After much begging, you make the announcement that you will allow your child to have a dog. After all, a dog will teach your children great responsibility and will allow them to have another friend they can play with. But, the question seems, what is the appropriate breed of dog for my child? The list is compiled using the top ten dog breeds that meet the following criteria:
-All of the following dogs are known for their gentle dispositions and patience with children.
-Even though most giant breeds (such as Great Danes, Saint Bernards and Mastiffs) are excellent companions to children, their large size may easily knock a child over in play.
-The list does not include high energy breeds such as many terriers, although they, as with any dog, can make an excellent companion to a dog with proper socialization.
-Another type of dog that was omitted from the list was the small toy-type dogs such as Chihuahuas and Yorkies. This is because their fragile bodies are not meant to be played with the way children play with their dogs.
-The section at the end titled “Other Dogs Who are Good with Children” have dog breeds listed for their fondness of children without regard to their size, energy or way of being.
Here is a list of the top 10 popular dog breeds for children.
1. The Mutt– You’ll be surprised to find out that the best dog breed for children is actually a mutt. Many animal shelters have plenty of mixed breed dogs that would make amazing companions to your child. Mutts have been known for having slightly higher intelligence than their pure bred counterparts and the fact that you are saving their lives by adopting them makes them extremely loyal to your family. Due to hybrid vigor (heterosis) many mixed breed dogs are genetically superior to their parents due to obtaining the better virtues of both sides. Therefore mixed breed dogs are less likely to obtain certain diseases that are prone to appear in purebred dog breeds. Mixed-breed dogs are also easy to acquire, they make the perfect dog for someone willing to offer them love. Their unique appearance will always make them stand out, with no other dog looking exactly like them.
-A Possible Problem: Mutt’s temperaments and standards are unpredictable and one might find a hard time understanding the dog completely.
-Favorite Activity: Varies
2. Labrador Retriever- It is rare to stumble on a list of dog breeds without including the Labrador retriever. It is considered the most popular breed of dog in the world, and with reason. The Labrador’s size is ideal for children of all ages and their active bodies withstand the hours of rough play given to them. With proper training, the lab is known to be one of the most dependable and obedient dogs there can be. They are known for their mellow dispositions and for their affectionate displays towards their owners. Labradors generally live to be between 12-13 years of age and are a relatively healthy breed. Labs come in yellow, black or chocolate, but whatever the color, they guarantee fun.
-A Possible Problem: Labs are known for their high energy and if not properly trained or socialized, they can be quite boisterous and hyperactive.
-Favorite Activity: “Fetch”
3. Golden Retriever- It’s easy to see why people love this breed so much. Their smiling faces, friendly disposition and extreme loyalty towards their owners are some things that keepers of this breed cherish and brag about. Golden Retrievers are known to be extremely eager to please and are naturally calm animals. In the show ring, it is considered a serious fault for a Golden Retriever to show any aggression towards any human or animal. Their gentle disposition and their patience with children make them suitable for the family home. Golden Retrievers typically live between 10-12 years.
-A Possible Problem: Many Goldens are susceptible to diseases that are acquired either genetically or by environmental factors. Cancer is a common death in the breed, affecting roughly 61% of Golden Retrievers. (According to a 1998 study by the Golden Retriever Club of America)
-Favorite Activity: “Fetch”
4. Beagle- One of the most famous dogs of the hound group, the beagle is always a child’s favorite. There are two different varieties, with an array of hound colors. The merry breed is a pack animal and will always want to be in the company of its human family. The smaller size of the beagle allows children to be able to properly handle the dog. Upkeep is minimal for the breed as they don’t require much grooming. Beagles are hounds known for their intelligence: even though many scent hounds are known for being “stubborn”, the beagle is constantly trained as a sniff dog at many police departments and airports. The Beagle’s lifespan is approximately 12 years.
-A Possible Problem: Susceptible to many ailments. Beagles are prone to ear infections.
-Favorite Activity: Hiking
5. Poodle- Famous for its hair, the poodle is an amazing candidate for children. Although they come in three different sizes, Standard Poodle sizes are especially known to be great with kids. The poodle is ideal for children who are prone to suffer from allergies. Poodles have hair, not fur, and thus do not shed. Apart from being hypo-allergenic, poodles are considered to be one of the smartest dog breeds. They are keen with their instincts but at the same time are extremely eager to please. Poodles are the dog trainers’ favorite dog because they tend to learn things easily. Lifespan is approximately 12 years.
-A Possible Problem: Susceptible to many ailments. Poodles are one of the unfortunate breeds known to be prone to GDV (bloat), where the stomach organ twists due to excessive gas. If not treated immediately it is a sure death.
-Favorite Activity: Tricks
6. Scotch Collie (Rough and Smooth)- Known for being the breed who saved young Timmy from a well, collies everywhere are embraced for their known companionship with children. They are a very gentle and sweet breed and they may be protective of its family. Collies are a generally healthy breed and their average lifespan is 12-14 years. Collies are very eager to please their owners, and such, can be trained easily. They have a high level of intelligence but training must be done with completely positive reinforcement since other training methods and corrections make the collie shy away from training.
-A Possible Problem: Although generally healthy, some collies have an allele that makes them sensitive to Invermectin. This may be a serious problem as this drug is used for heartworm prevention. Invermectin is not the only drug they are sensitive to: more than 20 drugs are known to give them adverse reactions.
-Favorite Activity: Herding (even with stuffed animals)
7. Basset Hound- Famous for being the mascot of the Hush Puppies brand, the Basset makes an amazing dog for children. Although at first glance, their body structure and large size may give the impression that they are lazy, but given the opportunity for play, Bassets don’t seem to tire. The Basset is low to the ground and has really long ears in order to be able to pick up scents more easily from the ground. Due to this, some Bassets would prefer to pay attention to their scents than to you. Known as being a stubborn breed to train, the most suitable training method would be positive reinforcement with food. Even so, the Basset Hound has won the hearts of many due to its inability to hurt a human. They are gentle, patient and loving and it’s hard to resist that sad facial expression. A Basset Hound’s average lifespan is about 11 years.
-Possible Problem: Prone to bloat and potentially fatal ear diseases.
-Favorite Activity: Walks (Gives them the opportunity to smell new scents)
8. American Cocker Spaniel- Famous for its large dark and expressive eyes and curly coat, the Cocker Spaniel continues to be a famous breed among families. Easily trusting and joyful, the Cocker Spaniel seems to enjoy the company of almost anyone. They are eager to please and are easily trainable, although they also tend to shy away from correctional methods. Cocker Spaniels are very outgoing and happy dogs and enjoy family outings and events where they get to feel as if they are part of the family. Their gentle disposition makes them great companions and excellent therapy dogs. They are also very graceful in dog shows and are known for their competitiveness. Cockers live an average of 10-11 years.
-A Possible Problem: Prone to chronic ear infections and eye problems.
-Favorite Activity: Tug of War
9. English Bulldog- Although their appearance is quite intimidating, Bulldogs are extremely loyal dogs who crave human attention at all times. Gentle and sweet to those he sees as family, the Bulldog can also make a great guard dog. Bred to be able to bait bulls, the Bulldog is a very courageous breed that can never shy away from many activities. Since they are quite dominant, their owners must be able to understand dog behavior and the order of their hierarchy. Bulldogs need walks daily in order for them to maintain a healthy weight. Their patience and gentle demeanor allows for even children to be able to walk them. The average lifespan is 8-12 years. Those who own a bulldog say that they can never have another breed of dog.
-A Possible Problem: Prone to many infections, especially in their skin. Due to their skin being so tight, creases must be cleaned daily in order to avoid infection.
-Favorite Activity: Cuddling
10. English Setter- For the family that is willing to give plenty of attention and exercise to this breed, the English Setter will show gratitude with their strong willed and loyal behavior. They are very people-oriented and seem to do well in environments where the Setter is constantly with human companionship. A very active breed, the English Setter can also be perfect coach potatoes when you are at home and just feel like cuddling. They are very gentle and placid and get along perfectly with children. They are very sensitive to criticism and avoid disappointing their owners. Training with positive reinforcement is the only way to successfully train them. Their beautiful and elegant coat must be brushed frequently. Due to their activeness, they are not suitable for apartments. Their average lifespan is 10-12 years.
-A Possible Problem: English Setters are prone to hip dysplasia.
-Favorite Activity: Jogging
Other Dogs Who are Exceptionally Good with Children:
American Bulldogs
American Eskimo Dogs
American Foxhound
American Pitbull Terriers (Don’t believe the negative and irrational responses against them)
American Staffordshire Terrier
Australian Shepherd
Bearded Collie
Bernese Mountain Dog
Bloodhound
Border Terrier
Boston Terrier
Boxer
Curly Coated Retriever
English Foxhound
English Mastiff
English Shepherd
Flat-Coated Retriever
Gordon Setter
Great Dane
Greater Swiss Mountain Dog
Harrier
Havanese
Irish Wolfhound
Keeshond
Kerry Blue Terrier
Newfoundland
Norwegian Elkhound
Old English Sheepdog
Portuguese Water Dog
Pug
Saint Bernard
Samoyed
Scottish Deerhound
Siberian Husky
Sussex Spaniel
Welsh Springer Spaniel
Wirehaired Vizsla
So where do you acquire any of these amazing breeds? Go to your local animal shelter and adopt a dog from there, more than 40% are purebreds and you would be saving their lives! Plus, dogs who are bred in puppy mills (pet shops and backyard breeders) are very likely to suffer from and be more prone to diseases.
