I am looking for a small dog for my 4 kids (ages 6months – 11 years).
We like Maltese, Shih Tzu and Lhasa Apso's but I am wondering if they are good with children?
Do you have any insight on any of these breeds with kids and their temprament (hyperness, barking etc).
Thanks every – this is a big decision for our family and we are doing as much research as we can to ensure we get the best fit new addition.
Cheers!
I'd say go for a shih tzu. I was four when we got my girl and I love her to death, she was great! And if your kids like to run around outside, they're perfect. Unlike most little dogs, My girl is a tough little thing and would rather go out and dig than lay inside on the couch–And she's twelve now!
Just be careful, because all little dogs can get snippy, because they get frightened easily, They are small after all. Just make sure they learn to be CAREFUL with the dog.
Shih tzu's don't bark much, but they do make good little watch dogs. They love their family, so they want to keep them safe. They bark when the doog bell rings, but if you let the person in, they're happy to make a new friend and quiet down. But they aren't going to jump all over them, usually, They're a little shy.
They do bark sometimes while they play, but it's happy little excited barks.
Shih Tzu's aren't really prone to medical problems, Except for eye problems. But if you make sure you keep them clean, they should be fine. In old age, they tend to loose their sight, but it doesn't hinder them much.
The best part– They don't shed! This is not to say they don't loose hair sometimes, but they don't shed twice a year and cover everything in fur like most dogs. My sister has very bad allergies, but hasn't had a problem with ours.
My Shih Tzu in particular is very quiet, and probably the sweetest dog i've ever met. I mean, it's just an instant trust there that she's not going to snap. Ever. She's pretty much bomb proof(except for storms) and is alright with anything. Even at twelve years old she loves to be around my baby cousins, I think it's because she remembers when she was a puppy and surrounded by kids all the time.
She has never really bitten anyone–Don't think that they wont maybe nip in warning, but it doesn't hurt–And has always been a trooper. Running around with me and my friends, even in the snow, she got into her fair share of trouble but rarely ever complained.
She once got badly cut on a romp and we didn't notice until hours later after a play session in the kitchen when we found the blood on the floor! She didn't act like she was in any pain.
But all this definitely has something to do how she was raised, she was not pampered and babied(she WAS spoiled and loved as if she were family. And she is) and made fragile. She was always a dog, and it made her happy to be one.
It's the usual belief of people that small dogs are dainty and fragile, But it's not always true. It always depends on how you treat them.
Oh, one thing I would like to point out– They HATE to be left alone. Muffin, my girl, is a 'Latch Key' dog and whenever my mother leaves she starts to freak out and get upset. Take them with you if you can–Short trips to pick up a few things in the grocery store, leave the windows cracked a little, But make sure it isn't too hot or too cold outside. They hate being away from people, take them on vacation with you, bring a baggie of dog food and a tupperware container of water for the car trip. If you start when they're a puppy, they'll sleep in a lap or the floor the whole time!
…Oh, dear. I think I got a little out of hand with that, its…very long. I didn't mean to do that, I was just hoping to give some good info.
In any case, Good luck with your new puppy!
Six months is a bit young to be introducing a dog to, but you can work ways around this to make the experience good for both your family and the dog.
The first thing you should do is give ALL children in the family some lessons in "dog handling". Take them to a local shelter or zoo. Most shelters and zoos offer an animal appreciation class that will teach children of any age how to properly treat an animal, as well as cover some basic care instructions.
It is good to know that you're doing research. There really isn't any specific breed that is good/not good with children. Even dogs that are known to be awful with children have exceptions. In fact, I can't even think of a breed I know to be awful with children. The biggest concern about the child vs. dog friendship is that the child is nice to the dog. Most dog bites occur when a child has pulled the tail or ears of a dog. You are going to want to find a dog that is tolerant, even if you do send your children to an animal appreciation class.
You may want to look into local rescues to see if any have dogs available that have already been tested with children. You may have trouble finding a rescue that will adopt out to you (because of the six month old). The ASPCA and Humane Society would probably be a better place for you to look, as opposed to private rescues which tend to have stricter regulations on adopting.
If you do decide to buy from a breeder, be sure it is a responsible breeder. A litter every year or so, all health testing is done, etc. etc. Some breeders may not sell to you as well, once again because of the young child.
Good luck! And thank you for doing your research!
References :
http://www.petfinder.com
All 3 can be good with kids if you train them the right way.
They pretty much all tend to be on the hyper side…
I think the Maltese (?) is the least hyper, but it depends on the certain dog's personality.
All puppies are, of course, hyper, but they will grow out of it, may take a little work to train them to stop barking though, and jumping.
Also, if you happen to have a local humane society, they offer pet care classes, that teach you, and kids, how to take care of dogs, cats, etc.
a good idea may be to possibly start volunteering at an animal shelter before you get a dog, that way you can kind of teach your kids the right and wrong ways to behave with a dog. Also will help your kids understand the work you need to do with a dog/puppy.
If you decide to volunteer, you can foster a puppy before you make your decision, to see it a dog is really the right pet for you at the moment.
That's what i did, i fostered a litter of kittens, then a puppy. Our family decided we might be better with a doggie.
Thanks, hope i could help!
References :
Me, i love animals, and am around dogs everyday.
Most small breeds are all pretty similar excluding a few. The three you have listed are all fairly similar in personality. Any of them can be great with kids, however, I would think twice about a Maltese. They are a bit nippy and high up keep. The Shih Tzu and Lhasa is more of a family dog and a Maltese is more of an adults dog or one person dog. My experience at least. Nowadays the Shih Tzu is being over breed and every back yard breeder has one for sale. I would be very care full and look to buy one from a very good breeder with references. The small dogs you get from a backyard breeder have A LOT of health issues.
References :
We have two Shih Tzu's, and they are great with our kids. Don't get any dog from a pet store, however. Go to a private breeder. No matter what they tell you, ALL pet stores get their dogs from puppy mills. They will swear up and down that they don't, but any vet will tell you differently, and will also tell you how unhealthy puppies are that come from pet shops. You can also check out Petfinder.com for rescue groups for all breeds.
References :
For more information on puppy mills, go to http://www.prisonersofgreed.org
i think shih tzus are….they are very energetic and always love people to play with them and get attention
References :
http://www.puppyfind.com/shih+tzu.php
hopefully this helps
References :
I'd say go for a shih tzu. I was four when we got my girl and I love her to death, she was great! And if your kids like to run around outside, they're perfect. Unlike most little dogs, My girl is a tough little thing and would rather go out and dig than lay inside on the couch–And she's twelve now!
Just be careful, because all little dogs can get snippy, because they get frightened easily, They are small after all. Just make sure they learn to be CAREFUL with the dog.
Shih tzu's don't bark much, but they do make good little watch dogs. They love their family, so they want to keep them safe. They bark when the doog bell rings, but if you let the person in, they're happy to make a new friend and quiet down. But they aren't going to jump all over them, usually, They're a little shy.
They do bark sometimes while they play, but it's happy little excited barks.
Shih Tzu's aren't really prone to medical problems, Except for eye problems. But if you make sure you keep them clean, they should be fine. In old age, they tend to loose their sight, but it doesn't hinder them much.
The best part– They don't shed! This is not to say they don't loose hair sometimes, but they don't shed twice a year and cover everything in fur like most dogs. My sister has very bad allergies, but hasn't had a problem with ours.
My Shih Tzu in particular is very quiet, and probably the sweetest dog i've ever met. I mean, it's just an instant trust there that she's not going to snap. Ever. She's pretty much bomb proof(except for storms) and is alright with anything. Even at twelve years old she loves to be around my baby cousins, I think it's because she remembers when she was a puppy and surrounded by kids all the time.
She has never really bitten anyone–Don't think that they wont maybe nip in warning, but it doesn't hurt–And has always been a trooper. Running around with me and my friends, even in the snow, she got into her fair share of trouble but rarely ever complained.
She once got badly cut on a romp and we didn't notice until hours later after a play session in the kitchen when we found the blood on the floor! She didn't act like she was in any pain.
But all this definitely has something to do how she was raised, she was not pampered and babied(she WAS spoiled and loved as if she were family. And she is) and made fragile. She was always a dog, and it made her happy to be one.
It's the usual belief of people that small dogs are dainty and fragile, But it's not always true. It always depends on how you treat them.
Oh, one thing I would like to point out– They HATE to be left alone. Muffin, my girl, is a 'Latch Key' dog and whenever my mother leaves she starts to freak out and get upset. Take them with you if you can–Short trips to pick up a few things in the grocery store, leave the windows cracked a little, But make sure it isn't too hot or too cold outside. They hate being away from people, take them on vacation with you, bring a baggie of dog food and a tupperware container of water for the car trip. If you start when they're a puppy, they'll sleep in a lap or the floor the whole time!
…Oh, dear. I think I got a little out of hand with that, its…very long. I didn't mean to do that, I was just hoping to give some good info.
In any case, Good luck with your new puppy!
References :