How to Choose Family Friendly Dog Breeds

Choosing a family friendly dog breed can be important for parents with young children. While all dogs are individuals, some breeds are generally great with kids and others have a tendency to exhibit behaviors that make them a bad match for youngsters.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. The first step is to rule out dog breeds that are a bad fit for your family. Herding dogs, especially a breed like the Corgi, tend to nip at the heels of children to herd them from one area to the next.If you have an active, noisy family, breeds that tend to be timid are a bad idea.
   A house filled with kids who like to wrestle and be a bit rowdy is not going to mix well with a tiny toy dog breed.
   Aggressive breeds are a bad idea for any family.
   For kids with allergies, dogs that are known for causing allergies, such as Golden Retrievers and Pugs are not a good choice.

2. Look through a dog breed book, such as "The Dog Breed Bible" by D. Caroline Coile and choose dogs that have even dispositions and enjoy living with kids. A few small breeds that fit the bill include Pugs, Shi Tzus and Yorkies. If you have toddlers, slightly bigger dogs, like miniature schnauzers or wire-haired fox terriers may be a better choice. For people who like big dogs, golden retrievers, St. Bernards, Old English sheepdogs and standard poodles are wonderful choices.

3. After you find a few dog breeds you like in the breed book,try to find a specialty club for those breeds in your area. Check the AKC website (see Resources below) for contact information and call or email the club to ask for breeder referrals. Ask the contact if there are any traits the breed you're considering tends to have that would make it a bad choice for a family pet. Also inquire about any potential health problems common to the breed.

4. Contact some of the breeders you were referred to and ask to see their puppies. Breeders often will have waiting lists, so you may not be able to get your puppy for several months.

5. If you are willing to do some remedial training, contact a breed rescue instead of a breeder. Many times, dogs up for adoption are under a year old and simply need some TLC and basic obedience training to turn them into fabulous family companions.

Tips & Warnings

• If you don't know whether your children are prone to allergies, visit someone who has the dog breed you are considering before you buy a puppy and see whether your children are affected.
• Check references before you take your puppy home and make sure the breeder offers a guarantee. Twice, I've purchased puppies from breeders who were known in the show world, only to end up with dogs that lived a few short years before they died of congenital defects.

Resources

• AKC

[Gardengates]

on 7/30/2008 Good solid advice.