Best Breeds of Dogs for Families with Kids – I had a chance to interview noted pet expert Steve Dale about the best breeds of dogs for kids and families and tips parents should think about when introducing a new dog to the family unit. I was particularly interested to find which breeds he thought are the best breeds of dogs for families with kids.
Best Breeds of Dogs for Families with Kids
Lisa LaGrou of Oakland County Moms – What is the best breeds of dogs for families with kids?
Pet Expert Steve Dale – The best pet breed for kids…well, that’s hard to you know, any dog can be really good for kids. But it is a good question because I believe there are some breeds that were made for kids. And, you just see them together, and it’s just like an amazing thing that happens. But, it’s a hard question to answer because any dog can do ok with kids. But, I will say with Beagles, Labrador Retrievers, with Newfoundlands, Golden Retrievers, I’ll throw Brittanies in there… they can have… Collies, I got to throw Collies in there cuz Lassie and Timmy, right?… But, they can have a magical relationship. And, when that happens and you’re growing up with a dog, and they’re like siblings, but they’re different species, but they’re the same in some ways, it’s just amazing to watch. I mean, they really are best friends. And, we know that when kids grow up with dogs, their empathy is enhanced, that their responsibility is enhanced, I mean we know these things.
Lisa LaGrou of Oakland County Moms – What is the best way to introduce a new dog to a family with small children?
Pet Expert Steve Dale – Well, definitely having the kids understand there are certain rules here. And, it depends on how small those kids are. So, if it’s a 2 yr-old, it’s really hard to explain those rules in a logical way. If it’s a 6 yr-old, it’s much easier to do. So, it really depends on the age of those kids. Having said that, you know, I get blasted for saying this when I say it, but I’ll say it anyway. You know, a kid about 2 years old about to stick his finger in an electric socket and the mom screams appropriately “No!! Don’t do that!!” And, even a 2 yr-old gets some learning out of that. When the 2 yr-old pulls inappropriately at the dog’s ear, mom may say “Don’t do that Johnny.” Two different messages there. So, I think we have to teach our kids to be appropriate and fair with dogs as well.
Lisa LaGrou of Oakland County Moms – Back to our best breeds of dogs for families with children question… what breed are you noticing to be the most popular breeds of dogs choice for families with kids or small children?
Pet Expert Steve Dale – Well, the number 1 breed of dog in America right now, at this very moment, and it’s been that way since 1999, the Labrador Retrievers. Number 2 on the list is the German Shepherd dog, followed by the Golden Retriever, the Beagle, and then rounding out the top 5 is the bulldog.
Lisa LaGrou of Oakland County Moms – What are some of the quirkiest breed-specific behaviors you’ve ever observed in dogs?
Pet Expert Steve Dale – The thing that’s important to me, if we can possibly do it, is to nutritionally feed our dog for what that breed is. And, Royal Canin has a group of breed specific foods now that is specific to that breed of dog. So, a Labrador Retriever right here has a specific kind of food that is specific to this breed. In this case, it slows down the feeding of the Labrador Retriever. That’s important for this dog that’s kind of like a vacuum cleaner. It also addresses coat issues for this dog by combining the right amount of amino acids and also adding flax seed oil to the diet as well.
Lisa LaGrou of Oakland County Moms – So, do you notice any types of quirky behaviors among the different breeds of dogs?
Pet Expert Steve Dale – Yes, I’ll give you one since I have a Lab at this very time, I’ll give you a Labrador instance. So, you know how when you throw a tennis ball… I should whisper that in front of a Labrador Retriever… the dog just chases that ball, right? Well, now we have these high definition TV sets; these giant TV’s. And, I know a Labrador who whenever anyone tosses anything – it could be a tomato on a television commercial – the dog runs down the hallway expecting to find that tomato. Unfortunately, it doesn’t do it. But, it’s funny the dog goes “Woof, woof, woof, woof” running down the hallway wanting to retrieve something as if he’s really throwing something to that particular dog.
Lisa LaGrou of Oakland County Moms – That’s funny. Well, thank you for your time and all the valuable info. And thanks for helping us find the best breeds of dogs for families with kids.
Pet Expert Steve Dale – I will say you can learn more at Royalcanin.com/us.
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ABOUT PET EXPERT STEVE DALE / ARTICLE Best Breeds of Dogs for Families with Kids
Steve Dale is certified as a Behavior Consultant (International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants), and the recipient of awards including the prestigious AVMA Humane Award. Steve serves on several boards including the board of the American Humane Association and Winn Feline Foundation and frequently speaks at veterinary conferences. Over 100,000 people per month read his blog, “My Pet World”. And his nationally syndicated column, reaches 16 million people each week. He is a Pet Editor for USA Weekend, has appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show; National Geographic Explorer; Pets: Part of the Family on PBS; several Animal Planet shows; Fox News Channel, and is a sought after commentator both for local news shows as well as print pieces.
For more info on Best Breeds of Dogs for Families with Kids, visit royalcanin.com/us.
