Which breed of dog do you have? Which are best with kid's?

[Marne]

We are thinking of getting a puppy in the next few months. Dd has'nt had much to do with dogs and is a bit nervous of them, i was brought up around animals and would love a dog.

Which breeds are best around kids?

Any recomendations?

I dont like reals small dogs, would like a medium/large dog.

my children are desperate for a dog - ds wants a west highland terrier and dd1 wants a pug - what are they like?

I like bearded collies myself (but have to get over the poo thing before we get a dog

I met a staffy in the park today. I thought it was ugly

Bethoo- your boxers are lovely, i have found a boxer puppy that needs rehoming, my aunt had one when we were kids, it was so soppy and spent most of the time led down. Maybe a bit big for us but i am tempted.

Dh is now saying he wants a lab or flat coat retreiver (top of paulaYates list)

Lab Lab Lab Lab

Paula, I have never ever know a spaniel to be snappy. When overexcited whilst a pup they are known to 'mouth' which is a gentler form of biting. It is not agressive, it is how spaniel pups learn to be soft with the mouth, which helps when retrieving game which is one of the things they were bred to do!
Noting snappy about a Spaniel, honestly

Ahundredtimes - have you checked out Cockersonline? I was a member there when MadDill was a pupster. Not posted there for nearly 18 months as I found MN, but a great source of info nontheless

Congrats on your cocker pup by the way, I bet he is fab!

Dh calls our cocker 'Likeadog' because he is in his eyes not a real dog (as in not a guard dog )
But he is very very cuddely, funny, eager to please, and indeed all waggy tails and 'hello nice to meet you'

We have a Golden Retriever.

She's beautiful, kind, patient, biddable and totally submissive.

My dd's adore her, and she adores them. Would highly recommend her, but only if you don't mind the copious amount of shedding that she does ...

kid's???? argh! (runs for shelter in pedants' corner)

Marne, go for it. we have bought a boxer pup who is now 13 weeks just. The kids adore him. He is incredibly active to day the least but can be trusted to nibble and enjoy the kids without eating them He is adorable and the kids have had nothing but joy from him. Me, am sick if clearing up poo and wonder if, without 9 months of pregnancy would it have been easier to have a 3rd baby. Maybe not

Haven't read the entire thread so not sure if it's been mentioned - but we have a German Shepherd who has always been fantastic with the children (DS1 2.5 & DS2 5mnths) - although v.large and needs LOTS of exercise & v.demanding - so more to think about than just their nature. Agree with sentiments of lucyellensmum, also regardless of breed (and some are generally better than others)you need to see dog/bitches parents / their nature/history etc

Hi I have a year old staffy bitch who is as good as gold, she is gentle with the kids and very affectionate. I think it's very unfortunate that the breed gets such a bad press as we have always had staff's and find them loving and docile if slightly dense!

Dales - check out my profile as i have a boxer (did have two til recently).

i meant Dalex sorry typo

Research your flat coat lines well if you go for them, as some are more prone to cancer/s.

Bethoo, any tips for training. Ours is very chewy, adorable but am sick of cleaning the carpets

Dalex - boxers are chewy as puppies mostly due to teething. make sure you have lots of chewy toys and there are products on market i think to prevent chewing though i hear that lemon juice is good though as you prob know boxers eat anything so do not know if it will work. the best thing to is when you catch him chewing a firm no and give him a chewy toy. we ended up replacing bits of walls and needed rehinging the doors. wait til he can get into cupboards!!!
as you may not be aware do not walk your puppy til he is at least 8 months as large dogs take longer to fully grow (18 months - 2 years). excessive exercise this early can lead to premature arthritic problems due to soft bones. and BIG tip is when you do start walking him, teach him from word go to walk to heel otherwise it will be a constant battle not being dragged all over! and good socialising as they can be over zealous with other dogs at times!! hope this helps

Ahundredtimes - I used to think Staffies were ugly but now I know them I find them beautiful. Even the ugly ones

Marne, have skimmed the thread and couldn't recommend a Staffy more if you are a responsible owner. You need to understand the breed thoroughly before you make a decision. I have read a rule about Staffordshire Bull Terrier ownership which is all encompassing, whatever aspect - "Never underestimate a Staffordshire Bull Terrier." Apply it to everything and you won't go wrong.

I disagree with them not being easy to train. They love to be doing stuff and make great agility dogs. They are boisterous and need firm and consistent handling. They will put up with a mahoosive amount of rough handling from kids and toddlers.

Be very wary of rescue Staffys. I understand your phrase, "dog of choice" and you need to be aware that "some" people who own staffies get their mates to come in and hit and kick the dog in an attempt to turn them into guard dogs. This unsettles the people loving nature inherent in Staffys, and because they are Absolutely Useless as guard dogs they end up in rescue centres. Other hideous people encourage the fighting nature in Staffys - they end up in rescue centres once their fighting career is over or if they are not vicious enough. Some staffies end up in rescue centres as the owners didn't understand their needs and their personality and booted them out on to the streets. Stafforshire Bull Terriers are no good if you work 5 days a week. They love people and need to be with people a lot of the time.

Be wary of KC registered Staffies. We bought ours from a reputable "hobby" breeder and his dad was (at the time) the number one Staffordshire Bull Terrier in the UK. Our dog has ingrowing eyelashes, prostate troubles, lumbar sacral disease and now arthritis. There is a lot to be said for "hybrid vigour".

Well, I think that has to be my longest post on Mumsnet, ever. I'm now exhausted, and off for a lay down (with my lovely dog - see profile ).

We have a lab, and I couldn't recommend them more highly.

Our dog is an angel and a joy to have around....

as with all the other posts, I agree, dogs take up a lot of time and energy and any large-ish breed is going to require exercise daily, otherwise they'll be bouncing off walls in no time!!!

I would say, if you get a puppy, get a crate for them... I didn't agree with them, until I got my puppy, but the crate really helped with housetraining, was somewhere safe I could put the puppy and, as we found out, was somewhere he went when he wanted some peace and quiet from the kids. We never used it as punishment, and he loved sleeping in there (not as much as he loves sleeping on the bed now, when he gets the chance... !)

I can honestly say I don't have a single doubt about him being great with the new baby. Not one.

So, I'd vote for a lab, and I'd also bote for getting a puppy from a registered breeder, as there is less chance of problems around the kids (a good breeder will let you take the kids to meet the bitch and the puppy before you sign on the line!!) but I am sure most other breeds are OK too... I have heard some bad press about dalmations - they are not as placid as people like to think and aren't always best placed with little kids.

I hope you get to choose your puppy soon!!!

K x

Have to agree with KacyB. Crates went against everything I believe in but it has meant he does not poo everywhere in the night and his routine is like the kids
Bethoo, thanks for tips. he is already going for walks although not too long as vet advised. Short walk on field behind house. So active needs to burn off some of the energy. Am trying to get him to heal but what a challenge!

Thankyou all for your advice, we have decided on a staffy and i have found a litter which we might go and view in the next few days (they are ready now), they are £250-£300 , is this normal price? I have seen a photo of them, they are so cute (white with black eye patches).

What will i need to buy? (leed, collar etc..)

Just need to think of a name, dd keeps comming up with names but i dont think i want to call the pup tomato

That's cheap for KC registered so I assume they aren't, unless the price has come down in the last 10 years. (The market is possibly saturated so they might well have had to. Ours cost £350 9 years ago)

You don't need to worry abut having a lead and collar immediately as you won't be taking the puppy out until after it's jabs (about 8 weeks I seem to recall but could be wrong!) but you will need them for the puppy to get used to (and oh do they buck around!). You need to start considering "safe" things, i.e. baskets; plastic not wicker - bowls; metal not pottery and toys; Kong or raggers (proper raggers that are designed to break up into bits). Get an old bit of blanket or something and ask the breeder to keep it in with the pups. Bring it home with the pup - it helps them settle as they still have the comforting family smell. A hot water bottle helps settle them in too but only ever use a stoneware one. You might want to consider a crate or a pen if you don't want the puppy randomly wandering around at night and howling for it's litter mates - plus you can contain the soiling area. Oh, and yes - don;t forget to save all your old newspapers to put on the floor!

I agree, it does seem cheap. We paid £650 for our lab almost 5 years ago, and I think the market, if anything, has gone up... don't know about staffies though....

I'd get a litte collar and lead immediately. The sooner the puppy gets used to it, the better, and they are law now.

You'll need bowls - I'd opt for plastic, personally, because they are tough and you'll probably need small ones to start with that the puppy will grow out of. Position the water bowl where it's going to be kept...

I'd recommend a crate. Keeps the little blighter safe and was a godsend for our pupster. Personally, I wouldn't bother with too much more until you know what your pup is like. I got told that the puppy would miss his mum and family and might cry... Did he cobblers... I reckon he knew he'd fallen on his feet. Never once did he mule or cry or anything.... He has, however, shown a real preference for leather......

If you plan to insure the puppy (and I would recommend it) get the vet to check the puppy over ASAP (within 24 hours of bringing him home) and certainly within the period of insurance the breeder provides. This will make sure there can be no issues with 'pre-existing' problems...

Ooooh how exciting, you are going to get one. Even if it is a staffie

Seems cheap to me, ours was almost double that. Check out the home, the mother etc when you go. If they are breeding for the cash, check the dogs all seem in good health and cared for. Our puppy came from a woman obsessed with cockers, to an unhealthy degree, but all her dogs were loved and lived in the house and we met quite a lot of our puppies family on that visit.

Oh god, it is so much fun having a puppy. I have to say this one didn't howl or cry or anything either - and he sleeps downstairs on his own [cruel]. I reckon he knew he had it made too.

Find vet. Get basket or crate - decide where he's going to sleep. Puppies do need an 'away' space I think, especially if their are dcs about. Having said that this puppy is so sociable that he ignored his away space and plumped himself in the kitchen - when it gets too much he crawls away. Soft puppy collar and lead AND food.

Thats great price if registered, We had puppies but not registered as the dad was a staffi x and the mum is our full breed staff. But ours was not an intentional mating so I only sold them to put off undesirables for £150

Definately see the mum, and the dad if poss. Try to go and see them at about 3 weeks, then 6 weeks to get a good feel of their natures ect.... and please please do not get one from a breeder who wants them gone at 6 or 7 weeks way to early!!

Just read that they are ready now, how old??

Marne, I don't want to put a dampner on things, but are you sure this is a healthy, kc registered litter from a reputable breeder? The price seems very cheap, and the fact the 'breeder' has puppies ready now does not sit well with me either.
Has she questioned you at length about your suitability for a pup? All breeders we contacted did an over the phone assessment before we were able to visit her, such as age of our children, do you work, have you had dogs before etc.

It all seems a little 'rushed' and I would hate for you to end up with a pup that is not what you want.

If the pup is from a person who just let his/her dog have pups 'because it would be nice' it may well be that he/she has not paid any attention to the health and character of the parent dogs, and thus you may end up with a pup with behavioural problems or worse...

All I am saying is be careful and do your research

Hi, i could'nt wait and we picked the pup up today, she's a 9 week old kc reg staff (pure white). I seen the parents and talked to the owners, this was her dog's 2'nd litter, she had 10, there was 5 left and i had the last bitch. She seems healthy and very excitable. Her mum was a very gentle staffy and layed back.

The pups have been around kids and other dogs.

She has already pooed on the floor (dh not impresssed) and is now sleeping in her bed.

The owner asked me afew questions before she let me take the pup.