Recommend a dog for our family

newtothis2011

Hi

We are looking to get a dog to add to our family of 4 boys ages 2,6,8 and 12.

Ive read several times that a medium to large dog is good for small children but I wouldnt have the room in our house for it so sleep, assuming he should be sleeping indoors??? So I thought a small dog would be good so then I could have him indoors with us pretty much all of the time.

Any recomedations greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Justask

The best dog imo with kids are springers, they are the best dogs full of energy and fun. I know hes not a small dog but you can get smallesh ones. They are just fab dogs. Im not bias cos I have 4 diffenent breeds and find my springer is the most patient. they do need alt of exercise but your have plenty of kids to tire him out.



Best of luck on you choice

kellso81

I have a miniature schnauzer and can't recommend them highly enough, very gentle and friendly, loves attention. He's never snapped at anyone even though he can be tortured by two 3 year olds from time to time and barks very little. Sleeps in the house but loves getting outside and doesn't shed his hairs so no cleaning up after him!

byhookorbycrook

labradour,they are saints with small kids.

davemc180

i can recommend a staffordshire bull terrier , there 1 of the most loyal, friendly dogs youll ever come across.

if you get 1 as a pup there super, iv kept them all my life, there great gard dogs but more then anything love cuddling up on the sofa, there is a persona about them been agressive and i can tell you 1st hand its bull..

perfect around kids they love nothing more then love and are actually very fragile dogs when it comes to emotions, id suggest a female tho for your family as she wont get as large as a male but there the most loyal dog you can own imo

heres a pics of me with my 2 crashed out on the sofa, all they want to do is cuddle up beside you , but are very protective of there familys..
[IMG][/img]

newtothis2011

I know labradors are supposidly no1 choice for kids and they are a lovely looking dog but theres no way Id have the room for one indoors, snchauzer maybe, my great aunt has one and it is nice enough, springer? my BIL has these but hes a shooting man so they are his gun dogs Ive never thought of them as been indoor dogs more so working dogs? Have to say Ive no knowledge of the staffordshire terrier at all.

My mother has a chihauha and my 2 year old has great fun with him the dog lays on the floor and lets him do whatever he wants to him, im not a huge fan of the breed but I think because he's used to kids playing with him he doesnt mind?? My mother bought the dog without seeing its parents, didnt research the breed,paid good money for him and hes not registered!( i know i know) I think she was just very lucky.

So do most dogs get on well with kids once there brought up with them as pups??

DamagedTrax

i'll 2nd the staffie. my 2 yr old bitch is around my 10 year old son and they're best mates. she's also a big softie with other dogs in the area.



staffie's have a bad rep brought about by idiots trying to be hard but they're one of the softies of the dog world - have a look at this vid.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=odi0XlI-4_g

TooManyDogs

I have an 18 month old and 6 dogs ranging from a mini JRT to a GSD x, and I'd recommend a medium to large size dog like a staffie, springer upwards. The reason being that I spend most of my day telling my little girl to be gentle with the smaller dogs and not grab/slap/poke various bits of their bodies. The bigger dogs are just that bit more sturdy and less likely to get accidently hurt. It's great your youngest gets on well with your mam's chihuahua but I wouldn't get a toy dog, they're just too easily broken!

newtothis2011

Had a look at that video and showed my boys, they were very impressed. One thing I like about them myself is that they LOOK like a dog!!

How do the staffords get on with cats?? We have one, a young cat/kitten.

teacherspet

Lovely video.

DamagedTrax

newtothis2011 wrote: »

Had a look at that video and showed my boys, they were very impressed. One thing I like about them myself is that they LOOK like a dog!!

How do the staffords get on with cats?? We have one, a young cat/kitten.

a staffie puppy will be amazing around a cat if they're socialised properly together from a young age. i'd go for a bitch if you've a kitten as the prey drive can be strong in a male.

they're sturdy enough to be around kids, very reliable temperment and total characters. dolly has me in stitches every few minutes.

... but a word of warning, their farts are horrendous!!

newtothis2011

... but a word of warning, their farts are horrendous!! [/QUOTE]


So it'd be a case of it wasnt me the dog did it!!!

Ive been looking at various breeds on the infamous DD website and I dont see the staffordshire breed on it??

DamagedTrax

newtothis2011 wrote: »

Ive been looking at various breeds on the infamous DD website and I dont see the staffordshire breed on it??

normally i would suggest adopting as there are far to many staffies in rescues but your situation is different with kids AND a kitten.

it would be best for you to go to a specialised breeder. you are guaranteed that those people are doing it to better the breed and not for huge profit. also the puppy will be in better health both mentally and physically coming from a breeder that knows what they're doing.

contact the Irish kennel club and they will give you a list of trusted breeders and any that are currently in pup - http://www.ikc.ie/

newtothis2011

Ok, thanks for all the info.

CD8ED

+1 for the minature schnauzer, I have one and she's very good with kids, brilliant with my 1 year old nephew, very gentle but still sturdy enough to handle the rough stuff. She's constantly playing with a Great Dane X in our local park, she can hold her own! She's as bright as a button too, which has pros and cons. She's always trying to see what she can get away with. They do need walked once/twice daily. But they're easily trained, very good with cats and very sociable. From my experience though, I'd advise getting one around 12 weeks old or they'll wake you up at 5am to see what you're up to! Also, if ya do go the schnauzer root, try to get one from the north as they'll have eye certs up there, it's not a requirement for the ikc afaik.

Best of luck

Cherry Blossom

I'm hearing a lot of good things about miniature schnauzer's lately, staffies and springers also good first dogs for kids.

Where would you be getting this dog OP? King Charles Cavaliers are also good dogs for kids but unless you get one from an excellent breeder they can have massive problems so I don't think I'd go down the rescue route for this breed with kids so young to consider as they can have some serious health issues with fatal consequences, and therefore potential heartbreak for the kids.

I'd stay away from little toy breeds like chihuahuas as they are just too fragile for rough play on a daily basis and you want a dog that the kids can interact with. Staffies fit this bill very well and tend to prefer kids company to adults. My aunt has one and she minds her grandkids every day. When they go home in the evening the dog just seems to spend all her time watching the door waiting for them to come back the next morning!

<ETA> DD have a no staffie policy due to the number of undesirables trying to buy and sell them on their site. Not a place I would look to for buying a dog anyway.

davemc180

damagedtrax....

i hope were showing staffs are 1 of the most loving, loyal pets you can have, ok i know the whole ( there fighting dogs their dangerous you cant trust them statements )

il hold my hands up and swear on my mothers breast cancer , id have a staff as a family pet over any other breed ever..

there super loyal, loving, very protective, and so so easy to train

iv owned staffs since i can remember and all i can say is, you train a certain breed to respect you.....

staffs train themselves to protect and love there families..

youll never understand mans best friend till you raise a staff and see the respect and love these dogs have for their families...

theyd die to protect you, would you die for them....

honestly cant recommend a staff pup more then what iv said...

davemc180

newtothis2011 wrote: »

Had a look at that video and showed my boys, they were very impressed. One thing I like about them myself is that they LOOK like a dog!!

How do the staffords get on with cats?? We have one, a young cat/kitten.

my male is a kc champion, he weights in at 7 stone, his 2 best friends he sleeps with on the sofa ( who bully him by the way ) are sister kittens we own..

heres snooki ( 1 kitten with millie the bitch playing ) they love each other

[IMG][/img]

eoinburke67

I highly recommend a beagle. There absolutely great pets. I got my own last summer was going to get a boxer or something along that route but instead got my beagle and never looked back. They won't protect you from an intruder but will be a absolute jem of a pet and turn heads where ever you go. Theirs a reason they are IMO the dog most featured in dog ads. They do need exercise but considering u have 4 young boys a 20 30 min game of fetch shouldn't be out of the question to keep him/her happy. They are very good with young children just need to be trained to contain their excitement and not jump up on people. Another plus is their bloodline goese back so far they have a great immunity to disease.

A great channel on you tube for researching dogs is " dogs 101 " they have great reviews on all dogs aprox 5 mins per dog.

meoklmrk91

Medium to large would definitely be the best, stay away from the really small ones as they are just not suitable for little kids, not that they don't like them, they are too easily injured with rough play. I know of a Chihuahua breeder that will no longer sell to families with young kids, as one was killed when the kids were running around playing and slammed the door against the wall with the Chihuahua behind it.

Springers and Cavaliers are wonderful dogs around children, it will take a lot to tire the Springer out though so make sure you have the time to exercise otherwise you will have issues with destructive behaviour. If you are getting a Cavalier make sure the parents are health checked as this breed has a lot of health problems.

Miniature Schnauzers are also good family pets, a family I used to babysit for had one and she was perfect with the kids. A little wary of strangers as well I am told but never had an issue with her myself which the parents said was extremely strange.

Staffs are wonderful despite their reputation, and don't let anyone tell you any different. My cousin had one when both her kids were growing up and he loved them with all his heart, they were heartbroken after him and couldn't even bring themselves to get another dog for over two years after he died.

Finally I have to throw a Boxer in the ring, my fella is amazing with kids he loves them to bits!, seeing a kid truly makes his day. He is so gentle with them I honestly can't get over it However they are boisterous so it would definatly be a good idea to get some puppy classes but then that goes for every dog.

Best of luck and I hope you find the perfect dog for your family:)

newtothis2011

I have been looking at dogs on DD as its a good way to see photos of the different breeds of dog but I wouldnt buy one off it. Im planning on having our dog by spring/summer so Im taking my time doing the research and making sure I get the right dog, I want a dog that will be the 7th member of our family and hopefully a dog that we will have for a good few years.

Ive heard the boxer is great with kids but Im not sure if perhaps their a bit big to have in the house and also that he may knock over my 2year old? The beagle was a dog that I initially liked but some people have put me off them. The schnauzer is getting a lot of recommendations along with the stafford, Looking at pics these would be smaller in size than the boxer? what are their coats like?

Thanks

toadfly

I would recommend a staff too. We have a staff cross, have her since 8 months. She came from the pound into foster with two rotties & cats. She was brilliant with the cats even without us knowing her history.

I wouldn't rule out adopting, we got ours not knowing her history and shes brilliant with dogs cats & people.

We got her from EGAR, maybe get in touch with them and see if they have any the suit. Can also leave your details incase any that will suit in the next 6 months or so.

eoinburke67

newtothis2011 wrote: »

The beagle was a dog that I initially liked but some people have put me off them.

Thanks

in my experience the only reason people give a beagle a thumbs down is because they either want a couch potato of a dog That dose nothing but look nice or giving some but not giving it enough physical exercise and mental leading to destructive behaviors which can be gotten rid of easily after some work. with my beagle i have a game of fetch with her every day or two for 20 mins - 40mins and it tires her out as much as a 2 hour walk and then when she's tired 5 to 10 mins going over all her commends like come, sit,stay, got to her bed and go to the pen and hi five to finish and then she' ll go have a nap for a hour or so and when she wakes up its onto the couch for me to use as a hot water bottle . i have a friend with two boxers and the are great pet but are big and i say err on the side of caution with a 2 year old in the house.

all in all with young kids a beagle or similarly sized pet would be perfect and a boxer if you wait a couple years and let the little kids grow. No matter what size dog you get it will need to be under constant supervision they might not mean to but may knock over the little one

andreac

davemc180 wrote: »

my male is a kc champion, he weights in at 7 stone, his 2 best friends he sleeps with on the sofa ( who bully him by the way ) are sister kittens we own..

heres snooki ( 1 kitten with millie the bitch playing ) they love each other

Sorry but there is no way your staffie is 7 stone!!

My male rottie is 7 and half stone and hes way bigger than a staffie... How many kg is he? Staffies are meant to be around 17kg for a male and if you say your dog is 7 stone, thats nearly 50kg, so i think you might be mistaken....:rolleyes:

When did you make him into a champion? What Show did he get hsi last green star at? My friend shows staffies so she will prob know the dog, whats his registered name?

davemc180

andreac wrote: »

Sorry but there is no way your staffie is 7 stone!!

My male rottie is 7 and half stone and hes way bigger than a staffie... How many kg is he? Staffies are meant to be around 17kg for a male and if you say your dog is 7 stone, thats nearly 50kg, so i think you might be mistaken....:rolleyes:

When did you make him into a champion? What Show did he get hsi last green star at? My friend shows staffies so she will prob know the dog, whats his registered name?

yes sorry you are correct that was a mis type, he is close to to 3 stone

Justask

newtothis2011 wrote: »

springer? my BIL has these but hes a shooting man so they are his gun dogs Ive never thought of them as been indoor dogs more so working dogs?

Yes they are known as working dogs but any I know are pets and are fab with kids, mine right now is sitting in front of the fire panned out. Any dog you get is going to shed and you will need to find yorself a good groomer.

But my vote is a springer

Let us know what you do go for.

planetX

no-one recommended a mutt yet.... well I recommend a good ol mongrel, you can pick one up at any rescue;)

Discodog

As you will see OP everyone has their favourite breed & yes they are all good with kids. The fact is that most dogs are great with kids. It has nothing to do with the breed & everything to do with the owner. It's a bit like asking if one nationality is better at school - people are the same & so are dogs.

One big advantage with Planet X's suggestion is that a good rescue will match you & your needs to the dog. Some rescues will even give you ongoing support.

I have 3 very different dogs & no children but my three are all brilliant with kids because of the way that they have been socialised & trained. But also bear in mind that the children will need training as well.

I was a lucky child in that I was raised in the company of dogs & now I could never be without one. That childhood bond was the best thing that ever happened to me.

Oh & don't get too influenced by size. I have 2 big dogs & 1 medium. They take up about one square metre of floorspace - they sleep together on a big dogbed

paulgalway

Have a Fox Terrier X, got it from Galway pound, kids adore her, easy to train and now integral part of the family.

e30fitz

Bichon frise is the way go trust me

JustAThought

A few people have mentioned staffies here & vouched for how loving & good they are.
But. They are restricted breed which will bring it's own problems. There are a lot of extra legal restrictions around them including having to havetbe muzzled in public. Also, a lot of parks & park wardens proactivelytefuse restricted breedsaccessand are not lenient withtheir owners . Many dog owners are afraid of them thru prejudice and willnot let their dogs mix or socialise with them & give you grief for having it off lead/ near them/ their dog etc. You may also experience probs with your kids friends parents who ad the cute pup grows up may not want their kids going over to play anymore. ( a mixed blessing!?)
Not getting into a RB argument please; thesesare just objective balanced points to reconsider.
Good luck!!!!

You might consider ringing the dogs trust & telling them your dilemma . They often haves lot of dogs " out back" & will sit with you & go through your dpacd& kids/ walking requirements & then advise on what pets/ pups they have that might match. Tbeyrequitestrick on notletting you pick onetnst wouldn't suite the dog!!! I think they will also let you foster for a whe once you ve made an eventual choice; so if it's a total disaster you have some support & comeback.

They always have a lot moredogs than are shown on their website & a big puppy palace that they won't let you into cos they're all too cute!!!

Just don't bring the boys or you'll want 10!!!!! : ).

PS there's NO hard sell or emotional tripping there; they are very practical & matter of fact & there's no risk of coming home on visit 1 with one!!!!

Best of luck