Cross Breeds - Which breed of dog would fit in well with my family?

Which breed of dog would fit in well with my family?

My wife would like to get a dog. We lead an active lifestyle and would like a smaller dog to accompany us. We run almost daily (up to 3 miles a day, sometimes more), mountain bike, hike and generally hang in the outdoors as often as possible. We have a fairly small house but a nice sized, enclosed yard (just smaller than a 1/4 of an acre). We have two very friendly indoor cats (fixed males 2 and 3 years old) and while we have no kids I can see them coming into the picture within the next year or two. I am familiar with the training of dogs having grown up with an Australian Shepard that was an amazing dog who required a lot of attention. My wife is set on a Terrier (she wants either a Jack Russell or a Norwich) but I'm worried about how well they'll get along with the cats. I have never been a fan of Golden Retrievers, Lab's or German Shepards, nor do we really want a dog that big. So, what do all you dog people out in Yahoo Answers land think? Again, no Labs...It's not that they are bad dogs I just don't like them. Sorry, even though I've known some sweet Pit Bulls, I've heard far to many horror stories. I could just be buying into a stereotype but I won't take the risk with my other pets, my friends and future kids. The Cairn Terriers look interesting and my wife now informs me she likes Border Terriers and Beagles now. Go figure.

Public Comments

what about a cocker spaniel? they're small, love people, kids and cats and are active...Good luck!
it depends on how small your thinking imean they can go as small as a chawa to a great dane but a minuture poodle would be your anwser
I think a labrador retriever would suit your familey just fine. Breed Group: Sporting Weight: male: 65-80, female: 55-70 lbs Height: male: 22.5-24.5, female: 21.5-23.5 inches Color(s): solid black, yellow, or chocolate Coat: The Labrador Retriever is a double coat breed. The outer coat is straight, short, very dense, and hard in texture. The under coat is soft, weather-resistant, and protects this breed from cold, all types of ground cover, and water. The color of the coat comes in chocolate, black, and yellow. This breed is an average shedder. Overview: Originating in Newfoundland during the 1700s, the Labrador Retriever was imported to England in the early 1800s. This breed is among the oldest of the modern recognized breeds. Their versatility and endless positive attributes have made the Labrador Retriever a popular family pet. Character: The Labrador Retriever is medium in size, strong, athletic, and well balanced. They are friendly, outgoing, and possess an extremely sweet personality. There are two types of Labrador: The American, which is tall and lanky, and the English, which is more thick and heavy. This sporting breed is adept at hunting and retrieving. Labrador Retrievers are revered as companions and highly respected for their loving nature. Temperament: This breed is highly intelligent, loyal, and deeply devoted. The Labrador Retriever is reliable, affectionate, and thrive on human companionship and attention. They are absolutely wonderful with children and get along exceedingly well with other dogs. They may be reserved with strangers and make good watchdogs. If this breed is left alone for extended periods of time without attention or stimulation they will become lonely, bored, and destructive. Care: The Labrador Retriever requires regular grooming with a firm bristle brush. Special care should be given to the under coat to prevent mats and tangles. Bathing or dry shampooing should only be done when absolutely necessary. Labrador Retrievers are prone to elbow and hip dysplasia, eye disorders, and PRA. Training: This breed is easily trained. Early socialization and basic obedience are recommended. The Labrador Retriever is very strong and must be taught not to pull on their leash. They do not respond to harsh or heavy-handed methods. The Labrador Retriever needs fairness, firmness, consistency, reward, and respect. They excel in tracking, police work, search and rescue, agility, competitive obedience, guide for the blind, and as service dogs for the disabled. Activity: Delightful, high-spirited, and energetic, the Labrador Retriever requires a great deal of exercise. They enjoy family play sessions, securely leashed walks, swimming, and a safely fenced yard to run and romp freely. This breed will do okay in an apartment dwelling provided they are given sufficient exercise, attention, and stimulation. Ownership: If you are looking for Labrador Retriever puppies for sale from reputable Labrador Retriever breeders or to adopt a Labrador Retriever from a Labrador Retriever rescue then make sure you understand as much about the dog breeds you are interested in as you can. Every puppy breed is different. Begin your research by reading the breed information about the Labrador Retriever puppy above. Search our dog breeds section to find Labrador Retriever puppies, dogs and puppies that make great pets.
You could go to the website www.dogbreedinfo.com. It is an excellent website for figuring out what kind of dog to get. It helped us to decide to get our cairn terriers. If you do go with a terrier, make sure it knows you are boss from the beginning. They can get aggressive if they think they are the alpha dog. The good thing about terriers is they have an endless supply of energy and usually love children. Our cairn terrier puppies are great for our family.
a lab. they are active.. very cute... the only thing that dosent fit is the siz. (=
well i have a West Highland White Terrier (Westie) she loves to be outside & always wants to come with us everywhere, & loves to meet other kinds of animals, only I'm not quite sure what she wants to do when she sees a cat, but she hasn't really been around them much so it might be just her, but she is the nicest dog everyone could ever ask for. i love terriers & the breed is lovely, you should really consider checking into it. hope you find what your looking for & get a great dog!
Australian Shepard. not to big and not to small, they love to run and love the outdoors!
Jack russels they however are VERY hyper I would go with yorkie or shi tzu they are both great breeds that have a lot of love to offer
What do you think about a staffy pitbull? I know that pitbull can scar people off, but they are smaller, need good exercise and training, and love kids. We just got one about 6 months ago and love him, he is a really good dog and loves kids (even though we dont have any of our own). Plus your wife and kids will always be safe ;) They make really good family dogs!!! We never thought we would be so happy with him, but he has turned out to be the best thing we ever did!! Plus we cant go anywhere without people wanting to pet him, and we have to tell people that he is a pitbull, most people cant even tell!!
If you want a dog to run with you and is small and very active get a Schipperke. height 10 to 13 in weight 12 to 16 lb and they love to be with you & play
and Australian shepherd or maybe a beagle , or a cocker spaniel they are all cute lovable and great runners what more could you want :)
get a mixed bred small dog they are healthier. Teeriers are not good w/kids!!! I have a J Russell hates kids.
I have a papillon, but I also adore shelties. They're excellent with children, very bright, and also very friendly. They're herding dogs, so they're also fairly athletic, and they don't get very big. The downside is the grooming.
I'm assuming you don't want a large dog so I would suggest a cocker spaniel--they are very good with kids and very protective of them, or a miniature poodle--they are about the size of a cocker spaniel and just as loving. I like terriers, but they tend to be somewhat stubborn, unfortunately. Beagles, however, even though they are a hunting breed, are very very sweet dogs and could probably fit in with your lifestyle very well. Hope this helps
With your active lifestyles, why not a miniature Australian Shepherd? They are active, smart, and good with children. Mini Aussies are just as nice as the standard Aussies, just in a smaller package. A small toy sized dog won't be able to keep up with all your outdoor activities.
I have a Terrier/Shi Zuhs mix and she loves the outdoors. They are easy to take care of and my dog loves to go by by in the car.And loves to go to McDonald's for ice cream, she loves going to the drive thur drug store because they keep dog biscuits, the Bank for they have her favorite suckers, the Cigarette store as well, for she knows they carry dog biscuits. She goes bomker's when we go thur the a bar bq ribs drive-thur.Her favorite place is the park near-by, to walk. I also have a Pomeranian that is so adorable and she loves the outdoors. My Brother has a Jack Russell that loves the outdoors, to ride in the truck,and the four wheeler. So either three will make a wonderful pet.
I am a Jack Russell Terrier breeder - naturally I agree with your wife about her choice! You will have FUN with a Jack, they are wonderful and loyal, great with kids, great with cats. Do your research though because there are two kinds of jack russells - the Parsons which is the larger type, very athletic, more "hyper" (sorry, lack of a better word), love to dig and have a strong hunting instinct. The Shorties, (also called Irish, English or Puddin's) are shorter, more family oriented, extremely loyal, love to play but will sit on your lap too. Of course I am totally biased because I own and breed the shorties. Seriously, the way you have described your style of living, you won't be sorry with a little Jack, and they just so happen to be absolutely adorable too. Watch TV commercials and you'll see them everywhere! So smart, very happy little things... good luck. You have a smart wife. :)
A Beagle hound is a very good dog, I've had several, my first at 6 yrs. old. When I got my first own dog at 6, I was responsible for training and feeding and it was the perfect little dog for me. Very easy going, very lovable, about a midsized dog, good little puppy.
Jack Russell Terriers, are small, active dog, they require tons of exercise, are a joy to be around. I would say go ahead with this breed, only because you say you are capable of training one...they require training as much as exercise. One warning however...as soon as you get the puppy, start socializing around children...Jack's aren't always tolerant of kids if they are not raised with them...I have a Jack and a two year old son, who get along okay. But if you want a small dog who is very active and playful get a Jack.
Welsh Corgi! They are cute, active, and small! Jack Russel Terriers are NOT good if you have cats. They are overly active! I had a friend who once had a jack russel; it bit their young daughter. My family breeds golden retrievers and they are so wonderful. They are beautiful, active, loyal, and will protect your family against burglary and intruders! I reccomend them! See some of our pups at sandyeye.com !
go 2 a shelter u can fine a pet and the pet gets a home its a win win deal we got our pet hustie and she is a full blood
border collies are very energetic , good with kids very protective and not too big. our border collies has our cats rubbing all over him all the time they love him and he's never chased or barked at them
go with the pit bull if you get them as a puppy they are great dogs the most affectionate loving smart loyal best friend a family could have a protector every thing a person could want in a dog they mind very well and would never hurt you as long as you love it back and don't abuse it those are the ones that attack people and if you were abused you would attack to that's survival
http://selectsmart.com/beta_dog/ This link will give you many options to discover which dog is right for you as for me a love Maltese, I have 2 of them :)
I think a Jack Russell Terrier is a great dog for you. They are very energetic and playful. I know someone that has had a Jack Russell for years. Her dog is great with her cats and her grandchildren. They are a medium sized dog and love the outdoors and exercise. They are short haired and require less attention to their coat than other dogs. They are the right size and temperment for children of all ages.
Get a cocker spaniel, as they make great pets, and are easily trained. They aren't to big, but not too small, and they have a pleasant disposition.
get Jack russell terrier i have 3 they are awsome
i have a jack Russel he is very playful loads of energy he could go all day and always likes to meat some one new
I wonder if you will be able to find a small dog that is calm enough to get along with the cats. Most small dogs are kinda yippy and hyper. Don't get me wrong, I am a toy poodle owner--I love small dogs, but the reality is that they are often sooo hyper. If you chose a beagle, that might work. Beagles grow up to be not SO small and they are really good tempered. You said that you run--that is beagle HEAVEN! I love beagles. The only reason that we don't have one is that beagles shed like CRAZY! I wish you the best. I hope you find just the perfect fit for your family. Take care!
I would recommend not getting a terrier. My good friend is a professional dog trainer, and she says that the most foul tempered and hard to train dogs she has ever encountered has always been a terrier. They are good if you never have visitors or if you don't have any other animals, but they can be snippy, territorial, loud, and over protective. NOT a good choice if children are a possibility! I would recommend a miniature Australian Shepherd. They have the EXACT same personality and dispostion as an Australian Shepherd, but weigh about 30 pounds. They will run with you until the cows (or maybe sheep! LOL) come home!
We have a 3-year-old male Shih Tzu. He is full grown and weighs around 11 pounds. He is GREAT with our girls, 11, 5, and 2. We are a very active family and Snuffy loves playing in the yard. He often gets on the trampoline with the kids, and has even put his front paws in the swing on the swing set and pushed around with his back feet. TOO CUTE. He is very loving and intelligent. Was very easy to train. We also have a go cart that we take out into woods and fields near our house and he runs along with us. He is not a large dog at all, but is very loyal. He only barks when something is really wrong. We also had a Yellow Lab about a year ago, and gave him away. He was great with the kids, but he would tear up everything around him. If you decide to travel and take your little friend along, a Shih Tzu won't be hard to transport. Hope this has helped you...Good Luck.
Any puppy raised around the cats will be fine. Introduce the pup slowly to the cats at first, and make sure any interaction is supervised at the beginning. The pup will learn to respect the cats very soon. Especially after a few swipes and hisses from the cats! As a former trainer and dog handler, it's all about how you socialize your dog. I grew up on a farm with a ton of cats. They got along with the dogs so well that they would sleep together. As a breeder of American Eskimos... I would highly recommend them as a family dog. They have plenty of energy for sports and would gladly run along side of you on your runs/bike rides. Mine love to accompany me when I go dirtbiking. They are a small sized dog... approximately 25-30 lbs for a standard size (15-19 inches high at the shoulder). A perfect size for a small home. They are great with kids. They require no grooming, just a quick brush twice a month. They learn incredibly fast. We have had customers buy a pup and come back a couple months later to buy another. They showed us their 4 month old puppy completely already completely trained. However there are a ton of other great options out there. Considering the size of your house and yard, a small/medium dog would be best. Big dogs such as golden retrievers and labs take a long time to grow up and mentally able to be trained. Some act as pups all of their life, and have bad chewing habits as well. I've had nothing but bad experiences with labs, mostly due to laziness of the owners. If you're going for a large dog, you REALLY need to focus on training it! Having a large dog jump and scratch is no fun, especially for future children. Think about the grooming, handling, character, and training issues of the different breeds. Jack Russells are very cute little things, but they can be very hyper. Do you want a calm dog that is quiet and peaceful, or one that will be bouncing off the walls and driving you insane? Or some happy medium? Other terriers require an enormous amount of grooming- which can be expensive. Do you live in a close quarter neighborhood? Would there be neighbors that would be bothered by a yappy dog? Do you live in a southern/northern area? What is the weather like? If you want a dog to be active with you- you need to think about the environment that's right for it. A thick fur coat is not going to do well down south... nor is a hairless going to well up north. Hopefully that gave you some things to think about. When you do decide on a puppy, start training young. Take the pup to obedience classes to socialize with other dogs... learn to how to keep it in control despite distractions. That will be important for your runs/bike rides. Good luck in your search!
First I would suggest contacting your local animal shelter. Mixed breed dogs are usually have the good features of their breeds. Pure bred dogs often interbreed so much that bad traits are easily passed on. That said, I have a Pembroke Welsh Corgi. It sounds like that would be a perfect dog for your life style. They are not too big, 20-30 lbs. They are smart. They were bred to herd cattle so they like a lot of exercise, which seems to fit your lifestyle. They are great with kids and so beautiful. Let us know what you finally choose.
i have a welsh pembroke corgi and not only did he get along very well with my elderly cat but he also loved to go on long long walks with me. i also taught him how to swim and he is the best little swimmer as well as very obedient. my aunt also has a female corgi who is very active; they live in montana and she loves to walk a few miles everyday. i highly recommend you take a look at these cuties (mine is black white and brown) good luck with the search!!
A poodle would be great-- preferably a large miniature if you want a smaller dog. They are intelligent, affectionate and do not shed fur since they have curly hair.. I would not advise a toy poodle as they are generally too nervous and have a higher pitched bark. The JR terrier like most terriers is very hyper and many people cannot cope with that. But be advised that the grooming and clipping costs about $50 every 6 wks or every two months for a poodle. Also consider enrolling it in agility classes. They are a blast for owner and dog and miniature poodles are a breed well suited to agility.
Go to a shelter most will give you answers about the dogs they work with daily and some even have training programs that help house break the dogs. Pick an animal who is friendly active and out going the shelter will know if it is good with kids.
I have a Jack Russell Terrier. He is wonderful! He's very active BUT also loves to cuddle with me on the couch. He sleeps with me at night and is my shadow whenever I am home. He loves to ride and loves to run. I can carry him like a baby and he doesn't have a problem with it. He doesn't bark a whole lot and is friendly with strangers and children. I would suggest a Jack Russell to anyone, they are smart, sweet and loyal.
Jack Russells are by far the most hyper and wound up dogs in the world!! They jump and bark at everything. For being active people, a small dog will not really keep up with you since your legs are long and theirs are not. Now if it is just walking and stuff any dog is great. If you plan on having kids I would suggest a dog that is known to get along great with them. A cairne terrier or mini Schnauzer. I personally have a miniature schnauzer and am in the process of getting our second. We have 1 year old and soon to be 3 year old daughters, and no matter how rough (unintentionally) they get, our dog now does not even budge. She loves them. If they get too rough, she just gets up and walks away. We don't allow it from the girls, but kids are kids and don't understand at this age that they are causing pain. They are pretty good though, I'm just glad she doesn't react badly to them. Plus she housebroke in 3 days at 5 months old. She is super intelligent and I could see her breed definitely getting along with cats. Also, if you do have kids no matter what you think, you will not be able to run or bike as much as you do now. Good Luck.