What types of dogs are good with little kids and other dogs?

Answer 1

It is best to socialize a dog with people and other dogs when it is a puppy.

Dogs known to be good with Children AND other dogs are as follows:

American Foxhound

American Mastiff

Basset Artesien Normand

Beagle (* recommended by another responder)

Bernese Mountain Dog

Chinese Imperial Dog

Collie (Rough and Smooth)

Dakotah Shepherd

Danish-Swedish Farmdog

English Setter

Flat-Coated Retriever

Giant Maso Mastiff

Golden Retriever

Harrier

Havanese

Icelandic Sheepdog

Irish Wolfhound

Keeshond

Lagotto Romagnolo

Labrador Retriever

Mastiff

Newfoundland

Old English Sheepdog (Bobtail)

Pocket Beagle

Queen Elizabeth Pocket Beagle

Saint Bernard

Scottish Deerhound

Spinone Italiano

Stabyhoun

Standard Poodle

(source links shown below)

Answer 2

I don't think there is one "best breed" for being around children and other dogs. There are some breeds that have a vicious reputation (Pit Bull, Rottweiler, German Shepherd, etc.) and some breeds that have a gentle reputation (Golden Retriever, Labrador, etc.). However, and most veterinarians I've talked to have agreed, it's the "he'd never hurt a fly" beloved family pet dog that is most apt to bite or show aggression, because he's never been trained to be around other people, dogs, children, etc.

Your concern about introducing a new dog to other dogs and/or young children is understood. The first part of selecting a new dog to bring into this mix is to make sure you teach the children how to interact with a new dog that may not like them running around, laying on him, etc. Second, make sure the other dogs in the house are well-socialized for interacting with other dogs. Third, make sure you have plenty of time to sort out all the conflicts and tensions that introducing a new dog will cause - I would not suggest bringing a new dog into the house when you will be working 12 hour days 6 days a week. Finally, I would suggest heading to your local humane society or animal shelter and asking them what dogs they have that would fit your needs and lifestyle - you'll likely end up with either a mixed breed or a breed you would never have thought of, but the new dog fits in with everyone perfectly. The important part of this is to find a shelter that screens and reviews their dogs before adoption, so they know what type of personality the dog has and any problems that the dog may have (food aggression, doesn't like young children, needs to run for hours a day, etc.).