Are poodles good with kids? Yes, their natural easy-going temperament makes them ideal companion animals.
Poodles are the kind of dogs you often see competing in dog shows. These dogs look formal and classy. They join competitions because of their superb intelligence and ability to be mobile and skillful. And they win conformation awards for their beauty. So it may surprise you to know the dogs are even-tempered and that poodles make excellent family pets.
If you’re thinking about adding a poodle to your family and there’s only one question you need to answer: Are poodles good with kids? And the simplest answer to this question is a definite yes!
Which type of poodle is best for kids?
If you are looking at poodles as companions for your kids, the next question on your mind is the type of poodle to get. Poodles are categorized by size as the standard poodle, miniature poodle, and toy poodle.
According to the American Kennel Club, the standard poodle has a height of 15 inches or more. Miniature poodles are between 10 to 15 inches, and the toy poodles are 10 inches or below.
Since all of these dogs have the same natural intelligence and mobility, the decision lies with the size that you prefer for your children. If you want a smaller and more manageable dog, then a miniature or a toy poodle would be a great choice. Remember, though, that smaller dogs can be more delicate so your children will need to handle the dog with love and care.
For those who love big dogs, a standard poodle is an excellent option for you and your kids.
Poodle qualities that work well with children
Poodles may seem slow, and they may always be seen strutting their stuff as show dogs but do not let their behavior and looks fool you. Poodles are chosen in these competitions because they easily comprehend the instructions of owners. And their fur can be designed in a way that looks elegant and beautiful. But they are well suitable for children of any age. Some of the qualities of poodles that work well with children include:
- Very athletic – these dogs that can play hours and hours with kids without getting tired
- Smart- they can understand commands and easily recognize instructions
- Trainable- poodles can be trained so that they can behave well with the children of the family
- Affectionate- poodles of all sizes are very loving to people
- Gentle- although they are athletic, they are also very gentle dogs
- Patient- these dogs are patient; they can be with children for long periods
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Foster peace between poodles and children
Poodles can be trained to behave in a way that is suitable for families. Children, on the other hand, is a different matter. Kids have distinct ways of turning something organized into a mess! They will try to do everything according to their liking and not thinking about the consequences. This also pertains to their behavior to dogs. They can be quite loving and affectionate in a moment but turn into pesky kids in an instant. What should you do?
- Set ground rules for the kids. Make sure that they understand every single one.
- Set a time for playing with the dogs
- Start training the poodle for proper behavior. If you can hire a professional to train the dog, you can do so.
Tips for restoring peace
It is quite unavoidable for the poodle and your child to fight, especially when the kid is very young. This is because the child may do things like hitting the dog, pulling the tail, throwing stuff at him, taking the pet food, and others. Dogs are generally very patient with the owners, but they can also reach their limit and retaliate at the child.
When this happens, make sure to separate the kid and the poodle. Most parents will usually side with the child on this matter and punish the dog. But this should not always be the case. If the kid is wrong, you should teach your kid about his misbehavior. Make sure that what he did is incorrect, and the event should not happen again. If the poodle causes the fight, you should also discipline the dog. Poodles are very smart. They will understand your instructions. You need to be patient with them.
Train your poodle to be good with kids
To be sure that your poodle will get along with your kids, here are some tips that you can do:
- Have the dog socialize with kids and other people even as puppies
If you can get a young poodle, then you should start having your dog interact with people, especially kids. By doing this, the dog will understand that it is a healthy environment to be alongside kids and people.
- Train your dog
While your emphasis should always be on basic obedience training for the dog, you also need to train your children. Both children and dogs need rules and boundaries. You also need to be sure to supervise interactions between children and dogs.
- Introduce the poodle to your kid’s stuff
One of the main reasons why dogs and kids fight is because the dog takes what the kid is playing or holding. To prevent this from happening, you should introduce the poodle to these items and teach him not to get and bite on these things.
Teach kids to handle your dog
Training should be for both the dog and the kids. Kids should be taught about properly handling dogs. They should know not to interrupt the dog if he’s eating or sleeping. Kids also need to be taught not to tease the dog, hit the dog, or pull on the dog’s ears or tail.
Children also benefit from learning about how to care for the poodle. They should know about the responsibilities of taking care of the dog. Some of the tasks that they should understand and eventually do are bathing the dog, feeding the dog, brushing the fur, cutting nails, and going to the vet.
Conclusion
Poodles are not only gifted with the ability to absorb commands and information fast, but they are also very agile in movement. Once properly trained and motivated, poodles can be great companions for kids. The combination of the dog’s puffy fur and the right size make poodles very cuddly for the owners. They can guard babies and even houses because of their innate heightened sense of their surroundings. Poodles are good with kids. Children in your home will be very fond of poodles in no time!
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