Introducing a dog into the family is always something to look forward to, especially when you have children who have likely been asking desperately for one. Growing your family with a four-legged friend has several benefits when raising children too. However, let’s not mistake this for complete childcare ability as we would still recommend using private Nannies recruitment to take full responsibility for your children.
Dogs encourage children to appreciate the outdoors on daily walks and begin to see the world through their pet’s eyes. Having a dog can also encourage exercise and imaginative thoughts as they start to interact with their new speechless friend. This can all help with the development of social skills for both dog and child.
As we begin to think about what the best dog breed is to grow with children, we also consider the advantages. The best family dogs are loyal, tolerant and patient, and with good training, they can contribute to the careful monitoring of the child or children.
In this article, we will discuss choosing the dog with the right characteristics and the best dog breeds you should introduce to your family if you are considering getting a pet. Dogs and kids are a great match! You just have to discover the perfect pairing.
What Characteristics Make A Good Family Dog?
Although we can recognise similar characteristics within each dog breed, which stereotypically represents them, all dogs have their personality and quirks that are individual to the dog.
What we must consider when selecting the right dog to join the family are as such:
Temperament: What type of personality in a dog are you looking for? Dogs with a calm and patient temperament suit most family households. Especially if you have children as young as 1-5, you will need patience in your dog to handle overstimulating moments with them.
Size: Consider the size of your family and then the size of the dog. Although size doesn’t determine whether the dog will be good or not, it does help you think of potential risks or characteristics that might come with it. For example, a big dog has the potential to knock the more minor children over, whereas smaller dogs tend to be overly excited.
Energy Level: How active is your family? Do you spend a lot of time indoors or exploring the outdoors? Are you in the country a lot, or do you travel? You should decide what type of energy level your family can handle and how often you are willing to take it on walks. If the dog has high energy, you will need to take it on a lot of walks, whereas if it is more relaxed; the dog can be considered low maintenance.
5 best dog breeds to have with children
1)- Labrador
Labradors are a family favourite among many. They are devoted, affectionate, and the most loving dogs to their owners. Their obedience makes training them more manageable than others, as they are eager to please their owners. Labs are full of energy and likely need at least two hours of exercise per day; you could use this as the perfect time to create a bond between you both.
2) – Poodle
A poodle is excellent if your children suffer from allergies, as it produces fewer allergens than other dogs. Poodles are proud and elegant, and as much as they are high maintenance, they make a great addition to the family. Their fun, energetic, intelligent and gentle tendencies make them great company, but it must be noted that they can quickly become overweight – so not too many sweets!
3)- Beagle
Beagles are known to be highly sociable, friendly and low maintenance. As smaller dogs, they can fit into your family home without taking up too much space. They tend to be very tolerant, obedient, and energetic and generally love playing games.
4)- Bulldog
Bulldogs are very laid back and are more than happy to relax on the sofa all day. But as much as bulldogs love to lounge about, you must walk them often so they don’t become overweight. They are known to be loyal, kind, gentle, affectionate, and protective towards children. Their calm and docile nature is great for families who enjoy downtime as much as being active.
5)- Cavalier King Charles spaniel
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel fits perfectly into family environments with its calm and gentle nature. They are keen to please their owners, so you should have no problem with obedience training. Your children will be entertained and protected with the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel as they take pride in their owners and home.
Is there anything else to know?
When deciding which dog breed is best suited to grow with your children, you should also consider asking those around you with dogs what their experiences have been. Researching further into breeds that have calm, gentle and tolerant characteristics would be ideal for your family.
