Picking the right dog breed for you

[boscobel]

I know that we've talked about it before, but I got an email today from Martha Stewart magazine that references some links and info that I thought would be helpful on how to pick the breed of dog that works best for your needs and lifestyle.

 

Here's the main link:

Dog Breeds Center

 

Dog Breeds: Good with Children (44)

1. Beagle
2. Basset House
3. Bearded Collie
4. Beauceron
5. Bermese Mountain Dog
6. Boston Terrier (my family has 4, so I can vouch for them!)
7. Bulldog (english) (I have one myself and she's great with kids)
8. Cocker Spaniel
9. English Cocker Spaniel
10. Collie
11. Curly Coated Retriever
12. English Setter
13. Field Spaniel
14. Flat Coated Retriever
15. German Short Haired Pointer
16. Golden Retriever
17. Gordon Setter
18. Great Pyrenees
19. Greater Swiss Mountain Dog
20. Irish Red & White Setter
21. Irish Setter
22. Keeshond
23. Labrador Retriever
24. Lagotto Romagnolo
25. Miniature Schnauzer
26. Newfoundland
27. Norwegian Buhund
28. Norwegian Elkhound
29. Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever
30. Old English Sheepdog
31. Otterhound
32. Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen
33. Pharaoh Hound
34. Plott
35. Pointer
36. Polish Lowland Sheepdog
37. Portugese Water Dog
38. St. Bernard
39. Scottish Deerhound
40. Siberian Husky
41. Spinone Italiano
42. Staffordshire Bull Terrier
43. Sussex Spaniel
44. Wirehaired Pointing Griffon

Other helpful links:

All-American Dog Breeds

Dog Breeds: Apartment Dogs

Dog Breeds: Calm Companions

Dog Breed Selection Tips

[MDLady]

I have a miniature poodle and am surprised that poodles are not on the list. They are super smart, friendly, not aggressive, and very trainable. Plus they are hypo-allergenic and do not shed!!!

[Diva]

Same with schnauzers! I have one and he doesn't shed (great for us allergy sufferers) and loves to play ALL day. I do not have kids around on a daily basis, but when he is exposed, he loves them!

[Cassie]

We did a lot of research before deciding on our Westie, but here was one of my favorite tests, was really useful: Animal Planet :: Guides :: Dog Breed Selector

[boscobel]

Oh, I LOVE that!

[Dap8479]

Cassie, great link!

[KarenM]

Great info Carly & Cassie! We really want a dog so that quiz will be great!

[KristinaM]

Very cool quiz Cassie!

 

Maltese was one of my results which was what I have... but I guess having a dog already maybe makes you subconsciously answer the questions to how your dog is!

[Lady_Di]

Great website...

 

i'm surprised boxers are not on the list...they are family dogs. ok my boxer puppy is too high strung for kids right now. he gets SOOO excited around kids and he jumps on them. Haha.

 

I do see that they are number 6 for popular dogs. I absolutely love my dog. At first, i was really overwhelmed because he is a high energy dog and naturally dominant puppy. I got a lot better at controlling him than just letting him run me over.

 

Important advice for you considering a high energy dog, give your dog PLENTY OF EXERCISE! I take Bo to the park almost single day for a hour and we send him to dog day care once a week. If you are a couch potato, then a high energy dog is not for you. Only times when Bo is a couch potato is at nights with us watching tv for a hour after he has been exercised.

[jplovesme]

Love the site and this thread! I know Collie is on the list, but I have a Shetland Sheepdog or "Sheltie" (looks like a mini collie), and he is fantastic with kids. SUPER smart, easy to train (learned most of his tricks under half an hour), soooo affectionate and loyal. You can see his pic in my siggy!

 

But of course, even though a lot of traits are innate to breeds, I still think discipline is a major factor in getting your dog to behave the way you want, especially around kids. I love "The Dog Whisperer" and Cesar always had great pearls of wisdom on training dogs and humans. I've seen good dogs from good breeds go bad because the owners don't discipline correctly. But Diana's totally right -- EXERCISE, exercise exercise. Although our little Marley isn't super high energy as a breed, he is more mellow after his daily walks. LOVE him!