Recommend a dog for a family with 2 yound kids and 2 working parents

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is plenty of research showing that early spay/neuter leads to joint injury and often to aggression problems. The vets are often clueless and simply spout the party line, from multiple repeated vaccinations to spay/neuter at 8 weeks, to year-round heart worm treatment. Do your own research!

How could removing the testicle of a MALE dog cause it to be more aggressive? And no is saying dogs should be spayed at 8 weeks. More like 7 months for females or anytime before the onset of menses. Dogs should be neutered around the same time to allow for bone structure maturation, etc. PP, I hope you don't parent your kids with the same backwoods, hillbilly theories. Unless you are, in fact, a toothless, tobacco stained tree dweller, in which case: my condolences.

[Anonymous]

If you can commit to ensuring a decent length walk/like to go running with the dog and have an ok yard, a golden retriever or lab would be a good choice. My parents had a golden in a tiny urban yard (although my dad went running with him nearly every day before work), and he was the most wonderful dog with us when we were small kids. Tolerant of us climbing all over him, gentle, just a real sweetheart. I would suggest an older puppy (4+ months) or an adult dog if you choose a golden unless you really have the time to housebreak/train. Keep in mind that puppies are very rambunctious and have a lot of energy, so the dog might not calm down until they are 2-3 years old. I also like that they have soft pallets (from being bred to retrieve ducks without mauling them), so it is difficult for the nips to actually hurt/break the skin when they are playing with small kids.

If you don't have the time to commit to the amount of exercise that a large dog requires, I think a pug is a good family dog (a pug is also fine with living in an apartment). Laid back, don't really need much exercise, just a short walk, super lazy, super sweet and good with kids. They have a lot of health issues, though. Pugs are not yippie and hyper like terriers and other small dogs. There are a few other small breeds that are great and gentle, but I would avoid terriers, Chihuahuas, etc. because they tend to be neurotic. Beagles are sweet dogs, but they are not the greatest house dogs and are hard to housebreak.

[Anonymous]

The American heartworm society is funded by the manufacturers of heartworm medication. I'm sure they are an impartial source: not.

If the temp drops below 57 degrees, microfilariae cannot reproduce or spread from the mosquito to the dog. So you don't need to give your dog poison all winter as well as in the summer.

[Anonymous]

Also, early spay may decrease he chance of mammary tumors but it increases the chance of hemangiosarcoma and several other cancers.

Early neutering---before the growth plates close at 15-17 months---increases the chance of hip dys

[Anonymous]

Hip dysplasia and other joint problems, including cruciate ligament tears. The non-intact dog may indeed be more
aggressive and have more problems regulating its behaviour.

The recommendation for spay/neuter is based on the general opinion that people are too lazy and stupid to prevent their dogs from breeding. Most European dogs are not spayed/neutered and they have fewer problems there than we do here.

[Anonymous]

I got two Cavapoos (Cavalier King Charles crossed with Miniature poodle) when my son was 4. They are awesome. Very mellow, friendly, great with kids, don't shed (but do need haircuts), and hardly need any exercise. They were supposed to be about 18 pounds, but both weigh 25lbs. -- and they aren't fat, just a little taller than expected. I couldn't find a shelter willing to adopt out to a family with a young boy. However, I have recently heard amazing things about the DC animal shelter on NY Ave. They have a trainer that works with the dogs and will adopt certain dogs out to families with kids. They just make sure that the dog has a right temperament.

[Anonymous]

You should just buy a picture of a doge. Much lonely. So Very crate. Why buy doge? What walks? Wow.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Also, early spay may decrease he chance of mammary tumors but it increases the chance of hemangiosarcoma and several other cancers.

Early neutering---before the growth plates close at 15-17 months---increases the chance of hip dys

Just don't get an monstrously over bred dog like a GSD, Golden, or Lab and neuter it at 7 months, you'll be fine. And labradoodles and goldendoodles are mostly like having a high strung, thoroughbred foal in your living room. They literally do not calm down unless asleep.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The American heartworm society is funded by the manufacturers of heartworm medication. I'm sure they are an impartial source: not.

If the temp drops below 57 degrees, microfilariae cannot reproduce or spread from the mosquito to the dog. So you don't need to give your dog poison all winter as well as in the summer.

There is no month in DC without a day above 57. And you can't predict that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The American heartworm society is funded by the manufacturers of heartworm medication. I'm sure they are an impartial source: not.

If the temp drops below 57 degrees, microfilariae cannot reproduce or spread from the mosquito to the dog. So you don't need to give your dog poison all winter as well as in the summer.

Good thing we never have warm winters in the DC area where mosquitoes can hatch in January.

[Anonymous]

Professional dog trainer here:

I would highly recommend contacting local rescue groups and giving them your scenario and wish list. "We can commit to x hours of exercise per day, looking for a dog that is good with kids and between 20-40 lbs, no excessive drooling please" or whatever it may be.

A good rescue will work with you to find the right fit. They will help you make a decent choice, and since most groups in the area have their dogs in foster homes, they have a more accurate view of what the dog is going to be like in a house. Sometimes with shelter dogs their personalities are really shut down (or hyped up) in a stressful shelter environment.

I would look at a dog 3+ years. That is past the puppy crazies, and their personality is more set. You will know what you are getting. Puppies pee, chew, run into things, nip, etc. It can all be trained and quelled, but it's a LOT of work if you don't know what you're doing. You will absolutely still need to train an adult dog, but it will be physically/mentally capable of the training, having outgrown its puppy brain

I'd go on petfinder and look for rescue groups in your area. Many do adoption events at the local pet stores, and you could go talk to a volunteer and get a feel for how they can help you.

[Anonymous]

If you get pug, you better have Dyson vacuum with multiple attachments as you will vacuum your 5 year olds' weight in pug hair off the furniture and any rugs every.single.day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hip dysplasia and other joint problems, including cruciate ligament tears. The non-intact dog may indeed be more
aggressive and have more problems regulating its behaviour.

The recommendation for spay/neuter is based on the general opinion that people are too lazy and stupid to prevent their dogs from breeding. Most European dogs are not spayed/neutered and they have fewer problems there than we do here.

Eurodogtrash.

[Anonymous]

La Dolce Vida Dogue.

[Anonymous]

Get a greyhound rescue; sweetest, couch potatoe-iest, no health problem dog there is. At first, they appear rodent-like, but you'll warm up to the look when you see how sweet they are. You can leave them on a sunny couch at 8:00 AM and you will find them in virtually the same spot when you come home at 6. And yet, when they run short distances (which is not very often because, lazy) they are like cheetahs.