Best dog breeds for kids please

[beans1992]

As above. We are a young family (4yo and 1yo) but so outdoorsy, and lots of time to train a puppy. We feel that a dog would fit right in with us, but have two young children so I want to make sure we pick the right breed.

Can’t be too big.

Thanks in advance.

Puppies are hard work and unpredictable with young children. Tiny needly teeth, and toilet training them is relentless.

Have you thought about adopting an adult rescue dog, instead? It'd probably be a wait to find one that's used to young children, but I think it would be worth it.

We have a shihtzu and he's amazing with the kids. One of our dc is Autistic and can be quite unpredictable and noisy and ddog is not fazed. Was really easy to house train, is happy to go walks or stay in, gentle and lovely.

@ArchbishopOfBanterbury rescue places typically won’t rehome to families with kids under five. We have tried for years.

@TheVolturi thank you!

Have a St Bernard, she's very patient with the children. Docile. They're fantastic dogs but probably would wait to go through puppy stage with any breed of dog until your youngest was at school. My youngest was 3, but my eldest is 14 and we didn't want him to miss out growing up with a pet.

I would honestly wait a few more years. You will essentially have 3 young children in the house, but one is much more fluffy with sharp claws and teeth. Puppies especially WILL nip and bite until they're trained not to - that alone, getting through the teething phase - can take 8-12 months at least. You see a lot of young dogs for sale or signed over to rescue precisely because very young children are utterly terrified of this furry land shark that's cruising their carpet looking for snacks and ankles.

Wait until the youngest has started school. It will make your life a lot easier!

Remember - once you have a dog and if you're having a single parent day with the kids plus dog, you won't be able to do many things such as go to the playground (no dogs allowed), if the dog needs to go to the loo you'll need to go and pick up after it, leaving children alone. But you won't be able to leave dog and children alone in one room, not even for you pop to the loo or make a cup of tea, it can become a nightmare of a juggling act with very young children.

Dogs are going nowhere, they will still be ready and waiting in a few years time :) in the meantime you can research breeds. Go to Discover Dogs when these big events open again. Meet different breeds and find out which ones could work for you. Plus rescues will rehome to older children anyway.

We got our working cocker when youngest was 3 and at pre school a few mornings a week.

He’s a fabulous dog and fits in a young family perfectly.

You’ll probably get loads of people on here saying a cocker is too much to cope with but I think they are amazing.

I’d personally wait a few more years as potentially it will be very very difficult and might spoil your enjoyment of having a baby and a puppy.

Everyone will suggest their favourite breeds, but I rarely see basset hounds suggested on these threads and I wondered if you had ever considered one of these?

I think they are one of the most loveable dog breeds out there and so, so good with young children. I think you do have to be a bit careful to avoid puppy farms (obviously this goes for all dogs) but puppy basset hounds are just so appealing I think they are quite commonly puppy farmed.

We had Maltese dogs when I was a child and they’re amazing with kids. Sweet, patient, cuddly dogs that are smart and playful.

chocolate lab, all day long. Or a cross of some sort.

We got our dog (half lab/half vizsla... called a vizslador- go on Facebook and have a look at the vizslador page) when my youngest child was 1 but my oldest was 13. To be honest, I was already doing nappies and sleepless nights... I was already conditioned to 'the trauma' and throwing a puppy into the mix at that point worked out (for me!) because I was sort of knee deep in poo and sleeplessness anyway. And ironically, it wasn't nearly as hard with our pup as I thought it would be. But there are horror stories, I know. Our puppy experience was lovely and easy. Maybe we were just lucky. That said, I've grown up with dogs. Mum's family bred greyhounds and had loads of farm dogs. So, I was aware of what we were taking on by getting a pup.

Definitely do puppy school! Just train your dog and work hard on doing so because the pay-off is brilliant. You'll have a dog you can just truly hang out with. Ours is a cross and he doesn't have the Food Hoover aspect that full chocolate labs have.

If size is an issue, I'd get a maltipoo or bichon frise.

Don't get a terrier or a beagle, would be my advice.

I have a cocker spaniel, so that would always be my recommendation. However, it in all honesty depends how much space you have, how much time you have, how much exercise time you'll have etc.

A friend of mine got a cocker (my advice was not to) - she assured me they were a very active family and could manage. Fast forward a little time, turns out the cocker is too much for them.

You need to get a dog that suits your lifestyle and if you get a puppy, you can train it how you want (rather than an older dog)...But most importantly remember puppies have sharp teeth.

A work colleague has just got a puppy - his little girl wanted one for years, turns out when the puppy gets excited his daughter gets scared of the puppy. Just something else to consider.

Only you know if the time is right though.

Are you thinking small or medium sized?

Have you DH/DP trained a puppy before? How much experience of dogs do you have?

I think with small DC, you need to look for breeds that have a reputation for being good natured and friendly. There's a reason why labradors get mentioned a lot as family dogs, they are generally friendly, trainable and biddable, they're also utter dustbins - eat everything and seem to have no 'off' switch to theirbappetite. They can be very bouncy, with both teeth and (strong, vigorous) tail at toddler head height.

A miniature poodle? Very trainable, usually friendly, low allergen

Most terriers are rather stubborn and not recommended for first time owners for that reason (might be different for a household with nomDC and more time/effort to put in to assiduous training). The exceptions are the smaller breeds noted for good natured temperaments - Border (the classic 'entry level' terrier) Norfolk and Norwich.

The temperament of the dam and the experience and initial environment provided by the breeder are important (as well as the basics like genetic screening, and general health checks)

How much grooming are you up for? How much drool and shedding can you live with?

And most importantly, can you really commit to the time needed to train, and for daily exercise - I'd say a minimum of 2x 45 mins per day (possibly with extra toilet walks of a few minutes) - more for active breeds, plus playtime and games. Also, you can't leave puppies alone for long, and even adult dogs, well habituated to being alone, shouldn't be left for more than about 4 hours

Finally, do remember to factor in the costs of insurance (unless you have a few £k savings you don't mind spending at the vets) plus flea/worming treatments as well as food and treats and replacement toys on an ongoing basis on top of the initial set-up costs

I recently fell pregnant with my first baby after trying for over a year I had a miscarriage and I have had the d&c today I’m absolutely heart broken. will I find it hard to conceive again? I want to know this to ease my mind.

I would only ever have a beagle. Such an amazing breed. Definitely not for everyone though because they are very clever. Sadly though their kind nature and size is why they are used in laboratories.

I don't think it's fair on a puppy to bring it into a home with young children.

Whatever breed you choose, unless you choose to wait, its worth joining the Facebook group for that breed.

I have a wonderful Cavalier King Charles Spaniel cross. She is gentle and loving, the sweetest thing. She is always up for a walk, but equally, she loves to cuddle up next to us on the sofa. She's the perfect family pet, but I wouldn't even recommend her (as a puppy) to you with a one-year old. Puppies nip and chew, even lovely ones like mine - it's a developmental stage. They also do wees and poos in the house until they're house trained, which is difficult to manage with a baby. I'd wait until your youngest is at least four.

We recently got a spingerdoodle - lovely girl, lots of energy but also enjoys a snooze. We have a 3yr old. She nips, and he winds up. I probably wouldn't recommend a puppy if my youngest were any younger.

Pug!

Ours is the the most amazing kid-friendly boy. He adores kids and fuss and loved going on the school run when my daughter was still at primary.

Pictures attached

Beagle

Golden Retriever ❤️

Op doesn't want a large dog! So St Bernard, Basset, Golden Retriever suggestions are wide of the mark, unfortunately.

Staffordshire Bull Terrier. Medium size, low moulting, require 2 x 30m per day walk, fantastic with kids. My DSS is autistic, my two SBTs are incredibly good with him.

Only downside is farts and when they are pups they need something to chew otherwise it'll be your furniture.

Cairn terriers, I've had two and they are fun when the kids want them to be, not at all bitey or aggressive, and can cope with the attention given to them without getting overwhelmed.

I've found cocker spaniels and cockerpoos very placid, but also possibly a bit boring (my kids like the liveliness of terriers).

Oh yes and Cairns don't moult.

I still vote pug I dropped my daughter off at the yard today and our pug came with us. There was a family with two small kids there (around 3-4) and our boy sat so calmly whilst they stroked him for ages and he was enjoying the fuss And then another group of kids came and he sat for them too being ultra-friendly. He really loves kids