Best breed of dog for young children?

We had friends visit with their 4 month old baby yesterday, and it the first time since we've had our rescue that he's met a person that tiny. He passed with flying colours, interested in the baby of course, but soon lay down and fell asleep, ignoring the baby when it started crying etc. Makes me feel a bit better about an easy transition in ten weeks. Obviously the parents were very protective and didn't want the dog near their kid (can't blame them, they'd be finding hairs for weeks!) and with ours we will let him get a better sniff, but all good so far, and didn't seem to have any desire to snag himself an early dinner :)
 
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Our two boys with their lurcher and CKC spaniel.
 
As others have said CKC are usually really good with kids. You need to be careful though as there are health problems so really do your research on the breeder to ensure there is no close breeding going on, or breeding from affected dogs. We ended up with a Cavapoo in the end and he is truely wonderful and gentle with kids. I'd avoid Collies or herding breeds with very small kids, being an experienced collie owner you are trying to train against a herding instinct with small people around which makes things more difficult. Also avoid sensitive breeds of dog, as they don't cope so well.

Whatever you choose try to get the puppy from a breeder with young children and a noisy household, even if you socialise well from 8weeks they are much better if they have been exposed from a very early age. When you bring the puppy home get a good book like the Gwen Bailey Perfect Puppy book and go to training classes with all the family - it is fun and teaches children how to behave around dogs not just the dog to behave around kids!
 
Definitely a Bernese Mountain dog if you are willing to take on a larger dog. Or, given that you've said springer-sizes how about a Keeshound? They're great with children, by reputation. Of course it depends on the upbringing etc.

I've got a Lakeland terrier, who I've had since I was 12. He's a great little dog and has been properly trained, cared for and has been treated correctly. However, he can snap when pushed. This is a terrier trait and it's my belief that it is not something that can be overcome with training. We are talking a very very occasional snap here. But the same way that you'd say a collie is generally intelligent, a springer is generally energetic or a yorkie is generally yappy, I'd say certain terrier groups can be prone to snapping.

Having said that, if I ever get another dog in the future, after my lovely Eddie I'd definitely get a lakeland again. He's awesome.
 
I had a Golden Retriever growing up and she was the best around kids. I know you said not too big, but some Goldens don't get much above 50 pounds. They're number one on tons of "best dogs for kids" lists and I've never known anyone who had a bad experience (except for my gf's brother who was chased by one when he was a paper boy in the 80s and still has a complex about it to this day).
 
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zigzag said:
Thanks all, won't go for a Staffy,I personally not keen on them myself, I was looking at different pups today, can't believe the price of them :o ponies are cheaper lol
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And that's the reason some people breed dogs.
Finding a responsible breeder who is breeding for type rather than profit isn't easy.
Finding a breeder who lets their puppies go to appropriate homes is also not easy.
 
I'm becoming ever more surprised at those who would champion a particular breed of dog, upon the experience of one, or perhaps two individuals.

EVERY BREED OF DOG WILL HAVE THOSE AMONGST ITS NUMBERS WHICH WILL FIT IN WITH A FAMILY ENVIRONMENT, AND THOSE WHICH WONT! Generally, and everything else being equal, as they say, the owner input will be the deciding factor.

Alec.
 
Alec Swan said:
I'm becoming ever more surprised at those who would champion a particular breed of dog, upon the experience of one, or perhaps two individuals.

EVERY BREED OF DOG WILL HAVE THOSE AMONGST ITS NUMBERS WHICH WILL FIT IN WITH A FAMILY ENVIRONMENT, AND THOSE WHICH WONT! Generally, and everything else being equal, as they say, the owner input will be the deciding factor.

Alec.
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Absolutely! Any breed could be suitable but some are more likely to suit than others.
I've lost count of the times I've had dogs here for breed rescues because they were perfectly normal but not like the one the ex owners based their choice on. People seem to think that all springers will be like the middle aged one that is walked for three hours a day by it's retired owner or that Basset hounds will be ok with ten minutes walk a day ( actually saw that on a puppy farm instruction sheet -along with half a coffee cups of puppy food twice a day at eight weeks!)
A well bred puppy from a responsible breeder won't get sold if that breeder thinks it won't fit in. Unfortunately too many puppies are produced by people in it for a quick sale.

Rescue dogs are variable and reasons may be genuine but many dogs are just dumped for convenience. For some reason Joe Public has the impression that all dogs in rescue have been abused -very few have, they may have had a degree of neglect but often they are in through changed family circumstances.
 
helenalbert said:
Definitely a Bernese Mountain dog if you are willing to take on a larger dog. Or, given that you've said springer-sizes how about a Keeshound? They're great with children, by reputation. Of course it depends on the upbringing etc.
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Depends on upbringing. This was my childhood dog and frankly, we never groomed him and he should have been brushed for a good hour several times a week. He was excellent with us but very noisy, they are guard dogs by nature.
 
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