What dog breed is best with kids??

flower24

We've just got a pup, she's a cross between a beagle and a Bedlington terrier! Early days but she's lovely so far and when reading up both beagle and Bedlington are meant to be good with children.

sheramber

lovinituk wrote: »

Any experiences with beagles? We've been researching and its a possibility for us. My wife's main concern is that as they are natural hunters they can be known to shoot off suddenly chasing rabbits/squirrels/birds etc. Or is that down to proper training to control them? Other than that, they seem to fit the bill for us - smallish, short haired, good tempermerant.

Beagles also like the sound of thier own voice and bay rather than bark.

One who came to my training class used to bay loudly with joi de vivre.

If you have near neighbours that may be a problem.

lovinituk

sheramber wrote: »

Beagles also like the sound of thier own voice and bay rather than bark.

One who came to my training class used to bay loudly with joi de vivre.

If you have near neighbours that may be a problem.

Does that tend to be more when they are left alone? We run our own business so the dog would always have company.

Paradigm

To be fair, the OPs question is a bit a non starter as there are far too many variables to confidently suggest "a breed".

pawsies

I think getting an older dog from rescue sounds like the best plan.

The most important thing though is to teach the kids how to be safe around dogs.

http://www.bluecross.org.uk/1958-2850/be-safe-with-dogs.html
http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/getting-a-dog-or-puppy/are-you-ready-for-a-dog/child-safety-around-dogs/
http://www.battersea.org.uk/apex/webarticle?pageId=169-safetyaroundanimals

Paradigm

pawsies wrote: »

I think getting an older dog from rescue sounds like the best plan.

The most important thing though is to teach the kids how to be safe around dogs.[URL="http://"][/URL]

Why is an older dog from a rescue any better than a puppy? There is no history with most rescue dogs & generally you have no idea why the dog is in the rescue.

Teaching kids how to behave around dogs is ideal but there are too many prospective dog "owners" that don't know what owning a dog involves, let alone teach their kids how to act.

Too many variables....

ohreally

What age are the children and are they boisterous?

pawsies

Paradigm wrote: »

Why is an older dog from a rescue any better than a puppy? There is no history with most rescue dogs & generally you have no idea why the dog is in the rescue.

Teaching kids how to behave around dogs is ideal but there are too many prospective dog "owners" that don't know what owning a dog involves, let alone teach their kids how to act.

Too many variables....

Generally in my experience older small dogs can be calmer than your adolescent labs and spaniels/staffies/border collies which I would say are probably the most common breeds in rescue atm. Adolescents are generally the most common age group surrendered to shelters as this is one of the hardest lifestages for owners to cope with (dog just doesn't respond as he used to etc when infact it is just the motivation has changed and owners expect the exact same behaviour for little or no motivation because they say so).

OP needs to talk to a rescue about their needs and requirements. A calm dog is what I suggest and by that I don't mean one that appears calm but is actually petrified (can be difficult to assess in rescue and difficult to spot if you don't know what to look for).
Equally though the kids need to know exactly how to interact with the dog which is why I suggest the links.

Just stating too many variables doesn't help OP in providing them with any direction as to where to go from here.
Breed is mostly irrelevant.

Paradigm

pawsies wrote: »

OP needs to talk to a rescue about their needs and requirements. A calm dog is what I suggest and by that I don't mean one that appears calm but is actually petrified (can be difficult to assess in rescue and difficult to spot if you don't know what to look for).
Equally though the kids need to know exactly how to interact with the dog which is why I suggest the links.

Just stating too many variables doesn't help OP in providing them with any direction as to where to go from here.
Breed is mostly irrelevant.

How can anyone help when none of us know the OPs experience with dogs, age of children, housing, working hours etc etc? Too many variables...

Just pointing to a rescue dog isn't really any help as most rescue centers don't know the dogs history &, in my experience, trying to adopt one is a nightmare.

I prefer a puppy that I can train to how I want it, not someones cast off with whatever, unknown, problems it might bring.

Just my opinion

gettingtheresometime

lovinituk wrote: »

Any experiences with beagles? We've been researching and its a possibility for us. My wife's main concern is that as they are natural hunters they can be known to shoot off suddenly chasing rabbits/squirrels/birds etc. Or is that down to proper training to control them? Other than that, they seem to fit the bill for us - smallish, short haired, good tempermerant.

Please don't get a beagle unless you absolutely love walking - ours (nearly 4) has a an hours walk in the morning and lunchtime and we're out with him nearly 2 1/2 hours in the evening....and if we are going out in the evening I've been known to have the afternoon off so he can have his walk!

He has gone off but from what I've heard from other beagle owners, dogs are worse than b!tches.

However they are loving dogs and love nothing more than a cwtch.