Children are precious gifts, and when we have one, we always want to ensure that they are safe. We do this by vetting anyone who comes around them regardless of whether they are our extended family, neighbors, or friends.
We also talk to them about avoiding strangers because we may never know their intentions on the children, and we ensure that we find a secure neighborhood to stay in. This same reasoning should also be applied when you plan to bring a new dog into your home.
You must find one with the most suitable traits for keeping your children safe. In this article, we will look into these traits so that you can make an informed decision when picking up a dog.
First of all, you should be aware of the breed of dog that you want. The mini French bulldog is one you might consider. Once done, you can now check the following traits.
- Personality
A lovable personality in a dog comes in handy when you have young children. That is because children want someone friendly to them and who does not harass them. It also plays a significant role in how your children will turn out to be. Either friendly or cruel to other people.
Therefore, the dog must have a people-pleasing attitude. It should be considerate about the feelings of those around them. The most crucial aspect of having this kind of personality is that it makes it easy for a dog to be trained in different and new things. They can learn how to be around kids and relate with them as expected.
They should also be intelligent. This is the only way they will know that there is something wrong when the children behave in a certain way. They can put in an effort to rescue the child. For instance, if a snake comes into the compound and the child is outside, the dog can protect it against the snake since they know a snake is not a friendly animal.
- Fewer Health Issues
Children have a weak immunity system and thereby are easily attacked by diseases. You do not want to bring in a pet that will complicate things even further by developing health problems now and again. It can be devastating to your finances. Therefore, pick a dog with a record of being healthy.
- Age Expectations
It is essential to consider a dog with a longer lifespan. Once your children get used to it, they will always want it to stay around, especially if it is loving and affectionate. So, a dog that can last for more than ten years is better because by the time it passes away, your children will be mature enough to understand that this is how nature works. Nothing, including dogs, can live forever. Always check a dog’s genes to know its life expectancy.
- Social Attraction
Look for a dog that is confident when interacting with people, not one that shies away whenever people come around. It will help keep the children safe against strangers with ill intentions. It may run away if it is fearful and shy, leaving the child in danger.
- Following
The dog should be willing to follow instructions from you. A dog that resists instructions from its owner is not the most viable one to bring around children.
- Agility and Exercise
It is the nature of children to play around in the house or the yard. Considering this, you should get a dog with the energy to run around with them. You don’t want a dog that just wants to sleep if you have kids. This will not make a good match.
- Touch Sensitivity
How a dog responds when you touch it is also an important trait to look at. If the reaction is gentle and friendly, then that is a dog you would wish to bring home for your children. However, you should avoid it if it is hostile because it may harm the children when they try to touch it.
- Sound Sensitivity
A great dog should have an excellent sensitivity to sound. It can easily and quickly respond to the different sounds children make.
- Separation Anxiety
When you are away, your dog should feel safe with your children and not be anxious that you are absent. The secret to this, however, lies in how you train it.
As you can see, there is a lot to consider with a new dog. Once you make the choice to get a new dog, it can be a wonderful adventure with a great friend.
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