Best Small Dog Breeds for Small Children

When parents who have small children are looking for the perfect dog for their family many times they think that getting a small dog is much safer than getting a larger dog. Sometimes this is the case, but not always. There are some small dog breeds that either do not have the tolerance for children, or are too delicate for the rough housing that many children participate in when playing with a pet.

Boston Terrier

This small breed is very friendly and energetic. Boston Terriers are easily trained as long as the trainer is confident and patient. They are a great choice for families with small children because they are very well-mannered and playful. These dogs learn things quickly so it could be fun for children to teach their pet some tricks. Boston Terriers are very affectionate and have a great sense of humor which is a great match with children.

Pug

Pugs have a great personality and are usually considered clever and charming. This bred tends to do very well when learning obedience skills. Pugs love to be played with and require quite of bit of human attention which can be great with a family of small children that hate to leave the dog alone.

West Highland White Terrier

The West Highland White Terrier are friendly and spunky little dogs. They are good family dogs, but they get along best with children who are well-behaved. West Highland White Terriers love companionship and are actually good watchdogs even though they are small. They love to play and go on walks.

Miniature Schnauzer

Miniature Schnauzers are a good choice for families with small children. These dogs are very playful and smart. They are easy to train and are good watch dogs. Mini Schnauzers are good with children and love to play. But young children who sometimes tend to play a little rough without realizing it need to be taught to play gently with this dog.

Beagle

Regular beagles are considered a medium sized dog, but there are miniature beagles and teacup beagles that are just smaller sizes of this great dog breed. Beagles are darling dogs. They are not only cute with their floppy ears and beautiful dark eyes, but if they are trained and socialized correctly they have a wonderful temperament and get along very well with children. Beagles love to play and to be with their human family much of the time. This breed is a great choice for a family with small children.

English Toy Spaniel

English Toy Spaniels (also known as King Charles Spaniels) are great with children. They are well-behaved, sweet, and loving. Though these toy spaniels are intelligent, they can be a little more difficult to train than other dogs. English Toy Spaniels do need to be treated gently, so if the small children are a little more rambunctious, this dog may not be for them.

There are few precautions that parents should take after choosing the perfect dog for their family. It is important that parents properly socialize the dog from early on so that the dog is familiar with the family members that he or she will be living with, as well as other pets that may be in the house. Dogs should also be trained so that their natural instincts do not take over. Living in a house with a human family is different from what most dogs were originally bred to do so they need to know the rules.

Parents should be very careful and try never to leave small children alone with even the smallest, friendliest dog. This could be just as dangerous as leaving them with a large breed of dog. The child could upset the dog even though it is well trained or the opposite could happen and a delicate dog could accidentally get hurt even by a small child.

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