Which sort of dog to choose for our family

Retrievers are very loyal and protective..and so are labs but from experience labs are barkers sometimes. But they are large dogs..you could look for a miniature collie, my brother had one of them and they are really great with kids and not as big as the retrievers. I would suggest Jack Russel's also but they can be a bit loud since the bark but they are loyal and protective and if you get a short legged short haired one they will be smaller and less likely to shed everywhere..

There are many questions you need to answer before you get a dog. What type of commitment can you give to the dog? How much time can the family spend on the dog? What do you expect from the dog? Often you can get a dog from your local shelter that is good with cats and kids. Our shelter has a program where dogs that come in are given basic training before they are adopted out. A puppy is a lot of work and a dog that is about one year old, if it has basic training, can be a lot more fun, little or no house training for one thing. Then there is dog up keep to think about if you have a long haired dog it needs a lot of grooming but if you live in a cold climate a short haired dog needs heated housing. Is the dog going to be in the house with you? All these are questions for you to look into. Blessings

I know Pugs are very nice little dogs that don't make much noise....they shed like crazy though....Cockapoos however don't shed but can be somewhat noisy! I hope you find something you really want! Having a pet is so good for all of the family.

This is a really good discussion because I know that pets are really important when it comes to everyday life,because without them life is really quiet and lonely,and I know that some people can not live without pets because they can not stand the silence,even though I know that some people prefer the quiet instead of having take care of a pet,and I am sure that different people prefer different types of pets,some people prefer dogs while other people might prefer cats and some people might even prefer more exotic pets,and I know that when it comes to dogs some people prefer small dogs,and then some people prefer bigger dogs,even though I guess it just depends on how much space a person has as to what type of dog they should get, and since you want a small dog I would suggest getting a chihuahua because they are small,they do bark a lot sometimes but they are pretty easy to train,they are loving and they do not eat a lot,we have two chihuahuas right now and they get along with our cat perfectly,and they also make good companions at night because they like to sleep with people,have a great day,good luck with your life,and all of your mylotting goals,and Happy Posting.

We had a terrier mix who grew up with cats and he was so funny. He would do this low growl when you petted him to simulate purring because he thought that was what he should do! As for a breed that is good for kids and cats the smaller breeds can be a bit more difficult then the big ones as many where bred to go into holes in the ground when hunting. As for barking there is no "quite" breed, they all bark until you train them not to. We have two pure breeds at the moment who are both rescues of sorts but to tell the truth mixed breeds are better. They have less health issues and it is great when you find one with all the good qualities of different breeds. Most important is not so much the breed as how the dog reacts to you and your kids. Meet them first and let the kids play with them when the right doggy comes along you will know it immediately.

If you're going to have the puppy around the babies (or kids) and you want one who's not too loud... Get a weiner dog. I'm serious. I have a weiner dog named Mazy and she's the cutest thing. She's a real lap dog, not too active, usually pretty quiet unless she's playing with my jack russell. BUT if you decide to get a puppy, remember puppies take TRAINING and LOTS OF TIME. Make sure you have the time, money, and training abilities. I wasn't able to train my puppies cause i wasn't home enough (until recently) and i had to put them in the puppy academy. Good luck.

I would recommend a shitzu or some type of small dog like that. We have a Pomeranian and he is quiet most of the time unless someone comes to the door or other dogs are barking outside. He will bark every time. It gets on ym nerves sometimes.

My son just got him self a dog. Big enough to go to my knees. Silent as she did not was around. But what adorable thing she is. You ar not to choose the dog, the dog should choose you. But of course, deciding in what type of dog you should have is not the easiest part to do, since all the types are equel nice and qute. Barking dogs, well, that is up to the owner, dogs do not bark if they do not have to And any dog goes with cats depending if you getting the dog in a early age.....Godluck,

I have had both small and large dogs over the years. Actually, the best dogs have been the larger breeds. They are usually less destructive inside and usually only bark is necessary to alert me to something wrong. (depending on the breed) My dog is part border collie/australian shepherd. He is very intelligent, loves to play, and gets along well with cats. Children would have a blast with a dog like him. However, the drawback would be that he is very protective of family...not real social with outsiders. So, if you started them out around alot of people, that would solve that problem.

I also would love to get a puppy for our family. Maybe in a few years if I can convince my husband. I really like beagle puppies. I hear they are very good dogs.

Yes. I think that's a good idea. You have to have just a puppy or any smaller size dogs because you have also cats. Cats and Dogs always in trouble specially if one of those grown up ahead than the other one. It is very seldom dogs and cats get together and that would only happen if the two grow up together...

A barking dog has to do with training when it is a puppy,with more obediance training as it gets older. There are several breeds that r quiet, more than others.The hunting breeds bark more than others because that is their nature. Terriers bark about the same as hunting breeds because they r always active looking for thins to play with or.. There r several breeds left out of 220 left over. most or half r on the larger side.. Then there is the mix breed, some people say they would only get a mix breed..I have only had working dogs ( large) and hunting dogs (Large). I know people that had Shitzsus, Cocker spaniels, poodles, yorkies etc and where happy with them.. REMEMBER ALWAYS LUV YOUR DOG/ PET , THEY WILL ALWAYS LUV U..

I would a get a Shih Tzu. They're small, loving, and get along really good with other animals. The only down side is you have to brush them everyday. I have two. I also have a Yorkie, but they can be a high strung in general. Mine isn't, but I've met many that are and that are jusat mean.

Well in my house I have two dogs and are small dogs,one is a caniche but he barks very much and it's a bit dirty and the other dog is a mongrels but is very intelligent and is very clean and the mongrels aren't breed dogs and are very intelligent but if you get a intelligent dog he wouldn't do very noise. Well happy mylotting

Beagles are wonderful with kids and small enough. When they make noise, it is significant, but they are not constantly making noise like a chihuahua. We have a yellow lab that is the best kid dog we have ever had, but he is big.

After owning a pruebreed Maltese I would never consider owning any other dog. My avatar is my puppy. I miss her dearly. My husband took her when he left.

Forget the dog... stick to cats. Seriously though, small dogs can make as much noise as big ones. What kind of dog does your son want? Does he still want one?

Most of my dogs have been large mouthy ones (that's why I adopted them). Thinking back, the only small dog that I adopted was a Toy Manchester Terrier. He looked like a Mini Doberman. He was quiet when we were home by ourselves. However, he was very protective & mouthy when out among strangers. He was much more protective than the full Dobermans I had adopted before him. He was a very good & loving dog. I might warn you of the hazards of getting a puppy with an adult cat. Puppies don't understand they are mortal enemies with cats. They try to play with them like puppies. I had a Golden Retriever/German Shepherd mix & I thought he would be safe with the cat. Well....the cat tore open his eye when he tried to play with her. So, my dog didn't harm my cat, but the cat dayum near blinded the dog!!! All turned out well in the end & they became best of friends. You've just got to watch them close!!!

Why have a small dog? Its good to have a pet but why small. Little dogs are usless. With you having children, you should think about having a pet to protect them. Life is full of suprises.