| Ready for a puppy? Great! If you are looking for | | | | they are sweet, the puppy will be as well. It would |
| a dog that will work best with your family, | | | | surprise you to find many dogs considered good |
| consider the fact that dogs between the ages of | | | | with kids are mean spirited because of the |
| 1 and 5 are best with children. This is because | | | | parents. |
| dogs in this age range aren't as excitable and | | | | That said, there really are some breeds better |
| wanting to play rough as puppies do. Small dogs | | | | than others for homes with children. For example, |
| at this age aren't old enough to suffer health | | | | the sporting breeds of retrievers and spaniels are |
| problems that make older dogs cranky. | | | | known to be gentle. They enjoy to be touched |
| The best way to find a puppy good with kids is | | | | and their bite is generally soft. They are high |
| to adopt one from an rescue center. And there | | | | energy, however, and as puppies can have sharp |
| you can ask them what kind of temperament the | | | | teeth that can hurt when they nip. |
| puppy has. Many shelters test puppies to see how | | | | As the world now longs for toy breeds, believe it |
| they react to a child environment. Puppies from | | | | or not, these aren't the best with children. The |
| shelters normally live with volunteers who train | | | | are more self-preserving and can get hurt much |
| them to get used the experiences they'll find in | | | | easier than a large breed. Dogs that were bred to |
| their permanent home. Ask for a pet that has | | | | herd, like border collies, can chase children and bite |
| lived with children. | | | | them. |
| When at the shelter, test for yourself how the | | | | If you are serious about finding if the dog will be |
| small dog reacts to a gentle touch to his ears. | | | | best with your family, you can employ the |
| Touch the paws and try putting your finger in his | | | | services of a professional dog trainer in your area |
| mouth to see what he does. On the floor, try | | | | and have them run a temperament assessment. |
| running around and make some noise. Watch the | | | | They charge around $75 an hour - but it may be |
| reaction. You are looking for a puppy that accepts | | | | worth it. If you use the trainer later with your |
| the same behavior you will have around your | | | | dog, they will probably do the assessment for |
| house. | | | | free. |
| Did you know you can adopt dogs from | | | | In a 2006 study on dog bites by Pediatrics, they |
| guide-dog training programs? These are pups that | | | | recommend that parents wait until children are of |
| didn't make the cut as a seeing-eye dog, but | | | | school age before getting a dog. Babies were the |
| make wonderful pets. | | | | most likely to be bitten by dogs they knew. |
| If your heart is set on a purebred dog, my advice | | | | Always supervise interaction between dogs and |
| is to look at the mother and father of the puppy | | | | kids. |
| you're interest in. Their temperament will tell all. If | | | | |