Best dog for young children

[racerswife]

I did a search for a topic on this and didn't find anything. Sorry if there is something I did not find. We have a 2 1/2 year old and a 10 month old. We want a puppy but are not sure what is best for young children. You hear so m any different things from so many different people... all of course partial to their favorite breed.. and I'd be the same way. We did have a jack russell before the kids were born but I don't think he would have been good with the babies. Any one want to share any good or bad experiences?
Thanks!

[PinkMartini]

From what I've read/seen about Jack Russels, I'd have to agree, they're probably not a good choice for a family with young children. What size dog are you looking for? Most of the smaller breeds don't have very good reputations with children (although that's generalizing, of course it varies). When it comes to family dogs, Labs and Golden retrievers can't be beat.... :D

[TazLuv]

I'm partial, I'll admit that but my beagle is GREAT with kids. The friend that usually watches her for us when we're out of town has a two year old who teases her, takes her toys, pulls her tail, she has NEVER snapped at him. The only problem we have with her is that she likes kids so much she gets super excited when we see them in the park and it scares the kids. I think if she was around one more, ie. if we had one, she would be much better around them. I grew up with beagles and never had agression problems with any of them. Good luck - two kids and a new dog will be a lot of work. :)

[racerswife]

oh-i am so glad to hear that. a lab is what i wanted even before we had the jack. i like beagles too and wasn't sure about their rep with children. yeah...a lot of work... it will be. but it will be worth it. i want them to grow up with a dog and i miss having one around. thanks for all your input!

[ManteoChik]

I'd have to suggest a lab. Labs are GREAT with children and pretty much all people in general. They have a great temprement and are very loving and protective. I've had a lab since I was a young child. I see that you are in PA....our lab came from a WONDERFUL breeder in PA....we actually flew up there from FL to get our Duchess. The breeder is Endless Mountain Labradors www.emlabradors.com We got Duchess at 7 weeks and she was truely a wonderful dog. She *never* once ate/chewed up anything in our house and is the most mellow dog I've ever had.

Donna (owner/breeder) is such a great lady and they truely make their dogs their life. They also have a young daughter that they've raised with the dogs. We've gotten TONS of compliments on our lab and even our vet was so impressed she's looking into getting her next dog from our breeder. My best friend's DD is currently 8 months old and they also have a lab (the lab is 3...they've had her since she was 7 weeks) and their dog is the one that keeps their DD entertains when she's fussy....it's the funniest thing to watch.

They came to stay at my house for a visit when her DD was 3 months and Duchess LOVED having her here. She would sit by her bouncer and lick her feet and would not leave her side the whole time she was here. In fact, a friend came over - and Duchess wouldn't let the person near the baby for the first 10 min. They are just very loving, nurturing dogs.

Here's our Duchess:
http://images.snapfish.com/3468645%3B7%7Ffp337%3Enu%3D324%3B%3E997%3E%3B%3A6% 3EWSNRCG%3D32333893%3B4%3C%3A%3Bnu0mrj

[Lucy Van Pelt]

Honestly, if your children are that young, I wouldn't get a puppy at all. I would get a mature, trained dog. Puppies have VERY sharp teeth and claws that will certainly scratch a young child. They are too immature to understand not jumping up on a small child and are apt to accidentally hurt a child by knocking him/her down. Most kids under the age of 5 or so do not have the understand of how gentle they have to be with a young dog.

I agree that labs and retreivers are wonderful family dogs, but definitely look for an older animal that will be calmer around your kids!

[TazLuv]

Lucy raises a good point. A friend of mine got a beagle the same time we did and she has three children under 5. My beagle is SO much better behaved than hers because we had the time to train it with no kids in the house. She couldn't train the dog because everything she did the kids un-did.

Good luck :)

[Whitters20]

Another vote for labs and golden retrievers. If you don't want a "mature" adult dog, maybe a dog that's close to a year old that already has some training so it knows not to jump. I have to say that our mutt is wonderful with kids but it depends on how big they are as to whether he will jump on them. He will jump on adults and older children but is very gentle with little kids. Sort of like he has a sixth sense of when to be careful.

As far as Beagles, the ones I have been around have been great with kids. I think Boxers are also pretty gentle, at least the ones I've seen.

[JayJay]

I'm going to stick up for dachshunds....our two furbabies do great with young kids, and our older dog has even become partial to our neice, who loves her to death.

[wendalah]

I bet you can't guess what kind of dog I'm going to recommend :D

http://static.flickr.com/53/130139594_8de1a929de.jpg?v=0

[maxandmolly]

My Maggie, a Beagle-mix (some sort of hound, we think) had never been around a child, until s-sis brought her baby around. Maggie immediately went on FULL ALERT. She sniffed the baby, licked her once, then started patrolling the house, room to room. S-sis went to Wal-Mart, I had the baby in the living room, mom & s-dad were in the computer room. Baby started to cry, Maggie went flying for her grandpa, barking and pawing at his leg, til he got up and went to see about the baby.
The next time, she was being held by her mom, started crying, and Maggie started barking and pawing at me-and I was only 3 feet away from the baby. But she WOULD NOT calm down til I showed her I was making sure the baby was ok. Also, when I ad my ex's son (he was about 7 at the time) over when Maggie lived with me, she loved him to pieces, licked him to death, and wanted to play non-stop. Not sure if that is normal Beagle behavior, or just her. She's a little strange.
Rusty, our Chow/Golden Retriever mix is wonderfully loving with his family but not as consistent with strangers. But he does love his Aunt A. So when she brought her baby and said hi to him while holding the baby, he decided she was ok and he needed to lick her-a LOT. He does it everytime he sees her.
I think the suggestion for a slightly older dog is a good one- a year or 2 old maybe, puppy-ish but not completely out of control. Also, breeds are fine and all that, but shelter mutts, shelter mutts are the way to go! You're less likely to deal with breed-specific problems, they're healthier, and also, they need a home!

[ejs]

A great book to look at is called "Paws to Consider" by Brian Kilcommons. It gives good breed suggestions based on what your situation is.

I don't know if I would get a puppy with kids that young. An adult dog who has been around children would be a good choice.

Do you know what size dog you would like? How much exercising of the dog will you be able to do? Will it be an indoor/outdoor/both dog?

Out of some of the dogs that have been mentioned: Jack Russells are really not good with children. Beagles are very vocal and they like to dig/hunt.

[Rose]

My sister's fiancee's parents gave them a lab/golden ret. puppy last summer and at the time her kids were 2 & 4. It's going to be a great dog when it calms down in a few years. They probably should have asked first. The puppy isn't full grown yet but labs are very hyper for 3-4 years. That's a long time if you have SMALL kids.

I ditto the suggestion on not getting a puppy.

[maxandmolly]

Beagles are very vocal and they like to dig/hunt.
YES, yes they are. Maggie loves to howl, and when she catches a whiff of something, she's GONE. Beagles in general (I learned AFTER I got Maggie, poor doggie momma prep on my part) needs TONS of exercise. Even though the pure bred ones are smaller-18-30 pounds, while Maggie is 45 pounds, they are all in general EXTREMELY active dogs who need lots to do.

[jbenny75]

Remember that no matter what breed or age you end up with, no dog is going to come ready-made perfect. A dog will have his breed's characteristics, but to an extent, a dog is what you make of him. It will take time, training, and discipline for him to behave the way you would like him to with your children.

[IrishMeg]

I'd skip getting a puppy if I had children as young as yours. For me, it would be like having a third child because a puppy is so much work that first year.

We have pugs and two kids. The Pugs adore the kids and the kids adore the Pugs. They play with eachother endlessly. I couldn't have asked for a better family dog. Both of my boys weigh around 20 lbs.

[amew]

We have a beagle (though we suspect he may also have a little basset hound mixed in), and he is great with our 15 month old nephew and the kids in our neighborhood. I have never seen him snap, growl, snarl, etc.--despite occassional ear pulling and rough play. We had a lab when I was growing up, and they are generally wonderful with kids, too. We also had an Australian shepard mix that was a total teddy bear with kids. Many/most terrier breeds are not known for being great with kids (my mom's Westie is a great dog, but not the best with little kids). This site let's you enter the characteristics that are most important to you (like being good with kids) and will then recommend some good breed options: http://www.glowdog.com/bestdog/. We found it helpful when we were deciding what breeds to concentrate on.

As far as getting a puppy while your kids are small, I can see advantages and disadvantages. We have some friends who decided to get a dog when they had a small child because they were home more than in their pre-kid days and were therefore around to better care for it and train it. And dogs may do better with kids if they grow up around them. But puppies obviously take a ton of work, and if you are so busy with kids that it will be difficult to devote the time it takes to train and care for a puppy, then I think it is best to get an older dog or wait a while. And there is obviously the added issue of needing to monitor the interaction between the kids and the puppy.

[Sophia]

Make sure you take into consideration the basic temperment of the breed as well as the temperments of your children.

I'd be reluctant to have a young puppy around such small children because they (puppies) can be hurt or scared rather easily, and they can also jump and scratch. If you do get a puppy, consider an older puppy.

As for a dachshund, which was mentioned eariler, be aware that they are prone to back problems and should be treated with care. They are otherwise sturdy, active dogs, and are very vocal, plus they tend to be strong-willed and more of a challenge to train.

[Scooter]

I definitely wouldn't get a puppy with children that young--it takes SO much time and energy to train, socialize, exercise and entertain a puppy and unless you really put that in from the very beginning, you probably won't be satisfied with the results. And you already have a lot demands on your time and energy, that would just be so hard!! Even if you get a young one that's a year but has begun to be trained, it would be a big difference.

There are a ton of breeds out there that are great family dogs. You've got a lot to choose from, so it's really important to look at what you want in a dog. How about the size? Short coat or does shedding/allergies matter? And pay close attention to personality traits of different breeds. Do you want one that is very active or a more laid back dog? It's important to pick one that would fit in to your family's lifestyle. Take into consideration if for example you have a tiny backyard or like to run the kids in a baby jogger everyday. Do you want one that is pretty self sufficient or needs a high level of interaction?

I think once you start answering these questions, it's going to narrow down the breed much easier than getting random suggestions. Here's a site that looks pretty good. It gives you information on what to take into consideration beforehand and how to choose a dog:
http://www.dogplay.com/GettingDog/index.html
and click on the 1st link--Deciding on a Dog.


ETA: Thanks, Sophia, I think I fixed the link,I'm not sure what the problem was.

[Sophia]

Scooter: I get an error when I click the link (You are not authorized to view this page).

[Amuse Bouche]

I'd suggest an Old English Sheepdog (remember Nana, in Peter Pan?) They're fantastic with children because they have that protective instinct, and they're very loving and gentle. Plus, they don't shed a blanket of hair all over everything the way that labs and goldens can (they're not totally shed free, like poodles, but they don't leave hair wherever they go -- they tend to shed in clumps.) They do need relatively regular grooming, but if you keep them in a puppy cut, it's not bad.

[Chimichanga]

I think getting a dog after you have kids is a good idea. Any dog; no matter the breed, can be mean.

My parents had two labs before I was born. After I came around they HATED me. The one had me pinned down and was snarling at me. It killed my mom, but they got rid of the dogs. They just didn't like me intruding on their space. I have to respect that.

That said, DH and I have a lab now and we're expecting our first child. I think he'd do fine with the baby. But, I would NEVER leave my child alone with the dog. Even when the child is older - I still would keep an eye on your kids while interacting with the dog.

[Lanapoo]

I'll throw my hat in for Golden Retrievers. I grew up with them and while they have a lot of hair, when it falls out at least it stays on the surface of fabric rather than weaving itself in it like lab, pug, etc. hair. I've never met a mean golden and they are slightly (although every dog is different) less hyper than labs. That said, when I get a dog one day (when I'm home and have a nice fenced in yard) it will be a cute chocolate lab, preferably female because they are smaller.

Pugs are another dog you can't go wrong with. They have wonderful little personalities and are a very sturdy smaller dog so you don't have to be afraid of breaking them or something like a chihuahua. If you can deal with the snoring and snorting they make a great family dog.

Beagles also have wonderful personalities but they also tend to be escape artists so watch out for that.

Dacshunds...well...I absolutely love them. My mom has three. But she freely admits that they are not always the greatest dogs around children. When she sees them getting a little tense around kids she takes them away from the situation because she doesn't want to put them in the position of being afraid of the kids (loud high voices, quick movements, etc.) that they would feel the need to defend themselves. They have the cutest personalities and are total hams but not really kid dogs. And my mom says they are MUCH harder to house train than the goldens were.

Hope this helps :)

[mkvh]

If you are considering a lab, please be sure to do your research and get one from a reputable breeder as Manteo Chick suggested. Poorly bred labs often are why the breed gets a "hyper" reputation. Yes, labs are higher energy dogs, but the crazy, over the top ones often have not been carefully bred. Also, consider English bloodlines as those are meant for show rather than field; they often are less boisterous.

That said, puppies definitely have to be taught to interact with kids and kids with puppies. Good luck!

[ManteoChik]

Dacshunds...well...I absolutely love them. My mom has three. But she freely admits that they are not always the greatest dogs around children. When she sees them getting a little tense around kids she takes them away from the situation because she doesn't want to put them in the position of being afraid of the kids (loud high voices, quick movements, etc.) that they would feel the need to defend themselves. They have the cutest personalities and are total hams but not really kid dogs. And my mom says they are MUCH harder to house train than the goldens were.

Hope this helps :)

ITA about the Dacshunds....while they are cute and little, I've heard from a lot of owners (and a breeder) that says that they aren't reccomended for people with young children. My SO's family adopted his grandmother's when she passed away (he was probably 8 at the time) and his parents totally agree that they aren't a good breed for children. I'm not saying that it can't work....but they have very strong personalities.

[ManteoChik]

If you are considering a lab, please be sure to do your research and get one from a reputable breeder as Manteo Chick suggested. Poorly bred labs often are why the breed gets a "hyper" reputation. Yes, labs are higher energy dogs, but the crazy, over the top ones often have not been carefully bred. Also, consider English bloodlines as those are meant for show rather than field; they often are less boisterous.

That said, puppies definitely have to be taught to interact with kids and kids with puppies. Good luck!

That's a good point as well. If the OP goes to the website for the breeder I posted before...they have *a lot* of helpful information about how to pick the right dog for your family. It also has an article about the difference between American Field Labs and English Labs....it's very insightful and will teach you a lot.

[Sophia]

I have personal experience with dachshunds and young children (we had one when I was 6 & my brother was 3, and both my parents and I have had several since my children were born). If you approach it properly and the dog understands that all human family members are above it int he pack, things will be fine. But because they tend to be strong-willed dogs, you cannot have a laizzes faire attitude when it comes to the dog's behavior. It also helps if your child is mature enough to treat the dog with respect & affection, regardless of the child's actual age. It also depends greatly on how old (and set in its ways) the dachshund is and if you got it before or after the kids were born.

[TazLuv]

Several people have brought up several things on beagles which I wanted to second and third.

My Molly is about 22 pounds, most people think she is still a puppy even though she is 2 and full grown. So she is small for the breed, unless you spend the money to get a smaller than 13" show dog. She barks at EVERYTHING and she digs like she's going to China if she sees or smells something on the other side of the our fence. She is also an escape artist in that she climbs over baby gates or did when she was smaller. Beagles are great dogs, however I am bias! ;)

Everyone has given you lots of good resources for breeds - good luck! :)

[Lanapoo]

If you are considering a lab, please be sure to do your research and get one from a reputable breeder as Manteo Chick suggested. Poorly bred labs often are why the breed gets a "hyper" reputation. Yes, labs are higher energy dogs, but the crazy, over the top ones often have not been carefully bred. Also, consider English bloodlines as those are meant for show rather than field; they often are less boisterous.

ITA. My mom still has goldens and the one that has some 'field' bloodlines is the hyper one. Eight years old and still acts like a hyper puppy. His half brother who is only 'show' bloodlines is completely different. He can get as rowdy playing as any other dog but if a child is near by he turns into a complete marshmallow and becomes very gentle.

[kam]

i think what Scooter said has a lot of merit. It's what you want in a dog. For what it's worth, the child I babysat nearly had his nose bit off by a very tame and loveable golden retriever (after the child grabbed his fur). I grew up with a Beagle and a Norwegian Elk Hound and I heard that Elk Hounds were terrible with kids. I think it's not only the breed, but also how you train your CHILD to treat the dog. Dogs are dogs.

My nephew is growing up around 2 chihuahuas and 2 black labs without any issues with either, and my chi/jack russell mix absolutely loves my nephew and our neighbor's child (and they love her).

So I recommend that you get the breed right for your family and do some training both on the dog's and child's part, rather than trying to figure out which breed is good with children. That depends on the dog and the child, quite frankly!

[jesvet]

So I recommend that you get the breed right for your family and do some training both on the dog's and child's part, rather than trying to figure out which breed is good with children. That depends on the dog and the child, quite frankly!

So true. You can have vicious (or at least temperamental) animals of any breed, so saying "I want a Golden/lab/whatever" doesn't guarantee their safety. But certainly some dogs are in general more easy going than others.

That's another reason to NOT get a puppy, IMO. Even with good bloodlines you're still not sure what you're going to end up with. But mostly, as the mom of a toddler and about to have a second child, I can't FATHOM bringing a puppy into the mix. I adopted both of my Goldens as adults and it was soooo much easier not to have to worry about housetraining, etc.

Another plug for rescue: there are TONS of wonderful animals out there in need of homes. Labs/large dogs in particular (at least from what I have seen) often seem to be given up because they are so energetic and the owners just don't have the time for them- as opposed to animals like pugs who are often given up as older dogs with health problems. So you have a good chance of getting a younger adult dog with at least some background (lived with a family of 4, loved the kids, etc).

[kam]

But certainly some dogs are in general more easy going than others.

That's another reason to NOT get a puppy, IMO. Even with good bloodlines you're still not sure what you're going to end up with. But mostly, as the mom of a toddler and about to have a second child, I can't FATHOM bringing a puppy into the mix. I adopted both of my Goldens as adults and it was soooo much easier not to have to worry about housetraining, etc.

Oh definitely. I think we're agreed that getting a certain breed doesn't guarantee much of anything. Anyone remember the poster on WC with the border collie where the entire litter seemed to be vicious, mean and nothing resembling a border collie? It happens.

Also - I can't imagine having a puppy with anything else going on in my life. No new house, no children, no nothing during the puppy stage! Hell no!

[AttyGrl74]

I think 20% is the dog's breed and temperament and the other 80% is training (of both dog and child).

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v626/attygrl74/0e6cce37.jpg


Our German Shephard/Lab mix (Chet) is wonderful with our 19 month old. Our Border Collie is not bad with her - but clearly doesn't find Nora nearly as tolerable as Chet does.

[bellaprincess]

AttyGrl74: That is such a cute picture!

[Rose]

That is so sweet AttyGrl!

[Kanga]

Well, I have to vote for my favorite breed, the keeshond. It's not too popular so there's not much to worry about as far as over breeding resulting in poor blood lines (like with labs, goldens, etc) We had one growing up and he was such a sweet heart.

http://www.akc.org/images/breeds/keeshond/lg_artwork.jpg

My parents have a cocker spaniel that is also awesome with kids. She does get super excited too and tends to jump up on people (and kids). But she probably wouldn't do it to the kids she lived with and saw every day.

http://www.akc.org/images/breeds/cocker_spaniel/lg_artwork.jpg

[MtySheera]

Another vote for labs! We have 2 and love them!! I have no doubts that they would never hurt anyone in our family!! We got them both from the same breeder, and I did a lot of research before finding the right breeder. Here are a few pics of our dogs with my son.

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b5cc20b3127cce95f5ab00475e00000016108EbN2LZs0Z4
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b5cc27b3127cce95e906f14c6a00000036108EbN2LZs0Z4

My mom has a dachshund. She is not very good around little kids, but she is an only dog, so that may have something to do with it. She is pretty good with my son, but we think she understands that he is family. But when other kids are around, we don't let her around them.

[CityGirl]

You've received a lot of advice here already, but I wanted to chime in with my experience. We have two Boston Terriers. Both of them love kids. When we take them to the dog park, or for walks they both get so excited to see little kids. Several moms have told us that they wished they had thought to get a Boston instead of the dog they did have (in the two cases I remember, one was a lab and one was a very tall lab/shepard mix). Both of these moms told us that every time they ran into a Boston Terrier, the Bostons were just as glad to see the kids as the kids were to see the dogs.

I'm pretty sure that aside from their fun-loving temperment, the main attraction of the Bostons is their size. The little kids with big dogs didn't really play with their dogs because they would either get knocked down by the dog or they were intimidated by their size. This isn't to say that the big dogs weren't "good" with kids. I think when the kids are bigger than the dogs, it will all work out just fine. But I think if I had very small kids I'd really consider size - something between 15-30 lbs.

Aside from the Bostons, which we love but aren't for everyone, I would maybe consider a Pug or Cavalier King Charles Spaniel...

Also, having two kids to care for, I would agree with the suggestions of getting an adult dog. Even at 6 months we're still dealing with housetraining issues with our puppy...

[2kCougar]

My sheltie has been great with my nieces. The girls have played with her as soon as they could walk. The breed is known to be a great family dog. She did love to rip off our socks when she was teething so I don't know about getting a puppy.

You could also look into rescue organizations for older dogs.

[gayle]

Another vote for Goldies. I have raised and shown dogs all my life, and there really is no gentler, more dependable, tolerant breed around.

They LIVE to be loved and are big and sturdy enough to take the roughness kids can dish out.

I am also with Jes (as I often am on matters of canines) get a grown one from a rescue. You will know exactly what it's temperament is like, as well as giving a wonderful dog a loving home.

[Lilla]

I'm going to throw in another vote for Goldens.

I also highly recommend going through a rescue organization.

DH and I have adopted a total of 3 adult Goldens from a Golden-specific rescue in our area (one of which has since passed away :( ). These animals are so amazing to me - they are the gentlest souls on earth and are SO good with kids - from infants all the way up through elementary school age. That being said, since we went through a rescue, we were able to meet and interact with each dog before adopting them so we knew what kind of temperment to expect.

Good luck!

[JubileeDawning]

Wow- there's a lot of great info for you on here. I just couldn't resist a little more...:D

I think the idea of an older dog is a wonderful idea, they are generally calmer, hopefully already trained with basic manners, and just plain arent as much work when you've got so much else going on. I think adopting a rescue is a WONDERFUL idea, but make sure you spend some time with the dog and the kids together before you make a committment.. that will give you a pretty good idea how things are going to go.

Sometimes, just plain ole' mutts make the best dogs. Purebreds often have a lot of temperment issues passed down, and mutts generally carry good traits from each breed. They are all different though, I just know from my personal experience that some of the best dogs I've ever seen have not been any one breed at all.

We have a jack russell, and she is adorable with kids. That's not because of her bloodline though, it's because we've trained her patiently to endure tail tugging, food snatching, ear pulling, and bad handling, and she is so patient with them. That to say- a lot of it is in the training, especially if you do get an older dog. (Some may be "trained" unintentionally to hate kids by a traumatic experiece, even though the breed has a great reputation.)

Anyways, I'm sure you have enough info to make an informed, well educated decision... best of luck to you and your growing family!!

-Melissa

[villanelle75]

I think it compltely matters what you are looking for and what is important to you. I'm a large or extra large dog lover, so if you want something small or medium sized, my recs won't help.

Someone already mentioned Old Englsih Sheep dogs. I have to secodn that. We had several (not at the same time) throught my childhood. THey aren't super bright, in my expereince, but theyhave the kindest, most gentle temprament. They are also fabulous because they have hair, rather than fur, and don't shed. You'll still have an occasional bit of hair around, mostly from when soem dog hair gets pulled out, but I'd liken it to havng human hair in your house if you have longer hair. The biggest drawback is that because they have long shaggy fur, they do require more grooming that many dogs.
I'd guess they weight on average about 85 pounds (AKC standard is 21-22 inches at withers).
http://www.akc.org/images/breeds/old_english_sheepdog/lg_artwork.jpg

My second recommendation is a Bovier des Flanders. Another very large dog. In my experience, they tend to weigh arond 95 to 100 pounds and AKC says the standard is 25-26 inches at the withers. They are very intelligent and are used as guide dogs for the blind for their easy trainability and intelligence, as well as their agility and reliable temper. Again, no shedding (yeah!!!), which does lead to more grooming necessary. They are also very very mellow and require much less exerize than many large dogs. Ours are most often found asleep in the middle of the kitchen floor, or wherever the family is gathered. Of course, like any dog, they need a walk, but they are the opposite of hyper. they are quite serene.



http://www.akc.org/images/breeds/bouvier_des_flandres/lg_artwork.jpg

[katmg]

I'm going to be different. I wanted to come in and NOT recommend my dog - a Weimaraner.

They are great dogs, but they definitely have some dominant (not aggressive) tendencies and can view babies as pups if not properly trained otherwise. Our Weim is 5 years old now and has been well trained and we continue to work with him on his dominance issues. We are currently TTC and I'm fine with him once we have a baby, but I think trying to train a Weim and give them the attention that they need and have a newborn would be too much.

Weims are very much a "family breed" though - they like to be with the family and get very unhappy when they are separated from their people. They are not an "outside" dog.

I think the advice about an older dog is good advice - they tend to be more mellow, etc. I would just watch and make sure that the older dog has become aggressive in response to having been treated badly in the past.

HTH!

[ivansbabe]

I don't know if I'm coming in too late but I thought I'd put in my recommendation for a Pug. I love love love this breed. They're usually so mild mannered, and tend to be good with kids. This was a consideration for us because everyone of our friends and my sister has children, mostly young ones and having a dog that could tolerate and like being around them was very important (also whenever we decide to start a family). She doesn't disappoint at all. We're hoping to eventually get a second one soon! Hop on over to the Pug thread and you'll see many people there have children, plus they're so funny it's good for a laugh too.

[Chimichanga]

I'll second the "give a mutt a home" sentiment. :)

I love my lab, but I originally wanted some mutt from the pound. My first dog was a mutt and I loved her so much. I loved being able to give her a good home (her previous owner beat her we think). She was so loving and patient.

Definitely have the kids interact with an older dog. Ask what kind of environment they were in previously.

My parents dogs (chihuahuas) would not be good with kids. They are spoiled (my parents doing) and don't deal well with kid teasing. Our lab, however, is okay with that type of stuff. We've begun tugging his ears and tail (gently, but still) and taking his food away at random times. My mom and dad also help with this so it's not just DH and I doing this.

Even though we'll show our kids the correct way to play with him, other kids may not know. We don't want him to bite anyone. He's nice, but I'm sure he can only take so much

[Nigellas]

I don't recommend ANY puppy with children that young. A golden at least a year old would be my recommendation.

[artist]

There are probably a variety of dogs that would be great with kids! We adopted a 2 and a half year old male chocolate lab from a no kill shelter. He is definitely high energy, but he is so sweet! Sometimes he might jump on a new person he doesn't know out of excitement, he is also not small which might initially seem scary to a small child. However, anytime our dog has been around kids, both the dog and the kids are usually pretty happy!

The only kid who was scared at first was my now 3 year old neice. She simply had a fear of ALL dogs and wasn't sure at first about our dog because he is so big. However, even she has now grown to love him and feel comfortable with him. We had a neighborhood party last year and a couple of very young and small children were excited to meet him and he seemed happy to meet them too!

My advice is that if you can, bring the kids with you when you pick out the dog. I highly recommend a place like a no kill shelter and I also like the idea of giving an older animal a home. People always want puppies and kittens. Also, a puppy is kind of like another full time job! You really need to devote a lot of time and energy to a puppy. Consider other factors too like if you have other pets, cats for example. If you go to a shelter, ask the people working there which dogs are good with kids, other pets, etc. If you are adopting an older pet, often there will be information such as if the animal is used to children.

ETA:
Just wanted to say, our dog picked US out! As in, he was the first dog we saw, the only one not barking, and he very sweetly reached his paw through the fence to shake my hand! I fell in love with him instantly and then cried because I felt bad I could adopt all the animals.

Our first cat also picked me out at the Humane Society! In a room full of cats, she walked right up to me and snuggled up!

Our other cat we saw in the newspaper when we were on vacation. He needed a home, DH read the ad, and he insisted this cat needed to live in OUR home! Then of course we met the cat and had to bring the fat cat home! Yep, we have a zoo!

[racerswife]

Thank you all so much for all your great advice. I think I have convinced my husband that right now is not the best time. Kasey is just starting to walk, Brooke is being potty trained..... and it is all on me during the day while he is at work. I think we need some more time... and the suggestions to get an older dog are very wise... as much as we'd love a puppy it would be best to get an older dog.
Thanks again for all your great advice and recommendations. I really appreciate it. :)

[Niko&Troi]

I just wanted to say that I firmly believe that the way you train a dog is how they will act around the children. We have two dogs, a full breed rottie and a rottie/beagle mix. The rottie is a glutton for punishment from Nikolas. He literally uses her to climb on the couch and she just lays there. Our smaller dog doesn't like to be stepped on, but will play with him. I have no fear of what either one will do or not do. I know they won't hurt him, but I also know they would hurt someone if they tried to hurt Nikolas or us for that matter.
So, IMO, it's all how you train them.


Here are my fur babies.
http://images.snapfish.com/3468%3A%3B977%7Ffp33%3B%3Enu%3D327%3B%3E943%3E768% 3EWSNRCG%3D3233678356569nu0mrj


Nikolas often uses Sophie as a pillow
http://images.snapfish.com/3468%3A%3B977%7Ffp346%3Enu%3D327%3B%3E943%3E768%3E WSNRCG%3D3233678399658nu0mrj


He also calls her horse
http://images.snapfish.com/3468%3A%3B977%7Ffp33%3A%3Enu%3D327%3B%3E943%3E768% 3EWSNRCG%3D3233678399659nu0mrj


Look how mean she looks with her tongue hanging out of her mouth
http://images.snapfish.com/3468%3A%3B977%7Ffp33%3A%3Enu%3D327%3B%3E943%3E768% 3EWSNRCG%3D323367835%3B58%3Cnu0mrj

[andrew&shannah]

just wanted to say that I firmly believe that the way you train a dog is how they will act around the children. We have two dogs, a full breed rottie and a rottie/beagle mix. The rottie is a glutton for punishment from Nikolas. He literally uses her to climb on the couch and she just lays there. Our smaller dog doesn't like to be stepped on, but will play with him. I have no fear of what either one will do or not do. I know they won't hurt him, but I also know they would hurt someone if they tried to hurt Nikolas or us for that matter.
So, IMO, it's all how you train them.


I agree with this to a point. However, I would NEVER let my child (or any person for that matter) use my dog as a stepstool or riding toy even if the dog "allows" it. Please don't take that as criticism but I just don't think it is appropriate or safe. Even if the dog seems fine with it, what happens when the child is older and still thinks that form of behavior is ok? I could potentially seriously hurt the dog and then, the dog could hurt your child because he/she is inflicting the pain. Or, what if the child thinks it is ok with ALL dogs?
Just as many people in this tread have said: It isn't just about training the dog but also very important to train the children too. Dogs are companions and will give unconditional love but they shouldn't be subjected to teasing, torment, or any other form of "terrorizing" by children just because they will lay there and take it.
I hope that didn't come off as too harsh. I just see far too many families getting pets and letting the children treat them in a way that borders abuse without doing anything about it.

[jesvet]

racerswife, I think you guys are really doing the right thing. I totally commend you for making the right decision! And when the kids are a tad bit older I think you'll find the transition muuuch easier on you all. :D

[racerswife]

thanks jesvet.

[Niko&Troi]

andrew&shannah I didn't take your comment the wrong way. I was just trying to point out that due to training our rottie is very well mannered with Nikolas, even though rottie's have a bad rep cause they are so big. We have no problems telling Nikolas to stop when he's doing something to her. We are also teaching him that not all dogs are friendly or alike.
Our dogs are like our other two children. The same way Nikolas will not "abuse or torture" his new brother, it doesn't happen with the dogs and never will.
I just see far too many families getting pets and letting the children treat them in a way that borders abuse without doing anything about it.
This will never happen here.
Again, I was just trying to show how gentle rottie's can be if trained the right way.

[jc0000]

Forgive me if I missed something in the posting if someone has already stated this.

There are two things you might want to consider if you get a dog; first, I would recommed getting a mid to large size dog. At least something sturdy. I have two dogs and know a lot of people that have dogs also. One in paticular adopted a miniature pinscher who was partially paralyzed. The min pin was paralyzed after a toddler fell on top of the dog. While small dogs are great, they may get injured easier if a child grabs on to ears or legs.

Second thing, I would recommend sticking with a 'herding' breed dog. These would be Labs, Collies, Border Collies, etc. These are generally the dogs that are allowed in apartment complexes. The reason they are considered 'herding' dogs is that by nature they will nip at your (or your kids) feet. Other breeds like boxers, german shepards, rottweilers, etc are considered 'killer' breeds because by nature they will go for the throat in a fight. Now to sound like a hippocrit, I have a 105 lbs Rott/German Shepard mix that I adopted from the humane society. He has turned out to be the best dog, especially with kids. One thing I did when I petted him was grab his ears a stroke his tail so that he got used to the idea of having these area pulled on (which are generally the areas that kids will grab). If you get a dog, I would also recommend getting him use to being grabbed in these methods.

[CisforCookie]

We have a 2 year old and a Springer Spaniel. We call them "littermates." We adopted Cook as a one year-old to avoid the training phase, but even so she's still very puppy-like. Still and all, she and my son get along famously, and she's very gentle with him. The breed is known for being very family-oriented and loyal, so I'm putting in a plug for Springers. :)

[Fenway]

There is a lot of great info on this thread. I just wanted to add that I have a lab, and she is fine around kids, but her tail has knocked over my niece more times than i care to admit. (not to mention the contless coffee tables it has cleared.)

Just another thing to think about.

[andrew&shannah]

Our dogs are like our other two children. The same way Nikolas will not "abuse or torture" his new brother, it doesn't happen with the dogs and never will.


I so wish there were more pet parents with children like you! :) And I think you are 100% correct in that it is the training that makes a difference and not necessarily always the breed of the dog.
I'm glad you knew I wasn't trying to be harsh or critical of your parenting (both puppy and child) style :) I think it is awesome that all of your children co-exist so well!