Kids vs. Puppies: Breeds Should Include Parental Advisory Warnings
Written by: PuggleManiaOnline.com

When the decision is reached to introduce a new dog into the house, the first thing a family must think about is “What Breed”? Many variables are considered, but one that is often overlooked is how this cute little puppy will interact with children when it is no longer a 10 week old, fury, friendly little pup. It is clear that such a thoughtless decision can have devastating effects, which we all have seen in the news over and over again. Interviews with families that thought their Pitbull, Rottweiler or Doberman were the perfect pet, until the day it lashed out on the neighbor’s kid. I am not suggesting that such breeds cannot make great pets, but let’s not forget that many of these breeds were breed for their fearless fighting ability less than 100 years ago. It is a risky proposition to assume that all those instincts are long gone and all it takes it one incident to send your perfect family dog into a instinctual attack.

Kid friendly dogs come in all shapes and sizes, but unlike most things in society they do not come with Parental Advisory Warnings. That is why many people make the mistake of buying the cute little Siberian Husky or Doberman Pincher that grows up to be a large aggressive dog that cannot be around young children. When looking for breeds that will satisfy the needs of the whole family there are several factors that should be considered: Temperament, Breed History, Breeder reputation, and finally the overall personality of the parent dogs. If a breeder has the parents of a puppy on site you will get a pretty good picture of what your little puppy will grow up to behave like assuming all environmental variables are equal.

Below I will outline the top picks for kid friendly dogs in my opinion. The top two breeds are both mid-size dogs and also happen to be the most popular according to the American Kennel Club. They are the Labrador retriever and the Golden Retriever. Both of these dogs are good, sturdy dogs that play well with children. If you are looking for a smaller breed I would suggest a Cairn terrier, Beagle, or Pug. All these dogs are less than 20lbs, but will be able to withstand a child falling on them. I would not recommend going smaller than 15lbs because children can be rough and small dogs are at risk with young children. On the other hand there are still a few Giant breeds that are acceptable with children. These include the Great Dane and Bernesemountain dog. Others will claim that the St. Bernard should also be included in the “Gentle Giant” list, but I choose not to do so because there have been several unprovoked St. Bernard attacks on children in the past. This has often been attributed to bad bloodlines or mental illness, but I suggest looking into this breed with slight caution.

In conclusion you can find a dog that meets all of your criteria if you do your homework. For those individuals who do just go out and buy whatever dog looks good, they often end up with a breed that does not match there lifestyle. If you are in the market for a mixed breed dog consider mixed breeds that include two family friendly pure bred parents. If you follow my guide and train your dog as well as your family you will have a great pet that compliments your family. Good luck!! And do your homework before jumping into a purchase.