What breed is best with small children?

[*BaSim*]

I am thinking to GSD or Lab because they are easy to train and can be trained to tollerate things or people.... I also think that any dog could be good with children depending how it is raised and a trained.... My Simba is great with children (german shepherd pit bull mix) Once I get to use my aunts digital camera I will take a pic of Simba with the lil' boy I babysit, Charlie!!

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*.:;KayAnn&Simba;:.*

[tatsxxx11]

I know goldens and labs are said to be the quintessential family dog. Very tolerant of the "abuse" a little child can heap upon them! Their gentle temperment is a big reason why they are so widely used as companion animals and as animal assisted therapy dogs. Though they can be very playful as pups and can easily knock over kids! But shepherds I have known are great and very, very protective of babies and kids. Rotties too. A good friend has a big, big, Rottie girl, almost 150 lbs. and she treated their new born like her own! My neighbors' greyhound and boxer are great with ALL the kids in the neighborhood! I think most big-ger dogs tend to be more tolerant of little kids. Then again, my sister in law's little Cavalier LOVES children. Maybe smaller dogs think the "wee ones" are too much like them in size and action!! I agree with Karen. It varies from dog to dog. So many mixed breeds always seem to have such sweet, loving temperments.

JackiesDaisy! So glad you found a Schnauzer "soul mate" to bond with! I know that "I'm all alone out here" feeling! And labs are SUPPOSED to be the most popular dog!!? I want a lab loving friend!!


[This message has been edited by tatsxxx11 (edited February 20, 2001).]

[jackiesdaisy1935]

tattsxxx11 You are right, I couldn't believe my eyes when petspoil said she had three Schnauzers, we are going to have to find a Lab person for you! That reminds me of maybe a new post!

[petspoil]

jackiesdaisy, mine are all minis and they are s/p in color. They are actually 3 generations. They are real darlings and I love them very much. :-)

[Daisy's Mom]

I'm still lookin' for a Basset Hound soul mate too!

[Genia]

I have to put my vote in for Pugs. I know they can't run, swim and play like Retrievers or Labs (which, I think are GREAT family pets), but as far as temperment goes my Pug is a doll. My 11 yr old dresses him up and puts beads around his neck and he struts all around the room. He's always ready and willing to be cuddled and I have yet to find anything negative about his personality. My Basset/Lab Jeffrey is a sweet guy, but because he still has a tendency to jump on you when he's excited, I don't allow him around small children. In a law-suit society I don't want to take a chance on any type of injury to a child. My daughter was yelled at the other day because Jeffrey got away from her and a child was trying to play with Jeffrey. When Jeffrey jumped the child was frightened and of course the mother was angry. I talked to the mom and calmed her down by convincing her that Jeffrey meant no harm. I still don't want to take that chance. So now, my daughter is not allowed to take him out without me. Sorry, this is off the subject.

By the way, Daisy's Mom and tatsxxx11 since Jeffrey is a Basset/Lab mix you each have found 1/2 a soul mate

[Daisy's Mom]

Ah great! I still would like to see a picture of Jeffrey! We always joke around saying how funny Daisy's puppies would look if she had them with a huge dog, like a St. Bernard or something. Dont worry though, she's fixed So what does a Basset/Lab look like?

[Genia]

As soon as I get off my lazy bottom and get these pictures developed, I'll scan them so I can post pics of Jeffrey and Bandit. Jeffrey is solid black, Lab head with a Basset body. When people meet him for the first time they say "Oh what a pretty Laa... No, he's a....What kind of dog is he?"

[ownerof3dogs]

I grew up with Dobermans. THe male Dobey named Red was my gardian and best friend

[Sophies Daddy]

Well, they aren't the greatest for very small children unless the children are well behaved (they are breakable), but Papillons just love to jump and play with the kids. My Sophie makes a bee-line for groups of children if I tell her it's o.k.. She jumps around, stops to let them pet her, lets them poke and prod and pull on her, and, if they know how to pick her up, she will snuggle and kiss them. If you could see her in action, you might think that she is the greatest, most tolerant dog with children that you have ever seen! This seems to be pretty universal too. Unless the Papillon was abused by children early on in life, they are generally great with kids.

As with any breed, however, the temperament of the individual dog plays a very important role. I have met evil and snappy goldens, rottweilers, labs, and dobermans. All of these breeds are highly recommended by people as great family dogs. Say what you will, but no breed in particular is perfect as a pet with children and all dogs have their limits. Train your children not to abuse the dog, as this is easier than training the dog to not abuse children that are abusing it. Most breeds are good with kids so long as the kids understand that they cannot beat up the dog.

Most important, socialize your dog as much as possible. The more people and dogs that are accepted as friendly by your dog, the less territorial and snappy the dog will be. Get out with the dog as much as possible and introduce him/her to new places, people, and things. Take the dog to obedience classes and get through the "Canine Good Citizen Test." You won't believe how well you understand your dog and how well your dog understands you!



[This message has been edited by Sophies Daddy (edited February 23, 2001).]

[HowieDawn]

When I was a child, my grandmother had a schnauzer...we grew up together. Everywhere I went, he was there with me. I think that it is just the way you socialize your dog. If they are brought up with children, then they will be ok around them. I think that children's snappy movements scare "little doggies." I just recently bought my grandmother another schnauzer. We socialize him with children a lot. So, hopefully he will turn out the same way.

On the otherhand, I have a shih-tzu. She was never really socialized around "small children," when she was a puppy. My niece is 5 years old now, and she is just now getting to the point where she will let her pet her without running. Gizmo has always been very protective of Emily. Even when she was an infant she would sit under her crib and come and get someone if Emily would make a peep....sooooooo i guess my remark to this is if you socialize them with children they should be ok

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Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did. So throw off the bowlines, Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails, Explore, Dream.
-Mark Twain

[lisa patterson]

We have a beautiful border terrier / lakeland terrier cross, she is wonderful with our 6 and 2 year old girls. They cannot go anywhere with out her she is called Bracken and originally the border breeds come from lowland scotland to northern england ( hence Border ). The lakeland terrier comes from cumbria or the lake district also in the north of england but this time to the west coast. She is totally now involved in our family life and I don't know how we ever lived without her.

[annibale16]

lisa ,
I would be interested in the border terrier. I have a silky terrier named Angus. They are really good with children too. I had one when I was growing up so naturally I picked that breed for my kids. I think small dogs are threatened by small children because they are so small themselves and have to protect themselves. Angus is very tolerant of children but not of other dogs!
I am going to "look up" the border terrier to see if that would be a good match.

[lisa patterson]

Annibale

If you find that the Border Terrier is a suitable match for your family I've got a great book to recommend you.It's called "Pet Owner's Guide To The Border Terrier" written by Betty Judge and published through Ringpress. It's only a small but very imformative book wellworth reading, I could not put it down once I started reading it. As I had said my dog Bracken is a Border cross/ Lakeland terrier but this book has got her character written to the exact detail and is very humerous in parts.
Happy searching,
Lisa

[Sadie's Mom]

I own a Soft-Coated Wheaton Terrier and she is absolutely wonderful with children -everyone actually. They are a very friendly dog - they are very gently and loving. They love to play and always want to be around people.