Choosing Dog for Kid

Doggy for kiddy

Visit any pet store, and you will see many different breeds of dogs. From long hair to short hair, big, medium and small, from imported to locally bred. But what dog is good with kids?

All breeds of dogs are great with kids. You just have to make your pick. When Lassie was a great hit on TV, everyone wanted a collie for the kids. Then came 101 Dalmatians, and everyone thought: Dalmatians. Now, everybody wants a Golden Retriever because of movies like Buddy and Air Bud.

How good a dog is with the children depends on how much time you are willing to give to your children's dog, be it for training or grooming.

Some long-haired breeds like the Shih Tzu , Silky Terriers and Miniature Schnauzer are great with children, but are not usually recommended for young children because of their fur. Unless you are willing to comb the dog’s hair everyday, it is not advisable to get a long-hair breed for your child, except when he is older.

Short-haired breeds, however, just need regular brushing every now and then. And there is no way their hair can get tangled or matted. They tend to shed more, though.

Size does matters
Before you decide on the size of your dog, you need to take note of the age of your children. You might think a Golden Retriever is best, but if your child is only four, this dog may be too big.

• Large breeds like Labradors, Mastiffs, Dobermans, Rottweilers and Dalmatians are more suited for children 10 years old and above. This is because they are usually clumsier and sometimes do not know their strength during play.

• Medium-sized dogs are like Beagles, Corgis and Cocker Spaniels are fine for children above the age of five, but make sure there is always someone supervising their play, as accidents may happen.
  
• Small dogs are the best for children, but not all are appropriate. Really small dogs like Chihuahuas, Toy Poodles, Pomeranians, Miniature Pinscher and Yorkshire Terriers are quite fragile. So they are the ones at risk in encounters with children. Remember that small breeds are very small when they are puppies, therefore you must supervise any play between the pups and your little kids. The Jack Russel Terrier, French Bulldog and Boston Terrier are best as they are hardier.
  

Natural instincts
Some dogs are bred to hunt, retrieve, guard or herd. You must always keep this in mind when choosing a pet dog for your kid.

For instance, a herding dog would tend to think of children as sheep and would herd them around, perhaps frightening them. A guard dog would be very protective of their masters and might think that another child playing rough with his master is being aggressive.

Also bear in mind how active a dog is. Dogs that are really excitable can cause hurt to a child while those that are inactive might frustrate children who want to play with them.

The pet store
Many say pet stores are not the place to get dogs because they are only interested to make a sale.

I guess both parties should play their part. The store should be responsible in making recommendation (not trying to sell a Rottweiler to a family with a toddler, for instance!). And prospective owners should shop around with their kids. Ask them which dog they think are able to get along with.

You may say I’m a little biased when it comes to the breeds of dogs that are suitable for children. But this is just a rough guideline. Any dog that is not socialised properly or is raised in a wrong way tends to be a little cranky. And always keep in mind that the dog is only following its natural instincts whenever it does something.

Another thing: don’t be fooled by the puppy-dog looks. Always check out the size of a full-grown adult before settling for what will be your pet for life. Hope this guide will help you to choose the best dog for your kid.

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Knowing your dog's temperament

Knowing your dog's temperament
A dog’s temperament is a collection of drives, thresholds, traits and instincts that are inherited. It’s a function of genetics. Though some behaviour might be modified through training, the temperament never changes.

If the animal has a bad temperament and is unpredictably aggressive, killing it is the last option for owners. It’s possible to send it for a temperament test and, subsequently, training.

Unfortunately, irresponsible owners might do nothing about this problem until an attack occurs. Then they say their dog “has never attacked anyone before.”

Although each dog is an individual in its own right, all dogs inherit their parents’ temperament. Thus, you can find out more about a puppy by checking out the parents. In fact, you should not get a dog if you’re not able to do this background check, especially with the large breeds.

Final advice, if you think you won’t be able to control a large dog, don’t get one

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Unsafe dog feeding practice

Unsafe dog feeding practice

Some dogs have a fondness for feline feces, and will raid a kitty litter box for "treats". This can be unsafe for the dog's health.

Feeding table scraps to a dog is sometimes not recommended. Dogs get ample correct nutrition from prepared dogfood. Otherwise, just as in humans, their diet must consist of the appropriate mix of vegetables, carbohydrates, and proteins, with the appropriate mix to provide all of the minerals and vitamins that they need. A human diet is not ideal for a dog; in addition, table scraps often consist of fatty scraps rather than meat, which is no better for dogs than it is for humans. Lastly, many people overfeed their dogs by giving them all the table scraps that the dogs will eat—which is usually all the table scraps they are fed, which is often too much food.

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