Families with children should pay due attention when choosing a dog to join the family. Certain breeds are simply not good as a childs companion. Still, it is impossible to list all the breeds that may be best for children, as it highly depends on each dogs personality, and also many other aspects such as training, age and size. It depends on the child personality as well. Older children can better understand behavior, character and needs of a dog, while smaller kids will, of course, be tempted to disturb the dog regardless of its mood.

When it comes to children, there are many factors that determine whether or not a dog will get along with them. One of the most important is proper obedience training. Until the dog is fully trained, do not let children be alone with your new pet. There must always be an adult supervising their interaction. Not only the dog has to be trained, but also children need to be taught how to properly communicate with dog, and how to conduct themselves around their four legged friend.

Pay attention to age and size of the dog. The best solution is to get adult dog that has already been around children. Getting a puppy may take some additional training and care, which can be turn into a demanding job, having both small children and small dogs in the house. Do not get a large dog if you have small kids, and avoid getting a small dog if your children are pre-teens as they may unintentionally hurt a dog while playing.

Another very important issue to consider is the dog personality. What you are looking for is an intelligent dog with moderate energy level and gentle personality. There are breeds that are better with children than others. Labradors or Golden Retrievers are great with children and are very intelligent, still they need additional exercise, otherwise they will become hyperactive (and you don’t want that). Poodles are also a good choice for families. They are very smart, and come in different sizes to choose from. The only possible disadvantage is that they need regular grooming. Beagles are another option. They are friendly, intelligent, and very easy to train. You may also consider the Cairn Terrier breed or German Shepherds, as both breeds are very loyal, protective and great with children if properly trained.

And the last, but not the least is the mutt or mixed-breed dog. Those amazing dogs are typically very intelligent and well balanced. They can be great companions for children. Furthermore, by saving a dog from life in a shelter, you give a valuable life lessen to your child. Lessons learned about animal life will influence their attitudes toward human life as well. By adopting a dog, children will learn what it means to take responsibility for all living things. They will also understand that taking responsibility for a living being is a lifetime commitment, and will realize that everybody deserves a second chance.

In your searching for a dog, you may want to visit local rescue groups and shelters. You will notice that those dogs are taken a good care of. And, importantly, people from shelters honestly want those dogs to find right homes. Therefore, they will be very honest about the dog’s personality and temperament. They will make sure you choose a dog which best suits your lifestyle and is good with children.

Take a look at our list of dog shelters.

Once you finally choose your new family member, sit back, watch and enjoy the beautiful bond growing between your child and dog. It can be truly magical.

Reference:

dogs.about.com

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