First of all when researching the best dogs with children you need to think about the child’s safety. You don’t want to have a nervous or over-excitable dog around small children as there is always the chance of the child being scratched or even knocked over. This doesn’t mean that all big dogs are not right for families with small children however. Larger breeds can often be fantastic with children, especially dogs such as the Labrador or Golden Retriever.

You also need to think of the dogs safety and health. Smaller dogs always run the risk of being hurt or injured by overzealous child’s play. Bigger children may even fall onto and crush the small dog in extreme cases.

There are many dogs that can potentially be great with children, some small and some large. A few of the best dogs with children are:

• Labrador Retriever
• Golden Retriever
• Collie
• German Shepherd
• Basset Hound
• Beagle
• Most mixed breeds

Choosing the right breed for your family is extremely important, but there are also many other factors involved that can affect the pets ability to interact with kids. Good obedience training is a must for any dog, but is especially important for a dog around small children. In fact, getting your children involved in the dogs training can be a great way to build up a relationship between the pet and kids.

My family would love to get a dog, but I have three children ranging in age. Which dog would be best suited for my family?

Ann

This is quite a difficult question as it is subjective in nature, but I’ll do my best to answer. With very small children it is not always a good idea to get a dog – partly for the child’s safety but also because looking after a dog can be extremely demanding on your time.

If your children are old enough to get a dog but still young, then you obviously want a good-natured and calm dog. Here are some of the best dogs for children in my opinion:

• Beagle
• Golden Retriever (probably not the best dog for first time owners)
• King Charles Spaniel
• Labrador Retriever (again probably not the best dog for first time owners)
• Pug (great for first time owners)

All of these dogs are in general well-natured and patient with children, so should make great family pets. There are other considerations you should take into account before deciding to get a dog – read more about them here.

All the best,

Richard