Best Dogs For Kids: The 3 Best Dog Breeds For Kids
Dogs can teach children a lot about love, responsibility, and life in general. And growing up with a wonderful dog can create a relationship your child will cherish for a lifetime. But the secret to a great boy-dog relationship lies in first choosing a suitable breed. Here are 3 dog breeds that will make a fabulous friend for life.
golden retriever – These dogs are gentle, friendly and people-loving dogs that will greet even strangers with a beautifully feathered wagging tail. They have a sleek appearance with strands of golden hair throughout their fur that make them shimmer in the sunlight. Available in dark red (almost the color of the Irish Setter), medium brown or blonde, you are sure to find a color that is appealing. They also come in a wide range of sizes, with females being slightly smaller than males. Standard weight is 75 pounds, but you can find Goldens in all sizes. They are super smart, easy to train and want to please their owners more than life.
They tend to be high maintenance in terms of skin issues and grooming, but these dogs are worth every moment of care you give them as they will lovingly return your attention 10,000 times over. You’ll need a strong ego to walk into a room with this dog, as all eyes will be on the Golden. If you decide to get a Golden Retriever for your child when you are both young, your child will not find a better friend.
american cocker spaniel – This is the breed that Walt Disney made famous overnight in Lady and the Tramp. Lady, of course, was the beautiful Cocker Spaniel with compassion, grace, and beautiful manners. This also describes Cocker Spaniels in real life. They are small dogs that can weigh between 15 and 30 pounds and are usually between 15 and 16 inches tall. They have luxuriously silky fur, long ears, a docked tail, and a sweet facial expression. They come in solid brown or black, and many other color combinations too numerous to mention in this article. Research online or at your local library will give you a starting point for all the possible colors you can choose from.
Their coat and ears need to be well cared for, and they need daily exercise, but a small yard will suffice. Training, formal or informal, is a good idea to establish the leader of the pack and help your Cocker be a well-mannered member of the family. Considered by the American Kennel Club (AKC) as the number 2 dog breed in the United States, a well-cared for Cocker Spaniel can live up to 15 years and will make an elegant pet, companion and friend for your child.
English Labrador Retriever – Well-built, intelligent dogs who are exceptionally good with children. Labradors come in 3 solid colors: yellow, black, and chocolate. Most weigh between 70 and 80 pounds, with females being slightly smaller. Their coats are quite easily maintained as they are short-haired with no feathers. Obedience training while he is still a puppy is recommended to establish behaviors that will make him a great pet for your child. Bred as working dogs, they need plenty of exercise and a fairly large yard to keep them happy. They are extremely happy retrieving a stick or any other object both in and out of the water as they are excellent swimmers.
The English-style Labrador tends to have a better health history because it is bred more selectively to avoid conditions such as hip dysplasia, elbow defects, and cataracts.
While the traits outlined above are generalizations about the breeds, each dog will display individual traits that may or may not confirm the breed standard. Consulting a breeder about the dog you are considering will go a long way in choosing a specific dog from the litter that best suits your lifestyle and your child.
