Dog recommendation URGENT please

[Paddywhacks]

Cross breed dogs or the new craze 'designer dogs' are laden with health problems. You can NEVER guarentee their temperament for many reasons.

One reason for this is that they are bred by 'back yard' breeders meaning they are not registered breeders so it is not compulsary to do health checks on the Dam and Sire.

No registered ethical breeder would ever cross breed. A puglier, spoodle, labradoodle are all mutts no matter how cute they are.

If you want a dog that is gentle with children and is also a good guard dog, get in touch with some registered reputable breeders after researching different breeds. They will cost a little more and you may need to wait a while plus they will check you out thoughly to make sure your home is suitable for one of their puppies but they are health tested, microchipped, and vaccinated and healthy.

If you don't want to wait then why not get in touch with the many dog rescue organisations. Their dogs are in foster care and are temperament tested making sure they are suitable with children, other dogs and generally healthy and happy. They also come desexed, microchipped and vaccinated. The rescuers can also point you in the right direction with suitable breeds.

Good luck in your search. There are so many doggies out there just waiting for their loving forever homes.

[Arimeh]

Both my dogs are great with the kids - the most they will do is lick them. And they bark at anyone walking up and down the street (and also at the neighbours dog)

Both need training as puppies though.

Oh - and one is small and the other one is big But they are both big softies!!

[Smoke Jaguar]

What are beagles like with kids? Smaller dog-type, easier coat to look after, intelligent, but got no idea what they're like with kids or if they're even good guard dogs.
I've heard Weimereiner is good, but got no experience with them.
Avoid Belgian Shepherds at all costs - beautiful but either ditsy or dangerous (bred for looks at cost of safety in personality).
If space is no issue, Great Dane or a cross of a Dane. Dreamy dogs.
I wouldn't go a Jack Russell - inferiority complexes and children don't mix well.
Shepherd x Lab thumbs up, though shepherd coat can be pain in the arse and if you're a bit of a clean freak, you will freak at having dark hairs and light hairs all over your furniture (so you can't win with light OR dark clothes, everyone will know you have a shepherd cross!).
I love shelties, but I thought they weren't good with kids? Otherwise, size and intelligence, thumbs up.
You know what I'm loving more and more? My little dog, who's a West Highland Terrier cross (probably Jack R, she's got wiry hair, not soft). She is fantastic as a guard dog and brilliant with DS, now that she's over her initial jumping all over him (we got her as a 3yo in May 2007). Sweet as.
Our big dog is a shepherd x dane (and maybe something else) that we got from the pound. He is too dreamy with kids - ridiculously trustworthy (call me an unsuitable parent, but I often leave them alone because the dog will run the other way when threatened, he's the most non-confrontational dog). And with strangers coming to the house he will bark like a rabid dog...and bark...and bark...and if you come close enough and I'm there, he'll bark some more, millimetres away from your hand...and never touch you Great for public liability should an intruder enter and dare go past rabidly barking dog! I don't think an intruder would get over the bark, though - it sounds REALLY business-like.
Dogs at the pound have to pass a temperament test (the benchmark is a dog that can cope with young families), so they are guaranteed great with kids and if they're not, take the dog back and they'll be grateful you did. The only thing with pound dogs, like any other dog, is that there is no guarantee they'll be effective as protectors of their domain.
Good luck - it's fun, as well as draining to look for a new dog and the rewards are manifold!

[Arimeh]

What are beagles like with kids? Smaller dog-type, easier coat to look after, intelligent, but got no idea what they're like with kids or if they're even good guard dogs.

My little one is a beagle... naughty puppy.. but brilliant dog... great guard dog too (and oooooh soooo cute as a puppy!!) I have pics of her in my gallery if you wanted to check her out B.

[Shades]

I had a Rottweiler as our family dog when I was six to eight years old (we had to give him away when we moved) he was the biggest sook... I used to hang all over him. His name was Rambo but he ended up being called Rainbow.
They have such a bad rap here - I think it's the way they're treated though - they become understandably vicious when chained up.
I would happily get another one though.

[Smoke Jaguar]

I have experienced some wonderful Rotties
Thanks, Arimeh, for the word up on Beagles! I'll check out the pics.
Must say, I would also recommend strongly joining your nearest rewards-based obedience club (there are some that use choker chains for correction), as they will encourage a great connection with your dog. They are usually family friendly, too I took my Dane X for ages before work started to interfere (wasn't working when we got him, then I got retail work...killed of Sat arvos!) and on top of great personality, the training enhanced our relationship and connection.

[CeCe]

We have a beagle too but don't have kids so cannot say how they interact. Over Christmas we drove from Canberra to Adelaide and our beagle was very happy to say hello to anyone paying him attention and offering him a pat on our way over.

The only thing of concern, and this may just be our dog as we got him from the pound, is that he is very food obsessed. A beagle trait. When we first got him he was very protective of his food and quite snatchy at feed times. With lots of training we have exerted out authority in this situation so he now sits and waits for food. It may be something to consider with children around though and may need some special attention for training.

[HotI]

The only thing of concern, and this may just be our dog as we got him from the pound, is that he is very food obsessed. A beagle trait.

Food obsession can be handy when training a dog. I think that's why labs are good to train, they are very food -orientated. (well, my labs are anyway!)

I like beagles. Would look at a beagle if we were going to get another dog.

[Shades]

I've read/heard in a few books/places (and seen a video) strongly suggesting that Beagles were the ultimate in doggy escape artists... so make sure you have a super-secure yard!

[Arimeh]

We took our beagle for training and she is fine with people taking her food from her. And she sits and waits until we say a specific command before she can eat (incase someone tries to poison her)

[Matryoshka]

Cross breed dogs or the new craze 'designer dogs' are laden with health problems. You can NEVER guarentee their temperament for many reasons.

One reason for this is that they are bred by 'back yard' breeders meaning they are not registered breeders so it is not compulsary to do health checks on the Dam and Sire.

No registered ethical breeder would ever cross breed. A puglier, spoodle, labradoodle are all mutts no matter how cute they are.

If you want a dog that is gentle with children and is also a good guard dog, get in touch with some registered reputable breeders

What would you consider reputable???

In my searches i came accross the WA Sheltie Association which has a listed breeder - but obviously its a "mixed" dog?


I'm really liking the Sheltie, though initially we wanted a Griffon as we know a breeder.

[Smoke Jaguar]

Sheltie isn't a mixed dog - it's a breed.
Reputable is one that welcomes and encourages inspection of the property and all breeding stock, and whatever puppies are still on the property.
Any furtiveness, evasiveness and excuses should get your antennae up and have no more to do with them in that case.
When you have decided on a breed, ask your local vet if they know and can recommend a breeder.

[Paddywhacks]

Shelties are purebreds. They are lovilie dogs.

Check out dogzonline.com.au ( I hope I'm allowed to post other sites!!) They are a purebred dog site that has fantastic info on breeders, rescuers and all the answers to the questions you have.

Reputable breeders are recognised registered breeders that have fantastic reputations and do proper health checks on all their dogs. Registered breeders are recognised by the ANKC (Australian National Kennel Club).

[Matryoshka]

Oh i misunderstood your post, and i read the description as being mixed between a sheepdog and a collie! but its actually just a sheepdog that looks like a small collie??

[Paddywhacks]

Oh i misunderstood your post, and i read the description as being mixed between a sheepdog and a collie! but its actually just a sheepdog that looks like a small collie??

Yep they look like miniture Lassies!!

[Shades]

A Sheltie is technically called a Shetland Sheepdog (Sheepdog here referring to a Rough Collie), and its effectively a miniature verson (with some differences) of a Rough Collie ('Lassie' dog), in the same general way that a Shetland Pony is a small version of a regular pony (or was originally). They were both originally from the Shetland Isles (also home to miniature sheep and cattle), hence the name. I think both were bred to be smaller and hardier to deal with the windy and cold conditions, but don't quote me on that...
It is a long established breed (recognised in 1914) and is definitely NOT a cross-breed

[Matryoshka]

This is what Burke says:

Otherwise known as the 'Sheltie', it is the product of matings between Rough Coated Collies, a breed native to Scotland, and various spaniel and spitz-type breeds from visiting fishing and trade boats.

[Smoke Jaguar]

A cross that happened many moons ago and is now officially a breed - the description describes the origins of the breed, not describing a new cross All breeds are crosses of something or other, but time determines 'officialness'. I think the Asiatic dogs are about the 'purest' breeds, like Pharoah dogs, Afghans, Dingos, etc.