Dog breeds that won't turn on children

[Chickpearocker]

I really want to get a dog but with having a toddler I'm terrified of getting a dog that would bite it seriously hurt him. Are there any breeds that are safer than others, or less likely to turn. I've been told that surprisingly smaller breeds can be quite viscious even though they look small and innocent. Please help!

It really depends on the dog and the owner rather than a specific breed.

The dog had to be trained and TBH so does the child!

I have french bulldogs and they are great with kids.

Any dog big or small can turn on a child. There is not a breed that will guarantee not to.

Any dog can and will bite, its all in how you socialise and train them.....oh and the same goes for children!

Any breed can bite, although I suppose some breeds wouid Fo more damage if they did.
Small children and dogs must never be left alone.
I would wait until your child is older so they understand how to respect the dogs boundaries

It's all about upbringing and temperament. Any dog even if it is the most "kid friendly" breed, can be driven to bite if warning signals are ignored and the dog feels it has no other choice.

How much time do you have for walks and how long is the dog likely to be left alone during the day, if at all?

German shepherd dogs are great in every way!

Think long and hard before getting a dog though, even small breeds need a lot more exercise than you think they would. Dog training classes are a must too in you are inexperienced.

Massive X-post :D

Family dog is a well trained dog.
Any breed!!

There is no breed guaranteed not to bite a child or anyone else.

I have had, bred and shown dogs all my life from giant breeds to our current Cavalier King Charles and never had a problem with either my 2 children or 4 grandchildren. There are some breeds to obviously be avoided of course and they're the ones you see on the news who have attacked someone.

There are also a number of breeds I personally think are a bad fit, but for everyone I mention there will always be a story. Of someone who has one that's as good as gold.

So my advice is choose a soft mouthed dog like a Cavalier Or Golden Retreiver etc. Secondly, train that puppy from the day you pick it up so it knows what's expected of it and it's position in your family ( I.e below all the adults even the little ones).

Thirdly, train your toddler ! Gentle hands, kind words, no poking, prodding or tail pulling. Teach them the exact same things you use, for things like sit, down, stay and give.

Lastly, if it shows food aggression or god forbid it snaps or shows any form of aggression then it needs either rehoming or retraining ( or if it was mine I would probably have it put to sleep rather than pass on problems). Yes it's harsh but at the end of the day it's the safety of your child that's paramount.

Breed has very little bearing on whether a dog is safe with children. It's got far more to do with individual temperament (which is a combination of genetics and upbringing, this is an excellent article on the subject) and being responsible in how they're allowed to interact.

No dog is 100% without risk (they are animals after all and even the soundest tempered dog can react badly if they're ill or in pain) and even small dogs can do plenty of damage if they are so inclined.

There's some really good resources regarding dogs and children linked to on this list and this website is also well worth a look.

Are you prepared to be picking up shit a couple of times a day, examining it every now and then to check for worms etc?

It's hard work

We have a mini Schnauzer, which is a breed that is reputed to be very good with kids. And he is, he's very patient - we knew we planned to have kids when we got him so he was socialised with small kids and also obedience trained.

But if I could go back in time I would have waited to get a dog until the kids were older. It's just not fair on him - even though we don't allow the kids and the dog to be alone together he still occasionally gets manhandled, plus he gets less attention than he should with a baby and a pre-schooler to compete with. I think he will love it once the kids are 5+ but it's been a less than optimal couple of years for him in the meantime.

I have two labs - my youngest DC was 6 when we got the eldest. As everyone has said ANY dog can turn and it's down to good training of the dog and children!!

I personally think the hard work of having a dog and the hard work of having a toddler are particularly incompatible.

Why do you want a dog right now? Is there any way of postponing this?

As everyone has said all dogs have the potential to turn. Will you be able to train the dog and supervise your toddler at all times (or separate them if needed)?

You don't sound very experienced with dogs, so I would suggest not getting one until your DCs are older. When you do get one, if you go for an adult from a rescue, you'll have a better idea of the temperament.

You don't sound very experienced with dogs, so I would suggest not getting one until your DCs are older. When you do get one, if you go for an adult from a rescue, you'll have a better idea of the temperament.

I got my dog when DS was 2! (BUT, I have had dogs all my life & DS is my 2nd child... so I knew what I was taking on.)

Nevertheless, I choose a breed that is renowned as a family dog. Top of my criteria was a non hunting, non fighting & low- ish energy breed. (Always make sure you understand the original purpose of your dog.) On top of that, I also wanted an intelligent dog that is easily trained. Size wise I looked at medium to small but not tiny....

I think, you are better off with a "shopping list" and look into all the different breeds on offer to see what takes your fancy.
Before you settle on a dog, have a look at your toddler how much time and energy is left for training, guiding and loving the dog? At what point are you running out of patience? Than have a look at training: available classes in your area- you should not underestimate the importance of training. Have you got the time and energy to commit?
If in doubt, wait a few years...

Which breed did you get Ylvamoon?

I would reiterate what has already been said about general experience with dogs, but if you're decided that you want one I would highly recommend looking at the Hungarian Vizsla. I have 2. They are exceptionally gentle, loyal, and they are wonderful with children of all ages, from babies right through to older kids.

parklives it's really personal choice there are soo many breeds and crosses out there... but I went for the lesser known: Tibetan Terrier a true K9 clown. I love them soo much & have 2 now, but also found out that they are not very tolerant towards toddlers - they can't stand it, if someone else is stealing the show. This can lead to a rivalry of who is the naughtiest, can jump the highest or eat the most!

(Fun aside, I would not recommend them as a first dog with a toddler! For children above 5 years, they are great little partners in crime. They are very clever, loving and totally devoted to their humans. But will seek entertainment elsewhere if needed!)

I think you should get a cat instead

Labradors are the ideal family dog IMO. I grew up with them, and have had them as an adult, and have never known one be anything but dopey and soppy with children (and everyone). Gorgeous dogs.

But like pp's have said, any dog can turn.

The problems with labradors are many - they are big, hairy, shed hair everywhere, need a lot of exercise, are greedy. They will snatch food from your toddler's hand and lick food from their face. Unless very well trained. They are clumsy and will knock your toddler over. They will chew up your toddler's toys.

In fact, are you aware that pretty much any puppy will need house training which means clearing up dog poo/wee from carpets and floors, will chew up your toddlers toys, your shoes, pretty much anything? And will need walking - rain or shine, whether you and your toddler are ill etc etc.

Think very carefully - I found our puppy harder work than our newborn babies. Not something to be taken on lightly.

Thank you so much for the comments! I have a lot to think about. I'm at home all day and my toddler will soon be going to playschool 3 mornings a week. I usually spend around an hour outdoors every day sometimes more. In terms of space the dog would have approximately 0.5 to 1 acre at least to potter about. Growing up we had a golden retriever and a Yorkshire terrier. I am aware of the grooming, vet bills, toilet training etc. I was planning on going to dog training classes. My toddler is surprisingly gentle and not overly excited or bothered by dogs. Growing up I found yorkies to be quite nippy. I know you can not eliminate risk I was hoping maybe a vet or experienced breeder could tell me about their personal experiences, which breeds they would recommend or avoid.

As I said I would hate to think of bringing a dog into my home to hurt my child that's my main concern but one that I can't guarantee.

To the person who said get a cat and other posters who have assumed I am dumb please don't be so judgemental. There is no reason why anyone can't get a dog if they have proper time and energy to give it, you shouldn't need to be an experienced dog owner already! Also having a toddler shouldn't exclude someone from dog ownership. So much negativity every time I read a thread on here trying to put people off getting a dog.

To everyone else thank you I will look into those breeds.

Growing up with a dog is a great experience for a child.
My sister has two young children and a dog, it's lovely to see the eldest training the dog, and DN has become more tolerant and understanding of the dog over time.
As people have said, it's more about the individual dog. Our pug is quite a dominant dog. He has improved lately though, I can now send him to his bed if he starts to gets growly, whereas he used to stand his ground and refuse to budge.