can somebody tell me the best breed of dog to have for small children?

Question

i need an idea of a good dog to get. The dog will have a huge yard be indoor and outdoor. I don't want a big messy dog. I have 3 children under the age of three. any ideas and why please. Websites would be good too

Answer 1

Here are some websites with info that should help. The first lists most dog breeds and their reliability with children. The second lists a "top 20" best breeds with children and a short description. The third lists breeds that are commonly good with children, breeds that are good with provisos, and breeds that commonly have problems with children, as well as brief statements on children and strange dogs and warning signs in dogs. Keep in mind that the individual dog is much more important than the breed. There are plenty of cases of labs and goldens biting as well as pit bulls and chihuahuas who don't.

Remember to never leave children with a dog unattended. Good luck in your search.

Answer 2

Lab and retriever mixs tend to be a bit on the hyper side and can unintentionally seriously hurt small children.
Small breeds like shitzus and aso lahspso tend to be nervous breeds and will snap and bite younger children.
I was raised around Dobermans, and they were very protective and never harmed us even when we were playing rough.
Another good breed is a Siberian husky, I have one now and have 4 small children, he is a wonderful and extremely tolerant dog.
I would look at the local shelters in your area, take your children with you when looking for a family dog, that way you know how your children will treat it and how the dog will respond to them.

Puppies are a good idea when getting a dog for the children, this way the dog can grow up around your kids, then again, you do have to worry about housetraining and behavioral training as well for both the puppy and the children.

Adult dogs are a good bet, most of them have already been house trained, but then again, most of their temperments and likes and dislikes have already been molded into them.

Last but not least, if you are still unsure of the safety of the breed and the safety of the dog around the kids, hold off on getting one until you are sure that the children and the dog can coincide together safely.

Answer 3

I wouldn't trust any breed of dog with 3 children 3 years of age and younger. Dogs of all sizes and ages should be kept under pretty strict supervision not just for the child's safety but for the dog's safety as well. Small children can be unintentionally rough with dogs or puppies causing the dog to bite or scratch the kids or the kids injuring the dog. Not to mention dogs love to tear up diapers and chew up clothes that have had food dribbled on them. If you get a small breed dog the chance of that dog getting injured by rough play increases. If you get a large breed dog there is a greater chance of the dog injuring the child accidentally because the dog gets very large, very fast. It's hard to keep a 60-70 lb puppy from jumping on or knocking over the little ones. Research several breeds that you might be interested in such as golden retriever or lab and then choose one that fits the activity level of your family, but, keep in mind, the dog needs to be supervised when it is around the children.

Answer 4

If you want a puppy you should get a study puppy and when you go to look at it pull on the tail and ears to see if it minds because you would not want a puppy that turns around and bights you when you do that. If I were you I would go to a shelter where if the dog doesn't work out you can take it back and try out another one. If you are looking at an adult dog then you would want to look for a sturdy dog still. I wouldn't go with any of the little tiny dog because they are usually not very good with small children. There is not really a certain breed that you should look for. A lot of the dogs at the shelter would be a very good choice to get but still look at the large or medium sized dogs

Answer 5

well we went on the Internet and searched on a good breed that was good with kids and has good personalities, we ended out with a shitzue named Bernie though he is a lot bigger in his size than a full bred he is the best dog we ever had. he loves to play with little kids and is very happy when he gets to go on walks to the river or park. you could also try a golden retriever, a basset hound, a border collie, or a mixed breed of any dog. just go to the pound or pet shop and have a look at certain dogs and then research them. these breeds are also know to be good with children
Mastiff
Boxer
Newfoundland
Boston Terriers
Bichon Frise
Beagles
Vizsla
Standard Poodles
Brittany Spaniel
Pugs
Labrador Retrievers
Samoyed
Springer Spaniel
Irish Setter
Coonhound
Bernese Mountain Dog
Bloodhound
Foxhound
English Setter
Siberian Husky
Keeshond
Gordon Setter
Bulldogs

try going here
http://www.seefido.com/html/dogs___dog_breeds.htm

http://www.petsandpeople.com/breedsgoodwithchildren.htm

good luck!

Answer 6

I can tell you, from personal experience only, that a Pug dog is a wonderful pet for small children. We got my daughter a Pug puppy when she was 2 years old and he was a great choice. He was playful and enthusiastic, lovable and not the least bit aggressive. He was also a smallish breed, so there wasn't any obnoxious "big-dog" behavior or problems with grooming or waste disposal. He was a very friendly guy, easy to care for and travel with too. He was very active and kept my daughter running and frolicing all around the yard;great for exercise and keeping the kids entertained! Happy dog shopping!

Answer 7

You may want get a medium dog like Cocker Spaniel, or even a Lab. Small dogs like Chihuahua, Maltese, or Poodles are not good at all for small children as they can be injured very easily by the children.

Answer 8

Golden Retrievers and Labrador Retrievers are the top 2 most popular breeds in the U.S., and it's because of their good nature and the fact that they make great family dogs.

I have one of each, and they are the sweetest, gentlest dogs and are great with children and little babies.

Here's more info:

http://pets.yahoo.com/pets/dogs/breed/golden_retriever

http://pets.yahoo.com/pets/dogs/breed/labrador_retriever

Answer 9

wait till the kids are 6-7. young children pull on dogs and you are just asking for the dog to attack your young kiddies. Someone said dalmation... thry have a bad rep. with young kids they can become protective. and remember all dogs are messy my cocker spaniel is just as messy as my saint bernard

Answer 10

Labs and goldens are good if you want a bigger dog. Bassett hounds are a good medium sized dog. For a smaller dog, try a cocker spaniel or a beagle.