what kind of dog to get?

[Rÿcher]

when we get our own house in 2015, we'll be getting a dog. I've thought about letting my daughter pick out the dog but I'm not sure I'd trust the opinion of a 7 year-old little girl (not that daddy or mommy would know any better )

It'll be a small 2 bedroom house on 1/2 acre across the street from several acres of land in a suburban/rural neighborhood. Warm to hot summers, mild to cold winters.

I'm thinking a small to medium-sized dog like a beagle, corgi or a Jack Russel. Maybe something in the big range like a retriever or a German shepherd.

thoughts?

 

[Markas]

It all depends on how much care you want to deal with. Hairier dogs = more grooming. Big dogs live shorter lives, generally. Do you want something friendly to everyone, or one that will be a good watch dog?

My next dog will be a mutt. Purebreds seem to have a lot more problems.

 

[kimc]

Believe it or not I'm not going to recommend a pomeranian although that's my personal favorite.

The main reason for that is that while they make excellent pets kids needs to be careful around them. If someone is going to be at home most of the day then any of the terriers like a Scottie or Schnauzer (my childhood pets) would be great. If the dog is going to be home alone most of the day then a sturdier toy like the King Charles Spaniel may be an option.

If you want a larger dog and have the space for it golden retrivers make great family dogs. When I lost my pom Coco last March the goldens next door seemed to know I was grieving and would always run over to comfort me whenever I was outside.

 

[Rÿcher]

I'd like to avoid the wire haired varieties.

I wouldn't be opposed to a toy dog depending on the breed.

I wouldn't mind weekly bathing or brushing every other day or so.

Yeah, don't have the cash for a full-bred anything.

 

[Plecostomus]

Poodle-mutt. Poodles are actually very smart very loyal dogs, even moreso when mixed with something else. 99% of "bad poodle" horror stories (won't stop barking, bites, slobbers) stem from training not something wrong with the breed.

 

[Flying Spaghetti Monster]

cairn terrier

 

[Rÿcher]

cairn terrier

Cute!

 

[Canadave]

For smaller dogs, border terriers are great, though not terribly common. They're not great with really small children, but by seven I doubt there'd be any issues. They're tough and loyal dogs, in my experience, and they also tend to have really great personalities. Their hair is also fairly short, so you don't have to worry too much about it getting everywhere.

 

[Hermiod]

I'm heavily biased towards Yorkies.

 

[blablover5]

Get a mutt. There are so many out there that need good homes and they can be the sweetest smartest dogs ever.

I'd say you'd be best to go for the medium to larger size. They are all generally very kid friendly and by about age 3 or so just sleep for 23 hours. Just don't get anything with a chow in it. I'd also look out for Dobermans or Dalmations, they are not the best family dogs all the time.

The issue with going by breeds is that there is no one great breed each has great dogs and each has some real terrors. I've known great and terrible versions of both.

 

[backstept]

my mom has a miniature long haired dachshund
we call him Henry Hoffman (Hoffman's makes the best hot dogs in CNY ) because he's a hot dog

he's small, about the size of a large cat (a good measure since housecats don't vary in size that much)
he's so cute, and very friendly, and with good training I think you'd be happy with one too

 

[Finn]

Beagle

 

[Rÿcher]

Beagle

name him D'Artagnan?

 

[Zachary Smith]

Nothing better than Shih Tzus. NOTHING in the world.

 

[SmoothieX]

Choclate lab! But I'm biased as I own one. He's my best buddy ever.

 

[Captain X]

Black labs are very friendly and very good with kids, but they make poor watch dogs. If you;re looking for a good watch dog as well as something that will be very protective of your family, I would go with an Australian Shepard, or at least something that is mixed with that breed. I had one that was Australian Shepard/Shelty and she was a very good dog, even if she was on the small side. Still, strangers tended to be intimidated by her.

The downside was that she tended to be nervous in that she would howl when she thought no one was home, she'd be very hyper and tend to get in the way when we came home (at times she'd pee herself too), and when she was a puppy, we had to play the radio for her at night or she'd cry. She didn't gnaw on anything other than her toys, but she may have been an exception for her breed. She was a very good dog though, both as a companion and as a watchdog.

 

[Colonel Green]

Get a mutt. There are so many out there that need good homes and they can be the sweetest smartest dogs ever.

Agreed.

I've never understood what motivates people to pay huge sums for a purebred when the world is full of mutts that not only need good homes, but are also less susceptible to congenital defects.

 

[shrantastic]

I like Pomeranians because I have one, but it might not be the best family pet. Jack Russell terriers are very, very energetic. Beagles have a tendency to run away. Corgis seem pretty well adjusted (except for the Queen's, which strike me as nasty for some reason). Basenjis are evil. A mutt might be the best.

The AKC website lists all the dog breed and their temperaments.

 

[blablover5]

Black labs are very friendly and very good with kids, but they make poor watch dogs.

I would disagree. We've always had black labs and they were all good watch dogs. They just know when it's important and when it isn't very well. (Okay aside from the female who hates anything in her yard or other people's yards).

Some dogs are good at guarding, others are not regardless of breed. And it's funny but you never really know until something happens. The biggest goof could turn deadly serious in a bad situation.

 

[Miss Chicken]

It all depends if you want a house dog or a dof that will sleep outside.

I think a good, but overlooked house dog, is the whippet. They are good with children, are clean and odor-free. They are intelligent and are good watch dogs letting you know when a stranger is around. They are calm inside but very active when taken outside. They do need plenty of exercise.