Breeds
Dogs for Children
If we're thinking about expanding our family by bringing in a four-legged friend, we need to keep in mind that some breeds, given their traits, can be better suited than others.
When we talk about dogs for children, we need to consider many factors that can make living together much easier, whether due to size, personality, or qualities. Let's go over all the aspects to consider and which breeds are best for these situations.
A Dog Is Not a Toy
It's completely normal for any child to want a dog — they get incredibly excited about it and are even willing to promise they'll take care of it forever... But we need to keep in mind that a child is just that, a child. As such, they don't have the capacity to be responsible for a dog, though they can help with its care.
If you decide to expand your family by bringing in a dog, congratulations — you'll see how it becomes the joy of the household. If you decide to buy or adopt a dog as a gift for your child... think twice. The gift is for your child, but the responsibility of caring for the dog is yours alone. A dog lives an average of twelve to fifteen years, though many cases reach even twenty.
Animal shelters and municipal pounds are overwhelmed with dogs abandoned months after being bought or adopted. Most of these cases are Christmas, birthday, and summer gifts... and when they become an inconvenience, they're abandoned. We stress: please think this through carefully if it's meant as a gift.
Benefits of Having a Dog for Children
Although it's clear that if we decide to have a dog, we'll be the ones handling its care, we can tell our child that they can also help out. This way, they'll learn great values from a young age — respecting other living beings' lives, caring for them, and taking on some responsibilities.
Dogs are, without a doubt, excellent playmates, good watchers, and great friends. They'll boost our child's affection and feelings, as well as their motor skills through play.
We shouldn't forget that dogs are used in many therapies for children with physical or intellectual developmental issues. We just need to choose a good dog that fits our needs.
Which Are the Best Dog Breeds for Living With Children?
Although it's true we'd prefer to avoid certain breeds when living with children, the truth is most of them can do it without any problem, as long as we train them properly. We just need to keep a few factors in mind that can help us decide:
- Size
- Age
- Housing
Size Does Matter
If we have a baby, we'd probably prefer a small dog to avoid accidentally hurting our child. Some dog breeds can weigh over forty kilos, going from puppy to large size in barely a year.
If our child is already old enough to be somewhat independent, size might not be an obstacle as long as our home allows for it. That said, it's worth remembering that if we're going to have them walk the dog, some large breeds could be too strong for them.
Puppy or Adult Dog?
You'll find opinions to suit every taste, since a well-trained adult dog can be the perfect friend. On the other hand, we can train a puppy as it grows up alongside our child, so honestly, there's nothing inherently better or worse.
We should keep in mind that a puppy needs very special care — let's say a bit more attention and dedication than an adult dog. A puppy also needs to be taught to relieve itself outside, something an adult dog probably already knows how to do.
What Can We Offer the Dog?
This is also a very important aspect to consider. Some breeds are quite nervous or energetic, like herding dogs, which need a large yard to play in and long daily walks to exercise.
We should assess how much time we can dedicate and what our home is like, so the dog can have its own space. It's not the same having an apartment as having a house with a large yard, and a dog needs its space.
By weighing these factors, we can determine whether a small, medium, or large breed is best for our situation. Whether we'd prefer a puppy or an adult dog, and what kind of temperament we're looking for — a calm dog or a more lively one.
Small Dog Breeds for Children
Before getting into small breeds that we at SoyUnPerro think could be interesting for their qualities, remember that at any animal shelter or municipal pound, you can find plenty of small-breed puppies or small adult dogs. Purebred or mixed, all of them are looking for a home and don't cost money (except for mandatory vaccines and/or the chip).
And among well-known breeds, we can find some more suited to living with children given their general qualities and temperament.
Bichon Frise
This little dog barely exceeds thirty centimeters tall as an adult, and its weight rarely goes over four kilos. The Bichon Frise is a very active, energetic dog despite its size, so it needs good daily walks to burn off energy.
Charming with children and a great playmate, but although it looks like a stuffed toy, it hates having its fur or ears pulled (like any dog). It's undoubtedly a good option for living with children.
Goldendoodles
Another little one that can fill our hearts with joy, this is a mix between a Golden and a Poodle (don't ask how...), which can come in various sizes, though generally they're small or medium-sized dogs.
As adults, they can reach up to seventy centimeters, though they're generally smaller. Their weight varies depending on size, ranging from 10 to 15 kilos.
We should keep in mind that there are medium-sized varieties within this breed — if we're looking for a small-breed dog, we need to specify this (there are small and medium Goldendoodles).
These dogs are very affectionate and loving, ideal as playmates, with a calm temperament. They're also very intelligent, cheerful, and sociable, and as if that weren't enough, they barely shed. Without a doubt, a great option worth considering if it fits our needs.
Pug
This little one barely exceeds thirty-five centimeters tall as an adult and eight kilos in weight, quite the little guy who'll fill our home with joy. It's an ideal dog for people who don't have time for long walks, since it's a bit lazy in that department... let's say it's a very homebody dog.
Affectionate, cheerful, respectful, and charming with children, a real role model for a kid's dog. Though sometimes they're a bit stubborn, so we'll need to be persistent with training. Its temperament is calm and sociable, though as we all know, this also depends a lot on the training we give them.
Beagle
This is probably the best-known dog breed in the world thanks to "Snoopy." This little dog with a detective-hound look... The Beagle is a perfect companion for children. It has a cheerful, curious temperament, along with being very sociable, calm, and intelligent.
Its height rarely exceeds forty centimeters at the withers, and its weight is around fourteen kilos. It adapts very well to apartment living and loves to play and go for walks. It's also an excellent hunting dog, so it doesn't mind spending the day out in the countryside either.
Shih Tzu
This little dog, with its somewhat arrogant look, actually has a super cheerful, playful temperament, very affectionate and loving with every household member. It's a great playmate that loves children, always with the respect every dog deserves, of course (kids need to be taught well too).
Its size is quite small, around twenty-five centimeters tall and about seven kilos in weight. It adapts perfectly to apartment living and is a very social dog, though as with any dog, properly socializing it is our job.
Without a doubt, it's also an excellent choice as an apartment companion — active, cheerful, and affectionate with both adults and children.
Cocker Spaniel
Its small size, great affection for its family, and social temperament make it one of the best choices among breeds that get along great with children and adapt perfectly to family settings.
Barely reaching thirty kilos as an adult, the Cocker Spaniel adapts perfectly to living in apartments as well as country homes. Its traits make it an ideal choice, and its intelligence combined with its kindness will win over every family member's heart.
Medium and Large Dog Breeds for Children
Medium and large dogs adapt perfectly to living with children, also being an excellent option as long as we can give them the good quality of life they deserve. Larger dogs generally need more living space, longer walks, and exercise.
At many animal shelters and pounds, we can find dogs of any size and age, purebred or not, waiting for a family. We stress again: you don't need to spend money to buy a dog — at shelters and pounds, you only pay for the mandatory vaccines and chip needed to adopt them.
Boxer
This is possibly the dog breed most eager to play in the entire world — not for nothing is it known as "the eternal puppy." No matter the Boxer's age, it'll always be ready to play and have a good time. With a cheerful, affectionate, very playful temperament, it's an excellent companion for children and adults. It adapts perfectly to family life and also makes a good watchdog.
It has great vitality, so daily walks and exercise are practically mandatory; it also loves playing with other dogs and is very sociable. As an adult, it can stand about fifty or sixty centimeters (at the withers) and weigh around twenty-five to thirty-five kilos.
Golden Retriever
We're also including the Labrador Retriever under the same description here, since they share the same traits and both are ideal for living with children. Although they're large dogs, the truth is they're especially gentle with children, sensitive, affectionate, and playful.
These retriever breeds are known for adapting perfectly to family settings and enjoying children's company to play with. With a cheerful, loving, calm temperament, they make a great choice to become part of the family.
They can reach up to sixty centimeters tall and thirty-five kilos in weight, though they're generally a bit smaller. They love walks and exercise, get along well with other dogs, and are very social.
Dalmatian
You surely know them from the countless movies made about them. With an affectionate, playful temperament, they're an excellent choice as playmates for children and for family life. Very loyal and attached to their owners, they're also patient and calm.
This breed can live in an apartment but loves going out for walks and runs — the Dalmatian needs exercise and room to be free. Large-sized, it can reach sixty centimeters and weigh around thirty kilos. These are very social, cheerful dogs that adapt perfectly.
Saint Bernard
This giant, made hugely popular on screen as a rescue dog on snowy mountain peaks, with its noble, imposing look... actually has a heart bigger than it is. This is a super affectionate, respectful, playful breed. Ideal as a playmate for children, even though its size can be intimidating.
The Saint Bernard is a dog that needs a lot of room to live, not recommended for apartments. It can reach about seventy centimeters and weigh up to ninety kilos — a real giant that also requires significant upkeep.
Ideal for cold areas where it'll feel right at home, it loves walking and playing, though always at its own pace and avoiding the heat, since it has a thick coat. It's an excellent choice to add to the family.
Old English Sheepdog
Although it looks like a giant stuffed animal, it's actually a dog — and just as its look suggests... it's a real sweetheart. Very affectionate, playful, and cheerful, it makes an excellent choice for a family with children. It's so involved with kids that in the U.S. it's known as the "nanny dog."
This is a dog that loves the outdoors, walking, exercising, and enjoying other dogs' company. Very social and adaptable, though we'll need to commit to brushing it regularly, since it has a thick coat.
This dog breed became very famous on TV thanks to Sprocket, the dog from Fraggle Rock.
Labrador
Among dog breeds with a genetically good temperament — meaning breeds that simply have a good, suitable temperament for family settings without needing strict training — we find the famous Labrador.
The Labrador is a very affectionate, playful, friendly, loyal, kind-hearted dog that loves going for walks and playing with children and other dogs.
It adapts perfectly to life in an apartment or house, in any kind of climate. It barely needs any special care, since it's a strong, resilient breed, though it can tend to gain weight if we don't watch its diet.
How to Choose a Mixed-Breed Dog for Living With Children
A dog's breed can give us some clues about its temperament, but the truth is the training we give the dog is what really makes the difference. Choosing a mixed-breed dog is also an excellent option for expanding our family.
We need to be clear about what kind of dog we're looking for — small, medium, or large. Also whether we want a puppy or don't mind its age. And lastly, we need to be very clear about whether our expectations match our needs and what we ourselves can offer the dog. We shouldn't be selfish about this — we need to be realistic.
With this in mind, at any animal shelter or pound, they can show us dogs that match our requirements, and we can choose the one we like best. If we settle on a puppy, we should remember that it'll need training as it grows up, something that isn't necessary with most adult dogs.
If we go with an adult dog, we should mention that it's for a family with children, so it needs to be respectful and not aggressive. No dog is really aggressive by nature, but some have unfortunately had poor training from previous owners and might not be suited for a family setting.
IMPORTANT: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute veterinary, nutritional or behavioural advice. Every dog is different, and only your trusted vet can advise you on its specific needs.