We’ve had a Miniature Schnauzer for the past 11 years, and sadly, last week, he went to that big kennel in the sky. I’ve got two boys, 7 and 9, and they really miss their dog, so I’m thinking a new puppy would lift their spirits. I live on 4 acres, plenty of room for any type dog, but was wondering what kind would be best for us, as far as trainability, good with kids, loyalty, etc…the Schnauzer was great, but maybe too many memories for the kids. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
There are several websites with questionaires to help you decide. Try a google search using " choose dog breed" as your search request.
Go to the Humane Society and let one pick you guys out.
We sure love our Yorkshire Terrier. They’re not real good with small children but your boys are old enough. No shedding, cute as a puppy their entire life, and 6 lbs. 9 ozs. of pure loooove!
http://www.k9web.com is a great resource - lots of FAQs on most any breed you can think of.
If you find you want a particular breed, you can often get puppies from a rescue organization for a nominal adoption fee.
Yes! Breed-specific characteristics are real but danged if individual dogs aren’t just cussed enough to confound the definitions anyway.
Cross-breeds tend to mellow out the breed-specific minuses while often retaining the best characteristics.
Besides, they’re great dogs your little guys can visit, get to know and save. They need a dog; the dogs need them and a home. Most pounds have staff that KNOW the dogs and will help you find a good fit.
Veb
Gee, I got quoted by a Mod!
Do I, like, get to meet Uncle Cecil or something?
But if you do decide to go for a breed, then I thoroughly recommend Rhodesian Ridgebacks considering your circumstances. Mind you, I’m a little biased as we own four of them.
Someone told me that retired racing greyhounds are good dogs to adopt. There are websites for various states if you’re interested.
Yes the Rhodesian Ridgeback, the ultimate dog.
Known as the lion-dog in Africa because they are able to herd rogue lions.
But they are a major handful and maybe not the best thing to have around (at the puppy stage anyway) if you have young children.
I personally am one of those “get a mutt” people. Try a private owner (that only wants a few bucks or even free) or try the local animal shelter.
Every dog I have ever had in my life that was a mixed breed was a wonderful dog. All dogs are good dogs unless trained improperly too. Even Pit Bulls can be wonderful family pets if trained in the right way.
Go get a mixed breed of say Lab Retriever and Shepard or Golden Retriever and Chow.
I have to tell you have the best of three breeds in my dog. He’s chow, shepard and black lab mix. He’s sweet and kind, knows who’s bad, a good watch dog and I am sure if someone were to harm me, he’d be there kickin butt.
If you must get a full breed, check out some of the local rescues.
Oh and BTW, your title cracked me up before I read it. Sorry to sound so morbid but it sounded like something you’d say when trading in a car. 
I am sorry for the loss of your beloved pet, it’s never easy.
They aren’t a major handful at all. They are a largish dog on par with a Shepherd or Dalmatian. There definitely aren’t any serious temperament problems so they require the standard amount of attention in regard to training.
With 4 acres and boys of the age you have, a large dog makes more sense and a Ridgeback is the best of the large ones.
But a large dog can be harder to handle, especially when matching strength with a 9 year old. If the dog is trained well when young it’s not a problem, but not everyone has the temperament to properly train a large dog. And that means you wind up with a big dog that does what it pleases, and no one can keep up with it.
The size of the property means they can have a large dog, but doesn’t mean they should. You can have a small dog in a big yard, just not a big dog in a small yard.
My brother and his girlfriend had an adult Ridgeback (cross Pharoah Hound) for a while. She was a lovely dog, good natured, friendly - but she did tend to try and push around people like my mother who were too soft on her.
There’s a dog breed selector on this page that might help. Also, if you are keen on a larger dog, perhaps a Labrador? They’re beautiful animals, usually good with kids, energetic and intelligent. If you’re after a smaller dog, I’ve known and loved an Australian Silky Terrier - make sure you get a good tempered one - and a Maltese Terrier, but probably the two dogs I ever loved the most were a Kelpie Cross and a mutt. Kelpies are probably light on the ground where you live, but mutts tend to be everywhere. Oh, and I’ve heard a lot of people say that the runts make the best pets.
A private shelter may be a good source as many there where in good homes but circumstances made it necessary for them to be put up for adoption. As for breed, I would let them pick you, instead of having a preconceived notion from reading a book about a certain breed.
I have to object superficially here…we’ve met a few people at the dog park who got their dog because it was just so goshdarn cute. When they told us [bewildered and chagrined expressions on their faces] that their dog deliberately pissed in the house or crate, and we laughed and said “oh, that’s just Basenjis for you, primitive assertive hounds” (words to that effect) it was a little late to help them then. Some dogs are really awesome seeming, but then you realise, oh god, this dog just needs too much attention, has too much energy, or whatever. We have a whippet, which I highly reccomend as a lovely companion, devoted, but content to snooze the day away. But they’re bony dogs and not good for wrestling which is fun to do with a dog at your boys’ ages. Also I would warn against a Chow, which again, are very cute and charming, but can be strangely moody and aggressive. Very protective of the family against strangers, but every Chow I’ve known has also been know to bite every single member of the family except for the one person it decides is the absolute alpha. And dog bites are scary, even if you know it was just a warning bite (almost especially if you feel it was just a warning…as you hold your dripping hand and think of what could have been, it becomes hard to ever trust that dog again.)
Anyway, I second the mutt idea. There are tons of lab mixes out there and they can be great family dogs if you have a lot of room, and being mixes, they have the hybrid vigor thing going for them. Sometimes purebred dogs can be almost nothing but heartbreak, medically. The what dog is right for you? breed quizzes can help you figure out what y’all are looking for, and then the pound or a rescue organisation can help you find just that (or close [or better]).
Good luck, and we send our condolences. Wet noses to you and yours,
Zenzelli and Tahoe
:wally (“wet noses,” sheesh…)
Your right. It is better to know something about the breed before you commit yourself. My experience has been in them finding me ( abused, abandoned, lost etc ) and I was me who did the adjusting. I goofed in the wording of that post. They are all so lovable, but if you can filter in the atributes that are compatible with you that’s great. Thank You for calling me on it. It’s late. I’m going to sleep.
The adopt-a-mutt idea has my heart, but I must put in a vote for the Newfoundland. Big, friendly, and so good with kids that they act like nannies. I once read a book by a pet psychologist called The Right Dog for You (can’t remember author) and he said that he had never had a Newfoundland owner complain of a single behavioral problem.
Oh, I forgot. Don’t adopt a greyhoud racer if you have kids. They have been terribly abused and have many, many behavioral problems.
I lived with about a jillion poodles for many years and can recommend either a standard or a miniature (but not a toy - evil creatures and not truly the same breed). They’re good with kids and reasonably intelligent and you don’t hafta give’em a poodle-do.
I have argued with Mrs. Plant often about dog breeds having characteristics. It would follow that different human types have characteristics. For example, Swedes are stupid and Converts to Judaism make good cab drivers.