Good Family Dogs

We have 2 cockers and a 5 month old. They are the sweetest most affectionate dogs we've ever owned. We have not had any problems with biting or snapping like some others have suggested.

The very best family dog is the golden retriever. They are the best dogs! my family always grew up with GOldens and now i have them for my kids!

You cannot go wrong with a terrier! I had a West Highland White Terrier, and she was the best family dog that anyone could ever ask for. They are smart, obedient, sooo loving, and best of all, they have a longer life expectancy than most dogs. Mine tragically died in an accident just days before her 15th birthday, and she acted like a puppy her entire life (not spastic like a puppy, I just mean same energy). You'll have to let all of us know what you decide - LOL! Best of luck with whichever wonderful dog you get! The behavior and attitude that the dog develops comes more from how they are trained and treated, rather than their breed, anyway. But I had my Westie from adolescense (sp?) until adulthood, and I am so grateful for the 15 yrs she was in my life! Good luck, G., and Happy Holidays!!

We have 2 cockers, and they are wonderful with children.

We have a cocker spaniel that we absolutly adore. I have 2 girls, 4 and 10, and we have had the dog for 2 years. She is sweet and calm, and loves to run and play with the girls. The ONLY complaint I have is that she has to be groomed, and that can get pricey, but we think she is worth it =) Hope that helps.

We have a Shi Tzu. Wonderful dogs! We got ours when my little girl was 2 1/2. These dogs are very strong and sturdy and can handle all that is dished out to them from small kids. They are so gentle and don't bite. The best part.....NO SHEDDING! Yup, shi tzu's don't shed! We keep ours in a shprt puppy cut and long face and ears and tail. If you choose to let the hair grow long, you will have to brush it because it is like people hair instead of fur and will tangle easily. The sturdiness of these and gentleness of their nature is amazing. Oh, and they are very smart. Very easily house trained. Good luck

We have had Cocker Spaniels for years. Currently we have a 10 yr old American Cocker, 5 yr old English Cocker and 3 yr old Toy poodle.

These are the 2nd American and 2nd English Cockers we've had. The English Cockers are a lot of fun with kids, LOVE to play ball, fetch, swim, etc. The downside is some health issues if you don't get one that is properly bred. Other than that, clean their ears often and brush them a lot. The American Cockers are lovable but don't play as much.

The Poodle is fantastic and we will certainly have more Poodles. He does not shed, no allergens, great dog, very loyal....very protective (of me) and he is "daughter's dog.

Good luck....it is a huge responsibility to be a pet owner, can be very expensive as well but we adore our pets and they all have a great life at our home.

Ok so you have a lot of advice to look through. I didn't really get a chance to read them all but i will give you my experience. Between me and my family we have had over 30 different breeds of dogs. My cousin had a golden retriever who bit her daughter when she was 2 or 3 and still has a really bad scare on her leg. My daughter has a permanent scare on her face from a weimaraner(??) that my parents got for christmas. There are always dogs that don't fit into their breed standard.

As far as my personal experience, my sister has 2 wheatons and they are great protective dogs. The female is the alpha dog and she will fight with all the other dogs (my parents have approx. 10)with out being provoked. I lived next to a beagle and that dog drove me nuts!! It barked at all hours of the night and was a menace. We have had 2 cocker spaniels and they were pretty good dogs.

I would suggest you getting a boxer, boston terriers, australian shepherd, or a border collie. The australian shepherd and the border collie are EXCEPTIONALLY trainable dogs. Extremely smart and VERY PROTECTIVE.
My dad has had only boxers until he got married to my mother and he still owns them today. They are VERY lovable and great with kids.
Right now I own 2 boston terriers. They are the sweetest and most loving dogs I have ever owned. I will definitely get more of these later in life. I could gush on them all day. They are just great dogs and wonderful with kids. They can be a little hyper but they just need a little training and a little TLC.

Whatever kind of dog you get, you should definitely go with a puppy so the puppy and the children grow up together. With the proper training any dog can be a great dog.

Years ago, the Human Society had a policy that a dog could not be adopted by a family with children less than 6 yrs. old. There is a reason for that. Children do not know not to pull, hit, sit on, etc. and could be bitten. They will also be "curious" about the poop and pee. It only takes a second, while you're engaged on the phone, cooking, doing laundry. If the dog gets out, you can't go chasing after the dog and leave your kids alone. Vacations? Where will the dog stay? I know 2 kids are a handful, add a dog and you're probably asking for more than you will want to handle. I know you're thinking of all those cute pictures and sweet memories you will no doubt have...but w/that comes ALOT of work, food bill, vet bills and accidents.

Hope you give it some thought and wait until they're old enough to respect how to treat the newest addition to the family. It will be fair to you, your little ones and the dog. I guarantee, it will be worth waiting for.

P. S
A dog lover that couldn't wait to get my 3 yr. old daughter a puppy.

I have 2 long haired miniature dauschunds and they are absolutely great with my grandkids.

Beagles can be very, very stubborn. They are super cute and I don't think that they would be problematic for your little ones - just perhaps for your patience :-)

I have a Shih Tze and she is the most sweet and wonderful dog but she has that long hair. I have allergies and not allergic to her. Most cut them short but I have managed to keep her long. She is a mix with a Opsalosa( Spell) best dog I have every had and just like another kid. When my kids have snack she wants her treat. When they nap she naps. She just turned 4. Good luck kids love dogs. G. W

We have a yorkie and a soft coat Wheaton terrrier. The yorkie very yappy but sweet. The Wheaton we actaully got at the pound when she was 8 months. She is the sweetest thing. Very good dog. Great for allergies as she has hair not fur. Does not shed. Very well behaved and easy to train. I will say she is very active and needs to be walked. Would probably be better as an only dog. Although she does get along with other dogs. Her name is koko and we call her loco if that tells you anything. I do brush her on occasion as her hair can get matted, but I usually just shave her close or keep her hair short. I don't get caught up on the proper way to groom a certain breed. I have a 3 year old son and he loves her! Gets along great. Loves to walk her and she does great on a leash for him. Better than my small yorkie. I would totally suggest a wheaton. But do your research and get the best dog for your family.

G.,
My family had a beagle when I was a child. I remember her being a good dog, but she constantly dug out of the yard. Beagles are scent hounds, meaning they'll follow a scent wherever it leads them - even into the middle of a road. She was eventually killed when she was hit by a car and it broke our hearts. Because of this, I would recommend AGAINST a beagle, unless there's a way you can guarantee he/she won't dig out of your yard.

We also had 2 cocker spaniels. We didn't have any problems with the first one we owned. The second one snapped at kids - their quick movements made her nervous. Since I've heard this is common among cockers, I would be wary of them with your small children. Additionally, they are prone to frequent ear infections, so you could be spending a lot of time and $$ at the vet.

Animal Planet has a show called "Dogs 101" where they have dog breeds featured - telling you about the level of care needed, their personality type, etc. You might want to see if they have any info on-line about the breeds you're interested in or try watching it over the next few months to see if there's a dog that fits your family's personality. What I remember about the feature they did on the Wheaton, they're one of the few dogs that don't shed - their hair is like ours meaning they need frequent haircuts to maintain their coat and they will drop hair like we do. They're a good family dog, but they are in the terrier family (can be a bit stubborn with training).

Best of luck to you and be sure to pick a dog whose personality and care needs are a good fit with your family - do not base your choice on looks alone.

Please don't faint: get a Great Dane! All of the dogs you mentioned are OK. But the cockers tend to be irritable, beagles are noisy, terriers are destructive. A Great Dane will be a perfect match for your kiddos .... will grow up with them and will give their life for them. They are very gentle, super tolerant of kids and other pets, comical and sweet. We lost our's at 12 1/2 yrs. We got her at 5 weeks old, about a year before our first grandchild was born. Our grandchildren learned to walk by hanging on to her. She was never jealous, temperamental, food aggressive, cranky or destructive. She was a big kid - we're talking BIG - she outweighed them by about a hundred pounds! She took turns sleeping with them each night until they finally got together (the 6 kids) and decided to sleep in the king size bed with KC. Talk about a riot. She just laid on top of them.

So many tears when she died - (seen Marley & Me? It was ten times worse! Except ..... KC was very well behaved!)

You may not want anything that big.....but you'd never be sorry!

Our 2nd dog is a pit bull .... again, PLEASE DON'T FAINT! Regardless of what you hear - They are the best all around family dog. They are called 'American Staffordshire bull terrier' in England and in the US .... but, if you read the magazines - "Whole Dog Journal," "Your Dog," "Dog Fancy," etc., they are really one and the same. I think they minimize the 'pit bull' thing in order to help people 'get past the name.' They've gotten a bad rap. So, look beyond all that, OK? When our KC died, it was Little Bit that single-handedly helped our kiddos survive her loss. She took KC's place in the bed and took over caring for the cats and for all of us. Pits and pit-mixes are a good medium size dog (about like a cocker), easy to keep clean, good tempered and VERY protective of their family/friends. They are much better 'watch dogs' than the GD. If you're concerned about the breed - or just for your info: when Michael Vick's dog fighting operation was shut down, Best Friends in Utah took 30 of the dogs. Only one of them had to be euthanized for aggressive behavior. Another one - a female - for mammory cancer. They were all evaluated and several have been adopted. Several have become licensed therapy dogs. Once you've had one, you'll never be without one!

Either choice would be good.....my personal favorite is the Great Dane (because I LOVE BIG DOGS)....I miss her SO much!

House Training/Potty training is not fun for anyone - BUT, if you will crate your dog, it will be a breeze. There is a lot of information out there about crating. Some folks think it's cruel. The question to ask is: Would you leave your 2-yr-old alone in the house while you went to work all day? Or to shower? NO, of course not. Well, why then would you leave a puppy alone in the house when you're gone or busy? It's as much for their safety as anything. They get bored and chew up things - God Forbid - an electrical cord. They get scared and can demolish a room just trying to find a safe place. Dogs are den animals like their cousin the wolf. They feel safe in a den. Your dog will grow to see his crate as his den - especially if you put a cover over it - and will retreat to it when he's tired or stressed or frightened. Crating your pup will also ensure that the time you spend with him will be fun, positive time, not angry/frustrated time having to clean up messes he's made. Crating makes him a 'good citizen' and YOU a GREAT dogparent!

A large dog does not necessarily need a huge yard. Even Great Danes can be happy in a small/moderate size yard. I had one in a 1-bedroom apartment (2nd floor) in college. He was 180 pounds of pure LOVE. He was a great watch dog, a good bed partner, content to lay at my feet while I was doing homework, always ready for a walk/run, a GREAT conversation piece, and talk about meeting wonderful people! So, don't be fooled - you CAN have a GD in a small space ... you don't have to have 2 acres for him to run. A small yard is easier to contain/pick up poop, to!

One last thing: A puppy of any size/breed needs to be trained....from day one. So DO THE KIDS! Many organizations won't adopt to anyone with children under 5 years of age. (I don't know if you were considering a rescue/shelter dog). But,from day ONE, train your children with your puppy....no pulling on hair or ears or poking eyes or anything. We got our first dog when the children were 1 and 2. Occasionally, I would have to (gently) pull their hair or poke them - hard enough to let them see what it felt like, but not hard enough to hurt them. It only took once or twice before I never had to repeat it. We would sit on the floor when the dogs ate and 'play' in their food. We'd pick up the food bowl, praise the pup & give them a treat, put it back down, etc. The dogs were NEVER food aggressive. We did this with toys and everything. (Be sure to train your children not to EVER do this around a dog they don't know - even if it's at Grandma's house or something)

Good luck!

C.

You're looking to have your hands full! But that said, I'd recommend a mutt they tend to have easier going personalities. All three breeds you're considering have pluses and minuses which everyone will tell you, you may have a hard time coming across a Wheaten Terrier owner.
I can tell you I own a Scottish Terrier. He's a true terrier which means high energy, high maintenance and slightly crazy ;-) (he chases jets, helicopters, and reflections). He's great with my boys 3.5 yrs & 4 months and we've had him since he was a puppy, almost 7 years. But there are many terriers that are true alpha dogs and want nothing to do with kids. He definitely needs a yard, regular grooming and while we try to walk him every day we probably really only walk him about 3 times a week.
I'd talk with breeders and local vets and get their recommendations I think you'll find they generally recommend mixes for family dogs.

I suggest looking into Australian Shepherds. We have a full sized blue merle named Boomer and he is EXCELLENT with children. They are loyal, smart and easily trainable. My favorite characteristic is how lovable he is. My Godson, Tanner, is 7 and he lays on Boomer and Boomer LOVES him. He follows Tanner around, sleeps by his bed when he stays over and has a good temperament around him always.

Boomer also seems to know when kids are too little to play with and keeps a nice distance away from babies. He usually just parks about a foot or two away from them and just keeps an eye on them. (although he does occasionally sniff or lick toes :) ).

We lived in a 2 story loft several years ago and he wouldn't let my friends newly crawling/walking babies near the stairs.

SO SMART! He can sit, stay, lay down, speak, high five, shake, balance a treat on his nose and catch it, get a specific toy you request, and more- we never took him to training.

There are other good family breeds out there, but I recommend the Aussie.

Several members of my family have Shitzus and each one is fantastic with all the kids!

We have a beagle/foxhound mix and very actie 3 year old daughter. The beagle is wonderful with her. She is extremely patient and gentle with my daughter. My daughter has taken bones and food out of her mouth and she has never snapped. I highly recommend a beagle for a family dog.

Hi G.,
I would recommend either the Beagle or the Wheaton Terrier but it also depends on the kids are taught to treat the dog. The dog has to learn manners but so do the kids. The kids have to learn that there is no pulling of ears,tail or nose. The dog has to learn that there is no biting or snapping of little hands EVER!!
The dog needs a place of peace and quiet to eat and rest.

Cocker Spaniels can be nippy sometimes and they have also been so inbred to the point that they can be medical disasters (skin infections, ear infections etc). The beagle is a nice dog, but they are a hunting dog. Most of them get a scent and (if you're not careful) out the door they go. They also tend to be barkers (that's what they do when they're out fox hunting...they bay to let the hunter know where the prey is).
I don't have much experience with the Wheaten Terrier.

Keep in mind that you have two very small children. A lot of dogs are scared of small children and will nip at them until they're a little older. Also, toddlers tend to get knocked down by the dog a lot (they're just no match for a happy, wagging tail!)

Be sure to check your local animal shelter and save a life if you can!

Have you considered a lab? They LOVE children, love to be part of a family and are very smart. When I rescued my Sam he was an adult dog. Didn't matter...he immediately fell in love with our family and we with him. He would sit quietly when my little grandkids would deck him out with jewelry, hats, sunglasses, scarves, you name it. They would all lie on the floor together and the kids would use his tummy as a pillow when watching cartoons. Sam loved to run and play with them but NEVER, not one time, was Sam ever anything but gentle with the children even during occasional tail pullings, etc. We were all devastated when Sam went to doggie heaven. I now have a toy poodle, a Mother's Day gift from my daughters, and a minature dachshund I rescued. They are both great with the kids as well. Previously I had a cocker spaniel who had a tendency to snap. For my money you can't go wrong with a lab or Golden Retriever. There are hundreds and thousands of great dogs that need to be rescued. Please please consider doing this rather than buying a dog from a breeder!!!!!!!!

Hi G.,
Well I can see you've gotten probably more advice than you were expecting!...but I thought I'd brag on my little doggy too. :) Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are THE BEST!!!!!! They look like a smaller, cuter version of the Cocker Spaniel. We really love ours, he's the best dog we've ever known or owned.

They are around 20 pounds or under, not too little, not too big (in my opinion just right for young kids, not big enough to knock the kids down a lot, but big enough to be able to withstand being knocked around a little by the kids! lol); soft and fluffy but don't shed too badly like some other furry dogs; LOVE TO CUDDLE (the breed's nick-name is "the love sponge of dogs" lol); love kids, love to play, very smart, learn easily...I could go on. Oh, not to mention their FACE! Soooo precious. The only caveat I can think of is they are definitely house dogs, which we don't mind and prefer, though.

Oh, and one caution on the Beagle, I don't know if this is true for every Beagle, but all the Beagle owners I've ever known (a few), have had trouble with their "howling/barking".

Good luck on your search!
Blessings,
K.

You have received some great advice and suggestions. I have been running agility with my border collie and around dog people for the past 10 years. I rescued a cockapoo when I was single and the family got her to entertain their small children. When she started defending herself and biting they had to get rid of her. Cockers and poodles and most small breed dogs tend to not really tolerate small children as much as larger breed dogs such as a lab or golden. However, I think the best advise you were given is to wait until the children are a bit older and can understand the correct way to touch and treat a dog. At that point no matter what do you get you can make into a great family dog.

And although I LOVE my border collie, I wouldn't suggest it. They can tend to have more energy than your kids :)

Beagles are barkers....think like during EVERY nap of your young ones!!!! And Cockers can be testy and snap. My sister had one that bit my neice. And my neighbor had one that would not potty train, and so they didn't keep it. Do lots of research! I don't know about Wheatons. They are beautiful. Mayb be high energy?? -- I have a friend that is trying to find a home for a full grown Lab that is used to children. They just think she doesn't get enough attention. She is free to a good home. Send me an email and I can try to get you a photo. -- If you want to start with a puppy, remember that puppies have sharp teeth and like to chew. You might want to try getting one out at a pet shop and see if your children climb you leg to get away from the teeth! And then you will have one more baby to care for. -- Of course the rewards of a dog are great. And it is good to get one also so that your kids aren't phobic of them. I have another neighbor who has a daughter who is petrified of dogs. So sad. -- I have a labradoodle and she is terrific, but the breeder retired. I don't know if they are all like mine.

Oh GOOD GRIEF!! I would like to know how many of you would like to be painted with the same brush as every person who has the same haircolor as you.

NO breed is one to "Stay away from". EVERY breed has dogs that are quite perfect, and every breed has that proverbial bad apple. A potential owner needs to educate yourself what to look for and what to avoid. I have not disrespected any breed mentioned. HOWEVER, I have worked for a vet AND done a LOT of rescue. I've seen HORRIBLE examples of almost every breed, as well as great examples. I've seen sweet darling Pits, and terrible horrible no good examples of everything else.

Yes, I have seen tempermental Cockerspaniels. I've also seen many many more darling ones that adore their children.

Being involved with rescue, I've seen the fruits that prove MOST problems with dogs' behavior (no matter the breed) is due to either ignorance or plain laziness on the owners' parts. They did not socialize (or train) the dog. Did I say ALL problems. No. I said MOST.

Now, if you don't have something nice to say, base your reply own personal experience and leave it as just that, YOUR experience, NOT a generalization of the breed. Please.

Oh Wow, I started this response early this morning, and added to it throughout hte day. It turned out LONG, but I've had a little experience with several of the breeds you were curious about:

First, a breed you might not be familiar with:

I was raised by a Texas Blue Lacy. He was a great family dog. Lacys were developed as a farm dog for everythign from herding, to varmit patrol, to teenage tear soaker. They are the official state dog of Texas! You should look them up. Neat breed.

I've had Golden retriever, German Shepards, Cockers, heelers, aussies, poodles, shi tzus, beagles, and a menagerie of others. It really depends on what you want in your dog as to what's best. They all have their great points and less than great points. I think for a young family with kids the size of yours I would probably vote on the cocker, golden, Poodle, beagle, or Lacy. with a few disclaimers:

Golden: My girls will tell you that Benjamine was the heart of our family for 14 years. I could keep you entertained for hours with his shenanigans. He was...beyond words...precious to us. The drawback: HAIR HAIR HAIR... it's everywhere it's everywhere. Ben was my heart. I loved him like he was my third child. More than any other dog I've ever had. HOWEVER, I will never have another Golden in the house just because I can't stand another 14 years of that hair. I miss him terribly, but I do NOT miss the mess.

Cockers:
My male right now is a complete love. His favorite creature in the whole world is a small child between 1 and 3. He just lights up with adoration and wiggles all over when he spots one. He literally shivers with anticipation. He looks at them with such longing that I simply have to ask their parent if he can "pet them". He loves little kids so much that I've considered finding him a new home with some little kids to love. My daughters are 18 and 21. He loves them, but he ADORES toddlers. I think it's sad that he doesn't have his own. He never, ever jumps on them; but sits for them to hug him. ANd when they do, His eyes roll in delight. His favorite thing in the world is a little kid. He's really really gentle with his mouth. He'll bring them a toy and pull SOOO very gentle. He is almost over cautious taking treats. We're like "would you just TAKE IT already???"

Woody, is about 30 lbs. He's as huggable as a toddler, and loves to lay on my lap, paws to the sky, and get belly rubs. He will sit on my lap and stretch his head up over my shoulder and lean into me like he's hugging me. He loves everyone in the house and isn't extremely partial to any one person most of the time.

I've had 5 cockers. Two males and three females. Two have been precious with kids. Three were less so wonderful. Either go through a good breeder, or go through a rescue group. Cockers got really popular after Lady and the Tramp. Everyone wanted one... so people started just throwing any ole boy and any ole female together... and so now we have dogs with temperment issues. I've been very fortunate with most of mine, Woody in particular, but two of them would "short circuit". One would simply run. For hours she would run. Then she would come home. The other was agressive; and it was not just that she had agressive behavior. Behavior can be modified. She would be playing with my kids one minute, and the next, she would shiver, glass over, and come at us. Sadly, I had to euthanize her. I had her evaluated by vets and trainers before doing so and they agreed something just wasn't right in her little brain.

We've also had more than one poodle. Our current Poodle is 12 lbs and is feisty as all get out. He is smaller than the cocker, but is dominant. He's also very sturdy. He's gotten horse trampled a few times because he just wouldn't get out of the way. He yelped and pouted, but he's more careful now. He is NOT yappy. That's a myth. It's a habit that people let their little dogs get into. Bailey is rough and tumble where the cocker is more sedate. That's not to say that Woody won't fetch, catch, wrestle, sing, and play... Bailey is just the Go getter!

Both the cocker and poodle are, of course, known for having to be groomed. There are a couple of solutions with the cocker. First, look for a sport coated one. They have very thin hair on their legs and belly. More like a springer. Three of my cockers were sport coated, and I thought I wanted a show coat when I got Woody. "They're so pretty"...good grief! Was I a goober! Oh my goodness!!! His coat is so thick that if he dries too slowly he sours like forgotten laundry. Only worse, Wet dog forgotten laundry. His skin will become irritated and it takes WEEKS to get well. My solution: I keep him clipped short. He doesn't care, and he can be bathed easier and more completely. When it's cold I put 3T tee-shirts on him and he runs out to play like a little kid. My favorite says "Mom's little Super Hero". He is huggable, and happy. WHo cares that he isn't in the "proper" cocker cut??? It's HAIR!

I also keep the poodle short. He likes to douse himself in Parfoom de HorsePoop. Short is MUCH easier to wash.

Beagle: My mother-in-Law bought a beagle for my SIL's kids. With training, I think she would have been a GREAT dog. Yes, she bellowed when she barked, but she didn't really bark that much. She loved the kids, and made all their steps. I liked that she was easy to keep, wash and wear...no tangle patrol.

Good Luck.

T.

We had a cocker spaniel and when my grandson came along we had to get rid of the dog. Our cocker would bite, so we just could not take a chance on him bitting the baby. We gave him to a couple with no children who had other cockers. And he lived happily ever after.

G.,
You have received a lot of information and some good advice. We have a pomeranian/bishon frise mix female dog. We love her and she is great with our girls. She doesn't shed and is hypo-allergenic. We got her because we have really bad allergies and the girls wanted a dog. She does have to go to the groomers but we are ok with that. She allows our two year old to dance with her, sing and pretty much use her as a baby doll. She has been great. We are very thankful for her.

We have an Eskipoo. Half American Eskimo and half American Poodle. He doesn't shed and is extremely gentle with our now 3.5 year old son and our 7 month old daughter. He is very smart, protective, playful and loves to snuggle. He is the best dog I have ever had. We call him our first born! LOL. Good Luck with your search.

I have a little experience with a cockerspaniel as a child and they were great. I personally love beagles, but they are hounds at heart and will bark continually. Also the beagle can be territorial adn hard to contain. Any terrier is going to be similar to the beagle, but more energy and not as easy to train.

My advice would be to stay away from the terriers. If you do the beagle, get a puppie and inroll in classes immediately (they respond well to training and are very smart). The cockerspaniels you need to consider the long hair and the upkeep on this dog, but what little experience I have had they have a wonderful temperment.

If you are looking for something besides these. I have had a lot of experience with border collies. They are wonderful and very pertective with children. They do well in the heat of texas and are easily trained. They are a medium sized dog and may require more excercise, but not more than a beagle or terrier.

I have 2 small children. My son is 3.5 years and is very much a boy. He tears everything apart, and is not particularly kind to animals. My daughter is 1 year old and is very much wants to squeeze and play with the animals. Which is also a woory. Either way we have a dauschund mix, which has a wonderful temperment as well and she handles the kids wonderfully. Though they can be very territorial as well.

I hope this helps

I work at a vet clinic, so I can give you some info based on what I see and hear from clients.
Beagles are AWESOME with kids and like someone else said, they get very snuggly as they age. Do keep in mind they can be loud. Not all are, but the breed is known for it.
Cocker Spaniels are iffy with kids. Some are good and others are nippy. They can also have a lot of skin and ear issues so you vet bills may be higher and they need to be groomed often.
We don't see a lot of Wheaten Terriers, but I haven't heard anything about them being bad with kids, etc...

I noticed some other recommendations of people below.
Shih Tzu's are good with kids, you just have to be ok with the grooming aspect.
Goldens are also great with kids, but unfortunately it's common for them to get cancer at a young age, so that can be hard on the kids.
Boxers are great with kids but are VERY high energy and have TONS of health problems. It's rare that we see them live past 8 or so.
Labs are a toss up. They are good with kids, but some are VERY high energy and really a handfull. A lot of them also like to eat stuff, so you'll have to deal with vet bills in that aspect. They can also be known to get cancer fairly often also, but I think it depends on the breeder's history.
Overall, a mix/mutt might be your best bet. They are cheaper and generaly the most healthy of all! Good luck with whatever you choose!

G.,

We had a beagle that we had to give up after my daughter was born because he wasn't good with her. We were very afraid of him. But my sister-in-law has a beagle that is GREAT with kids. We also have a cock-a-poo...the thing about cockerspaniels is they are more 1 owner dogs. My cock-a-poo is very attached to me, but he doesn't like anyone else. wheaton terriers are good dogs. Also, we have a sheba-poo (Sheba Inu and Poodle mix)...oh my goodness...she is the BEST dog EVER!!!! She is good with my 3 and 1 yr old. She never bites or snaps. She's also a great watch dog. The only down side is her bred can't be trained to stay of the leash...so when we take her out, she will run off if she isn't on a leash. It just really depends on each dog. Best of luck.

You will want to consider type of coat. Many breeds require frequent grooming that can be expensive, and if not done often enough or soon enough can be very stressful on the dog.

I did not read all the advice. We have 2 Beagals and love them. They are so good with my kids, but my kids are older then yours. The 4 year old Beagle has found a way out of the fence and goes to the end of the street to wait for my kids to walk home from school. They play and have a lot of energy. They are diggers and whiners. But they are also a medium size dog that will cuddle. Very protective of our yard. We know every time someone or something goes down our alley. We love Snoopy and Clover. I do not let any animals in the house, so they have a nice size dog house and seem fine with it. I did wait, til my kids were older for several reasons. Good Luck!

Beagle! Most definately! They are very mild mannered, but love to play, and get alot more snuggly as they age. I have a 3 yr old one now, and he's the sweetest thing! The ONLY problem we ever have with him is a tendency to eat things. I think he's swallowed and thrown up 8 pairs of socks. But really, it's only things that his dump parents leave out!

We have Boxers. They are wonderful!! I have 1 who is pretty high energy, and one who is pretty easy going. I run, and take Mr. Spazzy for a long walk/run every day and there are no issues. My female is like a 2nd mother to my kids. She checks on them when they are in their rooms, and will bark to stop sibling rivalry. My dogs were around before the kids and they are very protective of my children. They will guard the perimeter of the yard (unleashed) and inspect passers-by when the kids are out playing. They are VERY smart and never go stray.

The breed is an excellent family dog and very, very protective and loyal. I will never have another breed.

I have lots of Boxer resources including breeders, rescues, materials, training, etc. Both of my dogs came from breeders, but I have worked with Legacy Boxer Rescue and they have some wonderful dogs right now! www.savetheboxers.org

C.

Golden Retriever. I know that beagles can be tempermental my sis in law has one and it has bit both of their kids. Cockerspaniels can get sick of kids quick too I was bit by one that my granparents had because I was pestering it. We have a golden retiever and he loves the kids. They lay on him and can pull his tail and he will just lick them.

Mini Goldendoodles! A cross between a golden retreiver and a mini poodle. Fabulous with kiddos and neither of my two doodles shed!! Several doodle breeders are around and there is also a great rescue group Doodle Rescue Collective.
Good luck!!

I have bichon frises'. I have an in home daycare and they are great all age of kids. They are real loving but also they have never bitten anyone. I current have a female with 4 puppies. They have been declawed and wormed twice so far and they will recieve their first set of puppy shots on Wednesday. I live in Allen. Please contact if you are interested. They are hypoallergic and very little shedding. Good Luck on your new addition.

You will find that labs are very family oriented and will put up with ALOT from the kids. Short hair. Get a female. These are smart dogs and learn quick.

S. at Vacation Pet Nanny Inc. (Go to www.vacationpetnanny.com to see a pic of me and one of my wonderful labs

You will find that smaller dogs are very exciteable and more nervous around the kids, because they are small. However, I did have a mini schnauzer when I had small kids and she was great with the kids.

I have heard great things about Beagles, although I do not have any personal experience with them.

We own 2 boston terriers and a boxer! They are all three WONDERFUL dogs! We have two kiddos (3 years and 4 months) and all are great with our kiddos. They are all a little hyper, but with training, they are great! Very smart, easily potty trained (even the boxer), obedient, and very snuggly!

Good luck decided and I commend you for researching before you buy -- it's a tough decision, but I tell you -- dogs are a huge part of our life!

The only thing I have heard is that Cockers are notorious for biting.

We love our pug and he loves our 8 month old daughter. My daughter tugs on him, grabs his ears, his collar and anything else she can get her hands on and he just sits there and takes it. He loves her. He sits next to her when she's on the floor playing, he sits next to the bathtub when I give her a bath, and of course he sits under the high chair when she eats. He is always around her and always want to play. If you looked at our pictures of the first 4 months of our daughter's life you see our pug with her. Pugs can be stubborn and can have health issues, but we don't find this to be the case with our pug. I had a beagle growing up and I remember her always being around and very loving as well. Our beagle lived for 13 years which is a long time for a beagle. A pug can live up to 16 years. Pug puppies can be difficult to potty train, ours was. I was too young when we got the beagle to remember how her potty training went.

Having worked in the animal care industry for several years I can tell you that you want to stay away from Cocker Spaniels. Sadly over the years, they have become a snappy breed said to be due to the excessive inbreeding that is going on. Your best bet is a medium to large dog. Your smaller breeds are the ones that are typically more likely to be short tempered and snappy. Retrievers, larger breed terriers and Great Pyrenees are all great but best of all is your run of the mill mix breed "mutt." Just remember, no matter what breed, size, age or sex ANY dog can snap or bite at anytime. I'm sure you know never to leave your kids unattended with a dog at their ages. We have a black Lab and I never let my 3 yr old and 10 month old be around her alone. The kids might think they are playing but the dog may not and something bad could happen. Hope you guys find the best match for you and your family. Good luck!

Beagles dig, dig, dig. My favorite family dog is a Golden Retriever - but each dog has its own temperament. So it all depends on if you little ones are quiet and respectful or would be the type to have to be touching them all the time.

I will say, that if you are not a current dog owner, adding one to your family at this stage is going to be a hard task. Puppies require alot of work and attention. Potty training alone is a nightmare. My husband wanted a puppy upon the sudden death of one of our dogs and I only had a 2.5 year old at the time. I wanted to pull my hair out!!! No JOKE!!! We now have two dogs, a Great Dane and a Fila (they're indoor dogs) and while they're great with our boys, we really don't devote the time we need to for them and it's really sad. We do the best we can, but the dogs need exercise and a back yard doesn't really do the job.

So, to answer your really questioni and as the former owner of a GREAT Cocker Spaniel, I say don't. They're not as kid friendly as one would think - they tolerate children and are more of a one person dog.

Labradors, Labradoodles and Pugs are FANTASTIC, AWESOME, GREAT EXCEPTIONAL, AMAZING. My husband LOVES, LOVES, LOVES Labradors and because they shed alot, I chose not to add one to our family. We have friends with Labradoodles and Pugs and those are the best kid dogs I've seen. They are very tolerant of kids and the things that kids do.

Good luck in your search and I hope you realize how much work will be added onto YOUR plate.

Hi G.!

My husband and I were given a Golden Retriver/Border Collie mix when I was just a few months pregnant. So she was almost a year old when our daughter was born. Our daughter is now 17 months old and our mixed dog is WONDERFUL with her! Our daughter can do anything to her and our dog lets her. Our daughter sits on her while she is laying down and our dog will NOT move until she gets off. She is a fabulous dog! She is protective in the since that she keeps wild pigs/animals away from our house. We live out in the country in a sub-division and have been told she keeps their house free of those aminals also. Every one in a little neighborhood loves her because she is the sweetest and tamest dog. She has never jumped up on us, not even when she was a puppy. She is the best!

That being said, I have also had good experiences with Boxer around children. They are good with kids also. And have also had a lab/bull mastiff mix that was wonderful with kids also. The mastiff part helped calm the lab part of the dog. Mastiffs are also suppose to be a wonderful family dog.

Just an fyi, don't rule out mix breed dogs. They can be just as wonderful if not better than full blood. The mixes will often times help eliminate some of the problems that a full breed may have. I would also suggest resuing a dog. that way you are saving a dog also!!

Garlanda,

Hi, I have had and shown dogs all my life and do have some suggestions. Beagles are great as well as cockers, although some cockers can get nippy with children. Wheatons are great as well. If you are looking for a bigger dog, golden retrievers are great. I have French bulldogs, which are great with kids, however, have to be inside dogs due to heat intolerence. They are very hardy.
King Charles Spaniels are wonderful as well, but are expensive. You might contact your local humane society. They have purebred dogs that need good homes. I could keep listing, but Im not sure about size and yard ect.. Also, look up Staffordshire Bull Terriers. They are called the "Nanny dog" in England. They are also the most popular dog in England. Don't let their appearence fool you into thinking they are pits. They have a very well earned reputation with children. Look up Ebonyhills Staffordshire bull terriers for more information. My daughter has had one on her bed since she was 2 years old.....good luck.

Do not get a lab - it is like having another infant. . . they are wonderful once they reach adulthood but require A LOT of training when they are puppies (which lasts about 3 years).
When thinking about a dog you must also ask if you have enough room for the size dog you are thinking of - it isn't fair to the dog if they don't have room to run around. Also, make sure you are ready to put the time and effort it takes into training the dog so it is well behaved (you don't want it jumping on your baby and knocking them down all the time, and adults aren't that crazy about dogs jumping up on them either). Will it be an outside dog or inside dog? Where will it eat, sleep? Will you be able to take it for walks daily? Make sure your family is truly ready for the giant undertaking of properly caring for a family pet - too many people don't consider all this and end up dropping it off at a shelter or giving it away to someone else, neither of which are fair to the animal. Good Luck!

We have two small children AND two black labs and a German Shepherd mix. I recommend either breed with small children. Both are great, patient, well behaved, etc. The only thing is one of our labs is a bit of an escape artist - not sure if it is personality or if it is a breed trait (the other one never leaves the yard).

I would not get a cockerspaniel with small kids. They are very hyper and jump alot. My step daughters grandparents have one and it knocks her down, and she is 9. Beagles are good, but still howl alot. So they might wake the kids. I have a pug. He is great with my kids. I have 4 that range from 2-9

Hi G.,
I would suggest staying away from the hounds, they are barkers and diggers (that's what they are breed for :)
Terriers tend to be hyper though the larger breeds can be alittle easier to handle. I suppose if I had to pick, the Cocker would be the best pick but can be a snappy dog if not so socialized at a young age or ill bred as with any dog. I would lean towards breeds that are breed just for companion dogs and not hunters or working breeds. Pugs, King Charles are one of the favorites. And of course it would be wise to stay away from the breeds that seem popular at the time since over breeding is likely. I was a vet tech for over 11 years in the Dallas area and we would see alot of Dalmatians after the Disney movie came out, alot of chihuahuas after the Taco Bell commercial serises etc......Alot of nasty dogs came out that. Sad. And please keep in mind that just because a breeder charges alot of money for their pups does not mean your going to get a good dog. Some breeders are just down right wacky, and think that they are the only replicable ones around. Others are just laid back and breed because they make a little extra money. Both can produce good pets for you. ") Anyway, your starting off great by researching out before getting a new pet.
Best Regards,
C.

G.,
Your kids are really too young for a dog. I have a 4 year old grandaughter and we just got a Pug puppy and even she is too young for the concept of how a puppy behaves. A puppy is like a baby and you probably have your hands full with a 10 month old and a not quite 3 year old. The potty training alone is a killer.
If you really want a great kid dog for kids this age get a Golden Retriever a female. Always get a female dog.
Cockers are dumb,Terriers are tempermental Beagles I don't know much about.
Anyway unless you have a lot of time dogs are a lot of work to get them to be memebers of your family.
N.

I see that you already have sooo many responses, but I just want to let you know that we have a Rat Terrier and we have three kids she has grown up with them and she i obedient and very loving and protective of the kids as if they are HER babies!

Australian Shepherd's are playful, obedient, smart and protective! I have a friend who has 3 9 month-old puppies to give to good homes. They are Blue Merle Aussie's. We have one puppy from this litter. My children grew up with an Aussie, and to this day of the 7 dogs we have had, they say Chelsea, our Aussie, was the best - that's why we got another one. Let me know if you are interested.

*****We got our first Aussie when my children were 3 months and 19 months.

My mother-in-law used to show boxers. She told me that they were wonderful kid dogs.
I recommend a shelter or rescue dog. Our current family dog is a rescue. (dumped as a puppy). Have no idea what breed or breeds. She is absolutely the best dog ever. She has a calm disposition. She is watchful over the kids. She's gently with the littlest ones (my youngest is not quite 2).
Any puppy that you get is going to be work. You can find a grown dog at a shelter and skip that stage. The folks there can give you an idea about the temperment of the dog, which I think is more important than breed.

We have 3 beagles in our home. Crazy enough with a 10 month old. But I totally trust this breed over any with children. Go for it! If you get a puppy though...they are CHEWERS!!! they do grow out of it and I wouldn't want to discourage the breed for that. As long as they have plenty to chew on they will be good dogs.

Labs are good so are golden retrievers. We have a Border Collie/Lab mix and she's been great with all our foster kids, we've had 8 and now our Son, who is 4 years old. The mixes seem to have less medical problems than the purebreds or dogs that are just one breed.

I've also had a Cocker Spaniel, sweet dogs also. They do need grooming, so remember that.

The Golden Retrievers they use a lot as guide dogs for the blind and disabled because they are so calm with others.

You might want to consider an older dog. A puppy goes thru the chewing and biting stage. An older dog from the humane society or from somewhere else will most likely be trained to go outside. It might be easier on you since you have younger kids. A puppy also goes thru a jumping stage, you have to train the puppy either yourself or have someone else do it.

I've had a friend who has had a Beagle and they howl quite a bit. They are good dogs, just have a loud bark.

Good Luck!

We love our Great Dane. I know the size is scary, but I have a 12yr old, 4yr old, and 2 yr old. I took us a year to decide. When we got our dane our little one was 1, it was so hard going thru the breeds b/c they all jumped on him. The danes are so big they don't jump. We got ours when the dog was a year and a half. They can hold their bladder for ever, walking is optional, and they bascially lounge around while the kids are all over them. I came home the other day after leaving the dog alone for about 5hrs and found that my daughter put a tutu on her in the am and no one ever noticed so the 100lb dog had a tutu all day. They are really sweet.
good luck on your search.
miranda

we have a golden retriever... slightly bigger than a Beagle :) However, he has been awesome with my kids. they are both under 3 yrs. the other day my 16 month old pulled a chunk of hair out of him and he just got up and walked away. i also grew up with Goldens as a kid... all very gentle. good luck.

Cockers tend to bite! Just an FYI. We have a Staffordshire Bull Terrier. She doesn't dig, chew, bite...and LOVES our children. I would let her babysit before some people I know! Good luck. Dogs are a wonderful addition to a family

Beagles are great family dogs but they shed alot. Other things to consider, the bigger the dog the bigger the yard they will need. Grooming costs a lot so keep that in mind, too. Our yorkies need to go to the groomer about every 6 weeks and the cost is about $36 for each dog. I trim them myself so we can go longer between visits.

Cocker tend to pee when they get excited so be careful and terriers are hunting dogs so be prepared. We got a Brussels Griffon for our daughter's 3rd birthday (our sone was 1). Would not suggest them he is way to small and barks. My husband is a veterinarian and suggested we get a king charles spaniel, but I wanted the BG. It has been a rough road, but he is a good dog now. We had to have trainer come out to the house which helped. We had to really talk with kids on how to be gentle and let him have alone time. If I could do it all over again I would have waited until the kids were a little older. They really didn't understand how to be careful with a dog and not bother him 24/7. The deal is you can never pick the personality of your dog no matter how much research you do. Your kids are small I would suggest you wait until they are a little older.

You have received a lot of advice so I haven't read it all. I have had dogs all my life. My best experience has been with herding dog breeds. My favorite is a SHETLAND SHEEPDOG (Sheltie). This breed is very smart and extremely aware of all family members especially the smallest member. Our dog constantly "herded" our youngest to keep her out of trouble or toddling too far. She is able to play and relax with the family. Their size is nice, about 14" to the shoulder and have the coloring of a Collie. However, Collies and Shelties are not related. Our dog loves guests and is very well behaved. She does shed but if we brushed her more it would not be noticeable. Our Sheltie is quite prissy, she likes to keep herself clean. Our dog has been know to "knock" on the door when she wants in, she "circles" to tell us what she wants - food, outside, play with her rope toy. She only barks if her "circling" is unnoticed or if her territory or family is threatened. On another note, my husband's family are not pet lovers and they love our Sheltie and his sister's Australian Shepherd. Good luck.

We have a Coc -a -Poo, which is a cocker spaniel and poodle mix. We love him! had him since my son was 15 months and he is now 6. The best part, he does not shed (that's the poodle. The kids can do anything to him and he tolerates it all, including being dressed up! Best breed ever!

Wheatons are absolutely beautiful dogs but I really don't recommend for a family with young children. They love people and love to play, but too overwhelming for little ones. My mom has a wheaton and her dog is very jumpy. She requires very long walks each day in order to calm her down. Also, you have to be VERY committed to brushing daily due to a ton of fur.

After owning a pug, I would suggest getting a stupid dog. I love my pug and God bless his little soul he is stupid compared to my beagle mix who can figure out anything. Maybe not all pugs have a hard time figuring out things but I can easily redirect his attention to a different object or stop him from barking just by doing something else. My beagle mix is super smart. She knows how to get the toy box open and take out her favorite toys to chew on. Did I mention that it was my kids toy box. We had to turn the box around backwards so the dog stopped stealing their toys. Beagles will try to find the answer to any question that pops into their cute little head.

If you want to get a smart dog, try a German shepherd. They mind and they are smart. Any dog is going to be work. If you get them as a puppy you will have basically a baby again no matter what the bread