Dogs for children: description and selection of breeds

The dog has been a true friend of man for several thousand years. But to start it in a house with children is much more responsible than where there are only adults. Here you need to thoroughly and deeply know the characteristics of specific breeds and be able to choose the right animal.

As they know very well any experienced dog breeders, the ideal dog is obviously unattainable. It was not for nothing that hundreds or even thousands of breeds were bred, each of which is distinguished by its unique set of features. But at the same time there are several points that are strictly required when choosing a pet for a family with children. In the first place will certainly be the absence of any aggression towards the owners. As practice shows, sometimes love children and representatives of the harsh externally guard breeds.

Such a satellite in the yard, on a walk, at the entrance or elevator will not allow encroaching on a child. But if a dog in a normal situation begins to manifest itself rudely, brutally, or in some strange way, you should immediately get rid of him. Such animals are even more dangerous than explosive devices, because of their unpredictability. However, even if the purchased pet turns out to be appeasable, this does not guarantee success.

The next important parameter is the size of the beast. Any dog ​​grows much faster than a man. Sometimes it is surprising how quickly the miniature individual reached the sizes provided at the genetic level. This circumstance is important to consider when choosing a particular breed. Outbred puppies can grow not only quickly, but in a completely unpredictable way. Even experienced veterinarians and dog handlers can not always predict the result of this process.

As for the choice based on gender, then everything is purely individual. It is best to seek the advice of a specialist. However, with proper training, this factor is almost leveled, since any dog ​​can be grafted with suitable qualities. More importantly another circumstance - pets must be safe for children. This is expressed in:

• the absence of infectious diseases;
• no damage by parasites;
• minimal spread of allergens.

If the child suffers from allergies (even food or seasonal - does not matter), an analysis of the potential reaction to dog allergens should be carried out. In the absence of negative reactions of this kind, you can safely choose the appropriate animal. But additional consultation with allergologists is required. But it is almost meaningless to select extremely hairless dogs for children suffering from allergies. Sometimes even densely overgrown, but little-fading individuals are quite safe. At the same time, completely “smooth” dogs can intensively spread an even more active allergen - their own saliva. According to the amount of factors causing allergies, the most attractive choice are:

• miniature poodles;
• bedlington terriers;
• Chinese crested;
• shih tzu;
• Giant Schnauzers;
• Russian terriers.

Lack of wool can even be a bad trait. After all, we urgently need unpretentious dogs who can live peacefully in the Russian climate.Therefore, the approach to the size of hair should be carefully thought out and balanced. Another requirement for the four-legged satellites of children is the size of the animal. Quite small breeds often have a difficult temper and are prone to hysterical reactions to various stimuli.

They usually lack balance and calm. But there is still a number of relatively small breeds that can behave calmly. You should also pay attention to the following points:

• reputation breeder;
• pedigree of the animal;
• his color

One of the best breeds for families with children is consistently Labrador retriever. This variety is included in most thematic ratings. Labradors literally adore children with whom they had contact. The slightest danger of causing any offense is completely eliminated. The dog is very friendly and directly bursting with energy. But it is the latter circumstance that somewhat limits the prospects of this breed. In the heat of the game, a four-legged pet can not always act with sufficient restraint. Sincerely wanting to express his positive emotions and show affection, he knocks the kids off their feet. Labrador retrievers are well suited for children from 4-5 years.

Universal by age of owners golden retrievers. They are also quite active, but more restrained in behavior. Such a pet will gladly execute any command. At the same time, he is distinguished by a good intellect and will always be able to help if he discovers some feasible problem. It is common for a golden retriever to keep track of the situation in the whole family. Because adults, too, do not feel deprived of attention.

Another dog that is suitable for children is welsh corgi (one of the species in the large group of shepherd dogs). Corgi is notable for its cheerfulness and activity. They can behave fearlessly if the owners are in danger. Developed intelligence and the ability to quickly resolve problems that arise will also delight the owners. These small dogs perceive children as a herd, which must be carefully guarded and cared for. True, planting the corgi is recommended for mature and well-developed children. Nevertheless, this breed may cause some inconvenience due to its physical activity.

A good alternative is considered Irish Setter. He is also vigorous and clever, distinguished by a gentle disposition. "Irish" love and for the beautiful appearance. This dog treats children exceptionally well. She is considered the ideal choice, regardless of the specific age of the owners. But also St. Bernards manifest themselves not worse. They are characterized by constant romp with smaller "members of the pack." External calm and composure should not be misleading. If necessary, the St. Bernard will immediately respond to any incident.

He continuously monitors everything around, and woe to that intruder who ignores it. There is only one drawback in this alpine dog - these large and heavy dogs are not very suitable for an ordinary city apartment. But if this circumstance does not frighten people, they may, instead of a St. Bernard, start a Newfoundland. Its undoubted positive features are:

• lack of excessive viciousness;
• patient and gentle nature;
• propensity to supervise children.

If the preference is given to small breeds, then a pug will be a very good choice. His strengths are:

• ingenuity;
• gentle temper;
• affection for the owners;
• relatively low activity;
• sociability;
• good learner.

And from hunting breeds deserves attention the beagle. He is distinguished by a joyful disposition, good nature towards people.Beagles are worth buying for those who can provide him with constant communication and games in a large company. Another breed name that is suitable for children is american cocker spaniel. Such dogs are very charming and always have a positive attitude. But a few can be saddened by their high mobility. At the same time, Cocker Spaniels look very attractive.

Among the animals of medium size in the top suitable for children hit German Shepherd. This includes the side branch - Veho. Along with excellent service properties, she is very kind and complacent towards family members. Powerful intelligence allows shepherd dogs to clearly distinguish between normal situations and aggressive behavior of others. Therefore, they do not attack without a reason, but if the need arises, they will act quickly and mercilessly.

Skilful upbringing will turn a sheepdog into a patient and calm guard. Especially well it will manifest itself in relation to children of school age and adolescents. In such a pair, the disclosure of the positive properties of the rock occurs easily and naturally, naturally. But if the German Shepherd for some reason does not like people, they can opt for a collie. Scottish herding dog:

• affectionate;
• perfectly trained;
• shows ingenuity;
• highly loyal;
• willingly enter the game;
• he masters new skills and unusual situations without any problems.

And from the British Isles, another breed deserves attention - Yorkshire Terrier. It has a modest size that does not prevent the dog to be fully developed intellectually. It should be remembered that the Yorkies are distinguished by a fragile bone structure, and their wool must be looked after more actively than when choosing other dogs. But separate breed deserved and obviously inappropriate for children of the breed. These include:

• Dobermans;
• Alaskan Malamutes;
• American Staffords;
• bullmastiffs;
• likes;
• Pekingese;
• husky
• Caucasian and South Russian shepherd dogs;
• pit bulls;
• rottweilers

But when choosing a dog breed for a child, one should focus not only on its general suitability. A very important point, especially when keeping a pet in a private house, is that it is odorless. Even with the most active care, with constant airing and maintaining cleanliness, the unpleasant odor emitted by animals will be renewed constantly. Exceptions to this rule are “bare” species:

• Peruvian dog;
• Chinese Crested;
• american terrier

However, it is important to understand that the absence of wool means not only that the smell ceases to accumulate. We'll have to very carefully take care of the pet's bare skin and constantly wash it. Active sweating creates a different, no less “pleasant” smell than wool. Fat, mixing with dust, will be distributed around the house unpredictably. A naked dog will have to be warmly dressed in the winter, lubricated with special creams in the summer and systematically subjected to epilation.

An exit for those who wish to get a minimally smelling animal is to choose breeds with long hair without undercoat. The presence of such pets looks more like human hair than dog hair. For information: it is the undercoat in animals that actively absorbs sebum and begins to exude an unpleasant odor. If the undercoat is not, even wet dogs do not usually smell. The most popular of these breeds is the Yorkshire Terrier.

But every medal has a downside. The special structure of the wool leads to the fact that it rapidly absorbs extraneous odors. Because the animals will have to bathe at least once a week. If they are actively walking down the street or hot weather has come - even more often.For the same reason, it is necessary to diligently ensure that the animal does not climb garbage, landfills, and other polluted places. A washed dog will need to be dried thoroughly, otherwise it may cause a cold. Wool Yorkshire terrier and similar dogs in need of systematic combing. To reduce the unpleasant smell, you can also choose individuals of small size. The smaller the animal, the less intense and the aroma emitted by it.

Poodles, despite the presence of undercoat and well-developed coat, generally have almost no smell. And under the condition of frequent and careful washing, the characteristic “amber” will disappear altogether. Separate conversation deserve puppies for keeping in families with a baby. Many pet owners simply give them away somewhere "on the side" for fear of negative consequences for the baby. But in fact, such alarms are groundless. The main thing that the pet was not excessively aggressive.

For kids, you need to pick up animals, unquestioningly obeying the owners. The slightest disobedience must be completely eradicated. Such manifestations are unacceptable on the part of the dog, such as aggression with:

• combing wool;
• bathing;
• touching the food bowl;
• ear cleaning.

Another important topic for newbies in dog breeding is how to choose an appropriate breed for an apartment. In urban housing, the optimal choice is usually small and medium-sized individuals. However, they must be very carefully selected by temperament and the intensity of the spread of allergens. The bigger the pet, the greater should be the territory in which he lives. It is necessary to distribute as much as possible the place for the bed and the feeder, and this is not always possible.

But when selecting a dog for an apartment, one should pay attention also to temperament. The more active the animal, the more vigorous its nervous system, the more problems may arise with its neighbors. Theoretically, to remove excessive excitability is obtained by intensive training with pets, but rarely when urban residents have enough time and necessary for training site. Because the mastiff, for example, because of its tranquility, turns out to be much better than the spaniel.

The apartment can also contain basenji. This breed is distinguished by cleanliness and curiosity. Pet passionately seeks to climb higher. Basenji poorly perceives contact with water, and this can cause a number of problems with care. But the low growth of the African breed makes it a good candidate for apartment breeding. The survival rate with other pets of this dog is high, but on condition that they have lived together since childhood. It is worth remembering about such features of Basenji:

• the need for considerable physical exertion;
• the need to strictly adjust the saturation of the diet;
• heat-loving (because of it requires the use of clothing in the fall and winter);
• unfit for beginners (due to self-willed temper and constant stubbornness).

The basenji is not physiologically adapted for barking. But representatives of this breed can make a lot of other sounds. So the owners will have to take this feature into account in advance. The Pomeranian Spitz also manifests itself in the apartment as well. This animal differs in the modest size and demands rather small physical activities. However, it is worth remembering about such disadvantages as:

• loud barking;
• the likelihood of aggression to other individuals;
• the complexity of the content in hot weather;
• poor obedience (if parenting is wrong);
• the need for meticulous care - working with mats, eyes, teeth, ears, claws.

If you need to settle in a flat calm dog that does not need active rest, then the best choice would be bulldog. This breed has a great drowsiness, even more than that of cats. When the owner with the dog goes for a walk, the bulldog will go alongside him. Of course, puppies sometimes frolic, however, and for them special long pranks are unusual. Bulldog calmly refers to children and adolescents. Acquire it for a house where there are already cats, you can quite easily. However, we must remember that many bulldogs are inactive. We have to make a lot of effort so that the dog shows its strength more often. Bulldogs now and then snore, drool. To squeamish and scrupulous people, they are hardly suitable.

Just get even the best dog in the house with the baby is unlikely to be enough. If she is not taught to properly interact with the child, she will sometimes have to suffer from the fact that the animal is jealous of the children for adults. It can not correctly understand this situation at its psychological level, so it is very important to provide your pet with full assistance. Whatever techniques are used, they are all based on one thing - determining the specific place of the dog in the “pack”.

The first and most important rule that must be taken into account by all trainers is a complete refusal to whip pets. This technique is simply ineffective. No need to be a great zoologist to understand - in dog flocks, no one beats each other. Because correctly recognize what is required, the dog can not. As a result, his psyche is only significantly damaged, and this can have a negative impact on the behavior regarding children and even adults.

Wolves and feral dogs quite effectively use another communication channel. The leaders of the packs bite the low-ranking individuals behind the neck, or simply throw them on their backs. These methods of expressing dissatisfaction are easily understood by animals. Imitation of a bite is made very simply: straining the fingers and vigorously striking them with the tips in the neck. You need to strike from the top side, where the skin is rough and dense.

But it happens that the reproduction of the bite does not help. The dog continues to "misbehave." Then put a new "bite", but the hand is not removed, and the pet is poured on the back. The first few attempts will be overshadowed by resistance. You can overcome it by holding the beast by the neck to complete calm. Outwardly, in the view of the amateur, it looks very aggressive. However, dog experts have long established that dogs are fully adapted to this form of exposure and do not experience pain. The next point to remember when buying an animal in the family - he cannot be on sofas, beds, chairs and armchairs, on other furniture. Only people can use it.

It should be from the very beginning to instill a dog and another habit: in the home “flock” people first eat, and only then dogs. But it is unacceptable, of course, disrupt their normal diet. To draw a clear line between the animal and its owners is also necessary in another respect - when the owners eat, it is forbidden to sit next to them and beg for food. We must categorically reject the self-submission of anything from the table.

You can often see how adults enjoy watching a game between children and pets. But the instincts of the animal world determine a different attitude to the game than in the human community. The fact that it seems just a fun pastime, in fact, is training. And that is why pets should learn deeply: they should not, even jokingly or “by chance”, bite any family member.But mobile entertainment in the spirit of “bring-bring” is necessary and even desirable.

The main person regarding the dog - the owner - is obliged from the first minutes to let her know that all family members are dear to him and are under his protection. When a puppy is just brought into the house, with him hug and caress everyone who is in it. It is better to conduct the same procedure in relation to domestic animals. The dog is kept at a distance. If this technique does not help develop the desired installation, throw a pet on his back, and put a cat or another dog on top - so more precisely carry out a certain hierarchy. Connoisseurs are advised to acquire a puppy when the child reaches the age of at least 1-1.5 years. It is required to develop a habit in the beast not to touch toys of babies (and vice versa). This alone will save a lot of conflict situations. You should be prepared for the fact that the puppy will grow up sooner than the child. At some point, it is he who will get the lead role in this pair.

By the time when children go to school (if to proceed from a very early, up to 2-3 years, taking a dog), the situation has changed. They will be on an equal level. But there is still a lot depends on the position of the owners themselves. It is strictly unacceptable to shout at the child, his slightest infringement in the presence of a dog. At the same time, moral pressure is almost worse than physical pressure (because pets very accurately recognize this situation, although they interpret it in their own way). The manifestation of touching, touching care in relation to small children can be considered as top perfection. In this situation, the dogs guard the sleep of children, comfort the crying and anxious babies.

This means that the pet took the child in much the same way as his own puppy. But disobedient puppies are often punished by older dogs. Therefore, as soon as children come out of infancy, it is necessary to closely monitor the reaction of animals to the desire to pull the tail, cling to the ears. If the “most important one in the pack” first gives the right reaction and does it repeatedly, the necessary reflex will gradually develop. Sometimes a different situation arises: the first time he sees the master child, the dog does not react to it at all and goes far.

Attempts to impose communication force then turn into only new problems. When the right time comes, relationships will inevitably improve. Worst of all to struggle with the painful jealousy of dogs to children. Usually it occurs in animals that actually took his place before the appearance of the child. In this case, two extremes should be avoided: leaving the situation without control and severe punishment of the dog for any barking of children.

Some punishments that are not supported by other measures will only provoke more resentment. Certainly required encouragement for a normal attitude. If the problem becomes protracted, you will need to consult an experienced trainer. If you use their help, you can correct the behavior even in adult dogs. To avoid problems, it is required from the very beginning to select a breed and a specific animal with the participation of the child.

Practice shows that if he really likes a pet, the likelihood of conflict will be much less. It is very important to explain to the child clearly and consistently that the dog has a strict daily routine. It is useful for children and adults to take care of the animal in half. You need to constantly monitor how the child behaves with the puppy. He must not allow unjust, disproportionate punishments, senseless cruelty and humiliation of a living creature.

It is very useful even before the institution of the dog to explain to children in a popular and intelligible manner what are the peculiarities of the psychology and behavior of animals. It is necessary and later to explain this psychology with specific examples. Immediately say:

• what exactly the pet does not tolerate (gestures and actions);
• how he reacts to obsessive and unpleasant behavior;
• what signals the animal gives in a given situation;
• what are the signs of probable aggression on the part of the pet.

On how to properly raise a dog for children, see the following video.