Breeds With Toddlers

[Justrace]

we had the Brittany & the Lagotto on our list as a family dog. My eldest wanted a Lab or Golden but I thought they might be a bit too heavy set & might knock the smaller ones over when playing. We decided on a Brittany and so far everything is great.

[mixeduppup]

When i was a Toddler we had a doberman and he was apparently the most patient dog. When I was about 3 we owned working dogs and working dog crosses. The border collies were always the most nippy and intolerant from my experience. My friend has 2 toddlers and has a bullterrier and he is amazing with them. My other friends have a golden retriever and he is completely wonderful.

[emery]

I think if raised in the right environment any breed can be suitable.

I have three young kids and three rottweilers and they all get along great

rottis are 7months, 3.5 years and 5 years.

kids are 21 months, 5 years and 6.5 years. so you can see they were all pups at one point with the kids and all get along like best friends.

my youngest pup is the bounciest of the lot but even my youngest child has learnt to tell him uhuh and he calms down

[LisaCC]

When i was a Toddler we had a doberman and he was apparently the most patient dog. When I was about 3 we owned working dogs and working dog crosses. The border collies were always the most nippy and intolerant from my experience. My friend has 2 toddlers and has a bullterrier and he is amazing with them. My other friends have a golden retriever and he is completely wonderful.

Yes, I think that most breeds could be trained and socialised to be great around kids, but I think that herding dogs could be harder. I hated Border Collies as a young child because everyone I met would try herding me! Can be scary as a little kid.

[OSoSwift]

I have only had baby's/toddlers with my Whippets. They are brilliant and although kids and dogs were both trained in correct behaviour there were one or two occassions I turned around to see a toddler lying on a Whippet - child got told off and dog got praised - and they were very good with them.

I think Whippets in general are very good dogs for families.

Lewis was news the other day and walked around then stood very quietly and patiently while 24 pairs of hand patted him and felt his fur and generally made a fuss of him.

[anniek]

I would forget 'breed' and look for a dog that is in foster care in a similar situation to your own.

[~Anne~]

A pug without a doubt, they're bombproof with children. Their reactions are very predictable normally. As someone else mentioned though, they're not really up to a lot of rough and tumble although I have certainly met a few more robust characters in the past.

[RazorBlade]

Individual temperament and training are way more important than breed. My last kelpie was perfect with our friends toddlers and my new boy, who is 5 1/2 months, has been great with my 6 month old son so far. I would get a pup if I were you. That way both the kids and the dog all get to learn the rules all at the same time.

Mouthy pups and small children can be a pretty fraught combination. Sometimes all the learning that occurs is that the kids learn to avoid the dog.

You often let your dogs gnaw on your children?

[Salukifan]

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<br>Individual temperament and training are way more important than breed. My last kelpie was perfect with our friends toddlers and my new boy, who is 5 1/2 months, has been great with my 6 month old son so far. I would get a pup if I were you. That way both the kids and the dog all get to learn the rules all at the same time.<br>

<br><br><br>Mouthy pups and small children can be a pretty fraught combination. Sometimes all the learning that occurs is that the kids learn to avoid the dog. <img class="bbc_emoticon" alt="" src="http://www.dolforums.com.au/public/style_emoticons/default/frown.gif"><br>

<br><br>You often let your dogs gnaw on your children?<br>

<br><br>What a strange comment. <br><br>Issues like <a class="bbc_url" title="" href="http://www.dolforums.com.au/topic/248713-staffy-pup-problem/">this</a> play out in threads here over and over again. <br><br>Todders cannot "teach" a puppy not to mouth them or jump on them, nor can they "learn" appropriate avoidance. A pup can get stimulated by screams and actually be 'rewarded' for the very behaviour the family is seeking to fix.]<br><br>Hardly unusual and the very reason quite a few folk are reluctant to place pups in homes with very young children. I've seen grown adults who've been incapable of teach their pups not to mouth them and baby pups literally run at me with their mouths open. It ain't always easy. <br><br>Does that help? Edited May 13, 2013 by Haredown Whippets

[kelpiecuddles]

Basset Hounds are renowned for loving kids which was one of the main reasons we considered them. We took the kids to a show and even the breeders dogs who rarely were around children just adored smooching the kids and leaned against them for cuddles. My daughter gives Josie facials with a facewasher, snuggles in her bed with her and lies on top of her and Josie just wags her tail through it all and comes back for more.

Personally i think even a toddler can be taught. My children have known from tiny babies that there are strict rules about animals in this house that are non-negotiable. All three of my kids knew how to pat an animal gently as young babies without pulling fur and appropriate behaviour has been taught as they got older and I felt they were able to do it in a way that the animal would be happy with(at 9 years old my son is only now allowed to occasionally pick up the cat if necessary). That's not to say that I don't think it's necessary to supervise but I think people need to realise that just as much if not more training needs to take place with the child as it does with the puppy/dog.

Edited May 13, 2013 by kelpiecuddles

[juice]

When my daughter was 3 we had a RR x BM, ( saw both parents ,byb before i knew better), and it was a disaster.

he was an exuburant nutter who bounded everywhere and knocked her flat on her back all the time, he would then jump ontop of her again to lick her.

when my son was a baby we got a dally pup, he was wonderful with him, and i can't fault him, sound strong dog with kids.

[PuddleDuck]

My toller is exceptional with our 20 month old. She knew I was pregnant before I did and after I ended up very sick and on bed rest she didn't leave my side and checked my tummy regularly! She adores my daughter, puts up with anything! She taught herself how to use the slide in our backyard so they can take turns and after playing peekaboo a few weeks ago she has started sticking her head under the blanket and jumping out going 'AWOOOWOOOWOOOOOOOO'!! It's hilarious :)

That's too adorable PD

We took her to the park the other day for mothers group. There were no other kids there so we let her up mear the play equipment and she taught herself to use the biiiiiig slide. There were 3 toddlers jumping up and down at the bottom screaming 'MORE MORE MORE!!!!'. They love her :)

My daughter said mum and dad first, but they kind of babble it. Her first proper word was 'bear' which is our Toller's name (kodiak bear). :D

[Jumabaar]

Finnish Lapphund.

Even as a puppy mine was a bit of an 'old soul' and was gentle with kids and the elderly. It is a trait that seems to run quite predictably in some lines.

[RazorBlade]

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<br>Individual temperament and training are way more important than breed. My last kelpie was perfect with our friends toddlers and my new boy, who is 5 1/2 months, has been great with my 6 month old son so far. I would get a pup if I were you. That way both the kids and the dog all get to learn the rules all at the same time.<br>

<br><br><br>Mouthy pups and small children can be a pretty fraught combination. Sometimes all the learning that occurs is that the kids learn to avoid the dog. <img class="bbc_emoticon" alt="" src="http://www.dolforums.com.au/public/style_emoticons/default/frown.gif"><br>

<br><br>You often let your dogs gnaw on your children?<br>

What a strange comment. Todders cannot "teach" a puppy not to mouth them or jump on them, nor can they "learn" appropriate avoidance. I've seen grown adults who've been incapable of teach their pups not to mouth them and baby pups literally run at me with their mouths open. It ain't always easy. Does that help?

It wasn't a comment, it was a question.

I never suggested it was the a toddlers job to be "teaching" the dog.

Rubbish. Both dogs and children are perfectly capable of "learning" what is and what isn't appropriate behaviour.

Just because someone is incapable of teaching their dogs not to mouth them or jump it doesn't mean that it's impossible.

I never said it was easy.

[ellz]

A Stafford, they aren't known as the "Nanny Dog" for nothing.....

[Remarkabull]

Doberman. I grew up with them and they always looked after me and were endlessly patient. My own children grew up with one too and often used him to help balance while learning to stand and walk. He was gentle and tolerant and always a gentleman. I was quite firm with him as a pup and he always seemed grown up (never really behaved like a puppy, even when he was one) and I trusted him like no other dog I've met.

[mita]

Doberman. I grew up with them and they always looked after me and were endlessly patient. My own children grew up with one too and often used him to help balance while learning to stand and walk. He was gentle and tolerant and always a gentleman. I was quite firm with him as a pup and he always seemed grown up (never really behaved like a puppy, even when he was one) and I trusted him like no other dog I've met.

Friends of ours took in a p/b Doberman puppy that was to be PTS for being the runt of a litter. Husband's brother was the vet who got permission from the breeder to give him a go.

Well, that Dobe boy grew to be exactly the same as the ones you describe. When our friends had their babies, he was the perfect nanny dog. As the children grew he was just as you say.... patient, tolerant & gentle. Totally trustworthy & helpful in being a 'walking' instructor. He lived to a good old age & helped his 'kids' into their teenage years, too. Some dogs truly deserve the title.... Best Dog. He did.

Edited May 13, 2013 by mita

[twodoggies2001]

Personally, I feel it's up to the temperament of the individual dog. I have had Great Danes when my children were small and growing up. Each of them was particularly gentle with them, and would protect them with their lives. Now that I have grandchildren, I have somewhat downsized. When my first grand daughter was born we had a wonderful standard schnauzer. After he left, we reduced size again and now have miniature schnauzers with more grandchildren and they too are absolutely wonderful with the kids. Mind you, the children have been taught to be respectful of the dogs.

[WreckitWhippet]

Pugs

Whippets

SBT's

Pointers

[huski]

A dog that is nervous/weak nerved is not a good combination with kids, when selecting a dog for a family looking for a pup or adult dog with good solid nerves should be high on the list, this is why it is really impossible to say certain breeds are better than others as so much of it is reliant on the individual dog, as well as how you raise it. Even my working line Mal is great with kids, she is super high in drive and energy, but also has solid nerves and has been taught how to interact with and how to behave around kids. You need to have a good temperament to start with regardless of breed. I would look at which breeds suit your lifestyle, needs etc and narrow it down from there.