Choosing a new four-legged member of your family is not as easy as you might think. There are many important factors that you need to consider before getting a dog—especially if you have small children. While dogs are considered man’s best friend, you need to be sure that your breed of choice will get along with not only your own children, but other young visitors and neighbors. Not all dog breeds can be trained to get along with kids. Worse, some breeds even command a homeowners insurance premium hike. Here are the dog breeds experts agree should not be around children and young families.
Chihuahua
Chihuahuas are cute. Many people are quick to assume that, because of their small size, they are also the best breeds for children. In reality, they are one of the very strong-willed and stubborn dog breeds. They are quite hard to train especially if they sense weakness in the human leadership shown. They also have the tendency to become aggressive and jealous of young children—all because of their sense to display their dominance over the younger members of the pack. Apparently, they see your kids as members of the pack.
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Alaskan Malamute
The Alaskan Malamute was bred to survive the harsh and isolated environment of the tundra; thus, they are hardwired against being around playful children. They are also notorious for being difficult to train especially if the owner shows signs of weakness. As very firm pack leaders, they require socialization not only from other dogs but also from humans. They are known to attack smaller animals including children. Aside from potentially harming children, they also shed a lot and this is not good especially if—even just one—member of the family suffers from asthma.
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