Dogs That Are Good Pets for Kids

Choosing the right dog for your family involves understanding the breed behavior and knowing the needs of your family. Some dog breeds are more suitable for households with children than others. Several dog breeds remain gentle and loving, even when being handled rough by kids.

  1. Labrador and Golden Retrievers

    • Labrador and golden retrievers rank high in pet popularity, thanks to their friendly, loving demeanors. These dogs are steadfastly loyal to their families. Retrievers are high energy, which works well with children who enjoy lots of running around outdoors. They enjoy water and easily learn to perform tricks on command. Retrievers need to be trained early in order to ensure that they are personable and obedient, otherwise your family will have an unruly ill-behaved bundle of hyperactivity that may not work well with small children. Be aware that these breeds need plenty of exercise and space to run. If your family isn't home often to care for them, seek a lower activity dog.

    Staffordshire Bull Terrier

    • Staffordshire bull terriers may not seem like good family pets, but these terriers rarely display aggression toward humans. These dogs are overly affectionate and many act more like lap dogs than predatory creatures. Bull terriers make good watchdogs because they bark to alert people of danger present. Many people find bull terriers are trustworthy with children. These dogs work best in homes in which they are the only dog; while they don't show aggression toward humans, they are dominant with other dogs and often show dog aggression.

    Newfoundland

    • Newfoundlands are incredibly gentle and patient with children. In J.M. Barrie's famous novel "Peter Pan," the Darling children are watched over by their beloved Newfoundland Nana. Training Newfoundlands should be fairly simple, though the dogs may be somewhat lazy with lessons. Families looking for a larger dog to cuddle should look into owning a Newfoundland. These working class dogs enjoy swimming and have webbed paws to navigate the water better. A downside to the Newfoundland is that they have a propensity to drool, thanks to their oversized jowls.

    Pug

    • Many smaller dogs, such as the chihuahua or pomeranian, are too fragile for families with young children to handle. However, one small breed is hardy enough to live in homes with children. Pugs are small, stocky dogs that love to be cuddled. This breed tends to exude affection toward its family. Their trademark snorts often entertain kids. Pugs rarely show aggression toward humans, remaining even-tempered. Most pugs are highly sociable, but tend to prefer human companionship over that of other animals.