The Best Breeds For Children

When you are looking to add a new dog to the family, it is essential that you find out first which dog breeds are best for your kids. Puppies and children go together like peanut butter and jelly. In fact, many owners can share a ton of happy, unforgettable memories of a childhood pet that had been a big part of their life.

But because every family is unique, there are a number of factors that you have to take into account before choosing the breed of dog that you want to care for.  These include your family environment, the ages of your kids, your family lifestyle, activity level, and more.

Above all, what your family needs to consider is a dog’s calm and friendly attitude and a tolerant temperament. Although there are indeed the good and bad sides of each dog breed, some have proven themselves to be more suitable for families with children.

Breeds for Small Children

When you have toddlers at home, you probably want to avoid a tiny breed. Little dogs tend to be delicate which make them prone to easy injury. Well-meaning children can accidentally drop them, step or fall on them, or shut them in the door; thereby, making them unsuitable choices. Conversely, giant breeds are also not the best option as large dogs generally tend to be sturdy and robust. Although they are oftentimes laid back and tolerant, their sheer size can actually cause harm to very small children. You wouldn’t want your easy-going Mastiff to just knock your little kid down as it tries to play or merely say hello to him, right?

Since it is difficult to keep very small children from prodding, poking, or smothering a pooch with hugs and kisses, a medium-sized breed adored for their being calm and tolerant is the best choice here. These include the Boston Terrier, Beagle, Cocker Spaniel, English Bulldog, Corgi, Wheaten Terrier, and the English Staffordshire Bull Terrier.

Breeds for School-age Children

Because grade school children are bigger, stronger, and much more coordinated as compared to pre-schoolers, choosing the right dog breed for them is easier. Since they are also capable of understanding and following dog-care guidelines and, at the same time, show empathy to the pooch, very small or large dogs can both be suitable for them. To be specific, Airedale Terriers, Bernese Mountain Dog, Australian Shepherd, Boxer, Border Collie, Golden Retriever, German Shepherd, Irish Setter, Labrador Retriever, Jack Russell Terrier, and Schnauzer lines can be the great choices for them.

But, just as every dog is different, so is every child. As a parent, only you can make the right decision keeping both your child and your future dog’s best interests and safety in mind.