Dogs are one of the most loyal, friendly, and adorable creatures out there. However, some children are afraid of dogs.
This could be because they lack great experiences with dogs or they witnessed a traumatizing incident that made them fearful, like getting bitten.
What is the best dog for a scared child? We share the best breeds for kids and tips for training dogs to play with kids.
Best Dogs for Scared Children
If you decide that you and your family are ready to get a dog, here are some kid-friendly breeds you should consider.
Border Collie
One of the most common family dogs is the Border Collie. This kind dog has a powerful yet gentle body that makes a great playmate for your child.
The Collie’s posture is so excellent that your child may even feel more confident around them.
Your kid will also feel comfortable being close to their thick and fluffy fur!
Aside from their playfulness, these sweet creatures are also easy to train.
Golden Retriever
Golden Retrievers are one of the most loyal, protective, and intelligent dog breeds.
Despite growing, their puppy attitude remains. This is one of the reasons why your kid will love them.
These dogs don’t get irritated easily. They won’t care if your child makes noises and runs around. In fact, they will play alongside the kids!
Golden Retrievers are also easy to train and are willing to accept more pets!
Beagle
Your shy and scared kid will easily fall in love with Beagles! These small-breed dogs have innocent brown eyes and rectangular mouths that won’t intimidate your child.
Like Goldies, they are also easy to train and very playful. They can match your kid’s energy and level of responsibility too.
When trained well, Beagles can protect and guard your family.
Newfoundland
Known as gentle giants, Newfoundlands are loyal, meek, and friendly fur babies trapped in a huge body!
At first, your kid may be afraid of them. However, Newfoundlands are so calm and nice that your child will eventually be best friends with them.
Did you know that Nana, the pet in Peter Pan, is a Newfoundland? That’s how child-friendly this breed is!
Newfoundlands are also protective in nature, although they thrive when kept indoors with the family.
Newfoundlands are “nanny dogs” because they take good care of the family, especially the kids!
Training Dogs to Play with Kids
While you can train your dog to play safely with kids, you also need to help your child socialize with dogs.
Acknowledge your child’s fear and offer some reassurance. Little by little, they will get to know your dog and their fear will subside.
Certain dog breeds may be more suitable for scared children, but you still need to teach your dog to play safely with kids.
Here are some tips to help.
Crate Train Your Dog
Crate training is not a form of punishment. It’s all about giving them a happy and safe space that encourages better behavior.
Make sure that your child knows that the crate is off-limits. Through this, your dog will do better around kids because they have an escape route.
Establish Rules
Set rules for your dog and stick to them. For example, don’t let your dog get close to your child when eating.
Keep the child’s toys away from the dogs too. If your fur baby tries to play with these items, make sure to let them know that they made a mistake.
Remember to stick to these rules without exceptions.
Positive Reinforcement
One of the best ways to train your dogs to behave around kids is by using a positive reinforcement technique.
Encourage good behavior through praise and treats instead of using punishment for bad behavior.
Through this method, your dog will associate good behavior around kids with rewards. Once they get used to it, they will naturally behave that way around kids.
FAQs Kids and Dogs
Crate training may be challenging, but it is beneficial for you and your dog.
The first step to crate training your dog is introducing them to the crate.
Choose a place in the house which your dog can call their own. Set it up to keep your dog interested. If they approach, then praise them.
See the next steps to crate training your dog here!
As mentioned, your dog isn’t the only one who needs teaching. Your child should also learn how to alleviate their fears!
First, you shouldn’t let your child yell at your dog. They may shout out of dread, but you shouldn’t let them.
A dog’s hearing is more sensitive than a human’s, so shouting can be painful for them.
Here are some other tips for teaching your kid to interact with dogs.
All dogs should be treated as family members no matter their personality.
However, the best dog breed to own depends on many factors. These include your lifestyle, house, family members, and more.
A dog is easy to raise when they are trainable and good with kids. They should also be easy to groom with adequate energy levels.
Find out the easiest dog breed to own now!
Chew treats are vital tools for positive reinforcements. With them, your dog will be more trainable when it comes to interacting with your child.
The best chew treat for dogs is made of natural ingredients. It should also be the right size to avoid choking.
Check out the best chew treat products for dogs!
Socialize Kids and Dogs!
The best dog for scared children is one that is good-natured, friendly, and protective.
Some good dog breeds include Golden Retrievers, Beagles, Newfoundlands, and Border Collies.
While you do have to crate train your dog using positive reinforcement to keep your child safe around them, you also need to teach your kids how to interact with the dog.
Acknowledge your child’s fear and reassure them that the dog is safe by modeling how to approach and pet the dog.
Start teaching your child some safety tips for interacting with dogs!
