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!

As most folks have said, it's not the breed, it's the training of both the dog and the humans. So much depends upon the dog's temperament and training. Most importantly, dog needs his own space like a comfy crate which is strictly out of bounds to toddler. Never leave any dog alone with any baby or toddler unless you have a playpen and crate (stairgates on their own can be jumped over).

Train all humans in the house to respect the dog and be aware of signs of stress. Train the dog to understand that he is bottom of the pack and can relax when humans are present.

With a toddler I would say make your life as easy as possible with a non/minimally moulting breed like a mini schnauzer. Personally I find dogs more tolerant than bitches with children but that is purely my experience.

It's got nothing to do with breed, breed is only important in that you pick one that suits what you can offer.

And as it's been mentioned a couple of times, soft mouthed has nothing at all to do with willingness to bite or strength of bite...it refers specifically to breeds who are bred to carry things gently, not relevant at all - unless you're planning on them retrieving your children.

LanceLottie you say that, however last year our Labrador died aged 13, and after some googling about his breeder we found out he came from what is considered a 'puppy farm' and the breeder had received complaints.
When we went to buy him, he was in an outdoor kennel with gates around it, and there was other puppies with their mothers under heat lamps in a large outhouse shed.
It all looked nice and professional, but it certainly wasn't a 'family' environment, but not like some of the awful puppy farms you see on tele.

We picked our Labrador because he was quite gentle, whilst the other puppies were pulling on my trousers, he just gently copied them.
It was love at first sight. He was bought home to my 9 month old niece and was used to small children from the get go.

I think it's pot luck, and we've been very lucky with both our dogs.
It's definitely worth choosing a dog after spending a decent amount of time with them, and I don't think you can merely rely on training to stop them from snapping.

Iv been bitten/attacked by 3 dogs as a child.
(Still have large scar on my arm)

First was a German Shepard when I was a child, he jumped over our fence and attacked me.
2nd was a King Charles spaniel when I was 6, just started shaking and then came up and bit me.
The last was a Cocker spaniel, who I knew really well, and was just stroking gently, and she decided to put a hole through my finger.

Traits to be wary of is nervousness, and fear.
Neither of my dogs were that way inclined, but my MIL who's dog is a jack Russel, is a very nervous dog and has bitten many people.

I also think dogs need plenty of exercise, to help them relax and feel calm.
A lot of the reports you see on the news are from dogs who have been kept cooped up, and become tormented because of it.

Dogs need love, respect and boundaries and the ability to have a proper dogs life. Runs of the lead, plenty of simulation and freedom to be the animal that they are.

Stay well away from anyone, trainer, breeder or anyone else who tries to give you advice that recommends pack theory as a way to train dogs. it's been widely debunked and is a load of old nonsense to be honest. This includes anyone who tells you a dog must know its place in the family and that it is the bottom of the pecking order.

Do not underestimate the amount of time and work that puppies take. They are worse than newborns.

Agree with Labs from crap breeders. Hullygully is a brilliant example.

Of her siblings, one went back to rescuer, one has had thousands spent on behaviourists, her brother and her are still with their original owners and doing ok, but both are batshit. The 'breeder' simply took two attractive dogs to turn a quick buck, knowing the stud had behaviourial issues

And as if she knows I'm talking about here she appears

Don't get a puppy if you have a toddler. ALL puppies bite. They grab with their teeth and chew fucking everything. My youngest is seven. We waited.
All dogs have the ability to turn. No child should be allowed to grab a sleeping or eating dog. No dog should be climbed over or forced to play.
Dogs and young children should never be left unsupervised. Learn about dog body language so you can tell if your dog is happy with any interaction or not.

agree with you their Neon. Includes people who tell you to take food away from your dog as a method of getting them to know their place in the family

I love Hullygully. I can tell she's a thinker.

You really cannot tell which dog won't turn on a child by picking a breed alone
I was mauled by a black Labrador when I was young, until that day everyone who knew that dog said it was the perfect family pet, would trust the dog with babies crawling around it, never had an aggressive bone in its body etc When people found out that I had to have my face reconstructed and have my nose reattached because of that so called perfect dog they were genuinely shocked.
Every dog is capable of biting, you can only do your very best by training well and supervising. I've had dogs for years since the attack (never a black lab 😂) and will always have them around but I dedicate a lot of time to training which all good owners do.

Toddlers and dogs are a bad mix, is wait till your child is over 5?

Toddlers and dogs are fine, its toddlers and puppies that are hard bloody work, like having 5 toddlers to look after with extra shitting on the floor .

It is do-able OP but be prepared - its not easy, but there again nothing that gives as much pleasure as having a dog is ever easy!

TheHobbit out of all the lab owners I know, it's the ones wth black labs that tend to have the problems with aggression and I have no idea why???

We have a mini schnauzer - breed selected because of their reputation and our experience of them as good family dogs. She is a delight and my children all love her. She will snuggle up with them and largely enjoys how affectionate they are with her (though they have all been well versed in signs that she's had enough!).

We got her just as youngest kids were turning eight. Personally, I would have found it hard to manage the kids and dog logistics much before that. Eg, if one of the kids is at home ill, dog still needs walking. Our dog recently gobbled a packet of raisins and had to go to the vets and be walked around by me for an hour when they'd induced vomiting. It wasn't much fun with three junior-age kids, I would have found it very difficult when they were smaller.

Another thing I don't think anyone has mentioned - it's not just your child you will need to think about/manage with the dog. Some of my children's friends are very scared of dogs and them visiting our house needs very careful management. If you have a toddler, your dog is probably going to come across a lot of other small children.

Just some thoughts. I should also add that, though the logistics of dog-ownership can be a bit of a pain sometimes, having the dog has brought enormous pleasure for our family as well. The relationship you can have with your dog as a child is very special.

Nothing is guaranteed - my DD was bitten by our family pet which was a miniature breed. Yet one of my relatives has a huge mastiff which although I would never 100% trust any dog around my kids is one of the softest loving best behaved dogs I've ever come across (and she is a rescue dog was badly treated malnourished etc)

I'm sad to say I feel like the consensus is I should wait. I always imagined my child growing up with dogs as well as being a companion for me. I feel like having a dog is almost therapeutic. I imagined having almost like a second child.

To be honest I didn't realise it wasn't recommended to have a dog and toddler. I feel very conflicted now like it would be a terrible thing to do.

Thank you for all your stories and recommendations I really appreciate it.

I've got a chihuahua which nsoynpeople will say are awful dogs to have with children

But she's been amazing with my two (4 and 2)

She's a bit nippy like all puppies are, and I've got to be on the ball to make sure none of my children pick her up, as that's where the most danger is;- her getting hurt by being dropped.

Apart from that she is very laid back and loving. Not at all snappy

Both myself and DH love dogs (we were brought up with them), but until the kids are old enough to be trustworthy around animals alone, we are sticking with two cats and Rufus, our imaginary Red Setter.

Another vote for picking a good breeder (and I love bonker spaniels) and aiming for a dog you can comfortably handle with a pushchair.

OP - what about dog walking for a rescue? Some really like having volunteers - even if they have young (but sensible) DC with them, to walk dogs. It would give you some of the benefits of having a dog and allowing you to see so elements of how manageable DC and dogs are together, without any committments.

I understand how you feel with the companion for you and DC getting to grow up with dogs. It's not easy but it is doable although you do have to be very careful about DC around dog.

There are many families who get a dog and it's a big mistake for them (and most of all for the poor dog) - I know a number of families who have made that mistake.
However there are also families like mine, where a dog has been the best thing for us (although not always easy). I am a single parent and have a now 1yr old Cavalier, with DC who are now 2&5yrs (were 1&4 when pup came home). I think it has worked for me because I was under no illusions about the challenges of having young DC and a dog together, so I knew there would be difficulties and extra work involved in it and accepted that before I had a dog. He has been fantastic for my mental health and the walks with the DC are lovely (although if dog plays up at same time as toddler it can be hard work). The DC love him and he loves the DC. So if you can look honestly at all the challenges and think yes I can definitely do that then, I think you can manage a puppy/dog. If you have any doubts, whatsoever, don't put yourself, your DC or a dog through it. It's just not fair on any of you.

My youngest was 7 yo when we got our Westie.

He has been wonderful with the children growing up, very tolerant. I remember we had friends staying with us with their toddler who didn't like dogs, she was scared at first but slowly over the weekend came around to liking my boy, even giving him biscuits and telling him "no! Don't touch that", which he listened too.

Made me so proud of him as he was only young himself. He'd sit right up close to her when she played with toys on the floor happy to watch her.

Never left them alone obviously but for that weekend he became her shadow instead of mine, it was amazing to see it.

Since then he's been swamped by 30+ school kids out on a field trip, teacher horrified until she saw he was completely at ease with them all, rolled over for tummy rubs.

Yes, he's a terrier .... somewhere deeply hidden.

I'm not against getting a puppy with a toddler - I think a puppy would be nicely socialised by playing with, and growing up with a young child.

My own parents got our first lab when I was a baby - and I cannot tell you how much that dog meant to me. Can't imagine my childhood without her

However, I do wonder at my mum's sanity - new baby and a puppy - until we got our pup as an adult, I had no idea how much work they were.

It's just that hard work, as well as having a baby/toddler, that makes me say beware. Soooo many people get a dog, and often say 'oh we got xyz breed because so-and-so's dog is so lovely' - and then get a puppy and find the training/puppy behaviour too much. Dog ends up being rehomed, on Gumtree, in a rescue centre etc.

My own neighbour did this - bought a pup on gumtree, then put him back on gumtree a few weeks later because he kept weeing in the house. Then a year later did the same bloody thing all over again with a different breed. I was extremely Poor dogs.

I will get flamed but I would avoid terriers. And never never put a Viszla on your list....take it from me....exhausting 😀

I wouldn't consider a dog until my dc were at least 5 as i don't believe children younger than that can be trusted to behave around dogs.

The dog walking sounds like a good idea I will look into that. As much as I think I could supervise my child all of the time, I couldn't guarantee it, and so I suppose it wouldn't be fair on a dog or the child.

Have a look at the Cinnamon Trust. They offer services to elderly or unwell people. You can choose how much or little to walk.

I couldn't have coped with a puppy and a pre school child. Toilet training means you can't take your eyes off the puppy. Chewing means the same. Puppies bite. Bloody needle sharp teeth!