Looking for a dog to add to my famil. we want to suprise my daughter for her 4th birthday. We want a small inside dog. My daughter says she wants a yorkie b/c of what she has seen. My husband likes the pomeranian b/c he says it looks sporty. And then the rat terrier my husband wants b/c it is the cheapest of the three. Any suggestions or ideas. Tell me the good and the bad.
When I was young I was brought up around yorkshire terriers because alot of my friends had them. They were lovely dogs, and the only ones I could stand at that age. Wern't as playfull as pomeranians, though. I have a pomeranian, and she's very playful and loves cuddles. I would still reccomend a yorkie though. A few of the kids my puppy plays with own yorkies themselfs, and they are the most gentle and patient people of that age I have met.
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If i remember correctly, poms and yorkies really shouldn't be around young children because they can be nippy. not sure about rat terriers though
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I'm sorry, none of these dogs are good recommendations for small children. A Yorkie and a Pom are too tiny — they could get hurt accidentally, and their only defense against children are their teeth. Your daughter could get hurt.
Same with a small terrier.
For families with small children I always recommend a dog that is a LEAST 20 lbs when full grown.
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Rescue volunteer
i would suggest a sturdier breed you daughter is very young and may accidentily hurt the puppy.
the small pups can break bones easily.
i would suggest going to petfinder.com and adopting a dog around 15lbs and it is cheapest to adopt on $50-200
a breed that may work for you is a shih tzu, havanese, or king charles spaniel.
whatever you do dont buy a puppy from a petstore or over the internet.
also consider your lifestyle, grooming costs, time to train a puppy etc.
http://www.yourpurebredpuppy.com/dogbreeds/yorkshireterriers.html
http://www.yourpurebredpuppy.com/reviews/pomeranians.html
http://www.yourpurebredpuppy.com/reviews/ratterriers.html
http://www.yourpurebredpuppy.com/yppbook/index.html
http://www.yourpurebredpuppy.com/buying/common/petshops.html
http://www.yourpurebredpuppy.com/buying/common/breeders.html
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Dont Get your Daughter a small dog they arn't as pationt as say a lab would be. and the smaller dog may snap at her
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When I was young I was brought up around yorkshire terriers because alot of my friends had them. They were lovely dogs, and the only ones I could stand at that age. Wern't as playfull as pomeranians, though. I have a pomeranian, and she's very playful and loves cuddles. I would still reccomend a yorkie though. A few of the kids my puppy plays with own yorkies themselfs, and they are the most gentle and patient people of that age I have met.
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Rat terriors can be nippy, but it depends on how the dog has been raised. They are fun and high-energy. Poms tend to bark a lot, and you have to groom them a lot because their fur knots. Poms are very loyal to their humans. Yorkies need grooming, but not as much as Poms. They're probably the smartest of the three breeds.
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dog lover
can I suggest a cavalier king charles spaniel. Very good with kids- about 20lb fully grown- great little dogs- sturdier than those described- kinda expensive though. If you want cheap go find a 20lb mixed breed at the shelter- I agree with the others about size- you need a sturdier dog with young kids.
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All aren't suitable for young children. Gtt a good big family dog like a lab or golden. She won't be the main care taker. YOU have to be. just a reminder
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yes i would choose a yorkie but its your decisoin
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the rat terrier is going to be the easiest to keep groomed. Are you going to have time to brush a little dog every day (yes, EVERY day) when you're also busy taking care of a 4 year old?
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Well- it sounds like you are looking for a small dog. these are all great little breeds! Yorkies are cute, fun loving and can get to be around 12-15 pounds. They will require monthly grooming and they do have their share of health problems- which is a shame becasue they are really sweet.
Poms are cute! They will require lots of grooming, and may not be as patient with you little one as the Yorkie or the Rattie would be. As they get older- they can experience some health problems- dental disease and skin issuse mostly.
Now the Rat Terrier- well- I can tell you what I know about them. In my life- I have had four- now I just have 2 Ratties. They are the best little dogs you could ask for. They have a great little personality and love people. They dont know what strangers are, they think the world was meant for them! I speak for all Ratties when I say that! They have a wide range of sizes- they can be as small as 5 pounds and be as large as 40 pounds! (The Decker Rat terriers are most used for hunting, and just as sweet as the tots, minis and standard sizes) A standard rat Terrier is going to be in the 20 pound range, and the mini from around 9-15 ish. Let me tell you- these are a very healthy breed. None of mine have ever really had a health problem, my one female had a UTI once. The two I have now- one is a rescue and a dream, and the other I have had since she was a puppy. I would go through a breeder or rescue to get one. Stay away from the pet store- NEVER BUY A DOG-ESP. A TERRIER from the pet store! You are only asking for problems.
But your hubby is right- they are the least expensive and are very low maintenance. Ratties can go all day if you want them too- but they would rather sleep on the couch with you. they are great family dogs, and I would have no problem rec. this breed to anyone. I have met many a Rattie and they are nothing but love! Mind you- I also have a cocker spaniel- and I love them just as much- but that breed is not for everyone. If you dont want a dog that is going to want to cuddle with you and sleep under your covers- then forget the Rattie!
http://www.nrta.com/ This is a great website to read up on the brees- look at photos and find a great breeder in your area.
http://ratbonerescues.com/ If you want to rescue a Rattie
Good Luck in whatever you decide- you can also do some research at the http://www.akc.org website for other breeds- but I think you would be quite happy with a rattie!
http://www.nrta.com/healthsurvey/healthfacts.html
Health survery on the Rat Terrier
Here is a copy and paste fromthe nrta site on the Rat terrier
It all began in England about the year 1820. At this time they were termed "Fyce" because of their spirited nature when going after prey, in America it is pronounced " Feist". The American Heritage Dictionary defines the word as "a small dog of mixed ancestry; mongrel" They were a cross between a Manchester Terrier and Smooth Fox Terrier and proved to be one of the best mixtures in the sport of rat baiting. The Rat actually holds the record for killing 2,501 rats in a seven hour span in an infested barn.
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These dogs were first brought to the USA in the 1890's. President Theodore Roosevelt kept Rat terriers as house pets due to their keenness, intelligence and perfect self groomed appearance. He often hunted with the breed and was so taken with the dogs' ability to rat, he coined the name Rat Terrier, which the breed is so named today. Before this time they were commonly called Fox Terrier and some people still refer to them by this name today.
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When they first came to America the breeding process was based on function. They were almost exclusively black and tan colored, their ears buttoned over and they were approximately 18lbs, of medium size. They quickly gained popularity in the Southern parts of the United States. The settlers found that the Rat Terrier could easily adapt to different climates and terrain. They had the ability to keep the farms free of vermin (rats, fox) along with excellent hunting abilities for small and large game, from squirrel and rabbit to wild pig, deer bear and cougar. They were also quick, fierce and able to get into small burrows.
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The American people began to modify the breed for their needs. Enhancing the breed to include the ability to Rat and Hunt being first and foremost in the developers minds. The Smooth Fox Terrier was re-introduced setting the predominance of white coat color. Their inherent abilities were constantly improved upon by the additions of animals such as Whippet, Greyhound and Beagle. Adding speed, power, agility, hunting ability and intelligence would only make them more proficient workers. Function and practicality came first, beauty last. These dogs carried many different colors and ranged in size from 18- 45lbs. For those seeking a smaller version of this mighty hunter, smaller breeds were introduced. Toy Fox Terrier and Toy Manchester Terrier decreased their size and produced a dog capable of going to the hole. Toy fanciers further decreased size with the addition of Chihuahua. Care was taken to keep the natural abilities and produce a smaller version of the original dog.
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The most solid attribute of the Rat Terrier is an undying will to please their master and a need to be near him.
Their intelligence is far supreme to most breeds; holds extremely keen senses and a loyalty that transcends them as a family dog. The three qualities that are essential to the Rat Terrier breed are:
Quality 1. A capable utility/hunting dog.
Quality 2. A wonderful family companion.
Quality 3. A watch dog with keen alert senses picking up intruders very quickly.
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In summary, the Rat Terrier is still widely used throughout the USA on farms for any kind of vermin and for hunting and treeing by hunting individuals. They work well as a team and are extremely efficient at their jobs. As a house pet they are unsurpassed, being extremely intelligent, loyal, friendly and happy to be alive. They have a long life span of 14-18 years, so they will be around to enjoy. Their coats are short and smooth leaving you with little grooming if any at all. The expression in the eye of the Rat will tell story after story and the attentiveness to their master is like no other. They are natural born entertainers and will be your child's best friend. Being extremely loyal they make favorable little guard dogs. No one will enter with out first being announced by your Rat Terrier, but they stay on their best behavior when company calls.
The Rat Terrier is now recognized by many registries across the USA.
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LVT
owner of 2 ratties here and 2 ratties at the Rainbow Bridge
RIP Abbey and Shady
I have 2 dachshunds and they are great with my kids and other peoples kids….good luck with your pick!!!
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Dogs that small are best suited for children at least ten years old, or a child that is calm and respects dogs, and treats them carefully.
Yorkies and pomeranians are so small, they can easily be hurt when playing with a child, or accidently stepped on.
All three breeds may be snappy, as a lot of small breeds are.
Rat terriers have a lot of energy and need the chance to burn it off. They also love to dig because that's what they were bred for, so they may try to dig in the house.
Yorkies and pomeranians need to be groomed often so their fur doesn't get matted, while rat terriers are low maintenance.
Most small dogs should be about the same price, at the shelter they usually have prices depending on purebred or not, and if its a big or small dog.
If you buy from a pet store or backyard breeder, you most likely will not get the healthiest dog and will probably end up paying a fortune later in vet bills due to bad breeding.
Adopting a dog usually runs about $100-200 and includes vaccinations, spaying/neutering, and microchipping. And you are saving a life!
You can see other small breeds at http://www.akc.org in the Toy Group.
A Cavalier King Charles Spaniel may be a great choice for your daughter. They are very affectionate and sweet, and are supposed to be 13-18 pounds.
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Yorkies are not good to have around small children. Any decent breeder would not let a Yorkie go to a home with small children. They are too fragile. Stepping on a Yorkie can mean a broken leg, getting dropped could be the end of the dog. I'm sure a 4 yr old would think they're cute, however they are not toys.
Even on petfinder, most Yorkies cannot go to homes with children under 12.
Instead of a toy breed I would go for a small breed. They're still small, just not tiny.
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4 years old to too young….particularly for a very tiny puppy that can get squashed…and the breeds you are considering can be very hyper and tend to bite for self defense
When I bred and showed dogs, I would not sell a puppy to a home with children so young….no offense, but in consideration of both the puppy's and child's welfare
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