Which breed of dog best for children?

[robin247]

I've had dogs my whole life but since having the kids we decided to wait getting a dog until they were old enough. Well I think the time has finally come!

We're not looking for a high energy breed (I've always had working dogs and I'm realistic about the amount of walking we'll be doing!) so I was thinking about a king charles - I understand they're good with kids?

Are there any other, maybe bigger, breeds with similar characteristics? Does anyone have recommendations?

Thanks!

We have a new Golden Retriever puppy. Our previous dog was a lab cross rescue dog. He was fabulous with the kids even though he scared the shit out of the postman!!

About 4 of my friends have Cav King Charles and love them. I prefer larger dogs but the Cavs do seem to be v good with children, patient and not too demanding walk-wise, although I believe they are not good alone for long as they pine.

Don't laugh, but I say a German Shepherd. He's my second and came to us as a pup, the first much missed one having been adopted by us when he was 9 and my children about 8 and 9 years old.

I've heard it said that Sheps are only for the experienced owner and to an extent I'd agree, but as you say, you're not novices. Of course you can get bad 'uns, just as you can any breed, but ime as an owner and former fosterer you can't beat GSDs for loyalty, intelligence and companionship combined. They just have that extra bit of something special, which I can't quite put my finger on. Their only downside is that they are the major sufferers of degenerative myaeleopathy (CDRM or DM, as it's otherwise known), a canine form of MS, which is incurable and which I lost my old boy to.

If you were to opt for one, choose wisely... either a hip etc scored pup or better still a rescue dog from a reputable rescue which will homecheck, offer lifetime support and advice and take the dog back if it doesn't work out. If that takes your fancy you might like to have a word with Jayne at German Shepherd Rescue UK, who will happily give you advice if you're considering a GSD, be that a rescue or a pup.

HTH.

Val

D'oh! Packing to move brain operating here - sorry, I meant to start off by saying that that I'd say a GSD and that I have a GSD myself.

Ah you can't go wrong with a Cav King Charles, they are amazing.

I had a gorgeous girl, I rehomed her from the RSPCA, she was overweight, missing a leg and had cataracts, but she was the most beautiful natured dog, and amazing with children!

She had to be put to sleep a couple of years ago, but if I ever do get another dog, I'll most definately get a CKC.

Oh beggar off *mesobitchy"! I'm getting broody for a Cav!

When I adopted my first GSD I was looking for a Spaniel. I'd not long before lost my little Collie cross girl to cancer and thought a similar sized and personality of dog suitable. Then I met Shiney Shane, a long haired white GSD and the rest, as they say, is history.

Perhaps though that's the secret to finding a dog... go into it with an open mind and let him find you. Your initial desires and the dog you eventually choose may well be very different but if he's right, he's right, irrespective of breed, age, sex etc. I was the luckiest woman in the world to have found Shane rather than the type of dog I was looking for.

ive got 2 cavs and i love them sooooo much!

my boyo is placid as they come. even my little girl who was mistreated before we adopted her is wonderful, (she just hates the hoover tube.)

both fantastic with kids, i adore them. (my DH claims not to like them, but somehow, whenever i enter the room, my girl cav is laid across his knee as if he has been 'claimed'....they are gorgeous dogs, they will take as much or as little exercise as you give, they are lap dogs though - they need lots of love and dont be too precious about the furniture! they need to be next to you. defo indoor dogs. and they do moult, but i keep mine clipped quite short.

lovely little dogs though. and cute as a bugs ear.

Spaniels.

NOT a Border Collie - I know them very well, and they are very random with children. some are fine and want to play, some just want to herd little kids, some want to bite their arms off (IME anyway)

If we get a dog, we'll get a Spaniel, despite Dp's yearnings for a golden lab

Sorry Vallhala!

Good advice about going into it with an open mind too- I'd gone in to look for a cat!

My cousin who has young kids also has a King Charles Spaniel and it's a nice.. if fat and lazy.. dog. But, aren't those spaniels the ones with the brain-too-big-for-their-skull problems though?? All those vets bills and sad children....

It does depend so much on the individual dog. Our dachshund is (unlike some) incredibly laid back and good with kids. And of course other peoples kids always want to come and stroke the 'sausage'. He can walk exactly as much as you want - today, being rainy not at all, he's slumbering in his office basket, but Sunday saw him at the top of a mountain.

Any breed can make a great family pet so it's not really fair to say x makes a great pet and y doesn't, as I know lots of different breeds including "dangerous" ones that are fabulous childrens pets.

However, for a novice owner and kids, you can't really go wrong with a Greyhound :D

Very healthy breed, doesn't need an awful lot of exersize (approx. 40 mins a day) very child and other-dog friendly.

I like the cavaliers temperament but I would be worried about the potential health problems. (same with any overbred, popular breed)

Staffordshire Bull Terrier. But as pups they are not for the faint of heart, a rescued adult would be great though.

Id say Staffordshire Bull Terrier too.

Absolutely fantastic with people and children, please don't believe all the scare stories, any dog can be a danger if not raised properly.

I did loads of research before getting ours, they are known as the nanny dog because of their affinity with children.

Medium sized, short hair, perfect family dog!