Cross Breeds

What are some dogs that stay small that are great with children or babies?

My husband wants a Boxer, i want a Yorkie (but now i know yorkies are bad with kids). I just want a small dog thats great with a baby!

Public Comments

1. no small dog should be around a baby or small child. small dogs can be badly injured or even killed around a small child. wait until your child is older before bringing a small dog into your house.
2. Possibly a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, or if you and your husband compromise you could get a medium dog. Look at shelters and rescues, especially dogs that have been in foster homes. Those people know whether or not the dog would do well in your situation.
3. Ditto the first answerer.. I don't think small dogs are great with kids. It's like letting giving your kids a small procelain doll instead of a big stuffed plush. Get a well mannered medium to large sized dogs, one your kids won't have to worry too much about stepping or falling on, or handling too roughly. That's my best advice.
4. If you have a baby, go with the Boxer. And get one from a shelter or rescue as an adult. Babies and small children often accidentally severely injure or kill a toy size dog. Never get a dog from a pet store. Please research puppy mills and their connections with pet stores. http://stoppuppymills.org
5. I'd choose a beagle because I think Snoopy is a beagle and he's good with kids.
6. shuh tzus are great to have......
7. No dog is great with a baby. Wait until your baby is in kindergarten before you get a dog. Why? Because babies and especially toddlers - will annoy a dog into snapping - just because they're babies and toddlers. Well, when your baby annoys you or does something wrong (such as putting a finger in a wall socket) you grab the baby by the arm and pull it away. Dogs don't have hands. They only have teeth. So what happens to be at Dog's teeth level? Yep. A baby's FACE. So don't set the poor dog up for failure. Wait until your children (all of your children) are in at least kindergarten (5 or 6) before bringing a dog into the family.
8. my mini schnauzer is great around my 20 month old and my 2 month old sons she loves to play and puts up with my son pulling on her ears and fur all the time just make sure you are always around to supervise as accidents can and do happen all the time from people leaving there kids and pets together alone. i always supervise to make sure my son doesnt get to rough with her and vice versa
9. I think you need to compromise. Dogs under 20 lbs can be quite fragile and not the best choice around babies and toddlers - the dogs can be injured by rough play. Yet you don't need anything as big as a boxer and boxers are big and rambunctious and could play too rough, at least when your kids are very small. Some boxers are great with kids but I have some seen some disasters with boxers too - a couple cases where the dog was too dominant for a household with children, even with experienced owners and good training. I'd investigate some medium sized breeds in the 20-40 lb size range instead. Maybe a shelter dog that has successfully lived with kids before?
10. Small dogs, in my opinion, don't do well with babies or children because children tend to grab and pull. Small dogs are more sensitive to ears, fur, and tails being pulled. On the the other hand, large dogs can be more energetic and harder to control around an infant. I would not get either Yorkie OR Boxer (Yorkie because of size and delicacy, BOxer because they tend to jump and rough house), although Boxers do better with children than Yorkies. I would go to the shelter and look at their variety of medium sized, short furred dogs. Most shelters do temperament tests so each dog will have information on whether it does well with children, other dogs, other people, and if it has any behavior issues. Once you find one you think you like, ask them what breed or breeds they think it is and do some research on those breeds - remember that mixed breed dogs can have a wide variety of behaviors. IF you want a pure bred then adopt from a breed rescue. They do the same things, but the dogs only have one breed in them. I would also suggest NOT getting a puppy because you'll have your hands full with an infant. You won't want to potty train a puppy, have to properly socialize a puppy, etc. With an adult dog you can just work on keeping it's learned skills up - some come potty trained, some are already socialized, etc. My neighbor had a Bichon Frise that was excellent with people and children.
11. Barbara I agree wait till your child can enjoy and love the dog to.
12. a dachsund, coolio hoolio.
13. actuall ythe truth is little dogs are HORRIBLE for kids they can be mean and snappy all small dogs are very snappy and can develop additudes and be sassy you should get a big friednly dog like a lab but german sheperds you know the police dogs are the BEST becasue they are extremly protective of their loved ones and they are AMAZING with kids so id say a lab or police dog, dalmations are sweet to
14. Boxers are really good with kids, but they definately don't stay small lol. Ummm Pomeranians, Pugs, French Bull dogs (My boyfriends dad has one and they have a young child and she is great with the kid), shitz zus, peckingnese.
15. Pugs. Pugs are sturdy and tolerant and family friendly. I had (still have) 2 when my first born arrived and have never once experienced any problem of any sort (dog toward the child or child toward dog). But, as with kids, you get out of them what you put into them. ETA: Also I think a baby and dog that grow up together learn how to tolerate each other better than a puppy introduced into a home with a toddler already present. The reason is because the toddler doesn't know how to treat the dog and the dog (being a baby itself) doesn't know how to restrain itself.
16. any dog can be good around children aslong as the child learns to respect the dog and don't leave the dog and child alone
17. Pugs!I'm getting one on Sat. and have been doing research on them and they say they are great with children and Pugs are small but very sturdy so they can handle a child rough housing! Now rough housing is different from abuse, but normal playing and stuff Pugs will put up with and they love to play so children are great buddies for pugs!Pugs have the best personalities too.Google Pug facts and you will find a whole bunch of info on them!!
18. I wouldn't recommend any dog to be trusted with a baby. Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are very docile dogs and good with kids. They are a smaller bread. Check out this: www.mycavalierspaniel.com
19. What age of a baby you talking about? The toddler age is best for getting a puppy. I do suggest a boxer! They are the best with kids. I have 3 boxers and I got the last 2 when my last kids turned 1. The boxers are connected to those 2 kids like they are the parents and allow them to do whatever to them and the more "torment" the better for my dogs they love it! If my kids are ignoring them they will put their head in their lap or lick them until they get "tormented" My kids sleep ON my dogs use them for pillows ride them like horses my Boxers just cant get enough of it. But a puppy is too much for a baby!