What dog is good with children and easy to train for first time dog owners?
sadgirl asked:
I have 3 children ages 5, 10 and 14. They have been wanting a dog for years but we said no until we had out own house. Now we do. If someone could please help me pick a breed that is not nippy with kids and can be potty trained please. I do not need a puppy I am glad to get an older dog… Thanks!
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I have 3 children ages 5, 10 and 14. They have been wanting a dog for years but we said no until we had out own house. Now we do. If someone could please help me pick a breed that is not nippy with kids and can be potty trained please. I do not need a puppy I am glad to get an older dog… Thanks!
April 7th, 2009 at 6:34 pm
I labradoodle, golden doodle or Golden retriver are all good. I would also consider getting a mutt, they tend to have the best personalities.
April 10th, 2009 at 8:09 pm
labradors & retrievers
April 13th, 2009 at 7:18 am
a Patterdale Terrier i have four of them they are tamed and lovely and brilliant with children
April 14th, 2009 at 12:16 am
most older dogs should be “potty” trained any way
the best dog for a family is a labrador
they are gentle and easy to look after ,yes they may be big but they ar eso lovable
we know 5 families all who have at least 1 labrador and they said they are great with kids and easy to train!
April 14th, 2009 at 5:49 pm
Newfoundland dogs are great! They are great with children and very patient and lovable. They do not bark much and are not nippy with kids. They will tolerate pretty much anything. On the downside, they are big in size and shed a lot. Also, they prefer colder climates.
- Dog Breeders Online Community
April 16th, 2009 at 5:05 pm
-Any mix with mainly lab would be great, and there are everywhere! Try the local shelter, petfinder.com, etc. I would suggest a female for the mothering instincts!
Glad to hear the kids are getting a new friend! They are old enough to really enjoy a dog, and the lab would be like an extra little mother to them in very short time!
April 18th, 2009 at 8:21 am
I would say a Golden Retriever as the perfect family dog.
try the golden rescue organization in your part of the world.
Just look on line under AKC.org and go to their rescue.
Good Luck and God Bless
April 19th, 2009 at 11:27 am
Boxers are great with kids and really easy to train.
April 21st, 2009 at 2:34 am
Golden Retrievers are very good for families. A smaller breed that is great for families is the Bichon Frise. Breed research before getting a dog is extremely important and will make or break the outcome. Look at the AKC website and read other information about qualities found in certain breeds. That said, every dog has its own personality and no two, even if they are the same breed, will be exactly the same. Research the energy level of the dog, how vocal he or she is, and bonding behaviors. You want a dog that will match your lifestyle. It is possible to get a great dog from a reputable breeder or from a shelter. Petfinder is a good resource for finding a shelter dog.
April 22nd, 2009 at 12:25 pm
The best dogs to get are Golden Retrievers. Also Yellow Labradors are amazing with children and they are easy.
April 25th, 2009 at 3:09 pm
hi there, I would strongly suggest that there is no breed that is or isnt good with kids-its all on the dogs personality. Might I suggest going to your shelter/pound and take the kids with you-I found a website earlier this week that helps explain what to look for in a dog when going to the pound-the first thing you need to do is make sure the dog is sociable and not too jumpy-I have found many times that a breed doesnt necessarily mean it is or isnt a good dog, I hope I can help you be open minded as there are lots of dogs in shelters that need homes that were surrendered most times not because there was something wrong with the animal but because they couldnt afford to feed/vet it etc and still make eexcellent pets. I have always gotten my animals from shelters-sometimes it is a challenge but never had I gotten a bad animal-they seem to be more loving and loyal probably due to that experience. I will go hunt down that website cause it really explained well how to test a dog that will be good for you and your family.. I will send to you via email…or post here…
Ok here is the link-i sent it to you via yahoo here but here it is incase a lurker is looking,
Hope this helps!
April 28th, 2009 at 11:18 pm
Labrador, Golden Retriever or a mutt with a high percentage of either (my dear departed dog was a Golden Retriever/ Border Collie and you couldn’t have had a better family dog if you’d tried).
April 29th, 2009 at 6:45 pm
I have a boston terrier. He is such an awesome little guy.
He will walk with you off leash, obeys commands such as sit, stay, off, down and come. He was fairly easy to train
The best part.. I babysit 5 children in my home… all different ages.. and he fits right in. hes small enuff not to really get in the way, but strong enuff not to get hurt if someone trips over him.
All dogs require training, and you cant be sure how a dog will be with kids. Some breeds are better than others..but each dog is different.
Just be REALLY picky when you go looking for one. Active, yet easily handled….
OH YEA.. did i mention that they HARDLY SHED AT ALL!!!
May 3rd, 2009 at 12:09 am
This isn’t an easy decision. Every dog has their own personality even if their breed is typically one way or another.
I would suggest a boxer because they are a lot of fun, but also gentle. Mine sounds really aggressive when she plays, but I can stick my hands in her mouth and she just turns away. Check out the youtube link about a boxer and a baby. Just be aware that they do require exercise. I have mine in a small apartment, but there is a park nearby that we go run in. Another benefit to boxers is that they rarely bark. Mine only barks when someone comes to the door, or when she sees someone she doesn’t know.
I also suggest getting one from a shelter or adopting from your local classifieds. An older dog is usually trained already. Just expect some separation anxiety at first. They were already abandoned once. So do your research. There are great dog breed books you can check out from the library. And be sure to go visit the dog multiple times before making the decision. Going to the shelter provokes feelings of sympathy in everyone and there’s a chance you might adopt a dog just to get them out of there. While that’s nice, the dog could turn out to be obnoxious and not a good fit for your family. Everyone is going to try to make the dog sound better than it really is. If you find one in the classifieds, make a deal with the owner to put down a refundable deposit so you can take the dog home for 2-3 days or even a week. The first couple of days are going to be tough anyway because the dog is in a new place and confused. When I got my boxer she whined all through the first night she was at my place. I was ready to take her back! But she got better after she felt more at home in my house.
Maybe you can find someone’s dog to dog sit for awhile before getting your own. That way you can learn what it will be like to own a dog and your kids can learn what they have to do to take care of one. If they’re not ready to take on that kind of responsibility, are you? If they don’t take care of a dog it will be your responsibility and it is just unfair to the dog to adopt and then dump them back at the shelter.
Other considerations: shedding, food consumption, energy level, grooming, size, and don’t forget about supplies: Crate, food/water dishes, bed, treats, leash, collar, tie out, toys…
May 3rd, 2009 at 2:24 am
Getting an older dog is great.
Youre main consideration at this point would be a dog that is best for your 5 year old. so the toy breeds are out. Even if your child is gentle, just running around like 5 year olds do they can trip over a small dog and injure it.
Breed is not as important as the temperament of the individual dog and how good and patient it is with small children. You want one with medium energy so that it will play with your children, yet not be so rambunctious that it will jump all over them and knock them down. You want one that will be playful when the kids want to play and be quiet and kick back with the family in the evenings.
My personal preference for family dogs are some of the sporting breeds.
Also, some of the herding and working breeds but stay away from the really intense ones like border collies and Malinois for first time owners. Although really smart & trainable are too intense for beginners. Some of the herding breeds like corgies may try to herd you kids when they play so be careful there.
Terriers can be very energetic and hard headed
What you really need to do is evaluate your families needs and find a dog to match. Take into consideration grooming requirements also. You don’t want a dog with a long, plush coat if you like to go hiking in the wilderness, unless you want to spend hours picking out burrs. ect. Mixed breeds can be awesome family members also, so don’t count them out.
There are many lovely pretrained family dogs waiting for a new home due to their old families losing their homes. These dogs can be worth their weight in gold.
Good luck in your search. Your new family member is out their waiting for you.
May 5th, 2009 at 10:55 am
A good Shepherd could be right for your family
I’d buy a Golden Retriever before a Labrador…they’re a little more “handler sensitive”. The Labrador can actually be an incredibly stubborn breed, which tends to surprise people.
A nice merry little dog is the English Cocker Spaniel. Their coats aren’t hard to keep up with (American Cockers have the long flowing coats when left in show coats) if you keep them clipped and neatly groomed.
They’re an incredibly hardy breed for their size, don’t have the health issues of the American, can keep up with the older kids, and still remain gentle and careful with the younger one
May 8th, 2009 at 3:17 am
an English Cocker Spaniel
May 8th, 2009 at 9:30 am
Most breeds can be good with children. Some that are better known as excellent family pets are Golden and Labrador retrievers. My first choice with children is the english springer spaniel. Some other breeds are American pit bull terrier, most breeds in the sporting group, saint bernards and newfoundlands. I wouldn’t recommend a dog from the herding group. They might try to herd the younger kids. Don’t rule out a good mutt from the shelter.
May 9th, 2009 at 9:23 pm
A shih tzu! Yup, the perfect breed for you! Fits your description!
May 11th, 2009 at 2:00 pm
Definately a female Weimaraner. They are smart, loyal, loving, good with children and fearless protectors. They put the family above all else, and crave love and attention. they are big enough to handle rough kids and have the energy to play all day. Easy to potty train. These dogs will want to be part of the family though, weims NEED human companionship, they can literally depress themselves to death if you ignore them or pen them up outside. But, if kept indoors they are the best family dogs ever. They can, however, be very suspicious of strangers. You often hear about weims becoming so protective of the family’s children that they will keep any and all strangers away from them, even neighbors that they see every day. They are also VERY cute as puppies.
May 14th, 2009 at 12:58 am
I would agree with a lot of your other responses that a golden retriever would be a great choice. It rather depends on how much room you have at home. Remember a retriever is quite a big dog and they do need a lot of exercise.
In many ways a mongrel dog may be the answer, particularly as you are thinking of getting an older dog, as by this stage it is easier to spot those with a good temperament. They are also less inbred and therefore are less likely to have psychological problems, they are also generally better from a physical health point.
May 16th, 2009 at 7:43 pm
You should get a Pembroke welsh corgi:
The Pembroke Welsh Corgi is a devoted, athletic, affectionate, hardworking, brave and protective dog. He is bold, tenacious and vocal, and will guard his home and family at all costs. He is dependable and kind, and wants to be actively involved in the life of his family. He isn’t the kind of dog who can be left alone in a backyard. He needs your companionship and attention. He is eager to please you and very easy to train, an obedient and quick learner who excels at dog sports like herding and agility. He can occasionally be stubborn and restless, but for the most part is playful, full of fun, and clownish: he will take a handful of food from you, then run away with it and throw it up in the air before eating it! He is outgoing and loves to be outdoors, to walk or jog with you, or go for romps in the woods. He craves both physical and mental stimulation. He needs a moderate amount of exercise, including a long daily walk to expend his energy and so that he doesn’t become overweight. He is very friendly, polite and agreeable to visitors, though he can be wary of strangers if he doesn’t learn how meet them while still young. He is a very good and alert watchdog who is quick to sound the alarm. He will bark. And then keep on barking! And keep on barking! He needs to be trained to know when it’s time to stop. He gets along fine with dogs and cats he knows and has been raised with, but may chase animals he doesn’t know, and if he is a male can be aggressive and territorial toward other male dogs. He will often try to boss and herd other animals. He is very good and patient with considerate children, and instinctively protective of them. He may also attempt to herd them by nipping at their heels, and must be trained not to do this. He is very high shedder, so might not be a good pet if you dislike dog-hair or vacuuming frequently.
Appearance
The Pembroke Welsh Corgi is 10 to 12 inches tall (to shoulders) and weighs 24 to 30 pounds. He has a double coat consisting of a medium-length outer coat and a short, thick undercoat. His coat can have two or three colors, including red, sable, fawn, black and tan, white or blue.
Grooming
His coat only needs an occasionally brushing but because it sheds copious amounts of hair you might find yourself brushing it daily to keep the volume of hair in your home lower.
History
The Pembroke Welsh Corgi’s origins are somewhat uncertain. He may be descended from Viking dogs of the 9th and 10th centuries, or he may have been brought to Wales in the 12th century by Flemish weavers invited to live in England by King Henry I. There they became farmers, and their dogs adapted to become herders of livestock or guard dogs. In the 19th century, Pembroke Welsh Corgis were mistakenly bred with Cardigan Welsh Corgis, but in fact these are two distinct breeds. They were separated again by the (English) United Kennel Club in 1934, and first registered with the AKC the same year. The breed has become extremely popular in the years since: Queen Elizabeth II loves Pembroke Welsh Corgis, and owns several herself. His AKC popularity was 22nd out of 157 breeds in 2007.