Stevo165 Posted March 22, 2011 Report Share Posted March 22, 2011 My humble opinion is that all dog's regardless of size and breed can be yappy and very aggressive, 90% of that comes down to the training that the dog receives, it is a dog and as was stated above it isint a toy or an accessory no matter how cute or tiny it is. alot of the little dogs (i.e chihuahua, dashund, miniature poodle) get away with the more aggressive behavour that a larger dog like a Labrador or Alsatian wouldn't simply due to the fact that they are so much smaller. many times iv heard people tell me that their hypo and aggro little dog is fine the way it is because and i quote "when [insert name here] bites it dosent hurt" i just turn around and say if that was a Labrador or a Rottweiler you would be calling for it to be put down. the basic moral is all dogs can be yappy and all dogs can be aggressive, it is MOSTLY down to the training. some species are more placid than others but every dog and every animal has a breaking point and all will bite so to speak, im sure if they could our fish would have bitten us all at some point. i would recommend a spaniel for a situation where there were alot of children, they have soft jaw's and blunt teeth as they were bred to retrieve waterfowl so if they did turn around and bite the damage would be alot less than a chihuahua or miniature poodle which have far sharper teeth. they are also alot less active than either of those species. Just my 2cents, please feel free to pick apart what i have said as it was only based on personal experiences. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ashzbetta Posted March 22, 2011 Report Share Posted March 22, 2011 spaniels was not a breed i had thought of! they could be a good option Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephanie Posted March 22, 2011 Report Share Posted March 22, 2011 We've been at weekend markets were small dogs or dogs the size of mine have launched themselves at mine and tried to bite him. Mine thinks everyone is his friend and is more small child than he is dog, so he'll back right down, or run behind my legs. I've had stupid owners eyeball me like my dog did something. He's still a baby really, so he is guilty of pulling on his lead thinking he can make friends, but nothing more. Hence i'm a bit anti small dogs. It's ALWAYS the bigger dogs fault. :roll: :roll: It totally comes down to owners. We were at the lake in January with my dog, a lab, several of us and two small children when some annoying little girls with two big labs decided to let their dogs off the lead when they saw us and our dogs. Possibly the most annoying thing ever. But 10 year old girls seem to think it's funny when dogs and children are running everywhere across the sand. Children walking dogs - evil. I've come across some of the nicest staffy/pitbull/massive intimating dogs and some of the meanest terriers/chihuahuas/other small dogs. It comes down to the time spent with them, their surroundings and respect. Even teeny tiny dogs can chew your arm off if they want to. What about a miniature fox terrier or something? My first ever dog, she was amazing. Obedient as they come. She lasted 17 years and was a better hunter than the farm dogs we grew up with, but was the best family dog. My dad has just got another puppy, same breed, and at 3 and a half months she's shaping up to be a pretty awesome dog too. I much prefer big dogs or terriers to fluffy cutesy ones. :roll: Or get a greyhound. http://www.greyhoundsaspets.org.nz/ http://www.greyhoundsaspets.org.nz/defa ... eyhounds_a Easy to train, affectionate, enjoys sleeping, not aggressive. My uncle had one and two small kids, they'd jump all over the poor thing and hang off it and it wouldn't bat an eyelid, it would just plonk itself on the couch and sleep. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
burrowssj Posted March 22, 2011 Report Share Posted March 22, 2011 spaniels was not a breed i had thought of! they could be a good option they are great dogs, would be a very good first dog, an they get along with children well. but as usual it depends on how you raise them just as others have said, its all in the owner Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ashzbetta Posted March 22, 2011 Report Share Posted March 22, 2011 We've been at weekend markets were small dogs or dogs the size of mine have launched themselves at mine and tried to bite him. Mine thinks everyone is his friend and is more small child than he is dog, so he'll back right down, or run behind my legs. I've had stupid owners eyeball me like my dog did something. He's still a baby really, so he is guilty of pulling on his lead thinking he can make friends, but nothing more. Hence i'm a bit anti small dogs. It's ALWAYS the bigger dogs fault. :roll: :roll: It totally comes down to owners. We were at the lake in January with my dog, a lab, several of us and two small children when some annoying little girls with two big labs decided to let their dogs off the lead when they saw us and our dogs. Possibly the most annoying thing ever. But 10 year old girls seem to think it's funny when dogs and children are running everywhere across the sand. Children walking dogs - evil. I've come across some of the nicest staffy/pitbull/massive intimating dogs and some of the meanest terriers/chihuahuas/other small dogs. It comes down to the time spent with them, their surroundings and respect. Even teeny tiny dogs can chew your arm off if they want to. What about a miniature fox terrier or something? My first ever dog, she was amazing. Obedient as they come. She lasted 17 years and was a better hunter than the farm dogs we grew up with, but was the best family dog. My dad has just got another puppy, same breed, and at 3 and a half months she's shaping up to be a pretty awesome dog too. I much prefer big dogs or terriers to fluffy cutesy ones. :roll: Or get a greyhound. http://www.greyhoundsaspets.org.nz/ http://www.greyhoundsaspets.org.nz/defa ... eyhounds_a Easy to train, affectionate, enjoys sleeping, not aggressive. My uncle had one and two small kids, they'd jump all over the poor thing and hang off it and it wouldn't bat an eyelid, it would just plonk itself on the couch and sleep. yes get a greyhound they are fantastic pets and LOVE children Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix44 Posted March 22, 2011 Report Share Posted March 22, 2011 Spaniels are hunting dogs. They need a lot of space and a lot of exercise. They have the typical eyes, ears, nose problems. They are also not a small / toy breed of dog. They are one of my fav dog breeds (Cockers that is; but this applies to Springers too). The King Charles Spaniel is a breed of dog that should be outlawed. Never can so many things go simultaneously wrong with the same animal! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tinytawnykitten Posted March 22, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 22, 2011 WOW. Maybe I should get a cat! It is my husband who would prefer a cat to a dog, but I liked principally the idea of a dog because I hadn't had one before. My husband always had dogs when he was growing up. I guess I need to do a lot more thinking about this. I agree with the comment about purebreds. I have had 4 beautiful siamese cats in my lifetime and they have all died before they turned ten from difference cancers. And cost thousands along the way. My BFF volunteers at the SPCA in Wellington and they are happy to pay him in cats (within reason!! LOL) so perhaps I will go get me a little freebee kitten to start with! What are miniature schnauzers like? I know of a couple of people with young children who have them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David R Posted March 22, 2011 Report Share Posted March 22, 2011 also please look into the issues surrounding 'pedigree' dogs. Often the inbreeding has been so severe that the animals have very high chances of certain inherited diseases and defects. Mutts aren't immune from those problems, in fact they're potentially worse as they can inherit different defects from each parent! if you want to keep ANY dog, make sure its WELL trained with humans AND dogs, its very important you take it to classes or the park on a regular basis at a younger age.its a dog just the same as a big one it NEEDS social interaction Edited. I agree completely, small dogs don't need any less exercise, time, socialisation or attention to big dogs. We regularly take our two (beagle/foxy cross and hungarian vizsla) to Waitarua dog park and its not uncommon to see them playing with little terriers, dobermans, small fluffy mutts, labs and german shepherds all at the same time. A dog is a dog, no matter how big or small...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sophia Posted March 23, 2011 Report Share Posted March 23, 2011 I believe that most dog behaviour problems are caused by the owners lack of knowledge in how to bring out the best in their dog which are essentially cross-species communication issues. If you get a dog that has been abused before then the problems can be even worse. Go Cesar Millan! I love that show. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted March 23, 2011 Report Share Posted March 23, 2011 My son takes his dog daily, sometimes 2x daily, to the dog park to socialise and get a good run. Their dog, a border collie, has just started agility training and it looks like she will like it - once she stops being distracted by the other dogs :lol: She likes to greet everyone and is very friendly. While Gareth and Kiba get their exercise, Dena, his partner, catches insects for her frogs 8) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted March 23, 2011 Report Share Posted March 23, 2011 Not all dogs need lots of space to run around in. Mine only needs about 1 meterX .5meter. Though, she'll quite happily run around like an idiot in much more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tinytawnykitten Posted March 23, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 23, 2011 Beagles! Not too big and very friendly with kids Funny you should say Beagle, a lot of the dog selector things on the internet always seem to come back to beagle! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Sy Posted March 23, 2011 Report Share Posted March 23, 2011 We have a small dog, a Shihtzu/Lhasa Apso/Maltese, he doesn't need much room to run around in he loves running around inside the house been a lunatic. He is not aggressive towards children or even other dogs. He's a little sweetheart. It all depends on the owners and how much they have trained them and socialised them with other dogs and children. Monty has been socialised with a Chocolate Labrador and a Bichon, and my sisters small children, so is quite happy for them to play with him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David R Posted March 23, 2011 Report Share Posted March 23, 2011 Beagles are good, but you really have to watch them with their noses. Once they pick up on a scent then thats it, ears switch off and they're gone. They are also stubborn and take a lot of training. Check out Italian Greyhounds if you're into smaller dogs, they're a little nervous but have a nice personality and are pretty cute. Saw a whole bunch of them at the park a while ago... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carlos & Siran Posted March 23, 2011 Report Share Posted March 23, 2011 Just like people, animals can have a bad day, they're not always going to be happy and friendly towards strangers or strange dogs. Our dog Poppy is very well socialized with other dogs but have a strange dog (especially a bitch) come into her territory and she will be actively aggressive towards it, not because she's a bad dog but because she's a dog and it's what they do. She has to be introduced to the dog first in a neutral area, spend some time sniffing and deciding if she likes the dog and then usually she'll let them come in. Think about it, if some strange dude just rocked into your house and started jumping all over your couch and drinking out of your toilet you'd be pretty mifffed too yeah? I guess what I'm getting at is no dog is going to be so passive that you can do anything to or around it and it won't respond negatively. When strangers come on to your property they have to accept that that the dogs first impulse will be to protect it's territory and it's pack and any negative behavior from them will generally cause the dog to respond negatively in turn. So if someone brings a strange dog into your dog's territory and your dog attacks it is it really your dogs fault or the visitors fault for not adhering to, or understanding basic dog behavior? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ice222 Posted March 24, 2011 Report Share Posted March 24, 2011 I've been thinking about getting a dachshund myself so I've been doing a fair bit of reading on them and decided not to get one until I finish study. I've read that while they do require less space, grooming and exercise than many other breeds, they are very stubborn and difficult to train, and require a strict diet to prevent heath issues. Because of this I am waiting till I have at least a few weeks free to ensure I have the time to ensure a solid start in training. So for someone with children I think a cat or a more forgiving breed of dog would be better. Overall though, I think the behavioral problems with small dogs is less of a issue with the dogs than with the owners. While I do think that certain breeds will have predispositions toward specific behavior, I think it is more that people tend to treat small dogs like babies rather than a dog. With a bigger dog, aggression is treated as a serious issue and usually dealt with by firm training, with a small dog people tend to go 'awww how cuuuute! Princess thinks they're scaaarey.' and forgive them. It's not just a matter of 'would you trust this dog with your children?' but also 'would you trust your children with this dog?', so unless if you have the time or the experience for it, I think a cat would be the better option. Besides, I have a cat and they're pretty awesome . Although it is harder to train them to behave in certain ways like you can a dog, cats are actually quite good at learning tricks for treats. Mine knows: Sit, Lie Down, [stand] Up, Hand, and Roll Over. Just be aware that they tend to learn better by gestures than by sounds/words so I make visual commands. Lately I've even taught her to enjoy sitting on my lap (which she used to hate) by forcing her to sit there and giving her a treat, each time extending the length of time she has to sit till she gets the treat. This is why I suggest cats: They eat very little, They don't need much space, they exercise themselves and training is optional [except perhaps litter training, but mine just goes in the garden]. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Navarre Posted March 24, 2011 Report Share Posted March 24, 2011 I Really disagree with some of these comments You get out what you put in research the breed or mix of breeds first jacks are made to stand and bark and fight if they have to Foxies go to ground along with dachs and some of the other breeds you have described no bad breeds just bad owners any dog will be like an extra child. you need to feed and toilet it meet its needs excersie it and give it boundries Just like and extra child you can view some of my experience here http://www.boxtonandtennille.com happy to help if you want to give me a PM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
herperjosh Posted March 25, 2011 Report Share Posted March 25, 2011 Cardigan corgis i have on great dog Very tolerant and you can be rough with them and i think they are easy to train and have good personalities and my dog hardly barks and puts up with being hassled by my autistic brother. BUT stay away from pembroke corgis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
herperjosh Posted March 25, 2011 Report Share Posted March 25, 2011 What are miniature schnauzers like? I know of a couple of people with young children who have them. My neighbor has one it is a horrible dog! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fordayzbro Posted March 25, 2011 Report Share Posted March 25, 2011 My neighbor has one it is a horrible dog! I have one and he's awesome, he does have a fetish for toilet paper though..... :facepalm: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix44 Posted March 25, 2011 Report Share Posted March 25, 2011 *pulls cheeks!!!!!!!!!!!!! ngaw Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pintomad Posted March 28, 2011 Report Share Posted March 28, 2011 Beagles are great with kids, we have two and our little girls loves them. She can pull them around by their collars lay with them, look in their ears and do anything else with them no problem. They do however need regular exercise on a lead as once they get a scent they are off, also if they get bored may dig or try to escape. But all in all they are an awesome breed and after years of have other types of dogs I will alway have a beagle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamH Posted March 28, 2011 Report Share Posted March 28, 2011 Ah Louie (that how you spell it?) :lol: Little rascal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tinytawnykitten Posted March 28, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 28, 2011 Gotta think really hard about this. We have planned to get a dog for a really long time (over 5 years) and spent $15,000 getting our property fully fenced and retained (for children, but also for a dog) and always planned to once the children were no longer wee babies. I am liking the idea of a beagle more and more from what I have read. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
northland chic Posted March 28, 2011 Report Share Posted March 28, 2011 Yip think really long and hard. Little dogs are great though! I have 3 - 2 mini foxys and one mini pinscher. My boy mini foxy is awesome, my little girl Jaz(5yrs) ties him up, dresses him up and walks him on the lawn on a lead. He tolerates everything she throws at him. My girl mini foxy knows what shes up to so tries to hide behind me but does well when she has too. I would not recommend pinschers for first time dog owners. I think no matter what you decide alot of it is in the training before our small dogs we had two pitbulls bought up with the cats and kids. Never had any problems. I'm not saying go get one just trying to point out its how you make them, I do think they get some charactistics from their parents so make sure to meet them as well. Also remember that dogs inherit genes from both sides so if you buy a dog with one non shedding parent theres no guarantees your dog will be non shedding. Don't buy a cross with an unknown parent or it'll be like a box of chocolates you never know what your guna get! Then the male or female debate. I, myself find girls have better ears and boys are more prone to wandering. But then the downside with the girls is heat time which is easy if you can contain her properly and understand boy dogs will go to any lengths to get some and girls are not much better. Whatever you decide you should get it fixed if you don't want puppies. Also ask about genetic defects and if they know of any in their lines. Luxating patella (floating kneecaps) is one to check on. Whatever breed you decide read up on them certain breeds are prone to some diseases. Have you thought about adoption or rescue? I know there is alot of animals put out with the earthquake. I hope I haven't put you off once you put in the hardwork with deciding and then the few months training it'll will be so worth it and you won't be able to imagine life without them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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