Need Advice
October 14, 2008 by admin - Jennifer
Filed under Jen's Journal
The hubby and I have decided to get a puppy for Christmas for our family. Problem is we can’t decide on which kind. My husband likes the big dogs, Golden Retrievers, Labs etc. I am small dog person, I like the pugs, terriers etc. (Always wanted a Cocker Spaniel but I hear they have terrible ear problems)
I have read up on most of these dogs but I would like some first hand experiences with them. What kids of dog do you have? Do you have one that is good with kids? (I have 3 kids ages 15, 9 and 14 months. I am concerned how a dog will interact with the baby the most) Any help would be appreciated 
Hey Jennifer,
We have a Newfoundland and I will tell you that they are a LOT of work. She’s about 100 pounds and fairly small for her breed but having a large or giant breed dog at home is a bit like having a toddler around all the time (or so we gather since our daughter is still in the womb lol.) There is a lot of cleaning involved (keeping the dirt & fur from wandering around your house) and they need to be brushed almost daily. But since you have a couple older kids, they could certainly help with things like this. They are very family friendly dogs and thrive while around people. They love kids and are known as gentle giants.
I’d be happy to share any more info you’d like about the breed and refer you to other pages who are almost more knowledgeable – or look at the links to other blogs on my blog page under “Ayla the Newfie.”
I grew up with lots of different dogs but my first was a Cocker Spaniel when I was 5. She was a great dog but I can’t say how they generally do around smaller children.
Goldens need lots of exercise (several hours per day) & attention. Labs are generally a bit more laid back in our experience.
There is a fairly good quiz that matches you up to various types of breeds based on your answers about time, family & living situation, etc that you guys might find helpful as a starting place:
http://dogtime.com/matchup/
Best of luck with the new addition to the family!!
Tiffany
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My mom has a soft coated wheaton terrier. They don’t shed and are hypoallergenic (sp?). I love this breed and will be getting one as soon as I have a place with a backyard. I also love labs and golden retrievers. I have had experience with those as well and all these breeds are great with kids!
I left you a present on my blog!
Allison´s last blog post..Better Late Than Never!
I have a beautiful cocker spaniel. She is SOOOO sweet and LOVES Boston. She is blonde spaniel and so funny! She’s three and loves to play but knows how to settle down when it is time. I say get a COCKER SPANIEL!!!
We got a shihtzu and we LOVE her! My kids are 2 & 6 and the pup is really good with them. We got her when she was 3 mos. old and she has learned to let the 2 year old bug her and not bite him! lol She is so energetic and doesnt need much attention as far as taking her for a walk…she gets tired with a 30 min walk a day! She is a ball of energy and we LOVE her! From what I read, shihtzu’s are good with kids! You can go play with one at a local store and see how it goes! Hope that helps a bit!
Twitter: naptime
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We have a Springer Spaniel and as far as the years go, our vet says the only way to get rid of year problems with a spaniel is to get rid of the dog.
You may want to look into the poodle mixes. They don’t shed and you can get a labradoodle and I think they even vary in size… The people I know with these mixes loved them…
Good luck!
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I have a mini poodle and I adore her! Such a good girl!
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I would have to vote for a lab. Ours died last year and we miss her so much. She was great with our kids and a lot of fun to have around
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Twitter: MarciaGrajewski
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We have a soon to be 5 year old Chocolate Lab. I have a 4 year old DD and a 1 year old DS. Labs are great with kids!
Labs require a lot of exercise and you need to invest in a good vacuum cleaner to pick up all the hair! That is the biggest downfall of our pooch–he sheds like nobody’s business!
Good luck with your search!
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Puppies are a lot of work, but a lot of fun. We have 2 dogs. Shadow, a St. Bernard mix and Toby, a chow/lab mix. Both are great with the kids, although Shadow is friendlier with strangers. Toby’s a little skittish and it’s probably the chow in him. We’ve got a friend that has a golden doodle and loves it. Good luck with whatever you get.
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My friend loves her Havanese Dogs. For pet allergies, they are great, and small, and not yappy.
so she tells me?
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We brought home a puppy English Bulldog when our daughter was just 15 months old. What a bond they formed! Baxter was so loving, gentle and sweet. Unfortunately, he died when our daughter was nearly 3. Just last week, we adopted an adult English Bulldog named Einstein and he is the biggest sweetheart ever! Our three children (7, 5 and 3) adore him. Like Baxter, he’s extremely gentle and sweet. Best of all…he’s extremely tolerant of the children who can’t seem to leave the poor dog alone!
We absolutely LOVE English Bulldogs and recommend them highly around young children.
p.s. I love your new blog look!
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Gonna give you another vote for a lab or any kind of retriever. They are known for being amazing with kids!! Just be sure to check any dog’s activity requirements and health problems that are common to a breed (ex I love dachsunds but they are prone to back problems). It’s horrible for kids to lose a pet so it’s best to get one that is more likely to be healthy!
Good luck!
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My recommendation on a small dog would be a Puggle. It’s a hybrid mix of Beagles and Pugs. We got ours about 5 years ago and he’s the absolute sweetest little guy.
This blog post has a picture of him with the kids if you want to see what he looks like.
http://cuteasheck.blogspot.com/2008/10/puppy-love.html
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Thank you all so much for your advice on what dog to get
Thank you too to Mobile Mommy for the write up 
I am having so much fun with this decision and I appreciate all the help I can get 
Hi Jennifer…I just saw this post! We have a 116-pound yellow lab that our toddler adores.
We also have a Dyson animal vacuum cleaner (he sheds a lot.)
We also have a huge bill when it comes to groomers/kennels/buying dog food.
Oh…and a big yard is a must.
I’m not a fan of big dogs…but honestly, we could not have chosen a better, more pleasant family pet.
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I say rescue a Greyhound! They come potty trained and are easy to take care of, but but gentle giants.
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