Having a canine as a member of your family is a true delight, and while all dogs can bring joy to a home, some breeds of dogs are more suited for certain lifestyles than others.
Careful reflection and consideration should be given when choosing a dog that will enter into a family with small children. While some breeds get along great with kids of any age, other breeds are more comfortable with adults and older children.
Some dogs don’t have an issue with children using them as a furry jungle gym, while others will be much less than pleased.
Below are dog breeds that are considered the “worst” dogs for families with young children. While there will always be exceptions, generally these breeds don’t handle kids very well.
1. Weimaraner
Weimaraners are smart, intelligent dogs. However, with that intellect comes pride and jealousy. Weimaraners are considered moody and tend to be insecure – they often require constant reassurance. Their desire of attention and notice can be problematic when parents’ focus becomes centered on the human children of the house.
2. Saint Bernard
While the beloved Beethoven movie depicts a happy home with a Saint Bernard, this breed isn’t usually recommended for families with small children. St. Bernards, although they have good hearts, can easily topple toddlers because of their gigantic size. They may knock over kids without even being aware of it. Their extensive shedding and drooling can also be problematic, adding more stress to already crowded households.
3. Australian Shepherd
Australian shepherds have natural herding instincts that are usually very difficult, if not impossible, to suppress. These natural herding tendencies can be an issue with small children frolicking about, as herding dogs will often nip at a child’s heels in an effort to herd them. Even though the behavior isn’t usually meant to be aggressive, kids don’t often enjoy being herded by their pets, so these dogs are often better suited to families with adults or older children.
4. Shih Tzu
Shih Tzus don’t tend to like kids too much – this breed is generally considered grouchy and temperamental. Their small stature also tends to give them stress and anxiety, especially with children trampling about the house.
5. Chow Chow
Chow Chows are gorgeous dogs, but they are also a breed famous for being difficult. They are stubborn and aren’t usually affectionate – looks for cuddles elsewhere. Chow Chows can also be territorial and simply don’t do very well with kids.
6. Chihuahua
Being small means that most of your surroundings tower over you. When those giant creatures are loud, rambunctious children, it’s all the more terrifying for a Chihuahua. This breed can nip when feeling frightened, and tend to prefer calm, serene surrondings. Chihauhuas, like many small breeds, aren’t recommended for homes with small children.
7. English Toy Spaniels
Again, small toy breeds in general aren’t usually recommended for household with kids, and English Toy Spaniels are one such breed. Toy breeds tend to a lot of anxiety and stress. It’s difficult for children to not see small dogs as toys, and small breeds like the English Toy Spaniel don’t like being handled be kids.
There’s no doubt that in some cases these types of breeds can fare quite well in a household with children – there are always unique cases. It’s also true that experienced trainers can also help problematic breeds adjust to a kid-friendly home. However, for the inexperienced trainers or 1st time dog owners, selecting a breed that can get along with the kids is often essential. If you know that you need a dog that can cooperate with children, these breeds are best avoided.
Do you have a mutt dog and what to find out its breed? You may want to consider a dog breed DNA test. Dog genealogy tests can reveal secret insight about your dog’s behavior and personality traits that can help you develop the best training plan for your dog.