Dogs With Kids – Free Tips From Unleashed Potential K9

I am often asked what is the best breed of dogs for children. My answer is plain and simple. “There is no Perfect Breed of dog for children”. You can have 10 dogs of the same breed and the all have different temperaments.Some will be suitable and some will not. A Pit Bull can make just as good of a companion pet as a Golden Retriever or a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel so this is not a breed specific issue.

My Daughter traveling with a German Shepherd

Keep one thing in mind as it is very important to know,  There is no such thing as a dog that will not bite All dogs can and will. Some dogs have short fuses and some are very tolerant but All DOGS CAN BITE!  Some can bite harder than others but ALL DOGS CAN BITE!

Now that you have this understood , I’m going to list some tips you should look at when looking for a dog for kids and when you have a dog with kids.

My son one and a half years old training a malinois puppy to go to kennel.

1. What is the best age for a child to have a dog ? This is a personal preference. There is no best age just like there is no best breed, I have had a variety of dogs before I had children so I have brought my babies home with the presence of  dogs already there,  as well as having new dogs young and old coming and going from our house where I have 3 children. The kids were at all stages of life when this was happening with all kinds of breeds.

First consider this, your time commitment, how active your family is, and your child’s demeanor.  Ask yourself:  How much time can you commit to a dog at the moment and how would your child be with a dog? Is your child quiet and calm or a energetic, wild, rough, tumble weed? This is important to think about and will help you make an educated decision not an emotional one that you might regret later. Pick your dog by its temperament according to your child’s temperament. A hyper, rough child should not have a soft timid dog. A calm, shy child should not have a energetic, pushy dog.

I can suggest from experience, like a human baby, dogs are a lot of work. It is much easier to get a dog when the children are past the baby stage and they can take direction from you while safely interacting with a dog and be of some help in training and looking after a dog.

My daughter Hannah at 4yrs old with a cocker spanial.

2. Education… It is most important that your children be taught how to safely interact with dogs to prevent stressing a dog or pushing the limits and challenging a dog just as dogs need to learn how to interact around children.  The older the child is the better they will be at interacting with the dog and being able to build the proper relation ship as well as training and care.

3. Obedience training your dog is essential. Get advice from a certified and experienced canine professional or trainer like an Unleashed Potential K9 trainer. Don’t just pick the first trainer or behaviorist you call. Meet with a few and interview them and ask for references. Talk to your vet on who they recommend.  Have your children involved in the training while you supervise.

Duke Ferguson teaching a family how to interact with a dog.

3. SUPERVISE CHILDREN AND DOGS AT ALL TIMES NO MATTER WHAT!!  This is a must for the safety of the dog and the child and is your responsibility.

Here is a video of my son Austin when he is almost 2 years old. He is training a 5 month old German Shepherd.

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Duke Ferguson, ABDT, MT

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