The dog breeds that best coexist with children

Coexistence between children and animals has, as everything, advantages and disadvantages. The inconveniences that most concern people are those related to hygiene and possible disease infections, but that is easily solved with cleanliness and with the appropriate veterinary care and advice. However

Coexistence between children and animals has, as everything, advantages and disadvantages. The inconveniences that most concern people are those related to hygiene and possible disease infections, but that is easily solved with cleanliness and with the appropriate veterinary care and advice.

However, the advantages are enormous. As a veterinarian, mother of three children and owner of two dogs and two cats, I can assure that the animals teach the children values ​​, respect, responsibility ... and also provide fun, company and good times. However, we must take into account the dog breeds that best coexist with children.

What are the dog breeds that best coexist with children

There are two possibilities: one, that we have a pet and then the children come; or two, that we have children and decide to acquire a dog.

1. If we already have a dog when the first child comes, it is important to advance events before birth. There are many things we can do to facilitate the coexistence between our pet and the baby. Obviously our family will change, we will have less time and the dog will see modified a lot of his customs. Therefore, it is important to talk to a specialist who advises us on how to act, from before the birth and afterwards so that there are no problems.

2. If, on the other hand, we already have children and decide, very aptly, to acquire a pet, we must take some things into account. The main thing is to make sure we want a pet. It is a living being, it is not a toy. A pet can not be bought on impulse, grandparents can not give it away without asking ... You have to know that the dog has needs that will require us to spend time, an economic expense, etc, and we have to be sure that we can have it in good condition, and that we're not going to get fed up with him in two months and give it up or give it away.

If we are sure we want it, the dog will compensate us more than that, that's for sure. Having a dog is, like being parents, a very difficult experience to understand for those who have not lived it. The affective bond that is established is very great and the things that a dog can teach our children are many. A puppy for the children If we choose to buy a puppy, the

character

is still to be developed and we can influence it more during growth. But on the other hand, the puppies at first urinate and defecate at home, some break things, and like children will require more time and effort to educate them than an adult dog. The ideal would be to opt for a simple breed, ie playful dogs, good-natured, easy to educate ... The breeds most often recommended for houses with children are the Re Golden Retriever , Labrador, Boxeras large breeds; or Maltese and Westy as smaller breeds. It is clear though, that this is to generalize and the character of the dog may vary. Nor should we forget that many times the m mestizo dogs are a great option, cheaper to acquire and with fewer medical problems.Adult dogs looking for a home with children Although many times people are reluctant, a adult dog can be a great option. We already know his character, if he is educated, if he likes children, etc ... the hostels are full of dogs that look for a home and can be perfect companions of the children. In addition, the normal thing in a reception center is that they inform of the characteristics of our family, and try to look for a suitable dog for us. Neither should we adopt the first one that gives us pain, because maybe it is too shy, nervous or fearful, and it is not the best option for a

house full of children.

The best thing is to be advised. But we will avoid the problems that puppies sometimes cause, and we will generally know what to expect, because in the shelter they will know the animal and can tell us if it is what we are looking for. The relationship of children with dogs according to their age Finally, we should think that our children, depending on their age, will interact with the dog in a different way, and always we should supervise this relationship to make sure that everything is going well. 1. Babies will limit themselves to observe the dog and from a certain age to grab it and even to pull the hair

if it is within reach, later they will want to take it from the tail or the ears or even hug it or lift it. It is normal for the child to do these things, and it has no evil, but from the beginning we must explain that the puppy does not like to be pulled out of the hair or the ears; that if he is asleep, they should not bother him; that if he hides, maybe he's tired and does not want to be cuddled anymore. A 2. As of 4 or 5 years

, we can explain to the children more things about the dog and we can request their help at the time of taking care of the pet. The dog has needs and it is our responsibility to take care of it. You have to feed, brush, bathe, take it for a walk ... The child will learn more to play with the dog and take care of it, and will enjoy more of your company. This relationship strengthens with age and as the child grows he can become more involved in the care of the animal, he can take him out for a walk alone, teach him some tricks ... thus learning values ​​such as responsibility, respect and perseverance. Pilar. Veterinary del API Center