Help with breed of dog for children

[amatuermummy]

I feel a bit silly asking this as I have shown and trained dogs for years, however we all tend to stick to our own breed and I need some help picking a breed to own now that we have young children. I prefer big dogs but don't think it would be a good idea to pick a large breed with a baby learning to crawl/walk and a 2 year old running around. We would like to get a small/medium breed that is good with people - especially children. We've researched breeds, looked on breed websites and spoken to some breeders but it's hard to know if they're just trying to sell you a puppy. I just wondered if you wonderful dog owners of mumsnet could give me your experiences, good and bad, of small/medium breeds to help us make our minds up. We're in no rush or anything and will obviously take our time choosing.
The reason we will not be getting a rescue dog at this time is because, having worked in dog rescue for many years, I know that most will not home dogs with young children and, also, I do intend to show the dog as a hobby as I have done this for around 20 years (mostly handling other people's dogs for the past few years).
Thanks for your help.

Smooth Collie - a vulnerable british breed, low upkeep coat and great with kids.

Whippet. WHIPPET!! Rescue whippet. You will never ever ever regret it.

Old English Sheepdog

They are beautiful, cuddly gentle dogs. Great with children though maybe too boisterous for your family situation. My aunt and uncle had a puppy when their first child was a baby then had two more children fairly quickly and the babies/toddlers coped really well with being knocked over here and there! No aggression, just playful.

You could show them as well though the grooming needs might be tough with a young family.

Another vote for Staffies.

I have a Chihuahua and Jack Russell. Both are fantastic with children, although most things I have read say that Chi's don't mix with children and neither do JR's.

Although having a JR is like having three hyper dogs in one package.

Definitely Whippets! I grew up with them and they are so beautiful and placid.

We got a cocker puppy when dd was 18mo and she was an absolute angel. She passed away last year and is very sadly missed. She was amazing with the Dcs, only thing I'd say is that they are very loyal to the point where mine didn't like to be more than 6ft away from me, which may be a little wearing.
Ddog now is her son. His dad is a collie x basset. (We call him a cock up!)
He's much less clingy than his mum and soft as lights. I think I love him more than I did his mother.
Personally the only terrier I would touch is a staff.
My next dog will be a miniature dachshund or a whippet. Long haired dogs are cuddly but create a lot of mess!

Obviously there are breed specific characteristics to take into account but really dogs are shaped by their owners. My mother is a dog trainer and says you get the dog you deserve. So if you put in the work and do lots of training and socialisation you'll likely get a great dog no matter what the breed. Really it depends on your lifestyle and what time of character would suit you best.

However I agree with those above - you can't really go wrong with a whippet or lurcher. They are Solar powered couch potatoes which give you limited harassment once they've had their walk for the day.

Just don't go on gumtree if you don't want o to break your heart. The number of dogs looking for a new home because feckless people got them and now can't be arsed looking after them anymore.

Staffy Every time with young kids.

I'd second pugs. Love walks but not mental if they are shortish, people pleasers, love kids and are very unto humans in a way I don't see with other dogs. They are small but tough so happy enough to be moved, sat on etc and just want to be part of family life + sleep a lot.

so friendly and enjoy company. Tho it gets a little claustrophobic when they insist on coming to the loo with you

GSD - the most loyal, lovely, calm and intelligent dogs there are.

We got a Tibetan Terrier pup in the summer when DD was 14mo and it's worked out really well. The two are really close, the dog is exceptionally tolerant of DD but my overall choice for a family dog would always be a GSD (from a line bred for temperatment and from a breeder who is meticulous about health screening).

We've just re-homed an 11 month old show cocker, and have a 3 year old and 7mth old. He has turned out to be the perfect family dog for us.

He's calm and gentle in the house with the children. He can deal with the chaos and slight unpredictability in walks (I had a border collie before that would start stalking you round the house if you didn't leave for a walk on time, which was rather wearing at times). Out on a walk he's a typical, slightly bonkers spaniel, who gets on with other dogs well.

It's still early days with us, and he needs training, but he's so sweet and tolerant (of the noise, we're not letting the 3 year old be rough with him), and robust enough that I don't have to worry if the 3 year old accidentally trips over him.

Golden retriever for me. Our boy is coming up to 2 and our DS was just 3 when we got him. They are great together and the dog is gentle with him and now he's a little older has calmed down a lot, everyone cannot believe how chilled out he is. We chose the breed for this very reason.

French bulldog: funny, loyal and good with children.

But after reading this hankering after a whippet

We have a jakwawa, Jack Russell chihouaoua (sp) and she is marvelous with my boys. We got her when my youngest Ds was 3 and she basicaly thought she was one of them right from the start. When they are playing in the garden she will pick up one of her toys and follow them all around the garden. So many people told us she will be snappy with the boys but in the two years Weve had her Weve never seen it. Also I am a childminder and look after a 7 month old and she really doesnt take much notice of him (unless he has a rusk ) I agree with the ladies who say as long as you train the pup properly it will grow up to BA a good Family pet no matter the bread. Would love a staff next

breed (stupid phone )

we have a GSD and he's amazing with our two DS's. Gsd is only 7 months old and thinks of DS 1 (4)& 2 (3 months) as his litter mates. we ended up with him by accident as a friend couldn't look after him and he's been the most amazing addition to our family . if I were to choose a breed of dog it would either be a GSD or a Staffie. another friend has 2 staffies and I've never met a more patient breed with children. they'll put up with anything and love everyone to death

Keep us posted ?

I had a cocker spaniel when my children were young, she was a fabulous dog, so gentle. We also had a german shepherd at the same time, again gentle with the babies/toddlers. I have fallen in love with poodle crosses, and currently have a labradoodle and a cockapoo. Labradoodles can be big dogs, and definitely need training and exercise, but mine (and the others I've cared for) have all been fantastic with children of any age. My doodle was also so kind and careful around my mum who had lost her sight and was a bit unsteady on her feet, my doodle was only a pup at this stage, but even at 12 months would just sit quietly by mum, no pestering or getting under the feet. The cockapoo is a joy, he loves everybody and is very gentle around children. My children's child minder had 3 staffies - they were fabulous dogs, and so good with the children.

Lotsofdogshere- i know i have raved about my working cocker but just wanted to agree with you about cockerpoos- they are lovely temperament like cockers and are gentle and smart- but even better their fur doesn't get everywhere- and having a small child around i do get anxious about dogs hair and hygiene. So in hindsight (although i wouldn't swap my lovely puppies) a cockerpoo is an excellent choice imo.

I don't think it's so much the breed of dog but the way it's socialised. My Lhasa adores DC although grumbles when she's had enough and goes to her bed where DC aren't allowed to touch her. Of my three dogs my GSD is the best natured animal ever both with DC and elderly relatives. He seems to know when to be bouncy and when to be calm. GSDs are a reliable breed (police use them as they are trainable and have a reliable response to situations).

I would steer clear of an older rescue without a clear background

My dog!! An enormous gorgeous black Labrador - although I'm sure he is part donkey (at 39kg!).

We brought DD home when she was 10 months - he adores her. They play happily together. He is endlessly patient, lets her climb on him, plays gentle tug of war with her, and doesn't mind too much when she tries to lick him

We have been fostering a King Charles Cavalier. He is the most well behaved, kind, friendly dog I have ever had! Excellent with children- sleepy alot of the time but can run really fast on walks and plays beautifully too.

Agree with everyone saying cocker spaniels. My parents had one when I was born until I was and great with children

Also agree with people who say border terrier

lotsofdogshere Re: poodle crosses/cockapoos, I'm sure many people would say this about their own breeds too, but my cockapoo has been fantastic since I broke my leg. He has spent long days on the end of my bed, and he picked up straight away that he had to give my leg a wide berth. He gets excited when I come home, but bounces from a distance, unlike with everyone else, where he likes to get up close. He's scared of my crutches probably because I dropped one on him and avoids them like the plague.
I love him to bits.

I bought a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel specifically because I wanted a safe dog when I had teeny children/babies. There is no safer breed, I don't think.

He is 12 now and despite all the bad press about the breed, he has never had an ill day or needed the vet and is still hale and hearty - I think he will live for years, yet.