Congratulations for giving consideration to your children in making your selection! Most of us choose a dog we like, not really thinking about ones that will get along well with our children. Of all the factors to be considered in selecting an appropriate dog for children, the most important must satisfy the question: Will he be patient and tolerant with occasional abuse, whether it be purposeful or accidental, from children? Children are more often bitten and hurt by dogs than are adults. There are reasons for this. Children are physically closer to the height of a dog. Children sometimes tease a dog. Children are more readily put into a subordinate role by dogs.

If you are considering getting a purebred, look at the recommendation of breeders, animal behaviorists, veterinarians, and trainers concerning the likelihood of a particular breed to bite children. One helpful book is Lynette and Benjamin Hart’s, The Perfect Puppy. Through surveys they rate certain purebreds on their incidence of "snapping at children." Keep in mind, however, that no matter what breed you select, there is a tremendous variability, even among dogs of the same breed. I would like to stress that mixed breed dogs make excellent pets for children!

Of course, you must spend time educating your children about the proper handling of a dog. This is more important than the type of dog you select.

In preparation for the final selection, your must decide whether you want a puppy or a full-grown dog. The advantage of choosing a puppy is that you can educate both of these "children" together. For example, a puppy will need to be taught bite inhibition. Your child will need to know how to teach this. The advantage of choosing an adult dog is that he will not be quite as rambunctious as a pup and will be more easily managed. Before adopting any dog, however, it is essential that you know his history. Was he properly socialized to children? Has he ever been teased by a child or has he ever bitten a child before?

Generally, females are less aggressive than males. However, this only holds true for spayed females. It is not a good idea to adopt the runt of the litter because he has learned to fight for a place at the lunch counter and aggressively to defend himself against his larger dominant siblings. If you are considering adopting a puppy, be sure you know that the mother is a gentle, non-aggressive dog. If possible, find out about the father’s disposition as well. Also make sure the owner has socialized the puppies to children. Do not select a pup that is less than eight weeks old. They need to be with their moms for that length of time to feel secure as a dog.

Whether you choose a puppy or an older dog is not as important as knowing that proper socialization talk place and that the dog’s parents were not aggressive.