What Kind of Dog to Get...

We love labs but don't get one unless you have a VERY large backyard or it will dig up the yard. We have a lab but we have acreage so the digging isn't an issue. He used to live in town and dug up my cousins yard and flower beds.

My brother has a beagle and it is the sweetest dog! She is GREAT with kids. Very gentle! She's low maintenance (grooming) and she's smart.

I've always had golden retrievers....have 2 of them under my feet right now as I sit at this computer. I LOVE goldens! Just had to get my vote in! They are great with my kids and every other person that walks in my front door. They are so smart, so loving, loyal....I could go on and on!

Good luck with whatever kind of dog you choose. Just remember, it takes about 1-2 years for a new puppy to get to where you want it...potty training, behavior, settling down, bonding with the family, etc. I highly recommend you watching or getting Ceasar Milan....The Dog Whisperer books, he's also on cable tv with a show. Great advice on dogs and dog training. Dogs are not easy at first so get ready, they are more than worth it in the end!

M.

Australian shepherd or Australian cattle dog. They are very similar (started from the same breed) but the cattle has shorter hair. They are very smart so they need to be trained to avoid behavior problems but once they are trained they are great. They are great with kids and usually protective over their families. I have two cattle dogs and love them so much. They are goofy, love to be cuddled, but independent enough that they are not needy.

Hi Lindee,
I was a vet tech for about 11 years and I've seen alot of different breeds. I commend you on putting some thought into this process. ") I would not suggest any kind of a hunting breed or terriers. They are hyper and loud. Nothing against them that's what they are bred for. Large breeds can be great pets but they can be quite a hand full unless you are willing to invest alot of time properly training them. They can also be a booger for smaller children to be around until the are mature and trained. Best dogs would be a breed bred for companionship. Poodle - I would not suggest a miniature but the larger ones are great and standard poodles are even better. Though they are large they are gentle and full of grace. Downside is grooming of course. Another breed I would suggest are pugs. They are great family dogs and are awesome with children and make good watchdogs without that loud bark. Downside is that they can shed.
My number one pick would be a very old breed called a King Charles Cavalier. They are wonderful family dogs. Very loyal and gentle. Downside? I really don't see any though they can be pricey to buy. Minimal grooming, quiet and gentle.
Try and stay away for the popular breeds since over breeding can really make them loose the breeds traits and make it more difficult to trust. I have found that most of the really reliable breeds are the ones that are rarely seen and are not popular to the general public.
Best Regards,
C.

There is a place on the animal planet website that lets you put in the traits you want & what breed has most of those traits, I think it's a tab that says pet finder or something. I would also recommend going to a shelter. We have been so lucky with the dogs we got from the humane society. They are so loving & gentle, not pure breds but I would say very laid back deminer. There are also breed resue groups where you can adopt if you really want a specific breed & they are not as expensive,& most important it helps try to end some of this puppy mill stuff. Good Luck!

Lindee-

Beagles, Beagles, Beagles!! I am a pet sitter and I handle all types of breeds in my business so I get to compair breeds a lot. I can say both from personal experience and professional, Beagles are great! Minimal shedding, excellent with children, smart and very loyal. If trained right they are not loud (my Beagle NEVER barks!) and they are so loving and cute. Our family got our Beagle through a rescue organization (North Texas Beagle Rescue) and it's the best decision we ever made. Our Beagle was 1 1/2 when we got her...done with the "puppy" stage but still young enough that we will have her for years. I would highly reccomend that whatever breed you decide on try to adopt, there are so many animals in need of a home, plus the cost to adopt is usually very reasonable. Good Luck!!!

You got a lot of responses of great dogs, but they that do not fit all of your criteria. I found a website that asks you all these similar questions and then gives you breeds that match. And also you need to figure out if you are willing to give on anything. I think it might have a link on Petsmart.com. Good luck!

Our vet told us that poodles are actually very good with kid and they don't shed. You might try to find a poodle mix.

You will think i'm crazy, but we had a great dane growing up. She was the sweetest, most laid back dog I've ever had. She was gigantic, but would sit like a person almost in her own chair! I'd be in the tub, and as a puppy she'd hop in w/me. I was very young so I didn't mind :)! I've always had big dogs and have always just thought they were much calmer. My sister has a bishon (sp?) and he's a weird little dog. He just seems more like a cat to me, but as I said, I prefer the bigger dogs. Anyway, our great dane was extremely smart, very low maintenance, except food costs were higher. She lived inside, but could go out whenever. If you don't have a very big yard, I'd say stick w/a smaller dog. Oh, this brings back memories!! haha. Hope you get a good one.

I have been around dogs all my life and know most breeds. English bulldogs are extremely hyper and they get to be very heavy. They are stubborn and have a mind of their own! Therefore, they turn into a bowling ball on short legs when they get older. Even though dogs have short hair, they may shed like crazy. A bulldog will SHED!

I would suggest you look into a bichon frise, poodle, schnauzer, or maltese if you want a smaller dog. I highly recommend the bichon for intelligence, maintenance, and trainability. If you want a bigger dog, look into a labradoodle, giant schnauzer, or standard poodle. Minimal shedding on all these breeds. They will need to be taken to the groomer because they grow hair instead of fur. Fur means it stops at a certain length and falls out... Hair means it grows long.

GL!

My brother has a miniature schnauzer and he is awesome. It sheds very little, will stay about 15lbs, likes to play, low maintenance as far as grooming and health issues, and cute as can be. These dogs love children and are pretty smart. You can find out a lot about them by googling them.
I also love my poodles but they don't show much interest in my daughter and snap at her if she pulls on them. They also require a lot of grooming, but they hardly shed at all.

We have a standard poodle and he is amazing. I considered beagles but went with the poodle in the end because I felt it fit my criteria of no-shed, good with kids, and smart/easy to train. I can't believe how laid back our dog is. The kids "play" with him mercilessly, including using him as a step stool, and he is kind as can be. He is a puppy though, and when the kids run around and scream in an effort to work him into a frenzy, they're usually successful. I have to remember that I also have to train my kids, not just the dog! We did not train our dog properly from the beginning, so we're having to go back and do it now even though our dog is two years old (they're still considered puppies until they're three). I can't believe how smart the dog is! I barely spend five minutes with him every other day but he learns so quickly. Standard Poodles really are amazing. Having a puppy and a small child can be pretty intense, so be prepared, and if a situation ever arose where you could somehow try out an adult dog, I would strongly consider that. Good luck! Dogs require effort and money, but they're worth it for the company and mostly when you see your kids playing with the dog!

We have a miniature schnauzer and he's a great kid dog. He has been around my step-children since day one, now we have 2 more little kids and he is great with them. We crate trained him and it tood about a week but he got it and now he has to sleep in his bed because that's his comfort place. He plays with the kids. My 2 year old just loves playing with him. He does bark at strangers that come over and he barks at the doorbell ringing, but we're ok with that. He's my watch dog, he lets us know if he hears any strange noises. I have a 6 month old little girl and she plays on the floor and he doesn't bother her at all. Good Luck!

We have 2 dogs - a pure bred cocker spaniel and a schnauzer. The cocker spaniel is very laid back and has always been good with our kids. She was our baby before we had babies, and she took to the adjustment well. She is very much a house dog. ONly goes outside to pee. She's getting older (almost 8), so she's very lazy now and really doesn't do anything but sleep all day. If you're wanting low maintenance, she's probably not the breed for you. Cockers have lots of medical problems. We have had to deal with several yeast infections in her ears, and she had a very expensive eye surgery as a puppy. She also requires grooming about every 3 months.

Our schnauzer is completely opposite. I found him at the park a year and a half ago, so I do not know his exact age, but the vet approximated about a year when we found him. I'm not sure if he's pure or not either. He was very hyper when we first got him and peed everywhere. Once we got him fixed, he's calmed down a lot. Now, he is the most patient dog I've ever met. He's a perfect pet. Great demeanor, quiet, just loves being with our boys. He loves to be in the backyard when they play. He acts more like a dog than our princess, so I do have to contend with him getting dirtier. He never sheds, and he only needs a haircut a couple times a year. Other than his yearly shots, he's needed no other medical treatment. He's very obedient and just an all around great dog.

I love my two dogs, but I'd say out of the 2, the schnauzer would be your perfect match.

We have a border terrier and he's the best dog I've ever had. Google them and I think you'll find they can fit in with just about any lifestyle. Oh and by the way he's an inside dog. Good luck.

HI,
minature dachshund ,there great little dogs we have one for our kids they love him easy to train and good with the kids and he is less than 20lbs and he has short hair .Good luck

We have a King Charles Spaniel and she is great. Very minimal shedding if any. Very kid/people friendly. Very easy to train, exp., it took me only an hour to train her how to sit. We had two Australian Shepperds in the past and the dogs would shed excessively to the point where we would not let them inside the house. After weeks of trying to train them, it was useless. They were laid back, great guard dogs, but not people friendly.

Hi Lindee, look up Cairn Terrier on AKC.org, they're very sweet. We've had two.

Beagles are hyper and are known to dig in the yard. But otherwise great dogs.

First, I don't recommend dogs to anyone with a child under 5, but with that said my second recommendation is to get one from a shelter.

There are rescue groups with purebreds too or mostly purebred. But the shelters are great too. Any dog with a mix of labrador, retriever or aussie shepherd will be great dogs, with hair that will shed, just like all dogs. Yes, some more than others.

Good luck and I really suggest waiting till after Christmas. There are so many good dogs that are dumped after a few months after the holidays... so you could score a good deal and your daughter will be a little bit older.

We have two Boston Terriers. Up until about age 3 they are not at all laid back, but they are a lot of fun! They have a big dog attitude in a small dog body. Ours are GREAT with the kids. We had one BT before my oldest was born and got the second when my youngest was 2 - and both have been wonderful with my kids. They play together; chase, fetch, curl up and sleep on the couch, etc etc. They have never so much as growled at the kids and the kids can be rough with them sometimes. Shedding is not a huge issue, they do shed on furniture some, but there are no rolling dust bunnies like we had with our lab. We'll never have another type of dog, we're hooked.

I have always had pugs, they are great house dogs. They are great around kids as they seem to think they are one of them! My kids LOVE the dog and so do their friends. Good Luck!

Golden retreiever or australian shephard.
By far the BEST dogs I've ever had and super easy to train.
Both are very loyal and eager to please their owners.
Good luck with your search!

Beagles are fantastic family dogs. They are pack dogs by nature and truly enjoy being part of a family. They are so much fun for kids-they like to play fetch, do tricks and mine even likes to play hide and go seek(it is too cute!). I have read that some beagles bark a lot-I have to tell you ours doesn't at all. She also is not a digger. She is a wonderful dog who is affectionate and playful. Oh and she was trained very easily-if that helps at all.

N.

Sounds like you want a dog with established history, meaning not a puppy! Lowest shed dogs are terrier or poodle mixes. Short hair dogs like bulldogs can still shed ALOT! WOuld you consider something like the Richardson Humane Society. They have a website with pics of all the available dogs and history. Since these dogs have been fostered in a home, the fostering human knows all about their temperment. Have fun and good luck. I couldn't imagine not having a family dog (or two like we do).

Well I've had basset hounds because they do not shed. I currently have one that I am wanting to adopt out to another family. She is potty trained and is up to date on her shots. She is also microchipped and is AKC registered. She has been spayed which is good. She will be 1 on Oct 14. You are welcome to call me about her at ###-###-####. Thanks and good luck!