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What are your recommendations for a small breed that does not shed and does well with children?

Just had our first child who is now 10 months and she loves dogs. So we're looking to get another family member. Looking for a small breed that does not shed since we don't want the little one eating hair. In the running right now are Brussels Griffon, Cairn Terrier, and Italian Greyhound. Would love other recommendations!

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Toy Poodle! I have a toy poodle, almost No shedding, almost odorless! Super friendly to all people including kids.

I also wanted the same characteristics on a dog and found her through http://Petfinders.com She had been posted by a rescue group in our area. She is a fantastic dog . Great personality, friendly to my cats, other dogs and people. She seems to be a mix of three different breeds.

Dachshunds are awesome and pretty docile little critters in my experience. Also, my sister has a rat terrier/chihuahua mix, with some training (they tend to be barkers, or yippers to be more specific) she is now a little guardian of my 6 and 8 year old nieces!

Poodles, shihtzu, clhuahua, ...have had each and mine all love children....personally, in your sitation, i would go with a lab.

Shih Tzu! So loving.

Grew up with Cock-a-poos. I'm 57. I married my "Only Big Dogs" loving husband 17 years ago. He thought this breed would be a lap dog. Mine is 16 lbs., non-shedding/hypoallergenic, fantastic with Grandchildren, other dogs, a hiker, adaptable, SMART, trainable. He is in love. So fun! Highly Recommend!

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I highly recommend you not get an Italian Greyhound at this juncture of your life. Physically, they are on the fragile side of the spectrum, so it wouldn't be fair to the dog to be placed in a home with a young child. Your daughter wouldn't hurt the dog on purpose, of course, but young children tend to grab, pull, and bang in their exploration of the world. When she starts walking, and for some time after that, she will be unstable and uncoordinated. (I'm a mom, and I remember those days :-D)

In general, small breeds tend to not be the best pick for a household with young kids, due to the increased risk of physical or psychological damage, but if you have your heart set on a small breed dog, I would recommend a pug. Yes, they shed, but with frequent brushing, the hair left around the house should be minimal. (And, eating dog hair isn't all that dangerous.)

More important than breed is individual personality, since there is so much variation of temperament within each breed. A good option to consider is to visit a nearby rescue organization. Mixed-breed dogs are just as good as purebred, and it can be hard to find a breeder who puts the dogs' health and welfare above their own wants. And a dog rescue is more likely to be honest about a dog's behavior (and more knowledgeable about a dog's potential) than a private party looking to rehome their dog.

Congratulations on becoming parents; enjoy the ride!

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Shannon, thanks so much for the great info. And I was reading more about Italian Greyhounds and I also came to the determination that they would not be a good fit for our household. Also, yes, I am preferring a rescue! I should clarify. I'm actually OK with small-medium, probably nothing bigger than 35 pounds. I was doing a lot of reading last night and I'm actually fascinated with the Poodle mixes for their hypoallergenic/minimal shedding coats. Any knowledge there? I should also same I'm very experienced with dogs as I grew up with 2 myself and have always had a ton of animals. So this adventure is not new but I'm glad we're ready to get another.

I didn't clarify. I meant congratulations on your daughter :-D. Oops! Sorry! Poodle mixes are great dogs. However, I'm not keen on the current trend of purposely creating mixed breeds and calling them a new breed. There are enough mixed breeds out there already needing homes. I don't have

experience, personal or anecdotal, about their coats, but it seems likely that they would have the same benefits as poodles.

Matt - the hypoallergenic/no shed is a gamble to be honest. The mixes are... well mixes. They'll sometimes have the traits of one parent, other times the other parent. Anything bred with a lab or retriever is going to shed, and I've found most of the "doodle" breeders are not honest about that :(

Mini Dachshunds are the best! They are active enough to play with children but also sleep a lot. If you have a short haired Dachshund, they do not shed. They are the best little breeds! I love watching them!

May I just say that there is NO breed that's hypoallergenic. It just is not true. Some breeds, like Poodles, have a soft single coat (i.e. no second underlayer, like a Lab or Pugs or Corgis, to name just a few), but all dogs produce skin dander and saliva that's where loads of allergens are.

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If you get a dog with hair instead of fur there will be no shedding, but you will need to brush and cut the hair. I take my dog to the groomer about every 5 weeks, and it costs 60-70 dollars each time. So make sure you want to deal with that. In my case, my boyfriend is allergic to dogs, so my little Coton de Tulear is perfect. We've had her almost two years, and no breathing problems yet.

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I would absolutely recommend a Maltese. As they do not shed, they need to be groomed (I do it myself, then take her in for a cleanup every 3 months or so), but very sweet natured (my daughters used to put doll dresses on ours.) The only medical issues are the need for dental cleanings (typical with small dogs) and I've heard they sometimes have knee cap issues (although ours has not.) Very adaptable and a great traveler as we have lived in both Hawaii and Germany as well as the US mainland.

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I have severe allergies and have successfully owned the following "hypoallergenic" breeds: Mini Poodle, ShihTzu, Mini Schnauzer, and currently Havanese. Our Havanese are wonderful with our grandbaby and grandtoddlers. They love being part of the family. They don't shed and can be kept short. They prefer the sofa to the floor for family time. We show ours so keep them in full coat which requires frequent brushing. Havanese are small but sturdy little dogs. They don't require a lot of exercise but will have fun romping with your childen or going on walks. They are little clowns, not barkers, and will steal your heart.

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You could get a toy or minituare poodle, shiztu, etc.

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Shih Tzu, Yorkie, or Lhasa Apso mix breeds are good. They do have to be groomed though; however, no shedding. There are less medical problems with mix breeds. Have a good personality and are also so cute!

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YES! Shih tzu for the win. I walk one every day for a rover client have for a year now theyre the best I never met one before her but I absolutely am obsessed with her. And yes they barely shed Some of the best little intelligent, stubborn, FRIENDLY, sociable wants to go up and sniff everyone,dog

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Havanese or Poodle would be a perfect fit

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Before i answer, I must add a disclaimer: any dog can be great with children, and even if the breed standard says the breed is not, you will find people who tell you differently. I am sharing personal experience of the most common breeds I saw turned into the shelter when I worked there for not being great with kids. I know these are generalizations and I am not trying to start any type of fight. However, these are the ones I saw with the most issues. With a very young child in the house, I would stay away from the the smallest of the small breeds, like chihuahuas, poms and Yorkies, as these little dogs can often learn that being picked up incorrectly hurts so they nip in response and then get put down. They learn to nip before being hurt and will become reactive to children. Dachshunds tend to have back issues, sometimes caused by children picking them up incorrectly or being dropped. They are top of the list for bites. I am not a fan of min pins around kids, just because they are so energetic and strong willed. I am not crazy about Lhasas and pekes with kids either, just because neither one is especially patient. Now for breeds I do like with kids, miniature (not toy) poodles tend to have a fun sense of humor and are trainable. My first choice would probably be a bichon, as they are usually sweet and biddable dogs. Cavalier King Charles spaniels are great, but have lots of health problems. I like Italian Greyhounds, but they are very fragile, so if this is a look you like, possibly consider a whippet instead. Beagles have a great personality and love kids, but they can be barky and difficult to train or call off a scent. Some cocker spaniels are great with kids, as would be a cockapoo or other small poodle mix. I love Havanese, and they love to learn tricks. Shi Tzus are pretty nice, but can be stubborn and lazy. Honestly, make a list of what all you want out of a dog and then go meet some to see if one clicks. Be patient and don't settle.

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Havanese hands down. Very friendly dog and perfect with kids..

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Any of the above breeds are good, as long as you actively teach your children how to treat dogs (no ear pulling, pushing, poking ect) While these are friendly breeds, as a rule no child should be left alone with a dog. Gotta keep kids and dogs safe :)

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