Dog Breeds That Are Good with Kids

Labs are some of the best family dogs out there. They are big, but so sweet. We had two when I was a kid and they were both great.

We've researched this a bit, and we are going to get a Boxer. Not only are they good with kids, but they have a special love/connection with kids. They also are good at protecting.

Quick story: My friend has a boxer. Her kids were maybe 4 and 6, and they were playing in the backyard. They have no fence around their backyard, so you can go from the front yard straight into the backyard. While they were out there playing one day, some neighbors (or salesman?) came into the backyard to see where the mom was. The dog saw them and immediately ran in front of the children protectively and let out a low growl, warning the people to back off and stay away. She had never been trained. It was all instinct. Anyway, the people listened to the dog, and left the backyard:-) They told the mom about it when they did talk to her.

But read up on it because Boxers have a special connection with kids and not only do they love them, but they are particularly protective of them. I know that wasn't the most amazing story ever, but I thought it was kind of cool:-)

My nefew has horrible allergies/athsema and the dog that they have found is the best with the kids and causes the least problems with his breathing is a Labradoodle (sp?) It's a lab-poodle mix.

One step at a time. First step is understanding that "getting a pet is a lifetime commitment." There is no revolving door, for the pet, because when pet owners surrender their pets, the pets "usually" end up dead, i.e., the euthanasia rate in this country is 5,000,000 pets each year or 50,000,000 in ten years! That is a lot of lives lost.

Second, with that is making a list of all the requirements you have. Personally, there is no such thing as a low maintenance pet. They all require daily feeding, watering (clean bowls and fresh food!) and playing. Training takes time too. They need to be groomed (bathed) every week or two and brushed every couple days maximum! They like to be "part of the family". I don't consider my kids "low maintenance" and I don't consider "other family members" low maintenance either. And you need to clean up the "dog waste" daily. It's gross otherwise and attracts bugs.

Short hair dogs typically shed more than long hair. With that, you have to vacuum your furniture and flooring. You need to wash the pet bowls every day.

Once you "make the decision" that your new family addition is a lifetime commitment and not a "statistic", no matter what, you are ready to determine the "size" that fits in with your lifestyle. What size home/yard do you have? How active will you be with your pet? Will he be running with your kids everyday? Or will his life be more like a life of a "lap dog" because everyone is so busy, they can't take him out much to play ball or daily walks?

Also aging pets, or sometimes an ill pet, will have "accidents" in the house so if you have a complete aversion to cleaning up "stuff", then you may consider a smaller to medium size dog as opposed to a large. But for active kids, I personally don't think that dogs under 15-20 lbs are appropriate.

Since you have "allergies", you may want to consider fostering a short haired pet with a rescue group. That way, you are doing a great thing to help a "pet in need of a home." You could consider it a "trial period" so to speak, because you would be a foster parent, to make sure allergies are not exacerbated and that your idea of "low maintenance" lines up with what the pet needs/requires.

Typically, the "All-American Mutt" is an ideal pet because they don't have some of the genetic disorders that are often bred into the purebreds because incessant breeding. Further, they are typically less temperamental as a rule as well. If you decide on a particular breed, there is a rescue group for that

Our beagle is AWESOME with our DD :-)

We've always had dogs -- and kids too! I think goldens and labs are absolutely the most patient and easy-going breeds on the planet; I'd love another lab some day. Our boxer/shepherd and beagle/basset dogs are terrific. Just the other day I had my 2 young nieces (2.5 yo & 20 months) over; the dogs were so wonderfully patient -- and helpful with cleaning up after lunch, too!

A couple of suggestions i haven't seen addressed:
- From the start, TRAIN your dog! Be very clear & consistent with who is the boss. Anything with 2 legs (no matter how young) outranks and is higher in the pack than anything with 4. All our dogs have been pound puppies. When we adopted our beagle, he was known to have little patience with young children. We've worked with him, being very clear what his position is in our house. At first, he had limited tolerance for little kids. Now, he's a much happier boy and is terrific with kids: patient, not snappy, loves to play with them.

- Don't forget to train your kids. They need to understand that they're the boss, but that comes with a responsibility to be patient and understanding, to care for their dog before themselves (even a five year old can put kibble in a dish), and to be a good owner.

I think some breeds (again, labs & goldens) are, for the most part, naturally good in a family but I think most any dog can (and should) be socialized and trained so that the relationship is the best it can be and serve the needs of every one, adult, child and animal.

have fun and good luck!

We had a Bichon Frise when I was a kid. They are great with kids, and other animals. They are small, all white, and about the size of a poodle. They are great for kids with allergies because they don't shed, so they are hypoallergenic, and no cleaning fur off of all of your furniture. We got him when he was 8 weeks old and he lived for 16 years.

We also had a Boxer, he was the best dog ever. Our kids are 3.5 and 2 years. We had to put him down in December. We will be getting another dog eventually, we still miss him. We will get another Boxer, or maybe a Golden.

My Aunt and Uncle also had a Boxer for years and years, he was amazing with their kids and when the time came their grandkids.

Labs shed really bad, just fyi.

Animal allergies are usually caused by the dander and not the hair as most people seem to think. But if you are looking for low maintenance grooming wise I understand :) I've been a vet tech for a long time and I will give you my best advice regarding breeds. My first choice for a great family dog would be a King Charles Cavalier. 2nd would be a Pug though they do a fair amount of shedding. I would not enter into the world of terriers unless you are up for the challenge of a very active dog. If you want a bigger dog I would suggest a Golden Retriever but I would recommend that you get a puppy, older ones can be pretty set in their ways and can be snippy. Boxers make great family dogs as well. Since it's your first I would stick with a more sound breed and move past the more active challenging breeds like the terriers and herding/working breeds. They need alot of stimulation and work in order to remain sound. So stick to the breeds that are bred for companions only and I think you will be happy with your choice. Also the more popular breeds can be over bred and can have some behavior and health issues. Like when 101 Dalmatians came out and every one had to have one, the breed became a sad mess. I would suggest you Google companion breeds and take your time and do some research. Everyone can be partial to the breed they have and it can be misleading and confusing.
Best wishes on finding your new dog :)
C.

We have had two boxers and they are fabulous with our girls. Lots of love and licking! We got our first one before we had kids and researched breeds quite a bit. Good luck!

our lab is WONDERFUL and short hair little grooming needs other than nail clippings and teeth cleanings. LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE HIM.

stay away from tiny snappy breeds, like jack Russell, known for biting kids, chihuahuas, and dachshunds. My FIL has 2 dachshunds, and they are wonderful, but they snap at my 3yo from time to time. poodles are known for not triggering allergies, and they are sweet dogs, clever too. I have a 150 lb great Pyrenees, he is the gentlest dog I have ever known, he is our faithful protector. He won't let anything near my house or my kids - people look and think twice whether they want to get out of their car or approach me. That to me is a very important part of dogership - being able to protect. But then again I live in the country so I have different priorities. Also he is truly huge and takes up my whole living room, so that may be a minus for you lol.

Call your local rescue group. Ask them about their dogs and tell them your needs.

Mutts are great dogs. They're healthier, smarter, and live longer. It's basic evolution in the dog world.

Personally, I would wait a while longer before getting a dog. Kids are still
young.

I have a golden ret mix and he's so gentle with babies. Loves kids too. Best disposition ever. Honestly I've always had mixed breeds - mainly lab mixes or shepherd mixes. All have been wonderful with kids. This is my first Golden mix and I love him :) he's the most laid back dog I've ever had. He's 1 now.

From reading all of the responses it now makes sense why my favorite dog growing up was so good. She was a Boxer and Doberman mix. She had all of the traits that people mentioned about Boxers being good with kids. She was awesome and even thought she was a kid too - going down slides with us at parks :-). She was prettier, though, because of the Doberman look with a Boxer coloring. If I can ever talk my husbsand into getting a dog, I would strongly consider a Boxer since this was the best dog we'd ever had.

Have you been tested for dog dander and hair allergies? It would be a shame to bring home a dog that will have to leave because of allergies. There really isn't such a thing as a dog that is allergen-free. And there is no such thing as a low maintenance dog. They all need lots of attention and tlc. Maybe you want a cat. The hairless ones are supposed to be allergy free, and they are pretty independent...most don't need to be played with daily, and can be left alone for long periods of time throughout the day and still be okay. Can't do that with a dog...unless you want trashed out furniture and garbage dragged everywhere when you get home from work. They need walks, and exercise. Some breeds need even more. Even a well-trained dog left alone too much will develop anxiety issues. My cats could care less if they see me, as long as their liter box is clean and there is food waiting. :)

Dog breeds that are great with kids:

Working class breeds:
Labradore Retrievers (Very loyal/lovable, but need exercise)
Border Collies/Collies/Austrailian Sheep dog/Shelties (need lots of exercise)
Springer Spaniels
German Shepards
Airedale

Small breeds:
Beagles
Jack Russell Terriers
Cocker Spaniels
Cairn Terrier
Yorkshire Terrier
West Highland terrier

I have no advice on the allergy thing but we have a labrador retriever and as one post said, of course we all think the breed we have is best. I LOVE LOVE LOVE him - we had him before we had our daughter so he was 3.5 when she was born. She LOVEs playing with him and he tolerates everything she does. Everything from dressing him up to pulling him into the sandbox and covering him with sand. He's the gentlest dog ever. But I can't imagine he's allergy free. Maybe do some "tests" with families that have the dogs you are considering - spend a little time to see if it triggers allergies? It would be a real shame to make a mistake and have to re-home a dog/pup due to allergies.

Oh and in case you don't realize having a puppy is like having a baby/small child for the first year or two. A lot of work to train, socialize etc and do everything right so they turn out as well as possible. You'll want to read the Monks of New Skete book called "The Art of Raising a Puppy" so you don't make any rookie mistakes.

Good luck!

GOod luck.

shih tzus are wonderful, gentle, loving dogs. They were originally bred as companion dogs. Poodles tend to be snippy and tempermental

I have trouble with dog dander, but my labradoodle & my Old English sheepdog mix....BOTH.....do not trigger me! & yet my sister's dachshund does, as do most labs/ lab mixes....which we've had for the last 20 years.

As long as we keep up with the baths & brushing, I'm a.o.k. I can even do their haircuts without hives....which is saying a lot!

Both dogs are excellent with kids, but with the sheepdog mix there is the issue of him herding us....which is a real pain, adorable, but a pain! The labradoodle is the smartest dog we've ever owned....he even opens doors!

There is NO such thing as an allergy free dog. There are dogs that have less maintenance and induce less allergies, though. Your child may not react to a dog, but that does not mean they are allergy-free. Anyway, here are the dog breeds that are best for allergies.

http://www.akc.org/about/faq_allergies.cfm

My Son has very bad allergies and we got a shih tzu/bichon. They are hypo allergenic and I have always been told that the shih tzu's are very good family dogs. I got the mix on purpose just as a personal preference (I liked the looks of them.) Anyway he is a sweet heart! We love our little dog to pieces and he has been great with the kids! Even when I know my Son has been WAY too rough,he has NEVER growled or nipped @ him! He is the sweetest most patient dog we could've ever asked for!

We had boxers, and what I would caution you about with them is that they have TONS of health issues. Aside from that, they tend to be extremely sweet-tempered dogs and do not require a lot of grooming (but they do drool a lot). You WILL have to spend a good amount of time training it. As a breed, they tend to "box" with their front feet (hence the name), so you will need to train it not to do that, or your 2 year old will be knocked down all the time. They're not super easy to train, because as a breed they are not that bright - but they are really, really sweet.

Our vet has a couple of English Mastiffs. Although they are HUGE (like 200 lbs each), they are total couch potatoes, and great with her 2 kids. They don't require a lot of bathing, grooming, walking, etc, and actually don't even need a big yard. Her kids literally climb all over those dogs, and the dogs just lay there looking happy. It's the funniest thing. But again, lots of drool - so be aware of that.

My other suggestion was an Old English Sheepdog. One of the head nuns at my high school had a Sheepdog (named Clementine :). She was so sweet and calm. There was a lower school, and when the little preschoolers were outside playing, Clementine would park herself out there and "guard" them. The kids would climb on the dog and give her hugs and kisses. That dog was in heaven when she was around the really little kids. Usually the nuns would keep the dog in a "puppy cut" so she didn't have a ton of fur.

My grandparents have always had Australian Shepherds, and if you want low maintenance, they're not the breed for you. Those dogs need to run, and run, and run, and they're super smart, so they get bored easily. Additionally, they're an active herding dog - my grandparents have owned more than one that had the habit of nipping people on the butt (which is instinctive, and how they herd cattle). With older, very active kids, it would be a fun breed, but with young kids, I wouldn't go there.

Good luck in your search!

Every dog is unique, but consider an older dog (not a puppy) and a poodle. My sister is allergic to some animals, but had no problem with the poodles. My mom's poodles have been fine with my daughter, too. We had a poodle from the time I was 2.5 til he died when I was 15 and my child is 3.

Caution, though, that even though smaller breeds can be good house pets, I would not get a toy for a family. I would get a miniature or standard. My mother also has had good luck with cockapoo mixes.

Most breeds have breed rescues and a rescue can help pair you up with the kind of temperament your family needs.

I loved my Goldens, I don't think there is anything a child can do to them to make them angry. So, I don't know Goldendoodles but I have been told they are the best of both worlds. Good with kids and no allergies.

The other nice thing about big dogs is they are durable. :)

You FIRST have to find a dog that has 'hair', not fur.
So that it is less allergenic.
Then, look at each breed and disposition of, each breed...within that parameter.
To me: Find a breed, that is less allergenic, FIRST. THEN find a breed within that that is 'good' with kids.
BUT it also depends on the personality of the dog. AND of the kids. Some kids, just irk, their dogs.

ie: poodles
Labradoodles
Airedale terriers
Bedlington Terrier (which I had)
The Dog that the Obama's have.

FYI: dogs with 'short' hair, is not necessarily less allergenic. They TOO can shed and it is the dander, of the animal, that is allergenic.
And dogs, with 'fur.'
Dogs with 'hair' like I mentioned above, are less allergenic.
We had a Bedlington Terrier... and I had/have allergies and Asthma. And I was fine with this breed. And it does NOT shed.

labs are great, and for a small dog boston terriers are jack russels are very great and very low maintance wish yall great luck:)

Beagles...we researched this for YEARS...great with kids..just make sure you dont get a 'show' dog. they tend to irritate the allergies.
If you dont like them and still want low maint, you can go with a miniature pinchure (we almost did them) ...little, low maint, cute. Otherwise if you want something bigger, you can go with a bulldog. they are great family pets, but he drawback is their skin.
Beagles drawback is their "beller' bark...we have 2 beagles..LOVE LOVE them and just got a training collar when they were little..never had a problem..and great with kids. That is the midsize class. bulldogs are bigger and the minpins are small bread. If you want the non shedding kind, you need to go with a poodle or the fu-fu dogs like shitzu or maltese (but I am not sure what their demeanor is with children)
all the dogs I mention (bull, beagle and minpin) do shed hair but its pretty minimal (not over whelming)
good luck dog searching is soo much fun

EDIT
Caution on the King Charles Caveleir dog..My parents have one. Great dog..NOT GREAT with kids. the breed is VERY none to not like the 'activeness' of children. you can research ALL the breeds on AKK.com or American Kennel Club .com (you can google it)

Don't get a big breed unless you have a really big yard or are willing to exercise the dog daily. Tiny breeds like yorkies and the maltese aren't recommended for families with young kids because they are fragile.

I saw a Boston Terrier pup recently and it was adorable! This is a page for the Boston terrier.
http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/bostonterrier.htm

Another great website:
http://www.justdogbreeds.com/dog-breeds.html

We have a Shiba Inu. I can't say enough good things about this dog. He is the best addition to our family since our kids!! And he is the best behaved dog I've seen, and great with all kids, whether he knows them or not.

I agree with Patty K about waiting a little longer.
We got a cat when my DD was 2, and it's hard to have to constantly keep an eye on a 2 yo and an animal. We tried to teach her to be gentle (and I think she thought she was being gentle) but sometimes she would pet a little too hard or she'd pet from the tail to the head, instead of the other way around (cat didn't like that so much). The cat was generally extremely patient, but every animal has its limits :)

Anyway, here is a link to Animal Planet's Top 10 family dogs:
http://animal.discovery.com/videos/top-10-family-dogs/

Best of luck to you, whatever you decide =o)

i would wait till youngest is at least 4......and we have a beagle he is so so so good with kids:)

I have a friend who is very allergic and their family has a Labradoodle. They have three active boys (13, 8, and 4). This dog has been perfect for them. It has a great temperament.

I recommend you check out a book from the library on dog breeds. That's what I did before we got our dog. We have a Shetland Sheepdog (Sheltie). She is very smart and excellent with kids. I knew that they tend to be barkers, but I was willing to overlook that because of their disposition. Everyone is biased of their own breed. Mixed breeds tend to be good because they have less health problems and other issues than pure breeds ( dachunds tend to have back problems, poodles can be highstrung, etc). So, find a good book or on-line resource that is very honest about the breeds. Good luck!

Pugs! They just shed a lot. But are the coolest breed EVER. :)

I personally want a specific breed for when we have a house with a yard. I have read a lot about great danes and they are not only loyal but very protective of their family. don't let their size fool you, just because they are big doesn't mean they will end up hurting the kids. with kids great danes are very careful where they step because of their large size. they dare laid back and calm. red up more about them! they are wonderful dogs with families all around.

Beagles are great with kids and are short haired too.

who is allergic? The adults or the kids?

If the kids are allergic I would not get a dog. You don't want them to fall in love with a pet and then end up having to choose between being able to breathe or keep the dog, that is just unfair. If your allergies are mild enough that you can tolerate a dog then go ahead. Short hair dogs are not necessarily better for allergies. whatever type of dog you get you'll want to bathe them at least once a week to keep down the allergens and many dogs need brushed daily or every other day.

We have a "peekapom" (pekenese/pomeranian mix) she is sweet and spirited, but can be a little nippy. She is really more bark than bite, but will growl at us occasionally and so we are working hard to train her. I have to brush her daily to control shedding and avid matting, and I bathe her once a week. I have allergies... so I must wash my hands after every time I groom her or pet her. I am not miserable... but having a dog when you have allergies is A LOT of work.

If I were you I would see if your local animal shelter will let you foster some dogs... so you can have a "trial run" before you pick a dog to adopt. You'll want one that is good with your kids... and one that you can tolerate allergy-wise. Whoever has the allergies should try brushing and bathing each dog you foster. If that triggers any serious reaction... the dog probably isn't for you. If you are fostering dogs, don't promise the kids that you are GETTING a dog to keep, just tell them a dog is coming to visit for a few days and then will go back home to the shelter, so no one gets their heart broken.

-M.

We have a shih tzu which is considered a hypo allergenic/non-shed dog that our daughter who has allergies & asthma is fine with. From what we were told it's nothing to do w/the length of the animals fur (cat/dog), it's the type of hair and the dander. Our shih tzu is a wonderful dog, so much we are considering getting another one but we're afraid we're too spoiled by his disposition! Plus we're not so sure how our persian cat will react! She was okay w/one dog, but not so sure about another! - we got him when he was 9 wks old & our youngest was 2 - the only problem we have had w/him is that he tries to herd her and still tries to act like she belongs to him. He doesn't bark like a lot of little dogs and is very mellow. Something you could do would be to foster different breeds to get a feel for their disposition & see how that works. Best of luck to you.

We have a golden retriever who is amazing with kids. My kids climb all over him and he just lays there and licks them. I don't know how they would be with allergies, but I would urge you to really be careful about what breed you get and definitely do not get an unknown mix. My daughter was just bit on the cheek by my brother-in-law's dog who is a mix and they swore he was great around kids. If you don't know the breed, then you can never really be sure about their temperament. I don't mean to scare you, but seeing as how my daughter had to get 4 stitches in her cheek from a "family friendly dog", I am a little sensitive to the subject right now. Just be sure you know what you are getting!

A lab is a good choice. We had a black lab for 10 years. We got him when he was about a year old and our older son was 4 and I was pregnant with our second son. He would run, jump and play with our son and when I gave birth to our second son, he was so gentle with him. If I had the baby on the floor, the dog would just lie beside him and sniff him every now and then. As the baby got older and started walking, our dog would nudge him sometimes, I think trying to see if he was strong enough to play yet. I remember once when he nudged him and he didn't realize our son was having a "not-so-steady" moment and he fell over. The dog immediately went to the corner and would not come near our son for the rest of the day. You could tell he felt awful because he thought he'd hurt him. Once our son got old enough to run cars up and down the dog's back, pull his ears and try to ride him, it was all she wrote! They were thick as thieves until the day our dog passed away, which was just a couple of months ago and affected us all very deeply because he was not just a pet, he was part of the family. Anyway, he was the most gentle dog I have ever seen and from what I hear, that's how Labs are. We never had any kind of issue with him when it came to guests and other kids either. He just wanted some love so as someone was petting him, he was in seventh heaven. These are very gentle and loving animals and would be great with your children.

My boxer loved my son and my neice when they were infants. Very gentle around them, with the exception of a few super-wet kisses on the mouth. Short hair yes, low maintainence .... eh it depends on your definition. They are high-energy and need a big backyard and/or walks/jogs. Most get to max 80 lbs. My profile pic has me and my boxer in it. I just had to put him down after 11 years of being together - my longest relationship ever. :) Boxers are sweet dogs and very loyal.

Added: After reading some responses, research Puggles. My friend just got one. It's a pug/beagle mix. Very cute.

Pugs are fabulous with kids, have the best personalities, and are as low maintenance as they come but unfortunately they shed like crazy. You might want to consider a poodle or poodle mix. Also, I don't recommend actually getting a puppy until all the kids are at least 5 years old. There are always exceptions, such as a calm older dog that has proven to be good with kids, but usually kids under 5 years old and a new puppy mean a lot of chaos. Waiting would be easier when it comes to house-training, obedience training, and teaching the kids how to behave around the new furry family member.

I think any dog can be the dog you want. For me it's cocker spaniels I've been around them since I was 5 and my lil brother was 3 and I had a cocker mix about two yrs ago till he passed away he was a lovable and smart dog but because I trained him and socialized him with kids and other dogs
But for me I am terrified of boxers because one attacked me when I was holding my puppy when I was 12 so I personally wouldn't like a boxer but everyone's opinions is a bit biased cuz we all think our favorite breed is the beat breed
And huskies have killed my mil's dogs and other neighbors dogs.

So good luck in finding your dog
Google the ones your interested in and find out what their pros and cons are like how much exercise ,if they shed alot ,prone to health issues etc etc

Good luck :)
I'm sure whatever you pick will make you and your family happy

I have dog allergies, that started as cat allergies and got (way) worse.
We have a Mini Schnauzer.
She is almost 9. My kids are almost 6 and 1.
She was treated like a queen before we had kids and afterwards she became well...something in the maid (think vacuum) family.
She ADORES our kids-or at least the food they drop. And they adore her.
She is yappy...we should have taken her to training classes, word to the wise.
But the kids hug her and squeeze her and use her for a pillow and she just lets them.
She has been a good dog.
HTH!

Labs and goldens cause me to have an asthma attack. :( Just FYI.