Best big dog with kids?

[SnotRags]

What big/giant dog breed would you recommend with small children? Nothing too excitable/energetic but with a bit of intelligence and willingness to train in obedience.

I have two wolfhounds. They can be let off lead. The prey drive varies. Mine would chase but can be called back. They are fine with all dogs and live with cats.

Another leonberger owner here. I would absolutely second everything that's been said about them. Gentle, calm and incredibly loving. Happy with a marathon or a short walk. Or indeed no walk. The ideal giant breed. We had a newfie who was equally gentle and good with the children but always a bit aloof whereas I know my Leo adores us all as she watches us all the time.

@bollocksthemess
I've got Vizslas, goldens make mine look like they're on crack
I own a similar breed, also social and well-trained, and yep, on crack compared to most of the other dogs we see.

I missed the bit in the OP about doing obedience training - obviously that's not high on the list of basset hound strong points! But it's surprising what you can achieve with the right incentives: my basset could differentiate between left paw and right paw, and usually came back when requested. And they are fabulous family dogs - just be careful about finding a decent breeder, as they're often puppyfarmed.

How important is the obedience thing? Do you want reliable recall or weekends spent going through slalom poles and seesaws? most dogs can do obedience work, if you're patient enough, but not many of the bigger breeds are naturally wired for it in the same way that a collie/spaniel/lab/GSD is.

Don’t assume a large dog will deter break ins - we were burgled while my rottie was in the house, he didn’t alert us at all.

Of the large breeds labs and GSDs are usually the best burglar deterrent - not because they’ll guard, but because they’re vocal.

Giants, IME Newfoundlands are barky.

The big thing though to point out is that people are recommending things like rotties, labs and boxers when you said you wanted not energetic... on the whole, they’re pretty lively, they’re not the sort of breed to get it what you want is a couch potato up for a stroll.

Also - easy to get to a high standard of obedience does usually correlate with energy levels, less energetic breeds are harder to motivate.

I have some experience with deerhounds and Great Danes and I wouldn’t recommend either as sounding like they suit what you’ve said you want tbh, so I’ll leave the individual breed discussion to people that have them. But, there are some practicality issues with giant breeds, space and cost mostly - I love deerhounds, for instance, but I don’t have one because I drive a normal size car and I’m not willing to drive something big enough for that size dog, and they’re smaller than many giant breeds.

We have a German shepherd. 1/10, do not recommend.

Boxer , greyhound or lurcher.

@Dogdayafternoonz

I wouldn't get a rottweiler with kids on the house. Even if you didn't work about your own kids other people won't let their kids go round to play with your kids if you have a rottweiler.

I'd get a lab or a golden retriever or a lurcher.

I don't agree with this, the dog I'm most cautious of is Labs as they cause most bites to kids.

@llm24

Boxer They are gentle giants 🐶

Agree with this boxers are amazing with kids. I grew up with them and have owned them as a adult too. They are fantastic dogs.

I don't agree with this, the dog I'm most cautious of is Labs as they cause most bites to kids.

But one of the reasons labs bite the most is because there are so many of them. Along with the staffy, they're the most popular breed of dog in the UK, so it's not surprising the statistics say labs are biters.

But, rightly or wrongly, people are cautious of breeds like German Shepherds and Rottweilers and you will find it puts people off letting their children come over, etc.

@Indoctro Labs may bite more often, but do they cause more fatalities?!

Statistically, Rottweilers cause a huge proportion of fatal dog attacks. They may be extremely nice dogs, but if they choose to attack there is almost zero chance of being able to overpower the dog. Why would anyone want to have a dog with young kids that is pure muscle and can overpower any grown man let alone a child.

I'm not a fan of labs (actually my parents' neighbour got attacked by one recently and had to go to hospital when the lab tried to attack her dog and she was defending it) but their attacks aren't nearly as serious as those of Rottweilers.

Also, my daughter's best friend owns two GSD who live in their garden and the kids are totally terrified of them and wouldn't go into the garden because they're untrained and scary. I wouldn't get a GSD either.

@fairylightsandwaxmelts

I don't agree with this, the dog I'm most cautious of is Labs as they cause most bites to kids.

But one of the reasons labs bite the most is because there are so many of them. Along with the staffy, they're the most popular breed of dog in the UK, so it's not surprising the statistics say labs are biters.

But, rightly or wrongly, people are cautious of breeds like German Shepherds and Rottweilers and you will find it puts people off letting their children come over, etc.

Staffy way outweigh labs in statistics for most popular dog if you took in account unregistered dogs yet Labs are still the highest bites .

Also twice out walking , my dog has been attacked quite aggressively , my dog on the lead and the other dog not and rushing over and attacking

And both times it was a Lab

So I'm am cautious of them and don't really like my kids around then.

That's just my view of them. I don't trust them.

And the Boxer I know is amazing with kids, but SO high energy!!!!

@EffYou I also have a GSD and she’s rubbish as a family pet
I love her to pieces but she really does make life hard!

Another vote for a Leonberger. My sister occasionally looks after one and she is amazing with the dc. She just lies there in whatever room they are in, they hurdle her or make race tracks around her and she just doesn't bat an eyelid. When some one gets hurt she lollops over to make sure that they are alright, she is so steady and gentle.

[quote XelaM]@Indoctro Labs may bite more often, but do they cause more fatalities?!

Statistically, Rottweilers cause a huge proportion of fatal dog attacks. They may be extremely nice dogs, but if they choose to attack there is almost zero chance of being able to overpower the dog. Why would anyone want to have a dog with young kids that is pure muscle and can overpower any grown man let alone a child.

I'm not a fan of labs (actually my parents' neighbour got attacked by one recently and had to go to hospital when the lab tried to attack her dog and she was defending it) but their attacks aren't nearly as serious as those of Rottweilers.

Also, my daughter's best friend owns two GSD who live in their garden and the kids are totally terrified of them and wouldn't go into the garden because they're untrained and scary. I wouldn't get a GSD either.[/quote]
Sorry im not saying I would trust a rottie either , my comment wasn't about that , it was in reply to the comment above about people won't let there kids to play at your house , so get a Labrador

I was meaning I wouldn't send my kids to a house with a Labrador , I do not think they are this gentle breed people insist they are. Im wary of them.

@Indoctro Ahh sorry. I agree.

But Leonbergers sound amazing. I now want one!

Labrador.
BUT have you considered the expense of owning a large breed - and the grooming etc. Lots to think about.

Have a GSD. Incessant barking. Excitable. Wouldn't recommend as a family pet -- spends a huge portion of the day just looking out the window waiting for a dog to go crazy barking at, then has to be pulled away from the window and shut in hallway until said dog/cat/whatever is out of sight. Has an issue with nibbling fabric (your jumper sleeve for example) when excited... affectionately but annoyingly! Huge amount of shedding also...

That's the bad side. The good side is you feel safe with him as he is impeccable at guarding, and he so earnestly loves being around you. I don't for one second doubt he loves us and would protect us. He loves to sit on laps even though he is fully sized GSD... but God is he needy and barky.

Ps- any dog can bite and cause considerable damage.
My JRT gave me a black eye- I’m luckily I didn’t lose it.

[quote Leonberger]@EffYou I also have a GSD and she’s rubbish as a family pet
I love her to pieces but she really does make life hard![/quote]
Mine is a girl too. She's almost four and she's, to put it quite bluntly, an absolute liability. When we go on holiday I genuinely breathe a sigh of relief when she goes to the dog sitter because she's such hard work and I need a break!

@Suzi888

Ps- any dog can bite and cause considerable damage. My JRT gave me a black eye- I’m luckily I didn’t lose it.

The only dog that ever bit me was a Jack Russell, it was a nasty bite too. Not the best 11th birthday it has to be said, and I only walked past it (owner had it on a lead too!) and it turned sharply and latched onto the back of my leg.

Yea I know fatalities with JRTs are rate, I'm just saying they can be snappy.

@Indoctro I'm sorry you've had bad experiences :(

I'm also not a huge fan of Labradors but in society as a whole, they don't have the same negativity attached to them that Rottweilers do.

I do think it's important to think about your breeds' reputation when you have small children and will therefore be hosting playdates with other small children. You don't want your DC to miss out because you've picked a breed that other people (rightly or wrongly) think badly of.

I work with dogs and have been bitten twice - once by a small terrier mix who barely broke the skin, and once by a Labrador who bit so badly I couldn't use my hand properly for almost a week. They may be touted as a family friendly breed but they have a bloody nasty bite on them.

[quote fairylightsandwaxmelts]@Indoctro I'm sorry you've had bad experiences :(

I'm also not a huge fan of Labradors but in society as a whole, they don't have the same negativity attached to them that Rottweilers do.

I do think it's important to think about your breeds' reputation when you have small children and will therefore be hosting playdates with other small children. You don't want your DC to miss out because you've picked a breed that other people (rightly or wrongly) think badly of.

I work with dogs and have been bitten twice - once by a small terrier mix who barely broke the skin, and once by a Labrador who bit so badly I couldn't use my hand properly for almost a week. They may be touted as a family friendly breed but they have a bloody nasty bite on them.[/quote]
Staffies and boxers are the dogs I trust the most with kids , through my own experiences with the breeds over the years

I grew up with JRTs they would snap at you, had a rescue greyhound and she would growl first but then snap if you put your face near her. Had a lurcher who was a lovely dog but high prey drive so not ideal for off walk leads with kids incase it buggers off.

@BlueSkyeThinker I agree, there is a misconception that bassets are lazy and untrainable and the paw thing proves it!

Mine has reliable recall and is very energetic when playing with doggy pals, they are far from untrainable, you just need to work with them differently.

I always find it odd that bassets aren't more popular as family dogs, they are patient with children and will just sit there getting all the attention. Brilliant dogs, I adore them.