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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

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Original poster

Breeds which are good with kids.

48 replies

Piggyleroux · 16/05/2011 12:05

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?

OP posts:

PersonalClown · 18/05/2011 20:11

They certainly are Mother Jack.
BIL has a litter mate from mine and his is the most hyper, mouthy/bitey, rampaging Staffy I've met!

GrimmaTheNome · 18/05/2011 20:38

An older dog may be better than a pup - pups are nearly always given to nibble and jump. We got our current dog at 10 months and that was great - playful but calm, and we knew he was used to kids - and housetrained! This was from a breeder, he'd been kept for show but developed alopaecia, luckily for us

As others have said, you can't really go by breed - this dachs has a lovely quiet temperament (except when theres someone at the door, obviously) but some dachsies are snappy. But if you do decide on a breed (possibly for other practical reasons like size, amount of exercise etc) then its worth looking on breed websites as there are quite often a few past puphood who need a home.

ellangirl · 18/05/2011 20:49

You need to consider perhaps, the risk to the dog as well as the children! Small breeds like the daschund are quite vunerable, even as adults, and might be accidentally hurt in a house full of children. Just thought I'd add another side to the debate! I think early socialisation and teaching bite inhibition would be the most important factors in choosing which dog to have around children.

MotherJack · 18/05/2011 21:03

Yes, that would have been darling Bear as a pup, PC. He was hell with teeth . Worked a lot with him and he was great by the time I had DS! [phew]

GrimmaTheNome · 18/05/2011 21:24

Small breeds like the daschund are quite vunerable, even as adults, and might be accidentally hurt in a house full of children.

You have to train the children as well as the dog - but TBH that applies whatever the dog, they all can be pulled or poked, or large dogs may appear rideable. In some ways having a long-bodied dog made it clearer to DD and her friends why they weren't allowed to manhandle our dog

ellangirl · 18/05/2011 21:48

Of course grimma, child training is par for the course when mixing children and dogs! I don't expect our dog or puppy to put up with any manhandling from my DS, or anyone else children for that matter . I was thinking more about accidental injury to a toy breed or small dog in a busy household.

Bast · 18/05/2011 22:26

My favourite 'breed' is the TVRD.

a.k.a. The Thoroughly Tested Rescue Dog

I have a TTRD-Sprocker and a TTRD-Collie x JRT, both are great! Neither have any ishoos whatsoever. Lovely, loving, sweet family dogs who adore the children (four of, from 2yo upwards), have made friends with the cats and have fallen in love with each other

TTRD every time!

Bast · 18/05/2011 22:29

TVRD?

DooinMeCleanin · 18/05/2011 22:37

Thoroughly vetted rescue dog, I think.

I agree a rescue dog is the way to go. Keep an open mind about breed. I don't think you can judge a dog by breed alone. All dogs have personalities of their own. Bringing one up from a puppy gives no guarantees that it won't have issues. So many things shape their personalities.

I have an adorable little Whippet who is excellently calm and friendly and a general pleasure to have around. My mum and dad currently have a fostered Whippet who was raised in a family home, they have a full history on her. She's a bloody nutcase, a very friendly, very bouncy, big ball of fun, but a nutter none the less. I love her. I'd have her here, but she is not a dog that most small children would cope with, despite having been raised with them. The rescue knew this and so homed her in an adult only home. She is the polar opposite of my Whippet, despite being the same age and being raised with children as mine has been.

UnseenAcademicalMum · 18/05/2011 22:52

This absolutely gorgeous rescue dog . I'm a sighthound convert after getting our whippet and Gary the Greyhound has been at the dogs trust for a good few weeks now. It sayes he is suitable for children of all ages!

chickchickchicken · 18/05/2011 23:09

i would agree that you cannot say one particular breed is good with children. breed traits are useful for when planning what commitment you can give to a dog but not for determining if they will like children

when i was fostering we absolutely had to ensure any dog we had was able to cope with all different children coming into the house - some as emergencies, some who were used to kicking dogs, kids with a wide range of special needs, etc - i felt the safest route for us was to rehome a rescue dog. i was completely honest with the rescue and they matched us with an amazing dog. he has been with us 6 years now.

chickchickchicken · 18/05/2011 23:10

bast - i like the TVRD (thoroughly vetted rescue dog) breed best too

Bast · 18/05/2011 23:18

See, I started with Thoroughly Vetted, then thought Thoroughly Tested more apt

Throughout my whole life, T?RD's have most consistently been the more perfect family dogs.

chickchickchicken · 18/05/2011 23:24

TTRD you think is best? tis important as i want to use this whenever i am asked which breed

Bast · 18/05/2011 23:28

Hmmm, TT I think. Making clear that RD's tend to be safety tested! ...Given behavioural issues tend to be peoples first concern wrt RD's. I don't know, what do you think?

Bast · 19/05/2011 08:36

Sorry, should have said reaction tested.

Please look here

HooverTheHamaBeads · 19/05/2011 08:46

Can personally recommend Border Terriers. We have one aged 10 he has been here since a pup, he has been brilliant with the children and as they have grown up with him they have been taught to respect him from an early age. We have two other sets of friends with children and Borders as well. None of them have snapped or bitten. They are not yappy or barky either, ours is quiet except for when someone rings the bell.

chickchickchicken · 19/05/2011 16:24

bast - i think i prefer Thoroughly Tested Rescue Dog.

awww some lovely greyhounds on that link

Rootatoot · 19/05/2011 21:26

I'll second the border terrier vote. Ours is a sweetie with kids. Not great with other dogs sometimes mind you. Goes nuts at Dalmations, Labradors and generally anything big, daft and bouncy! But kids...my friend's 3 year old was being a horror one day. In space of 10 mins, he yanked my BT's tail, tried hitting him with a stick and chucked sand in his face. All my little BT wanted to do was get away and cuddle his mum!

I will also second the training of the children around dogs as well as dogs around children! ;)

bochead · 01/06/2011 06:04

I'd look honestly at which breeds you can give the appropriate levels of excercise to and house/feed etc properly. No point in getting a dog that requires a solid 2 hour walk 2x a day in hail, snow or sun then moaning later that the dog is unhappy/out of control cos you only take it round the block for 15 mins 3 x a day.

Can you afford the vets insurance premiums for that breed? (there is a HUGE variation!) What are the most common ailments. Some breeds require more grooming and maintenance than others - again be honest with yourself as to how much you are REALLY prepared to do.

How much training are you prepared to do? It's not always breed specific. My last dog required a hell of a lot of work on the training front as he'd been so mistreated by his previous owner. (24/7 leve stuff) On choosing my current one I had to be honest and say I wasn't willing to put in that level of effort with a nursery aged child to care for too. There are as many different personal circumstances as there are breeds of dog.

THEN I'd approach specific breed rescues rather than the generic Battersea type places. The smaller breed rescues tend to be MUCH better at matching you to a dog whose temperment suits yours. In my case I went with lurcher link (though I looked at a couple of spaniel places too as at the end of the day it's temperment not looks that really counts) who were happy that I was happy to wait 6-12 months to get the RIGHT dog. I crossed off my list any rescues I felt didn't want to hear MY needs as tbh adopting a new dog should be very much a 2 way street - you should feel able to ask the rescue lots of questions too, the good ones will welcome your interest.

Perhaps I was bit too fussy on this score but I'd recently lost an 18 year old much loved rescue dog + I have a kid with sen and the new dog was meant primarily as a companion for him long term. Don't rush your selection. We got a 3 year old whippet in the end who wouldn't suit everyone but for us is totally perfect and the benefits to my son have been immense.

chickchickchicken · 01/06/2011 09:11

bochead - thats a great story. yes i agree much better to wait for the right dog as that dog will hopefully be living with you for years

cupofteainpeace · 05/06/2011 21:43

Another Border Terrier fan here.
Never had any problems with the kids, dog knows which toys are hers and which are the childrens. Very clever and very loyal dog.

Even though she was sick in the hall today. yuck.

TIDDLYMUM · 05/06/2011 21:49

I have a border terrier. Great with all kids, very gentle and friendly.

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