Picking out a new dog is a lot harder than most people realize. There are a lot of things to consider before adopting or buying the latest four-legged member of your family, especially if you have kids. Don’t buy into the adage of dogs being man’s best friend because not all dogs are kid friendly or people friendly, especially when you invite guests over. Sadly, not all dogs can be trained to behave well with children. Knowing this, some homeowners’ insurance premiums will incur a huge increase as a result. So here are 21 dogs that experts claim you shouldn’t have around young children.
This breed was used as a guard dog since ancient times in Japan, so the Akita has a great rep for being the best guard dog a household can have. They’re aggressive leaders too, especially with other dogs. But the big concern here is that they tend to see your small kids and their friends as a threat. Fortunately, this type of breed can be domesticated, but it’s vital to teach your kids and any young guest how to treat an Akita dog and avoid injuries.
Chihuahuas seem harmless enough. They’ cute and small too, so people just assume that their size makes them the perfect pet for kids. But Chihuahuas are stubborn and strong-willed, which makes them difficult to train, especially if they sense that their owner lacks leadership. They can also get jealous and aggressive towards young kids because they have a natural instinct to exert dominance over younger members of their dog packs, which means they see your kids as pooches. So just when you thought you adopted it, it turns out your dog thinks it adopted your kids.
This breed doesn’t have the natural instinct to be around children, especially the playful kind. After all, it was born to survive the tundra’s isolated and harsh environment. So don’t bank on them being easy to train, especially if they sense weakness in humans. They’re also known to attack small creatures, kids included. But as pack leaders, they need socialization from humans and other dogs as well. Also, they don’t make great pets if you have a family member who suffers from asthma. After all, Malamutes tend to shed quite a bit, but the danger to your kids is greater.
Believe it or not, Rottweilers were originally bred to pull carts and her livestock, so they’re known for their strength, not their charm. They’re also large, loyal, and courageous too. But they tend to be protective and will attack strangers. However, with proper training, and strong leadership, the animal can be domesticated. But in the end, Rottweilers are more suited as police dogs or guard dogs. That being said, they are playful too. In fact, their playful nature is sometimes misunderstood as aggression because they get so into it, they forget their playing and attack.
American Staffordshire Terrier is also known as a Pit Bull. Other breeds that are labeled as Pit Bulls are the American Pit Bull Terrier, American Bully, and Staffordshire Bull Terrier. Unfortunately, the term Pit Bull is used loosely to identify dogs with similar traits and characteristics such as a square-shaped head with a bulky body type. Pit bulls are not naturally aggressive and are considered great family dogs by many, but a 20-year study of fatal dog bites by the CDC found that Pit Bulls were responsible for 32% of resulting deaths. They are banned from many US cities.
Fully grown Bullmastiffs are really big animals, so much so, that even they’re not aware of it. This can be an issue because when they run or play, they’ll accidentally knock small kids down. They can also be aggressive too, but that behavior can easily be controlled with good leadership and training. But for the training to be effective, you’ll have to do it when they’re young. In a Bullmastiffs case, you can’t teach an old dog new tricks. Also, keep in mind that they look up to humans as leaders, so a sign of weakness could hinder their loyalty.
If you’ve seen the movie, “Beethoven,” then you know what a Saint Bernard looks like. They’re serious goofballs, which is why they’re adorable. But these dogs are tough to train because they’re way too playful, but once they are trained, they’ll behave around kids. The only issue is that while they’re very loving, they’re also huge and can end up knocking children down. In the end, it’s really their playful attitude that makes them a risk factor for small kids. Otherwise, they’re unwilling to intentionally harm a soul.
Weimaraner dogs are extremely energetic. Then again, they have to be given that they were bred to be hunting dogs. So to expend all that excess energy they run around but aren’t too careful about what might be in their way, like children. They get bored really easily, but it’s their instincts as natural hunters that excite them, especially in the presence of small creatures, like kids. So just be careful because they get excited easily. Also, Weimaraner dogs are very needy when it comes to exercising, so keep that in mind. They’re not aggressive, but they can still end up hurting your kids.
Aside from being the ultimate watchdogs, the Australian Shepherd was bred to serve as a disaster rescue dog. Its courage and energy can save lives, but they need to stay physically active to cool off their energy reserves. So, if you’re thinking that this breed is an indoor pet, guess again. It’ll develop behavioral issues if you don’t take them out for a walk on a daily basis. Unfortunately, this criteria can be difficult for families with young children to meet. Another issue is that they don’t react well to people the first time. They can also mistake misbehaving kids as members of their pack and attack.
Siberian Huskies seem to have an endless supply of energy, which is fine because they were bred to pull snow sleds, not safeguard families or act as babysitters. They also demand a lot of TLC, which is tough when you have small children to take care of. In the end, it’ll be too much for you and the husky will get jealous and fight children for your affection. But with lots of patience and the proper training, a husky’s strong personality can be tamed, which will result in a beloved pet that everyone will love.
The only creatures that monkey around more than monkeys are Affenpinschers. Their reputation for being mischievous is well earned. They’re also stubborn and naturally curious. But while they’re fun to have around the house, they can be a problem with kids in the house. Since these pets are small, children mistake them for toys and mishandle them. Now, while the Affenpinscher can be a patient animal, it will defend itself if it feels like it’s being threatened or mistreated. However, they can be trained. Just don’t show them any weakness or they’ll misbehave again.
Chow Chows are so cute. They looked like stuffed animals, and that’s why most kids love them. But there are other breeds which can make better companions for your kids than these fluffy looking creatures. Sure, they look like they’re cuddly, but these dogs can unintentionally harm small kids because they’re so big. They also respect leadership, which isn’t something that small children have. But the biggest con is a chow chow’s attachment to its owner, so jealousy can ensue, especially when there’s a baby or a small child in the house.
There are two things Afghan hounds are good for, guarding homes and hunting because they’re naturally strong-willed. This means they need owners with good leadership skills. A poorly trained hound can become disobedient and destructive in the blink of an eye. Aside from showing them kindness and staying calm and collected, you’ll need to keep them away from kids because of their size. Otherwise, they’ll knock down and injure your kids. Another thing to consider is that they don’t see a child’s playful nature as harmless. They see it as a threat and will respond with aggression when faced with a child.
The word toy in the name of this breed can often mislead parents into thinking that the English Toy Spaniel is great for kids. Of course, when you look at their size and cute appearance, it’s easy to make that mistake. But English Toy Spaniels can perceive a child’s typical rough play as a threat and can react violently as a result. So it’s important to show them who’s the boss in your household because Toy Spaniels can be aggressive to kids as well as adults. But with the proper training, they can be the best pet you’ve ever owned.
Greyhound dogs are bred to race, and have plenty of stamina and speed to boot. As a result, they need running as part of their daily routine, which is difficult if you live in a small house and not enough room outside to run. They also have the reputation of attacking small animals and tots too. Don’t expect them to have any tolerance for children playing rough with them. They even see cuddling or hovering near them as a threat. If you don’t train them properly, they can become unpredictable in their behavior and reserved towards their owners, hence why they don’t make good pets for a household with kids.
French Bulldogs have a playful nature, but that doesn’t necessarily make them the best play pals for kids. They demand a lot of affection as well as your time, which of course is tough if you have a baby or toddler. They’re also sensitive. Without the right training and attention, they’ll feel ignored and underappreciated, leading to anger, and other behavioral issues. If you still choose to have this breed, teach your kids that they need to show leadership over the dog. Otherwise, this breed will mistake free reign for permission to wreak havoc in your home.
This breed is royally adorable. We mean that literally as they were bred to act as companions for the royalty. They’re also quite small too. But they demand way too much time, and you can’t go easy on the affection either. Unfortunately, there’s not a lot of it you can give when you have kids. So when you train your chin, show strong leadership. Pamper them too much and they’ll assume they’re in charge. But they can also get jealous if they’re neglected. In other words, it’s almost like having another child.
Of all the breeds around, the Shih Tzu is simply no good for households with small kids. Don’t get us wrong, they’re cute. But they are always overexcited and can also get scared easily. As a result, they lash out and bite children. This can easily happen if a child decides to play rough. They don’t do this to be mean. Their biting is a defense mechanism. But if you decide not to heed our warning, then don’t leave your children and Shih Tzu unsupervised. They demand too much attention from their owners can suffer separation anxiety. But since parents don’t have a lot of time to spare, a Shih Tzu is a bad idea for everyone.
The small breed made its debut in 17th century Germany, hence why its German name means Standard Smooth. They were originally used to hunt smaller creatures in games so they have a natural instinct to hunt. This puts other animals like hamsters and kittens in danger. Also, they try to make up for the fact that they’re small by having huge attitudes, leading to misbehavior. But for the most part, they’ll play nice with kids as long as there’s no rough play involved. However, if they feel they’re being mistreated, their aggressive instincts kick in right away.
If you need a dog to hunt rodents or other game animals, then a Dalmatian is your breed. At one point, they were used as guard dogs too. But don’t believe what you see in movies, because they’re not always friendly. In fact, they’re reserved and require affection and interaction front their owners. But if a small child gets in the way, a Dalmatian will resort to scratching and biting to cope. On the other hand, they’re good with older kids because they have high levels of energy to release. In the case of small kids, this breed could accidentally knock a small child down.
This dog breed was originally used as guard dog when it first originated in Southern Italy. They’ve quite gentle too, despite the fact that they’re big. But they’re all quite strong despite the way they walk. Most older kids find this breed to be friendly and affectionate, but small children find them to be clumsy and dangerous. Parents need to watch out because they can accidentally sit, step or knock over a small child. They also drool a lot, especially after they eat, and create a bigger mess than your own children.
The Skye Terrier is well known for being self-assured and virtually fearless, two qualities that made this medium-sized pooch a perfect hunter. But like other terriers, it loves hunting smaller animals and can be aggressive towards other dogs, regardless of their size. Like all other domestic animals, the Skye Terrier needs lots of tender loving care. If they feel neglected, they’ll start chewing, barking, and digging to show off how irritated they are. Sadly, small children will take too much of that affection away from them, causing this breed to misbehave.
