Finding The Best Dog For Your Kids

Looking for a dog that fits with your own personality is hard enough, but finding one that not only meets your needs but fits in with your entire family, including the kids, is even harder. Since every child is different the search for the perfect dog can be overwhelming and time consuming. This article will give you some ideas on what characteristics to look for in a dog and some of the different dog breeds that might fit with children.

Desirable Characteristics in a Dog Breed

When you have children, especially small children, it's always important to consider what breeds will typically respond best to them. Some qualities you need to be aware of the look for in a dog breed are:

Patience

Since children, especially young children, can play rough sometimes without intending to injure the dog, finding a dog breed that is patient and can handle be played with and roughed up by children should be a top priority. Some dogs can be trained to respond well to children while others excluded entirely.

Mild and Gentle

There are some dog breeds that are naturally gentle and mild in their temperaments; however, other dog breeds are not. As you're searching for the perfect pet, it's important to look for dogs that have a long history of showing a gentle and mild temperament around children.

Affectionate

When it comes to children, it seems like they can't keep their hands off of their pets, so it's important to find a dog that enjoys human contact and is affectionate. If you don't do your research and, as a result, get a dog that doesn't enjoy playing with kids or like being touched, your new pet will likely be a visitor as opposed to a permanent member of the family.

Energetic

While an energetic dog isn't necessarily a must when it comes to characteristics that will be helpful when looking for a dog well-suited for your children, it's a trait that does come in handy. They can run around the yard with them, run or walk them to school and wear them out, which makes bed time easier.

Protective Instincts

A dog with protective instincts is great with children of all ages. Some dogs have really good guard dog instincts and can give you a better sense of security if the kids are in the yard playing and the dogs are with them. Some dogs will even gently grab a child in trouble by the clothes and drag or carry them to safety.

Dog Breeds That Work Well With Children

Small Dogs

If you're thinking about getting a small dog, a Corgi is a great suggestion as they make excellent family dogs, in part because they don't get irritated when children pull their tales. They love to run and play and are great with energetic kids. The Bichon Frise, another small dog, also makes a great family pet. They are cheerful, easy to train dogs that love children and attention.

Large Dogs

The Labrador Retriever and the Golden Retriever are two large canines that make extremely good family pets. They are among the most popular in the world because of their patience, loyalty and love of children. They are gentle by nature and can take playful beating from a small child.

Collies

Collies are very affectionate, smart dogs that are naturally sweet in nature. They tend to get along better with older children although, with the right training, they do well with younger ones, too.

Schnauzers

Schnauzers are great pets for families with children. They are extremely tolerant and affectionate dogs who love to please their owners.


Hopefully these suggestions on what to look for and how to find a dog breed that fits with your kids will help you in your search for the perfect dog.

More Dog Breeds

« What to Expect With a Toy Dog Breed | Only Dog Beds | Create Lists of Dog Breeds: What Are The Rating Criterion? »