What is the best type of dog breed for small children?

Question

We have a 3 month old who is getting ready to crawl but we really want to get a dog... we were wondering what the best breed or breed mix is best with small children...We are most likely gonna adopt from a shelter! (medium sized dog)

Answer 1

A Bichon Frise is great around children and people of all ages. Here is a little info on them......

The Bichon Frise is a small, sturdy, white powder puff of a dog whose merry temperament is evident by their plumed tail carried jauntily over their back. The Bichon's coat puffs out all over, rather than hanging down. They are small, sturdy dogs that are slightly larger than a Maltese. The ears are set high on the head and drop down, if ever you could see them in the poil frise (curly coat). Bichon Frise (Bichons) love to be the center of attention and are always eager to please. This Tenerife Dog is a bouncy, friendly dog that will exercise with their owner to the end. Bichons are perky, playful and friendly to all. They are affectionate, responsive, and are apt to cuddling. They make a delightful and amusing companion. Used in the show ring often, their coats require much grooming and intricate care to maintain the accepted puffy appearance. Bichon a Poil Frises can often be seen in doggy beauty parlors. Although they are small and appear high maintenence, Norwegian farmers have recently discovered that this breed can be trained to round up sheep! Gentle-mannered, sensitive, and very playful the Bichon Frise is good with children and other pets.

Other Names: Tenerife Bichon, Tenerife Dog, Bichon Tenerife, Bichon a Poil Frise

Type: Companion Dog; Non-Sporting Dog

Height: 9 - 12 inches.
Weight: Males: 11 - 16 lbs.; Females: 7 - 15 lbs.

Colors: White, cream or apricot up to 18 months of age. Can be buff, cream or apricot around the face and ears, but all white is desirable.
Coat: Long and loosely curled, puffing outward from the body all over, rather than hanging down. Their coat is double layered, and there is a profuse amount of hair on the head, beard, mustache, ears and tail.

Temperament: Bichon Frise are friendly, active, gentle-mannered, playful, energetic and willing to cuddle. They can be very adaptable, bold and lively. The Tenerife Bichon is responsive, sensitive, and loves to play. They tend to bark, even in the house. They may also be difficult to housebreak as they can be stubborn, but they are also known to be patient dogs. Sometimes when they are happy they will "zoom" or "blitz", in which they run in circles from a sudden burst of energy.
With Children: Yes, exceptionally good with children. The Bichon Frise does very well with in a family environment.
With Pets: Yes. Bichons are very willing to play with other animals, even dogs twice their size.
Special Skills: Family pet, popular show dog.

Watch-dog: High. These dogs are aware of their surroundings, and may bark a lot to get attention or to warn.
Guard-dog: Very Low. Bichon Frises are very small dogs that are friendly to everyone, and are therefore likely to play with bigger animals or strangers rather than fight them off.

Care and Training: The Bichon Frise requires daily coat care. These Tenerife Dogs require brushing, periodic trimming, and regular bathing. Trim around the eyes and ears with blunt nosed scissors. Clean the eyes to prevent staining. Cleaning gums and teeth is important as well, as Bichons tend to acquire tartar and gum infection. Tenerife Bichons are also hypoallergenic. For the show quality grooming, a specific hair cut is required by the groomer. As for simply pet-owners, the "puppy cut" will suffice. Most of their exercise needs can be met with just playing, but they do love to walk and romp in open areas. Bichon Frises will exercise as long as the owner can stand, and are happy to do so.
Special Needs: Grooming, socialization, and training.
Learning Rate: Very High. Obedience - High. Problem Solving - Very High.

Activity: Outdoors - Medium. Indoors - Very High. Bichons are very high energy and require much attention from their owner. They will run and play for quite a while.
Living Environment: An apartment is fine if daily walks are given. An owner of a Bichon Frise should be patient, consistent and be able to take time to train, exercise and socialize them. Bichon Frise do well with the elderly or disabled, as well as children. Bichon Frises are very good family dogs.

Health Issues: Bichon Frises are fairly healthy dogs, but some common health concerns include luxating patellas, bladder problems, block tear ducts, skin ailments, cancer and autoimmune disease, as well as cataracts and epilepsy.

Life Span: 12 - 16 years, although some have been known to live up to 21 years.
Litter Size: 3 - 5

Country of Origin: France
History: The exact origin of the Bichon Frise is still unknown today. Though many agree that they existed before the time of Christ. In the fourteenth century, Italian sailors took the little dog from the shores of Tenerife, one of the Canary Islands, and brought it back to France to barter with. Some say they descend from the Maltese, which have been on record as long as the Bichon, and others claim they were a dwarf breed that resulted from crossing of a miniature Spaniel and a miniature Poodle with Cayenne dogs. For 400 years the Bichon Frise enjoyed life among kings and aristocrats in France in the 1500s. But in the 1800s the little dog became a common pet among people and sometimes served as an organ grinder's dog or as a circus performer. After World War I both French and Belgian breeders sustained an active interest in the breed, and finally were recognized by the French Kennel Club. The breed was brought to America in 1956, and popularity was on the rise. In 1971 the breed received recognition from the AKC in the Miscellaneous Class. A challenge came when it was time to name the breed. Madame Nizet de Leemands, head of the Breed Standards Committee of the FCI asked her colleagues in desperation, "What does it look like?" She was told it was a fluffy, little white dog. "Well then," she said, "It shall be called Bichon Frise (fluffy little dog)."

Answer 2

A golden retriever or labrador retriever. A mutt with one of these in it would be fine too. An older dog, not a puppy would probably work better. Taking care of a baby and a puppy is alot of work. At all times you will have to watch the dog and the child interact. See if the shelter can tell you if the dog has been with a family and small children.
My labs were 5 when my first child was born, and 9 when my other child was born, and we had no problems with the dogs accepting the kids into our family. Tail pulling, face poking and hands or other parts in mouth, and trying to ride the doggie were well tolerated when the kids were very young. My one child, when she was a baby, used to fall asleep on our male, 85 lb, 9 year old dog, and suck her thumb and twirl the dogs ear. He cooed every time she did that. Good luck, dogs are work, but also a joyful member of the family.

Answer 3

Hey =)

There are many types of breeds which suit young children, these are calm breeds of dogs These breeds are perfect playmates and babysitters:
Basset, Beagle, Cairn Terrier, Cocker Spaniel, Bearded Collie, Belgian Sheepdog, Boxer Dog, Dalmatian, Golden Retriever, Labrador Retriever, Old English Sheepdog, Samoyed, Irish Wolfhound, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Pug, Saint Bernard, Poodle, Dachshund

Hope This Helps Hun =)

Answer 4

The only dog I recommend for babies is a stuffed toy.

You're raising a baby already. No doubt you both work, have busy lives, and from experience, every spare nickle goes towards the baby. I truly don't think you want to add yet another layer of chores and busy-ness to your already overloaded lives.

In addition to this, babies, toddlers and small children, will, unknowingly, of course, torment even the most submissive and gentle of dogs into snapping - in self-defense, mind you - but it's still biting.

The baby/child doesn't know any better - it's a baby/child for heaven's sake. Doesn't everybody know that?!?

Of course WE know that - we are adult humans. And the dog may even recogognize your baby as a "people puppy."

And, it will treat your baby as a puppy. When puppies annoy adult dogs, they get growled and snapped at. So, guess what will happen when your baby/child annoys the dog? Yep. growl and snap.

That's the way dogs are, for heaven's sake. Dogs don't have hands to push away nor do they have a voice with which they can say "go away, leave me alone." All they have is a growl and a snap. Worse yet, when you return the dog to the shelter because it nipped your baby, it will most likely be put down because of a reputation for biting. Yep. That's what happens - dog nips baby - dog gets put down. Talk about setting Doggie up for failure.

So I truly beg of you to wait until your children are at least of school age before getting a dog. Any dog.

Answer 5

Golden retrievers are notorious for being great with kids, just have to make sure that this one can handle its lips being tugged, tail and ears being grabbed, and baby crawling all over it, scout it carefully your young child's health and psycho well-being depend on it, because the dog snaps, good luck getting the child near another one for a very long time. My mom had a Husky-Lab Mix, who was great. But scout your options carefully

Answer 6

I would like to introduce you to the great breed called the : Stafford-shire Bull Terrier

They are great with children, also called the 'nanny dog'- a name no other breed has been allocated to.
They have high pain levels to tolerate the rough playing of children. They will protect you and the children with their life !!


This Breed is worth wile looking at !!!

Answer 7

We have a Blonde Laborador. They are known for being very gentle. For example: We have a 4 year old and when she goes to feed him something he just barely takes the food out of her hand. I had a German Shepard growing up and he was good too but a little over protective around other people.

Answer 8

A golden retriever or a lab would be perfect for a family. They are gentle with babies and love to play. Very friendly. Plus you can take them anywhere. They are just about the smartest dog there is. Just becareful because they are so friendly that someone might steal him/ her.

Answer 9

American Pit Bull Terrier. I have had mind lay on the floor next to my baby grandson for over an hour, she would not leave his side. Now the baby is a bit older and when my daughter sits with him on her lap the Pit comes over and puts her head in his so he can play with her ears. Then she licks his toes.
Whatever you get I would not get a puppy with the baby.

Here is a site that may be helpful:

http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/children.htm

Answer 10

Personally I would wait until your child was older...at least walking age!

But i can't go past a cavalier king charles spaniel for children, they are very loving and gentle.

Good Luck!

Answer 11

Laso Apsos are good dogs for small children. However, don't get a shih-tzu because they might be somewhat viscous. Also, don't get a Pomeranian. Those don't work well, either.