. First off, I know absolutely nothing about schnauzers. My best friend had a Yorkie when we were little. She was such a good dog. She got a little hyper at times, but she didn't do much yipping, and she NEVER tried to bite. They had her for as long as I could remember. She made an excellent house dog, and I don't remember any problems with her shedding.
Right now, we have a silky terrier (looks just like a Yorkie). She is also an indoor dog. We have 4 kids (9, 7, 4, and 3 months). She is great with kids, although sometimes she is very hyper when she gets to play with the kids. She has nevver bitten nor tried to bite. We only had a small problem with her shedding, but once we started getting her groomed, we didn't have that problem anymore. (If you know anything about how to do it, I'm sure you can do it yourself. I don't and wouldn't torture my dog by trying, so I take her to get groomed...haha)
From what I've seen, Yorkies and silkies both are expensive breeds. Another poster was absolutely right in saying that if you can find them at a shelter/Humane society, you would be doing a much better thing and getting a much better price than buying from a breeder. Our Silky was $300, which I'm told was actually pretty cheap. The upside to breeders is that you will get papers and shot records, but if you buy them while they are young, they won't be fixed like the Humane Society would do.
Also, any breed can be a good dog for kids. It all depends on how they are treated and trained. Some breeds are more likely to have a calm demeanor, but that doesn't always make them a better choice over another. We had a yellow lab when I was little that was a great dog, very calm with us, and very protective of us. My neighbor has a yellow lab that would attack anything it could see because he's never had an ounce of training. It's all going to depend on how it's trained.

Okay, first of all, if you are strapped for money you shouldn't be considering a pet. Pets are expensive. You have Vet bills, shots, and food. And if you have an allergy kid and are looking at a small dog, you will be looking at regular grooming for the bathing to get the dander off and to keep your dog looking good. Not to mention, the dogs you are talking about getting are purebreds and you are talking potential BIG $$$ for them...These aren't your $35 Humane Society pups. Heck, even our local Humane Society will up the price of the pups if they are pure breds. If money is an issue MAKE SURE you know what your monthly costs are going to be and if you can afford it!

Secondly, you're putting A LOT of stress on X-mas. Giving your kids a dog is a great present, but what if it doesn't work out and your kid CAN'T handle having an animal in the house? You've suddenly become an Indian Giver and are ripping up a fragile bond you just created at X-mas and what used to be the BEST X-mas gift suddenly became the WORST. Not to mention, A LOT of breeders & kennels won't sell you an animal if they find out it's going to be a X-mas present b/c over 50% of animals given at X-mas end up either abandoned along side the road or back in animal shelters b/c they didn't work out.

My husband's Great Aunt used to work with www.petsforlife.com in Kansas City. I would recommend going to the web site and carefully reading through the sections about allergies and kid friendly dogs. The dogs they sell are sometimes rehabed but also show dogs, etc. They offer really great advice for free. As professionals, I would certainly accept their recommendations. Good luck with your decision.

I would try and have your kids interact with both of these breeds to see how they do. There really is no such thing as a hypoallergenic dog. However, there are dogs that have less dander that your child will probably have less of an allergic reaction too. My husband is allergic to most dogs. We have a boston terrier and he has no problem with him, but my sister who is also allergic to dogs has a lot of trouble with our boston. I do know from my own research that Maltese and Bichons tend to have less dander. Also, poodles are supposed to be very good for people who have allergies. The two drawbacks I know to Schnauzers and Yorkies are they can be yappy barkers. But there are many dogs that potentially can have this trait. It all depends on how you train them. I applaud you for doing research and encourage you to really think through what dog will be best for your family. So many people get a dog on a whim and end up returning it to the pound. We were lucky enough to get our boston as a rescue and he is such a great dog. Good luck!

We have 3 miniature schnauzers and 2 yorkshire terriers in my immediate family along with 5 kids ranging from 1 to 14 years old. I personally have never, ever had any of the experiences that the other women have had. All 5 dogs are very sweet and play well with each other and the children. Schnauzer: very sweet, more robust, more fun, less barking, likes to play- so keep that in mind, very protective and loyal. Yorkie: Very sweet, likes to cuddle, likes to play, very yappie, difficult to house train, very fragile, and very expensive if you get a good breeder. My parents' yorkies have had health problems from the start. These are very expensive dogs to own. Children tend to have problems realizing that this is an animal, not a toy. That's just my two cents. Dogs are all about how they are raised and just remember to never leave very small children around a dog unattended.

Hi C.,

I know getting a pet for your child can be difficult, but it's great that you doing a bit of research. I am a Veterinary Nurse so I have alot of knowledge about dog breeds. The yorkie is fun and energetic with spunk. Due to the small size they can be breakable especially with the kind of ruff housing children envoke. Yorkies also have allergy difficulties. If you decide on a yorkie, make sure they are coming from a good genetic line. Schnauzers are alot more durable than a yorkie with lots of energy and spunk. With both breeds they require alot of grooming. Bichon Frise is the only hypo-allergenic breed labeled as such. However they are not good with children. They do not have the tolerance. I sugest that since your son has allergies getting a shor haired dog. A schnauzer even though needs grooming they are better with children. If it is money you are concerned about, you could always get a mixed breed. There are so many out there and usually with a mixed breed you are getting the best of both worlds. Mixed breeds don't usually have the breed dispositions of one or the other. The combonation usually creates a great pet with a fun personallity without all of the problems one breed can generate. Like for instance, Dalmations are known for bladder stones, Boxers are known for developing cancer, or Rottweilers are aggressive as well as Pitbulls. When getting a mixed breed many of these dispositions do not exist. I have a beagle, pitbull, doberman, collie mix. He is awesome. So dosile and sweet. He isn't aggressive at all and doesn't have the growths that dobermans develop. I also have a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. She is difficult. She sure is cute and very expensive. She is the fisrt pure bred I have ever had and she is alot of trouble. I have had mixed breeds my whole life and I think with the experiences I have had, I will continue to do so. Cavaliers are great with kids, require little grooming and are so sweet. However they are expensive and are known for luxating patellas and heart problems. I spent 10 years searching for a great breeder. She is great other than she isn't the smartest dog. She isn't like a Cavalier at all. For some reason she licked outlets and got zapped. She hasn't been the same ever since. Unfortunately with pure breds the smarts goes out the window. She isn't like the typical cavalier anymore. So I spent the money for a dog that isn't like the what she should be. Pure breds are known for this and that depending on what dog you want, but just because you spend the money doesn't mean they will be that way. I was also going to suggest a Pug because they are small and tough. Pugs have great personallities and lots of energy for kids. They don't shed as much as some other kinds of short haired dogs. They don't reguire grooming either. If you look into getting a pug, be sure you look at the puppies nose to make sure the nostrils are open and the nose isn't too short. They can have breathing difficulties like bulldogs if the muzzle is too short. There are pugs ou there that do not have breathing difficulties. Getting a mixed yorkie, schnaauzer or pug would be great. The yorkie is the least I would reccomend. You can go to your local animal shelter or humane society to look for puppies. I worked at a humane society and was shocked to find pure breds coming in. If you decide to get a mixed breed, humane society and shelters have lots of them. I hope this has been of some help to you and if you had any other qtions I would be happy to awnser them. If you are going to do more research on any breed, make sure it's a well know web site and factual. Good luck!

A. H.

I have only known a few Schnauzers, but every one of them has been very snippy and unfriendly. I've never seen a Yorkie that wasn't playful and friendly.

I have to stand up here and support the purebred community. Don't get me wrong....rescues are great and do a great service to the dog world. However, there are an awful lot of dogs in rescue because their owners bring home a little puppy that they thought was so cute and then didn't take the time, energy and money to provide the training and level of care that they require. You could end up spending lots of time and money to fix the problems that another owner didn't bother to take care of in the first place. I also do not support the small time pet stores which sell puppymill animals to the public. The situation in the puppymill industry is BAD, BAD, BAD!

If you have done your research and believe that these are good breeds for your family, then find a reputable home breeder in your area who really cares about their breed, health screens the parents before breeding and socializes the pups while they are in the whelping box. If their pups are well cared for, exposed often to children and outside stimuli, they will grow up to be great family dogs who aren't "yippy" or "nippy". You can find these breeders in your area by searching on breeders.net, terrificpets.com, or puppyfind.com.

Now, unfortunately, you will get what you pay for....these puppies will cost alot more because their breeders have spent so much time and energy just to produce the pups. I am a breeder and charge $1250 for each puppy. Why? Well, my dogs have been to obedience training and have earned their CGC (Canine Good Citizen) and ATTS (American Temperament Testing Society) titles. They have been to many dog shows to earn their Championship show titles - each show costs me $500 in expenses. I have screened them for canine hip dysplasia ($400), breed specific health tests ($150) and genetic screening ($75), not to mention all of the pre-natal veterinary costs. (Even at $1250, I don't even end up breaking even on my puppies.) There are some people out there to make a buck and breed just because they see that others charge for puppies; however, you can probably pick out the good from the bad with just a quick phone call. The good breeders will ask you more questions that you ask them!

Good luck with any decision that you make and have fun with your new puppy!

Schnauzers bark. A lot. At everyone. I'd go with a Yorkie.

If you are having a tough time deciding between the two, you might consider a schnorkie (sp?), which is a cross between both. Our neighbors got one this summer and he is a cutie! It would be worth researching!

We had a yorkie. He was so great with the kids.
He was one of the best dogs I have had!

We have several Schnauzers & Yorkies in the family. They are ALL not good with children....the Schnauzers because they are yippy/yappy & have drawn blood on all of us. The Yorkies because they are sooo small that they feel intimidated with the kids, & they also have snapped. In all fairness, they are the sweetest companions for the older & quieter members of the family.

On the other hand, I also suffer from allergies. We've had labs, beagles, & lab mixes. They have all bothered me....until the best dog in the world came to live with us. CoCoa is a labradoodle, & he does not shed. We also now have a pup...an Olde English sheepdog mix. He also does not shed, which was a surprise to us. The only time we see hair moving off of the pup is when we brush his undercoat. It was a nice surprise when the breeder told us about this breed's coat!

Sooo, there's my thoughts....I always cringe when I hear of a family wanting to add a Schnauzer/Yorkie. These are not isolated events, but has happened with every single one of these dogs. & as for <$, I didn't check where you live, but Rolla.net has classified ads....& we shop regularly thru these ads. Lots of dogs, all different prices. Good luck!

To my knowledge yorkshires are pretty timid dogs which doesn't make them the greatest dog to have around young children. Young children tend to pull and jump on animals not knowing any better and it will scare a dog, or any animal pretty easily. But really, just because a dog is prone to certain behavior does't mean that with proper training and nuturing it won't be alright. Schnauzers are fairly good with children, especially if you get a bigger one. We were going to adopt one from the Human Society but someone else bought it before we did. We took the kids with us to make sure it would work and she loved the attention she got from them. The Schnauzers are definitely more affordable. Try Petfinder.com

My vote is for a Schnauzer....Mini Schnauzer

First - a lot of the time living with the dog the allergies will minimized because you are around them all the time. Just like when you getting the shot from an allergist you are getting small amounts at a time and eventually you get enough that it practically gone.

Second – We have a 3 year old mini schnauzer and a 9 month old daughter. They are best friends. My mother in law was terrified because the dog didn’t like kids and had in the past snipped at one that scarred her. Well we figured that since the baby was going to live in the house that she would slowly grow on her. We were right!!
When we brought her home from the hospital at first she didn’t seem to care. She was always at my feet when I feed the baby. But wasn’t sure what it was and had no problem that it was her. When the baby started moving around she all of a sudden took to her like hmm this thing can play with me. And she always was bringing her to for the baby to throw.
Well it took a while but now she does. I totally believe that she learned a lot from the dog. She has been rolling over since 3 weeks old, crawling since 6 months and pulling up on things since 7 months. They do everything together. If the dog is looking out the window the baby crawls over and pulls herself up too look and see what she looking at. I think it is the cuties thing. The dog is so gentle with her when she plays. The dog let her pull at her beard and never has snipped or anything. She has been very good with her. I think it is probably easier to get a puppy after you have kids because they would know nothing else.

I used to work for a vet and a some schnauzers can have skin problems. Some are really bad need special shampoo, medication. I think your best bet would be a yorkie, my aunt has one and has not had any problems with his skin. You might check on the Yorkie rescue web site. I don't know if they have puppies thought but worth a try.

my understanding is poodles are suppose to be good for not shedding.

but as far as the two breeds you have chosen - I have had several yorkies and they do well with the kids. But then again depending on the dogs own personality they all can be good or not with kids.

So one suggestion I have - is to take the kids with you when you try to decide and see how the pup gets along with the kids before you buy..

I would definitely have your son interact with any dog before you get it to make sure he's not allergic. My daughter has had allergic reactions with almost any dog she's been around inclucing a Yorkie. Good luck!

well, to be honest they are both pretty nervous, snappy little dogs with children. we researched hypoallergenic dogs as well, and found that dogs with double layered hair, like bichons and shih tzus, are extremely hypoallergenic. short haired dogs are typically covered in dander. we got a shih tzu and never had a problem, and he was a very sweet dog with our kids, and you can just buy clippers (get the big ones) and shave him/her, instead of paying lots of money for grooming. good luck!

I jus recently acquired a yorkie...and he is wonderful. He knew his name within 2-3 days. Knows what "no", "bad", "go outside" means and he is only 11 weeks old. We are still potty training him but he has a good idea of what to do. We found him from a kennel. If you want to the website is www.needscountrykennel.com and she is very helpful there. Also she has Schnauzer and Yorkie. Good luck.

Aw ! Schnauzers for sure! We also went through this period of uncertainty with our daughter and live in niece. Schnauzers are a bit bigger and are more "hardy" with kids handling than yorkies. Both can be a bit hyper but if you work with them and watch the litter of pups for a more docile pup you might have good luck in picking the right pet.The great thing about Schnauzers is that they don't shed. Good luck in deciding. C.

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

This is an excellent website with comprehensive info on any dog breed I've ever heard of. This page is about reliability with children. I would never allow a Yorkie around my baby though.

One of the biggest mistakes dog owners make is carrying their dog. Make sure, no matter the breed or size, never EVER carry your dog. They are not infants- they are dogs. Before doing something- think "How would I react if this was a 100 lb dog? Would I think jumping on me was okay? Would you allow him/her to just jump up on my lap?"

All that being said- we have a miniature Australian Shepherd. I keep her shaved, and I bathe her often. My son who is allergic to dogs, hasn't had any issues with her at all. She's never allowed on the furniture (a good idea for establishing pack leadership anyway) and she doesn't shed any that I've seen (probably due to being shaved often.)

I chose this breed for several reasons- reliability with children, physical toughness (most toy breeds have delicate bones and can be broken by playful children- the Miniature Aussie kept all of it's sturdy structure), the ability as a watch dog (not to be confused with guard dog), and appearance.

C.,
Dogs are great for children. I recomend going to your local shelter for a pet. If you talk to the shelter now they will help you find a puppy for your son. There are many wonderful dogs that are in shelters due to the home morage problem. Shelters for families will not take pets.

i was basically going to echo sue's advice, although it seems she has more experience than i do. my grandparents had a couple different schnauzer mixes throughout my life and they were good dogs for them, even with grandkids, but now they're in their "golden years" so my grandma decided she wanted a FULL BLOOD schnauzer, since she'd had such good luck with the mixes. NO WAY. she is the most hyper dog i've ever seen. no- i think beagles are worse...but not by much. she also jumps and is really rough. sadly she stays penned when the grandkids are around. and yes, she barks a LOT. just my personal experience with a schauzer.

i was going to suggest a poodle - they're great with kids and as long as you don't get a teacup one, i'd say it'd be a great match (i'd worry about a teacup poodle getting broken around kids!) they're really intelligent, sweet dogs, and they are the original "hypoallergenic" dog. i'm not a huge fan of the looks, but labradoodles are really cute. i'd go that direction! (the thing that always gets me though...i see labradoodles as a "mutt" -not that there's anything wrong with that, i've never had a purebred dog in my life- but nowdays people are charging for them like they're purebreds. ask around at local shelters!)

good luck! what a great christmas! :)

I know exactly how you feel. My son has really bad allergies and wanted a dog last year. I spoke to the allergist about it and she recommended we get a Shih Tzu. We took her advice and my son has no problem around our dog, and that breed is a lot cheaper than the two that you were thinking about. Our dog is great with all three of my children and an all around great family pet!

C.,

I had mini - schnauzers growing up, (their are standards and mini)allergies too! They can be Yippi but so do yourkshires. The schnauzers are low maintnance on the day to day. They are active and funny little dogs... smart and trainable. I noticed a lot of people stated meaness, I never had any of that. My house was the neighborhood go to house. Kids from 1 year to 15 were in and out. We always had family over. I was never bitten or growled at, ever! I have had dogs my entire life - I have learned that your animal (like your child) is usualy what you make it in too. Make boundries and train them. I think you said you are a stay at home mom. Sounds like that is great. A walk daily is a requirement for all dogs. Helps keep their minds busy and training is a game to them. I taught mine to sit and stay then I would hide tid bit training pieces around the house and she would find them. We played hide and seek, speak, role over, hunt, we even taught her commands to "save us" if we were hurt or in danger. Mine was less than 5pnds when I got her, I was 11 years old. My sister was 5, we enjoyed her so much we got another in less that 2 years. One salt and pepper and one black. We were very ruough with them, I have pics of them "walking each other". I noticed that some people had advice with out knowledge. Please remember you have allergies and irritants. I am allergic to dander but excess hair (because of the dander attached) is an irritant. One person talked about the under coat - I found that that is true. We had a dog with under coat but didn't shed, I could play with her but I couldn't brush her or wash her or put my face on her (hug). My mother-in-law has a lab that Kills me, I have to use emergency inhalers to go to her house. Don't over wash them (short hairs) because they get more dander from drying out dry out their skin and that sometimes bothered me. We also tried to use hypoallergenic perfume free shampoo because the stuff at the shops made my eyes and lungs swell shut. You have to keep mini- shcnauzer's skirt cut short or they drag in leaves (they are short). They were both great swimmers, loved to run and hunt moles. They were originally blended to hunt underground animals so make sure you have a fence. Mine would get sent of a rabbit and be gone (that may have been her lack of sit and stay! Ha Ha!
My cousins had yorki's. They had way more coat management and bathing. They also had tons of health issues. I suggest calling a vet and asking. The smaller breeds all have to watch the jumping. Our mini shcnauzers lived to be 13 and 16 years old.
My mother has a Soft coated Wheaton Terrior now. It is a bigger dog with an awsome personality. He loves to be chased, wresteled, fetch, run, jump,He lets my 3 year old sits on him and my 5 year old loves to swim with him. I was told he has "hair" vs a coat. That's what makes him allergy free. She does get him a "puppy clip" so he stays short so we can come over and play. Now, I hug on him and get kisses and play ball and only durring my allergy season (pollen) do I have trouble. They are very high energy but we love him - can play for hours and then sleep on you too.
Good luck. Hope this helps.

Hi C.,

It looks like you got a lot of great info. And I hesitated to even respond, but what the heck.

We had either mutts or Yorkies the whole time I was growing up. I had a Yorkie when our son was born and agree with one of the posters that the ONLY time she nipped at him, (never breaking the skin) was when he was too rough. Yorkies do seem to have a lot of allergy problems and ours were always pure-breds fromt he best breeders so that just goes to show there are no guarantees.
When my son was 3, he's now 18, the yorkie died and we adopted our first golden retriever. I also agree with another poster that you don't always know what you're getting at shelters or with rescue groups but I have never had a bad experience. If you go to a reputable shelter like Wayside Waifs or Animal Haven they've monitored the dogs and done temperment testing before putting them up for adoption. Anyway, that first golden converted me and now I only get goldens or golden/lab mixes which honestly have the best temperment with children.

Now having said all that. . .I again agree with a couple of people that if money is an issue getting a high maintenance pet, especially at Christmas is not a good idea. Many people purchase dogs and cats and other pets for Christmas and special occasions just to find out it was more care than the bargained for. Do you have time to house/potty train a new puppy? Take them for walks or dog parks so they get exercise and socialize with other dogs? What if your little boy is still alergic? And in these questionable economic times, pet ownership is not cheap. For all those reasons, plus many more are why shelters are almost always full because people make an emotional decision without thinking of all the rational/logical implications and outcomes.

You do NOT want to buy a pet from a pet store because many times they are from puppy mills and therefore at risk for many health realed issues. But as I said, our pure bred yorkies still had issues too. And if you are buying from a breeder, it's not going to be cheap.

I certainly don't want to be a wet blanket but it sounds like myself and several other posters just want you to make sure you are making the best decision for you and your family.

Best of Luck,

Lori K

I grew up with a Yorkie. That dog lived FOREVER. No kidding. My parents bought him when I was in 1st grade & he died when I was in my second year of LAW SCHOOL. That being said, he was a good dog & only nipped at us when we weren't very gentle or nice; my sis & I would dress him up in Cabbage Patch Kids clothes, nail polish, etc. I'm sure you get the idea. I think either breed is good, especially if you get a puppy b/c I think you can train them more efficiently & it's simply easier. They'll get used to being around kids b/c they're kids themselves. A Yorkie is low maintenance if you just get their hair trimmed. They don't eat much, don't make a huge mess (poo-wise), easy to walk (no pulling) & can get all the exercise they need indoors. My friend grew up with Schnauzer's & they were just as great as our Yorkie, only a bit larger (did seem more friendly though).

I know many people suggest getting or looking into rescue or adoption pets. While I think it's a good idea for many families, I'm not too sure about a family with small children. While you never know with any pet of any age, rescue pets usually have a past that no one is certain of & could present problems when you least expect it. I have a rescue dog that I love dearly & who is great with our baby, but he has some issues that are difficult to deal with, issues our other dog (not rescue) doesn't have since we've had him since he was a tiny puppy. Just my 2 cents.

I don't know much about yorkie's but schnauzer's usually aren't good kid dogs. My aunts had them and they seemed snippy when other kids came around and they didn't have them when their kids were toddlers but when the kids were 7 or 8 years old. When I was a kid when we came over and tried to pet them they would snap at us and were good trained dogs for their family but not too well with strangers.

some suggested poodles well I had friends with them when I was a kid too and they were also snippy and protective.

beagles and basset hounds are usually good with kids. They do like to play but with any dog they require a lot of attention so if you don't have a lot of time spent at home I wouldn't recommend having a dog at all. Our kids ask for a dog often but we have very busy schedules to keep up and rarely at home so would not be fair to have a dog in our lives right now so we probably won't be getting a dog until retirement so we compromised and got a cat so the kids could have some responsibilities of raising an animal but cats don't require a lot of time. They are content laying around the house on their own and just have to feed them and scoop the litter box everyday.

neither one of these dogs are good with children, especially
young ones. they are both very high energy, tend to be
nervous and territorial and will definitely bite, especially
Yorkies. when I got my king cavalier spaniel, the breeder
that I bought her from also raised Yorkies and she told me
that they are absolutely NOT kid-friendly and she has had to
talk several families out of buying them. people think that
they are "cute" and will sometimes want one even though they
are not good for their kids. they are better suited for
single owners or families without young kids. schnauzers
are a little better, but here again, not recommended for
little kids, and boy, do they SHED!!
my son also has allergies and asthma. since he has been on
his meds for it (singulair, flovent, zyrtec) he has been
around my sisters dog (pomeranian) and several of my neighbors
dogs, anything from a german shorthair pointer to a golden
retriever and he has had no problems at all. cat hair is a
larger problem for him, though.
you might have to try looking into larger breed dogs for
your family. small breeds just don't cut it with kids for
the most part. and they are all expensive, sorry to say!!
good luck!

Good Morning C., you have received a lot of different views for your post. Great job Mom's. I had a Yellow lab for yrs but had to leave her in Ks when we moved to TX yrs ago. Solomon was to big to be in an apartment for 2 months. I have then had 3 Shih Tzu's hubby slight allergies, but Shih Tzu haven't seems to bother him. Molly our first was almost 18 when she passed away. Bubba her brother (3rd litter) was 15 when two of our gr son's let him out of the back gate 4 months ago. I now have Amber a sweet little girl I Did find at a pet shop near here. She is now almost 7 months old. She is good with all of our 5 gr kids, loves to cuddle and play and she is not a barker at all.

I tried the Petfinder.com, and rescue dogs also. I just couldn't afford the cost of the dog's and transportation fee's to get them to us. Plus some rescue centers want at least 3-4 reference's for you to adopt your forever fur balls :)

When I found Amber (we named her) the pet shop gave us a 48 hour healthy window. We immediately took her to a Vet to have her checked out, she is awesomely healthy. Had all of her shots when we got her. She will be sprayed on Nov 7th.

I tired Humane Soc. here in Wichita also. I guess I was to driven to find another Shih Tzu. ( looking for them finally helped me learn to Spell that breed name too.. ;)

One thing about Amber and possibly other Pet shop or kennel pets is they are not always completely house broken. Amber will only pee or poop on the Driveway in the early mornings, grass is to wet. lol I take water out with me and rinse it off so as not to leave a scent, but she still only does her thing on cement in early mornings. Will go to a grassy spot during the day. I have very few accidents. Shih Tzu are very sweet dogs, can be trained, smart intelligent dogs.
She sleeps in a pet carrier at night, doesn't whine or bark to get out.

Best of Luck in your search, please no Christmas pets. To much going on for everyone.

K. Nana of 5

You might try a Silkie, which is very similar to a Yorkie but which has been bred to have less pet dander. I have one, and they are a great dog! Hope that helps!
S.
www.StephanieSellsKC.com

My daughter has allergies and when we went to look at schnauzers she had an allergic reaction. I don't think either breed you are talking about is hypoallergenic. In fact, no dog is 100% hypoallergenic. I did alot of research into this at the time because she really wanted a dog and I am a dog lover myself and have always had dogs in the family. I looked into Bichons and found those were actually the best dog breed for hypoallergenic coat AND good with kids. I ended up getting the most adorable Bichon Shitzu mix. She looks like a stuffed teddy bear she is so cute. My daughter is not allergic to her. Here's what they look like http://www.fuzzypups.com/Bich-Tzu%20advertising%20photo.jpg They are friendly, gentle and loyal little dogs. I am just in love with ours and I am normally not the "small dog type."

Any of the breeds you are talking about can be pretty pricey. I would definitely stay away from Yorkies for young kids. Before you buy any though, you may want to take your son to visit some of the breeds you are interested in and see if his allergies kick in. I know you want to surprise them on Christmas, but you also don't want to get a breed out of the blue that your son may be allergic to after all. That would be heartbreaking for them to have to give the puppy up once they got him.

I know when I had my do in puppy class there were 2 Schnauzers and they were very yippy and protective. The trainer said this is very typical behavior with them and they are more dog aggressive. Granted they did get better by the end of all the classes but the trainer really had to work with them and the owner.

Our trainer always had older kids come to the classes but they had to watch the Schnauzers around the other kids.

I think either breed can be snippity, or protective etc... That's why it's always best to get a dog as young as possible, so they can develop along with your family, and you can have a part in raising it etc... As far as where to get one, try local shelters, as they have a wide variety of dogs, of all ages, that desperately need homes! Plus they will have their shots and be fixed etc! You can also ask your local vets, sometimes they have animals up for adoption, or know people who are needing to get rid of pups etc... www.petfinder.com will help you find a specific type of animal you want, that is in a shelter or rescue group that needs a home. You can also use Craigslist.com but you can't always be to sure on that one. Good Luck! Hope your family finds a new best friend soon!

Hello there, how exciting, a new member of the family!
I have some experience with both types of dogs and I would have to probably say a yorkie would be my choice.
Unfortunately both breeds are pretty hyper and aren't technically the best breeds with kids. Although under your special circumstances I am sure that you can train them to be great family dogs! I had a mini schnauzer growing up and we had a lot of trouble with him being overly protective and biting people. My close friend and dad both have yorkies and sometimes they seemed annoyed by my kiddos but they have never tried to bite. I'm sure that someone else may have a completely different thought. I would be sure to get a yorkie on the larger side though so that it will hold up with a small child! L. O

C.-
I have a yorkie he is 6 years old. I love him to death! He barks constantly when people come in and leave my house. He was very hard to potty train..and eveyone told me that yorkies are hard to potty train. like i said he is 6 and he still goes potty inside sometimes. He is not the greatest with kids, he has nipped at my son a few times and growls a lot. the breeders told me that this was definatly not a dog to be around children.. but i was young and not thinking hey i might get married in a few years and have a family. But not to say that he is a bad dog he is great and loving and loves giving kisses and cuddling he is very territorial and its in the bread. He doesnt shed which is a great plus. but to keep their hair looking good they should see a groomer monthly. unless you have the time to do it yourself. its kinda like human hair..

I think you should go with the schnauzer..

sorry for the unclear thoughts but take it from experience you dont want a yorkie they are high maintenance!!

Good Luck in whatever you decide!! :)