Dogs and children just seem to go together. We often have an image of kids happily playing with a dog in the yard, and all is right with the world. However, in order for you and your children to be happy with a dog, you need to choose the right dog for your family. And that means you need to take the time to do a little thinking about what you want in a dog. You need to do a little research about which dog is a good fit for your family. There are lots of different things to consider before bringing a dog home such as size, temperament, and age. Here are some tips to help you choose the best dog for your kids.
1. Is your family ready? Before getting any dog, stop and consider if your family is really ready for a dog. Dogs take work. Someone has to feed and water a dog. Dogs have to be exercised and pottied. Someone has to pick up after the dog. Puppies have to be house trained. If you are planning to get a puppy, puppies usually go through a period of chewing and have to learn how to behave. They may need training classes. Even an adopted older dog may need training classes. If you expect your child to take care of your dog, that often doesn’t work out and you, the parent, are left to take care of the dog. So, before getting any dog, ask yourself if you really have the time to care for a dog. Dogs also need dog food and veterinary care. It costs money to take care of a dog, week after week. Are you in a good financial position to care for a dog? Consider these things before bringing a dog home.
2. Mixed breed or purebred? Lots of people like the idea of getting a mixed breed dog and adopting from their local shelter. However, if you have children, it is important that you know as much as possible about the dog you are going to be bringing into your home. For most people, that means you should know what kind of temperament you can expect him to have, how big he will be when he grows up (if you are getting a puppy), what kind of coat he will have so you know how much grooming there will be, and what you can expect in terms of health issues. Simply from the perspective of knowing what you are getting, it is often a good idea to get a purebred dog if you have children. If you would like to help a dog out, you can contact a purebred rescue group to adopt a purebred dog that needs a home. You will still know what the dog’s temperament, size, grooming, and health issues will likely be, and you will be helping a dog. However, most rescue groups do not have puppies available, if that is important to you.
You can still get a mixed breed dog from a shelter if you prefer, but it is more of a gamble. When you get a mixed breed dog from a shelter you probably won’t know much about the dog or his history. You should be aware that shelters often call dogs “mixes,” such as a “Lab-Collie mix,” but that is usually just a guess and the shelter staff probably has no idea what the parents of the dog really were. Don’t rely on those labels to tell you anything about the dog’s temperament or what the dog will be like later in life.
3. Adult or Puppy? Both adult dogs and puppies can make great dogs for families. There is nothing cuter than a puppy. Puppies will make you laugh and your kids would probably love to have a puppy. A puppy can grow up with your kids. Puppies are a clean slate when they come to you. They have had no previous owner so you don’t have to worry about them having any bad emotional baggage. However, if you get a puppy you will have to teach them everything. And puppies can be destructive. You will need to have some patience if you get a puppy and be committed to teaching the puppy what he needs to learn. Puppies usually demand more of your time for the first year or two in the home.
Adult dogs usually already know the basics of living in a home. Most adult dogs are already housetrained and have some basic manners. Sometimes an adult dog can come into your home and settle right in. In other cases an adult dog may need some re-training. If you do get an adult dog you should try to get one that does not have any previous behavior problems that you have to try to fix. Adult dogs are usually calmer than puppies, depending on their age and breed. They can be a great choice for a home with kids.
It’s really up to you whether you get a puppy or an adult dog, how much time you have for training, and what you prefer.
4. How much grooming and exercise will the dog need? Every dog breed is different. Once you have decided on some breeds that interest you, you should research them to find out how much grooming and exercise they need. Do they have any other specific requirements? For instance, Border Collies are extremely intelligent and many people think they want one, but Border Collies have intense herding instincts and they have been known to herd children. This is probably not a breed that you want if you have kids.
5. Does your child have allergies? Then you will need to consider a breed that seems to be better for people with allergies. Recent research suggests that there are no “hypoallergenic” dog breeds. However, there are breeds that seem to affect people less if they have allergies. (Hard to explain it, but it seems to be true.) The American Kennel Club has a listing of breeds that are supposed to be good for people with allergies: <http://www.akc.org/about/faq_allergies.cfm> The breeds include the Bedlington Terrier, the Bichon Frise, the Chinese Crested, the Irish Water Spaniel, the Kerry Blue Terrier, the Maltese, Poodles, the Portuguese Water Dog, Schnauzers, the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier, and the Xoloitzcuintli (Mexican Hairless Dog). If your child is allergic to dogs, you can’t automatically assume that he or she will be able to live with a dog from one of these breeds. You should arrange to meet the puppy or dog you are considering to see how your child reacts to the dog. It’s a good idea to meet the dog in a non-doggy environment so your child’s allergies won’t be triggered by other dander on the premises. Plus, your child might be miserable in an environment with a lot of other dogs such as a shelter or a breeder’s home. So, it’s best to meet the dog one-on-one in a dog-free area.
These are some of the most important things to consider when choosing a dog for your kids. Your specific family might have some other things that are important to you. Go over this list before getting a dog and it should help you choose the best possible dog. Growing up with a dog is a wonderful experience for a kid. A dog can be your child’s best friend. Good luck choosing your child’s buddy.
