Breeds which are good with kids.

[Piggyleroux]

advice needed. We currently have a 15 yo JRT. She is very snappy and temperamental, hence I have to keep ds 14 mo away from her. He is desperate to snuggle her and he loves animals so we were thinking of getting a pup as I am worried that by constantly keeping him away from Pippin he will develop a fear of dogs.

I took in a JRT of an elderly man who died a few months ago. Unfortunately, Nelson died a few weeks later but he was great with ds which I know Is unusual for this breed.

So, any ideas?

So sorry to hear about the JRT dying, I remember your thread:(

Labradors are good with kids. Or are you wanting a smaller breed? Dachshunds are fab as well.

As hard to believe as it is, german shepherds are brilliant with children.
Obviously very large, but incredible loyal hounds.
Mine has been wonderful with my two daughters.

A second for Cavalier King Charles. My mum worked in a vets for years and they were always what the vets recommended for families with children and they also don't need too much exercise.

I will put in a word for the collie....we have had a few and they have all been superb dogs with the whole family, with strangers and when the kids were babies (we have never had the nipping instinct though).

We have a foxhound now, who is simply the best dog around children I have ever experienced, laid back, up for playing (if a little rough at times) and just lovely and loyal to be around.

I guess everyone's experience is different!

We have a coonhound, he is the most fabulous family dog I've ever had. Very laid back, puts up with all sorts of roughhousing and has never been aggressive in any way. Such a sweet animal. And we adopted him as an adult dog.

We also have a boxer, she is lovely and adores kids, but is very very active and "jumpy". She's knocked my daughter down several times in her excitement. A very protective dog, though.

I read somewhere, no idea where at this point, that German shepherds have a high rate of turning on their owners and biting?

Our springer and my mum's springer are fabulous with children, even my annooying toddler

We've got a border terrier and she's been fab with DS (7months). Looks blinking miserable most of the time given that her place in the family has been usurped by a noisy, smelly thing that increasingly pesters the life out of her but she's not so much as looked like being nippy with him and for the first few weeks was VERY protective of him.

our lurcher is extremely patient with our 3 yo. A lovely natured dog.

Can I please be boring and point out that no breed is good with children? That is down to the individual dog. I know loads of nasty Labradors. I even know a couple of nasty Cavs. Assuming that a certain breed will tolerate kids better than another is a huge factor in dogs being rehomed and children being bitten. I think the breed can be significant but much, much more important is the breeder, the mother's temperament, the home environment, the level of training and socialisation offered, the quality of the training and socialisation and critically the timing of it.

It's just not that simple.

Piggy, tbh I am never really sure about these threads as people (as they are wont to do) tend to recommend the breed they have, if their particular dog is great with their own, and other children

Anecdotes do not evidence make, and all that.

I have read several times on here however that SBTs are good with children.

I would seriously consider rescue as a good one with match a dog to you.

If you want a puppy then there are a whole other load more considerations to make (time for exercise, grooming, size etc etc...the KC have a pretty good section to help you choose a breed).

We have a lab, and to be totally blunt when she was a tiny puppy she was not good with children, not at all. VERY mouthy, with sharp crocodile teeth and super bouncy. The children didn't enjoy her at all, and I certainly had my moments with her. Labs are not alone in this behaviour . Now she is an adult she is totally chillax, something you could easily find with this, and many other breeds if you get an adult dog via rescue.

Find a good rescue and go and visit the dogs there you can see which one is good with DC's. A ready made dog you can try before you buy so much more reliable than asking for anecdotal evidence on a public forum. With a puppy you may be lucky you may get one that is not suitable but then it is too late.

Be prepared to introduce to your JRT with care what ever you decide

Please can this thread not turn in to the usual - my dog is great and the reply be that I know of that breed that always eat toddlers for breakfast - please please

There is no breed that is 100% suitable or reliable neither is there a breed that is not suitable. Rescue will let you see in advance and you can see for yourself.

I concur with Minimu1 our foxhound was rescue from WGAS and we had loads of walks, home trys and the kids played with him for hours (as did our other dog) before we finally brought him home. Having an adult dog was risky in that he had behaviours which needed correcting, but the rescue backup was fab and we were sure he was right for our family....and the matching worked really well!

I agree with minimu :) we have two collies which aren't known to be the best with children as they can nip or try to herd but our dogs both came from rescue centres and had been assessed by behaviourists as being suitable to live with children. We didn't want a collie when we started looking but they are both excellent with dc and visiting children. We also have lifetime back up through the rescue centres wrt behaviourists etc if we do have any problems in the future.

My dog's fantasic with kids... good ol'fashioned Heinz 57 varieties of dog.

Another one to agree with Minimu and Fran - no breed can be said to be good or bad with children. An individual dog may or may not be suitable for your family. Part of this will depend on your lifestyle, time commitment and the age/character of your DC, along with the age, character and breed of the dog, so every situation is unique.

In any case, you should not have a dog with small DC unless you are 100% committed to the hard work involved, particularly teaching your DC that your dog is not a plaything, should be respected and should not be prodded, poked, teased and pestered.

I would also add that although every dog is different, some breeds (in fact, many) require very serious levels of commitment for training and exercise not just a gentle saunter on the school run. For collies, labs, many terriers, dog such as Dalmations, Vizslas, setters etc, you should be looking at a minimum of 2 hours a day, probably with additional training, espcecially for collies. So it's really important that all the adults in the family are committed to making it work and are willing to put the time in (as well as being happy with the financial commitment).

We've got greyhounds, so they can cope with a relatively gentle 1 hr daily walk plus they go running with DH, plus longer walks on weekends and classes/activities on top. This would leave a lab or Wei climbing the walls though.

I'm sticking my hand up here to agree with those that have said to approach a decent, reputable rescue. They will find the dog to match your circumstances, and you have the option then of an adult dog and avoid that puppy/teenage behaviour stage (but rescues also have pups if that is what you want).

I personally sway towards Staffordshire Bull Terriers, affectionately known to me as Piggies (and with your name it's a match made in heaven ). They are extremely tolerant around children and are known as the nanny dog for a very good reason - but they aren't for everyone. A decent rescue will not just assess the dog, but assess you too and give you the right breed/mutt for your family

Another vote for rescue and another vote for what fran said.

And, I'm so sorry to hear that Nelson died, I remember your thread about him... he was very lucky to have you to care for him in his final weeks.

Yes,yes a rescue. Most breeds also have rescue centres if thats what you prefer.

My great dane is fab................skulks off

We've recently got a great dane pup (18 weeks) and honestly she is so perfect for our family, we could not have even genetically manufactured a more suitable dog.

My DS2 is 3 and has autism so can't handle big, bouncy, in-your-face dogs like staffs (even though a lot of them are lovely) as he gets very intimidated by them. Luna, my new baby girl, comforts him when he cries, plays with him when he's in the mood and leaves him alone when he is not.

She also puts up with being crawled on and has not once barked at, growled at or jumped on my kids.

Also she doesn't shed a lot, smell or require loads of walks (in fact she is more than happy to cuddle on the couch while we watch tv!).

Try to meet any prospective dogs before you decide, it's a bit like adopting a child I suppose, you will know when you meet the right one :D

I'm standing up for the Staffy here!
We did a bit of research before getting our woofs as DS has ASD.
Our staffy is great with him. I think it's the combination of being a smaller breed, not so bouncy/hyper, easy to train, calm etc.

DS loves being around him, wanting to hold his lead on walks, feeding him his 'noms'.

Ds is wary of the Doodle. He's just too hyper, big and bouncy for his liking.

You know I love Staffs, PC... and you may not know my DS also has neurological issues along with ASD.... but there is no way I could have inflicted my first Stafford on him whilst a pup. He would have screamed until the mortar of the house walls crumbled! They are all different horses for courses... in the best possible way, of course

Our border is a sweetie with the kids, but I think it's a bit like the 'which uni' question - everyone recommends their own choice. I'm out on a limb though, by saying the 5 or 6 rescue dogs i've had experience of have all had behaviour or health probs so IMO are better suited to families without children, or at least, families BEFORE children, where they get to be higher up the pecking order and hence more 1-2-1 attention.