Selecting a mellow family dog takes some careful research. Factors to consider include the size of your house and yard, the level of commitment and time you are willing to put into training and exercising the dog and what size and age dog you prefer. A puppy is going to be more rambunctious than a full grown dog, but with a little bit of effort you can train it to your liking.
Instructions
1. Decide on the size dog you would like. Smaller dogs tend to be hyper and sometimes nippy. Larger dogs are better able to handle the roughhousing that kids are liable to dish out.
2. Decide if you want to adopt or rescue a dog or to purchase one from a breeder. Once you select a breed, look for rescue organizations in your area. Tell them what you are looking for and they can assist you. They will most likely screen you and may require a home visit. Some potential dog owners are nervous about rescue dogs because they may have come from a home where they were abused, but most rescue organizations have extensive screening and fostering processes.
3. If you can tolerate a year or two of training and high-energy, a puppy may be a good choice. The dog and your child will be growing up together and you can match the dog's temperament to your child's
4. To help in your search for the perfect pet, consult an online resource like puppyfinder.com. There you will find a breed selector where you can type in your ideal qualities in a dog and the amount of work and commitment you are willing to take on, and the site will provide you with a list of potential breeds for you to research further.
5. Among good breeds for children are the retriever class, especially the Labrador and golden retriever. Unfortunately, you may have to wait three or four years for the dog to mellow, so you may want to consider adopting a dog around that age rather than a puppy. Retired greyhounds are a very mellow breed but they are more suited to households with children more than eight years of age.
Tags: rescue organizations, your child