Best Family Dog?
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Anonymous
| Best family dog with little to no shedding -- poodles! You can get toy, miniature, or standard depending on the size of dog you want. They don't shed at all and are "hypoallergenic" (although I think for people with really serious dog allergies it might not matter). Toys and minis don't require too much exercise, although they are very smart so they do need some stimulation. They need a lot of companionship. Their natural temperament is extremely loving, and by and large they're great with kids. Our standard thinks our daughter is her baby (but of course I still monitor their interactions very closely -- no DCUM lectures, please!). Good luck! |
Anonymous
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For a no-shed dog, I love my mini schnauzer. She's terrific with my daughter, too (and we had the dog first).
I SO LOVE not having dog fur in my house. I grew up with cats, and so was used to fur everywhere, but LOVE LOVE LOVE that my pup doesn't shed a hair. (Of course, she does have to be groomed every 8-10 weeks but it's a small price to pay). |
Anonymous
is her name margot? |
Anonymous
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Cairn Terrier, or any of the other wiry terrier breeds (Norwich, Norfolk, Irish).
I grew up with a Cairn. Very little shedding and next to no grooming. All you do is take a wire brush against the direction of hair growth (tail to neck) once per week. No haircuts/dog groomer either. It ruins the wiry coat. Cairns love children, are gentle, are game to play fetch all day, are hardy for the area's cold and hot weather, and are big enough for a child to play with (unlike a toy dog) but small enough not to knock small kids over or send things flying off of the coffee table with their chairs. Cairns are natural diggers, so you need to train them to get this out of their system outside and get a suitable dog bed that they can "nest" in. They have been over-bred in "puppy mills," so it is very important to find one from a legitimate breeder or a rescue that is associated with a knowledgeable dog club. Also note: West Highland White Terriers are NOT just white Cairns anymore. They have been bred to have a fine, soft coat and they do shed and require grooming. |
Anonymous
I am so glad to hear that. We are considering a mini schnauzer for sometime in the future. There is a rescue organization for them based here in the metro area, which makes it even better! |
Anonymous
| Just have to throw in a vote for Samouyeds. we had one growing up and my folks went with the breed specifically because they are so family friendly - sled dogs that were bred to stay in homes with folks. All the Sammys I've known have been wonderful sweet, smart dogs that pretty much look like big stuffed animals and let you use them as a pillow. They can be a bit stubborn, so harder to train, but they're so good natured that it doesn't cause big problems. My folks have one now who is spoiled rotten and not particularly well trained, but she still lets my 18 month old just lie all over her. |
Anonymous
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I haven't read the whole thread, so forgive me if I'm repeating. We just did a ton of dog research - we were looking at all area shelters and researched all the breeds that were in the mixed dogs we liked. One breed that looked fabulous was a bloodhound. Apparently the only danger is that they are SO mellow around kids that you need to make sure your kids don't abuse them. They'll just sit there and let the kids do anything - no snapping, aggression, etc.
They will follow scents to the end of the earth, so you need a very well fenced yard. They are big, but in a short/stocky way so less space and energy than a lab. And FWIW, if you are interested in labs, the DC and MoCO shelters all had some - either purebred or mixes. Some were adults, so likely house-trained and done with the high-energy puppy. Lab rescue societies also have adults that need homes. For a house with kids, I think a 1-2 yo dog is ideal. |
Anonymous
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Potomac Lab Rescue:
www.lab-rescue.org They will not place a dog with a family with children under 10 unless the dog has a proven track record with kids. Also will not place a dog with a family with kids under 6 unless the dog has a proven track record with younger children. This is a good dedicated group if you want a rescue. However, I have a four year old child and am paying a fortune to acquire a seven-week old pup from a breeder that has lots of "in the house" and family socialization time. I spent a lot of time researching the breeder and the dog's lines (there are certain DNA tests available now that rule out many of the common problems with thsi breed). There are very few rescues that could be placed with our family because of my youngest child's age, and we want the dog now. I am, however, an experienced lab owner. We were very lucky that our recently deceased Lab lived to be 14.5 with only one major surgery and no significant health problems for most of his life except for the normal wear and tear of age. You do have to be very vigilant about their needs for the first few years. You also have to be prepared to pick up a 75 or 80 pound dog when they get too old to do stairs. If you are willing to do the work they pay you back with the best kind of love and fun imaginable (think hide and go seek games that last for hours). But you have to be willing to do the work and willing to stick by them when they are old rather than dumping them off at the rescue. Nothing makes my blood boil more than seeing a ten year old lab on the rescue page. |
Anonymous
I grew up with two miniature schnauzers and my parents had a third once I left for college. All were lovely with children (and cats!). I've heard complaints about them barking but ours never barked unproductively--they were good, loyal watchdogs. Small enough to fit well in a house but sturdy enough to play with. (I used to roller skate with one of ours on a leash.) If and when I get a dog of my own, my husband knows that I'll practically insist on a schnauzer. (I'm also quite taken with the larger varieties but think a miniature is more realistic for our lives.) |
Anonymous
| Can you share which lab breeder you are using? |
Anonymous
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You don't have to pay a fortune just because you have small kids. That's ludicrous!
We have a 2 yo and got a lab from the shelter. We made sure they had plenty of play time there before we adopted her and supervise them at home. The dog is great with kids. If seeing a 10yo dog left for adoption makes your blood boil, then getting a dog from a rescue society or shelter is the humane, responsible thing to do. No reason to support the breeders when there are millions of great dogs looking for homes. Shelters will allow dogs to homes with small children, depending on the family dog experience and the dog itself. |
Anonymous
Thunder Labradors out of Wisconsin. My sister has two rescued Newfies (including one who is blind), and urged me not to get a rescue with the age of my children, which was consistent with the discussions I had with the rescue group itself. My sister is a dog lover's dog lover. I am comfortable with my decision and recognize that this means I really do have to do potty training AGAIN. If this was about my convenience, I would be getting a local house-broken adult dog, not flying half-way across the country for a pup I will have to teach everything to. When I am looking for my next lab after this one, which will hopefully not be for many years, I will adopt from Potomac Rescue. |
Anonymous
Totally agree with this. We adopted 2 labs from Lab Rescue (lab-rescue.org) about 8 years ago and had our first baby almost 3 years ago. The dogs have been great with him. So even though Lab Rescue errs on the side of extreme caution, many many of their dogs would be and are great with kids. Seeing 10 year old (and 12 to 14 year old - yes, it's awful) dogs that have been discarded by their families breaks my heart and makes my blood boil too. That's why we will always adopt from rescues and shelters. |
Anonymous
| Labs Labs Labs. I swear my toddler has manhandled my lab like nothing you could ever imagine and they are best pals. |
maynie
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| I always thought it didn't make a lot of sense that rescues won't adopt to people with young kids but they are ready to burn people at the stake that give up pets because they have kids. |