are bulldogs good dogs for kids?

Question

I am considering buying a bulldog and i am wondering if they are good dogs for little kids. i have kids ranging from 2 to 5.

Answer 1

According to this website, which I find to have good info,they're generally good with kids;
http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/bulldog.htm

But why not wait a few more years? you've got a house full of little ones- this is just one more stress in your day. 2,3,4 and sometimes 5 yo's need CONSTANT supervision with even the gentlest of dogs- you can't leave them u8nwatched for a moment.

Answer 2

If you have kids the question to ask yourself is: have you the time to supervise your children whenever they are near the bulldog? Also, with multiple children, will you have the time to take your pup to puppy kindergarden and after that to obedience classes. Young children should never be around pups without supervision, they should not run around the pup, they shouldn't over tire the pup, they should never carry a pup at all, they should sit on the floor to play with the pup. With a bulldog, they need the training and the bonding that training causes you to have with the dog, and the dog to be bonded to you as the alpha, leader of the pack. Bulldogs view themselves as alpha pack leader with children, and you need to be there so that he is a follower in the pack, they can play rough without meaning to, they can discipline the children if they think they are the alpha with the kids, and they are stubborn, and very strong, and the training bonding really helps with that. The dog should not be allowed to run when he's around children either, I've bred and worked with dogs for 30 years, and a bulldog yanked me off my feet the first time I walked one so that I bellyflopped on the pavement, they can also enjoy running up to a kid and doing a body check for fun, and your child could be knocked down very easily and hit their head and get seriously possibly permanently damaged. Also, bulldogs really like to chew things, and can choke easily on things, so you would also have to make sure the kids toys are not on the floor when the pup is loose. In other words, if you get a bulldog when your children are young, it will be very demanding if you want it to work out, and if you can't devote a lot of time to the puppy, then wait a few years to get one. If you have hours a day to spend, and will do it every day, you'll never find a more loving dog. Even if you get a trained adult, if you don't take it to obedience, even if it's already trained, there's littlechance it will work out at this time. If you have the time, a bulldog is the best dog you'll ever own. Don't believe that socialising by the breeder makes a dog, they will have the temperment of the parents and in dogs temperment is very hereditary. Don't believe people who say the parent/s were abused in the last home and that's why they have unacceptable personalities, if they are born with sound temperment, it will return within 6 months in a new home. I have even switched pups to a different mother at birth that has excellent temperment, from a mother who wasn't great, and the pups temperment still came out like the birthmother's. So if it wouldn't be a dream come true to own the mother mostly and the sire some, then wait for another litter. Good luck, I'm sure if you research the breed further, and look deep inside yourself as to whether this is the right time to buy a bulldog, that you'll make the right choice at this time. Good wishes to you, Anne in Canada

Answer 3

As long as you get the dog as a puppy- any breed is fine. But definitely at first the dog should be supervised around the kids. At first you might want to train your dog to just lay down and be calm while your kids pet him. - while being supervised, and keep praising the dog as long as he's calm submissive. Never let your kids get too loud or rowdy around the dog at first- that might freak him out a bit and cause a negative reaction.
Just as a by the way- bulldogs are a very stubborn breed. Your bulldog will need quite a bit of obedience training, and as long as your dog sees your kids as the pack leader- there should be no problems.
Good luck!

Answer 4

I have a bulldog, a two-year-old named Manny, and he is quite good with kids; however, the reason I even have him is because his first set of owners had a baby and he got so jealous of the baby that he kept trying to pounce on it when it started to crawl, and they had to give him away to keep their baby safe. I think, though, that if the kids are already there in the house when you introduce a new bulldog puppy to the family, he will grow up being used to them and loving them. My bulldog is always very good with kids he meets on his walks or in PetSmart or something- he lets them pet him and he doesn't act antagonistic or anything. Every bulldog book I've ever read says that they are good with children. I am assumin, though, you mean English bulldogs- I hear American bulldogs are a tad more aggressive...

Answer 5

Having a dog and a 2 year old is not fair to the dog and could create problems young children fall lower in the social chain that rules dogs behavior of the law of the pack. Not to say no one should have a dog and a child but people should understand dogs pack instincts. Even a mild mannered dog follows these instincts.

Answer 6

Everybody will look at you like you are crazy but go for it. The temperment all depends on how the dog is raised. Just keep an eye out for the tail pulling and biting (by the kids, not the dog) and watch for any signs of food aggression.

Answer 7

for a start a pup would be best, they require a lot of attention and can be stubborn sods. with 3 small children will you have the time and energy that will be needed. if you proceed their temperment is fine, with children and people. but they are not always great with other dogs.we had dogs then 3 kids,we still have all the kids.regardless of reputations there are no dogs born bad and no bad dogs.there are plenty of dogs made bad by bad ownership.

Answer 8

My neighbors have English bulldogs and kids. There bulldogs are the sweetest, but a little slobbery.

Answer 9

I highly recommend a boston terrier. THey are a bully breed and bred purely for companionship! Good luck on your search! It could come down to the individual dog though - they all have personalities! You could even rescue one that suits your family, here is a site for those in the midwest:
http://www.midwestbtrescue.org/

Answer 10

yes but you should get a puppy so it can grow up arounf kids