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Original poster

Want to get a dog, What breed is best with small children?

87 replies

mmmmchocolate · 13/02/2006 19:51

I have a 17 month old and hoping to have another in next year. WE like springer spaniels or cockers any one any ideas and advice? ta x

OP posts:
Passionflower · 15/02/2006 17:24

OMG controversy on the puppy thread!

Stylish · 15/02/2006 17:31

LOL passion.

I'm just extra cautious with animals round kids. Unless 100's of people have the same experience with them, like labs, I treat em with extreme caution.

Passionflower · 15/02/2006 17:40

Me too Stylish, just couldn't resist posting for a reaction.

Have pretty much decided on a cavie, the DD's love them and I know there is a lady here (Guernsey)that breeds them (really don't want to have to do a ferry trip to fetch a puppy unless absolutely necessary).

ShaysMummy · 15/02/2006 18:18

my lab has been bitten twice in the face by a staff the owner said was fine.
my mil's west highlands try to nip ds1 as i lift him in/out of car seat.
bil's jack russell yorkie x actually bit a kid on the beach last year.
my labs have not bitten or tried to but sometimes they take a dislike to some strangers and bark at them.
hence, i personally think it's all in the training and if you dont train a dog they soon think they are in charge as dogs operate in heirarchys. just beacuse you are human does not mean you cant be bottom of the food chain!!!
any dog can turn on a child and this should be considered.

also regarding hip dysplasia, one of my labs has it and she came from a line with champions in with excellent hip scores.

mousiemousie · 15/02/2006 18:22

a hot dog

stephanie21 · 15/02/2006 18:25

thats it,im getting rid of my akita!hes just eaten the heel on my brand new ugg clogg!!little git!!dont get an akita if you like shoes!!

ShaysMummy · 15/02/2006 18:28

ive lost countless shoes to teething labs!

stephanie21 · 15/02/2006 18:29

diesel always goes for my shoes,usually new ones!!dont think ive got smelly feet,think he just likes stylish shoes!!

ShaysMummy · 15/02/2006 18:33

mine also eat knickers and socks! had a recent trip to vet to remove knicker elastic hanging from bum!!
lovely!

stephanie21 · 15/02/2006 18:49

pmsl!!!

Jodee · 15/02/2006 19:14

Stylish, you looking for a fight?

josmith · 16/02/2006 07:16

Labradors are great with kids. I'd avoid any spaniel. Our springer hates the kids and will growl at them so has to be kept seperate. Wouldn't trust him as far as i could throw him! Some cockers can suffer from a rage syndrome making them very unpredictable. You just can't beat a black lab!

carla · 16/02/2006 08:13

Message deleted

kreamkrackers · 16/02/2006 08:59

we have a cavillier king charlees spaniel, she is great with our dd who's 21 months. she's a soft as a brush, has never growelled at anybody and only barks when she sees other dogs on the television, although when she's out on a walk she stays at my feet whenever another dog comes near as she gets scared. we get her grommed every 2 months and it costs about £20 because she walks off when i try to brush her so she does get knotty easily and starts to look scruffy.

my mum has a japanese akita and he moults continuously from february until november and it comes out in huge clumps. he's a lovely fluffy bear though but although he liked kids when he was younger at age 7 he stays away from them now.

we also had a german shepherd. she was a lovely dog but was very jumpy and i think they're only suitable when the children are older as she could've easily knocked children over without meaning harm.

my dad has a cocker spaniel. it was 5 months old at chistmas and when we stayed he was really good with our little girl. dp's friend had one and it dug a huge hole through the wall!

Pinotmum · 16/02/2006 09:28

My friend has choc lab who is so good with my children and he's not used to having children around him. He even lets them play with his toys and I wish they would be as good as sharing

CraftyTigger · 16/02/2006 09:30

We have a Jack Russel mixed with a bit of everything. We got her when she was 3 month old. Our youngest was two and he pulled her and sat on her. My friend who trains dogs was here when we got her and I went to stop my ds from pulling at her. My friend told me to leave my ds pull at the dog and if she snapped, I was to discipline her. She said that this way she learns that ds is above her in the pecking order and it was easier to get her out of snapping when she still only had baby teeth. All worked out fine and she is great with kids and if all gets to much for her she just goes off and hides.

trice · 16/02/2006 10:06

my mum has a mini sausage dog with long hair. She barely eats and does the tiniest poos you ever saw. MIL has newfoundlands which are the exact opposite and can drown you in slobber. They both seem to be good with kids but I would never trust a dog alone with children.

jek · 16/02/2006 10:35

labrador's are the best dogd every with babies and young children, very laid back and they enjoy the attention children give them. Springer or cocker spaniels have heard are not good with kids, have a bit of a temper.

SalD · 16/02/2006 10:44

Cockers are scatty but fantastic pets. Ours is only 18th months old so very lively, but fantastic with our baby of 1 and our 6 year old. And the cool thing about a dog is that taking it for walks is something that you can do as a family, for free, either locally in your park or further afield.

hamster · 16/02/2006 10:48

Hi
We have a staffordshire bull terrier, they are wonderful dogs-very soft indeed.
I realise that they have a bit of a "hard man's dog" reputation, but they are also renowed "nanny" dogs. Great with children, and good companions for the elderly.
I'd recommend one-they're gorgeous too!

hamster · 16/02/2006 10:49

just to add as a 18 months old and a 3 1/2 month old

lafrog · 16/02/2006 11:12

Hi
I had a French Bulldog until last month (sadly had to have him put to sleep age 11 due to horrible lymphoma) with my now 3.5 yr old and 9 months old sons. He was the sweetest dog - the worst he did to the baby was lick his face when he was in his bouncy seat...I do think training has a lot to do with it - a dog has to know his place in the pack, and it's bottom rung, you are boss and the kids are sub-boss and he is below that. It's probably easier with a female than a male (some tend to be very alpha, even after being castrated)

I also have 2 female cats age 3 and 5 (a Chartreux and a Bengal). The Chartreux is aloof and avoids boisterous toddler (clearly ugh!), the Bengal is in his face all the time, asking to be picked up, stroked, cuddled - which toddler does. Baby grabs her and pinches her and she just miaows and waits for me to rescue her. Having said that I NEVER leave them alone with the cats (or the dog)

Dogs can be a problem with kids more because they need TLC too and with kids you have less time for the dog than you'd want. I know that happened to us. Also going away for a w/e is an issue - which is not so with cats who can be OK for 2 or 3 days.

Beagles - I have heard of runaway ones; Terriers in general do tend to be snappy; think of maintenance with long hair and long ears...

BABYTAIT · 16/02/2006 16:25

hi there,we were expecting our 3rd son and had wanted another dog after our 1st dog fell ill and had to be put to sleep,we choose another border collie cross from off a farm,then along came the son and charlie the dog was not 1 bit jealous,he is a fantastic dog,wonderful tempramant,and extremeley good with the kids,who's ages are 5,3and 21 months,i can't fault the collie breed.hope this is some use to you and good luck in finding a 4 legged furry friend.

trincarm · 16/02/2006 16:26

Hi there we have an 8 month cavalier king charles spaniel and i definatly recommend them with kids. She is incredibly loving and plays really well with my 3 an 5 year olds. We are expecting another baby in june and I have no worries about introducing our pup to the baby. She is small enough to go everywhere with us and yet she still wants to play rough and tumble like a larger dog. We crate trained her which has been wonderfull as she now has her own little den to go into and the boys know when she goes in there that she wants a bit of peace and they leave her alone.Shi is fab when out walking and is really good with other dogs. I also find that she only needs a groom occasionally and that it takes hardly any time at all. We got her used to grooming a ssoon as we brought her home and she loves it, even the boys enjoy grooming her and it really relaxes her. I would not suggest clipping a cavalier because as a breed they are not mean't to be clipped. They have such beautifull coats it seems a shame to spoil the look by clipping. I would suggest finding a good breeder who health tests their dogs and who has dogs that are not dying young. As a breed they do suffer with their hearts but a good breeder tries to breed from only healthy dogs. She is a small dog with a huge personality and we would love to get another.

elenabaker · 17/02/2006 02:54

Spaniels are too jumpy and excitable. Schanuzers are wonderfull dogs i had one before and its childproof! my niece loved to "ride him" pull his ears and follow him everywhere (poor thing) and he never lost his patience.... I have a 9 month old and we are getting one soon.

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