Good dogs for kids?

Question

We have a 2 year old Lab and are looking to adopt a second dog. Any good breeds? Must be good with Babies! Smart!

We are looking for a dog that has a good sense- meaning a good guard dog, but is good with babies/kids.

A medium sized dog would be better than a small dog.

Thanks!

Answer 1

I agree, you should first check at the pound. They usually have older dogs who are calmer. I think Golden Retrievers are a good breed. I have one and he is very relaxed. He's been relaxed since he was a puppy. Golden retrievers are very social and friendly. So he would be good with your other dog. They can be medium-large. They usually wouldn't hurt a fly, so they may not be very good guard dogs. But they can bark loudly, so this would always alert you. Of course, this may hurt the baby's ears, but I'm not sure. A Collie might also be good. I'm not positive, but I here that they're gentle and friendly. Then again, if you like your lab, why not get another lab?

Of course, the breed doesn't matter as much as how it's been handled. If it's been handled to be mellow and calm, it will be mellow and calm. But if you get it wound up all of the time, that's what it will be like. So make sure you get a dog with a good personality. Look at pet stores and in the newspaper for dogs like that. Or you can ask your vet. Good luck!

Answer 2

Golden Retrievers are great dogs. These are lovable, well-mannered, intelligent dogs with a great charm. They are easily trained, and always patient and gentle with children. Loyal, confident, sweet and eager to please. It is active, loving and an outstanding family dog. Golden Retrievers enjoy pleasing their masters, so obedience training can be fun. They excel in obedience competitions. Friendly with everyone, including other dogs, the Golden Retriever has very little, if any, guarding instincts. While unlikely to attack, Goldens make good watchdogs, loudly signaling a stranger's approach. This breed needs to be around people to be happy. If isolated from human contact, or left alone for long periods of time, the Golden Retriever may become mischievous. They can be over-exuberant and distractible. Some of the Golden's talents are hunting, tracking, retrieving, narcotics detection, agility, competitive obedience, and performing tricks. These dogs also love to swim.

Beagles are great too! The Beagle is a gentle, sweet, lively and curious dog that just loves everyone! A happy little tail-wagger! Sociable, brave and intelligent. Calm and loving. Excellent with children and generally good with other dogs

Answer 3

Labs are great with kids, as you know, but so are many other breeds like boxers and setters. I would suggest getting an older, already trained dog though. Babies and puppies do NOT mix well. Even an excellent bred puppy is still that - a puppy, and it will be hyper, high-maintanance, and not very good with babies or toddlers. We rescued a puppy last year when our youngest was 1 (my husband thought it would be great, I was against it) and it is sooo much work. Worse than my kids sometimes! We already have another dog already and they get along OK, but the puppy totally annoys the older dog.

Answer 4

I would rule out any Herding breeds (Collies, Shetland Sheepdogs, Shepherd, ETC)

Although they are good dogs, they need a job to do, and will entertain themselves when left alone. They will tear up your landscaping job in the backyard, and your new carpet, in 5 hours flat.

I would rule out a lot of the smaller dogs, as well. they can tend to be more snappy, and with kids, one pull to the tail and your little one might find him/herself at the hospital being stitched up.

Maybe another Retriever? Working group dogs would be good, too. Whatever dog you get, either rescue, or get a breeder referral from AKC.org. Never buy from a petstore, or the newspaper! Both get their puppies from puppymills and backyard breeders.

Answer 5

I would look at the pound or something first to see if they may have any elderly calm dogs because they're usually good :)

I have a springer spaniel they're more relaxed as they get older but are very gentile (being bird dogs) they wouldn't attack anything. The worst that would happen is they might get a bit over excited and not watch what they're doing. But they learn things very fast :)

Answer 6

I have golden retrievers and they are excellent with kids. Gentle and easy to train and intuitively seem to know how to deal with living things smaller than they are. Big enough to deal with some rough toddler play.

But do you want to raise a new puppy with a new baby in the house? Awful lot of work!

Answer 7

I would recommend a boxer. A boxer is the *only* breed that actually states they are good with children in the official AKC breed standard.
"With family and friends, his temperament is fundamentally playful, yet patient and stoical with children."

Also, boxers are good guard dogs, they will protect but aren't aggressive by any means.
"Deliberate and wary with strangers, he will exhibit curiosity, but, most importantly, fearless courage if threatened. However, he responds promptly to friendly overtures honestly rendered."

If you want to adopt instead of getting from a breeder, look into a boxer-rescue in your area:
http://www.google.com/search?q=boxer+rescue&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=com.google:en-US:official&client=firefox-a

Answer 8

Collies are smart dogs are also very good with kids ,also are very protective.They are medium size up to about 60 to 70 pound . wjtch is medium to me I like bigger gods myself but I dont have little children

Answer 9

A Golden, pit bull, german shepherd. Newfoundlands are great with kids, but they are huge!

Answer 10

I think you should get a fox they will kill you