What is the best dog to get for young children??

[Hermione1]

Well i want it for all of us, but we have young children and wondered what breed would be best anyone know??

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Our lab chewed a little when he was small but hasn't in the last 18mths. (one memorable occasion was a week old pair of DS's clarks shoes) We trained him not to jump, to come back when he is called and general good behaviour. I am not sure how easy it would be to un-train an older dog and then re-train them.

We have a Cavalir King Charles Spaniel and she is fantastic around the kids aged 8yrs and 21 months. These dogs don't grow very big, and does not need a great deal of exercise - suits me, although they are lazy to house train (so the vet says), she still has little accidents, she is 5 months now.

I don't know if you've already picked but www.pedigreedogs.co.uk/index.htm has a section called dog finder which asks a few questions such as garden size, amount of time that can be given for walks, amount of grooming time you have etc and matches you up with dog breeds that generally match what you're looking for - obv some dogs wont fit the "breed profile" but its quite good for ideas that you can look at in more detail.

HTH

Carla

What area are you in?

actually I'd completely disagree about a golden retriever. as a breed they have a completely unpredictable mad streak which means that they can often snap and attack children. I was discussing this at dinner the other night with the editor of The Field and a vet (I know, I know, how wierd but anyway) who both confirmed this - I was really surprised.

Labs are super safe but have a tendancy to be smelly lazy and thick, all of which increases with age! And chocolate ones can have a mean streak.

All terriers can be snappy, you need to choose your puppy carefully looking at both parents and ensuring they ahve been well socialised with children from the start.

Soppiest dogs in the world must be standard poodles (again blacks are steadier than whites which can be a bit flighty). Will let a child do ANYTHING to them and just look slightly longsuffering about it all...

Know some completely nice and benign wire haired dachshunds as well.

Agree totally with PPH - Retrievers have become the victims of their own popularity. They have been inbred to ridiculously high levels and are prone to serious health and behavioural problems. Take a look here
That said, you might end up with a lovely one - mu aunt's one was an absolute sweetie, unfortunately she (the dog, not the aunt) also suffered with awful hip problems from an early age. Whatever breed you go with, if you are buying pedigree make sure you do so from a reputable breeder - see the kennel club/RSPCA/Canine Defence League sites for do's and don'ts when buying a pup.

My ds (2 yo)and my German Shepherd (7yo) are the best of buddies. She is very gentle and loving with him and extremely protective. DS often sits down with her and reads her a story, it's very cute .

I would agree with some other posters that Labs can be unpredicatble. My dh had one as a child and it had to be put down after biting his sister and another child.

In defence of Jack Russels, my grandad bred them, he had 24 grandchildren and none of us where every bitten.

Whatever you go for you just need to make sure you go to a reputable breeder and socialise it well right from the start.

I would get a mongrel, they live much longer and they are usually less prone to being mental. We had a lurcher and he was lovely although needed far too much exercise for a family to cope with.

My parents had a sausage x jack russel and she was the cutest, quietest, cleanest dog you ever saw and had the silkiest ears. She only ate tiny meals and she did miniature poos which is important if you have a small garden.

how about a retired greyhound? They are very gentle and lazy, really!

I'll second a staffy - they are very even tempered with people and very protective of children. They used to be called the 'nanny' dog because of their renowned gentleness with kids.

We have a springer and he is great with dd, puts up with all sorts and as others have said they are bonkers so are good entertainment value as well. The only drawback is they need lots of exercise.

My parents have 2 cavalier King Charles Spaniels - they're lovely with the kids, really long suffering. The eldest is 10 and a half, she did have a problem with a hip when she fell on the ice(!), but has been fine otherwise. Really lovely dogs.

Hi! Ive got three dogs an old english sheepdog, a labrador and a jack russell. They're all great with kids but I think the old english is a bit too big

i would recommend labrador as they are very protective dogs towards your family... but i loves collies as i used to have one when i was little.

BUT ill recommend a staffie any day as my mum got one and he loves kids as he goes all soft on them and its funny (daft dog!!)

LOL at this thread. For every post saying 'get a such-and-such' there is one saying 'don't get a such-and-such, whatever you do!'.

I'd get a rescue dog every time. My old rescue dog dies last November at the age of something over 16 and is very sadly missed by everyone, including the kids. So many people said to me, during the time I had him, 'I'm not really a dog person, but I love Bobby'. Many dogs in rescue shelters are there because of things like divorce, financial problems, moving abroad, old person having to go into a home, etc. They may not have problems at all.

I wouldn't get a dog that needs vast amounts of exercise (such as a border collie) with young children because of the time and energy involved in keeping the dog fit and happy. A dog like a collie NEEDS to work and isn't happy with just a short walk. If you have no sheep for it to herd it needs to be stimulated with obedience or agility classes or some such. Great for teenagers, but not so good for younger ones.

Some cocker spaniels can be a bit schizophrenic and can just 'turn' for no apparent reason (apparently this only affects the solid coloured ones, not the tri-colours). I'd never get a cocker for this reason. The cavaliers are OK, I think, though personally I just find them a bit dull. Retrievers are lovely - have never met a bad one. But don't discount crossbreeds. They get my vote any day and they tend to be healthier too.

We are now looking to get another dog to keep our one remaining dog company (she is pining for her lost pal and whines all day when we're out... ) and we're considering a retired greyhound. They are a bit big, but apparently very very laid back and easy to deal with. Look here .

Good luck.

We have a Miniature Schnauzer and she is absolutely brilliant with my 22 month old son. They are happy with as little or as much exercise as you can give them and I love the fact that they don't moult.

Personally I'd stay away from pedigrees as they often come with health problems through overbreeding and also some breeds are known for their scattiness.

I got my dog from kennels in Biggin Hill. He is fantastic. We spent time choosing him and because of where the kennel is you can walk him and play with him and even see how he is with cats. Ash (our dog) is now ten and is a perfect dog for our family. We got him when is was approx 1. This again was perfect for us as he was toilet trained but still a puppy and therefore playful. However even at 10 he is still very playful.

The only thing we have a problem with is is he used to wander. A quick snip snip and that put pay to that.

Good luck choosing you dog. They are all lovely and beautiful but maybe not right for your family. Also consider the needs of your family will change, mine has many times, will the dog cope with being left for short or longer periods, shorter walk. IMHO go for an easy to care for dog for when time in short and being at home isn't an option unless you have family that will help you out when you need it.

We had a border collie who bite our son and she had to be pts
We had a labrador for 12 years who was great with the kids, we now have a Shih Tzu who is in my opinon the perfect dog for us, he is small enough the children and visiting children don't feel intimidated, he is so laid back, the kids dress him up, tuck him into bed, cuddle and kiss him and he loves every minute of it. Not all small dogs are terriers.

I haven't read the whole thread as time is short this morning but we desperatly wanted a rescue dog for all the reasons listed that I have read. we have had no luck despite being on 2 waiting list for over a year. our children are 3 and 18 mo and they will only rehome us with a puppy and they just don't seem to get them without behavioural problems. Would love to hear if anyone found a way around this as I don't want to risk my kids (of course) but would rather not have a pedigree.

I grew up with a male fox terrier who played with me for hours, was gentle with all & shared his basket with the cat. Couldn't wait to get one once I'd left work (NO dog should be left alone all day regularly) Had a bitch also gentle, who was 6 when I got home from hosp with 10day old baby which was laid on floor to be sniffed & welcomed Loved our 2 & all kids Had Lakeland after that jst as mild but dull & now Welsh terrier got through breed rescue at 14mnths now 14yrs ADORED by grandsons kids in park & all.No hair loss gd for allergy sufferers etc, but I have walked all for min 2hrs a day Exercise NEEDED