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Original poster

Top dog breed? (with children)

43 replies

BadgerBadger · 21/09/2005 00:26

I'm hoping to get a dog in another year or so. What would be your recommendation for the best breed as a family pet, particularly with children?
Obviously there are loads of things to take into consideration! But, this is top priority for me

My faves so far are Irish setter, Beagle or Springer Spaniel. Leaning towards Setter at the moment.

What are yours?

OP posts:
Flum · 21/09/2005 00:27

Black lab. as recommended by DH

I want a Beagle too. me and DH in stand off at moment.

milesysgirl · 21/09/2005 09:11

hi bb ive just got a springer spaniel and he is absaloutly great my ds hangs on him pulls him about rides him and he just lays there waging his tail .....would definately reccoment this breed!

juice · 21/09/2005 09:44

i have a 18 week old cocker spaniel who is just great with dd. she is a nice size too so dd not get knocked off her feet with puppy

zippitippitoes · 21/09/2005 10:00

We had both Irish setter and beagle aaaaand the setter was too highly strung (I think this is quite common)
and the beagle requires huge amounts of exercise and tend to stray/worry sheep etc

those white curly fluffy dogs with a funny name are good with children

dp swares English bull terriers are good
and Staffies! In fact bil has one of those and it is a sloppy fool but very strong and heavy and runs around like a maniac

Iklboo · 21/09/2005 10:06

My whippet/greyhound cross is great with kids. She's 10 now and really laid back with them. She gets a bit concerned if they start crying, but I mean that she comes up to me and cries herself then walks up to the baby, then back to me or my friend etc (friend's DS when they visit).
Only thing is she towers over them - prompting friends' DS1 to say "bleedin' 'ell" when she stood up over him to go to her bed. He was 2 at the time, bless

zippitippitoes · 21/09/2005 10:07

A Bichon Frise is the dog that I couldn't remember

Read all about it here
Pet Planet

A friend has one and they have a reputation for being great children's pets and very sorted little dogs.

RTKangaMummy · 21/09/2005 10:34

Deffo labrador

iirc setters are barmy

Willow2 · 21/09/2005 10:57

All the irish setters I know have been lovely with kids and really calm. (We had two and friends have had them as well.) We also had a Tibetan Terrier who was brilliant.

pinkmagic1 · 21/09/2005 10:59

We had an Irish setter when we where children and she was a lovely kind, gentle and loyal dog. She was a little balmy and needed lots of excersise but she was great fun and wouldn't have harmed a fly.

RTKangaMummy · 21/09/2005 11:03

OOOOOh I didn't mean they would hurt a child I meant they are just a bit wacky and barmy

steffee · 21/09/2005 11:13

I like Shih Tzus, not sure whether they're good with children, but they're lovely dogs.

Original poster
BadgerBadger · 21/09/2005 11:38

Thanks for all the tips!

I know Irish Setters tend towards being a little dappy, I think that's part of their appeal though .

I'm not so keen on fluffy toy types (should have said at the beginning, sorry!) but thanks for the tips. Eventually I'm likely to have more than one, so it's good to hear all options!

Any more faves?

OP posts:
RTKangaMummy · 21/09/2005 11:40

IMHO I cannot stand small yappy dogs but I know loads of people love them

teeavee · 21/09/2005 11:49

king charles cavalier spaniel - highly recommended for children

i used to work on a tv prog for kids, and that was the dog they were recommended. he was, indeed, lovely.

zippitippitoes · 21/09/2005 11:56

I love long haired collies, they always seem very friendly and patient and I think they look adorable..would probably one of might most likely to gets

northstar · 21/09/2005 12:03

Setters are usually born with springs in them - like tigger! V bouncy and enthusiastic. I have NEVER EVER heard of them intentionally harming anyone though.
Beagles (or any scent hound) tend not to make the best childrens/house pet as their nose rules their brain to the total exclusion of everything else..... A walk is about following trails and not playing or interacting with the family for them, and then they are gone.............. off after a trail and if you are lucky they will find their way home by nighttime.
Im not trying to generalise as obviously lots of people will have had totally different experiences but hope that's my experience.
KC spaniels are ideal family pets, so are springers but they need more excercise. Labs are great also.
The best guide to a new dog are its' parents. Always try to buy from a reputable home where the dogs are part of the family and you can see at least the mother in her normal surroundings. Don't be afraid to go back and ask questions, anyone who genuinely cares about their dogs will be only too happy to talk for hours about their characteristics and habits!
Oh sorry for so much waffle!

northstar · 21/09/2005 12:04

and sorry for all the bad spelling am in a huge rush to play school

andif · 21/09/2005 12:25

We have a one year old flat-coated retriever who is fantastic! Looks like a setter, but has a brain (no offence to anyone with setters......) The kids (8,6 and baby due imminently..) love him to bits and he doesn't have an aggressive bone in his body. Grew up myself with labs and golden retrievers, but have to say he is the best.

Lua · 21/09/2005 12:31

I think labs are definetely the usual choice for family pet. Pretty laid back, usually to take for walks (even by kids) and easily trainable. They usually let kids do anything with them!

There are lots of other breeds though that won't mind kids.

Do you definetely want a pure bred dog? I think sometimes, especially with kids, is a good idea to go to a "rescue" kind of place and choose an older dog which already has his personality sorted out (and the bathroom training out of the way!) so you can see how does the dog intercat with your particular kids, IYSWIM....

Original poster
BadgerBadger · 22/09/2005 11:24

Thanks for these suggestions!

Unfortunately, my mother's retriever (a rescued dog) had a real mean streak, so I'm a bit wary of them!

Northstar, I had wondered about the beagle personality, in that respect ~ maybe too busy on beagle business .

I really think I'm leaning towards Irish Setter, I'd better start saving!

Lua, I have considered a rescued dog, I'm still mulling it over

OP posts:
mumfor1sttime · 22/09/2005 11:32

I think Labs are the best, had one as a family pet, and she would let kids lay in her basket with her!
I wouldnt recommend a border collie, we had one who thought he was the boss - had to buy him a muzzle.He was a rescue dog, set in his ways.
But I think it depends how you 'raise' them - bit like children really!!!

Mum2girls · 22/09/2005 11:35

Springers - they're lovely.

colditz · 22/09/2005 11:35

My mum used to have a mongrel rescue dog when I was a baby. Apparently she used to herd me into her basket when I was crawling, and make me stay there by licking my head.

Mum2girls · 22/09/2005 11:38

lol colditz

gingerbear · 22/09/2005 11:45

We have a dalmatian. He was a wild child and needed bags of exercise - 1-2 hours walking daily. But now he is 11, has slowed down. He is wonderful with DD, but very clumsy as he is so big. (used to knock her over by accident when she was tiny)
Beware, irish setters come in two types - calm and crazy, can be clumsy too. Need bags of yomping over fields type exercise.
I would say a labradoodle - x between poodle and a lab - no shedding hair and placid nature.
Saying that, I would go for a rescue dog that needed a home though.

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