Small dogs good with children
Most small dogs that are good with children aren’t just born that way. If the dog has not been properly socialized, the size does not matter in the least. Small dogs that are good with children is not the only thing to consider. How are children with small dogs or any dog? Any dog, large or small breed, can be cool or downright suspicious.
The real key to how a dog reacts to people, places, and things is how the dog was socialized from the start.
How children play with the dog should also be considered. For example, the Chihuahua or the Papillion are usually great with children. But they are very small with tiny bones and can be easily injured. Their fragile frame cannot withstand the hard knocks that more robust breeds can withstand. Young children do not know how to hold them properly. This does not make dogs bad, they are simply a poor choice for a home with very young children.
small dogs for adoption
Also, don’t forget to visit the kennel and animal rescues like the Humane Center. Rescues have generally tested the dogs and know which ones are good with children and which ones need an adult home.
If a dog has never been around children, they may be frightened by the children’s activity. Children always want to pick up and hug small dogs, but if they are used to children, they may bite them.
I know of this 7-year-old boy who was playing with his pet. He wasn’t being mean just playing around like little kids do. He was pretending that the dog was a boxer (not a dog type boxer but a person boxer with gloves). Next thing you know, the front leg is out of place on him. The boy was terrified and the dog was dying. This is why you should not have a small dog with children.
When you consider that dogs are good with children, don’t forget to teach your children how to handle dogs of any size. Children do not understand animals unless they are taught and teaching them is very important. Not only for the safety of your pets, but also for the safety of the child. They must know how to approach a strange dog or not. They need to understand that when it comes to other animals, not all of them will be friendly and ready to play or be cuddled.
My dogs are used to children of all sizes because the grandchildren are constantly in and out of here. But when we’re on the road and we stop at a rest area and a child sees Tiffany, he always wants to run and grab or pet her. So I back up and try to teach the kid not to do that, not because Tiffany is going to bite, but because the next dog they run to might. That is why it is very important for children to learn about dogs.