There is something particularly beautiful and sweet about the relationship between kids and Westies. Growing up with a canine companion can teach children that responsible care giving is well worth the effort, for the love and loyalty they receive in return.

A faithful Westie can instill in a child a sense of trust and security that will carry over into human relationship. Westies make great playmates, protectors and pillows and they are always available to listen and sympathize when parents, teachers, friends and siblings just do not understand.
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Pets can be an important part of a child’s life. A child learns a lot from having an animal to care for. Just take a look at some of the lessons a child (or adult) picks up.
Responsibility – This is one of the first lessons that comes to mind, and likely the one that parents use to try to dissuade a child when he says, “Can we get a dog?” For some people, the responsibility of caring for an animal can become a huge chore that outweighs the joy of having that pet. But for those who stick it out, the pet is a good teacher and children who have a pet from an early age learn quickly about the responsibility of caring for an animal that’s dependent on them for food, water and other needs.

Some chores are fun, some aren’t – The early days of having a pet are usually not that difficult, until Fido doesn’t make it to the door or the gerbil cage has to be cleaned. That’s when the pet owner typically begins to weigh the fun of playing ball with the dog against the chore they’re facing now.

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Statistics show the most bitten member of American society are children under the age of 12 and most dog bites causing serious injury involve medium to large sized dogs with children under the age of 5. The dog is usually known to the child or is the family’s pet.

To understand how these bites occur, what causes them and how to prevent them, a little education in the nature of dogs and the nature of small children will help shed some light on these aggressive behaviours.

A dog’s temperament is first inherited (this is deeply ingrained responses to the world surrounding them and is unchangeable), and then modified by events and/or proper training in his life.

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Although growing up you were fortunate to have a pet friend, its loss did make you suffer greatly and you decided not to risk exposing your kids to the same experience of them having to cope one day with the loss of their animal friend. But, life always finds a way to surprise you when you least expect it and one evening your son or daughter might enter the house accompanied by a stray dog. You will probably think that this is a very bad idea, but your son’s eyes will beg you to reconsider and allow his new friend to stay “Please, just for a few days; until we find someone who wants to adopt it.” Now you know how that story will go. The days will pass and your new visitor will still be in your house, messing around with your shoes and licking his plate all the way from the kitchen floor to the living-room carpet creating a mess. But when he will put his head on your lap for you to touch it on the head, you will catch yourself smiling and thinking that this is not a bad idea after all. Well, it is certainly not.
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When choosing a dog for a family, it’s important to choose a breed carefully. Particularly nervous or highly strung breeds would not be great around children, particularly younger kids. In their desire to play with this cute new addition to the household, they may frighten or irritate the dog, which could lead to defensive behaviour like nipping or biting your children.

* Golden Retriever

Golden retrievers make great family dogs. They love attention, and are extremely friendly. They are good with children, and can be quite goofy and playful. Some can be aggressive, but this is usually a problem with poor breeding. It tends to affect those with a reddish colored coat more, and is often associated with an underactive thyroid. So, it’s important to get a dog from a good breeder whose first priority is the temperament of the dog.

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Having multiple house pets actually seems to decrease the allergy risk of children, as long as the children have been exposed from infancy on. Recent studies have shown that children raised in a home with two or more cats and/or dogs in the first year of life are less likely to develop allergic diseases than are children raised without these pets. In fact, exposure to the allergens associated with pets very early in life seems to have a long time protective function.

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In choosing a dog for the family, it is a good idea we keep the children in mind. Some dogs are not tolerant of children and can be a threat to them. There are many breeds of dogs out there to choose from. Do your homework to see which one works the best with your family and especially your children.

By far the number one best dog breed for children hands down, would have to be, you guessed it, Labrador Retriever. This dog is well accepted because of its good nature. It is not generally aggressive or hyper. It is playful, easy-going, intelligent and patient. No wonder it is loved by the young and old. Because of its mild manner, it is first choice in working with the handicapped. It is has desire to please as if it knows its plight. The Lab is also a great pick if you have other animals. They are very accommodating. A well taken care of Lab can live up to 13 years.

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