Home Forums Miscellaneous Topics Rural Living Dog for my daughter

Nothing any more faithful or wanting to be around children than a Sheltie.

They won’t withstand a pit bull attack, but they won’t back down either.

Family oriented dog, but children is who they cling too. He’ll stand by her side until the end.

This guy forgets all about me when the grandkid shows up.

Never knew how gentle a dog could be untill we got Dillon, the Boxer.
You literally have to put treats in his mouth and let go.
He won't take them.

Pushing 11 and I've never thought he was going to bite a soul,
Except me, when we play. By the sounds, you would think he is eating
me. No more damage than scratches and slobbers.

We have seen him get protective a few times.
Keeping himself between the girls or wife and a stranger.
Hackles raised. A low growl one time.
Those people immediately go on the S list and are never trusted.

Had a doberman and have done a great of investigating into them. They seem to be one of the better "family dogs" that I have ever been around or learned about.

In addition to reading, I always consult a couple friends that are vets to ask their impression of breeds. When I rescued the dobie we had, I read multiple places that they are phenomenal family dogs. My vets affirmed.

The doberman I rescued had been abandoned at a shelter because he nipped a guy when the guy came quickly up behind the doberman's owner, a woman in the midst of a divorce. Totally acceptable in my book

Once I got him home and gave him a week to decompress, he got used to us very quickly and he genuinely loved and cared for every member of the family from my wife to both kids. A lot of alpha type dogs seem to tolerate the family and only really bond with the master. This dog bonded deeply with everyone in the family. He nipped a kid that we had repeatedly asked to stay clear of us while we were in a park. The kid came racing up to my buddy that had my dog leashed and the dog nipped the kid when the kid came racing right at my friend. He also backed a guy up tight to his car that came into our property and drove back by our shop unannounced and unescorted.

One of our mastiffs is in a speedy downward spiral. Probably doesn't have but a month or so left. After she is gone, I will have another doberman. Absolutely the best dog I ever owned.

Anyway shape of form if a dog nipped a kid , that would be a tremendous liability. Although I am a firm believer of adopting dogs, they all have some baggage and you never know what that is until you get them home.

Best dog I ever had was full blooded wolf, but we had to be careful. She would protect my wife with her life.No stranger and even a few friends could get close to her.

Which is EXACTLY WHY we keep Rotts. Don't WANT any new friends. But you gotta know the town across the valley to completely understand.

As an aside.............. About 11:30 Monday night, our boys decided to kill a porcupine........... When I heard the commotion, I hit the floods and went out on the front porch. I honestly thought they were throwing down with a bear. Then my eyes adjusted and saw what was going on. Most vicious dog attack I've ever seen !!! Took a couple minutes of me and my daughter screaming "Come !!!" to get them to break.

Vet estimated 500-700 in the one boy and 600-800 in the other. I can't wrap my head around it............ Stick ME with just ONE of those quills and I quit.

Liability...? Yes.

In this situation, this kid was running absolutely loose and zero interest by the mom in controlling her kid. I saw where this kid had run towards us and our dog and Kamo took keen interest in this person bearing down on us. I told the kid very firmly to stay away. Told the mom to please control her kid and keep him away from us. Explained the dog doesn't like it when people come running at us like that.

She did exactly zero in the form of control. We moved around to another spot to separate ourselves. Sure enough, later on the kid is running around oblivious to everything. I saw him change course and head right at my buddy whose back was turned. Kamo saw it immediately. I had stepped away and was too far and yelled but it was too late. Kid came bearing down on my buddy's backside and Kamo put himself between the 2 and nipped the kid kind of on the side of his butt.

Kid squalled. Mom came running. Took him into a dugout and checked, skin wasn't broken. I apologized and reminded her I had asked her to keep her kid away. She admitted it was on her and the kid.

That is the one thing about this doberman, don't know if it is all of them, but when pushed, he nipped once and backed off. Let the person decide what was next. Didn't truly bite and bite and bite. Didn't become blindly aggressive. Popped them once and then sat back.

Same with the guy that showed up and the dog had him backed against the truck. I believe he nipped him in the pant leg, and then stepped back barking. Guy stood dead still until I came running out from behind the shop. Kamo instantly came when I called him.

I wish he hadn't nipped the kid, but I will take that behavior in a dog. That dog loved us and in his mind, he knew his job was to protect his family. Had a number of dogs try to fight him. He did just enough to put an end to it, and then was instantly interested in being a buddy to the dog that just came after him.Not a mean dog at all. Just not one you wanted to f-around with, or as the popular saying goes, you would find out.

Boxer or a Cane Corso.

...along with a saddle...a horse would eat less though.

Belgian Malinois? Very loyal breed tough as nails, just recently one saved her owner from a mountain lion, unfortunately About a week later the dog past due to his wounds. But without a doubt the dog save that girls life.With 55 acres It would get all the exercise it needs.

i have been around many breeds of dogs the most loyal , smartest and protective dog purchased as a puppy is a female Labrador hands down . this type of dog will protect your child to its death to save your child , i have witnessed this kind of protection when a huge bull tried to hurt my brother and the Lab took over , there were many other dogs times that Lab stepped in too. and here`s the funny part my Dad did not dear lay a hand on us when our Lab was by us, Dad did get bit once and Mom said you brought those boys the dog for protection so leave that dammed dog and boys alone , but to be honest we did deserve a spanking. my grandkids have a Lab now and the Lab sleeps right next to their rooms always guarding them.

One word of caution about the “powerful “ breeds, like rotties, pitts, dobies, etc. If your daughter isn’t into the idea with you, and participating in the raising and training, tgen their behavior towards her can be unpredictable. I’ve seen that happen. And a negative incident, even a fairly innocent one, can create fear or dislike, which dogs pick up immediately, and you have a negative snowball from there where you end up with either no connection between dogs and daughter, or (far worse) a negative connection between them.

Companion breeds are far more forgiving and far less intimidating to a little girl.

I think a newfoundland would be a great dog for a kid. Very gentle dogs, but protective of their family without being outright aggressive toward strangers. They want to be with their people. Not prone to running off or excessive barking. Downsides : relatively coomon health issues such as dysplasia, but the same is true of labs. Short life span. Huge turds. Good breed worth looking into for a kids dog imo. The neighbor had one that died a year and a half ago, and she was about the best dog you could ever hope for. Had no need for a fence as she was not inclined to run off. The furthest she would go is over to my place for a visit, especially in a westerly wind if i was cooking with the window open. She knew i was always an easy mark for a chunk of backstrap.
That dog treed a lion right next to her house and would run coyotes right the hell off the property in a hurry. Wouldnt chase deer at all though. Would just lay there while deer walked by 20 yards away.
She is getting another newfoundland this weekend.

They truly are an amazing breed. When I retire another few years, that will be the dog I will be getting.

I'm not familiar with an Austrian Shepard. Please enlighten me on the breed.

I'm not sure you're familiar with Malinois....

They also come in miniature:
https://www.magnoliahillsfarm.com/available-puppies

(Disclaimer: I've never owned an Australian shepherd or a mini)

Any of the herding dogs require a job,. If not,they sure get into a lot of mischief

Reading comprehension is not a strong suit around here......

Still wondering what an Austrian Shepard is. ( spelling on the 'fire is also not a strong suit...)

Jake's Daisey