tamanna's blog

1. When in doubt, go for smaller, less active dogs; a two year old and a big, bouncy field dog are not a good combination.

2. Stay clear of the herding dogs and more protective breeds if you have younger children (under age 5). They can nip at things that move awkwardly.

The ten breeds he would recommend for families are:

* Beagle
* Bulldog (French)
* Cairn Terrier
* Cocker Spaniel (English)
* Golden Retriever
* King Charles Spaniel
* Labrador Retriever
* Old English Sheepdog
* Poodle
* Pug

Wake up and walk. Most dogs are wired to be active. When they're not, pent-up energy leads to whining and chewing. It's a must to take your dog on a 45-minute walk or run before work. If you can, hire a dog walker for midday. "A dog that's tired doesn't bite, dig holes or bark."

Touch, but never hit. Don't be afraid to use touch to tell a dog he's broken the rules: Millan pulls at the tuft of the neck and gives a gentle nudge -- not to hurt the dog, but to surprise and correct.