what is the best dog to get for little children.?

Answer 1

Every one here is going to tell the breed of dog they have is the best dog for kids, well a lot of them are wrong. You need to research the many different breeds and make an educated decision on what you think is the best breed for you and your families lifesyle. AKC has a web site with descriptions of all recognized breeds of dog. AKC.org You could also read a few books like Encyclopedia of Dog Breeds, or Idiots Guide to Chosing, Buying and Raising a Dog.

If properly trained and embraced as a beloved member of the family, any breed can make a great pet. With that said, some dogs are seen as more “kid-friendly” than others and, as a result, have become extremely popular among families. According to the AKC, the five most popular breeds in the United States are:

Labrador Retrievers are by far America’s most popular dog—more than 140,000 Lab puppies were registered last year with the AKC—and have a reputation for being playful, hardworking and affectionate toward children. The Lab is easily trained and is highly respected for his prowess at many jobs: as a guide dog for the disabled, a search-and-rescue dog, and for narcotics detection.

Golden Retrievers are sporty, easy to train and strong, but their most outstanding trait is character. They are outgoing and devoted companions to people of all ages, happy and trusting. They make great hunting companions, too.

German Shepherd are noble in appearence and character. This breed's courage, steadfast heart, and keen senses have endeared him to families for generations. Active and outdoorsy, German Shepherds are very fond of children and make wonderful companions.

Beagles love being around people and other animals. They are gentle, happy companions who thrive on affection and attention. They are also clever, quick, and, most of all curious. They need plenty of active exercise.

Dachshund has a lively, upbeat personality—spunky, curious and friendly. Originally bred to hunt badgers, Dachshund’s love to dig, romp and run. They are affectionate, especially with children, and enjoy going for walks and other forms of exercise

You should do your research before you bring any animal into your home. A dog your is a responsiblity for the rest of its life and should not be bought on impulse.

Answer 2

I would suggest either a labrador or a St. Bernard. Both have incredibly calm temperments and are exceptionally good with children, although, any larger breed dog would be fine for kids, if it is brought up the right way and raised to be gentle. I do not recommend small breed dogs, because a child might unintentionally harm it, and the small dogs are just too delicate.

Answer 3

So many different breeds can be great with kids. You don't say how young the children are. I'm a "big dog" person myself and I have two Rough Collies that absolutely ADORE kids and let our neice and nephew and our friend's kids crawl all over them, pull their fur/ears etc. I've even seen my female calmly put herself between our friend's toddler and two Scottish Terriers that were being a bit snappy towards the kids. She wouldn't budge until the Scotties were removed and once they were, she felt free to go back to her sniffing and exploring.

That being said, dogs grow up *a lot* faster than kids. If you get a larger breed puppy, they can turn into even larger adolescents that don't know their own strength. Most dogs raised with kids would never purposely harm a child, but it's so easy for them to get riled up and accidentally knock over a toddler or a smaller child. That's one reason why dogs (even dogs you trust) should never be left alone with children.

Do you research and talk to breeders, trainers and vets. Even if you go with a mixed breed (and they are WONDERFUL) knowing about the breeds can help you pick a great companion. Good luck.

Answer 4

We have 3 boxers, 2 female, 1 male and we have a 22 monthold child. The male was raised from 5 weeks with her and the female from birth; they are SO protective of her and very gentle. The male weighs 100 lbs and he is SO wonderful with her--very patient and loving--she pulls on and digs in his ears and he just acts like he loves it. As long as you are very watchful and never leave a small child unattended with ANY dog (children are explorative and will sometimes be a little rough with out realizing it--and no matter what the breed or age, once a dog has had "ENOUGH" it WILL retaliate) any family pet is a good chance for a child to learn responsibility.

Answer 5

I would say any dog. Some breads though are more active than others. I would go for something that is medium sized. Make sure when picking out a dog that it is good around children because not all can stand being around small children and having them climb and pull on them.

Answer 6

A Lab is a good choice but remember they get big I would stay away from really little dogs cuz they usually don't get along with little kids A Boxer is another good choice they are a little hipper as puppy but once they are grown they make a good family pet We had really good luck with a french bulldog they do not know a stranger they are really Friend they are the clown of all dogs

Answer 7

The best dog to get around small children is definetly a boxer. They are very gentle and will barely move around the children cause they are very protective and scared they might hurt the child. When i got my boxer my daughter was 2 and she wouldn't leave her side but then again she would barely even touch her cause she was scared of hurting her. They are one of the best dogs to own. To this day my dog loves everybody. She is very mellow and they are very easy to train. They are extremly smart and react quickly on a command. I would recommend a boxer to anyone that is looking for a good dog. Another good dog is a saint bernard. Very big but very gentle. A cuddly teddy bear..lol I hope you will have fun with your new dog when you get him/her.

Answer 8

Labrador retrievers have the best temperament for children.

Do not get a small dog. Little children can hurt small dogs. I know of a dog whose leg was broken twice by small children. I've even heard of small children trying to flush small dogs down the toilet (if the child is young enough to be fascinated by a toilet!).

Answer 9

A large, adult dog. Puppies nip, especially if small children are being too rough, while adult dogs have learned tolerance. Toy breeds typically don't do as well with children as larger, calmer dogs, and a small child can unintentionally injure such a tiny dog. I agree with those who said lab, shepherd, or golden retriever- all great choices!

Answer 10

There are alot of dogs that are good with kids. You need more criteria. Like do you have experince with dogs, how active you are, etc.
My personal preference for dogs and kids is the husky, they would never even bite your kids friends like some other breds that tend to be protective.