There are several different breeds that do well with older, well-behaved children, and only a select few who are patient enough to be around younger children. Although all young children should be closely supervised and taught to be kind to their Dog, these are the breeds who will let a toddler crawl all over them, or allow a 3 year old to dress them up without complaining.
There are several hounds that are very tolerant of young children, including the Scottish Deerhound, the Stabyhoun, the Treeing Walker Coonhound, the Platt Hound and the Pharaoh Hound. Also the American Foxhound, the Basset Hound, and Ibizan Hound. Sometimes I wonder if these hounds are much more tolerant of smaller children simply because they have more skin to pull on! I'm not sure, but remember that just because they will allow a toddler to grab at them, doesn't mean it shouldn't be discouraged. Every Dog has its limit and you don't want your Dog to even get near that limit. You want your Dog to love your children as much as you do.
There are some bigger dogs that do well with children, such as the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog and the Golden Retriever. It's also important to note that most of these dogs will be much calmer around the smaller children if they have plenty of exercise, so it is important that when you have a small child, to ensure your dog is good and tired so they don't play too rough.
I think the most tolerant breeds of all are the Bulldog and the Olde Victorian Bulldog. They aren't really hyper and they tolerate rough handling by small little hands that don't have a lot of dexterity. Of course the bulldogs do come with that special stubbornness that makes them loved and frustrating at the same time!
Remember to introduce your children to dogs slowly and teach them to be respectful of the dog and their space. Always insist that if a dog moves away from the child, that the child respect the dog and not follow them. Although it is important to watch your small children with the dog at all times, the breeds mentioned above will tolerate more from a small child than other breeds. As always, make sure you choose the breed based upon many factors, such as grooming requirements, exercise needs, etc.
Written by Jennifer Andrade from A Dog for Life, LLC , which is dedicated to helping you choose and find the best dog for your family.
My website features many other resources that can help you have a more positive and closer relationship with your canine companion.
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