r/dogs•3 yr. ago

Breed Recommendation - Family with 2 children under 8 in Texas

_tx · 2023-10-23T16:12:53.000Z

**Introduction** 1) Will this be your first dog? If not, what experience do you have owning/training dogs? * ANSWER - No, prior dog passed about 5 years ago 2) Do you have a preference for rescuing a dog vs. going through a [reputable breeder]( http://ownresponsibly.blogspot.com/2011/07/identifying-reputable-breeder.html)? * ANSWER - Open 3) Describe your ideal dog. * ANSWER - Trainable family dog. Good with young kids. Snuggler would be nice, but open to anywhere from "lazy" to moderate activity. 4) What breeds or types of dogs are you interested in and why? * ANSWER - Open 5) What sorts of things would you like to train your dog to do? * ANSWER - Be a good companion to my children 6) Do you want to compete with your dog in a sport (e.g. agility, obedience, rally) or use your dog for a form of work (e.g. hunting, herding, livestock guarding)? If so, how much experience do you have with this work/sport? * ANSWER NA **Care Commitments** 7) How long do you want to devote to training, playing with, or otherwise interacting with your dog each day? * ANSWER - Remote worker, I have a fair bit of freedom on that front 8) How long can you exercise your dog each day, on average? What sorts of exercise are you planning to give your dog regularly and does that include using a dog park? * ANSWER - Walk/run, fetch 9) How much regular brushing are you willing to do? Are you open to trimming hair, cleaning ears, or doing other grooming at home? If not, would you be willing to pay a professional to do it regularly? * ANSWER - Willing to self care or pay for groomers as required **Personal Preferences** 10) What size dog are you looking for? * ANSWER - under 50ish pounds I suppose, but pretty open 11) How much shedding, barking, and slobber can you handle? * ANSWER - shedding - open //// barking and slobber - none to low 12) How important is being able to let your dog off-leash in an unfenced area? * ANSWER nice to have but not remotely a requirement **Dog Personality and Behavior** 13) Do you want a snuggly dog or one that prefers some personal space? * ANSWER - snuggly 14) Would you prefer a dog that wants to do its own thing or one that’s more eager-to-please? * ANSWER open, but please is nice 15) How would you prefer your dog to respond to someone knocking on the door or entering your yard? How would you prefer your dog to greet strangers or visitors? * ANSWER - Open, but it would be nice to have a good idea before hand so I can prep. 16) Are you willing to manage a dog that is aggressive to other dogs? * ANSWER - No 17) Are there any other behaviors you can’t deal with or want to avoid? * ANSWER - Must be good with young kids. My younger child is 3. If the answer is to wait on a family dog, that's a viable answer too. **Lifestyle** 18) How often and how long will the dog be left alone? * ANSWER - rarely. Maybe 5 hours a week the home is empty? 19) What are the dog-related preferences of other people in the house and what will be their involvement in caring for the dog? * ANSWER - 2 adults will do significant care. 2 children ideally over time, but no expectations from the start 20) Do you have other pets or are you planning on having other pets? What breed or type of animal are they? * ANSWER - 1 Cat. He is an indoor cat and tends to hide from other animals 21) Will the dog be interacting with children regularly? * ANSWER - yes. 2 children under 8 22) Do you rent or plan to rent in the future? If applicable, what breed or weight restrictions are on your current lease? * ANSWER NA 23) What city or country do you live in and are you aware of any laws banning certain breeds? * ANSWER USA, Texas - no specific local restrictions beyond state and federal 24) What is the average temperature of a typical summer and winter day where you live? * ANSWER - 100-105F in the summer 50-60F winter **Additional Information and Questions** 25) Please provide any additional information you feel may be relevant. * No additional information. A good family dog that can grow up with my children is the primary key here. 26) Feel free to ask any questions below.

[Breeds] 📝Recommendation

Introduction

Will this be your first dog? If not, what experience do you have owning/training dogs?

ANSWER - No, prior dog passed about 5 years ago

Do you have a preference for rescuing a dog vs. going through a reputable breeder?

ANSWER - Open

Describe your ideal dog.

ANSWER - Trainable family dog. Good with young kids. Snuggler would be nice, but open to anywhere from "lazy" to moderate activity.

What breeds or types of dogs are you interested in and why?

ANSWER - Open

What sorts of things would you like to train your dog to do?

ANSWER - Be a good companion to my children

Do you want to compete with your dog in a sport (e.g. agility, obedience, rally) or use your dog for a form of work (e.g. hunting, herding, livestock guarding)? If so, how much experience do you have with this work/sport?

ANSWER NA

Care Commitments

How long do you want to devote to training, playing with, or otherwise interacting with your dog each day?

ANSWER - Remote worker, I have a fair bit of freedom on that front

How long can you exercise your dog each day, on average? What sorts of exercise are you planning to give your dog regularly and does that include using a dog park?

ANSWER - Walk/run, fetch

How much regular brushing are you willing to do? Are you open to trimming hair, cleaning ears, or doing other grooming at home? If not, would you be willing to pay a professional to do it regularly?

ANSWER - Willing to self care or pay for groomers as required

Personal Preferences

What size dog are you looking for?

ANSWER - under 50ish pounds I suppose, but pretty open

How much shedding, barking, and slobber can you handle?

ANSWER - shedding - open //// barking and slobber - none to low

How important is being able to let your dog off-leash in an unfenced area?

ANSWER nice to have but not remotely a requirement

Dog Personality and Behavior

Do you want a snuggly dog or one that prefers some personal space?

ANSWER - snuggly

Would you prefer a dog that wants to do its own thing or one that’s more eager-to-please?

ANSWER open, but please is nice

How would you prefer your dog to respond to someone knocking on the door or entering your yard? How would you prefer your dog to greet strangers or visitors?

ANSWER - Open, but it would be nice to have a good idea before hand so I can prep.

Are you willing to manage a dog that is aggressive to other dogs?

ANSWER - No

Are there any other behaviors you can’t deal with or want to avoid?

ANSWER - Must be good with young kids. My younger child is 3. If the answer is to wait on a family dog, that's a viable answer too.

Lifestyle

How often and how long will the dog be left alone?

ANSWER - rarely. Maybe 5 hours a week the home is empty?

What are the dog-related preferences of other people in the house and what will be their involvement in caring for the dog?

ANSWER - 2 adults will do significant care. 2 children ideally over time, but no expectations from the start

Do you have other pets or are you planning on having other pets? What breed or type of animal are they?

ANSWER - 1 Cat. He is an indoor cat and tends to hide from other animals

Will the dog be interacting with children regularly?

ANSWER - yes. 2 children under 8

Do you rent or plan to rent in the future? If applicable, what breed or weight restrictions are on your current lease?

ANSWER NA

What city or country do you live in and are you aware of any laws banning certain breeds?

ANSWER USA, Texas - no specific local restrictions beyond state and federal

What is the average temperature of a typical summer and winter day where you live?

ANSWER - 100-105F in the summer 50-60F winter

Additional Information and Questions

Please provide any additional information you feel may be relevant.

No additional information. A good family dog that can grow up with my children is the primary key here.

Feel free to ask any questions below.

Posted Oct 23, 2023, 4:12 PM UTC