family dog

[cford52]

Looking for some advice on the best breeds for a family with a 3 year old daughter. She loves dogs and is around large breed dogs at grannys and grandpas with no problems. My wife and I were thinking of a puppy possibly Golden or LAb. Any advice or comparisons of the two?

Thanks

[kissesfrogs]

First let me say that its GREAT you asked for advice rather than running out and grabbing just any puppy. You made a wise choice! Now, without adding in any information about the type of home yoy have, number of hours someone will be home with the puppy ect, I can give you a few snippets. Ive been an animal rescuer for two years and have cared for all types of puppies, and these are my general comments.
Large breed dogs, as puppies, rquire more care, excercise and patience than small breed puppies. They grow very quickly have almost limitless energy. Labradors make wonderful family dogs. They are loyal, gentle and very friendly. generally good with children and other pets and when properly cared for can live 12 years or more in some cases.
However, with a three year old at home, it may be a difficult time to buy or adopt a puppy that may need all that extra time and effort. My mother went through a very similar situation herself. When my sister was 3 my mother bought a golden retriever puppy. She was adorable, of course, and just what my mother wanted. But, all of two months later it became too much to handle. My little sister was still at home all day. She would want to sit and play or nap and the puppy would be tearing things apart, jumping all over her and whining loudly if locked up. It would wake up in the early morning hours between 1 and 3 am full of energy and cry from its crate for an hour or more sometimes. Between the puppies seemingly limitless energy and impatience, it was too much to try and raise this little puppy and little child at the same time. So, she found a new home for the puppy.
I have had german shepheards, blue heelers, border collies and other breeds and share her concensus. The larger breeds require a great deal of work and supplies. Chewies for their horrible chew stage, puppy tarining pads, a crate big enough to grow in, walks, housetraining, jumping, hand biting while playing ect. If you have the time and resources to really dedicate yourself to the puppy, its fun and SO worth while! But, it may be hard with a little one.
I have now discontinued my animal rescue and have three dogs of my own. All of whom are smaller breeds and the difference in the puppyhood stage is incredible. So simple compared to the others.

I would suggest picking up some basic care books on the breeds you are interested in at the library and reading them carefully. Maybe even find a bredder who would be willing to let you just sit in with her puppies for a few hours a couple times to see how they behave.

Here are MY personal recommendations for a great family dog in a home with a little one:
Cairn Terrier
Schnauzer
Beagle
Basset Hound
Poodle
Cocker spaniel
American Eskimo Dog

You can research these breeds and see video on the American Kennel Club website. Good luck!

[cford52]

I know the puppy will be quite a bit of work, did not know the differences in the breeds though. We are thinking of getting the puppy this summer as my wife is a teacher and will be able to stay home with the puppy for nearly 3 straight months. My daughter goes to daycare and stays there during the summer months because we must continue paying to keep her spot whether she goes or not ! While we are not home,k we are either going to keep the dog in a crate, outdoor kennel or hopefully as it gets older we will let it stay in the basement. Also, I have heard the Bassets are hard to train as they are stubborn and I know how Beagles are as I have had 3. They will run off if they THINK they smell something interesting. Anything on English Springer Spaniels?

[brandy pup]

http://www.brandypup.com/lookingforpet.html

[MangoLaska]

My parents have an English Springer Spaniel named Happy. They got him when I was 13 and my brother was 11, and he was the perfect dog for our family at the time, and is still the perfect dog for my parents now that my brother and I have moved out!

I read a book that described English Springers as "cheerful and tireless" and that sums it up well! English Springer Spaniels are very smart, very easy to train, very active dogs who throw themselves heart and soul into whatever they are doing with joyful abandon.

However, I don't know if they would be the breed for everyone. English Springer Spaniels need a lot of exercise and activity. I grew up on a farm, so Happy has always had daily walks off-leash in the fields, goes riding with the horses, goes swimming at the cottage, etc. If he didn't get this much exercise, he would probably not have been such a perfect pet! I can easily see our wonderful dog being an absolute nightmare if he was bored and under-exercised.

Happy will spend all day (and I mean all day, he'll do this for 14-16 straight hours with only pee breaks) walking back and forth in the shallow water at the beach at our cottage, hunting for minnows. He has never caught a minnow, but this doesn't seem to take any of his enjoyment away from the game. He loves to hunt for mice in the hay loft of our barn at the farm, and knows how to climb ladders in order to get to better areas to hunt for mice. I have never seen him catch a mouse either, but hey, he has fun. He swims with me, and we have swum for many kilometres without tiring him out. He loves to be with his people, and if I try and go kayaking without him, he'll swim after me and make me haul him up into the kayak, then squeeze himself into the seat with me, sitting on my lap and peering over the edges into the water, watching the fish.

If you do have time and energy for a very active dog, English Springer Spaniels are great because they're a more compact and manageable size than the bigger Goldens and Labs, and yet embody a lot of the same characteristics.

[PAWZnHOOVES]

eh...if u get a cocker spaniel, make sure that its a puppy. some cocker spaniels have very snappy personalities and will bite without reason (believe me, i owned one and she was usually the greatest, friendliest dog but sometimes she would go crazy on someone out of nowhere), so maybe if they grow up together it might be better? i duno. but even at the shelter where i volunteer at we're usually not allowed to work with the cockers b.c they're so unpredictable. hope that helps! good luck~

[Soleil]

In my experience with large and small breed dogs, it has been that the larger the breed, the more calmer the dog will be as an adult. Because puppy-hood for large breeds last for 2 years, whereas puppy-hood for small breeds usually ends at about 8 months, it may seem like the larger dogs are hyper for longer. I suggest a large breed dog for those people with small children, as they are much more forgiving of rough treatment than a small dog. (How many of us have a small dog that 'thinks' it's a big dog?!)

Also remember that, irregardless of size, puppies have sharp teeth, and need to chew to soothe sore gums during teething (just like kids and adults with wisdom teeth!!). So be prepared to deal with some biting issues if you do choose to get a pup.

Another idea is to hold off in getting a dog until your daughter is old enough to take some of the responsibility of the dog on herself. Because you daughter 'loves' her Grandparents' dogs is not a legit reason to get a pup. Why not keep the other dogs as a 'treat' for when you visit her Grandparents?

Just an idea...

S.

S.

[cford52]

Appreciate the replys. The dog is as much for me as anyone I was just making the point that my daighter is used to being around larger breed dogs. How long do they usually teeth? I have given the playful biting of sharp puppy teeth some consideration and am still weighing adopting an older rescue Golden but hesitate due to a lack of trust that I would have not knowing the bakcground of the dog.

[Soleil]

Pups generally have thier set of baby teeth in at 6 weeks. These thin, sharp teeth start to loosen at about 12-14 weeks of age. At 6 or seven months all 42 permanent teeth are in place, and teething is at an end!!
If you are thinking about adopting an older Dog, I would suggest trying a rescue group. They tend to have more time and rescources to get to know each dog as they come in. They also have more information on the dogs (previous lifestyle, etc...) and could better match your family with a dog.
The sooner that you contact one (a rescue that is!) the sooner you can begin to build a relationship with them. They will learn more about you, and you will become more familiar with what you want, as well. I would much rather adopt to some one who has been into the shelter regularily and consistantly, or asks questions about different breeds and dogs, as opposed to someone who simply leaves us a description of what they are looking for, and phones once a month to ask why we haven't called them!

S.

[Soleil]

There is a GR rescue in your area:

GRRRACE (Golden Paws) (http://www.grrace.org/)

And a couple of Lab rescues:

CILRA (http://www.cilra.org/)

Lab Rescue (http://www.greatlakeslabrescue.org/)

Some of these above are desperate for a foster home- how about trying that? You can see how a dog will fit into your life, and perhaps even meet the dog of your dreams!!

[KTS CAVIES]

Keep in mind, just because you raise a puppy, is no guarentee it will love your daughter. I have had much better luck adopting older dogs from shelters and rescues. Our last dog that we raised from a pup that has been around kids since 8 weeks, HATES kids.

All of the dogs we adopted as adults have been great. Since they are adults, their personalities are already established and we don't have to "guess" how they will be when older.

Many animals end up in shelters and rescues, not because they are bad, or mean dogs but because they are not trained, the owners moved, the owners had a baby, allergies, they want a puppy so they dump the older dog or because someone dies.

I suggest you check www.petfinder.com there are many wonderful goldens and labs needing homes, purebred and mix, young and old, in rescues and shelters.

[HugAPug]

English Springer Spaniels usuallly love children (and everyone else in the world)! They might be a little too rambunctious for small children though. If you get one you have to make sure youre getting it from a good breeder because if bred by a bad breeder they can be very hyper and have temperament issues.
Great danes are also great with children. If youre willing to get a dog that big they might be a good match. But they can be pretty clumsy and knock down kids sometimes (non-intentionally). They are less active than english springers. But they have a short life expectancy and since your daughter is 3 the dog could pass away when she's around 10, and thats heartbreaking :( .

[Whoops]

Labs are great dogs HOWEVER they are very wild for a while, almost obnoxious. I have one who is seven months and he is a handfull. I am informed he will settle down about the age of two.

[msmith9]

PLEASE don't forget to check out your local shelters and rescue sites. What a wonderful opportunity you have to create happiness in 2 lives....one of your daughter, and one in a dog with a totally bleak future. Shelters are wonderful places to get a dog that is finished with the worst of the puppy stage! I adopted both of my babies from the humane society, and they have been the best dogs ever. PLEASE consider adopting a dog that stands no chance otherwise!!!!!!!!!!!! :(

[cford52]

I appreciate everyones replies. I am currently investigating Golden and Lab rescues. Great Danes possibly too large and would intimidate kids in the neighborhood, but I have looked into them. Sounds like an out of puppy stage dog may be the best bet ? Some are already houseborken and obedience trained in the rescues. Anymore tips or advice is welcomed.

[Soleil]

[QUOTE]Great Danes possibly too large and would intimidate kids in the neighborhood, but I have looked into them. QUOTE]

Actually GD are GREAT family dogs. They are not as rambunctious (in general) as Labs or GR, and despite thier size, are great dogs for apartments dwellers and such. They don't require a great amount of exercise (I mean, they do require it, as all dogs do, but not as much as say a Border Collie).
And truthfully- kids love them because they ARE so big and gentle!!
I have known quite a few GD, and all have been great with the smaller kids in the family. They seem to be the dog that if they could speak would say 'DOH!' alot... :D

S

[danigirl1031]

I have a son that just turned 2 last friday, and we are about to get a Boxer. Boxers are known for their ways with children...My siberian husky was wonderful with my son from the day he was born until she passed away this past august..RIP Persephone! Good luck in your search,

dani

[cford52]

I had a boxer when my daughter was born but her got extremely protective of her when we brought her home and subsequently bit my grandfather in our garage. I gave him to my father in law where he is very happy now. My Boxer was a nutcase and full of never ending energy, however we loved him. So Great Danes are normally great with kids? What about health problems

[Whoops]

Labs do make a great family pet, and I would suggest that you look for an older one such as 18 months on up. Then they are very gentle and family oriented.
My 7 month old Lab is big and thinks he is a lap dog along with my rottweiler who is also 7 months. They compete who is my baby. Rotts are also excellent dogs but need a lot of training.
We had a Great Dane in our puppy class and boy was that dog huge and kept trying to pull its owner.But the kids loved it.

[tltrull]

I have a lab mix shelter mutt and shes the best I could ever have for my kids, so gentle and playful yet very protective of them.

[cford52]

Would a puppy or older dog fit best for us?

[KatzChinzDogz]

I highly suggest you get a smooth collie puppy. They are wonderful dogs, great with children, very friendly though I say smooth collie and not rough collie because rough collie's need a trip to the grooming parlour every month, they have extremely thick fur! Please take my advice I would tell you more but I gotta go.

[cford52]

I would be interested in hearing more about the smooth collie

[KatzChinzDogz]

Alright...my Grandpa owns a male smooth collie. They are about medium sized- very soft, smooth coat, they can come in a wide variety of colours. Long skinny legs, and soft, delicate little ears. They are beautiful dogs, but you have to get the right one. If you go to a breeder, which I highly reccomend, try to pick the puppy that is calm and content, the one that cautiously wanders towards you and gives you a gentle lick on the hand, there is always one puppy in the litter that does that. Try to avoid the ones bouncing up and down smacking your face with their paws and slobbering all over you. Also, the really timid ones hiding behind their mother that just don't wanna be handled, leave them be also. I can tell you why. Timid dogs may have health problems or are more likely to try to avoid you or even possibly run away. The friendly, calm, cautious pup is the one for you. Male is as good as female. To tell you the truth males are more playful and out-going, the kind of dog that your kid would like, but females are more gentle and timid, but kids usually don't like dogs that don't wanna play all the time unless your kid is the same way. It's just to let you know. Behavior= Matter of factly, wonderful. I can say no more. I hope I have helped a bit and please realize that these dogs love exercise and may become destructive if not given enough out-doors time and play. They must have two walks a day, and as I said, lots of time in the yard. It isn't a big commitment, but a dog being locked indoors all the time just isn't worth it and they wont be as loving. I also suggest a doggy door if you don't wanna be a door man to this dog. Good luck.