What kind of puppy would you get for a 7 year old boy?

[BHep]

How about one that YOU like. I can guarentee that you will be the one taking care of it. I also agree that you should look at the shelter. Good Luck....

 

[silkiechicken]

Quote:
That is what I was thinking. It will be your dog in the end.

 

[CityGirlintheCountry]

We had a beagle growing up. It was a great dog, but we absolutely could not keep that dog at home. It learned to climb the fence and unlock gates. It just HAD to be wandering. After years of tracking the dog down, my parents ended up giving him to friends with a farm. I remember crying and crying and crying, but the hurt would have been worse had he gotten hit by a car. It was a miracle that he never did.

A stray beagle camped out here at my place a couple of years ago. I was never able to find its owners and ended up taking it to a beagle rescue. He was really, really prone to dig under the fences into my neighbor's sheep pasture. Not good. The final straw was when he taught my two how to dig out from under the fence. It took me forever (and the purchase of an electric fence) to retrain them to stay in the yard.

Beagles are cute as can be and are generally good natured, happy dogs. They do not handle confinement well though. Getting one to stay in a small backyard all day long by itself is just asking for trouble. At very least it will aggravate the crud out of your neighbors baying all day and night. At worst it will make a break for it.


I would vote with the rescue and/or shelter option. Do some breed research on the front end and then start talking to area shelters. Be aware that a lot of rescues will not adopt dogs out to be outdoor only dogs.

 

[Nicola]

hmm wouldnt get a beagle they are very very energetic and get into alot of trouble with their noses most are really good at finding hidden food.... and they are very loud because they were bred to be a hunting dog.. and make a alarm sound when they find something.

for a young kid i would get a golden retriever a Lab they are gentle medium sized dogs.

 

[chickerdoodle]

My favorite breeds are not ones that would suite your needs. I have had an Irish Wolfhound mix, two Dobermans, a Parson Russell Terrier, and still have my Belgian Malinois and would have any of those breeds again!

I do however agree that to have an outdoor only dog is not ideal. The dogs that do best strictly outdoors are huge livestock guardian dogs. It is also easier for the dog to bond strongly with the family if he or she can be an indoor dog. Dogs not only crave being with their family--they NEED to. My recommendation is a French Bulldog, Boston Terrier a smaller Standard Poodle or for a smaller dog perhaps a Pug. Beagles are fine dogs but in your case their drawbacks are their frequent "arroooing", digging and taking off if they get a scent--they are after all hunting dogs!

Your local temperature is also something to take into consideration. I also think a young adult mixed breed is not a bad choice as you can see how the dog looks and sometimes get the dog's prior history. Puppy-hood can be quite tough and training a slightly older dog is no more difficult--often easier! Always keep in mind that the dog will be around (or at least see) chickens.

Training your chickens to not be fearful of the dog is also helpful.

There are many rescues and shelters that do a good job fitting prospective homes with the right dog. Positive training methods have amazing results so a class or two with any dog is highly recommended.

Best of luck on your new adventure!

 

[cubalaya]

i guess our beagles when i was a kid were just so much smarter than the beagles that some of you are talking about. they knew when it was time to go hunting or just hanging out with us in the neighborhood. we would take this beagle rabbit hunting and he could run a rabbit. when we were ready to go home, he came back to the truck. we took him dove hunting and he would sit behind us and retrieve every dove that we shot. he would follow me around and once protected me from a vicious german shepherd and also mean older kids. we would run him behind the house and he always came home. he got cancer and had to be put down when i was 12. that was when i got my first hound. a black and tan foxhound. a good dog in his own right.

 

[Spookwriter]

Had a high dollar pomeranian when our daughter was little.
Dog kept niping at the baby. High strung dog.

Dog went to the pound. Papers and all. Great lap dog for an
adult. But I had a choice to make, and I made it. Have a Jack Russel
in the house now. Nice hyper dog. Sheds way too much, but a sweet
girl. Loves people.

Mixed lab outside...just a drop off that somebody gifted us. A GREAT dog.
Calm, peaceful, loving. Protective. Mixed Lab is a good choice for a pet.

My personal favorite was Bob the Dog. Blue Heeler. My bestest buddy.
But he is no more. He was my dog. But probably not a child's dog.

 

[sourland]

I raise beagles and do not recommend them as pets for children. They are sweet, mellow, even tempered dogs who were bred with a job in mind. They want to hunt. As outdoor dogs in an unsecured situation they will constantly be leaving your yard. This provides entirely too much of a chance that a child will lose a beloved pet. Why is it necessary that the dog be an "outside" pet?

 

[chickerdoodle]

Quote:
That's because your beagle got to do what it was bred for --hunting! Some lines are also better than others but if not used for hunting they use their wonderful hunting traits in other ways that some find problematic.

 

[silkiechicken]

Quote:
Think what made your beagles great were the fact they had to be well trained to hunt with, and being hunters, knew their job. Dogs love a job.