Small Dogs For Children

If you put yourself at a small Dog's level, the world can be terrifying. And if you can imagine that angle, in the midst of small children, it is magnified. That's why is very important to make sure your Dog has the nature and doggy personality to be around children.

Small dogs believed to be good with children:

* Boston Terrier - fun, lively, independent and smart. 15- 25 pounds, short hair.
* Schnauzer - Playful, good companion, energetic. About 15 pounds, wiry hair
* Lhasa Apso - Happy, energetic, playful. Daily grooming needed, long hair.
* Shih Tzu - Hardy, fun, smart. About 10 pounds, long dense hair, daily grooming.
* Tibetan Spaniel - Good natured, likeable, smart. About 10 pounds, med. length hair, regular brushing.
* Miniature Poodle - Intelligent, good-tempered, loyal. All sizes, daily grooming.
* Shetland Sheepdog - Faithful, fun, obedient. Long hair, daily grooming.
* Beagle - Loving, playful, independent. Short dense weatherproof hair, very little grooming
* Fox Terrier - Affectionate, loyal, loving. Regular grooming, both wire and smooth haired.
* Border Terrier - Long lived, energetic, fun. Dense hair, very little grooming, about 15 pounds.
* West Highland Terrier - Cute, hardy, affectionate, smart. 20 pounds, regular brushing.
* Many mixed breeds, such as Yorkie-Poo make incredible pets and are evenly tempered.

Children need to be taught, from an early age, that treating a dog with love, care and respect, will in turn teach the dog to be the same. Never is it all right to hit, kick or throw things at a dog. This will only make a dog nervous and often the only way they know how to protect themselves is by biting. A nervous, mistreated dog is not ideal in a family situation.

It is a good idea to have children take an active part in caring for the dog. Building trust is one of the most important things between people and their pets, and a trustworthy dog is a joy. Remember a very small dog takes extra care and should never be left outside for long periods of time.

Having a dog in the house with children is challenging and should be carefully thought out. Dogs need to be trained, groomed and exercised. Depending on the breed, tooth brushing, coat brushing, baths and nail clipping are regular chores, sometimes on a daily basis. It takes patience and money to raise a well balanced dog, but in the end it's worth it. They are not only man's best friend; they provide childhood memories to last a lifetime.

*This author prefers Miniature Poodles, Terriers and Yorki-Poo for small family dogs. They are not only fun to be around, but make loyal and heartwarming companions.

Matthew Finn is an accomplished niche website developer and author. To learn more about small dogs [http://mypetdogs.info/small-dogs-for-children/], please visit My Pet Dogs for current articles and discussions.