With urban expansion taking place worldwide, many families live in apartments or tiny homes that are not suitable for large dogs. However, many kids have been begging for a cute puppy. You would love to welcome a dog into the home, but you might want a small dog. However, finding kid-friendly small dogs is challenging. Most pint-size pooches have an attitude and don’t co-exist well with small children.
Top Kid Friendly Small Dogs
In this article, we will examine the 4 best kid-friendly small dogs. Most pet experts will agree that families should always wait until their youngest child is five years old before welcoming a small dog into the household. Small dogs are fragile and often nervous. The rough play of a child can easily hurt them, or they can nip the toddler. Even with older children, adults should always supervise all interactions between the child and the pet to ensure safety for everyone involved.
1. Beagle
The Beagle has an excellent reputation as a faithful family companion. The puppy is extremely friendly and doesn’t shy away from loud noises. The Beagle is a sturdy and athletic dog that enjoys playing.
The only drawback to the breed is that they can bark or howl. If they don’t receive enough attention, some Beagles will become destructive.
Beagles also have a habit of following their nose, so they will easily wander off. You should make sure the pooch is always on a leash outdoors, so the pet doesn’t wander off in search of a tantalizing aroma.
2. Cairn Terrier
Toto, the canine star of the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz, was a Cairn Terrier. The breed can trace its ancestry back to the Scottish Highlands and has been in existence for 200 years.
The Cairn has a reputation for loving kids. In fact, most Cairns will seek out children for a quick game of fetch.
Although a small dog, the Cairn is tough and sturdy. The pooch does have a reputation for being scrappy and might pick a fight with other dogs.
3.Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
The gentle and friendly Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is friendly and makes a great family pet. The dog is wonderfully sweet and affectionate. It enjoys playtime but also ample cuddles. One thing to note is that the bred is not fond of roughhousing. It prefers gentle play. It thrives on a daily walk in the park.
The small dog does not require much space and will happily live in a tiny apartment. It is also straightforward to travel with and loves to go on road trips.
4. Pug
The pug is the clown of the small dog world. With a friendly and outgoing personality, the pug fits into most families with ease. The solid build of the tiny pooch also means it can withstand rough play with smaller children.
Take the pug for a daily walk but be careful on hot days because the pushed-in muzzle of the dog makes it difficult for him to breathe properly in hot temperatures.
The dog’s short coat requires very little care, but the pug does shed, so daily brushing is beneficial.
The top five kid-friendly small dogs listed above would make an ideal family addition.
4 comments
We have a Cavalier King Charles who is almost 10. She is a delight, smart, easy to train, and affectionate. All the neighborhood kids love her, and stop by to pet her on the way to school. We run errands together, go for long walks, and cuddle. A perfect dog!
Boston Terriers? 😊
Definitely the King Charles! Great dogs – for all ages. Great travelers. Have had two and thinking of a third
We had three beagles in our lifetime. Each one had his own personality. They were a joy. You are right, they love to howl, run and play. We took them everywhere.we went. Would not have missed it!