Tell Me What Kind of Dog I'm Looking For

I disagree with the lady who said greyhounds are hyper - they are the opposite, very quiet and mellow - but like all sighthounds, will chase everything that moves.
I am not a hound person though, my FIL who lives next door has 2 dachsunds, they are sweet as anything and great with the kids, but they lick each others crotches all the time, lick everything that moves, lick in my dogs ears and give him ear infections - they are the cleaner wrasse of dogs!, I have a great pyrenees - he to me is perfect, but at 150 lbs, may be too big for you. he is laid back to the n'th degree, but like most dogs - shed!
I have always heard that standard poodles are very intelligent and good dogs, non shedding too.
I am not a fan of terriers, my friends jack russel has bitten my daughter twice, they always seem so nippy and yappy!
I grew up with border collies, they are great, but need a lot of exercise.
All the bichon frise I have met have been terribly sweet.

I like to go to
http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/searchcategories.htm

You can browse through all the breeds and they give specifics if they are hyper, laid back, good with kids, needs lots of exercise, how large they get, even what potential medical problems they might have with age.
Good Luck! =)

I have more of a "don't" list for you:

Chocolate Labs are notoriously crazy (love my chocolate lab aka tasmanian devil dog... but he acts more husky than lab), so if you DO go with a lab, aim for yellow or black. They also have a "double coat" and so the shedding is out of this world. Labs are fantastic... just things to know.

Definitely avoid huskies, wolf hybrids, australian sheep or cattle dogs, and greyhounds/whippets if you're looking for mellow.

We have a rescue Basset Hound and a rescue Cattle Dog mix. Both are nice dogs but VERY different! Both are good with kids, but the CD is hyper and jumps and the BH is lazy and stubborn, lol.

Basset Hounds are generally laid back and good with kids- but what I would mainly suggest is do some research online and then contact your local Breed rescue groups for WHATEVER breed you are interested in. Seriously, there is one for pretty much EVERY type of dog in almost every state!

The reason I am saying this is because not only will they know ALL about the breed, its health issues, quirks, etc. but the dogs they are fostering before going to a 'forever home' are living with people and they REALLY get to know each individual dog. It is not like you just walk in and say 'we want a Basset Hound' and they let you pick one!

They will ask you tons of questions - but remember, that is only because they really want the adoption to be a success!! They want to match you up with a dog that is a really perfect fit with your whole family and lifestyle. Later, if any issue do come up, the rescue group will totally be there for support and advice. Many of them have 'reunion' gatherings that can be really fun to attend. (ours has a Basset Hound Waddle, lol)

We have had many animals from shelters, and of course you can find wonderful pets there. But if you have more specific needs, a breed rescue will allow you to still help a homeless animal, but you can have a much more specific idea of what you are getting!

Check out rescue groups in your area! They all have websites- call them up and just tell them exactly what you told us and they will tell you if their particular breed would suit you. If it would, you can start the process. We ended up with a terrific Basset Hound. When we first drove to his foster home to meet him, my son (who was 7 at the time) got down on the floor to play with him. There were NINE other bassets in the yard outside,lol, both the owner's own and some other fosters they were caring for!

My son and Eli rolled around and played- the poor dog had been found on a road and was about 25 pounds underweight :( but then he just gave a huge sigh and laid down with his head in my son's lap and my son looked up and said " He will be my best friend forever!' and he has been!

You might check with your local Humane Society or Rescue Shelter. Any breed can have high maintenance personalities. Often they have foster families that have been taking care of the rescue dogs and give you insight into that particular dog's personality. If you tell them what you are looking for, they can help you find a good fit for your daughter/family.

A pug! Pugs are awesome! They are so sweet, have the best personalities and don't need a ton of exercise! They are small without really being "small" - they are really quite sturdy and are a ton of fun to have around. Drawbacks are that they snore, and they shed. And they can't tolerate the heat very well so you have to be careful. But they are totally worth it!

Edited to add: read some of the other answers...some of the most hyper high-energy dogs on the planet include terriers, Border collies, GSDs, Huskies, Malamutes and virtually every sporting breed out there (including weimeraners, viszlas, and some Labs). You may find more mellow, laid-back individuals but in general, most are high energy and many of them shed like crazy (especially the GSDs). Also, I would NEVER get a Shar Pei - they have horrible skin, eye and ear issues and I've never met a nice one. Consider what the dog was originally bred to do and that might give you some idea of their personality and activity level.

My neighbor's chocolate lab is sweet, but she's as hyper as they come. It takes their whole family and ours to wear her out. She might mellow out a bit in a few more years. The most laid back dog I ever knew was a Newfoundland, but she couldn't handle hot weather very well.

I have a 10 yr old mix and I'm starting to believe the best dog is NO dog! lol

What about a Corgi? They're small & smart!

Yeah, I'd say a stuffed animal, too, LOL. Be prepared for another "child' should you get ANY breed of dog.

If you don't want hyper, stay away from Wiemeraners, brittneys, german shorthairs, huskies sometimes labs too. I used to work at a humane society many years ago and we suggested this book a lot:
The Perfect Match: A Dog Buyer's Guide (Howell reference books)
by Chris Walkowicz
it had great info about all breeds. Keep in mind that mixes are usually the best of both breeds and many times have a better temperament than pure-breds, especially if the breeder is not a high quality one.

PS i had a bassett hound and not only was he NOT lazy, but he was naughty and practically un-potty-trainable for the first 4 years. also very hard to train since they are so scent-oriented, not really interested in pleasing you. BUT I loved that dog and spoiled him rotten so maybe my fault. He was the perfect dog when he was about 9 years old. miss him.

good luck..i would say a stuffed dog..lol

You should go to the pound and meet with many dogs. At our pound there is a meeting room you can go into and you can take them on a walk. Then you can get to know if the dog seems hyper or calm. I have always gotten my dogs as puppies and you can tell right away which are the hyper puppies and which are the mellow puppies. My older husky was a very mellow puppy and he has always been a mellow and very good dog!

A Viszla... it is a hungarian dog... noted for being easily trained as well as a great family pet. Pretty good looking dogs too! Here is a link...

http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/vizsla.htm

terriers or labs or maybe a chiuahua sp?

if you want a laid back dog you're likely going to have to go for an older dog.In general all puppies and young dogs are hyper. That's just the nature of the beast. if you want short haired I'd got for a beagle mix. But a GREAT family dog that gets along with every breed I've put them with, including cats, is a Sheltie. They are long haired but can be easily managed with a good brushing every week and or a trip to the groomer once a month. They are very friendly , loving and loyal. Some are barkers but can be trained not to bark.
Do NOT get a gray hound. Most are not good with kids, and most gray hound groups will not let you have one if you have kids

Bethany, Emma, our Boston Terrier, is a great dog. She is smart, loves to train, loves to learn how to do new tricks (she can balance a ball on her snout, and waits to 'catch' it until we tell her 'go'). She has short hair, doesn't shed. The only drawback to a Boston Terrier is early potty issues (takes a while to potty train them), and flat-nose nasal issues (like allergies and snoring). But they are incredibly loyal and loving. I'll always have one.

Or, you could get her a guinea pig. We love Smitty too.

You want a Border Terrier. We've had a yorkie (from my teen years), a Cairn terrier (love of my life!! smartest dog ever), the world's sweetest chocolate Lab, a Pomeranian, and a Border Terrier. Borders are sweet, loyal and loving - kind of like a Lab in a terrier body. Ours is also the best cuddle bug. They are also super smart and eager to please, so they are easy to train.

The do have some terrier attitude - barking at other dogs, etc that you have to get on top of when they're puppies - just be sure to do a lot of socializing early on, and teach them to fetch early so you have a quick way to use up the terrier energy.

A lot of Border breeders will try to scare you away with elaborate stories of how Borders run away and how hard you have to work to keep them (they don't want the breed to become too popular), but the idea has never even occurred to our guy - he wants to be with us too much. The same is true for my sister's Border. She lives in a very urban, doggy area and her dog walks off leash everywhere. Our guy is a little aggressive with some dogs so we keep him on leash in certain situations, but he would never cross a street without permission.

(our socialization process was interrupted by my son's 5 month hospitalization following a severe injury 11 years ago. Our Border was 6 months old at the time. I lived with my son in his room and my husband brought the Border puppy, our Pomeranian and old Lab every evening, so our dog didn't spend a lot of time around other dogs during that period. As a result he's not great with other dogs, but has wonderful hospital manners!)

They are also very sturdy guys - both have lived thru babyhood and toddler- hood with amazing patience - had tails pulled, fingers up their noses, etc with the only response being kissing the kid on the face until they stopped. They are happy to spend the day in bed with you or go hiking in the mountains or go for a canoe ride. And unlike other terriers they don't tend to pick a favorite in the family. Who ever is rubbing his belly, or throwing the ball at the moment is his best bud ever!

I love dogs, I had two Bichons - great dogs, very intelligent. I now have two Godendoodles. This is a mix between a poodle and a golden retriever. The first two years they are high energy from what I've seen - but every dog is different and our girls are fantastic.

Just keep in mind the expense and work to everyone of getting another dog - vet bills, getting them spayed/neutered, dog food, etc. I guess working with the rescue for Doodles has really opened my eyes... people get rid of dogs for all kinds of reasons and some just blow my mind. That said, there are some great dogs in rescue. Usually the foster home will have a great idea of their personality and energy level.

Instead of getting a second dog, if your daughter likes training -- what about getting her in some training classes with your current dog to address the issues it has? I assume you call the dog hyper because it has behavioral problems? (jumping up, barking, etc) 7 isn't too old to train. She could also look at training for Agility classes -- dogs learn to jump through hoops, catch balls, run up platforms, etc. It's great exercise and could help expel her excess energy.

http://www.specialtypettraining.com/

Thats the trainer we've taken both of our dogs to. She's very nice and your daughter would probably really enjoy her classes.

Good luck!

Like everyone else, I think the breed we have is perfect! lol
What do you mean by mid-sized? Since some of the larger breeds go up over 100 lbs...
I will not tell you to run out and get a German Shepherd, however, I will tell you to at least give consideration to whether one might fit into your family. They are absolutely the most wonderful animals!

Like any breed, you have to do your investigating into the breeder you buy from. There is a WIDE range of personalities within every breed, with some general character traits possessed by most decently bred animals in the breed. For German Shepherds, most people think of them as huge dogs. They aren't supposed to be. Many go over 100 lbs... but if you read the AKC information.. they shouldn't. Females should be around 60- 75 lbs, for ex. Ours was 55 lbs for years.. then she got very sick, recovered, and during the steroid treatment gained 10 lbs. She kept it on and looks great! She is a "mid-sized" dog, if you ask me. She's just long. lol

GSDs (German Shepherd Dogs) can be very headstrong, or not. Depending on the individual animal... so like I said... you have to do your research and visit and ask the breeders about their individual personalities. Our girl was the runt of the litter. She is NOT aggressive. She is not stubborn or headstrong. She was easy to train. She is SUPER good with kids. (This can be accomplished with almost any breed if they are raised with small kids... it's all about socialization). Our youngest was not quite 3 yrs when we acquired our dog. She is curious but loving/protective of babies and toddlers. She is gentle and sweet. She can run and be rambunctious with the best of them... but if the household is quiet, you won't even know she exists. She has never destroyed furniture, or clothes or shoes or anything else. She is perfectly house trained (and trained easily and quickly). I trust her implicitly with my children (I worry more that my kids will do something while playing that might hurt HER). I have stepped on her in the night and she doesn't care. The kids come in our room at night and she knows who it is (they have stepped on her too). But if a stranger is anywhere about... I know it immediately.
She is SUCH fun to teach games to! And for a girl interested in taking charge of teaching her, they can be beautiful companions.

It would be harder if you got an older/more mature GSD, but getting one as a puppy and training from day 1 that everyone in the family is dominant over it, your daughter shouldn't have a problem. She'll be 12 before a GSD reaches its adult physical maturity. Yes, they can be hyper as pups... all breeds can. But they outgrow it and are couch potatoes later on, unless someone is doing something. Then they want to participate too.

So, just my 2¢ to consider.

GSDs DO shed. But regular grooming with a Furminator brush keeps things under pretty good control. In my experience with a friend's retriever... they shed more than our GSD does.

Bulldog.
French Bulldog.
Good nature and so cute!

Pug

But regardless... it will really depend on that dog's personality... and how the 2 of those dogs... interact.....

Does your daughter WANT a 2nd pet? Does she have time to care for both of them and their upkeep?

Lab! Some labs are hyper and some are a bit bigger, but some are also lazy and medium size... So just look around for the lab with the right personality.

In all honesty... The most laid back dogs I've EVER come in contact with were either (as previously mentioned) a Basset Hound or a large breed dog. Like a Bouviet (sp?), Newfoundland, or Burmese (sp?) Mountain Dog.

EDITED TO ADD- Our Husky was not hyper by any means. He LOVED running through the snow though. He was so super sweet... I miss him. Never had formal training... Never barked. He alerted us if there was something 'amiss' but he didn't bark. He was also SUPER AWESOME with the kids. AND he was a 'smaller' male @ 65-70lbs (at his peak).

I love my Boston Terrier. She is the runt of her litter and is only 12 pounds. She doesn't shed and is very sweet. She is very laid back, sleeps a lot and is very loving. These are great family dogs.

Corgis are HIGH energy. They shed everywhere. I mean everywhere! The have short legs, but they aren't small. They are also very vocal.
French bulldogs and Dachshunds aren't as high energy. Just remember, all puppies have lots of energy. And...ALL dogs, not matter their energy level need daily walks.

grey hounds are known to be couch potatoes along with many large/giant breeds

beagles are also known to be lazy you have to walk them or they will become over weight.

Contact Sharon at Guardian Pet Sitters, she knows her dogs and she is great to talk to. The number is ###-###-####. Good luck.

A really laid back short haired dog is the English Bulldog. They get around 50 pounds and like to play, but in short bursts. They are good, loving pets, but are much less hyper than most mid-sized dogs.

Let us know what you get!

I would recommend going to a shelter and meeting a few dogs and asking the people there about their personalities. I have a large shelter dog (he's Rottweiler and Brittany Spaniel) who is the sweetest dog I've ever had. It's strange how many people are drawn to him - I've even had people who don't like dogs tell me they'd take if if we ever wanted to get rid of him (NEVER!!!!). I'm now a huge beilever in mutts - and will always get shelter dogs. And I believe that most of the shelters watch them and try to be pretty honest about their personalities so they don't get them back! Good luck - and I hope you find what you're looking for! Your daughter will always remember getting her pet as a present - what an awesome gift - something that loves back!

I have to say this is kind of a question you are going to get responses all over the place. Everyone loves the dog they chose and will tell you good and bad experiences they have had with their own or someone else's dog.

I have a basset hound. She is loving, smart, laid back and friendly. That being said, she is female and females have a tendency to be a bit more laid back than males. The one down side to Godiva is she is a food hound and she would eat her weight or more in food daily if I allowed her to. I have to make sure I maintain her at a healthy weight and not allow her to have anything other than premium dog food. Godiva weighs 65 lbs but bassets can get to be a lot bigger if not monitored. Also, Godiva SHEDS. Bassets have two layers of fur because they were bred to hunt for small animals in the winter.

My other dog is an American Bulldog. Monster is the most well behaved, non-food oriented dog. He is amazing with my 3 yo daughter and doesn't shed as much as my basset. He is very laid back and a wuss when it comes to cold weather. I can say he has been this way since we got him. He was a lazy puppy... I would not say this about his brothers and sisters. Some of them were extremely hyper. So he was my pick of the litter and he is 120 lbs of pure, loyal, baby boy!!!

One personal experience of mine... English Bulldogs are not laid back. They are lovable and adorable. They do have many health issues. The big boy we had was extremely hyper and when he ran at you for loving was like a bowling ball on muscly legs!

So that is my input into you question. I do believe females are more laid back especially after being spade. I do believe you have to sit down with a puppy and truly watch the behavior. Be honest with yourself about its actions and don't just get drawn in by cuteness. Just like people... cute things now, over time, can become pains in the behind.

Good luck with your choice... So fun!