Celia Posted December 30, 2011 Share Posted December 30, 2011 I know so little about dog breeds, but we've been planning to get a dog for years and the time to do so is now coming so I need to start looking into it. I just wanted to get all the kids to an age where they could be gentle enough and all potty trained before we considered it. Plus we needed to build a fence. We'd like a dog that is smallish, but not yappy. Good with kids, obviously. I'd prefer it doesn't shed a lot or require any professional grooming. We don't mind doing brushing and bathing, and are good with lots of walks. Any recommendations or tips to share about things I need to consider? Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bnrmom Posted December 30, 2011 Share Posted December 30, 2011 I am certainly no dog expert, but everyone who has ever had a black mouthed curr say they are the best dog they've ever had. They're more medium sized though, not small. Maybe a beagle? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faithr Posted December 30, 2011 Share Posted December 30, 2011 With a 2 yo old you have to be really careful. I'd get a really placid, sweet dog, like a Basset hound. A church were we used to go had one that just belonged to the church. He was the sweetest thing, was gentle as anything and loved all the attention from the preschool kids. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NotSoObvious Posted December 30, 2011 Share Posted December 30, 2011 Well, we wanted a small, non-shedding dog and ended up bringing home the cutest border collie I'd ever seen, so we're pretty weak! :) Good luck with smallish but not yappy. We tried taking my grandma's little...similar to a small bichon frise, but it was so dang yappy, we couldn't stand it. Those little dogs can be really hard to house train, as well. Some people love those little ones though! Are you going to get a dog that's a little older, so you will already know its bad habits? Unless you are dying to do a puppy, I'd suggest getting a dog that's at least a year old. Check out your local shelter and see what's available. I'm really glad we don't have to go to the groomer. FWIW, I think long hair is easier to clean that short hair. Our friends have a beagle and its hair sticks to everything, and it's hard to get it all in the vacuum. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chepyl Posted December 30, 2011 Share Posted December 30, 2011 We have a Boston Terrier. He does not shed, he has put up with everything our three year old does to him. He loves to be part of the family. He is great (although he is now a grumpy old man ;) ) They are easy to groom, except nails. Ours has mostly black and I cut the quick one time and he is now very protective of his paws when I have slippers! It takes a lot of bribing! They are smart and can be protective. He only barks when someone is at the door. Evidence training goes a long way with the breed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sdreeves Posted December 30, 2011 Share Posted December 30, 2011 While I love our corgi to death, I would not recommend one to someone who hasn't had dogs. They need a very strong willed owner, or they run the show!!! If they learn who's boss, then they do well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thowell Posted December 30, 2011 Share Posted December 30, 2011 We have Papillons http://www.akc.org/breeds/papillon/. They are the best dogs we have ever had. Small, easy to groom and not yappy. Ours weigh between 9-10 lbs. Alot of people out there have bred them down to 4-5 pounds but I don't like that size. They shed very little, have no doggie odor, only need to be bathed every few months and require no clipping. They are very smart and easy to train and have great personalities. They love to play but are not overly hyper. feel free to ask any questions. I LOVE MY DOGS!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OrganicAnn Posted December 30, 2011 Share Posted December 30, 2011 We just got a mutt. We think he is part pug and part English Spaniel. We had been looking for pug mixes, because we heard that they were good with kids, but wanted a mix so that they wouldn't have the problems of a pure pug. We were also looking at Pug/Poodle mixes. So far, so good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Celia Posted December 30, 2011 Author Share Posted December 30, 2011 Thanks for the recommendations! I'l be looking them all up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nukeswife Posted December 30, 2011 Share Posted December 30, 2011 Our pug has been a wonderful family pet. We got him about 3 months before our youngest son was born and they're fast friends. He does shed a bit if we don't brush him, but I'm not sure about the "lots of walks" requirement you have. Due to their pushed in faces you have to be careful with temperature when they are out and active. We can't take our boy for walks until after sundown in the summer due to the heat and how easily he could over heat. His walks also stay pretty short. We once took him to a local state park and on the 1.25 mile trail he stopped dead at the 1/2 mile mark and laid down. He then gave us a look like "you guys keep going I'll just wait here for you" LOL They are definitely a fun loving breed (clowns of the dog world) and ours has put up with whatever our kids did with him, including dressing him up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jhschool Posted December 30, 2011 Share Posted December 30, 2011 The best dog I ever had was a mutt from a Rescue Society. She was about a year and a half and the Rescue Society lady who ran it had two kids the age of my child. The dog got along great with her kids, so that's how I felt good bringing an older dog with my young child. She was the best dog ever. Don't pass up the older dogs! You do have to check if they are good with kids though--so do your research! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ssexton Posted December 30, 2011 Share Posted December 30, 2011 I would check with a local rescue group. Usually their dogs are in loving foster homes, and they've had a good opportunity to assess the dogs' temperaments. A good rescue group can really help you find a dog that will be compatible with your family. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livingnlearning Posted December 30, 2011 Share Posted December 30, 2011 Boston terriers are great little dogs and barely shed at all. Active and happy and friendly, easy to get along with. I'd check the shelters and rescues and see if someone catches your eye with their good behavior but if not, maybe think of a Boston. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SailorMom Posted December 30, 2011 Share Posted December 30, 2011 I will NEVER get any other breed than a great dane again. They are wonderful. please don't discount large dogs. They are calmer than smaller dogs and absolutely wonderful with kids. Our Willow is an absolute couch potato :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ma23peas Posted December 30, 2011 Share Posted December 30, 2011 I prefer good old mutts...less health problems in our experience (pure bred beagle died of a heart arrythmia at 3 years of age that went undetected, Old English sheep dogs both had genetic skin conditions, Lhasa Apso also had skin conditions) all the mutts we've had have had perfect health and lived pain free lives...maybe it's just luck....most our 'pure' breeds were rescues...so we had no clue of their breeding..just way too many overbred purebreds out there....that's the main problem If you go purebred, the one with the least problems that I know of would be a yorkie of some sort...my friend's is bigger than most but never barks, is a lap dog and just a lovie! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swimtaxi234 Posted December 30, 2011 Share Posted December 30, 2011 Our miniature schnauzers (ton of photos on my blog) would fall into two of your "NO" columns. They need to be groomed and while our dogs don't bark in the house or yard, I have seen them get yippy around other dogs. On the other hand, my son's best friend has 2 small dogs and 1 medium sized dog and those dogs yip/bark all the time. Plus the medium sized dog (a sweet mutt) sheds so badly. My son comes home just covered with dog hair. I would go out of my mind with a dog that shed hair everywhere. When you find a breed you think you might like, try to find a rescue for that breed. Most rescue places have young to old dogs and they know their dogs well enough to try to find the right one for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
georgialee Posted December 30, 2011 Share Posted December 30, 2011 We have a cavalier king charles/bichon mix ("Cavachon") and LOVE him. He's only 15 lbs but is a bit taller than most small dogs. He has a great, easy-going personality. He is low/no shed but needs grooming b/c his hair will grow long if you let it. He has curly hair so has that messy/cute wiry dog look to him. He would walk for ages if you wanted to but will also sit at your feet and sleep if you're taking it easy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danybug Posted December 30, 2011 Share Posted December 30, 2011 We have a 7 yo Boston Terrier. He is over all a wonderful dog. He has been so excellent with all of the kids doing all kinds of things to him and never being bothered. It is great that he does not shed and doesn't bark to much. My only complaint is that because the breed has eyes that bulge out, he has had quite a few eye injuries. They are easy enough to treat with eye drops. We have learned to keep eye drops in the fridge at all times to treat on our own. Oh, and he has a bad case of small dog syndrome and flips out whenever another dog goes by on a walk, etc. We also just got a German Short-hair Pointer, that we are so happy with. She is the most docile happy go lucky dog we have ever encountered. A true angel with the kids. They are obviously not a small dog, but I highly recommend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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