Q&A: Whats a good (smaller) dog thats easily trained and a great companion for a 7 yr old girl?

15 Responses to “Q&A: Whats a good (smaller) dog thats easily trained and a great companion for a 7 yr old girl?”

1. kittenslayer says:

   11/23/2011 at 12:17 pm

   Shih-tzus or lhasa apsos are really nice dogs, especially if raised with kids from pups. They’re easy going and have nice dispositions.

   EDIT: Watch out for cavaliers-they’re very expensive (1200 minumum for a pup) and are plagued with a deadly heart condition called mitral valve disease-98% of cavaliers die from this disorder. While they are great dogs, it would devestate a 7 year old to have their dog drop dead at 3 years of age due to a heart defect.
2. KrisK says:

   11/23/2011 at 12:20 pm

   Rat terriers are excellent companion dogs and easily get attached to one family member, ours likes me the most but is friendly with my husband, 2 year old and 4 year old. They tolerate other animals as well.
3. msbang09 says:

   11/23/2011 at 1:14 pm

   a little chihuahua there is nothing cuter than that.
4. swimncrzy84 says:

   11/23/2011 at 2:00 pm

   go to this website…it will really help you
   http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/search.htm
5. doggieluver says:

   11/23/2011 at 2:19 pm

   Cocker spaniel or Papilon
6. ashlon says:

   11/23/2011 at 3:18 pm

   Poodles are ranked as the most intelligent dog species, so I would maybe look into getting a miniature poodle. We’ve had one for 12 years, Pickles, and she is very obedient and sweet. I would not recommend a chihuahua, as they are very hyper and bark a lot. Hope that helps!
7. J says:

   11/23/2011 at 3:20 pm

   I now have my second Shih Tzu and she is very playful and was house broken within the first few days we had her. The first one was bought before I was even born and she was sooooo well behaved and excellent with anything and everything (I have some cousins who think pulling tails etc is fun… mean children but she was always good and never snapped). My current puppy is very energetic and was a little nippy but we’ve finally got that under control. She did very well in puppy school (She graduated this week actually). Shih Tzus make amazing pets and I have loved every minute of having them. Good luck to you! I’m sure whatever dog you get will be lucky to have a caring owner and new friend like what your household seems to offer.
8. says:

   11/23/2011 at 3:42 pm

   Whatever you decide on, do your research, find a reputable breeder or take a visit to your local shelter.

   You were scammed with the “mini aussie”, there is no such thing. Aussie’s come in one size.
9. Jeff [stop it] says:

   11/23/2011 at 4:25 pm

   try taking this test to find the perfect doggie for you
   http://animal.discovery.com/breedselector/dogselector.do
   I would reccomend a french bulldog or maybe a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
10. chels says:

    11/23/2011 at 5:15 pm

    Shih tzus
    yorkies
    beagle
11. ♥Shih Tzu Luver Furever♥ says:

    11/23/2011 at 6:15 pm

    Shih Tzus are the best! They are lazy! They get along awesome with kids and …. they don’t shed! http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/shihtzu.htm if you get one and need any help on the names just e-mail me!
12. Labs Rule24 says:

    11/23/2011 at 7:01 pm

    Mini schnauzers.chihuahua’s and yorkies are HORRIBLE with kids,along with king charles.What were you thinking people?
    schnauzers,have one problem,grooming.You can go to a pro.
    but schnauzers are great for allergys ,and dont shed much.
    shih tzus are GREAT too.
13. i ♥ Master Marx says:

    11/23/2011 at 7:04 pm

    I was going to recommend an aussie until you said you already had one… so I guess you have that covered! I have one and he’s great. And smaller.

    There are many good lab and retriever mixes available. But I’d go for a good solid mutt. There are hundreds available and you can almost always find exactly what you’re looking for. Shelters really have some great dogs that need a second chance, but they have puppies too. I found an excellent mellow, well-behaved aussie mix that I would have loved to have gotten, even… Some of the shelter dogs are already trained in at least a few things, but if not, almost any dog will want to learn to please a loving owner. Good luck!

    EDIT: the website mentioned earlier is excellent. i’ve used it hundreds of times. French bulldogs are incredible… I love them… They’re small and can be very calm. And they’re cute.
14. lenadams77 says:

    11/23/2011 at 7:06 pm

    i would recommend an english bulldog. they are expensive but well worth it. i have one and they are the smartest dog i ever dealt with.so easy to train ,just a bag of puperoni did the trick.any trick they will do. very pleasing dog.they get along with other dogs.love kids.they wouldnt let anything happen to your kids.i cant praise them enough.thats all i owned.thats my opinion. check into it.there is even rescue places that you can get them from if cost is an issue.hope this helps.
15. Divapom says:

    11/23/2011 at 7:41 pm

    There are many breeds or mixed breeds that would be good. But remember that it is the individual dog not so much the breed that you will need to look at for a suitable companion for your daughter.
    I am going to make my plug for pomeranians.

    1. They are super smart and are easily trained with positive motivations. Negative training methods don’t work very well for them though as they will shut down.
    2. They are cute enough and affectionate enough for any little girl.
    3. They are active but also love to cuddle.
    4. I recommend finding a good breeder who happens to have one that will grow to the higher end of the standard or even a little oversized. The smaller end of the standard are way too fragile for even the most gentle child. But a 7 – 8 lb pom even though a bit above standard is still very small but a lot sturdier than a 3 or 4 lb pom. Even the best breeders get these larger pups sometimes.

    You need to make sure your daughter is committed enough for the grooming and attention that a pom needs.