Dogs Good With Children
If the truth be known,
there are many dogs good with children, it's just that some breeds have a better reputation with kids
than others. What it mostly boils down to is the dog's temperament plus your child's age, maturity level and previous relationships with pets.
If you select a dog breed based just on the general opinion that it gets along well with children, you may be barking up the wrong tree! Dogs, like children, can be unpredictable.
One of the most important things to investigate is how the dog was bred and by whom. Was the breeder experienced - were they particular in the selection of the dogs being mated in order to preserve the best traits
of the breed?
When you are looking to get the best dog for children, it really pays to know if the dog has been tested for temperament. Of course there are other issues to consider such as size, trainability, puppy or adult dog, time needed to groom and exercise the pet, etc.
Let's take size for example. If you have a toddler, a very large dog - especially a playful one - may unintentionally knock your child over. Likewise, if you're considering a very small dog, toddlers as the name implies, are not very steady on their feet and could easily step on and injure the dog by accident especially the fragile toy dog breeds. Also when it comes to very small dogs, a majority of them get nervous around young children or won't tolerate being mishandled by them.
Time is another major consideration. If you are thinking of a puppy, bear in
mind that their schedule can be quite intense during the first year.
Are your children old enough to share the responsibilities of caring for
the pet? And will they follow through? Maybe an adult dog that has had some
training and whose temperament around children is known, might be a better choice.
Dogs Good With Children - Prepare Them Both For Success!
Many of us have memories of dogs we enjoyed as children, either our own or
a favorite pooch in the neighborhood. One thing that children and dogs have in common
is that if you want them to get along, they both need training!
If you bring a dog into your family, not only can it be a great buddy for your
child, it can also teach them a lot about life, and taking responsibility. Now I realize
that if you say that to a child, they will not necessarily get it, but
if you put it into action, they will learn about it.
In order for children to have a safe and enjoyable relationship with the family dog,
here are some guidelines to keep in mind:
- Before bringing a dog into the family, children should have a
thorough understanding of how to handle pets - what is and is not acceptable. Even
breeds considered most tolerant and reliable, may suddenly have an out-of-character
reacton to mistreatment by a child. Of course, children of any age should
always be supervised by a responsible adult whenever they are interacting
with pets no matter what. As was mentioned earlier, kids and dogs are not 100% predictable!
- For the most part when you are looking for dogs good with children, it
is a often best to steer clear of breeds that are either too big, too small, too
dominant, or too boisterious for the age and maturity level of your child.
- If you want a puppy, consider if you have enough time to supervise
and care for the pet as well as your family!
- When buying a puppy, look for a reputable breeder that has tested the
puppies for temperament. This way you will increase the odds that the dog will have
the best characteristis of the breed and as a result may be more predictable. The breeder ideally
should have also begun to socialize the puppies.
- Begin or continue socializing your dog as soon as possible. A good
relationship between dog and master usually thrives if the basic dog
obedience
training
is started early on. And even though some breeds will recognize one family member as the leader
of the pack, it is good if all family members are consistent in using the same words
for various dog commands.
A Sampling Of Breeds To Consider
Many of the breeds listed below have been described as favorable for children. This sampling
includes both big, medium and and small dogs and are
just a few of the
dog breeds
described on this site - there are many others that also get along well with kids.
We recommend that you investigate some of these dogs by clicking on the links
to get a more information about a particular breed as well as a picture.
What you will learn is that some of the breeds suited to be around kids are described as patient or affectionate, while others
may be described as more energetic, playful, resilient, protective, or trustworthy. This information,
including best age of child for the pet in question, will give you additional help in
choosing a dog that will suit your family.
Dogs Good With Children - One Last Important Tip
As we said earlier, children need to learn how to treat pets fairly and dogs need
to be socialized and
trained to properly understand what's expected of them.
We can't stress enough how very important this step is to a successful
relationship between a dog and its family especially when there are children involved.
When you hear about various dogs good with children, it is often because they have
been conscientiously trained from the very beginning with the children participating in the
process.
Throughout this site we have recommended some excellent dog training programs, like the
one below, that families have used to get started on the right foot as soon as they bring
home a pet. We hope you'll do this too.
Other dog breed groups where dogs good for children may be found:
The Doggies Want Your WOOF!
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