Breeds With Toddlers

[JRT Lover]

By easy to manage I mean not one of those long silky coats that would always be full of burs. Clipping and/or stripping are fine.

[1911]

I've known a few that fit the bill. I've also known others of the same breed that don't. It's a tough one. I don't envy you! The old way was going through as many as it took to find one that suits. The rest "ran away" (died of lead poisoning). That's frowned upon and not spoken about these days. I sure did plenty of frowning as a kid when I was old enough to know what was really going on. How dog friendly the nags are will help or hinder you in training a pup.

I don't think you can beat an Australian Cattle Dog

[Rascalmyshadow]

Maybe a cairn terrier would suit your needs, as long as the kids are taught correctly and you get a dog with a good temperament.

[mixeduppup]

I've known a few that fit the bill. I've also known others of the same breed that don't. It's a tough one. I don't envy you! The old way was going through as many as it took to find one that suits. The rest "ran away" (died of lead poisoning). That's frowned upon and not spoken about these days. I sure did plenty of frowning as a kid when I was old enough to know what was really going on. How dog friendly the nags are will help or hinder you in training a pup.

I don't think you can beat an Australian Cattle Dog

ACDs can be notoriously nippy with young children. The ones I've known have had varied temps but I've met very few that I would trust with toddlers, they were all working lines though.

[1911]

Some dogs in general are nippy with kids and animals. Working dogs aren't always pets and some working lines (cattle dogs, border collies for example) would never be suitable for small children or in pet homes. Their breeders will be the first to tell a prospective owner that. A good breeder will know what sort of consistency of temperament they're producing and will not put an unsuitable dog into a pet home.

I'm sorry and saddened by your experience with the breed. I wish you could have met a few that I've known. There's nothing more precious than your children and a good ACD will love and protect them like their own. Totally unbiased, of course!!

[mixeduppup]

Some dogs in general are nippy with kids and animals. Working dogs aren't always pets and some working lines (cattle dogs, border collies for example) would never be suitable for small children or in pet homes. Their breeders will be the first to tell a prospective owner that. A good breeder will know what sort of consistency of temperament they're producing and will not put an unsuitable dog into a pet home.

I'm sorry and saddened by your experience with the breed. I wish you could have met a few that I've known. There's nothing more precious than your children and a good ACD will love and protect them like their own. Totally unbiased, of course!!

I really don't think breed has anything to do with it, I think it's more temperament. I've seen plenty of nippy ACD's (I know the breed quite well) but also plenty of intolerant dogs of other breeds. I grew up with an ACDX along with many other working breeds and their crosses. She was a great dog but was one of the first to get pissed if a toddler poked her or got in her face. The Rhodesian Ridgeback cross working mix was possibly the best toddler sitter ever, she would let kids ride her and drag her around and annoy her all day and seemed to revel in it. It's more to do with the individual dog than the breed as I've met plenty of ridge mixes that would never let a kid do what we did to ours :laugh: .

Edited May 14, 2013 by mixeduppup

[1911]

I should add that I find ACD to be lost least often to snakes, yet responsible for dispatching the most. How or why is anyone's guess.

[1911]

I agree with you for the most part, mixeduppup. It's definitely a tough one. The worst child hater I knew was a Mini Foxy. There are gems and there are turds. Just like people. I do think there is an amount of certainty in something from an experienced, long established, genuine breeder though.

[mixeduppup]

I agree with you for the most part, mixeduppup. It's definitely a tough one. The worst child hater I knew was a Mini Foxy. There are gems and there are turds. Just like people. I do think there is an amount of certainty in something from an experienced, long established, genuine breeder though.

There is but no one can guarantee a dog kid proof and would be silly to do so.

[Trisven13]

Haven't read other responses and, whether or not the breed would suit would depend on many more things, but I have yet to meet a Fauve who doesn't adore children of all ages. All the research & reading I've done over the last 6 years tells me that this is typical of the breed. I have rehomed a Fauve into a home with a just 3 year old and she is unbelievable. I always joke that my kids would have to rip their ears off before they'd bite and whilst that is patently a facetious comment, there is an element of truth as they are very, very tolerant of children and really seem to enjoy their company.

[~Anne~]

Haven't read other responses and, whether or not the breed would suit would depend on many more things, but I have yet to meet a Fauve who doesn't adore children of all ages. All the research & reading I've done over the last 6 years tells me that this is typical of the breed. I have rehomed a Fauve into a home with a just 3 year old and she is unbelievable. I always joke that my kids would have to rip their ears off before they'd bite and whilst that is patently a facetious comment, there is an element of truth as they are very, very tolerant of children and really seem to enjoy their company.

Yes, I believe that pugs are the same. It is a breed trait. They just don't have human aggression in them..

Edited May 14, 2013 by ~Anne~

[Trisven13]

Fauves would be out though as they shed.

[Zug Zug]

Corgis may also be an option in this kind of home, but I wouldn't describe them as low shedding unfortunately

[mixeduppup]

I should add that I find ACD to be lost least often to snakes, yet responsible for dispatching the most. How or why is anyone's guess.

ACDs would not be ideal anyway as they want low shedding.

[Purdie]

Take a look at the Brittany a Border Terrier and the Vizsla.I had a Bull Terrier when i was young;she was great with everyone and loved kids.

[Alyosha]

Newfoundland, Basset, Tibetan Spaniel or a French Bulldog perhaps? But I would still be looking at a dog as an individual, within it's breed.

My kids grew up with my old Afghan and he was led around (gently) by an ear fringe, leaned or laid against for cuddles and occasionally grabbed by a stumbling child and never batted an eyelid. He could also walk without issue beside a pram or stroller. But that wouldn't be overly normal within the breed. Oh, and he used to nursemaid our baby ducklings - they would climb on him and snuggle into his coat. Maybe my Afghan was broken...?? :laugh:

[mita]

But I would still be looking at a dog as an individual, within it's breed.

Yes, it's what a dog learns during its developmental time from birth. Puppies & dogs raised and managed where there are babies & small children (& good experiences), learn to be socialised with them.

I had 2 Tibetan Spaniels. One, Gracie, had been born & bred at a registered breeder's where there were babies, toddlers, & small children. She was passionate about babies & toddlers, absolutely adored them.

But the other, Angel, came from a registered breeder where there was little contact with them. She was wonderfully social with older children & especially adults.... but totally ignored babies & toddlers.

Same with the 2 Tibbie girls we have now. Both came from a registered breeder who had small grandchildren so both are just wonderful with babies & toddlers. In fact, they get invited to have 'meet-ups' with those age groups.

When people I know are searching for a p/b for addition to their family .... & they have babies, toddlers or young children... I tell them to find, within their breed of choice, those breeders who've been able to socialise their dogs & puppies, thoroughly, with those age groups.

I'm pleased to see that some breeders advertising on Dogzonline, point this out.

[~Anne~]

Mita, you see, that is where the pug is different. It is nature, not nurture for them and it is not an individual trait, but a breed trait. Regardless of a lack of socialisation with children, they will still always be great with children.

Obviously there will always be exceptions to the norm.

I believe the Cav may be the same.

[Trisven13]

Yep and from what I've seen Fauves are the same, though admittedly I've only got a small amount of Fauves to use as a guide.

[mita]

Learning is always a combinaton of pre-disposition and environmental factors, Anne. It's not possible to say either, that all dogs of a certain breed will invariably be good with children.... nor that all dogs raised around children will be fine.

As you say yourself.... there will be exceptions. Either way.

The advantage of looking to puppies & dogs that've been raised around small children, is that socialisation (as in familiarity) with their sights, sounds & smells can be ticked off. And the experience has provided a testing ground for exceptions to show up.

Whatever the tendencies are in a breed ....like, mostly good with children ... that doesn't predict for individual dogs.

So I was agreeing with Aloysha's point to look at an individual dog within that breed. And gave examples from my own breed that's generally (& rightly) said to be good with children.

From the Australian Veterinary Association, 2012.

While genetics are an important factor, the impact of the environment and learning are critical to the behaviour of a dog. The tendency of a dog to bite is dependent on at least five interacting factors:

 heredity (genes, breed)

 early experience

 socialisation and training

 health (physical and psychological) and

 victim behaviour

Edited May 15, 2013 by mita