best dog

Question
What are the best indoor dogs for a family with small children. We have four small children ages, 2 to 10 and are contemplating a new dog. We have a pet rabbit, but she doesn't like the kids' attention all that much. We have a nice size, fenced backyard, but will likely keep it indoors. My wife says she wants something small (big dogs frighten her). We were thinking about a Shihtzu because they are quieter and don't shed, we are told. What do you think?

Answer
Choosing a dog is a very personal thing.  You need to actually see a variety.
The Shihtzu could be right for you.  The Yorkies, smaller Poodles, and Schnauzers don't shed much either.  You could drop in on an obedience class.  Most of the people will be happy to talk about their dog, and many will give honest answers about grooming and nature.  Unfortunately it may be dominated by larger dogs.  Browse the archives here.  See the problems people are asking for help on.  Dogs vary so much within a breed, even among litter mates.  You want to look for a calm dog.

Maybe ask to visit the breeders home.  Field  and show champions can be bred
in kennels.  Dogs where the mother lives in the house have the best
personalities.  Some kids to fondle the puppies from birth are better yet.  If
the breeder doesn't want the parents in their house, do you want the offspring
in yours?  Spend as much time with the parents as you can.  Nice parents don't
guarantee nice puppies, but don't chance bad parents.  Of course ask about hip
and eye certification  or other genetic problems common to your breed too.

Consider the animal shelter.  There are many nice dogs, and you can see how
they look with little or no grooming.  You can also see how they behave.  Look
for dogs that want your attention, but are not going wild. Leave the ones that
retreat to the back of their cage.  Look at their teeth.  Look for ones that
still show a 3 lobed, clove like pattern on the front ones.  Leave the ones
that fight letting you look at their teeth too much.  If the points are worn
off the teeth, it is an older dog that may break your heart by dying too soon.
Your children will end up accidentally hurting the dog.  How it reacts is important.  Pinch the web between its toes.  It hurts.  It is OK for the dog to pull away or whine, but it shouldn't growl, snap or show its teeth.  Since the shelter likely will kill most of the dogs, you may as well pick out a nice one.

Finding a good breeder and purchasing a puppy that will make a good pet is very difficult.  Almost nobody is intentionally breeding dogs to be nice pets.  Most of your so called reputable breeders are breeding for show or something.  They may say the puppies they don't keep for their purpose make great pets, but the truth is that the parents were selected for other than health and temperament.  Often they keep the puppies in the kennel too long and they miss the important early socialization puppies need to live in the house with people.

Next are the disreputable breeders.  They breed any 2 registered dogs they can lay a hold of looking only at the money they can make selling them to pet stores.  Pet store puppies are easy to find, but difficult to socialize into nice pets, perhaps difficult to even keep alive.  You will not get what you pay for at a pet store.

One of the best sources for dogs with a predictable personality is the rescue
dogs.  These are dogs that lost their home, but were taken into a foster home
to be retrained as necessary and placed in the right home for them.   You may
find a rescue near you starting at http://www.akc.org/breeds/rescue.cfm


www.akc.org and www.purina.com have breed selector pages on their site.   You
might try them.  Don't take a recommendation for some obscure, hard to find
breed too seriously.   Even if your puppy doesn't grow up like you expected,
how you raise it helps make it what you need.  The first 12 weeks of a dog's
life greatly affect its adult personality.  Expose it to your lifestyle, and
it will be comfortable with you.

Many people don't like smaller dogs.  The problem is that small dogs take themselves very seriously, but people don't, and fail to give them the training they need.  Your 10 year old should be old enough for 4-H.  In my area clubs form early in the year.  Even many urban areas have 4-H.  For info look in your phone book under government listings for extension or cooperative extension offices.  Ask specifically for a canine or dog club.  Both your child and dog will benefit from the pride of accomplishment.  People will be impressed with how great both of them are.

When you are ready to get the dog, come back for help with it.