what to choose?

Question
i will soon be marrying into the military and having a baby in september..im also looking to get a new dog. i always planned to get a pyrenees when i had a baby since they're so good with small children and quiet tempered..problem is..we will probably be stationed somewhere very warm so thats not fair to a long haired breed like that. so i need to find another breed that is good with kids and very quiet tempered and rather easily amused. being on base we will have a big yard and lots of room at the house but there really isnt anywhere to go walk. any suggestions on another breed that wld meet the criteria? someone suggested a great dane but i really know nothing about the breed and ive always been under the impression they're rather too big n clumsy to be around small children? please help, anyone?!


Answer
Hi Cathy,

It's good that you are going into this carefully and are preparing to make an educated decision regarding what will be best for your family and for your future dog.

Regarding interaction with the baby - almost any breed of dog has the potential to be great with the baby. Great Danes are big, yes, but most of them are sweet lap dogs, and I wouldn't really say they are clumsy. There are a lot of breed stereotypes out there, and that's really not fair. The temperament and behavior of an individual dog is much, MUCH more dependent on how it was raised, trained, and socialized than it does on its breed. Chances are very good that the dog will do well with your baby if you either adopt an adult who has already proven to have a good temperament, or if you get this dog as a puppy and immediately work with a trainer and get in a puppy class. Trainers teach humans more than they teach dogs - and working with one will equip you to run a household where your dog is comfortable and respectful. If you are willing to adopt a homeless dog - and I hope you'll consider it, there are a lot of adult dogs that are perfect with children. The site www.petfinder.com will allow you to search for dogs in your area - by breed, size, and other preferences, and will notate to the side if that dog is well suited for a home with children or not. If you are looking for breed recommendations from me, Labradors are always one of the first breeds that come to mind when it comes to being good with children. They are super-friendly and super-playful - yet still gentle with small children. I realize I just got through denouncing breed stereotypes, but I have yet to meet a Lab who doesn't fit this description.

Another benefit to the Labrador is their short coat, which will make them more adaptable to warm weather. You probably don't want to get a huge dog, like a Mastiff, or a tiny dog, as neither extreme adapts well to intense heat. Whatever breed you get though, the dog will definately want some time to hang out inside with the family and the air conditioning - and when they are outside, they'll need a well-shaded place to get away from the sun, as well as a constant supply of cool, fresh water. No dog will do well outside in the heat constantly.

Good luck with this, and I know that whatever you choose will make a great addition to your family. Let me know if you need anything else.

Ashley