Top 10 Best Dog Breeds For Kids

Photo – © pitrs – Fotolia.com

Ok, we just found a great list that people are sure to appreciate: Top 10 Best Dog Breeds For Kids. This list is compiled from breeds that are known for their calm temperament, guardian qualities, and also some breeds that are “tough yet gentle” – because kids can sometimes be boisterous and so it’s better to have a type of dog that is physically stronger so as to be able to deal with a little “rough and tumble” type play, yet still remain good natured. In general, it is thought that small / highly strung dogs are not ideal for children.

The list is ‘spread out’ over 10 pages (a little frustrating, right?) and so here is the list of 10 breeds with our own notes:
1. Golden Retriever. Similar, but not as big as the Labrador Retriever… the Golden Retriever is loyal, obedient and patient, making them great for kids.

2. Labrador Retriever. Aka the Yellow Lab…. this is one of the most popular of all family dogs and considered perfect for kids. Labs are highly trainable, good natured and super cute when puppies!

3. Poodle. Good natured and smart, these are popular family dogs.

4. Irish Setter. A hugely popular “big dog”, Irish setters are energetic and playful.

5. Vizsla. This was a new one on me! Have you heard of this breed?? Apparently they are gentle, loyal and quiet.

6. Newfoundland. These large dogs are very sweet natured and adore children. Another interesting fact – these dogs are known for their swimming ability and have even saved lives!

7. Collie. Protective and smart, collies are very popular family dogs. Just be careful they don’t start herding the kids and nipping the ankles during run-around time!

8. Bull Terrier. Probably better suited to families with boisterous boys, the bull terrier is friendly yet well built.

9. Beagle. Beagles are generally friendly, smart and good natured dogs, are sturdy and like to play.

10. Bulldog. Bulldogs are solidly built, loyal and yet generally placid and laid back. They can however be prone to health issues such as hip problems.

Some other breeds such as German shepherd are adored by children yet because they are highly intelligent working dogs, they do best with structured training and exercise and are thus not necessarily ideally suited to family scenarios. They can also have health issues.

Here is the link to the original page where we found the information: http://www.sheknows.com/pets-and-animals/articles/807366/top-10-dog-breeds-for-kids

What do you think of this list? Do you have any other thoughts or recommendations? Are there other dogs you have found to be great with kids? Let us know! 🙂

VIDEO: The World’s Biggest Dog Breeds

In any animal species, there will always be monsters that will stand out among the rest because of their impressive size, be it height or weight. Dogs are no exception, varying tremendously in sizes and shapes. There are those cuddly and adorable breeds that can be just carried around in bags, while others are so huge and sturdy that they can likely overpower a full-grown man. Giants among dog breeds can weigh more than a hundred pounds and have faster growth rates than other dogs smaller their sizes.

Surprisingly, the big daddies among dogs are calm and docile despite every inch of their massive built oozing with strength and physical power. They make wonderful pets, are open to training, and are very adaptable to people, even to children. They have loving temperaments and are dependable – the St. Bernard, for example, is regarded as a well-respected hero because of its valuable role in alpine rescue missions.

It stands a fact that being bigger doesn’t necessarily translate to being better, but it does have some obvious benefits. For one, being monstrous in size becomes a remarkable feat for keeping your family and property safe and for hunting games. After all, four-legged giants are certainly intimidating. With such brute strength and sheer size, any burglar would be thinking twice (or even thrice!) first before he would attempt to execute his nasty schemes on your household. Unless the intruder is that thick to underestimate a 100–200-pound dog of course!

Big dogs require less exercise too than most small- and mid-sized dogs would, making them excellent companions of city dwellers or busy people. The Great Dane, however, is characterized with a rather slow metabolism and therefore needs a great deal of exercise to be constantly in shape.

Let’s face it. Big, towering dogs have their own version of charm. Here’s a video by ashergeraldben enumerating a few dogs of colossal frame.

Photo – www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYdFiNoEaJs

15 Worst Dog Breeds For New Owners

Photo – © Eric Isselée – Fotolia.com

Although few will admit it, most first-time dog owners don’t know how to handle dogs. Of course when it’s your first time at anything, you could be forgiven for your lack of knowledge. But this is one subject in which many people are unaware that they may be even doing something wrong. It’s better to know which breeds are best and “least difficult” for new owners.

There are 339 breeds of dogs worldwide, which are recognized by World Canine Organization, to choose from! Dogs that look like cuddly teddy-bears with long, thick hair or fur seem attractive, indeed, but fluffiness or other handsome traits are not necessarily an indicator of personality. Some of them aren’t as easy to train as they look.

We found an article from Vetstreet that presents the 15 worst dog breeds for new pet owners according to veterinary experts. (The link to the original is at the end of our introduction). Since new owners are not that experienced yet in handling dogs, which means that they don’t have much knowledge regarding animal training, handling, petting and taming, it is encouraged not to choose the 15 dog breeds featured in the article.

Some dogs have certain innate traits that make them easier or more difficult to handle. There are dogs that never seem to “run out of batteries” and want constant physical activity. On the other hand, there are also those dogs that are contented with eating, playing and sleeping all day long. Some dogs have more energy than others and they want their energy to be spent on something, otherwise they will throw tantrums in varying degrees of severity. They do know how to seek attention when they want it and if you’re not ready to give him that much just yet, it’s probably best to settle for a more homely dog.

The subject of whether you have another pet at home, like a cat for instance, is something that should be considered too. Not all dogs are friendly to cats, and training them to play nicely together is often do-able but takes some skill. Some dogs even have predatory instincts so if you don’t want your house to turn into massive chaos, better think twice before purchasing a more difficult animal.

Ok, here is the original article listing the 15 breeds: http://www.vetstreet.com/our-pet-experts/not-for-newbies-veterinary-experts-choose-15-worst-breeds-for-new-pet-owners