Page 2 | Advice please - good dog breed

Haily111 · 2006-10-05T20:04:22+00:00

Hello! The time has finally come that i can consider a dog or puppy. The thing is my daughter is 4 months old, so i need a dog breed that is gentle with babies (i know hard to find) obviously i would never leave her on her own with the dog etc! I have searched through the internet and for the life of me can't find any pages that relate to perfect pets :-) (prob no such thing) So here is the information you probably need. As said before my dd is 4 months, i will be going back to work January for three days a week, but have someone who can come in on those days. I would preferably like a non shedding dog (got carpet all throughout) but isn't essential and not too big! Any advice would be greatly appreciated

Chloe55stakesinavampiresheart · 06/10/2006 16:20

Get a cross breed if you can - they generally have a better temperament and live longer. Not a jack russell or yorkshire terrier cross though - sorry to all terrier owners out there

My2kidsmum · 09/10/2006 00:05

Sorry but I have to stand up here for the border collie - we have 5 in total (plus a crossbreed) and they are fantastic dogs and great with the kids. HOWEVER, ours all work - they NEED to work their brains as well as have PLENTY of exercise - whatever the weather.

If you can provide that, they make the most fantastic dog to own and have with a family.

Two of our dogs we had as pups not long after each of our 2 kids were born. It is hard work, but they are also the best of friends with the kids as they grew up together.

Whatever breed you decide on, make sure you look into the breed completely. Discover Dogs in taking place at Earls Court in early November. They have all breeds of dogs there and you are able to go and chat to the owners/breeders and meet the dogs. Maybe it would be worth a visit if you are able to help make your minds up?

Hope that helps and good luck and enjoy whatever breed you settle on.

Bananaknickers · 09/10/2006 00:13

we have a mini schnauzer puppy and he is brill with 3 kids lots of noise and is very loving

mmmmchocolate · 09/10/2006 13:43

springer spaniel, my dd was 14 months when we got ours and she has been brilliant. very clever so has been trained to know what is naughty and have never had any problems with her. she is now 9 months old and is perfect, doesn't chew, doesn't jump up, sleeps in her cage when we out and has access to down stairs when we sleep. no accidents since early days. loves cuddles. i would recomend this breed to anyone with children. ours is a bitch not sure about dogs. brough ours from KC breeder.

mmmmchocolate · 09/10/2006 13:43

springer spaniel, my dd was 14 months when we got ours and she has been brilliant. very clever so has been trained to know what is naughty and have never had any problems with her. she is now 9 months old and is perfect, doesn't chew, doesn't jump up, sleeps in her cage when we out and has access to down stairs when we sleep. no accidents since early days. loves cuddles. i would recomend this breed to anyone with children. ours is a bitch not sure about dogs. brough ours from KC breeder.

mmmmchocolate · 09/10/2006 13:43

springer spaniel, my dd was 14 months when we got ours and she has been brilliant. very clever so has been trained to know what is naughty and have never had any problems with her. she is now 9 months old and is perfect, doesn't chew, doesn't jump up, sleeps in her cage when we out and has access to down stairs when we sleep. no accidents since early days. loves cuddles. i would recomend this breed to anyone with children. ours is a bitch not sure about dogs. brough ours from KC breeder.

MamaGhoul · 09/10/2006 13:44

mmchoc do you like them?

still voting for the magnificent labrador

lemonaid · 09/10/2006 13:48

Get a rescue mutt with advice from rescue centre staff on suitability with children (they'll have a good idea of the individual dogs' temperaments).

CountessDracula · 09/10/2006 13:54

There is a questionnaire thing you can do here or here

Do think carefully though

Puppies are hard work. They chew and bite (play bite but it can bloody hurt!). They need exercise and play time. They will poo and wee in the house, how will you find that with a baby crawling? You will need to walk the dog even if it is minus 10 and slashing rain and howling gale. Who will walk the dog? How much time can you devote to it.

Sorry if I sound harsh about this but I have seen this happen so many times on Mumsnt - puppy arrives, then you realise that it is actually hard work and not all cuddles and loo roll. Poor pup gets re-homed and is screwed up for life.

CountessDracula · 09/10/2006 13:55

ps you could try a labradoodle they don't shed

thelittlestboho · 09/10/2006 22:23

Samoyeds every time, they adore kids and are placid and protective.Add that to the fact that they're stunning too. We've two and they are darlings. Only problem we have, especially with the female, is she makes a beeline for babies/kids and tries to lick them. They're also fantastic with other animals, we have a menagarie and I can trust them implicately. In fact one day I was on the phone in lounge and when I looked round there was Shola with all four of our budgies on various parts of her
face, lol.Our Alpha rabbit, Mozart rules the garden and they bow to his superiority every time and cats are respected too. I cannot praise this breed enough, and have never heard a bad word spoken about them from anyone who has kept them.

K.x

mmmmchocolate · 10/10/2006 11:56

tried to get a rescue dog when we were looking but centers we visited wouldn't house a dog with a child under 8. so went to kennel club. have a look at their website.

shimmy21 · 10/10/2006 12:10

Lots of the breeds mentioned here would be lovely. Labs - fantastic, friendly personalities but young labs are very boiserous. I saw a big woman get knocked flying by an excited young lab in the park last week, I just cannot see how a toddler would do in those circumastances. King Charles Spaniels -yes, usually fantastically tolerant and kind but the heart disaese is a major factor. Springers -well their name says it all really. They can be absolutely manic and need tons of exercise - not the sort of exercise you can do with a toddler and buggy round the park - the sort that takes 2 hours a day of your time across country. Border collies need intensive training and stimulation, not easy if you are at work and coming home to your baby who will need your time.

All the other breeds mentioned would be the same in that they may be lovely but no breed or mongrel is 100% trustworthy with very small children because they are dogs. Every breed needs time, attention and lots of exercise.

I have recently got a dog. Love her, love walking, exercising and training her and love the fact that my kids are growing up with a dog. But my kids are 10 and 7. The thought of doing this with a four month old baby seems just impossible. I really really recommend that you wait a good year or 2 (or 5 or 10) to see how parenthood and working life fit together for you before you add something to the mix that will make it much much harder.

auzi · 12/10/2006 11:29

I have just got a shih tzu she is 15 week old and is great with my children my 3 year old plays with her all day , she is so loveing and loves cuddles. Shih tzu's dont loose ther coat.

I think whatever dog you decide to get the temp depends on how you are with them.

I aslo have a staff who is 7 he is the most loveing dog he is great with the puppy and is also fab with my children.

Good Luck