How to Select the Right Breed for Your
Family
As a parent, you want your child to be safe around
your dog. You want to know which breeds are good with children and which
aren't. The truth is, all dogs have the potential to bite, and a dog's
breed is only one of many factors that affect temperament and behavior.
The
best dogs for kids are those who receive proper socialization, human training,
exercise, and attention; who are given adequate food, water, shelter,
and veterinary care; who are sterilized and who are safely confined.
That said, many breeds do maintain characteristics
that make them better at being a safe, kid-friendly family dog. And of
course, there are breeds that tend not to be as wise a choice for certain
households, particularly those with small children. Here are some considerations
to keep in mind as you select a breed for your family:
• Hunting breeds like to chase. It can be harder to teach them not
to chase the children.
• Terriers are often high strung. They run around and chase because
that's what they are genetically programmed to do. Again, it can
be hard to teach them not to chase small children.
• Herding breeds are inclined to “herd” children, chasing
and nipping at their heels.
• Many of the working breeds can, by nature, be aggressive protection
dogs. A Rottweiler or an Akita, for example, might love your child. But
if a child's friend hits your child, these dogs could attack him.
• In general, breeds that have been selected for protective behavior,
such as Rottweilers, may not be good for families with children. It can
be difficult for this type of dog to comfortably tolerate the constant
coming and going of children and their friends, who may be perceived as
intruders.
• The small and toy breeds of dogs, like toy or miniature poodles,
Chihuahuas or cocker spaniels, may not be good choices for families with
young children. Small breeds are more easily injured than larger dogs
and may be more easily frightened by a lot of activity, loud noises, and
by being picked up frequently. Frightened dogs tend to snap or bite in
order to protect themselves. Larger dogs may be better able to tolerate
the activity, noise, and rough play that comes with living with children.
• The larger sporting breeds, such as labs and retrievers, make
good pets for families with children. However, when adopted as puppies,
they can be as exhausting as adding another child to the household. Labs
are boisterous, active dogs that retain puppy characteristics for two
years or more.
There are many great books that can help you pick the right breed for
your family and lifestyle. Here are a few of the most popular titles:
• The Right Dog for You
Written by Daniel F. Tortora
• Paws to Consider: Choosing the Right Dog for You and Your
Family
Written by Brian Kilcommons
• The Perfect Match: A Dog Buyer's Guide
Written by Chris Walkowicz
Sporting breeds
The sporting breeds' - personalities range from mild to hard-headed to
tough, but all are suitable family dogs for an active household or patient
owners. Sporting dogs were bred to hunt and most will take advantage of
every opportunity to follow their noses - sometimes right out of an improperly
secured fenced yard.
Sporting breeds include:
Setters
Pointers
Spaniels
Retrievers
Others, all bred to hunt game birds
Some of the sporting breeds are well-suited to becoming part of a family
with children. However, you might want to keep in mind:
• Cocker spaniels are not good around boisterous children because
they do not tolerate rough handling or teasing.
• Golden and Labrador retrievers enjoy the attention of well-behaved
children and will usually put up with some bratty behavior. They are relatively
easy to train, easy to care for, and often seem to be perpetually young.
• The Brittany and English Springer spaniel are smaller and far
less popular, but have the same great personality traits and sparkling
manner.
• The setters are very high energy dogs that are fine for active
families.
• The pointers are working dogs that tolerate children but are not
particularly easy to train as house pets.
If you don't want to train a sporting breed, do not
get a Weimaraner or Chesapeake Bay retriever. These breeds can be domineering
if not taught their place.
Hounds
Hounds come in two basic types—scent hounds, who follow their noses
anywhere, and sight hounds, whose gaze lingers on the horizon in the search
for game.
Scent hounds include:
Basset
Beagle
Black and Tan Coonhound
Bloodhound
Daschunds
American and English Foxhounds
Petit
Basset Griffon Vendeen
|
Harrier
Norwegian Elkhound
Otterhound |
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Some of the scent hounds are lethargic, others are
frenzied to find and follow a trail. Most are difficult to obedience train
because their noses are always responding to the pungent odors beyond
human detection. However, scent hounds are almost always friendly dogs,
accustomed to working with their handlers in the field. The Elkhound was
bred to hunt moose in snow-covered mountains and has a thick undercoat
that sheds profusely. This should be taken into consideration in households
with children who have allergies or respiratory issues.
Sight hounds include:
Afghan
Hound
Basenji
Borzoi (Russian wolfhound)
Greyhound
Ibizan Hound
Irish Wolfhound
|
Pharaoh Hound
Rhodesian Ridgeback
Saluki
Scottish Deerhound
Whippet |
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Sight hounds tend to be independent and aloof toward
strangers. Sight hounds are generally obedient pets, but do not tend to
enjoy obedience training. Many sight hounds are extremely intelligent
and can become bored with the repetition involved with obedience training.
The Pharaoh Hound craves human attention and is especially good with children.
The Basenji is a playful and obedient companion with the unique habit
of cleaning itself like a cat.
Working breeds
Working breeds are often independent, aloof with strangers, and difficult
to manage. Working dogs should be accustomed to children at an early age
because a child's staring, quick and unpredictable movements, and high-pitched
voice can trigger a prey drive in poorly socialized adults of these breeds.
A working breed that is not socialized as a puppy and young adult can
easily become a domineering pet prone to jumping on people and furniture,
growling at children and unconfident adults, and refusing to come when
called or lie down on command. With a few exceptions, working breeds are
not suitable for first time dog owners without a commitment to formal
obedience training and a willingness to establish and maintain control
from the moment the puppy walks in the door.
Working breeds
include:
Samoyed
Saint Bernard
Portugese Water dog
Newfoundland
Siberian Husky
Akita
Rottweiler
Boxer
Komodor |
Doberman
Alaskan Malamute
Bernese Mountain dog
Bullmastiff
Standard and Giant Schnauzer
Great Dane
Great Pyrenees
Kuvasz
Mastiff |
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Of the working breeds, the Samoyed, Saint Bernard, Portuguese
Water dog, Newfoundland, and Siberian Husky have the mildest temperaments,
while the Akita, Doberman, Boxer, Komodor and Rottweiler are the most
domineering. People who like the look of the Rottweiler but do not want
the responsibility of owning a guardian breed should consider the Greater
Swiss Mountain dog, which has a milder attitude.
Many working dogs are susceptible to degenerative joint
disease, particularly hip dysplasia, and should only be purchased from
breeders who clear their breeding stock of this genetic abnormality.
Terriers
The terrier temperament is a fiery one. The smallest terriers are scrappy,
ready to take on even giant-sized adversaries. This attitude gives them
an earnest and often boisterous attitude toward life as a pet. However,
they can be quite independent and difficult to train for the weak of will.
Terrier breeds include:
Airedale
Australian
Border
Cairn
Irish
Lakeland
Miniature Schnauzer
Norfolk |
Norwich
Scottish
Sealyham
Skye
Welsh
West Highland White
Wirehaired Fox |
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|
Generally, terriers are not good around rowdy children
because they give back as much or more than is dished out. Some terriers
are yappy and can be nippy with overactive children. The Border, Irish
and soft-coated Wheaten terriers are considered to be generally good with
children. The others are recommended for families with older, well-behaved
children.
Most terriers are tough to train since they have their
own idea of how the world works, and that idea frequently differs from
owners. Few will back down from a confrontation with another dog.
Toy breeds
Toy breeds, as a rule, do not like small children and their movements
can be too quick for elderly family members.
Toy breeds include:
Affenpincher
Brussels Griffon
Chihuahua
English Toy Spaniel
Italian Greyhound
Japanese Chin
Maltese
Toy Manchester Terrier
Miniature Pinscher
|
Papillion
Pekingese
Pomeranian
Toy Poodle
Pug
Shih Tzu
Silky Terrier
Yorkshire Terrier |
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Toy dogs are generally easy-care pets. However, some
need even more exercise than larger breeds. Pekingese and Chihuahuas almost
always prefer adults and most are very intolerant of children, especially
toddlers. Toy Poodles and other toy breeds can be so tiny they may be
injured by children or resort to biting out of self defense.
Non-sporting breeds
This is a diverse group of dogs ranging in size from the smallest Bichon
Frise to the most massive Dalmatian. There's no unifying trait or characteristic
to bind these breeds together. In reality, several of these breeds could
easily fit another group.
The non-sporting breeds have become popular as companion
animals, even though they started out with a variety of jobs in their
native lands. For example, the English Bulldog was designed to grab a
bull by the snout and hang on for dear life until the animal could be
killed. The Dalmatian was a Gypsy camp dog in Europe, and then a coach
dog in England. The Standard Poodle was a German hunting dog. The Shiba
hunted small game in Japan. And the Finnish Spitz hunted large game birds.
Non-sporting breeds include:
Boston Terrier
English Bulldog
French Bulldog
Lhasa Apso
Schipperke
Tibetan Spaniel
Tibetan Terrier
|
Bichon Frise
Dalmatian
Keeshond
Finnish Spitz
Standard Poodle
Shiba
Chow Chow |
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Many of the non-sporting breeds make great family pets.
The Schipperke, in particular, is playful with children and eager to protect
his family. Of the non-sporting breeds, the Dalmatian and Chow are the
most misunderstood. Dalmatians are active, independent, athletic dogs
that need a firm hand. While Dalmatians are generally good with older
children, they may be too boisterous for small children. Early socialization
and consistent obedience training are recommended for the Dalmatian in
order to channel its high energy and prevent destructiveness caused by
boredom. The warm and fuzzy appearance of Chows can be deceiving. They
are fierce fighters when provoked and are primarily recommended for households
with older, mature children.
Herding breeds
Most herding dogs are active, intelligent, courageous and determined.
They are extremely focused dogs who must be kept very busy. Many of them,
the Border Collie in particular, don't just need exercise, they
need meaningful exercise. A walk won't do unless they get to fetch
something, herd something, or climb over, under, around and through something.
Herding breeds include:
Australian Cattle dog
Australian Shepherd
Bearded Collie
Belgian Malinois
Belgian Sheepdog
Belgian Tervuren
Bouvier des Flandres
Briard
|
Collie
German Shepherd
Old English Sheepdog
Puli
Shetland Sheepdog
Cardigan Welsh Corgi
Pembroke Welsh Corgi |
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The Collie is the true family companion of the herding
breeds. The three Belgian breeds make good family pets as well and are
relatively easy to train. The Australian Cattle dog, the Briard, the Old
English Sheepdog, and the Australian Shepherd can be hard-headed.
The German Shepherd is prone to temperament problems
because of overbreeding. German Shepherds from European working lines
tend to have higher drives than the U.S. dogs. They must also have work
to do, or they can become destructive.
Herding dogs are subject to hip dysplasia and should
be purchased only from breeders who x-ray their stock.
Selecting a breeder
Thoroughly research, interview and question any breeder that you are considering
making a purchase from. And keep these basic guidelines in mind:
• Avoid big breeders who produce many litters a year (puppy mill).
• Avoid individuals who own both parents (backyard puppy mill).
• Avoid pet stores.
• Select a small, home-based breeder who only has 1–2 litters
a year, who is active in conformation as well as obedience or hunting/field
trialing/herding/tracking/etc. Do not hesitate to ask for references.
• Dogs should be guaranteed against major health defects. The breeder
should question you regarding your suitability to own one of their puppies
and should tell you the pros and cons of this breed.
• The breeder should provide a written contract and give you 24–48
hours to have the dog checked by your veterinarian. The dog may be returned
for any reason within this time period and your money refunded.
• Understand what “faults” are. They may preclude a
championship at a dog show, but they do not impact a dog's ability
to be a wonderful pet. Faults typically include minor defects in structure
(tailset, earset, shoulder layback) or looks (coat texture, color, pigmentation).
Have the breeder relate each puppy's faults as they relate to the
breed standard. And remember, there is no such thing as a perfect dog.
The American Kennel Club is the best, most trusted source
of information regarding what to look for in specific breeds. However,
the AKC is more picky about perfection because they cater to show dogs.
While you are deciding on a breed, visit their website for detailed information
about each breed and for a list of registered breeders in your area.
http://www.akc.org/
