Characteristics of a Dog for Children

• It mustn't be fearful or nervous
• It has to be tame.
• It shouldn't be sensitive to noise.
• Active and playful.
• It has to be able to tolerate the pulling and shoving of the child, without it getting irritated easily.

"A child's dog should be tolerant."
Large breed dogs are known for having these characteristics. They are calm, rarely ever attack out of fear and they barely ever get nervous. They are good guard dogs and they know how measure their strength. This does no mean however, that you can leave your child alone with or let it get near an unknown. Because there are several, the Saint Bernards for example, that are not tolerant with children and usually get annoyed or impatient with them. But if your child is scared dogs it might give the dog a feeling of anxiety or aggressiveness. The only inconveniencies of having a large dog is that they need a lot of space and a big yard. They don't get easily accustomed to big cities. They also have a lot of strength, so much that your child wont be able to hold on to them till he reaches a certain age.

A Dog - A Pedagogical Factor: The psychologists, pedagogues , pediatricians, psychologists (professionals that helps the psychologically and mentally ill). They agree on the pedagogical value that a dog has, and every year they give more data and proof that illustrate the importance of having a child grow up with a dog.

Children and dogs: reciprocal, pedagogical practices. They both can learn a lot from each other. A dog is, in a way, an example for the child in the sense of responsibility, respect, love for order and preciseness. Also it's a master in social behavior. You might think this is a bit exaggerated, but Dr. Reinhold Bergler, ex-director of the Psychological Institute from the University of Bonn (Germany), has said that it works wonders in children who have learning and therapeutic problems, he named it the "dog healer". In scientific terms, is the following: "Dogs are a pedagogical help, in order to help the child learn the importance of responsibility, and to acquire competence and social abilities. To experience feelings and human existence, such as: intimacy, affection, sexuality, birth and death". In the opinion of professor W. Piotrowski, ex-director of the department of Neurology from the Hospital Clinic of Mannheim (Germany), affirms that "a dog has a big influence in the formation of the character and actions of the child"

Actually, a child wants a dog for himself, a living being with an amazing capacity of communication and a natural need to be faithfully accompanied. The child is not aware of these qualities. The dog is a live toy, a friend, an object of his need for affection, who's always by his side. The parents add a dog to the family, so that it can play with it, for protection, and so that he wont feel lonely, especially in cases when it's an only child. When they establish a dog-child relationship the parents are making a decision which will determine if it works out and which will influence the child until adulthood.