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

[steffpeck]

Sorry... duplicate post

 

[Beekissed]

Quote:
Agreed! They kind of spoil you for other breeds....I keep expecting all dogs to act like my labs. Every once in awhile, when I'm in a home where the dogs are just annoying, yapping, jumping up on you or are just unfriendly and testy acting, I think to myself, "Shoulda got a Lab!"

 

[Mrsfoote]

How about a boston terrier they are perfect size and super sweet I have one and have a 3 year old and 16 month old and he doesn't bark much and doesn't require a lot

and their so cute!! One of our puppys from a litter we had this past spring.

 

[chixie]

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all dogs can bite... even beagles. my brother was bit in the face by one when he was 12

 

[chixie]

is size wasnt an issue my great pyrenese is great with little kids... he lets them climb all over him and never jumps on anyone

 

[NottinghamChicks]

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I don't like to recommend breeds for outside dogs because it never seems to work out the way the owner think it will. Outside dogs who do not have a full-time job (livestock guard dogs, etc.) tend to be substantially more badly behaved than inside dogs, no matter what breed. They never have to learn their manners and when they do get inside they go crazy with the joy of it and so, of course, somebody yells to throw the dog outside again. This would be especially true for a dog intended for a little boy; as soon as your son goes outside he's going to get a flying tackle by a dog who hasn't seen him in hours. No dog - and I really mean NO dog, unless it's terribly elderly - just happily walks around outside sniffing things and enjoying being in a small yard, and then gracefully and calmly greets their family when the humans come out. They either create their own job - digging, barking, chewing, chasing things - or they fight to get inside where their people are. Dogs are so intensely pack animals that without company they go a little bonkers when they can't get to them.

If you're willing to consider a real family dog - one that will be wherever you are, whether inside or outside - there are a few breeds that seem to always do well and are handily sized, but don't have so much prey drive that they'll be a danger to your chickens. Boston Terriers are a classic. A WELL-BRED miniature (not toy) poodle is fantastic (just, please, do not try to save money on a poodle - the breed is riddled with issues and the badly bred minis have awful, AWFUL temperaments right now). I have Cardigan Welsh Corgis (25-35 lb) with four kids and, while they need to be supervised with the birds or they'll herd them for hours and tire the chickens out, they're very gentle and good with even the baby chicks. Don't get a terrier, a sporting breed of any kind, or a hound. All of those will kill your chickens. I'd recommend against the big herding dogs as well; they have too much drive for most families and you can never meet their exercise needs. Look at the medium-sized dogs in non-sporting group, the small herders, the large toys. Those tend to be good candidates for family dogs because that's what they've been bred for deliberately.

 

[jafo]

I guess I'd first look at where ya live, town country or the city. I'd next look into or think about the crime around yer place. If I had a 7 year old, I'd be thinking protection first then noise. An ankle biter will wake you up and make enough noise to let you know somethings wrong, but an ankle eater, will put his life down before anything ever happens to his master. We live in the country. We have a Husky-Akita, and she loves to ride in the truck. When we're in town, she puts on the show that she's aggressive, and I like that. Everyone downtown knows we have an "ugly dog" but she's as sweet as can be in reality, yet, don't come sneaking around with bad intentions, especially at night. Protection first, cuddly second. Just my opinion.

 

[cubalaya]

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ummm, golden retrievers and labs are hunting dogs, too. they are much bigger than a beagle.

 

[gavinandallison]

okay my two cents- I never suggest a dog for a child that young and one that is a backyard dog is a never good .

 

[kla37]

We have a Soft-coated Irish Wheaten Terrier, and she is wonderful. I wouldn't recommend having any dog exclusively outside unless you have a farm and a job for that dog to do on the farm. Our dog follows me everywhere I go, and I trained her to do that from puppyhood. From room to room, inside and outside, etc. She's very people oriented, plays with the kids, and is tolerant and respectful of the chickens. It really has a lot to do with training.