You want your dog(s) to be gentle with your children as well as being able to handle the heavy-handed displays of affection and hugs children love to dish out. You want your dog[s] to easily handle all the running, screaming and sudden displays of exuberance that come with the territory. Don’t be surprised by who’s on our list, for example, Boxers are known to be great with children. However, the smaller, delicate, and potentially ‘snappy’ dogs such as Chihuahuas & Dachshunds aren’t so family-friendly. Young children and dogs of any breed should always be supervised by an adult and never left alone together, period. No matter what the breed or breed type, all dogs have strong jaws, sharp pointy teeth, and may bite in stressful circumstances. Most dog bites occur when small toddlers approach and hug a sleeping dog. The dog, in a deep sleep, suddenly feels choked & reacts before being fully awake ~ biting the child ~ and in most cases it costs the dog it’s life. I am a big supporter of evaluating the situation and knowing the dog would never have bitten the child if he or she was fully awake and aware of the situation.
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