As promised, here is the second part of dog breeds to avoid. Now, here are the ideal breads for children. Dogs can be very beneficial to children. Having a dog can teach a child responsibility, empathy, socialization skills, and boundaries. However, the key to this is picking the right dog for your child and family. This is not a science. The right dog mainly consist of your particular families need, desires, and temperament.
One thing to remember is that no family is exactly the same and no two dogs are exactly the same. This is just a general overview of “typical” behavior and traits.
Here are a few tips to help with the selection process:
Ideal Dogs for children:
Boston Terrier
Excellent temperament. Highly intelligent and easily trained. Friendly disposition. I have a handicapped child and this is the dog we purchased for her. He is gentle and learned his boundaries with little effort. I have noticed a trait to obsessive compulsive disorder. Often these dogs become intently focused on an object or activity and become obsessed with it.
Labrador Retriever
Labs are not prone to aggression, sensitivity, and are not typically territorial. Their reputation with all age children is superb. They love attention and pine for affection. This is an extremely sociable breed. The worst quality is the tendency to chew on objects during the puppy stage. However, this is an easily trained and highly intelligent breed. Also, they love the water and swim at ease.
Beagle
Even and mild temperament. They are gentle and chipper dogs. Actually, this is one of the least demanding dogs. They do not require vigorous exercise, but neither do they tire easily upon exercising. They are obedient, but easily distracted. The worst quality is separation anxiety. This dog is a pack dog and likes to be close to his family. It will often howl if separated for prolonged periods.
Basset Hound
This breed probably has the best temperament of all. They are gentle, loving, undemanding,& docile. They enjoy games especially those to do with treats or hide and seek. Although, they may seem less energetic than most breeds, they are actually have great stamina. Like the Beagle, this is a pack dog and prone to separation anxiety. However, they are notoriously difficult to house train and have very short attention spans for training.
Pugs
A pugs face is deceiving. They are angelic, sociable, playful, devoted, and loving. This breed demands a great deal of attention and perfect for the energetic child. They are easily trained and very attentive. Take care to avoid overheating this dog. They are very sensitive to harsh temperatures.
