Reply With QuoteStaffordshire Bull Terrier. Relatively small and there is no better breed with kids.
But of course there's the stigma.
I am a dog lover but the Mrs is not too keen. The kids have been pestering her for a while and it looks like she is going to give in. I grew up with golden retrievers in the family but the Mrs would want something smaller. Any recommendations on breeds, obviously good with children is the main thing. We live in a house with a decent sized garden and plenty of places nearby for walks. Any advice or ideas would be greatly appreciated
Staffordshire Bull Terrier. Relatively small and there is no better breed with kids.
But of course there's the stigma.
Most people will recommend their own breed so I may as well get in first and recommend a miniature Schnauzer. Fantastically friendly and well-tempered dogs. Brilliant with kids, highly intelligent and they dont malt. I am not a dogs in house person at all but this breed has changed my mind entirely. They are a pleasure to have around the house and family.
I've only had Staffordshire bull terriers but would absolutely love another. Work full time as does the wife so it's not going to happen any time soon.
They're nicknamed the nanny dog due to their good nature in the family setting. Really really wonderful dogs.
Loads of others but I don't have first hand experience of owning them.
How about a Springador ........lovely intelligent and energetic dogs, or perhaps, if someone in the family is a bit sensitive allergy-wise a Cockerpoo.....(can be either small or large, depending on size of Poodle 'parent') or Labradoodle. The advantage of all these dogs is that they are slightly less susceptable to 'in-breeding' weaknesses.
No dog will be cheap, with insurance about £40 per month....then food etc....
I'm going through a similar dilemma currently, but will probably end up with a Springador....
Last edited by Pete D; 29th November 2017 at 20:20.
I'd go with the Bull Terriers as well. Despite the appearance or stigma as someone put it they are great for family and children. Oh and you don't have to do a lot of fur maintenance or cleaning up after them as they're not a bunch of bears like other breeds...
Part of owning a dog is walking them. When you have children, it’s also them walking him. Socialisation is 100 times more important than the breed you choose. In fact, go to Battersea with your family and they’ll find you a perfectly suitable puppy/ young dog that will brighten your next 15 years
'Against stupidity, the gods themselves struggle in vain' - Schiller.
Thanks for the replies. Some food for thought there. I am pretty sure a bull terrier is out, as it won't have the look that my daughter's will be hoping for
Get a mongrel, totally out bred and healthy. Most pedigree breeds suffer from some sort of inbred deficiency whereas a mongrel is bred as nature intended.
American Rat Terrier, love mine!
Border Terrier ?
I recommend you don’t bother.
I agreed to look after a black lab for someone who had to go into hospital. Just a couple of nights I said. 5 bloody years later we’ve still got the big slobbering, smelly thing.
The wife, who incidentally always had no time what so ever for pets of any kind, has elevated him to way above me in the household heirarcy even though he pulled her over and smashed her hip (which resulted in a hip replacement) and she won’t have a bad word said about him.
They tie you down and ruin your life but somehow they get under your skin. You never know one day I might get to like tramping through muddy fields when it’s cold and wet, picking up dog crap and hoovering up dog hair twice a day.
Still I do kind of like him, just a little.
Rottweiler. Or mx5. Probably
Good luck everybody. Have a good one.
Border terrier , absolutely fantastic dogs great with kids full of character and a great family pet .
Whatever breed you choose , do some homework and wait for the right dog from the right breeder .
Trust me it'll be worth the wait .
With you on this - mum had one as her nursery dog (weird but look them up for this - amazing) and 4 yrs ago adopted one that was destined for the needle. He’s honestly the best natured creature I’ve encountered. Wonderful with kids and just the most heart warming dog.Originally Posted by Papa Hotel
Shihtzu, absolutely awesome companions and superb with children!
Spanish water dog.. my first was so great we just got another to keep him company in his old age .Best decision we've made great all round fun dogs.
How about a West Highland Terrier?
Lovely little dogs, and kids seem to love them too.
My advice would be to go to somewhere like Dogs Trust, Wood Green or Battersea. Rescue a dog or pup thats socialised and he'll love you forever. Just don't get hung up on breeds or a look, wait till you meet the one, you'll know!
^ This. Would be great if you could give one a second chance to have a happy and loving home, and it will love you back x100.
Fas est ab hoste doceri
I'll just add that I would only ever want to re-home an animal rather than buying from a breeder. But as the OP asked for a breed I went with it.
A rehomed dog would literally give you a life time of love and loyalty
...and not so easy to train when they grow up. It takes a while before 'the dust has settled'. I agree with oldoakknives: I would go out for a shelter dog. People from the shelter will listen to what's on your wish-list and can come up with a dog that fits the list. It has to do with personality.
When I was a lad, my parents owned a (50 kg...) rottweiler. According to literature, not the easiest dog to have around. Ours was an exception: it was the friendliest dog. Happy to meet people, easy going and well trained. One day, my parents were babysitting: the next door neighbours were out and pram & baby were in our garden. A 'new' baby in the garden was totally safe. The dog had met the baby in the weeks before, had shown some interest in a friendly manner and turned away that was all. My parents weren't expecting what was about to happen. A visitor approached the house, he was not even close to the back garden and the pram when he entered through the garden gate. The dog went into a state of alert, positioning himself between the pram and the visitor and showed everything written about rottweilers(...), including the warning paragraphs! Nearly taking his 'guardian role' too seriously. No-one got hurt, but it was close.
That made my parents aware of the fact that a rottweiler can take his 'nanny & guardian role' too far. He was not used to his role and not trained how to protect a baby and wasn't learned how to deal with this -for the dog- serious situation.
Menno
Last edited by thieuster; 29th November 2017 at 08:08.
A rescue dog, give a dog that doesn't have one a loving home.
We got our first dog (a Cockapoo) about a year ago and he has been superb. Doesn't shed, doesn't smell (he unless he really tries!) doesn't chew stuff and is the friendliest happy dog I could imagine. It was a big decision that we didn't take lightly but wouldn't change things for the world!
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All breed clubs usually also have their own rescue unit.
Good luck everybody. Have a good one.
I have only skim read this thread but I would implore OP to get a rescue dog. There are so many in need of homes it's heartbreaking. Also, be realistic about what time you have to devote to a dog. NO dog can be left for hours on end on their own everyday and some super smart breeds, like Collies, will require many hours of exercise and stimulation per day.
I would like to suggest an English Springer Spaniel - great with children, highly intelligent and just an overall lovely member of the family. We had one when I was young and we both grew up together, like brothers. The hardest part is seeing them get old but even when they are just a memory they are still a part of you.
Thats right, you often will get better advice from a rescue centre than a breeder , plus if you get a rescue dog you are literally saving a life, dogs that don't find a home just get destroyed. pedigrees often have a lot of congenital physical and behavioural issues that mongrels do not. many dogs in dogs homes are not there through their own fault but through change of owners circumstance.
Good luck everybody. Have a good one.
Yes, go and get a rescue dog.
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I’d think long and hard before getting one.
Mrs Walker and I now spend many happy hours looking after Ozzie, my stepdaughters labrador. Stepdaughter and her hubby decided to get a dog within 2 weeks of setting up home together despite both being at work most of the day. Lovable little Andrex puppy eventually grew into one of the biggest Labradors you’ll ever see, complete with large appetite, large hair-shedding capacity and a highly efficient digestive system that turns all that food into 3 substantial piles of dogshit every day. A big dog needs more excercise and many people don’t have the time or inclination to spend an hour every day taking the beast out. We’ve both become very attached to Ozzie, he’s a lovable hound with a superb temperament and he’s one of the small minority of living creatures on this planet who does what I tell them to do (wifey take note!) However, without Mrs W and I spending time with him he wouldn’t get much of a life because, like many dogs, his owners simply haven’t the time to spend looking after him. Now they’ve got a child they’ve even less time, but Ozzie still has his doggy needs and that includes being taken out frequently............ so we now spend a lot more time with him.
Dogs cost money to buy, feed, and maintain. The bigger the dog the more it’ll cost and the more exercise it needs (generally). If you’re not the type who likes walking in all weathers don’t bother getting one. There’s also a big question mark over hygene with a dog and small children together, I have concerns on this isue but it’s not my call....their child, their dog, their decision. I wouldn't gave a dog until the kids had grown up a bit (5-6 yrs old) but that’s me. One thing I would recommend is puppy training, if a dog is trained properly from the outset it’ll behave far better and will be more of a pleasure to own. Like badly behaved children it’s mostly down to poor parenting.........dog ownership’s the same and you have to train them properly and apply tough love when needed. Again, this involves time, patience and comittment but it definitely pays off.
On that note I’ll collect Ozzie and take him out. A good hours walk, 10 minutes to wash/clean him, then that unmistakable aroma of wet dog for the rest of the afternoon.
Strongly advise giving the decision some serious thought!
Paul
Last edited by walkerwek1958; 29th November 2017 at 11:55.
Is there really no better breed with kids? The media obviously like to publish stories like 'Baby dies after attack by Staffordshire Bull Terrier - Daily Express' or 'Man mauled to death by his own Staffordshire bull terrier - The Telegraph'. But you never see the same stories about a Poodle –*is that because they don't exist, or that they're just not reported. Can it be purely down to the owners, or are some breeds more capable of causing serious or fatal injuries to humans, than others?
My kids would also love a dog.
there are behavioural differences between breeds of course, but i think it is too easy just to think of this as the main factor, as evidenced by this thread.
Good luck everybody. Have a good one.
The problem the Staffie has is that it looks tough and when treated like s**t has the power to back up its looks. This has lead to negative personality traits being rewarded by irresponsible owners who wish to project a certain image of themselves.
Treat a Staffie as a family pet and it'll be the best dog around children. They have a massively high tolerance threshold for kids, they won't react badly if a stupid kid pulls their ears or tail. They're highly intelligent people-pleasers; they're loyal and more keen than almost any other breed to show that they're a good dog. Of course, as above, the perspective they have of what a good dog is depends very much on the owner.
French Bulldog. Very easy to pin the blame on whenever the wife accuses you of farting.
100% this.
Here's Bertie who's a bit on the large size for a mini schnauzer but is a cracking doggie and loves kids!
I've put a dog flap in the back door so he can get into the back garden when he wants. It's completely enclosed.
I hate to start off negatively but... Dogs can be very tying, I would love one, but at the same time, my work commitments would mean it would be left alone for hours at a time and this would not be fair on the dog, so I havent got one. The dogs wellfare is the first and foremost priority in your decision making process. Also bare in mind kids have novelty values and may loose interest after a few months, if your wife isnt too keen, all the responsibility will fall on you.
Whilst I wouldn't fully trust any dog with kids, I grew up with standard size, smooth haired Dachshunds - Not to be confused with the mini ones which seem fairly popular now. They didn't need lots of walking and are plenty playful enough when not lounging around. They also have a surprisingly loud bark for a smallish dog - great for scaring away unwanted visitors... until they see them!
My parents had three in total, each one had a completely different personality to the others, highlighting that all dogs are different, even if they are the same breed. Go to a rescue centre, get advice and pick a dog with the right personality and traits for you. The breed, to a certain degree is secondary.
I appreciate all the comments. I am well aware of the cost and time commitment of owning a dog and it is not a decision I would take lightly.
I have thought about a rescue dog but from what I can see they tend to be older dogs.
I would really prefer a puppy that we can train and the kids can bond with
Golden Retriever .
Had two . Best dogs for kids . Quite a lot of work but any dog is if you are looking after it properly.
Don't even think about it!
Cheers,
Neil.
You have puppies / young dogs in rescue. Go to Battersea (or any of the others that have been mentioned. Speak to the staff (the people, not the terrier). Go with the family. They see people bringing dogs in every day for all sorts of reasons. They will know how to advise you.
'Against stupidity, the gods themselves struggle in vain' - Schiller.
Ha Neil!
When I started reading this thread I asked myself how long it would take before you would chip in with the Wonder of the Canine World: the EBT. I agree, I would not have kids AND and EBT in the house at the same time. Now, without kids... that's another story.
Menno
Staffie, young and from a rescue.
He/she’ll love you like no other, easy to train, intelligent, obedient, loyal, protective.
Not biased........
Our Cockapoo arrived last year and has been everything we hoped for. He is tremendous fun and great with the kids who he bonded with immediately. They also have that look that attracts a lot of positive comments on walks.
Personally, with kids, I discounted a rescue dog immediately. Without knowing the full history of a dog I wouldn’t be able to trust it with my children. And the only way I would be guaranteed to know the history is by getting a puppy from a reputable breeder.
Another vote for a Cockapoo- Never been a big dog lover but had him for three years now and he’s good fun.
Pretty intelligent, no moulting and easy to live with.
I’m with Neil and the other Bullie breed lovers here. EBT’s and Staffies are the most loving, loyal, protective and comical dogs you could ever wish for. I have had both for many many years now, my kids and now my grandkids love ours.
I would be hesitant to recommend a rescue dog though, unless you get one at a puppy or very young adult stage. Once a dog has developed bad habits its sometimes very hard to change them. Also you can teach a younger dog exactly how he/she should behave easier than an older one.
Whatever you choose though, remember its for life not just christmas like the stickers say. Otherwise you will simply be adding to the rescue dog problem.
Stuart
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As has been said before - Border Terrier - soft as a teddy bear, heart of a lion, walk around the block or up a mountain, big dog personality and looks in a small dog package - we got our first as a puppy (we had a baby at the time), lost him at 14 (still badly missed....) and after a year or so we got a rescue who was 5 and a year or so on has settled in amazingly; it helped having one before and knowing the breed in terms of assessing the suitability as a member of our family for the rescue dog.
Im sure I've read that on tinder
Good luck everybody. Have a good one.
Same here, chose one as 2 family members atopic, no problems with allergies, no moulting, they are super smart and great personalities
Check PRA genetics before getting one though as both cockers and poodles can carry it
THIS 100%.
There are literally 1000's of dogs that people have abandoned and need a good home, often because they did not realise what's involved and how much it can affect your life. We have had 5 rescues over the years. 3 dogs and 2 cats.
Please do learn as much as you can about keeping dogs, and make sure you (not your kids) are up for at least 10 years of effectively having a young child to look after. Even good dogs can be quite demanding, limiting and disruptive.
Just as an example, you'll find where you can go on holiday far more limited and wherever you go and whatever you do, you'll need to consider pooch. Sorry to come across as all preachy, but it's a huge commitment.
My best advice is, don’t get a dog. As in a single dog. Infinitely better for all concerned if the dog has at least another dog for company. Keeping two or three dogs is actually easier than keeping one.
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