Best breed of dog for kids (under 10)??

Caroline_a

It is so much down to how the dog is brought up and not allowing the kids to 'play' with the dog when it's a puppy. The children need to be taught how to act around dogs as well as the dogs being taught how to behave around humans both young and old.

My Shepherd is bombproof with all humans, large and small, but I would never leave him or any other dog alone with children. The nastiest dog I've ever met was a Miniature Pinscher - but due to his size nobody took any notice. He'd have happily ripped into any part of anyone he could get to! And it was all down to being spoilt and treated like a baby rather than like a dog.

meritaten

as other posters have said - its down to the individual dog and the way its brought up!
I am a staffy person - the ones I have known have all been exceptional with kids! especially MINE! she really was a super dog with kids.
my Springer Spaniel was great with kids too.
a friends Great Dane was fab with kids - except that she knocked very little ones off their feet with a wag of her tail.
Boxers are good too - they will play for hours!!!!!!!!!
The Westies I have known have been child friendly too!
The nasty dogs I have come across have been
Jack Russells - dunno why but every one I have met doesnt like kids!
Dachshunds - the only do,g ever to have bitten me! dogs usually love me.
and a very insane Yorkshire Terrier who went for everyone within reach - and as its owner carried the dam thing about - she was given a wide berth by everyone who knew her!
Most breeds will care about and protect the family the pup is brought up in. some breeds have a 'good' reputation and some have a 'bad' one.
I would always take the children with you to choose a pup and watch carefully the pups reaction to the children. choose a pup which goes up to the kids and offers to play, then watch to see if the pup is careful not to bite or hurt. To me, THAT is the pup which will be right for you - regardless of breed.

zaksmum

Person_one wrote: »

Actually...

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2003849/Boy-3-left-horrific-facial-injuries-Labrador-savages-Poole-Harbour.html

Personally, I've never heard of a bichon being aggressive with children and I trust mine completely around even tiny babies and toddlers, but it would be silly of me to then say that ALL bichons are great with children, its all about the individual dog and how its trained/treated.

OK........let me go and search for a news article about a bichon savaging a kid, then. Bound to be one somewhere.

Person_one

zaksmum wrote: »

OK........let me go and search for a news article about a bichon savaging a kid, then. Bound to be one somewhere.

Very possibly, that's my whole point!

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

I always recommend Beagles.

But it's still YOUR dog and YOUR responsibility, not the children's - so look up the breed characteristics, their needs, your experience with dogs, compare with your lifestyle and what changes you could feasibly make - and then make up your mind.


[btw, there are a LOT of labrador and retriever attacks/bites. They just aren't newsworthy, the owners tend to be middleclass and keep it quiet and the animals are quietly handed to the relevant rescue to be rehomed by experienced owners with no children or put to sleep as it's seen as evidence of bad breeding, rather than owner error. Which isn't to say as whole that they aren't lovely animals, just that they aren't the saints people imagine them to be.)

meritaten

I had forgotten beagles - thanks jojo for reminding me!
a neighbour had a beagle (when I was a child) and all the kids loved him! he was a really sweet dog - and the kids all clamoured to take him 'walkies'! we had an ulterior motive tho - that dog could 'sing'! we all used to gather round him and start singing ..........didnt matter WHAT we sang - Humphrey would join in! and he loved the attention he got! treats too! tho he didnt need to be bribed to sing - but, us kids loved him, appearing with Humphrey assured you of some playmates when Humphrey got bored, and wanted to go home!

and Jojo is quite right 'Labrador savages child' doesnt sell newspapers the same way as 'devil dog' does!

Beckyy

It's more about the training and way the dog is treated and brought up that counts. A dog is a dog, and in my honest opinion there is no one breed 'better' than the next to live around children. You just need to ensure that whatever dog you do choose is well socialised and is raised around your family in a suitable manner with good training and that children and dog learn to have mutual repect for each other.

Good luck, and also check out local training classes if you do decide on a dog.

Nichelette

I agree with everything people have said about it being down to the individual dog. From my own experience we got a samoyed when I was 12, my younger siblings were 10, 8 & 4 at the time. He had a beautiful character and was great with all kids he met. He used to come out in the car when we were dropped off at school and would circle the car til us kids were all in, only then would he get in. Wish he was still with us . We now have a rescue GSD who is also fine with kids...

mountainofdebt

I was going to say Beagles as well.

But bear in mind that they are not a 'once around the block' sort of dog and need plenty of exercise, perhaps more exercise than your average dog......says she who has never walked as much during the Christmas break as she has done this year!

Person_one

They also have a tendency to go nose to the ground and deliberately deaf if they get a whiff of an interesting smell! Not the worst habit for a dog to have but needs bearing in mind when thinking about where and how you want to exercise your dog. Some beagles never have a reliable enough recall to be let off the lead.