What is the best small dog for a first time dog owning family?
Chill asked:
Well my mom really wants to get a dog and seems very serious. She wants a small dog that will not be to loud and obedient. Their is a 12 year old son and a 15 year old girl in the family.My mom likes chihuahuas but I heard those weren’t great to keep with kids and were a bit nippy and loud. What would be the best dog for us considering this is going to be our first time owning a dog?
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Well my mom really wants to get a dog and seems very serious. She wants a small dog that will not be to loud and obedient. Their is a 12 year old son and a 15 year old girl in the family.My mom likes chihuahuas but I heard those weren’t great to keep with kids and were a bit nippy and loud. What would be the best dog for us considering this is going to be our first time owning a dog?
December 14th, 2009 at 6:57 am
Shih-tzu, very easy to housetrain and extremely cute and friendly. Just groom them twice a week Ryan C
December 14th, 2009 at 8:29 am
A beagle or pug .. plz buy one of those beagles=are loyal pugs= are not really loud and cute as hell Elisabeth E
December 17th, 2009 at 1:26 am
I had a yorkie!! And I recommend one They are cute small and obedient! Mayra V
December 19th, 2009 at 6:16 am
I own three Chihuahua’s and 3 kids in the house chihuahuas are sweet very loyal and get very attach to there owners and are just great all around they get that reputation cause the Chihuahua’s that are loud nippy and skittish are like that cause they were raised them with no discipline.
I LOVE CHIHUAHUA’S ♥I Love Puppy Breath♥
December 22nd, 2009 at 6:11 am
shi Tzu they are loving good natured and fun to have . They will sit on your lap do not shed . all you do is get a puppy cut for their hair and they are easy to keep clean. 15 min walks 2 times a day and they a golden. And let me tell you the girls are alot smarter then the boys. But the boys are far more cuddly .
any questions contact me. radtech57
December 22nd, 2009 at 1:15 pm
My wife just brought home a Chiwienee (sp) Part Chihuahua, part Dachshund. It has short hair and appears to be very smart. Potty training itself practically. I didn’t think I would like it but it’s growing on me. Very small, won’t eat much, loves to play, and funny to watch. georgia_ramnation
December 23rd, 2009 at 8:32 pm
Small dogs, in general, are nippy and they’ll bark a lot, especially with children around. I would definitely not recommend a chihuahua, daschund, or cocker spaniel, as those are the two breeds we seem to have the most issues with at the Humane Society shelter where I work. People take them home, then bring them back because they’ve bitten their kids. It happens all the time, unfortunately. Yorkies can also be a little tempermental and nippy. I’ve personally had very good experiences with Maltese and some Shih
Tzus, so you might want to look at these breeds. They will require a lot of grooming, though.
Keep in mind, to teach a dog to be obedient, you’ll have to really work with them, and try to get an adult dog rather than a puppy. Adult dogs tend to learn faster, and they aren’t usually as loud and destructive as puppies. Jennifer
December 24th, 2009 at 12:31 pm
shih tzu,pomeranians,chi huahuas are such noisy breeds.I woud suggest some terrier breed ask the pet dealer for some kind of a terrier they are reay quite and solemn.but if u want a obidient dog i suggest you get a german shepherds.they may be big in size but they are simply the best dogs there is.juz check some websites about german sheperds and terriers and choose whichever u like dragonmonk
December 25th, 2009 at 2:08 am
a chihuahua would be good they can be god or bad around kids any dog can be ! you need to train you dog to be good , and the kids or older! so you should be okay worrellkathy35
December 27th, 2009 at 9:35 am
For first time dog owning, I would say your best bet is to go with an adult dog–not a puppy! I know, I know, they’re so cute at that age, but they also can be quite a handful. Plus, most puppies are playful, but in a dog at least 1 yr old, you can really see personality and find the best fit.
Adopt from your local shelter, so many dogs need love! cphill
December 29th, 2009 at 12:20 pm
with the ages of the kids nippy or not, it shouldn’t be an issue like it would with toddlers or younger children. these kids should know better about teasing a dog.
go to your local shelter. they will have many purebred and mixed breed small dogs. the workers there can take your info and make what is the best match for what dog will fit into your home permanetly.
as for obediant and barking and biting. that’s going to be up to you. these are all things that require training on the owners part. no dog comes trained for these things. they must be taught.
my suggestion is for mom to look into what it takes to own a dog and do it properly. take a look at what vet care expenses will be required of her. food, dailly walks, crate training and socialization and basic obedience training are a must. the better prepared she is before ever setting foot into a shelter the better chance she has of standing out and being picked for that perfect dog.
if the new owner is as prepared as they can be, the better the dog will adjust to it’s new home and the easier training for the no barking, no biting and more obediant the dog will be. bad kitty
December 30th, 2009 at 12:33 am
Shih tzu’s i have one and love it. They are very obedient since they love to please you… they are not naturally yippers like yorkies are. They also have no allergies and usually don’t have any major health problems…also a plus is they don’t shed. Sarah P
December 31st, 2009 at 6:09 pm
i would say a cavalier king Charles spaniel. they were meant to be companion dogs they are not nippy and rarely bark these dogs are easy to train and are sweet and affectionate these dogs can cope well with noise and both hot and cold temperatures. and above all they are cute! they come in 4 colours: black and tan,white and ruby, tri colour(white,ruby and black) and ruby
try looking on the Internet at some pictures of cavalier king Charles spaniel
hope you find your new friend soon! dogs_rule2497
January 4th, 2010 at 5:44 am
I think you should get what ever dog you choose winskey1995
January 7th, 2010 at 2:49 am
The quietest sweetest dog is the Shih Tzu…they do not bark. Chihuahuas are not usually nippy nowadays….breeders have workded hard to eliminate that feature. They are wary tho….not as friendly as the Shih Tzu is immediately….they have to trust you first. The Shih Tzu doesn’t care who you are they love you. But they are higher maintenance…because of the long hair…no shedding…but grooming. From a Rescue I would be leery of any breed, because they are there for a reason….sometimes you won’t know til you get them home. You don’t know what they’ve been thru. Leslie
January 7th, 2010 at 5:14 am
dauchsunds are the best The Axe Shall Fall
January 7th, 2010 at 7:16 pm
We have a rescued Miniature Schnauzer who is now about 19 months old. My Fritz is very smart, loyal and humorous. Since they are so smart, you really have to stay on them so they don’t think they outsmarted you…like a human kid! The breed is hearty as a whole, and they don’t shed! I never had house training issues, but my office is in my home, so I was able to be with him during house training. Mine is really not fond of being left alone when we go out, but he isn’t the kind of dog who stays under your feet, either.
I have a friend who had one and he said that he never got lethargic and depressed acting as his aged. He said it was like having a puppy for 18 years! misss_understood
January 9th, 2010 at 5:16 pm
chihuahuas are nippy and grumpy and arent good with kids, im not saying all are but in my experience they have been and i own 1 and my aunt has one. I think pomerainians would be good. i used to have one and was probally the best dog i ever had -Mino-
January 11th, 2010 at 8:56 pm
Pug. They are GREAT with people, kids, animals…. they’re all-around friendly. Dachshunds, too. Both of those breeds also require little exercise, and nearly no grooming — also things to consider to make first-time pet owning a breeze.
alias7484
January 14th, 2010 at 6:51 am
I would say a PUG!! My pug loves children and other animals, even cats. This is definitely the sweetest, most loving breed!! You won’t be disappointed with a Pug TeAr-Uh
January 14th, 2010 at 11:07 pm
Shih tzu they are friendly and soo cute and fluffy…they are easy to train and small,my friend has two shih tzu’s they are adorable….trust me u will love them…..:D:D Boori