What breed of dog do you think is best with children? I am looking for personal experience.?

Answer 1

labs and goldens are good with children, but they can have lots of energy and require a lot of training. Honestly speaking, labs can be dorks and run over a small child too. Samoyeds and St. Bernards are more laid back and also good with children, but they can be high maintenance due to haircoat/grooming/bathing/etc. Small breeds that are friendly are pugs (although they can have lots of health issues) and malteses. Medium breeds include the spaniels, while larger breeds are labs, goldens, and dobies (yes, dobies are sweet dogs, with bad, undeserved reps). This is my personal experience from working with different breeds of dogs every day.

What boils down to, any breed has the potential to be an excellent pet for a child with the proper training and socializing. Just that some breeds require more socializing than others :-) You have to socialize your new puppy with many people while is still young because, tho all breeds will be great with their child and family, you want your dog to be sweet with any friend that your children brings home when they are older too. Good luck in finding the perfect friend for your child!

Answer 2

I would agree that retrievers are excellent dogs with children. I have a Chesapeake, and he loves kids. The only problem comes with small kids, if he's not paying attention to his footing he can easily tip over a small child. Not maliciously, just simply because because he's big and underestimates his size all the time.

A friend of mine also has a Goldendoodle, and I swear to god that dog is so laid back that it barely has bones!

But no matter what breed you get, training and socialization is the key. A dog that can respect even basic commands is a wonderful family pet. Coupled with the laid back personality of most of the retriever breeds, you'll have a family friend for life.

Answer 3

Our family has 2 pugs and 1 yellow lab. Both breeds are very good with our children. Our two year old loves them dogs!!!!
They are like a part of our family. Good Luck finding the perfect dog for your family :)

Answer 4

Golden Retrievers are saints around any child. I grew up around one and I used to pull on his hair, ride on his back, play with his tail, etc. My dad says that was the only dog he'd ever leave me alone with. He never once took a snap at me.
I'd also trust my Collie boy around any small person. He's extremely gentle-natured and wouldn't harm a fly. I've seen endless amounts of littleuns play with his fur, pull his tail, and stick fingers down his ears and the only thing he's done is given me an annoyed glare.
Larger dogs are usually better around little kids. They tend to be more calm and gentle. Smaller dogs are fragile as well and can easily be hurt by a child.

Answer 5

Labs are really good with kids, but if you don't want a dog that big beagles are are also good with children. I had one when I was little and they are energetic and they don't normally get mean. You have to remember that any dog will become mean if they are not treated right so teach your kids how to act around a dog and that it is not right to hit or tease them.

Answer 6

All breeds of dog have the potential to be great with kids but from personal experience i have found great danes and dobermans to be best. My current 2 dobes will let any kid do what they want to them, jump on them, pull ears and tail, hit with things(including a hammer one day), yell, scream, push around, take food off them, take toys off them and all the dogs want to do is be close to the kids. Even if the kids arent paying any attention to them they still want to be around them, and it doesnt matter whose kids they are. Most parents freak when i walk my baby girls coz they see kids and whine and growl and wriggle in excitement until the kids pat them. But they seem to know when a kid is scared of them coz they wont push it. Karo my youngest dobe is a very sick girl who doesnt always feel the best but she is always a happy smiling dog for the kids. Bella my beautiful rescue had never had much good contact with people up to the age of 4(puppy mill), but once we got her confidence she absolutely blossomed. She is sometimes still a bit wary of adults but she will do anything for a childs approval.

Answer 7

I have owned Golden's for over 20 years (and still do) and all my kids grew up with them right here with them. They were rolled on and tugged and sat one without any of my Golden's so much as lifting their head. They never growled or bit or did anything to even make me raise my voice to any of them.
They are loyal, funny, and just the most cuddly big dogs ever.
I highly recommend a Golden Retriever for a family dog.

Answer 8

I agree, it is more important how the dog is trained than the actual breed of dog.

I know PLENTY of labs that are high energy, not well trained, and would knock over a kid in a minute.

Answer 9

Labs are usually very good with kids. We had our lab before our daughter came, but he was like a centurion at her crib side. If we didn't get to her needs right away he was tracking us down. As she grew, so did their relationship. We just had to put him down this last June and it was very sad, they were very close.

Smaller dogs usually tend to be more skiddish around kids because kids tend to move fast and unpredictably. We have Yorkies and they are great with our daughter, but tend to be more shy (not aggressive) around the neighbor kids.

Another option would be to go to your local shelter, some of the no-kill shelters get histories with the dogs if they are turned in because of circumstances and the home they were in had children. Our lab came from a shelter and like I said, he was fantastic.

Good luck in your search and good for you for being responsible about your pet before actually getting them.

Answer 10

I don't think it's as much to do with the breed as it is the training and socialization of the dog and the commitment of the owner.