The Best Dog Breed For Children

For the most part dogs and children are a fantastic match - they often share a very special and close bond together. But when people ask what is the best dog breed for children I don't believe there is a right or wrong answer.

Click Here to View the Top 10 Dog Breeds For Children!

This is because the breed of the dog does not solely determine how your children and dog will get along. All dogs, regardless of breed type are individuals. The breed type is an important factor but it is only one of the ingredients that combine to shape the temperament and behavior of your dog.

What are these factors?

• The dog's breed type - some breeds are obviously more suited to living among families with kids (Labrador, Golden Retriever etc.).

• Where you purchase the dog from (the genetics and bloodlines of the dog).

• The puppy socialization you and the puppy's breeder provide.

• The training you provide.

• How your children are educated to behave around the dog.

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Children And Dogs - How Can You Make The Relationship A Good One?

Dogs are a great part of growing up. I think most of us can look back fondly to the first dog we had as a child. I know some of my earliest and favorite childhood memories are of time shared with our family dogs.

Apart from being great fun and providing companionship, dogs can teach children a lot about responsibility, compassion and caring for another living being. Below is a list of things you can do to help make the relationship your children and dog share a safe and happy one:

• Children must be taught the boundaries of what is and what is not acceptable behavior around dogs. Children can do all sorts of potentially dangerous things to the family dog. Actions like pulling on the dog's ears, poking them with various objects, tug of war games and jumping on a sleeping dog can get children into plenty of trouble. The best way to educate your children is through example - in other words how you interact with the dog yourself.

• Avoid the larger boisterous breeds. Even though a dog such as this may not intend to harm a child (or anyone else) because of their size, excitability and strength an injury can easily occur.

• To greatly increase your chances of getting a sound, stable, well balanced dog of good temperament always purchase your dog from a reputable dog breeder. Good breeders care for their chosen breed and are always looking to improve it. They breed from good quality breeding stock and also have the crucial job of starting your puppy's socialization.

• Get stuck into the puppy socialization process as soon as your new dog arrives home. Expose and familiarize your puppy to the kids, animals, sounds and smells of life in your household. Puppy kindergarten is a good place to take your puppy during the socialization period - be sure to involve your children in this process.

• It's never too early to start some obedience training. Start out with the basic obedience commands such as sit, stay, down, come etc. Some other commands which could come in handy when you have a dog mixing with children are "Leave It!" and also "Go To Your Spot". Once again include your children in the training sessions - they'll love it.

• Never leave young children and a dog alone and unsupervised - it's just not worth the risk, no dog is 100% safe.

• Do some research into the various dog breeds. The American Kennel Club has an extensive list of dog breeds on there website. You can find out things like the size, temperament and suitability to children of each dog breed - list of dog breeds. You can also talk with your local Veterinarian and Dog Trainers who will offer some great insight into the suitability of the various breeds.

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Best Dog Breed For Children - Some Good Options

As we've discussed you can't just expect to pick out a breed of dog and then assume it will automatically slot in as a reliable and trusted member of your family.

There's no doubt that some breeds have proven to be more suitable with children though. This is for reasons such as their size, strength, temperament, tolerance to children and docile nature. Below is a list of dog breeds that are widely regarded as a good choice for families with children.

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The dog breeds listed above are just a few of the many suitable breeds you have to choose from.

Once you have settled on a breed and have your new puppy home, be sure to get stuck into the socialization process and training. This will be time well spent and will set your dog and children up to happily coexist.

More information on how to properly train your dog at home - Secrets to Dog Training. This is a fantastic community of dog lovers who all share the common goal of raising and training their dogs in a positive, reward based and non-violent manner.

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Since you're looking at this article "Best Dog Breed For Kids / Children" you may be interested in "How To Choose A Puppy", "How To Puppy Proof Your Home" and "Discover How To Feed Your Puppy The Right Way".