Your children are finally old enough to beg for your first dog. After much cajoling, you finally agree to welcome a dog into your home. For your family’s well being, you want to choose a dog that with interact well with children. What are the best dog breeds for kids?
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The Collie
After watching a few reruns of Lassie, you can easily see how a Collie dog would an ideal companion for children. Although not all Collies are endowed with Lassie’s extreme intelligence, they tend to be gentle, even tempered dogs that are trustworthy around children.
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The Beagle
The Beagle is a versatile, happy dog that adapts well to a family life .Because of their smaller size, they aren’t threatening to a smaller child and will happily follow along beside your children as they carry out their play time activities. Their naturally friendly disposition makes them one of the best breeds for children.
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The Golden Retriever
Golden Retrievers have a particular fondness for children and love to be included in their play activities, particularly if it involves retrieving a ball. This is another gentle dog breed with a relaxed, easy going personality that’s excellent with children.
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The American Cocker Spaniel
The American Cocker Spaniel is a docile dog that enjoys the company of children large and small. Their smaller size makes them a good dog breed for smaller children who might feel intimidated by a larger dog.
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The Labrador Retriever
Labrador Retrievers come in three basic colors which are yellow, black, and chocolate. All three types are good with children, although the black and chocolate Labradors tend to be more spirited than the yellow ones, as a generalization. Like the Golden Retriever, they love to play both on land and in the water. They are ready to take part in almost any activity a child can dream up.
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The Mixed Breed
A small to medium sized mixed breed dog from an animal shelter can sometimes be the best choice of all. They tend to be most appreciative at being given a second chance at life. If you select a dog from a shelter, bring the children along and see how well your chosen dog interacts with your kids.
As you can see, if you’re looking for the best dog breed for your children, you have a variety of choices, both large and small. Now that you know what dog breeds are best for your kids, why not start looking for that special canine to bring home to your children? It’ll soon be the start of a great friendship and bond between your kids and your chosen dog breed.
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User Comments
jakesmum
On October 24, 2007 at 1:07 am
You’ve left out the standard schnauzer! And the Aussie Shepherd, and heaps of others. I have known of bad labrabor retrievers, and I think the Golden is a better retriever anyway. My point is that the actual dog is more important than the breed. When I was young my family had a beagle – he was always trying to run away,a dn he stole things from other houses. I’ve known so many dogs, so many breeds, and I feel the best breed is the one you love and which will love you.
jakesmum
On October 24, 2007 at 1:08 am
You’ve left out the Standard Schnauzer! And the Aussie Shepherd, and heaps of others. I have known of bad Labrador Retrievers, and I think the Golden is a better retriever anyway. My point is that the actual dog is more important than the breed. When I was young my family had a Beagle – he was always trying to run away, and he stole things from other houses. I’ve known so many dogs, so many breeds, and I feel the best breed is the one you love and which will love you.
robert
On January 16, 2008 at 4:05 am
totaly dissagree. if i had a beagle one or both of my kids may have ben killed by a stray dog but my a.k.a. nanny dog saved them. i wonder how many people know what kind of dog that is, or will find out
donna
On November 21, 2008 at 2:44 pm
bet your talkin about a newfoundland, thinkin off gettin one doin a bit or reseach first. my other dog bit my child after he(dog)had an operation and i’m causious since.
Teresa Rowe
On December 1, 2008 at 11:10 am
The Vizsla was also left out. The Vizsla is a breed not known by many but has to be the best dog for kids that I have ever known. I had my Vizsla for 13 years. He just passed away last week and my family misses him terribly. They are very gentle yet protective with children and love to be around people. They are high energy dogs, even at an older age. They need lots of space to run, they are very curious and very devoted to their family. They become attached to their new family quickly and becomes a great protector, playmate and companion. They have a great personality and prefer to just be in the same room with their humans. They don’t bark unless provoked or necessary, They are short haired so they don’t shed a lot at all (good for allergies). Trust me, if you are looking for a good family pet, look no more! The Vizsla is your answer! I loved mine dearly and when I am ready for another dog, it will be a Vizsla. Clifford The Big Red Dog was a Vizsla! Google them and read about them. Everything they say about Vizslas is right on!
Renae
On December 17, 2008 at 1:16 pm
Newfoundland’s are GREAT! I had a newfie/lab mix for over 10-years he had a great disposition, was very loyal.
RICK STRACK
On January 14, 2009 at 4:01 pm
I WAS BLESSED TO HAVE A GOLDEN RETRIEVER/IRISH SETTER MIX FOR 15 YEARS AND I CAN NOT BEGIN TO TELL YOU THE JOY THAT “ANNIE” BROUGHT TO OUR HOME OF TWO DAUGHTERS, MY WIFE AND I. ANNIE MIXED IN WITH TWO CATS AND A CANARY AND NEVER CAUSED A FUSS. SHE WAS QUICK TO LEARN, WAS WELL MINDED AND LET THE LITTLE ONES LOVE ON HER. SHE RAN WITH ME, SWAM WITH ME AND WAS A BETTER FRIEND THAN MOST HUMANS I CONNECTED WITH.
kate
On February 12, 2009 at 7:23 am
don’t believe donna.
newfoundlands are GREAT dogs.
kate
On February 12, 2009 at 7:24 am
and beagles aren’t.
i am a vet in saratoga ny
Shelbyrue
On April 3, 2009 at 9:07 pm
Isn’t a “Nanny Dog” a pitbull???
stacy
On April 28, 2009 at 3:40 pm
HA- I disagree w/the retriever, I have always heard this, but my experience was that my family dog bit me badly enough that I had to have plastic surgery around my eye. Any closer and I would’ve lost an eye!
Heather
On April 30, 2009 at 10:28 pm
We have a Sheltie and she is AMAZING. She is extremely loyal and playful and is very patient with my husband’s five year old sister. She is the best dog we have ever had and we got her for free from a farm because her breeder said she was too old to sell and they didn’t have anywhere to keep her. I guess a sheltie would fall under the collie category, but they really are fantastic dogs.
haleyy
On May 16, 2009 at 6:25 pm
Great Pyrenees, too. Mine is great with kids. Even the day we brought him home, my two younger cousins were running around the yard and he was keeping a close eye on them. They could poke and prod and he just sat calmly. He still does, actually. They’re bred to guard sheep, so they have to have a calming presence, and it works with children too — they simply gravitate towards him.
Ellieeeee
On May 16, 2009 at 7:50 pm
Yellow Labadors are great,they’re friendly dogs and fun to be around.. they’re protective and great dog, fun aswell=) i enjoy having my lab Bailey around it makes my day a whole lot better when my buddies here=)
Robert Long
On May 17, 2009 at 1:48 am
I would recommend a German Shepherd. These are the boy scouts of the dog world. Obedient, Loyal, True Blue and absolutely obsessed with protecting children from danger. Take a German Shepherd to the beach and watch what happens if very small children try to go into the water. Without training a German Shepherd will instinctively try to herd any child out of the water, just like its shepherding ancestors would herd sheep away from dangerous places. German Shepherds where bred to “protect the flock” so they are suspicious of strangers, but they understand that any child – stranger or not, is not a threat to their family. Their combination of obedience and intelligence that made them the first “seeing eye dogs” makes them the dog of choice for most modern service-dog jobs and also makes them great family pets.
Dawn
On June 13, 2009 at 3:10 pm
Eveyone knows the nanny dog is the staff bull terrier. I personally wouldnt trust one near my kids if it had grown with them from a pup.
I’m searching for the right pooch to grow up with 4 kids under 7yrs eldest being 7 youngest being 1.
Anyone got any suggestions?
brooke nyman
On July 2, 2009 at 6:07 pm
I would most definitely suggest a Boxer. They are Family dogs, who love children. Herding dog’s are awesome, VERY SMART- (I grew up with two border collies), but herding dogs do what they where bread to do. Little kids may not appreciate this behavior.
Boxer’s where bread for companionship and guardianship over their beloved owners. I think You and your family would be very pleased with all that the boxer has to offer.
Good luck with your dog searching. You’ll know when you find the right one.
P.S. Staff Bull Terrier\’s where breed for fighting….and fighting only.
mandy
On July 21, 2009 at 5:43 pm
I had a black lab golden retriever when I was younger and we had problem after problem with him. He had bit me a few times and then bit my brothers nose off at one point. Well of course we ended up getting rid of him. But I have been doing so research on finding a dog for my young children and I would not EVER get any kind of retriever again!!!!!
Sarah
On October 24, 2009 at 8:42 am
I have a Staff Bull Terrier, and i also have two young children, she is the most loving dog ever. If people would do their research they too would also realise that they are a family dog. Any dog can be a fighter if you train them!! Dont label staffs, theyre lovely!
Cathy
On February 14, 2010 at 12:29 pm
We have 2 American Cocker Spaniels who are wonderful with our children. We adopted both dogs from a rescue organization when my children were 8 and 9. They have been wonderful family dogs. They love to play, snuggle and are all around happy dogs.
I grew up with a Boxer and she was a lovely, gentle and very protective dog. If I were to bring another dog into my home I wouldn’t think twice about a Boxer.
First and foremost, you need to supervise young children around any pet. Small children can hit and bite. The most gentle dog in the world could snap if they are startled. (my youngest daugter was bit very badly a few times by another child…. I’ve seen the damage a young child can do)
I think the key for anyone choosing a dog is to desensitize the dog to a childs rough play (ie. pulling on ears, the tail, etc.) but this is not enough; you must teach your child to respect a pet, just as you teach them to respct other human beings.
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