How to Pick the Perfect Pooch for Your Kids

by Sandy Maple (Subscribe to Sandy Maple's posts)
Apr 2nd 2010 11:00AM

Filed under: Adoption, Pets, Relationships, Expert Advice: Babies, Expert Advice: Toddlers & Preschoolers, Expert Advice: Big Kids, Expert Advice: Tweens

Look for tolerant breeds when picking a puppy to join your family. Credit: Susan.W.Patton, Flickr

If you've decided to adopt a dog for your family, it's time to do your homework. Because while all dogs require commitment and financial resources, some definitely make better family pets than others.

When choosing a dog breed, there are certain traits you should look for: A good dog for children is friendly, calm and most of all, tolerant.

Before selecting a dog, consider the amount of space, time and energy you can offer this new member of your family. A very large, active dog is probably not well-suited for apartment-dwellers, and busy families should consider a breed that can adapt to being alone during the day. Families with very young children should avoid tiny dogs, as they can be easily injured if dropped or handled roughly.

To help you get started in your search for the perfect pooch, we've compiled a list of some of the best dogs for kids. Click on the links for more detailed information about each breed.

Beagle: Beagles are friendly and easy-going. Their short hair and compact size make them easy to live with and they're good with other dogs, as well as humans. Bred to hunt, Beagles need plenty of exercise and activities to keep them out of trouble.
Golden Retriever: A beautiful dog with a long, golden coat, Golden Retrievers are the most popular breed in the nation, according to the American Kennel Club. They are easily trained, have a sweet temperament and are known for their loyalty. This dog has lots of energy and needs room to roam.
Pug: With their wrinkled faces and expressive eyes, Pugs are playful and even-tempered. Their short hair is easy to maintain and their exercise needs are minimal.
Bichon Frise: As happy as it is beautiful, the fluffy white Bichon Frise is a playful dog who needs plenty of exercise. With fast-growing hair, the Bichon requires regular grooming. It doesn't shed and is well-suited for allergy sufferers.
Labrador Retriever: Intelligent and friendly, this dog has a yellow, brown or black coat. Long a family favorite, a Lab is non-aggressive, eager to please and known to be quite adaptable.
Poodle: Active and proud, the Poodle can sometimes be a little shy. Varying in color, the Poodle's coat is hypoallergenic and requires regular grooming. Despite their reputation as dumb, Poodles are actually quite intelligent.
Great Dane: A gentle giant, the Great Dane needs a home that can accommodate its extremely large size and exercise needs. Sometimes referred to as the "king of dogs" the Great Dane's spirit and friendly disposition have made it a popular family pet.
Samoyed: With light colored hair, black lips and blue eyes, the looks of a Samoyed are striking. A good-natured dog who enjoys the company of humans, the Samoyed requires patient and consistent training along with lots of exercise.
Boston Terrier: Highly intelligent and determined, this made-in-America dog is actually a cross between an English Bulldog and a white English Terrier. With a gentle disposition and moderate exercise needs, the Boston Terrier is easily trained and makes for a loyal companion.
Mutt: Because its parentage can be unknown, adopting a mutt requires a little guesswork. While a mutt puppy's breed mix can sometimes be determined by its appearance, adopting an older mixed-breed dog whose behavior and size is already known might be a better choice.

Whichever breed you choose, it should be a decision that your family makes together. After all, the dog you bring home will be a part of your lives for a very long time.

Related: How dogs and toddlers are alike.

ReaderComments (Page 1 of 5)

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4-02-2010 @ 12:20PM

Jennifer Chushcoff said...

Shelties are great. They have wonderful, family-oriented personalities and are just the right size. And they have super soft fur.

4-05-2010 @ 10:59AM

Art said...

Shelties are very beautiful dogs but they tend "barky" and loud and because they are herding dogs they will also chase cars. Most herding dogs are not sedate and have a lot of energy. They were bred to work all day and they like to be active. If you are a couch potato no herding dog is a good match. Also because of their long hair they need grooming to keep their coats from becoming matted. So if you are a very active person, with lots of room for the dog to get excersize, and don't mind brushing the dog and keeping up with it's hair, a Sheltie can make a good pet. Just don't think of them as being ornamental. They will drive you nuts if you can't keep up with them.

4-02-2010 @ 1:10PM

Kyla Duffy said...

The information you have included her is wonderful. Too many people get dogs because they fall for their looks and they forget to properly research the breed. I'd like to add that there are private purebred rescue organizations all over the country, so if you have found a breed you like, simple do a search for that breed followed by the word "rescue" to find one in your area. Alternatively, websites like petfinder.com and adoptapet.com can help you to locate rescues.

For further breed information, the "Lost Souls: Found!" series of books (available at Amazon.com) gives great insight into what living with each breed is like.

4-05-2010 @ 10:35AM

jtfee said...

Sometimes dogs select their owners. A friend told me about his neighbor's dog, "Max," that he'd never really noticed nor had Max paid attention to him. One evening when my friend arrived home, the dog came over to him, obviously eager to play. After a few minutes of play in the front yard, my friend went into his house, where his children rushed to the door: "Daddy, the Smiths are giving up Max. Can we have him?" Little did they know that Max had already done his own lobbying, successfully at that.

4-05-2010 @ 12:26PM

Anne Greene said...

Another thing to take into consideration, is the age of the children in the home. My favorite breed for people with small children is the Australian Shepherd. However, I personally own a wire hair fox terrier. I got my first wire hair when I was 12 and about 10-12 is the perfect age for owning that breed of dog. They are high energy dogs and love to play with children. However, because they can be rough, and love to jump up on people, they are not a good dog for small children. But, if you have older children, who are active and play outside a lot and you have a fenced in yard, they are perfect! They are extremely friendly, and love everyone. You can not be sad around a wire hair fox terrier, because they will do something that will have you laughing in a matter of minutes. I am now an elderly lady who adores her wire hair and takes him on 4-5 long walks every day. It keeps both of us in good shape. They do not really shed, but do need to be groomed especially if you live in a hot climate during the summer months. In the winter if it is cold then you can let their coat go natural, but you still would need to brush it. If you can not place the breed, just remember the old Thin Man movies and Asta. Asta acted like all wire hairs act all of the time. But, be sure that you buy one from a good breeder. They also do not have very many health issues, or inbred genetic defaults like some of your larger more popular breeds.

4-05-2010 @ 8:52AM

debrockman said...

Poodles have never had the reputation of being dumb. Where did you get that?! They have been used as circus and agility dogs because they are smart and athletic.

4-05-2010 @ 2:01PM

Kelly said...

All of the poodles that I have ever encountered were all beauty and no brain.

4-05-2010 @ 7:10AM

LS said...

Don't forget schnauzers. They are smart, easily trained, and even though they need regular grooming, you don't have to worry about dog hair sheading.

4-05-2010 @ 1:13PM

Martine said...

Only been bitten by one dog - a schnauzer!

4-05-2010 @ 7:30AM

mary lynne spazok said...

my cocker spaniel ED is great. 12 years old and he is as faithful as ever. Very considerate before walking down stairs and is not greedy when it comes to food. Yes, he does get groomed every 4 weeks but that comes with pet responsibillity.Every dog has its attributes and pitfalls. Its the owner who molds the pup!

Izzy said...

Good article... but you have one error. Labrador Retreiver is the nation's most popular breed now for about the 9th yr in a row!

4-05-2010 @ 8:01AM

lisa said...

We have a pug blend, Franky is a sweety, biggest heart ever. He will only be around 15 lbs we think,5 months old. So he has a little bit of growing to go. He also loves to type. tying now.lap puppy. Proves to be a very protective type, loves to be with his Mommy, however not a mean bone in his body. Just wish he would outgrow this chewy puppy stage.

4-16-2010 @ 9:08AM

Laina said...

To #17 L.A. Never had any type of Poodle, but the ARE smart! I can only think of a standard a couple I know owns and he is great! Good choice, any type of poodle or mix.

4-05-2010 @ 8:29AM

Nicole said...

I wish articles like this would always print in boldface at the start--Know your breeds, but don't go to a Breeder. I know that will make a lot of people get ruffled up out there, but the fact remains that there are more dogs in rescue and in shelters then can be adopted and saved unless our entire view of Breeding for Profit changes. I've owned two purebred Beagles (first dogs I've shared a life with, ignorant of the concept of rescue and focused instead on the breed) and one was wonderful and the other had so many issues with health (seizures, fear aggressive, unfriendly with children) that after 9 years of working with behaviorists we made the humane decision to put him down. Broke my heart. Lost our girl beagle a few years later to heart failure at 13. We rescued a pug mix (who cares with what!) and she is just a doll. Can never replace our love of our "for profit and pureblood" babies, but we'll never again forget that there are dogs that need homes desperately and have been pre-screened for health and behavior issues. No breeder can tell you what a puppy at seven weeks will be like. petfinder.com has links to wonderful rescues and shelters near you. there are even military family sites when they have to relocate and can't take beloved family pets. please, please spread the word--Save a dog, don't buy one like a purse.

4-05-2010 @ 8:39AM

Carol said...

You are so right!!!

4-05-2010 @ 11:02AM

kryswyn said...

Please reconsider qualifying your definition of 'Breeder'. I CAN tell you what one of my puppies will be like, at 5 mos, 1 yr, 5 yrs and even older. That's because I've been doing it for 16 years, researching, genetically testing, and tracking the pups I've sold. Many of the puppy owners have become dear friends. I also take back w/o charge puppies and dogs I've bred when circumstances have changed for the original owners, and found them new homes. I also RESCUE dogs of my breed, and foster them until I can find them new forever homes. NO one can tell you what those dogs will be like in the years to come because their puppyhood and breeding is a mystery. Will they have temperment problems as they mature? Will they go blind from genetic eye problems?

Don't misunderstand me. I KNOW there are way too many dogs being bred, by people who are in it for the money, and I can tell you if you breed responsibly, there is NO MONEY in it and NO way to make a sustainable profit. So if you want to get another purebred HEALTHY beagle pup, please check out RESPONSIBLE breeders, who will ask you far more questions about your family, home, and lifestyle than you'll believe possible. They likely will NOT take credit cards, or allow you to make payments, but they'll take your check because they've come to your house for a home inspection, so they know where you live!

DON'T buy from a pet store, no matter how sincerely they tell you they get their pups from 'respected breeders'. No RESPONSIBLE breeder would let their puppies go to a third party they'd never met.

Great article. All of the above breeds make wonderful pets, and can be 'adopted' at local rescue organizations all over the USA, rather than buying one, which is supporting puppy mills. Also, mixed breeds, that are also in need of homes, come in all shapes and sizes and can also be found at your local rescue organizations. Mixed breeds have less inherited health problems, so you may want to consider that when adopting a dog/puppy. And please don't pass up the beautiful black ones, that are the last to be adopted and are just as loving as all the others. PLEASE take adoption seriously and make sure you're ready to give any animal a wonderful, loving, forever home!

4-05-2010 @ 8:31AM

SKW said...

Good article, but I have something to add: beagles DIG. We've owned several dogs that were part beagle and every one of them tunnelled out from under the fence and wandered off. One was killed by a car, another was hit but survived. It's VERY important to know this before adopting one.

4-05-2010 @ 8:37AM

Debbie said...

Poodles have a reputation for being dumb???? This is the first time I've heard that one. They're consistently listed in the top three breeds for intelligence.
While I don't agree with everything this column says, they're absolutely correct that people need to do their homework and think about where a dog will fit into their lives for the next 15 years or so before they get one.
My other breed, Airedales, are amazing family companions and guardians, but they're labor intensive for at least the first couple of years, don't shed much but require regular trips to the groomer unless you know how to do it at home, need firm boundaries and a strong human leader.
Whatever, it's all worth it. I love my dogs!

4-05-2010 @ 8:46AM

Nicole, I do disagree with some of your post. I have no qualms with buying from a REPUTABLE breeder (i.e., one who is breeding for the primary purpose of improving the breed, takes responsibility for every puppy produced for that puppy's entire life, does all the health checks, etc., etc.) Reputable breeders do not advertise in the newspaper. They generally have a waiting list for their puppies. They have a stringent screening process for prospective buyers. I bought my Airedale as a puppy from one such breeder. Backyard breeders, on the other hand, breed for profit. Many are into the designer dogs, and don't know enough about either breed involved to be producing purebred quality pups, let alone mixing it up a bit.
That said, I also support getting puppies/dogs from the pound or rescues. My poodle was 6 when we got her from a rescue, and she's a beautiful, loving, intelligent, protective member of our family.

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