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What small-medium sized dogs are generally good with young kids? - Page 4

post #61 of 91
9/5/07 at 6:18pm
Thread Starter 
Joanna-Thanks so much for your reply. I really enjoy reading your posts and find that I get soooo much information from the Pet Forum, here on MDC, b/c of YOU!

I don't know what dog we'll get, but I really want to narrow our choices and feel that we're focused on a few breeds that we think would fit and see if we can find those. I love the idea of a French Bulldog, but they seldom come up at rescues--even one devoted to FBs only gets a few/year. I also really like mutts. And then the flip side is Goldens. I know, I'm all over the place here...

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post #62 of 91
9/5/07 at 6:39pm
Bearsmama, Goldens are fantastic dogs. They do tend to be wonderful with kids, and are usually gentle as can be.

BUT I seem to remember you had a thing about hair... and size...

No amount of fantastic personality is going to change the fact that a GR has a LOT of hair that needs to be brushed regularly, and vacummed up off the floor often. No amount of gentleness is going to change the fact that a GR takes up the entire back seat of the vehicle, making it pretty tricky to take the whole family and the dog anywhere.

We had the world's greatest black lab for 13 years. He was everything you could hope for in a family dog. But he was HUGE. And while I don't think he shed excessively, because of his size, a little shedding went a long way! Not to mention the fact that a big dog eats a lot and leaves BIG piles.

Please look at the big picture, and try to be as objective as you can when it comes to how much inconvenience you are willing to deal with WRT a dog. Establish your limitations, and try not to look at dogs that don't fit. You and the dog will be happier in the long run.
post #63 of 91
9/5/07 at 10:53pm
Thread Starter 
nd_deadhead--Thank you for your reply and for reminding me of my original ideas about what kind of dog may work best with our family. We don't lead a "big" life--we don't have a truck, we don't live on acreage, we have a small-medium sized 3/4 fenced yard (which we would get all-the-way fenced if and when a dog joined our family). So a GR, or a Lab, would not fit that life, really. I would love it if those dogs *did* fit, but they don't. And I have to be roped in every now and again from what I WANT and what would WORK. That's why I really love all the honesty and wisdom and experience here.

I will continue to look at rescue sites of all different breeds and mixes. Perhaps we'll find just the right mix of good temperament and size. Maybe there's a mutt out there for us.

Thanks again, ladies.
post #64 of 91
9/6/07 at 11:16am
Bearsmama, my all-time favorite breed is the Newfoundland. Enormous, hairy, and often drooly! Maybe someday, if I live in a place with a lake, lots of room, and no carpet in the house, and I never travel (or have a generous neighbor who will dog-sit) I might consider a Newfie. Until then, I'll stick with Corgis!

I know the right dog is out there for you, and he/she will be worth the wait.
post #65 of 91
9/6/07 at 1:52pm
Thread Starter 
I completely get that, nd! I knew a few Great Danes when I was young and I LOVED them. Does our lifestyle work for a GD? No! Newfoundlands are gorgeous. I have a very funny dog breed book and it talks about how unless you're ready to deal with a yard that looked like a fully-grown man pooped in it, you may not be ready for a Newfoundland!
post #66 of 91
9/9/07 at 8:14pm
I don't know if anyone has mentioned a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. Everything I have read and experienced says they're a great family dog and one of the top dogs for home living too. Sometimes they can be pricey when you buy and there are some CKC rescues too.

Their lil bodies are built like strong hunting spaniels so they can take it! We take ours hiking and camping. They're small to medium sized as the standard is 12 pounds I think, but mine is over 20. Outside they play like a hunter and have tons of fun and can go, go, go.

But they LOVE being a lap dog! Inside they're docile and friendly and loyal and will spend hours on you if you let them or at your feet.
post #67 of 91
9/9/07 at 9:37pm
Cavs ARE wonderful dogs. The reason they don't sit at the top of my list for families is 1) They're really too small for young kids and toddlers--they're best for kids eight and older, maybe even ten and over. And 2) The breed is riddled with some really nasty health problems, mainly heart and brain. Heart issues are so rampant that you really should almost expect them to show up, and in the last few years it has been realized that the majority of all Cavs have some narrowing of the brain case and subsequent bulging of the brain below the skull. Many dogs live with this and have no problem, but if the brain is too compromised the dog ends up with pretty severe pain and it's heartbreaking. So anyone thinking about a Cav needs to anticipate some pretty enormous vet bills OR a pretty enormous purchase price (to get a puppy from health-tested parents--since the brain test involves an MRI, the breeder has spent thousands and thousands of dollars before the dogs are even brought together, so the puppy price needs to be huge).
post #68 of 91
9/9/07 at 10:10pm
I don't feel they're too small at all. Of course, it could be because mine's an Amazon at over 20 pounds.

But they remind me of the sturdy body of our Rudy whom was a Westie. They're solid, not easily hurt. My youngest was 5 when we got Charlie, but my friend's baby has been playing with him since the baby was around 8 months old (he's now 12 months).

Charlie has some patience with being pulled on and even if the baby were two to four years old, I don't feel he would be in danger.

I have seen some smaller Cavs that were less social and smaller, but from what I had read online as the norm for their breed, their bodies are hardy and their personalities are great.

The only "beef" I have with them is that I had also read there was little to no grooming for these guys. I guess since we don't have to get him shaved every month, that's true, but he gets some good sized dreads going really quickly if I don't brush him regularly.

The saving grace is that he's not very stinky like our Westie was, so that's nice!
post #69 of 91
9/10/07 at 4:50am
We just got an adult Lhasa Apso and he is fantastic with kids! http://www.lhasaapso.org/FAQ/FAQ.html

Like you, I love the look of big breeds but wanted a small breed becuase we already have a med sized dog (German Shorthaired Pointer) and another one would be too overwhelming for me. I also wanted a dog that wanted to be cuddled and interact with me and the kids (as opposed to my pointer who only like to stalk birds).

I think you are on the right track with looking at rescues...that's what I did, looked at rescues and the local shelters and craigslist, and after a few months we finally found our match! And honestly, I wasn't even considering a Lhasa, the only reason I went to look at him was because he was billed as being excellent with kids. And he is! So just keep the faith and you'll find your new addition
post #70 of 91
9/13/07 at 11:56am
Thread Starter 
Gina--I looked into Cavs and I really do like everything I've read about them EXCEPT what I've heard about the myriad of health problems many of them are now having. They are quite expensive to purchase through a breeder, and we really want to go through rescue. There's a good rescue that I keep checking (an all-Cav rescue) and they seem to really have very detailed info on all health problems and temperament stuff, so they are still in the running.

Everything is "in the running" with me, though! I am drawn to the labs/GRs, but a small-medium dog would fit our lifestyle better. When I get the dream farm, or the acreage, I will reconsider! That may be in another lifetime, however. I am trying to have a few breeds in mind and yet leave myself and my family open to any dog who may be the perfect fit.

Gris-Thanks for the encouragement. I think a perfect dog would come in any breed, really. I could find the perfect Lhasa or Jack Russell or another breed I haven't thought of. But I do have a mental list going.

Joanna-I still need to read the complete article you mention in your siggy. I have read bits and pieces so far...
post #71 of 91
9/13/07 at 4:24pm
I just want to put in a plug for a Golden b/c I love the breed. Yes, they're on the larger side and yes, they need to be brushed and be exercised, but honestly if you rescue an older (3-4ish) dog, you won't need to do near as much activity with him/her. Also, since we've switched ours to a raw diet I am amazed at how little he sheds. I still vaccuum once per week, but there are not near the number of golden tumbleweeds blowing across the floor as there used to be

I find that, in general, if you compare Goldens to Labs, they tend to be much less high-strung. We foster for a Lab rescue and, while I love Labs too, they are much more spazzy than our Golden.
post #72 of 91
9/13/07 at 4:29pm
Thread Starter 
Kristin-Thank you GRs are still on my list, but I have paid more consideration lately to the size of our yard, the size of our car, etc. I'll tell ya, though, every Golden I have ever met has been just lovely.

post #73 of 91
9/13/07 at 4:40pm
: a cav king charles spaniel. small great w/ kids transportable!

please make sure that you're ready to make a life-long commitment to this dog before bringing him/her home! just a friendly PSA
post #74 of 91
9/18/07 at 3:40pm
Thread Starter 
Hi Mamas,
I'm bumping my own thread b/c I'd like to page Joanna (thekimballs). Joanna-I cannot access the Choosing the Right Breed document from your siggy. Is there another link you could post that you feel is a good resource for helping families choose a dog or breed that is right for them. TIA.

Oh, and if anyone else has a good link to anything like this, please post! Thanks!
post #75 of 91
9/18/07 at 4:16pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bearsmama View Post
Hi Mamas,
I'm bumping my own thread b/c I'd like to page Joanna (thekimballs). Joanna-I cannot access the Choosing the Right Breed document from your siggy. Is there another link you could post that you feel is a good resource for helping families choose a dog or breed that is right for them. TIA.
The article still works perfectly for me--click on either link, then on articles, then RIGHT-click on the choosing the breed link and choose "save as" or "download link as." It's a Word doc so it has to download to your desktop.

In terms of other resources, Your Purebred Puppy by Michelle Welton, the website by the same name (yourpurebredpuppy.com) and Paws to Consider by Kilcommons. Those are the ONLY ones I recommend. The vast majority of breed-selection books and articles are just puff pieces that don't say anything negative about the breeds. This is often because the publisher won't LET the author say anything, because the book will be sold in pet stores (I know that one to be true because I actually talked to an author who was seriously ticked off) or because they think that saying anything negative will not sell copies. So the author is forced into "The Alaskan Malamute loves his food" (please, please understand that I'm saying that this breed is often food-aggressive) and "The Australian Shepherd was developed to move stock over long distances" (please, please understand that I am saying that they have barks that can carry for three miles).
post #76 of 91
9/19/07 at 12:30am
Thread Starter 
Thanks, Joanna. We use a Mac, and our trial of Word has expired. That was the problem, not the link. I can use another program to read it, I think.

post #77 of 91
9/19/07 at 12:51am
If you have trouble, let me know. I can easily transfer it to text.
post #78 of 91
9/20/07 at 10:59pm
Thread Starter 
Thanks, Joanna. I think I can get it...

I also think that the perfect mutt might find us. Or vice versa. All this breed talk, however, will be incredibly helpful no matter what type of dog we get.

I am currently enamored with the Jack Russell terrier that lives down the street. And I know temperament-wise and training-wise, they can be tough. I also have abiding love for my next door neighbor's bulldog. She is a wonderful dog. And I joke with her mom that I am tempted every day to smuggle her into our yard...
post #79 of 91
9/22/07 at 6:40am
We have a terrier mix (Jack Russell and...something) and a purebred Chihuahua, and believe it or not, the Chi and my two year old are best buddies. The dog puts up with the occasional pulling of the ears and LOVES to cuddle. (She usually knows when I'm pregnant before I do - I find her cuddled up next to my stomach.) I also tend to find her cuddled up next to sleeping babies in my house if they are left unattended for 30 seconds.

Most Chihuahuas, from my experience, aren't like this. But don't count them out - you may just have to look for one with a bit more mellow of a mood. And she'll never get over 8 pounds, so she'll always be the smallest in the house. The only real problem I've ever had with her is that she was a PAIN to housebreak, but once we figured out that it was mostly because her little bladder is so tiny, and we just weren't letting her out enough, it got fixed pretty quickly. Once we got that under control, she's been great.
post #80 of 91
10/2/07 at 12:55am
Thread Starter 
Hi Mamas,
Okay, I'm bumping this thread with a question for the mama dog experts--namely Joanna and K9Rider. I know a lab doesn't fit my original idea of what I *think* would work for my family...but tell me why I shouldn't adopt a lab again?

I keep going back to Labs in my mind. I've always loved them. There's a 2-3 yo labbie up for adoption thru a local rescue....talk me down, ladies, talk me down.

Please know I am *really* not a spur-of-the-moment kinda gal. ooooh, gtg. more laterr
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Mothering › Mothering Discussion Forums › Natural Family Living › The Mindful Home › Pets › What small-medium sized dogs are generally good with young kids?