Bringing home a pet dog is like adding another loyal member to the family. Dogs are considered as man’s best friends and over centuries they have proved that they can, indeed, be man’s constant companions and bring a spark to their lives. Most human beings love dogs, especially children, although some may not be big fans. When bringing home a pet, it is important to understand that they are going to have a huge impact on the lives of the entire family.

It is said that looking after dogs is not very different from looking after kids, what with their innocence and constant need for care, affection and attention. Looking after dogs is no doubt a huge responsibility, be it their food, health, hygiene, medical treatments. The owner becomes responsible not just for the dog’s welfare but he/she also has to ensure that the dog is properly trained and well behaved.

Unruly dogs can become a major liability and can bring a lot of misery to their owners, the biggest one being them chasing after people unnecessarily in the neighborhood and biting them. Obviously the neighbors will waste no time in engaging a dog bite lawyer to claim damages from the owner. To avoid such incidents from taking place, it makes sense to carry out a thorough study about breeds of dogs that you can bring home, especially if you have kids. You don’t want to put your family at risk by getting the wrong kind of dog and regret it later.

Some breeds of dogs can be more children friendly than others. So do not make the mistake of going just by their cuteness and size instead of considering the breed and temperament. In this post, we would be filling you in on some of the best breeds of dogs that are compatible with children and responsible around them. Such dogs can actually prove to be a big help to parents. Read on to know more.

The Golden Retriever
If your family is looking for an energetic and playful dog, this is the one for you. You can rest assured that the time spent with this dog will be full of life and activity. It’s no secret that these dogs look great and have a great personality too. They are well behaved and intelligent and hence, easy to train. They are strong and are always up for a bit of a rough and tough (but playful) fun activity and are great to have around older kids too.  

The Labrador Retriever
This one packs quite a punch with its active and affectionate attitude. If you dream of playing ‘fetch’ with your dog, then this is the one for you as it is an eager breed and always up to something or the other.  It is considered as the ideal family dog as it is pretty easy to train and quite particular about its hygiene too. It is naturally blessed with smart looks so you do not need to put much effort into grooming it. So there’s another advantage!

The Poodle
Surprise, Surprise! Didn’t expect this one, did you? Poodles make for a great choice as pets as they are known to be extremely gentle and affectionate dogs, especially with children. And they are particularly good for families that have members who suffer from allergies as they do not have much fur and hence shed less. They are also clever, loyal and laid back. Not ones to bark too much, they are quiet dogs and tend to be less playful than other breeds.   

The Newfoundland
These are large dogs that are compatible with children and extremely protective of their owners too. It is in their nature to protect people so they are great for your family’s safety and can adjust best if you have a large home. This breed is also known to be considerate, affectionate, gentle and intelligent. Your children can play with them or tumble over them but they won’t mind it as they won’t feel a thing due to their size. Instead, they will always keep a watchful and alert eye over the kids and protect them from any danger.

The Collie
If you remember Lassie, the dog, you would know what Collies are all about! They are loyal, friendly, gentle and intelligent dogs that are fairly easy to train and can be domesticated effortlessly too as they are quite patient. They are great with children and protective of them as well. They are known to take charge of situations and not let things go out of control. Besides being faithful, playful and docile, they are also known to have a naturally good sense of direction. Since it has a long lustrous fur, it needs regular grooming.  

The German Shepherd
This dog would work great with families that live in a huge house and have older children. They have proven to be one of the most loyal and loving breeds who are also protective of their owner and his family. Also known as the ‘police dog’ because of their strength, courage and intelligence, they are very obedient and alert for danger. What makes them good with children is their cheerfulness, protective instincts, leadership qualities and high learning ability. However, they need to be socialized from an early age to inculcate a people friendly disposition.   

To Conclude
Dogs can be a very good influence on children and getting one as a pet is a great way to teach young children about compassion and responsibility. But do remember, that if a dog is pestered or treated harshly, it can bite. One should teach their children to be respectful of the dog and treat him gently. One should always oversee young children when they're with a dog, even if it is a pet. And as far as possible, one should never leave a baby unsupervised with a dog.