Many people have asked “Are specific breeds of dogs good with children?” I have often heard that regardless of breed most dogs raised with children and with proper puppy training can learn to be a wonderful childhood companion. However, that being said, some dog breeds are better with children then others.
Dog Scoring System
How did I compile my Top 10 Dogs Good With Children list. A good majority comes from the internet, but I wanted my list to be at least slightly different from everyone else’s top 10 list so I’m going to grade each dog in 5 child friendly categories:
- Energy Level (excitability) – You don’t want a dog that is too excitable and knocks down your child.
- Size - Small dogs may be too fragile while a large breed of dog may not know it’s own strength/size and injure a child.
- Temperament - You don’t want your dog to be the dominant member of the family.
- Intelligence (trainability) - Highly trainable is ideal.
- Intangibles - Any special trait that either helps or hurts the dogs desirability.
Each dog will receive a subjective score between 1 and 10 in each category. The best overall score a dog can receive is a 50 and the lowest score is a 5.
Choosing The Breeds
You may be wondering how I chose this wonderful list of 10 dog breeds who are good with children. Well my first step was to research the many sites on the internet that already have lists of dogs who are good with children. Of course depending on which site you visit there is a lot of variation. I took all the breeds and narrowed it down to 50 by eliminating several hybrid breeds like Labradoodle and Goldendoodle. Next, I took out any dog that wasn’t in the AKC’s top 100 list (just a way to narrow the list so I wouldn’t have as many dogs to evaluate – also it’s more difficult to find information on the more rare breeds). That left me with 38 candidates and with those 38 remaining breeds I made my own subjective scores using the following information.
| Dog Rating Categories | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| CATEGORY | 1-3pts. | 4-6pt. | 7-10pts. |
| Energy Level | High | Medium-High | Low-Medium |
| Size | <10lbs or >100lbs | 10-25lbs or 50-100lbs | 25-50lbs |
| Temperament | Dominant | Balanced | Submissive |
| Intelligence | Low (<50) | Medium (25-50) | High (top 25) |
| Intangibles | Negative traits | Even | Positive traits |
***The Disclaimer – This is my personal opinion. Please do your own due diligence when searching for a breed of dog. The personality of a dog is often influenced by several factors including line, breeder, and owner more so than the actual breed of the dog. This list does not imply that all other dog breeds are unsuitable for children. Individual dogs may not show all or any of the traits associated with the breed. Puppy training, socialization with children, education, line, breeder, and living conditions with the family will all heavily influence your dogs personality.
Now, what you’ve all been waiting for…the list or Top 10 Dogs Good With Children:
Dogs Good With Kids
Number 10 – Bulldog
The Bulldog is the first dog on our list coming in at number 10. The positives I saw in the Bulldog were it’s lower energy and sturdy size. Sturdy size is nice with kids who can often be a little rough when learning to interact with a dog. Some of the negatives with this dog were their trainability and common health issues with the breed. From Wikipedia:
The temperament of the Bulldog is generally docile, friendly and gregarious but are known to be fiercely loyal.
I’ve never personally known any Bulldogs. However, I have heard they are great dogs and tend not to leave the yard withouth their owners. The most exposure I’ve actually had to a Bulldog is on the MTV show Rob and Big and their dog Meaty.
Energy Level: 9
Size: 9
Temperament: 8
Intelligence: 3
Intangibles: 5.1
TOTAL: 34.1
For more information on Bulldogs check out Bulldogs For Dummies.
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Number 9 – German Shepherd
The German Shepherd comes in at number 9. This is a very versatile dog and has been used as police, search and rescue, guide, and therapy dogs. From Wikipedia:
Direct, fearless, eager, alert, bold, cheerful, obedient, eager to learn, loyal, courageous, calmly confident, serious, protective
Of course I have a special place in my heart for the German Shepherd. I fostered GSD puppies and the GSD breed makes up 15% of the dogs bred at Guide Dogs of America.
Energy Level: 3
Size: 5
Temperament: 7
Intelligence: 10
Intangibles: 10
TOTAL: 35
For more information on German Shepherds check out German Shepherds for Dummies
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Number 8 – Brittany Spaniel
At number 8 we have the Brittany Spaniel. The Brittany is a nice sized dog at 30-40lbs big enough to rough house with the kids, but still not too large to be overbearing. This dog is also said to be very good with strangers and other animals. From Wikipedia:
The breed is noted for being easy to train, sensitive, and sweet-natured
Another breed I’ve had recent contact with Red, a Brittany Spaniel in our dog obedience training and he was a wonderful dog. One thing I did notice was how alert the Brittany was to the birds flying overhead.
Energy Level: 2
Size: 10
Temperament: 9
Intelligence: 8
Intangibles: 6.1
TOTAL: 35.1
For more information on the Brittany Spaniel check out Brittanys (Complete Pet Owner’s Manual)
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Number 7 – Miniature Schnauzer
At number 7 is the Miniature Schnauzer. This dog is said to recognize the need to be gentle with children, but does require a lot of attention. From Wikipedia:
Very perky, bright-eyed, loving, intelligent, energetic, affectionate, obedient, playful, happy, alert, feisty (Temperament can be quite variable)
A good friend of mine was taking care of a Miniature Schnauzer. The dog seemed very confident and easy going. He did like being dominant over my Aussie mix Linus. From what I could see the Miniature Schnauzer seemed like a great dog, but might be a little small and fragile for some children.
Energy Level: 8
Size: 4
Temperament: 7
Intelligence: 9
Intangibles: 7.2
TOTAL: 35.2
For more information on the Miniature Schnauzer check out The Miniature Schnauzer (Terra Nova Series)
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Number 6 – Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel…what a regal name…comes in at number 6. The two drawbacks I saw from online research is the small size and only average intelligence. From Wikipedia:
The breed is highly affectionate, and some have called them”the ultimate lap dog” Most dogs of the breed are playful, extremely patient and eager to please. As such, dogs of the breed are usually good with children and other dogs.
Another dog I’ve been in close contact with recently. Another friend did extensive research looking for a good family dog and came up with the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. Their dog is very docile and easy going. The only time I saw him truly excited was when he got a chance to get on your lap. One funny thing I saw this dog do was try to catch the embers from a fire we were having in the backyard…probably not the best thing for the dogs mouth.
Energy Level: 10
Size: 4
Temperament: 9
Intelligence: 4
Intangibles: 8.3
TOTAL: 35.3
For more information on the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel check out Cavalier King Charles Spaniel: Your Happy Healthy Pet
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To Be Continued…
Here’s a link to the second part of this series on Dogs Good With Children.
What do you think about the first five dogs on our Top 10 Dogs Good With Children list?
Related posts:
About Colby
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We chose a Giant Schnauzer over a mini and standard because of the excitability level. She’s in the higher weight category, but she is an absolutely perfect dog for a family with toddlers. The children climb all over her and she’ll lay there wagging her little tail. When the whole family is out, we’re usually stopped by people to ask what she and comment on her stature. Not many people seem to know about the Giants.
The Giant Schnauzer didn’t show up on my list, but the Mini and Standard did. The Mini was the only one to make it into the top 10.
I did read that in general larger breeds have slower metabolisms resulting in less energy and less food consumption per pound of dog. That’s great to hear that the Giant Schnauzer is so tolerant of your children.
As an owner of a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, I wholeheartedly believe every family should own one of these beautiful dogs. However, a couple of thoughts here – your post seems to suggest these dogs are fairly calm. They can also be VERY energetic. They love long walks and lots of play time. Because of their size, they may be a bit afraid of small children who can be unintentionally rough. But with proper supervision and patience, they do make great family dogs.
To learn more about this breed, visit http://www.I-Love-Cavaliers.com.
I’ve also heard that they are quite expensive, which is a drawback. But then, so are bulldogs (due to the almost mandatory c-sections when they are born).
Hi Lindsey, Thanks for your feedback. I gave the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel a score of 10 on energy level based on two things. First was my experience with the breed (which is very limited) and second, several sites including Wikipedia gave them a moderate energy level rating.
You as a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel owner are probably much more knowledgeable on the breed then me. I really appreciate your feedback to help my readers better understand this breed of dog.
I’ll definitely check out your website.
I LOVE cavalier king charles spanlie
I have to follow-up to the additional comment made about Cavaliers’ energy levels…not all of them are just easy going lap dogs. My 12-month old Cavalier can happily retrieve balls for hours, can keep up with my golden retriever on a long hike (through the snow, no less), is absolutely obsessed with chasing birds/squirrels/lures/anything smaller that moves, and is full of energy that goes on until the late evening. When she settles down she is as cuddly and sweet as can be, but she is very smart, energetic, and has a very substantial prey/chase drive. They are spaniels, after all.
In fact, i’ve had several people comment on the fact that she is much more sturdy, energetic and hardy than she looks.
Also, one thing you did not consider (but should) are health issues. Cavaliers are prone to many significant health problems, which make them somewhat short-lived for a smaller breed.
@Jenn, Thanks for the additional information on the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. It appears that the energy level of the Cavalier might be much higher than my research originally reflected.
Most purebred dogs have specific health problems, but I did not know that the Cavalier had “significant” health problems as Jenn mentioned above. I agree that this should be taken into consideration before getting a dog. This is why it’s so important to find a responsible breeder who tests their dogs are free of genetic defects before they breed them.
well they r so cute but i typed in the top 100 dogs that stay small edited
hi german sheppeds are not good for kids they bite
ps my mum used to have one that is how i know
Fool. So they bite becuese they worn’t raise properly.
German shepherds are intelegent dogs, and wont bite for the fun of it. It will in protecting its home or family.
ALL dogs will bite if not treated with respect. I have a German Shepherd and he is an absolutely wonderful animal. He is extemly intelligent and loyal and loving:)
It’s true. It only bites cause it thinks it’s domanent which is not good. My mom used to have one and she loves em.
Sara,
Anything with teeth WILL BITE if not treated properly. Almost ALL children bitten by a dog was bitten once that dog got tired of being pestered by a young child. That, or a child had done something to the dog that made it react that way with another child later in it’s life. No matter the breed, ALL dogs have their own personalities and limits to what they will tolerate. I have had many dogs, big and small, and have been bitten as a child AND an adult. I can tell you from experience, the dog WARNS you, you just fail to listen properly.
I disagree. I have a friend who was standing at the bus stop, minding her own business, and was attacked by the dog. She did nothing to pester the dog. Of course, the owner was racist and told his dog to attack my friend because my friend is black…
Well that is why your friend was attacked by the dog because the owner told it to attack. If you train your dog the way you want it. It will listen regardless of what the turn out maybe.That is why people say that when you get a breed that is classified as a dog with anger issues that its all about training it properly it will be a good dog. That dog was not properly trained, if it was it wouldn’t have hurt your friend.
I tend to disagree. I have owned German Shephards my entire life. I have trained countless and we even breed. They have been around children from newborns to a 95 year old woman. Any dog will bite if it has the wrong training or owner. Please do not stereotype this amazing breed.
Well, these are only some german sheperds. I heard that this breed can bite back often, but that depends on how your mom was treating it, and some dogs just have a nerve. But in general, German Shepherds are not bad dogs and good family pets.
i really don’t think a bulldog would be good with children.I’m a kid and bulldogs are just too rough.I have a pug and a labrador retiever.They’re the best dogs I could ever have and they always want to play.To me a kid would love a pug,labrador,dauchsand,or even a beagle.Some of these dogs kids would have never even heard of.
Your dogs are great family pets. But the above mentioned bulldog is the origenal bulldog and do great withe children. The other types like the american bulldog is over boistourus.
@Bailey, I’ve never owned a bulldog before, but have met several that are very calm dogs. However, I have also seen bulldogs who tend to be a little rough when they play
I’ve seen the same with Labrador Retrievers. My lab is probably better suited for older kids as he can get rough when he plays. However, my friends lab is very easy going and just likes to lie around the house all day.
Not all dogs conform to the standard for their breed. Over time I’ve noticed that there is an extreme variance in behavior between all dogs even within a breed.
hi my dog just dided and was woundering what the best dog would be
Depends on your social life. if you are active, living in apartment, house, laid back. IF you are laid back then a border collie or german shorthaired pointer wouldnt be best same with apartment living. So i would do some research on some dogs and see which breed best fits you.
Actually Colby I think you make a pretty good point i’ll take that into advice. PS when are the next five dogs going to be realeased?
@Bailey, I’m glad you left a comment here because I noticed I originally didn’t have a link to the next 5 dogs. I added the link to the bottom of the article, but just in case here’s the link:
I was interested to see the Brittany Spaniel on your list. I was looking for information on the Springer. How would you compare the two…we have a toddler.
@Loren, I haven’t had any direct experience with Springer Spaniels. I did have Springers on my original list of dogs when I was reviewing breeds for this article (I reviewed over 50 breeds before narrowing it down to the top 10).
Regarding the Brittany Spaniel: Did you see the Brittany Spaniel, Star on the TV show Greatest American Dog? Star seemed like a very well-balanced dog with an even temperament. She seemed to be lower energy then most other Brittany’s I’ve come in to contact with.
As I’ve said before I’ve never had direct experience with Springer’s, but if you take a look at Wikipedia they have some very nice things to say about the breed:
“The Springer is an affectionate and easy-going family dog, and its alertness and attentiveness make it the ideal hunting companion. An intelligent dog, active and eager to please, an English Springer is easily incorporated into a family setting.
Although good with children, it tends to have a moderate to high energy level. Its long-legged build makes it among the fastest of the spaniels. It has exceptional stamina and needs plenty of activity, to focus its mind and to provide substantial exercise, although this is different for each dog.
Like any breed described as “good with children”, an English Springer Spaniel must be accustomed to children. Any dog that is not well socialised with children will not behave predictably around them.”
I hope that helps a little. If anyone else out there has experience with either Springer Spaniels or Brittany Spaniels I’d love to hear about them.
I have a Brittany Spaniel, and she has been really easy to train-only if I work with her every day. Also, these dogs are very hyperactive. I love my Brittany Spaniel but they certainly keep you busy!
Also, I really think it has to do with her age, and the fact that I do not have enough time to really dedicate to her training. She is kept as an outisde dog with plenty of room to run, play, and exercise, but her person to person interaction certainly could use some work. Overall, they are very loving dogs, but around children, unless worked with properly, may not generally be a good idea. I have to keep my dog away from small children, because I fear of her jumping on them and knocking them down. She plays pretty rough.
To Sara I have a German Sheperd and she is great with kids she loves to bring them her toys and play fetch
you foolish foolish old man how could you not put the Welsh Terrier in the top 10 they are known to be the comest terrier research it you old man you cant even research you need new glassess or something you foolish old man.I think your realy dumb sorry for the harsh feedback BUT NO WELSH TERRIER sad man sad just SAD!!!!
Jou are the fool. Terriers can be roughe dogs.
i am wanting to get a dog that isnt rough
and the boxer is making my eyes constantly look at it
its so cute!!!!!!!!!!!
okay….bulldogs are great with kids if you know how to train them. they are not too rough as some of you say. they have a good tempermant and are not the bullies people make them out to be. my friend has two.
German sheperds are also great with kids . so i really dont know what some of you are talking about saying they all bite , because they dont. i had one , and so did my friend , and they were both great with kids.they do require ALOT of excercise though. they are also not the big mean biting police dogs people think they are.
hope this helps 
All the rest are good with kids
I saw a German Shepherd police dog who was sitting in the back of a K9 van. It was growling and aggressively barking at my dog. I honestly think the dog would’ve attacked my dog (I have a 50 lb hound mix). There was also a German Shepherd in my parents’ neighborhood that if you walked by the fence, it would lunge the fence. Also a police dog. So, the German Shepherd police dogs can totally be Big Mean Biting dogs.
I LOVE SCHNAUZERS! they rock they are the best dog breed ever!
You dont seem to know the real good dogs with children? This is the strangest list iv ever read!
As if you know better. Publishe your own list.
German Shepards are great dogs until they reach a certain point later in life. The reason police trade out dogs after so many years is because a good bit of German Shepards tend to go crazy and scientists arent sure why. Rott Weilers go crazy because their brains keep growing and their heads dont while German Shepards’ brains stop also. Its basically the same general standpoint but not the same reason. I dont reccomend a German Shepard.
That’s an urban legend that has been discredited years ago. There are no dog breeds that brain grow larger than there skull. There has been problems with several purebred breeds because of inbreeding in the line. German Shepherds, Rotties, Poodles, Golden Retrievers, and Dalmations are just a few that often have temperamental issues if you select one from a “backyard” breeder, or someone who’s in it for the money. If your looking at getting a popular breed be careful when choosing your breeder. Germans are great dogs, but you have to find a reputable breeder just like any other breed.
Sorry Sara but you would be wrong. This is no urban legand. I have personally watched a Cavalier King Charles die of this horribly debilitating disease it is called syringomyelia. This is very, very common in the Cavalier breed. Look here for more information on this disease http://www.cavalierhealth.org/syringomyelia.htm
I have also seen three other breeds (Chihuahua, Pomeranian and a CKC/Bichon mix) suffer from the result of their brains growing too large and actually pushing spinal fluid out their ears so this is no urban legand. Unfortunately all 3 dogs had to be put to sleep.
Kayla any breed can be good for a child it is all in the genetics and how they are raised. You can’t blame and entire breed based on one or two health issues or behavioral issues of a few dogs of that breed. People tend to generalize and clump everything together because they hear or experience one or two incidents in a breed.
@Kayla, that’s very interesting. I’d love to read some studies on the Rottweiler and German Shepherd brains and the tendency to go crazy. Do you know of an good articles or reports available on the internet?
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i do not agree with your Cavalier spaniel energy level being 10.
i own a 10 month puppy nd he is very hyper! He can out run labradors nd springer spaniels nd is extremely fast for a small dog. They are very loving pet nd love attention nd sitting/ sleeping on laps. The perfect small dog for families.
@Abbie, part of this list is my opinion and my encounters with the breed. I’m the first to admit that I am not an expert. When putting together this article I did research and formed my own opinions from my own experiences to try to come to my own conclusions during my search for a dog good with kids.
Part of the reason I put this post was to get responses like yours to find out others experiences with different breeds. I know that one dog is not representative of an entire breed, but it is good to hear everyone’s experience rather than just my narrow view in a short article about dog breeds good with children.
Thanks and I appreciate you sharing your experience with your Cavalier Spaniel.
We have a Cavalier King Charles, and my grandmother owns 2. They are very intelligent , not “only average”. They also usually try to keep their distance from small children. My one year old daughter tries to play with our female spaniel and she just backs away and goes to a corner and lays down.
@Tabbatha, thank you for sharing information about your Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. My Australian Shepherd mix has a similar reaction to small children. Although I think his behavior is a result of coming from an animal shelter.
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German sheppards are not good with kids.. had one when i was young and bit my friend. and also ran after a man walking on the side walk.
What about staffies. their great with children
I think we will see them in the top 5.
I’ve had 11 staffies in my life and they’ve all got on fine with my 3 children.The most I’ve even kept together was 5 at one point and they didn’t fight each other, although they were brought up together. I’ve had varios other dogs in my life like boxers, a labrador, a golden retriever and jack russells but staffordshire bull terriers are definatly the best.They need 1.5 hours of walking a day, grow up to 14 inches, have short easy to groom fur and can be left on their own for short periods of time.They may not be perfect for some people but i think they definatly deserve to be on the top ten list. They are also the sixth most popular breed in britian so that must mean something.
I’ve had 11 staffies in my life and they’ve all got on fine with my 3 children.The most I’ve even kept together was 5 at one point and they didn’t fight each other, although they were brought up together. I’ve had varios other dogs in my life like boxers, a labrador, a golden retriever and jack russells but staffordshire bull terriers are definatly the best.They need 1.5 hours of walking a day, grow up to 14 inches, have short easy to groom fur and can be left on their own for short periods of time.They may not be perfect for some people but i think they definatly deserve to be on the top ten list. They are also the sixth most popular breed in britian so that must mean something.
Sorry i didn’t mean to copy Dog lover’s words something went wrong with my computer. Anyway i defently agree with Dog lover. Staffies are great. When i was young we had 3. Everyone loved them but they got on especially well with me, the child at that point. At the moment my child is only one so i will wait untill she gets older then i’ll defently get one (or may be two)
Right now I am looking for a dog. So far I have fallen in love with the Black Russian Terrier.
The males will tolerate children, and the female will play with the kids.
These dogs may be aloof with strangers, but if they see you are acting kindly to the stranger they will relax a bit. Even if that person comes over often, every time this big dog will become aloof, then relax.
They are very protective and if they even hurt you, all bets are off. This dog will be right there barking a warning, and if they come any closer…. Things will get worse.
They make great guard dogs!
Males should not be living in the same home as a even more dominate male dog.
Females should be fine.
Not many people know of these beautiful dogs.
They are beautiful.
Great breed
@McKenzie, thanks for your comment. I don’t know too much about the Black Russian Terrier. Thank you for giving us a short description of the breed.
Hello, I think German Shepherds are good with children beacause i have two German Shepherds and I take them around the neighborhood t and alot of people ask if they are good with children and I say yes. How do i know, Im a child. I have two German Shepherds, two Cockapoos, and a mutt pitbull/husky and I am hoping to get a Rough Collie, Collie, Scottish Terrier, Boston Terrier, Husky, Rottweiler, German Shepherd, Yorkshire Terrier, Golden Retriever, Black Lab, Yellow lab. i lOvE anImALs!
bulldogs are number 1
i think the best dog for children is bichon frise or maltease or even havenease
I would disagree with a Maltese being a good companion for a child, maybe a very well behaved child but certainly not every child. Pure Bred Maltese that are breed standard are way too small and dainty and can be easily injured, dropped and stepped on by children. I have several and none have ever gotten bigger than 5 pounds and that is way to small for a child. Maybe a Maltese mix but not a pure bred. Bichon and Havanese are much sturdier bigger dogs than a Maltese.
Kayla, you’re a complete moron.
what the heck!!! number 9 than to be countinud!! i hate this website!!!
saint Bernards are Great we have two yes they are big,female are not as big as males but they get alone great with kids are male we got from from a family was hand raised with kids,he is so lovable,he thinks he is a kid,we go out with him we got stoped every where we go,he is a Beuty!
@marylee, thanks for sharing your story about your saint bernard. We’ve met several saint bernards and they were loveable and very good with children.
I love the Golden and Lab I have a golden and lab and boston terrier they are so well behaved. Ty for this site
@Evie, Thanks for visiting our site. We love Golden’s and Labs too although we haven’t had a Golden stay at our house since Guide Dog Puppy, Reggie about 6 months ago. I hope you and you dogs have a happy holiday. Take care!
I own a Brittany and i wouldn’t say so much that they are submissive. But they definitely are intelligent sweet dogs. Fast too. They are hyper but they won’t fetch a ball more than 5 times.
I have an amazing german shepard 16 months,who i have at home with my 4 and 6 year old.She is soft,Loyal,and has a wonderful nature.She has never showed signs of any aggession and is dappy if anything.She is very intelligent and i believe it is how you bring them up,how well you train them and treat them.I also have had a staffordshire Bull Terrier when my boy was a baby and she too had a wonderful nature,used to follow my lad every step down the stairs.All dogs are wild animals,any Bred of dog can turn always be careful,never leave a dog with a baby e.t.c but if you bring the puppy up with your child that dog will except the family and love them children.Also if you have young children get a dog from puppy. It works for me.
To all the people who seem to believe that German Shepherds are inherent biters, this is NOT true. To the two people who grew up with GSD’s who bit, your dog was not properly trained and socialised. I own 4 German Shepherds, and also breed the occasional litter and have never heard of any of the nonesense posted here. They are very intelligent, loyal and gentle breed, unless the are in the wrong hands. None of my dogs have ever bit anyone and absolutly adore children. So please do not give a breed a bad name if you do not understand it.
I absolutely agree with you! Any dog can be an asshole (excuse my language). It all depends on training, and the owner. Glad to see you sticking up for your breed! I have the same problem with my dogs (St. Bernards) I’m constantly having to defend their breed when it comes to drooling, shedding and any other problems. My dog Daisy barely drools, never bites, and barely sheds.
I also just ADORE GS’s.
Yes, it’s a rare breed and only UKC accepted, but AKC is coming… SILKEN WINDHOUNDS. They score high in ev-mauling my one-year old Silken takes from my 4 1/2 yr old granddaughter. He had never been around children until 3 months ago…. truly amazing. Bonus: don’t shed and are hypoallergenic! There are breeders throughout the states but still a small population, maybe 1300 or so total SWHs. Warning, once you get one you want another!
omg…. what happened to my post? should read: score high in EVERY category for kids. You should see the LOVE-mauling my one-yr old Silken gets from my 4-yr old g’daughter!
you stopped me from seeing the second part of your article with that demanding pop up.
I have had several shelties and they have all been great with kids. They are fun loving, and love lots of attention but I have never experienced a problem with jealousey when it came to the kids. Thumbs up to the sheltie.
Hi! I have two St. Bernards (purebred) and I have NEVER seen dogs with such a patient, love, and protection over children. We have pictures of my biggest St. (Daisy) allowing my friends 2 year old to sleep on her back on the couch. Their patience is absolutely unbelievable. Children can tug on their ears, jowls, tail, and they just lay down and take it. They’re wonderful with children, and I rarely see them listed on any site. I feel like they’re a bit of a rare breed (not many people own St. Bernards) and I would love to see their wonderful qualities displayed to the public more!
Your list of dogs is great!?
But Could you try and put smaller dogs on the list, please!!!!!
Smaller dogs have been shown to be less tolerant with small children, as the dogs are more fragile. Most breed guides suggest that smaller dogs go to families with older children.
PITBULLS ARE THE BEST FAMILY DOGS! I dont care what anyone says. They are amazingly loving, funny and loyal….and very protective of their family. I have 3 young kids and our Pit is their best friend! They have a bad rep because of ignorant and selfish people and its a shame!
The problem is that pitbulls were, and still are sometimes, used as fighting dogs. Your pitbull might be super friendly, but not all are. Most of the “dangerous breeds” are breeds that are not meant for inexperienced or first time dog owners. Unfortunately, most places don’t test owners to see if they can handle the dog. Personally, I don’t really have a lot of experience in owning/handling a dog. I would not feel comfortable with a dog breed that has been known to become aggressive without an experienced/alpha owner. So, when I got a dog, I went with a rescue that fosters the dogs, no shelter. That way, I could get a dog that I could handle.
PEOPLE STOP SAYING THAT SHEPEREDS R BAD FOR KIDS MY AUNT HAS A SHEPERED AND ITS GRATE WITH ME AND I AM A KID SO HAHA I WIN
cute!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!pleaes i want a liltle puppy for free pleaes
Not a good idea. If somebody wants to give you a puppy for free, they are probably not an experienced breeder or something is wrong with the dog. Better to go with a rescue that fosters dogs in homes or with an experienced breeder. The dog won’t be cheap, but you can be assured that you are getting a decent dog. And many rescues and breeders will take the dog back if you can’t handle it.
As a vet, I found this a very interesting post and have a few comments to make.
First I wanted to touch on the topic of the German shepherds tendency towards aggression. In my 9 years of practise, this is the only large breed of dog that I have been bitten by (on several occasions). I’m not trying to give this breed any negative connotations nor steer people away from them, just make them aware of where their personality truly lies. The german shepherd is very intelligent dog with a very active mind. This often leads people to think that the training will also come easy. Wrong. Although intelligent, this breed is also dominant and if not socialized and trained properly, can turn into a very rangy, destructive and aggressive dog. The breed may understand and catch on to simple commands such as “sit” rather quickly, but may prove to be more of a challenge on commands such as recall or others that require them thinking of YOU as the one in charge. I find it a pity that this dog is often turned to as a basic household companion when it is really much more then that. It requires a sturdy hand, a mental challenge and lots of physical activity to keep it at ease. I have seen so many cases of rehoming/ potential euthanasia’s due to owners not getting what they expect out of this dog. Bottom line, there are two major stereotypes with the German shepherd. A) Its an aggressive menace or B) Its a wonderful and smart family dog, which is why organizations like the police use it! The truth is actually somewhere in the middle. The German shepherd is used in police forces as it is both a powerful and intelligent breed, that, with the PROPER and intensive training, is a loyal and reliable guardian. However, when taken into the homes of those who don’t plan on having to do much training/and activity with the dog because the dog is “supposed to be smart,” they tend turn destructive and aggressive out of frustration. ( alas, I also want to say, that there are always abnormalities, like those who will say “I have owned many GSD and all were simply calm and amazing!” or ” We had a GSD once and no matter what we tried, he was out to get us!” and this is just like saying ” jack has smoked his whole life and lived to be 105 and never got cancer!” or ” Ashley started smoking and got cancer a month later!” I’m just trying to make a fair and general statement so that this, and many other breeds like it, wind up in the right homes. Thus, happy owner, happy pet.)
In saying that, this is also true for many other “intelligent/dominant” type dogs such as northern breeds( siberian husky, malamute), Doberman pinschers, akita Inu’s, Heelers, jack russel ect.
As far as the bulldog, cavalier and miniature schnauzer go, they are all predisposed to some very significant health issues and I really push potential owners knowledge of this and suggest purchasing pet insurance along with your new furry friend.
In my opinion, some of the best dogs for homes with children (based on a generally balanced disposition ( aka low bite probability) and fair trainability) would be; The Newfoundland Dog, Bernese Mountain Dog, Brittany Spaniel, Samoyed, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, labrador retriever.
I believe the key thing to remember is, that as long as your willing to put the effort in, and have knowledge of the breeds general disposition and needs, everything will go smooth. If your are not active and don’t want to put much training in, choose a dog appropriate. Remember this is their life too, and they look up to you as their guardians. A dog is not a toy.
I also forgot to add the Nova Scotia Duck tolling retriever as, in my opinion, a good dog for families with children.
So just cause a dog bits doesn’t mean its from owner. It can bed from cross breeding are bad blood line some where down the road. People think doberman is not a good family dog. I have a 120 lb male. He is 7 years old and great family pet. Him and my 7 yr old girl are great friends. I also have a 3 lb chihuahua and 5 lb yorkie he is very gental with. But as puppy and young dog he was put around lots of ppl by doing walks with him and riding in back of truck he loves doing.
I don’t think you can really say any one breed is better with children than another, it all depends on the individual dog. It pretty much depends genetics and how the dogs are raised. I have seen the most gentle pit bulls and the most viscious Labs and Goldens. I have seen very gentle tolerant Pomeranians and German Shepards as well as viscious types of the same breed. I have been working with rescue dogs for close to 30 years now and I have been attacked and bitten only 4 times in all those years. Three times were by a labs all three different and once by a Pomeranian. I have worked with every breed imaginable including Beauceron, Mexican Hairless, and a few other of the rarer breeds in the US. I have seen good and bad in every breed. No child should ever be left unattended with any breed no matter how much you trust them. I think articles like this give people a false sense of trust in these breeds. All dogs should be temperment tested for children regardless of breed! Like I said the outcome of a dogs personality depends on genetics and the way a dog is raised and trained no one breed is better with children than another.
I forgot to add that children need as much training on learning how to treat dogs if not more than the dog. Mixing a misbehaved child with any breed is a recipe for disaster on both ends. Most times dog bites are prevoked by misbehaved, untrained children.
I have a Labrador Husky mix, and she has never bitten anyone. She is the sweetest dog. Shes about 10 and still really healthy. Just saying a good dog choice.
I wrote this before but decided to post it again,
I don’t think you can really say any one breed is better with children than another, it all depends on the individual dog. It pretty much depends genetics and how the dogs are raised. I have seen the most gentle pit bulls and the most viscious Labs and Goldens. I have seen very gentle tolerant Pomeranians and German Shepards as well as viscious types of the same breed. I have been working with rescue dogs for close to 30 years now and I have been attacked and bitten only 4 times in all those years. Three times were by a labs all three different and once by a Pomeranian. I have worked with every breed imaginable including Beauceron, Mexican Hairless, and a few other of the rarer breeds in the US. I have seen good and bad in every breed. No child should ever be left unattended with any breed no matter how much you trust them. I think articles like this give people a false sense of trust in these breeds. All dogs should be temperment tested for children regardless of breed! Like I said the outcome of a dogs personality depends on genetics and the way a dog is raised and trained no one breed is better with children than another.
I forgot to add that children need as much if not more training when it comes to dogs. Mixing a misbehaved child with any breed is a recipe for disaster on both ends. Most times dog bites are prevoked by misbehaved, untrained children.
You list a german shepherd in the submissive category for temperment? Also your results get totally subjective when you throw in intangibles!