Dogs Good for Kids

Dogs make loving companions. They are friendly creatures and are favorite pets of children. It will always be a good idea to give your child a dog as a pet. However, you need to bear in mind the age of your child, your home environment and your lifestyle and get to learn about the temperament and general nature of the dog prior purchasing it.

Remember, dogs can unintentionally harm children and likewise children can also confuse poodles with soft toys thus injuring them- often fatally. So, choosing of a suitable dog for homes with children is of crucial importance.

In case of families having young children i.e. children below 12 years of age the herding dogs can act as good pets. However, the dogs chosen must not be from amongst those that herd by nipping.

Australian Terrier, Welsh Terrier, Irish Terrier, Kerry Blue Terrier, Brittany Dog, West Highland White Terrier, Collie and Golden Retriever are the dog breeds that have found to be very friendly and caring towards young children and family members.

The list below will give an idea about the best dog breeds that will suit households with small children.

The herding dogs chosen as pets by families having children are the affectionate dogs that have the energy to keep up with everyone in the family and take care to ensure everyone’s safety. They even baby-sit.

A larger number of dog breeds get along well with older children (those above 12 years of age) and their families. The Herding Dogs, Retrievers, Irish Setter, Dalmatian, Border Collie, Cardigan Welsh Corgi, English Cocker Spaniel, Gordon Setter and Pembroke Welsh Corgi are some dog breeds that are very suitable as pets for households with older children.

Children above 12 years needs to be with a playful, loving and protective companion and the dogs listed below are some of the breeds that possess the above qualities.

As long as all children are at least 10 years old, the number of appropriate breeds becomes quite large, especially if the dog is purchased as a puppy so he grows up with the children and any other pets in the family.

A common mistake that parents often make while buyng a pet dog for their children is that they go for cute looking, miniature dogs while not considering their breeds and temperaments.

Some dogs have a particularly unfriendly nature. Schnauzers, Afghan Hound, Akita, Affenpinscher, Lhasa Apso, Pekingese, Puli, Shih Tzu, Basenji, Borzoi, Yorkshire Terrier, Chow Chow and Chesapeake Bay Retriever are some dog breeds that are not recommended for young kids.

These dog breeds are sensitive and are not recommended if you have small children who may tease or be rough with them.