Dogs can be great friends for children. They can have a positive influence on a child’s personal development. A child-friendly dog helps children develop qualities of kindness, communication, curiosity, responsibility, and respect for living things. When children respect their animals, their pets can easily develop their social skills and behaviors in interaction with other children.
The language of communication between children and dogs
Not every dog can get along well with children. This can be due to a number of different factors, such as lack of training.
Dogs are the most social animals. However, they have a much easier time interacting with adults than they do with children. Adults behave much more predictably.
Children can suddenly cry or scream. Their behavior is difficult to predict. They may often run and jump around a lot, inadvertently catching and pushing dogs. Animals may not always understand this behavior and often feel threatened by it. Some dogs may not like, for example, close contact and spontaneous expression of children’s emotions.
Therefore, it is important to weigh the different points and to choose a dog for the child quite responsibly, especially if it will be an emotional support dog.
Large dogs may not be the best choice. They may have a harder time being affectionate and obedient without careful prior training from an adult.
And small dogs may not always be a good choice. Often children look at them as toys and may even get hurt in various situations of interaction with them.
Breeds of dogs that are easiest for children to be friends with
After many observations, it has been found that some dog breeds are better for children than others. And regardless of the breed, less energetic dogs tend to interact better with children because they are more patient.
Let’s take a look at a few dog breeds that many people think can live harmoniously with children.
Labrador Retriever
This breed gets along great with little human perpetual movers. They love to play and frolic. And here it is hard to say who will eventually run out of strength first. Labradors are perfectly amenable to training, these activities make them happier. This is why they are best suited for the role of a service dog for those with mobility issues.
Golden Retriever
This breed is widely known for its great patience, which many parents dream of. Golden Retrievers are also smart, loyal and kind. They interact well with growing children. They require quite a bit of exercise, so they love to play. This can be a great way for your child to spend time.
Collies
These are gentle, predictable and easy to train dogs. They are very fond of children and tend to protect their pack. For quite some time, this breed has served as a shepherd and is well-trained in guarding skills. Therefore, you can safely rely on them and leave them to play with your child.
Beagle
These intelligent and friendly dogs need a lot of exercise. They can go on adventures if not supervised, but they are great with active children. Beagles love to play and have a strong enough build that you don’t have to worry about your child hurting them.
Cocker Spaniel
This gorgeous breed is known for its cheerful disposition and willingness to please. A Cocker Spaniel can be equally happy snuggling up next to you in a chair or running around in the yard with kids. They can play quietly with children and are quite tolerant of all their antics.
Poodle
These dogs are smart, patient, gentle, loyal and caring. Poodles enjoy playing with children, but they are also not overly energetic. So you don’t have to worry about them being too exhausted.
These dog breeds can make great companions and good helpers in any child’s life. There are many cases where children have been cured of many mental disorders and even autism with the help of special assistance dogs such as service dogs, emotional support dogs or therapy dogs.