6 Dog Breeds That Don't Do Well With Kids

You love your kids more than anything in the world, and you want a dog that will love them just as fiercely. You want a loyal, gentle best friend to grow up with these kids. But, here's the hard truth. Some dog breeds, no matter how adorable, are simply not the right match for a home with kids. Choose the wrong one, and you could be setting your family up for stress, chaos, and a [music] heartbreaking situation that nobody wants to be in. Guys, I've been working with dogs professionally for over a decade, and I specialize in reactive dogs, and I work closely with different types of hospitals around the world to prevent dog bites with kids. So, stick with me because I'm about to reveal six dog breeds that generally struggle in homes with kids, and the reason why might completely change the dog that you were about to bring into your family. And make sure you pay close attention because breed number four is the one that people constantly assume is great with kids, and their assumption can get families into real trouble. Now, let me be crystal clear. Before we dive in, this is not about labeling any of these dogs as bad cuz you guys know there are no bad dogs. Every single breed on this list can be phenomenal companions in the right home. It's about being honest. It's about being prepared. It's about understanding temperament, energy, behavior, and instinct. Because the reality is, guys, is understanding these things is exactly how you protect both your children and your future dog. Here's what most people get wrong. They assume that if you raise any puppy around kids, it'll automatically turn out gentle and patient and love your kids. That may be true for some dogs, but canine behavior doesn't work that way. A dog's success in a family home comes down to a few powerful factors. Their natural temperament, their genetics, right? Like who they are as a breed, as a dog. Energy level, prey drive. And breeds that were developed for guardianship, herding, or hunting carry deep, deep, deep-rooted instincts that don't just vanish because there are toddlers in the house. These are predisposition DNA traits that are baked into the dog, no matter what you do and what training and what exposure you do. So, we need to get right into it because knowing this could save your family a whole lot of heartache. Kicking things off is the Chow Chow. Now, those fluffy coats and teddy bear faces are absolutely irresistible, but don't let the looks fool you. Chow Chows are famously independent and they are very aloof and fiercely protective of their space regardless of who you are or how old you are. Now, they tend to bond with one or even two people in the home and often have very little patience for unpredictable hands and the energy of young children. Now, to be honest, guys, I have two young boys and they grab, they poke, they hug, they move fast, they're loud, they run around and a Chow Chow can find all of that deeply uncomfortable. This is a breed that would genuinely much rather be left alone than swarmed by a bunch of little kids. And when a dog feels cornered or then maybe they have some resource [music] guarding tendencies, that's when problems happen. That's when bites happen. Now, next up, guys, is the Akita. Now, these dogs are powerful, dignified, endlessly loyal to their family. Let me be clear. But, they were bred to guard and that protective instinct runs super deep. They can be territorial, strong-willed, and not particularly tolerant of rough handling. And in their sheer size and strength and even an accidental knock-over can send a small child tumbling. Akitas also tend to be very wary of children just in general, especially if they're coming over and they're playing, which makes birthday parties and play dates a real challenge. If you have a bunch of kids in your neighborhood running around, this is an issue. This is a breed that demands experienced, confident ownership, not a chaotic household with a bunch of youngsters. Coming in at number three is the Belgian Malinois. Now, these dogs are absolutely incredible, but incredible in the way a fighter jet is incredible. You don't hand one to someone who just got their license. A Malinois is a breed of choice of the military and law enforcement for a reason [music] And that should tell you everything that you need to know. Now, these are intense, high-drive working dogs with deep-rooted protective and prey instincts that are always, and I mean always, switched on. Now, around kids who run, shriek, play unpredictably, throw things around, those instincts can kick in fast and hard because a Malinois may herd, chase, nip, or even knock a child over without any aggressive intent. Their DNA is baked into them to just run through walls after bad guys. Like, they don't care what's around them. It's pure, raw instinct doing exactly what it's bred to do. This is a breed that needs an experienced handler and a clear job. And most importantly, firm structure every single day. Now, listen, I have a Dutch Shepherd, which is very similar to the Malinois, and I've put in an immense amount of work. She's 11 years old. She does good with my kids, but I still have to watch her every moment she's around them. Now, let's talk about the single most important thing you can do to protect your children and set you guys up for success, no matter what [music] breed you choose, proper training. Jumping on the kids, nipping during play, guarding food, resource guarding, guarding the toys, not knowing how to settle down, not telling your dog, "Hey, go lay down. I got to change a diaper." If any of that sounds familiar or worries you, I've got you guys covered because I have put together [music] a complete online dog training system built specifically for families just like yours. You guys will learn impulse control, safe boundaries around children or just in general, gentle play, calm behavior in the busy, busy [music] household, getting your dog to stop pulling you on walks, getting your dog to stop reactive when you're outside, and just understanding the five basic principles every single dog should have, which is place, heel, recall, [music] stay, and break. Super important. If you don't have that with your dog, not only is your training going to suffer, but your whole relationship is going to suffer. [music] I want you guys to be successful just as much as you do, and I've created these take-home courses [music] specifically for you at home during your own time. You guys can click the link below to find out all the information about my courses [music] right now. All right, guys, back to the list. And this one is the one I warned you about. Breed number four is the Dalmatian. Now, I know you guys Oh, I Tom, I watched 101 Dalmatians. You can see up here how cute 101 Dalmatians is. That's great. That movie is great. I I used to watch that movie as a little kid, but everyone assumes Dalmatians are the ultimate family dog because of that movie. But, do not let that reputation fool you. Dalmatians are extremely high-energy, high-stamina dogs that were bred to run for miles. And without serious outlet, all that pent-up energy turns into hyperactivity and severe frustration. They can be headstrong and easily overly stimulated. And around small children, that excitability often translate into jumping, knocking kids over, mouthy behavior, nipping. They also tend to be very sensitive and can react poorly to loud and chaotic environments, aka kids. This breed needs experienced handling and a whole lot of exercise. And not a busy family stretched too thin that they can't get the dog out. And that really goes for any dog on this breed list. Getting close to the end now, guys, and breeds five and six are the ones that are massively underestimated. So, don't click away because even when I was making this list, I'm like, "Oh, this is going to surprise some people." Here we go with number five. We've got the Chihuahua. Yes, the little Taco Bell dog. But, here's the thing people never expect. Small size does not mean kid-friendly. They're small, kids are small, they must be peanut butter and jelly. No. Chihuahuas are fragile, and rough or clumsy handling from a child can easily injure them. Which means they're often on the defense. They're often doing all these things to get people away because they're scared and they're nervous because they're tiny. This breed is feisty, territorial, and quick to snap when they feel threatened or overwhelmed. Or if you just walk by them, to be completely honest with you. They also frequently bond intensely with one, maybe two people and have a little tolerance for noise and unpredictability of young children. Now, a scared, cornered Chihuahua will absolutely defend itself, and those tiny teeth are surprisingly sharp. And rounding out our list at number six is the Border Collie, widely considered the most intelligent dog breed on the planet. But, in a family with young kids, that extraordinary instinct can become very serious problem. Border Collies were bred to herd livestock all day long, making consistent decisions and using intense focus, eye contact, and physical pressure to control movement. That's literally baked into their [music] DNA. They want to move something, they see something moving, they are attracted to that. But, here's the issue with the Border Collie because of that. Now, a group of running and screaming kids looks a whole lot like a flock of sheep, doesn't it? Or anything, really, triggering for this Border Collie. They will chase, stalk, nip, and relentlessly herd your children. Not out of aggression, they're not trying to be aggressive, but because every fiber of their being is telling them [music] to. That nipping can frighten or even injure a small child. Again, not that the dog is biting them, they're nipping them, they're hurting them, but it could still hurt and cause serious issues to a small child. No amount of no will fully override generations of hardwired instinct without serious and consistent training. And this is a breed literally built for a job, not to chase toddlers around in the living room. Although, they will do it if they got nothing else to do. So, there you have it, six breeds that as much as we adore are generally a tough fit for homes with children. And remember, this is not about being bad dogs. They're wonderful animals in the right environment, and you could have these dogs with kids, absolutely. But, it's just a warning that a lot of these dogs, generally speaking, aren't great with kids. [music] But, it's all about being honest with ourselves, whether your family, your kids, and your daily life can truly meet what these breeds are [music] necessary to do. Because the right match keeps everybody safe, happy, and thriving. And of course, your children and your dog safe. Now, I'd love to hear from you guys. Were you surprised by any of these breeds? But then also, do you have [music] any of these breeds? Do you have these breeds with with children? Let me know in the comments. I'd love to hear from you. [music] Thank you guys so very much for watching this video. I truly appreciate it. Make sure you check out my Noble Bad Dogs podcast. [music] You follow me on Instagram because I post dog stuff multiple times a day on there. And we also just started a Substack where [music] I am posting voice notes about all the things that pop into my head while I'm not sitting down here creating [music] content for you. So, thank you guys so much for watching and listening. And I hope that this was helpful or entertaining or maybe just [music] kind of curious on like what is this guy have to say about these dogs. Consider subscribing to my channel. I will talk to you on the next one. Peace. >> [music]