The Best Dogs For Children - Tips to Help You Decide

Look for breeds of dogs with a good temperament. This is essential around children. Many kids are bitten by dogs because of their exuberant behavior. However, keep in mind any dog can make a good pet and every dog can be a bitter.

Some of the best dogs for children are:

Collies

We have owned Collies for almost 30 years and have never found one to be nasty or aggressive. These are wonderful dogs for children. They are large enough to handle a child's rough play and patient enough for crawling on or hair pulling.

Always gentle and loving, the Collie is watchful of kids and protective so you don't have to worry about anyone coming into your yard that isn't supposed to be there.

They do require a lot of grooming but the satisfaction of having a great, well rounded pet for you and your family is worth the effort.

Labrador Retriever

This dog is the most popular in the U.S. And if you have ever had experience with them you know why. Again, size of Labs makes it a great dog for kids. They are happy to be around their family and love to be in the family unit. You will find Labs sleeping near the kids when they go down for their naps or romping with them in the yard.

Grooming for these dogs is a snap. Just give a weekly once over with the brush and they're happy.

Pomeranian

This small dog is a great lap dog for kids and adults. The coat needs frequent brushing but usually repels dirt. A great companion, the Pom adjusts well to children and follows them around where ever they go. Some kids like to dress up their pets and this dog would take to getting spruced up and even carried in a "pet pouch".

The best part of owning a Pomeranian is that he can adapt anywhere and is perfect for apartments. However, being a small dog, he may tend to vocalize quite a bit.

If your family is taken by other breeds of dogs, then research is needed. The best place for complete information on all dog breeds is the American Kennel Club.

Some dog breeds have more of a predatory instinct than others. Terriers and northern dogs (Husky, Akita, etc.) for instance. They may mistake the cry of a baby or young child as injured prey and act accordingly.

Powerful breeds such as Dobermans, Mastiffs and Pit Bulls have great strength and can injure a child while playing.

Children need to be taught to be gentle and respectful of the dog's toys, food, sleep time, etc. This will make them aware that the family pet needs his own space at times and to leave them alone.

Consider your child's age before choosing a pet. Ask yourself if your young one is ready for a dog in the house. If your children are under 5 years old, you probably wouldn't need a high energy dog. You have enough to handle with your kids.

If you are thinking about getting a dog to teach your child responsibility, think again!. That is not a good reason for adopting a pet. If the child looses interest in the dog, then it won't be the child that suffers but the dog.

I'm sure since most of us have owned or own dogs; many of these tips are common sense. However, research into the characteristics of different dog breeds is essential for finding your perfect family pet. And if you are like us, you will find a great breed that will remain with your family for many years to come.

My husband and I have had dogs in our lives since we were born. We're not dog experts, just everyday people using trial and error over the years to see what works and what doesn't with our puppies and dogs.

We have owned many pure breed and mixed breed dogs through the years and each one was different in so many ways. When my husband and I married in 1978, our first dog was a Collie, Laddie. So throughout the years, Collies and now Shelties are our family dogs.

We adopted a 1/2 Husky, 1/2 Collie mix named Lady who is 12 years old and our second Sheltie, Kelsey is going on 6 1/2 years.