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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:

Cooperoo · 22/09/2005 12:03

Beagles are notoriously hard to train. We had a flat coated retreiver who was the most affectionate laid back dog. Just wonderful. Think labs are the classic family dog. I grew up with boxers though both at my dad's and my mum's and in my opinion you can't beat them. They look a bit fierce for some people but are brilliant family pets and very affectionate. My little sis used to torment our dog and he just took it all, and my big sis used to do the same with their boxer. I love them. We have a rescue dog at the moment who is great but will not tolerate another dog in the house (fine on walks though) and when she goes (hopefully not for a VERY long time) we will be getting a boxer. I love them. Anyway banged on a bit there. Good luck with your choice. (I think meeting the parents is the key to choosing as well as the breed by the way.)

butty · 22/09/2005 12:43

hi, i got a wiemaraner in feb last year and every one said i was stupid as so set in their ways and get very deprived and whiney if not enough attention, nor do they like to be left on their own.!!
Freddy is brill!!! He is soft, loving, very affectinate with the kids, we've never had the seperation anxiety that every one stated and he is left alone for 5 hours aday.
He loves playing fetch in the field and although he is fairly big and still growing he seems very conciencious of the kids when playing or bounding about.
I would reccomend this breed to anyone with kids as i have learnt through time that he's a real corker!!!!
Sorry to rant, it's just that i adore my doggy!!
Butty.xx

TwinSetAndPearls · 22/09/2005 20:46

We have a springer and he is fantistic with dd, puts up with endless tail/ear pulling and being climbed over. They are very expressive dogs which makes them good companions for children. Endless energy which is good as they love being chased around a field but they do need a lot of exercise.

Heathcliffscathy · 22/09/2005 20:48

can i by proxy for CD say ridgebacks. i know she would say so. and her's is absolutely the most tolerant kid friendly dog i've ever come across.

motherwolf · 22/09/2005 20:52

we have a 5 month old border collie ,hes very mad at the mo and needs alot of exercise(about an hour a day) but hes great with my kids ,5 and 2.as hes getting big(hes going to be a big one)my 2 yr old ds climbs on him,pulls his tail etc and he doesnt bat an eyelid,if ds does bother him at all he just gets up and goes an lays somewhere else.he has amazing patience with him.
although he needs alot of exercise we do find it a good excuse to get out of the house and it helps the kids run off their excess energy as well.lol

Willow2 · 23/09/2005 13:30

Oh - another setter memory - when ours had puppies she allowed me (aged 3) to lie in the whelping box with her and the pups within a few hours of them being born. Think that tops the "child friendly" league table so far

tegan · 23/09/2005 13:37

Got a beautifull staffy had him the my 7 year old was 10 months old and now he is inseperable from my 17 month old he is definately one of the kids

spacedonkey · 23/09/2005 13:40

Staffies have a great temperament. I've also heard that greyhounds are extremely gentle.

RedZuleika · 23/09/2005 14:34

Ridgebacks?? I know that Rhodesian Ridgebacks have been erroneously implicated as dangerous dogs in other parts of Europe, but aren't Thai Ridgebacks actually supposed to be quite aggressive...?

I know it's often the owner more than the dog, but I'd be extra careful with children around. Greyhounds, also, can be problematic if you get a retired racing dog. I meet one whilst walking my beastie occasionally and it doesn't seem to be what I would call a family pet. He doesn't seem to know how to play, for one thing.

I'm a terrier girl myself - not yappy at all - and certainly not fluffy toy types.

RedZuleika · 23/09/2005 14:36

Not that I'm suggesting that anyone is taking a laissez faire approach to dog ownership around children...

I don't think that the greyhound's inability to play is particularly to do with the fact that it's no longer a puppy, btw.

Iklboo · 23/09/2005 14:45

I don't think greyhounds know how to play full stop RZ. I've had my whippet/greyhound cross since she was 12 weeks old and she's never got the hang of playing with other dogs and gets a very horrified look on her prim little face at all that bottom sniffing malarkey.
BUT - she is a fantastic people dog.Very affectionate, loving & loyal, loves to meet people & be fussed and is great with children. She's got her own 'fan club' where we live who all come and make a big fuss of her when we take her out.

Babyannabel · 23/09/2005 14:49

If you are considering an irish setter, have you thought about the other setters? There is the English, Red and White and the Gordon Setter. All lovely with children but quite different to look at. Also not as highly strung as an Irish. Good luck!

MaryP0p1 · 23/09/2005 15:00

We have a mongrel who we got as rescue dog. He was about a year old so toilet training and particarly training. He's fantasic and we've never had a moments problem with him. Last month we got a 3 month old beagle. He's beautiful but completely ruled by his stomash (makes him easier to train) but difficult to leave. He is also quite distructive so can't be left at all. He is fantastic with the children but we got him from a house with children in it already so I think he was used to the insensitivety of children. He does need ALOT of exercise and fortunately for us this means opening the dog and running him around our fields or walking to the neighbour. Everybody I know with beagles has said they are distructive, needs constant company and stray. The straying isn't a problem at the moment.

RedZuleika · 23/09/2005 17:26

Iklboo: that's quite funny about your greyhound - this one that I meet is a bit prim about what I thought was normal dog behaviour too. When I first took my wee Scottie pup out, he would be leaping all around this greyhound, trying to get his muzzle, sniff his bottom etc - and the greyhound just stood there with a faint look of bewilderment on his face. Then stepped on him. Accidentally - but it did make him squeal. (Luckily, he's fairly irrepressible.)

tallulah · 23/09/2005 18:43

We had a Belgian Shepherd (Tervuren) and she was the most placid and gentle- natured dog. She adored the children and used to count them in. Sadly she developed epilepsy and we were advised to have her put down. DH is too frightened to have another on because of the (very low) risk of epilepsy, so we have a Ridgeback and a Jack Russell cross. (But our youngest is 14, so we don't have to worry about compatibility). Would recommend a Belgie

Milliways · 23/09/2005 18:54

My neighbour breeds Setters. They are beautiful, but totally mad! Every time they have a litter I want to have one (although they do get into our garden when small!)

Original poster

BadgerBadger · 25/09/2005 09:30

Tallulah, thanks for mentioning Belgian Shepherd dogs. I've been looking into them more and they really do sound like brilliant all rounders. Everything I've read has classed them as excellent with children

OP posts:

LittleB · 26/09/2005 14:11

I was brought up with Golden Retrievers and they're great, and I've got 2 collie crosses - rescue dogs and a 19 week old baby and all are fine. Although rescue dogs are great most reputable centres won't home them to homes with very young children as they can't predict how they will be. I'd recommend them if your kids are older. I used to be a dog warden and we picked up some lovely stray dogs that were never claimed by owners. Its a good job I was only allowed one dog where I lived then or i'd probably have about a dozen now! Mongrels are also good dogs to have as they are generally alot healthier than pedigree dogs and tend to live longer, you can get an idea of what they will be like from their parentage - if you know it!

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