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Original poster

Best dog breed with young children

94 replies

Helenj1977 · 23/09/2019 11:23

Wasn't sure where to post this but thought here I'd get better advice??

We're looking to add a puppy to our family next year and have started looking at breeds now. We have an 11 yo, 9yo and nearly 1yo. We want to wait until 1yo is a bit older. I'm a sahm so am home all the time.

We were looking at Cavapoos but I'm aware cross breeds aren't always the best option.

In a nut shell, we'd love a medium size dog, great with children, easy to train and low Shedding.

Any advice from dog /children owners would be fab 😃

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Soubriquet · 23/09/2019 11:28

Best dog breed for children

Staffies

Windydaysuponus · 23/09/2019 11:30

We have 2 Lurchers. Very underestimated ddogs ime.
Ds 5 has an amazing bond with them. They are older than him.
One shares storytime every night!
We also have a Husky but def not for a novice!
Ds is under there somewhere!

Best dog breed with young children
Aridane · 23/09/2019 11:32

Try these links

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

1 year olds 11 year olds 9 year olds Dogs
Aridane · 23/09/2019 11:34

(staffies don’ Make the cut 😟)

ReallyRatherBlonde · 23/09/2019 11:34

Cavachons are brilliant with kids, low to non shedding, easy to train. My Cava absolutely adores children. Cross breeds can sometimes be a better option as the problems prolific in the purebreeds are crossed out.

Branleuse · 23/09/2019 11:35

i think its less about the breed than about the dog itself.
its worth checking rescues for dogs that are good with children, because no matter what the breed is, if youre shit at dog training, you are going to have an unruly dog

LochJessMonster · 23/09/2019 11:38

With children, I would suggest a small or slight breeds, staffies are lovely but can be quite powerful and walking one on a lead whilst pushing a pram/holding a child might be quite difficult. Plus if they run into the child, it will hurt.

I wouldn't post this on the doghouse section as crossbreeds are a taboo, but cavapoos would be suitable. Cockapoos are quite high energy whereas cavapoos are calmer.

You could also look into Shih Tzus or Lhasa Apsos.
All need regular grooming but should be low shedding

Other low shedding options are wire haired dogs -border terriers, fox terriers etc but terriers can be high energy.

LochJessMonster · 23/09/2019 11:40

From the link baove, I would not recommend a Boxer of Vizla- very high energy, large, long puppy period.

A toy or miniature poodle could be another option, and I second the cavachon of above, as long as you do lots of research to find a reputable breeder.

PhannyPharts · 23/09/2019 11:43

Breed obviously plays a part, but its not the whole picture. I work in a dog training club, compete with my dogs and I have a five year old. i have two collies now and lost my staffie in October at 13.5 years, The staff was great with my son and very tolerant. My older collie basically stays out of his way - they both ignore each other. The collie pup, adores my child even though the feeling wasn't always mutual. . But i put a lot of effort in with the dogs and my son. You have to have eyes in the back of your head.

The message I'm trying to put in here, is that its your training, socialisation and management of the dog and the children that's key rather than the breed. All will have pros and cons and none will be perfect. So a staffy - great with people, not always great with dogs. Beagle- lovely with people, but don't always recall for example.

I have to say i also love a lurcher. Never met one that wasn't a sweetheart. I just dont have one because collies are equipped for the dog sport i take part in (working trials)

Soubriquet · 23/09/2019 11:51

Jeez definitely not a boxer or anything like that!!!

They are like toddlers on crack. Extremely hyperactive

I actually have 2 chihuahuas with my 4 and 6 year old dc.

Many people say chihuahuas are no good with children, but my two adore their mini owners.

I do have to strict on the kids with them though as obviously they are easily hurt if the dc get too rough

3timeslucky · 23/09/2019 12:02

Children want to be able to walk their dog ... so you really want a dog that is small enough they can do that. Like others I think it is less breed and more individual and I'd also be a big advocate of getting a rescue puppy. Ours is smallish (maybe CKC size) and gorgeous - when we met him he was c11 weeks old and what was most obvious was that he loved people. That's what I'd be looking for (and I'd also wait til your youngest is about 3 as before that they tend not be be great about respecting a dog's need for a bit of down-time every so often).

You don't want a dog that is too strong, too mad, too much!

Maybe establish a connection with your local rescue now?

AgathaF · 23/09/2019 12:30

Cross breeds can sometimes be a better option as the problems prolific in the purebreeds are crossed out - this is simply not true. With crosses you are just as likely to get the problems of both breeds, and particularly if not well bred to start with.

Original poster
Helenj1977 · 23/09/2019 12:44

Thank you all 😃 Some great advice. We're going to do our homework and have months to make sure we get this right. I'll look into your suggestions x

OP posts:
Hydrogenbeatsoxygen · 23/09/2019 12:45

Golden Retriever

LochJessMonster · 23/09/2019 12:50

@AgathaF But equally, hybrid vigour can improve the health of the dog. You either get a very healthy cross or a very poorly cross.
It also depends on what you are crossing - the ridiculous 'pomsky', husky/pom is going to cause massive skeletal problems and high risk to the labouring bitch.

Gangan1 · 23/09/2019 14:00

Terrier breeds, shepherding breeds and hunting breeds are best avoided because it’s in their genes to chase, guard and bite. Most dogs are ok if they live with children on a daily basis. The problems tend to happen when children come into the life of the dog on an occasional basis.

Years of children and grandchildren have taught me to stick to the retriever breeds....setters, spaniels, Golden and Flatcoated retrievers. Labs come into this category but I’ve heard of a few problems with them.
My absolute favourite is the Flatcoated Retriever. As a breed they love children, stay playful all their lives and are totally loyal and affectionate. They are much easier to train than spaniels, less easy than labs, and if you go for a dog bred from working lines, they have a good health record. Whatever you choose, it will be an excellent thing for your children to learn to care for their own pet. Good luck!

DontLettuceBrexitLettuceRemain · 23/09/2019 14:02

medium size dog, great with children, easy to train and low Shedding

Depends on your definition of medium, but standard poodles hit all the rest of those boxes. Don't think of them as the Parisian styled kind, most don't look anything like that!

Livebythecoast · 23/09/2019 14:23

I would look at Labradors/Golden Retriever.
🐶🐕

Indecisivelurcher · 23/09/2019 14:38

Came on to say 100% lurcher. Just make sure what mix. I do not recommend a whippet x collie x boxer, which was one I had before! My greyhound mix is just gorgeous, perfect with the kids, loves his walks but fine with 1 a day and after a zoomy usually sticks to my heels, happy to sleep the rest of the day, ideally on a sofa... He's so lush.

Fillybuster · 23/09/2019 14:43

Some great advice on here already, especially the pp who talked about dcs being able to walk the dog by themselves. We have a cockapoo who has been the perfect additional to our family (although I know they aren’t the most popular dogs on MN!) - he’s super chilled and laid back, was really easy to train, and the dcs (who were 7,10 & 12 when he arrived) were able to take responsibility for him very quickly. 2 years on and he’s easy to leave, happy to see us, deeply loving, full of energy on long walks but really really chilled on home days.
Whatever you decide, I hope your dog brings you as much love and joy as ours has!

Tensixtysix · 23/09/2019 14:46

Miniature poodle.

LaidbackLibra · 23/09/2019 14:53

We're excited to be getting our whippet pup next month. I'll be a first time dog owner (DH had dogs as a child and occasionally care for brothers staffie x whippet). I've done lots of research and settled on a whippet. They're typically affectionate, chilled out, quiet, have a short coat so lowish shedding and low doggy aroma. After a walk and a zoom they tend to sleep a lot. I'm excited for the training, just need to ensure good recall. From everything I've read they sound like a great family dog for our 3 and 5 yr old, I'm struggling to find any cons to the breed.

Jesshol32 · 23/09/2019 14:59

We decided after months of research to get a borador. She's a collie x lab. Omg what a beauty she is with the kids. She is so loving towards us all. Within 3 days of getting her at 8 weeks old we had taught her to sit. Within 2 weeks she knew paw, down, high 5 and the command to stay before having her food. Extremely intelligent breed and when research a borador they are a highly recommended family dog. We go on 3 walks a day so very active which i love as means the kids arnt stuck indoors on ipads like they would of been last winter.