What Kind of Breed of Dog for Us?

Yes! Get a bichon frise. They look like a poodle but much cuter and better temprament. I read 4 books on them prior to getting ours. They were on the top 25 dog list for kids in Parents?? Our little guy (18 mo) also said dog as his first word and LOVES dogs. He pulls Charlie's hair, ears and paws and he has NEVER shown an ounce of agression. To my knowledge no bichons will unless they were improperly bred. My husband was like we're telling everybody this is your dog, but now Charlie's his best friend and the German Shepherd moved outside. Bichons don't shed at all. You can get more info here:

http://www.bichonfrise.org/
http://www.bichon.org/

This site may help you too (it has the top 20 picks for families w/kids):
http://www.petplace.com/dogs/top-dog-breeds-for-families/...

The only downside is that they're such good dogs that they're popular, so you'll probably have to get a puppy. Then, it's hard to find females sometimes (if you want one).

Feel free to email me more info or ques if you need it.

R.
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I wouldn't get a medium sized puppy because they jump and would knock down your son. I had two and they knocked down my 4 year old and 2 year old twice and they wanted nothing else to do with them and were afraid to go out in their backyard. So, we had to get rid of them. We now have a Dachshun and they LOVE her. I would recommend one of those or a shih tzu. They're not hyper dogs.

I had two peek-a-poos (real breed) for 15 years who were wonderful! Both passed away within months of one another not too long after my son was born. He is now a year old, and he loves dogs too. We've spent a lot of time researching the best dogs for young ones because I just couldn't get another like my two babies that I lost this year. Although it's not recommended to get a new pet until the age of 6 (I can't remember why that is), we still think we may get one some day before then. We found that the top two best dogs for young children were the Collie and Beagle. The Collie, though, has to be brushed and groomed regularly because of their long hair. We thought a beagle would be the best fit for us. It's a good size, and grooming isn't necessary to do on a daily basis. Good luck with your search!

Hi, we did a LOT of research before we decided on our dog and we think we made a perfect choice. We didn't want a high-energy, high-maintenance dog that would require a ton of work. My husband researched on the web and determined that a Pembroke Welsh Corgi would be the perfect dog and we were right!!! Rocky is SOOO well-behaved and well-mannered. Of course he has his typical doggy moments (chasing the cat etc), but he's been a great dog. We have a 4year old and wanted a dog that was sturdy enough (unlike a small breed) to handle a young child rough-housing with, but didn't want a huge dog that would intimidate my child. We don't have a large yard either and found the Corgi to be the perfect size. I know of a GREAT breeder who is local. She doesn't breed for the money and really LOVES her Corgis. Let me know if you need more info. Also, I have a video of my dog playing 'soccer' on YouTube where you can see a Corgi in action! Let me know if you want the link. Also, the breeder's link is www.lonestarcorgis.com Whatever you do, research the breed and know what their habits are. Some dogs are extremely fragile, or nippy with small children. Others howl and bark a lot, etc etc... I've grown up with Shelties (great dogs as well, but they shed and Rocky (our Corgi) is a fluffy one (not standard) and the cat sheds more than him...in fact I haven't found ANY of his hair in the house and he's inside a lot. Let me know if you need more info!

I have alwyas had poodles growing up and still have one now for my daughter. They dont shed and are very kind natured dogs. They are also calm. All of ours even as puppies havent really jumped or scratched or ate up toys so theyare awsome in thaT aspect. They also like to bond with one person but will with the whole family too. If you have your child feed and let it out it will bond w/ them really fast and follow them around like mine does w/ my daughter. We also have a maltese (toy) and he is a bit wilder and more playful, He is only 6mo old and I really should have waited to get him until my daughter was bigger she isnt used to a dog being that active since our other one isnt and this one jumps on her and shes not to happy about that. Well good luck choosing a puppy.

Hi,
We have a basset hound. My daughter(14months) sits on him, pulls his very long ears, pushes him, you name it she has done it to him and he just lets her. He has NEVER shown an ounce of aggressiveness toward her or any kids. In my opinion, he is the best dog ever around kids. He is so laid back(as an adult, but as a puppy he was sometimes hyper!). He sleeps a lot, and loves to cuddle. He likes to play chase, and fetch. Bassets are very friendly, passive dogs. They are small in the sense of height/tall, but weight anywhere from 50-60 pounds. If you would like, you can email me with any questions and to see pictures of what he(Bassets) looks like.
~A.~
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I have a mini poodle. He doesn't shed at all and is really sweet natured. He is only about 16 pounds full grown.

We have a ShihTzu that we have had for 5 years now and our son is 2. He has been wonderful with our son, especially after all of the stuff that our son has done to him. He is considered a hypoallergenic dog b/c he has hair instead of fur and therefore does not shed. He is wonderful and well behaved and was never too hyper as a puppy.

I would like to suggest a Boston Terrier. I am kind of partial because I have had them for years. They are very low maintenance, short haired, don't shed much, sturdy (you wouldn't want to get a very fragile dog with a one year old), good with kids, they don't have a history of biting, etc. I could go on and on. They aren't the prettiest dogs in the world (I always say they are so ugly they're cute or a face only a mother could love) but they have the most wonderful personalities and dispositions. They aren't big but they are muscular.

Do a seach on the web, under choosing dog breed, or dog right for you.
There are many sites that have questionnaires you can take that can match what things are important to you in a dog to dog breeds that match your intrest. (like good with certain ages of kids, big yard small yard, how many hours will dog be home by it self a week, grooming needs ect.)

Take a couple of diffrent quizes. Focus on breeds that show up on your quiz list answers repeatedly as dogs that would be a good match for you. Then do so reseach on those breeds. Good luck in your search.

http://www.wonderpuppy.net/choose.htm
http://www.petnet.com.au/selectadog.html
http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/search.htm

I also LOVE bishons! Don't get any teacups or minitures though... these dogs are very fraile and although their temperment works with kids... they end up with a lot of injuries from simple horseplay. I worked in a vet, so I have seen a lot. http://www.mydogsbreed.com/
this is a sight that has a breakdown of breeds and choosing the right one for your family. I personally get pound dogs... I feel like I am saving a life that way, and they seem to be more appreciative. If you get a puppy- obediance training is a must! Older dogs that need adopted are usually great with kids because they are more relaxed.

I used to work in a vet's office and was involved in rescuing homeless dogs for years, and I would strongly recommend that a) you buy an adult dog rather than a puppy and b) you get at least a medium-sized dog rather than a small dog. The reason for these recommendations is because puppies are not only very time consuming and messy (with teething on furniture, potty accidents etc.) but also fragile when young, so your son could accidentally hurt a puppy (say if he tripped on the puppy, for example.) The reason I'd recommend a medium-sized dog is because they are first of all less fragile than a tiny little chihuahua for instance, and also because very small dogs tend to be very nippy with children (because they are worried that the child will harm them, which is a very real possibility with an animal so small.) As for dog breeds, I would recommend medium-sized spaniels, or maybe a miniature (but not toy) poodle (they don't shed at all!) Labs and Golden retrievers are usually very good with kids, although they are quite large. If you buy an adult dog you will also already know the dog's personality (a puppy's personality often changes once they mature) and how well the dog does with young kids. An adult dog is also more than likely already housetrained, and more gentle with kids than a boisterous puppy. Good luck!