The Friendliest Dog Breed

Is one dog breed really friendlier than others? It probably depends on what you mean by friendly in the first place. Some dog owners think the word is used to describe certain breeds as unfriendly and create prejudices.  Still even if you do think  this labeling is wrong the American Kennel Association really does say that some breeds are friendlier then others.

Of course this is a complex matter. Like humans dogs have individual personalities and their behavior may have nothing to do with their breed.  Also a dog may be selectively friendly.  

Some breeds that are friendly towards adults dislike children or other pets. Dogs that are abused when young also don’t tend to be that friendly , a problem encountered all the time by Dog Rescue organization that are trying to find homes for traumatized animals.   So of course all this means you could own a ,friendly breed, but still end up with an unpredictable dog that could not be so friendly in certain situation.  

However in general the American Kennel Association cites the following breeds to have more of a gentle disposition than others and also to be friendlier to strangers. These breeds are the Brittany Spaniel, the Labrador Retriever, the Bichon Frise, the Cavalier King Spaniel, the Chinese Crested Spaniel, the English Setter, the Golden Retriever, the Bull and Dog, the Bearded Collie, the Bedlington Terrier, the Bloodhound, the Irish Setter, the Newfoundland, the Old English Sheepdog, the Otterhound, the Siberian Husky, the Vizla, the Alaskan Malumite, the Basset Hound.  

If you want a dog that gets along with other animals then the association recommends that you own a Beagle, Bloodhound, Cavalier King Spaniel, Chinese Crested Spaniel, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia Duck Trolling Retriever, Samoyed, Labrador Retriever, American Foxhound English Cocker Spaniel, English Springer Spaniel, Field Spaniel, Golden Retriever, Bernese Mountain Dog, Bichon Frise, Boston Terrier, the Canaan Dog, the Bull Dog and the Bull Mastiff.   These dogs are also less likely to get into trouble if you run them off leash in a park.  

Notice that some people friendly dog breeds also cross over with the pet friendly breeds. Good examples are the Cavalier King Spaniel and the Chinese Crested Spaniel. However many of these dog breeds have either one trait or another and you ,can’t have your cake and eat it too.,  This means you have to prioritize.  

It is easier to train a dog to be friendly to strangers then it is to change its behavior to be friendly to other pets. This is because instincts that dogs have towards other animals are of the hard-wired variety.   However you can successfully train a dog that is from a breed that is not known to be that friendly to humans to be friendlier by taking him or her through a bout of obedience training.  

Among the easiest dogs to train are the Bichon Frise, the Bernese Mountain Dog, the Canaan Dog, the English Spaniel, the Havanese, the Irish Spaniel, the Nova Scotia Duck Trolling Retriever and the Toy Fox Terrier.    

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Cats and Children – Dos and Donts

DON’T let your children kiss your cat on the mouth. Cats don’t have any antibacterial qualities to their saliva like a dog. They could catch a virus or a cold.  

DON’T let your child handle a kitten that is less than three weeks old.   This can traumatize the mother. Also your kid may have germs that can make the little kitty sick.   Toddlers should definitely not be handling cats.  

DON’T let your child play in the litter box. Many confused little kids think it is a sandbox.  

DON’T   let your cats feed cats scraps of food from the table. This creates demanding and physically overweight pet that will never let you eat dinner in peace again.   Yet another problem is that your child might be feeding your cat something that is toxic such as chocolate.  

DON’T let your child introduce your cat to another kid unless you or an adult is present. Cats can be unpredictable and many introduce themselves to children with a savage swipe of the claw.   Often they go for the face too. If you don’t want a lawsuit or medical bill from an angry parent don’t do this.  

DO teach your child to groom the cat. This teaches the cat the child is the boss and strengthens their bond.  DO let your child give your cat a treat.   The cat will be nicer to any being that gives it catnip.  

DO encourage your children to feed the cat and empty the kitty litter box AS LONG AS THEY ARE OVER AGE TEN. Any younger and they may forget or play with the kitten feces or be tempted to eat the kitten food. Keep an eye on the situation no matter how old your kids are as you do not want a cat that is starving to death or a kitty litter that I reeking.   Remember that just because you are teaching your child to be responsible does not mean he or she is going to be and your cat should not be the one that suffers while your child tries to navigate a learning curve.  

DO discourage children from pulling a cat’s tail. This can lead to a spinal cord injury that can result in kidney failure.  

DO encourage children to leave sleeping cats alone. Cats need a lot of sleep to be emotionally healthy.  

DO encourage your child to only speak to the cat in a soft, gentle voice.   Punish your child if he or she makes a habit of punishing the cat.  

DO not hesitate to take your child to a child psychologist if he or she it abusing, bullying or torturing the animal in any way. This kind of behavior is often a precursor to serious mental, psychological and social disorders that need to be treated early.  

DO not hesitate to find the cat a good home if the relationship between your child and the cat is not working out. The cat will easily adapt to a friendly environment and your child will learn that wrong actions lead to alienation.

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