Family-friendly dogs

[Kat Tancock]

In this article:

http://www.canadianliving.com/life/pets/top_5_family_friendly_dogs.php

author Lorri Benedik gives her top 5 family-friendly breeds of dog.

What do you think? Did she miss any? Do you disagree with any of her choices?
_________________
Kat Tancock
Web Editor and Forums Moderator
CanadianLiving.com
forums@canadianliving.com

[Phamilton]

Those breeds are fine, generally. Boxers can be particularly high-energy, so families should be aware of that. There are many types of collies, especially border collies, that come from working lines (therefore need to be stimulated & exercised regularly). But there are many more breeds not mentioned. Pugs and Cairn terriers are nice, & I'm partial to bulldogs because I have one myself. You'll get all sorts of responses from pet owners that love their own pet, whatever breed it may be. Chihuahua's & Spitz I wouldn't personally put on my top ten list because they can be nippy.

[dolphin]

For the most part I find that mixed breeds make the best family pets. Purebred dogs appear to come with specific health issues & personality traits, and of course are a lot more costly to purchase or adopt.
I have a mixed breed lhasa apso/poodle, he is the cutest & most loving dog I have ever been around. He's smart, very easy to train & has the energy of the poodle but also the laziness of the lhasa apso, so the best of both worlds. He also more or less human type hair so there is very little shedding & he is basically hypo-allergenic. (The haircuts are costly but better than having to vacuum every 5 minutes!)

[shaungereghty]

I like bigger breeds for family dogs. They tend not to ever display aggressive tendancies towrds kids and seem to be more family oriented instead of latching to one person.
1. Great Dane
2. Bernese Mountain Dog
3. German Shorthaired Pointer
4. Giant Schnauser

they know their huge stature and don't often feel the need to protect themselves so rarely show aggression

[wendy.f]

I would have to agree with the Golden Retriever, I have a 3 month old Retriever and I run a daycare, she loves the kids and plays with them and can tolerate anything ( even at the puppy age) They are eager dogs to please and quite easy to train and VERY obedient.

[CATHY MACDONALD]

And what about the English Setter? We have one and she has to be the best-natured family dog that I have seen yet ! Well behaved and with such a calm, even temperment. We just love her.

Also had a Wire-haired Pointing Griffon and he was a Gem. Stayed with us 13+ years and I cried like a baby when he was gone.

Two great family dogs !

[BethV]

I think that regardless of the breed of dog, the key to having a happy family pet is proper training. EVERYONE has to be on board and consistent or a dog gets confused. We have only ever had mutts and for me it boils down to this: if a dog can't read them, what good are the papers?

I also think that before a family brings home a new pet, the head of the household, the "mom" has to be in a position to make a 10 year committment to someone who will be a todler forever. Kids (and spouses) may SAY "we'll take are of it" but we all have to be realistic and make sure it's not too much to take on.

[Phamilton]

Training can only take you so far for some temperments. A naturally aggressive dog can be controlled but never turned into a passive trustworthy dog that you'd let your kids fall over. Dominance aggression is inherited, this we know. But obedience training is always good for dog & family.

[toxiclauren]

I strongly believe that any dog can be a family-friendly dog for several reasons:
1. how much time the family is willing to spend on training the dog, and the consistency that goes along with proper training.
2. basing your choice on your lifestyle and surroundings. A big dog needs space to roam, so an apartment or small yard is not the best place for a large, working or herding-breed dog. If you aren't willing to properly exercise a large breed dog, then look to a small to medium breed dog.
3. Personal preference. Some people who have had a small breed dog for most of their lives may not realize the differences in maintenance between a large breed and a smaller breed dog. Personally, I have always had a large German Sheherd around and have a personal preference for the breed. A small shih-tzu, for example, would have different needs than a big dog and require adjustment on the owner's part.

Also, while I have nothing against mixed breed dogs being good pets for families, sometimes you must be cautious. Certain breeds have historically shown a tendency to display unfavorable personality traits when mixed.

[sanneilper]

I don`t think it`s a case of which breed is best. It is about where the dog comes from.Are the parents of the breed well natured or were they trained to be mean.I have a mixed breed dog who is husky/ king shepard He is the biggest suck around, mind you he will go after someone if you tell him to and only if you tell him to. But he would never just bite someone because they are there.I have another dog which is pure doberman and is the biggest baby you have seen, all he wants to do is lick you and he sleeps under a blanket. His parents were not trained to be nasty dogs, i believe it all comes from the people that buy these animals and how they trian them. I use my dogs just for the look and the perseption they bring, as guard dogs.

[secondwind]

We have 2 Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retreivers. We got our first one, Reba, at 8 weeks on December 8, 2006 and yes she was our Xmas Present and life has never been the same since. Last July we were at the NSDTR Club Specialty show and we met Sally our second Toller who was 3 months old. Our breeder was looking for a "working" home meaning one that was willing to show and possibly hunt with her. We were on for both counts as we use our girls in the field to hunt ducks, pheasant and grouse.

They are awesome lap puppies and fearless in the field. We are empty nesters and when our kids (grandson, granddaughter or niece) come around they are in puppy heaven!

Not so well known and they are gaining popularity. They don't smell doggy after they come out of the water, they drip dry and mud seems to fall off them. The females are approximately 38 pounds full grown.

We have hunters looking at them for small spaces as we live in an 800 sq ft 4th floor condo with both of them. We live across from a river with 2 parks on either side which constitutes our "backyard".

Labs look out for the Tollers. They are loyal, fast, smart and cuddly...what more can you ask!

Deborah, Sally and of course Reba!

[sammy1236]

I'd agree on golden retrievers. Daily exercise and regular brushings are a must. They crave your attention and are almost clingy, they will not be happy alone in the backyard knowing you are in the house.
As for mixed versus pure breeds, yes the purebreeds do tend to have more health issues. However if you research breeds of interest to you with focus on their characteristics, you'll know what you are getting. Key to this is getting your puppy from a reputable kennel/breeder, not a pet supply store.
I read books for a year and went to a few dog shows, went on visits to a couple of kennels to see the dogs and other things. After nearly a year and a half I finally had a golden. They say average lifespan is to 10 years, I had my first golden girl for 13 1/2 years (Reba in pic). Did not want to go through another ending. But somehow another came to me through a family that was moving and couldn't keep him. So now I'm on my second retriever 'Murphy'. They are a long term commitment yet so many people treat pets as disposables. I don't understand the mentality of that. Anyways starting to ramble here.
Golden's are ace for families with kids I'd say. And unlike Yorkie's (who I can't believe made the list) a Golden is not big on barking. Oh they are also not a good choice as a guard dog.

Cheers !

[rocknbluesinger1]

[MommyOf4Boys]

I researched for 7 months before deciding on what Breed of dog was right for our family. Too often I heard of dogs ending up in shelters because people don't regard this as a super important decision, it is adding a member to your family!

My oldest had wanted a Daschsund, but upon more in-depth reasearch we discovered that they tend to have quite sensitive spines - and with younger kids, just one accidental fall on the little dog could cause injury. So we knew the direction to look in was a dog that was "sturdy" and able to fit in with 4 boys. But we didn't think a huge dog would be good either as the youngest at the time was only 11 months old.

What I came up with was an English Bulldog, and it was the best decision ever! They are great with kids, social and oh so loving! Another thing I thought of was, I had never, ever heard of an English Bulldog biting anyone. I spoke with many different breeders to find out as much as I could about "Bullies" and was confident when we chose our pup.

At first look, I discovered that finding one at a shelter was virtually impossible, as rescuing one was obviously our first choice. So we were lucky when we found an awesome breeder who treated her dogs like kids, loved and cared for!

We have had our Bullie for 3 years now and our "Girlie Girl" is Best Buds with all our boys.... she has NEVER been aggressive EVER with anyone. Not even the cat, lol. The worst thing she may do is "Lick you to death" as she likes to soak the boys with that ol' tongue.

We are also a very busy family, and knew that we could not get a "High Energy" dog that needed many long walks or runs every day. Bullies tend to be somewhat lazy, and half hour walks are not really their thing. She loves to chill on the couch with the kids, and we've also noticed she plays "age accordingly" with the kids, super gentle with the little ones, but a little more playful with the older ones. It really is amazing that she obviously realizes that difference.

Actually, I'm more surprised that I don't see more Bullies around. Granted they are expensive to buy, but they are also a more expensive dog to breed. (Please beware of "cheaper" Bullies, real, caring English Bulldog Breeders will and can tell you that anyone trying to sell you a Bulldog for say, $250.00 is not on the up and up, as they average about $2500.00 CDN) Yes, they cost alot, but in my opinion, they are worth every penny!

Whatever dog you decide on, I think it has to be a choice that reflects the lifestyle and composition of your family. Of course i am saying the Bullies are awesome, but I honestly wouldn't recommend them as a great family friendly dog if I didn't truly believe it, or experienced one as a pet for myself and as a Mom.

[camgirl]

I'm not sure if anyone else mentioned it, but we have a female purebred Siberian Husky and she's the best family pet i could ever ask for. Now males are much my hyper and more difficult to train, but we have no problem with our female.