Best with kids...

[Shannerson]

Which dog breeds are known to be better with young children? I know no breed is fool-proof, but I am curious as to everyone's experience what they think are the "best" breeds for a family with little kids. (well-behaved kids, of course). I know my border collie/samoyed mix is excellent with kids, but then he is not a breed either, just a happy mutt.

 

[bubbatd]

Of course I'm very partial to Golden Retrievers , but with kids only from a good breeder if you want a pup . Otherwise I recommend an older dog from a rescue .

 

[HoundedByHounds]

My Leo...and Leo's in general are very good with children. I am amazed how naturally gentle and wonderful Cleo is with my kids. Aside from very minor tweaking of her behaviors, she came to us at 4mo very nice with kids. From what I gather...it's a Leonberger trait.

 

[Maxy24]

American Pit Bull Terriers and American Staffordshire Terriers are known to be an awesome breed for people with children so long as they have the time to exercise them.

 

[borzoimom]

Well... when I was young my parents had cavaliers. The Cavaliers were great with kids. Another idea would be a miniture poodle. ( also had a child )...

 

[HoundedByHounds]

Beagles also are a good fit for those looking for a smaller dog...sturdy enough for rambunctious play...forgiving of tresspasses, and always up for fun. Proper exercise and training is a given tho. And also supervision and containment as they can be prone to follow their noses.

 

[Gempress]

I think any dog can be great with kids if raised with them. For young kids, I'd say any breed over 15 pounds. Anything smaller might be a bit to fragile to withstand rambunctious play.

 

[eddieq]

I agree with Gempress. I have no facts or research to back it up, but my opinion is that it has a lot to do with nurture and proper training.

All in all - you need a Xena She takes whatever the kids can throw at her and comes back for more. I don't think she's ever even nipped at them, even as a puppy.

 

[KatzNK9]

I'm partial to Golden Retrievers but I agree with Gempress about a 15+ pound dog.

Beagles, as recommended above, are a great choice if you're looking for a small dog.

 

[corgi_love]

I think any dog can be great with kids if raised with them. For young kids, I'd say any breed over 15 pounds. Anything smaller might be a bit to fragile to withstand rambunctious play.

I have to agree. We got a beagle that was absolutely terrible, biting & nipping- the whole deal. So I was always weary of them, but I met some really great ones that are great with kids! So I think it is really dependant on the dog and how they are raised.

Regis is great with kids, but I socialized him with kids, adults, dogs, and cats at a young age- which I really attribute to his patients and good behavior! My collie, though, was trouble. But I was young and my parents didn't know how to train him, so I'm sure he could've been great had we known what we were doing. I think many dogs can have potential to be great with kids!

 

[mrose_s]

Staffordshire Bull Terriers are top of my list

Then APBT, AmStaffs and Bull Terrier

 

[Bahamutt99]

My APBTs like children, even though they weren't extensively exposed to them. When they're young and rowdy, though, they can be a bit much for a child to handle. They like to play exuberantly, and though they don't mean any harm, they can beat you to mush just with their tails. So my vote would be a well-trained APBT.

 

[ihartgonzo]

Fozzie is really amazing with kids. I don't think I've ever seen a dog who is so kid-friendly, and gentle, and patient. He's a Corgi mix. As far as I've experienced, Corgis tend to be very good with polite children... as long as they are properly trained, exercised, and socialized. Any herding breed can and will nip/herd running children, if they're allowed, and if the behavior isn't immediately "nipped" in the bud. ; )

Lots of dogs of individual breeds can be great with children. I would recommend first narrowing down what breeds of dogs would really fit your lifestyle in general, and then decide which breed tends to be most kid-friendly. Dogs who are patient, soft-mouthed, and have a high pain threshold/high tolerance usually make the best kid dogs.

 

[Amstaffer]

Staffordshire Bull Terriers are top of my list

Then APBT, AmStaffs and Bull Terrier

I agree! The Staffy (SBT) is called the "Nanny" dog for a reason. They are smaller and somewhat calmer than Amstaffs and have patience that many breeds just don't have.

 

[mrose_s]

I talk about this all the time but a lot of my memories growing up were at my aunties house. SHe had a SBT and a APBT mix, me, my sister and both the dogs used to crawl into the one dog bed to sleep. The pit mix adored me, she followed me everywhere and rested her head in my lap everytime I sat down.
Those 2 dogs taught me a lot growing up (it was their old cat you had to watch out for) and I will never forget them. They were both incredibly special.

 

[BostonBanker]

Beagles and pugs are two that always pop into my mind as usually being great with children, and also being ideally sized - small enough not to accidendtly knock kids over or injure them with glee, but sturdy enough not to be easily injured themselves.

 

[puppydog]

I like Nile Crocs with kids myself.

 

[Mach1girl]

APBT or the immediate like. No doubt.

Always a larger dog of course, for the dogs sake. Kids can get roguh on litle ones.

But the APBT are so smart and sensitive.

Nanny dogs

Editied to add-for a childs pet, always get a puppy, NOT an adult apbt, that has been used to other families w/ or w/out children. Start fresh.

 

[DogstarAcademy]

I would say that collies are generally wonderful with kids. Spitz- while the boys are generally over 15 pounds, I wouldn't put with younger kids- under 5 or so- unless the parents are really on top of training. Spitz can be REALLY mouthy. (I adore Lizzie, but she's not great with little kids, she's got very little patience- she'll be fine once she matures, but right now as a teenager, she is Not Into children- she's not actively BAD, she just doesn't like Holding! Still! And! Not Leaping!) And corgis are another one that are smallish and they can be great with kids BUT *will* take it upon themselves to discipline what THEY percieve as bratty behavior if adults don't supervise fairly well. (I'd say the Cardis are better than the Pems, though, and the boys are AWESOME as a general rule.)

 

[Maxy24]

Editied to add-for a childs pet, always get a puppy, NOT an adult apbt, that has been used to other families w/ or w/out children. Start fresh.

You could get a puppy but you'd have to deal with nipping and all the "bad" behaviors puppies have. I think an adult dog known to be good with children is one of the best pets you can get when you have children, there is no "let's see what happens when he grows up" he is what he is and his temperament is most likely not going to change, what you see is what you get.