Help me find a dog for a coworker
 

A colleague of mine has a child who has some developmental problems. He is six (the child, not the colleague), and appears to have an auditory processing disorder, where he can physically hear, but has trouble processing speech. He can read and do math, but has a lot of trouble listening and speaking.

I also know from his experience with Thor that he LOVES dogs - he's actually kind of obsessed with Thor - but he appears to have trouble with impulse control, and has tried to hit and kick Thor in the past (now I just say that Thor is "too tired to play" whenever this boy is in the office). That being said, he is a good kid -- he's not at all cruel or anything like that. He also goes horseback riding and loves horses.

I do think this boy would benefit greatly from having the RIGHT dog. I would think a large breed, calm dog that is at least a few years old and is known to be good with kids could do wonders for this boy. Further complicating factor is that this boy has allergies, so ideally, it would be a very calm, large breed dog that's good with kids and is also low allergen.

How you recommend this family go about finding a dog? Any recommendations on breed, or how to find a dog with excellent temperament? Is this just not a realistic scenario?

Good Luck On Your Search!!

I giggled when I read "He is six (the child, not the colleague)" :p

Honestly, I know it's a "mix" but it sounds like most GoldenDoodles or LabraDoodles may fit the bill. And you can always find reputable breeders, esp. with Labradoodles, who have standards and I actually believe it is a breed now in Australia? If you get a Labradoodle to Labradoodle pup, the chances of shedding are probably less. But they always seem like all around great dogs - love everyone, good with kids, good bit of energy though. I believe the reason they were created in the first place was for people who need a service dog but are allergic.

I can't really think of another non-shedding breed that would be good in this type of situation, as most are terriers, and not what comes to mind when tolerating kids doing anything relatively bad to them. I know he's not cruel, but if there's any chance of a kid hitting a dog, then I would say not to get a dog at all.

I would recommend a poodle either standard or miniature size, not a toy though, as they would be too small. The poodle is #2 on the list of the smartest dog breeds, would make training easier. Also, although a poodle does shed, they hold onto their shed hair, this makes them more tolerable for those people with allergies.

I agree with the previous posters, either a poodle or labradoodle would be great breeds for the little guy :)

I wouldn't go with a labradoodle. They are NOT hypoallergenic and they do shed. In my opinion they are also very hyper. I've met many and sadly I don't care for them.

I would go with either a standard poodle or a portugese water dog. Both are large breeds, intelligent, hypoallergenic and great with kids.
The portugese water dog's coat also grows slower than a poodle so you wouldn't have to get it groomed as often as the poodle. However, they require more exercise than the poodle. So if you are looking for a more calm breed, go with the poodle. If you are looking for a more energetic breed, the portugese water dog fits the bill.

A couple other choices...
Soft coated wheaten terrier
Irish Water Spaniel

Thanks for your feedback, guys! I had thought maybe poodle, but the stereotype is that they are high strung. If they get an adult poodle they would know about its personality though.

One of my best friends has a cockapoo and he is amazing with everyone...never met a stranger and loves kids. Great tempermant not hyper at all and a total cuddlebug. His name is Wyatt and he reminds me of a stuffed animal! This is Wyatt!

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My son has two Shih Tzu’s and they are both very easy going and mellow. Some have a double coat, but many have the single hair like the Yorkie, so finding the right breeder would be helpful. I think they are the perfect dog for a child, who could give them big bear hugs with no problem, and they are on the list of hypoallergenic dogs. Dog Allergies - Low Allergen Dogs - Hypoallergenic Dogs

Shih Tzus are really calm and easy going, but I think a Shih Tzu is too small for him. When I was reading your post all I was thinking was "poodle, poodle" lol. Definitely a mini or even a standard. They're incredibly smart and easy to train.

Thanks again you guys. I typed up everything you guys said here and sent it to him. I'll let you know how it goes!

I've been racking my brains for other breeds not yet mentioned.

There is one of course' my breed the BRT. You would need to get a small adult-fully obedienced trained and grown up with kids. Such BRt's are very kid friendly and they are hypoallergenic. A small female undersized can be about 24" high at withers. They are incredibly loyal and don't require scads of exercise.
A good walk daily would suit them.

gemy, do you mean a Black Russian Terrier? I'm not familiar with the breed, but they appear to be working dogs -- you're saying they don't need too much exercise?