Small Dogs Good with Children by Janice Jones |Updated 08-21-2023
Many dogs are good with children, but finding the best
family dog takes a little research and many would argue that small-breed dogs just don’t make the cut. I Beg to Differ!!
When my fourth grade teacher told my mother that I, the poor, shy kid in
her class needed a dog, I’m sure that my parents didn’t even consider what dog
would be best for me or my siblings.
That was many years ago and things have changed.
Dogs and Children have been best friends for
eons—they share a very special close bond—a confidante, a playmate, a best
friend forever.
Beyond this special
closeness that children and dogs share is a long list of benefits that children
receive when they grow up side by side with a dog.
As parents who are interested in getting a family dog, we often wonder if one breed is better than another for our children. The answer may be more complex than the average parent wants to hear.
To compile a list of the best small breed dogs for kids, we took many different factors into consideration.
Dogs can:
- Teach empathy skills,
- Enhance the
child’s self-esteem and - Help Children learn to be responsible for someone other
than themselves.
Small Breed Dogs Good With Children
Here is my list of the best breeds to consider if you have
small children: The list is in
alphabetical order and not in order of rank.
Dogs Good with Children: The Beagle
The friendly, comical, happy-go-lucky beagle makes a
wonderful family pet. He is a gentle
companion with a short coat making it a breeze to groom him. He has a long history of being a pack member
so joining your pack is not a problem.
In fact, beagles want to be where you are
which is fine because most people find their little antics hysterical. He is
a scent hound so he’s likely to follow his nose and often gets himself in trouble
because of his wonderful sense of smell.
Visit our Beagle Page for More Information.
Dogs Good with Children: Boston Terrier
The Boston terrier, dubbed the American Gentleman, has a
fabulous gentle disposition, a strong desire to please, and is very easy to
train. They are a highly intelligent breed that needs proper training or it can
get a bit too rambunctious at times.
They are playful and active, but prefer to stay by your side so they are
easy to manage.
They have a short coat
which makes them an ideal choice for busy families with little time to
groom. Boston Terriers make great
playmates for children because they crave mental stimulation, physical exercise
and enjoy both indoor and outdoor activity. Very young children should be
supervised during play sessions.
Visit our Boston Terrier Page for More Information.
Dogs Good with Children: Bichon Frise
These are the actors of the small breed dog world and thrive
when they are the center of attention.
Playful, gentle and highly affectionate, these guys do very well with
children.
They have a thick coat that
requires regular grooming, but they are non-shedding, making them great for
allergy sufferers.
They are intelligent
and easy to train, but very sensitive, so no harsh punishment methods
here! This breed loves everyone, which
makes it a good choice as a family pet.
Visit our Bichon Frise Page for More Information.
Dogs Good with Children: Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
The sheer cuteness of this breed is likely to melt your
heart, but accompanying that adorable face is a dog that is affectionate, energetic
and very intelligent as well.
They just
seem to understand you and what you want from them, so they are easy to train. These guys make very devoted family pets and
do well with children because they love to play and seem to enjoy the activity
that accompanies an active family.
Some
breeders won’t sell to families with children under five years old, but
rescuing an adult dog is a definite possibility.
They don’t bark frequently and are normally well
behaved. They can be wary of strangers,
but does well with other household pets.
Visit our Cavalier King Charles Page for more Information.
Dogs Good With Children: French Bulldog
Frenchies as they are lovingly called are friendly, loyal, happy
and do well with older children. They
like to be the center of attention and are a very gentle breed.
Children need to learn how to pick the dog up
and hold it so as not to hurt it or drop it.
They don’t require much exercise and in fact, if any of the small breed
dogs could be called couch potatoes, the French Bulldog would be high on the list.
They love to play but can’t tolerate the long
periods of rough and tumble play of some children. Their grooming needs are minimal and they do
fairly well with training.
As long as
children are careful, these dogs make good family pets.
Please visit our French Bulldog Page for More Information.
Dogs Good with Children: Havanese
Once quite rare, these dogs are gaining in popularity as
good dogs to have when you have young children.
They are highly intelligent and quiet and also easy to train. They have
along wavy coat that requires much upkeep, but they do not shed.
Please visit our Havanese page for more information.
Dogs Good with Children: Goldendoodle
Discover the perfect family addition in the Goldendoodle,
where the affectionate temperament of Golden Retrievers intertwines with the
intelligence of Poodles.
This crossbreed thrives in households with children,
offering a patient and gentle playmate, while their loyalty enhances family
moments.
With adaptable exercise needs of around 30 to 60 minutes
daily, including walks and play, Goldendoodles seamlessly integrate into
diverse routines, striking a balance between physical health and indoor
serenity.
Their hypoallergenic coats are an aid for allergic children,
requiring only regular brushing and professional grooming every 6 to 8 weeks to
maintain their unique wavy to curly coats. Goldendoodles encapsulate both
adaptability and charm, enriching family life through unwavering companionship.
Dogs Good with Children: Maltese
These dogs have been bred for 1000s of years to be
companions and they are wonderful playful lap dogs that are very gentle. Grooming can be an issue due to their long
flowing coat, but if kept trimmed in a short clip, grooming time is
considerably reduced.
They are small,
usually from 4 to 6 pounds, but many end up weighing more as adults.
Children do well with this breed due to its
spunky nature, but very young children should be taught how to handle such a
small dog. Puppies are very tiny when
they are ready to go to their forever home, so this is the best time to teach
children how to safely hold their new pet.
Check out our Maltese Dogs Pages
Dogs Good with Children: Miniature Schnauzer
These little dogs are smart and very easy to train. If introduced to children as puppies, they do
extremely well. They do require more
grooming than other breeds including a visit to the groomers about every 2
months, but they don’t shed and would make an ideal pet for someone with
allergies.
They also make great watch
dogs and playmates for your children.
The one thing to be concerned about is
that many terriers can be snappy if provoked, so the dog and child match is
most important for this breed.
The best scenario
would be if you are looking for a miniature schnauzer puppy is to find a
breeder that has children of her own so the puppies are socialized from day one
with children.
Check out our Miniature Schnauzer Page.
Dogs Good with Children: Poodle
Poodles make great family pets. They love being with people, are friendly and
gentle and have an adventurous nature to them—whether it’s just sitting by and
watching TV, going for a car ride, or a romp in the park. Poodles general love everyone in the family
and thrive on the commotion that accompanies households with small
children.
Poodles, however, are high
maintenance dogs when it comes to grooming and unless you are planning to learn
to clip your own dog, a visit to the grooming is necessary every 6 to 8 weeks.
Take that into consideration and be sure if
fits into your budget. The one caveat
that poodles present is their small size and delicate nature.
Rough and tumble play is to be avoided as
these dogs can get injured easily. A
larger toy poodle or miniature might be the best compromise. Avoid the teacup versions at all costs. Visit our Toy Poodle Page for more information.
Dogs Good with Children: Pug
All small dogs seem to fit into the category of “small dog,
big attitude” but the Pug does it the best!
They are very loving, incredibly playful, friendly and happy. Some would say that there is not a mean bone
in their body and that about sums it up.
They love their families but are equally friendly and outgoing with
strangers. Pugs adapt well to many
different situations, are highly trainable and eager to please.
They require minimal grooming, although they
are known to be heavy shedders. A great
overall family pet, but beware, they are prone to obesity if fed too much and exercised
too little.
Please visit our Pug Page for more information.
Dogs Good with Children: Shih Tzu
These little guys are much sturdier than their small size
suggests making them good for small children.
They are gentle, relatively quiet and calm, although they can have bursts
of energy where all they want to do is run and play.
They don’t shed, so they are better for
individuals with allergies, although grooming needs can be great especially if
you decide to keep them in full coat.
Most people prefer to keep them in a short trim. Their exercise needs are minimal, but they
can be stubborn at times making training somewhat of a challenge.
Let me just say that I truly believe all small dogs can make
good family pets given the right circumstances, training and
compatibility. The dog breeds we
mentioned above are only a few of many others that would make suitable family pets,
but these are the ones that are likely to be the best choices.
Please visit our Shih Tzu page for more information.
The Takeaway
These are the common small dog breeds that work best for families with children. Did I forget your favorite breed that you believe is a good choice for a small dog breed that is perfect for a family with young children?
Please let me know. I would love to hear from you and future readers would like to hear your opinion too. Please take the time to share your thoughts. AND, don’t forget to share your thoughts and photos below.
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