Ashling

Thanks. When I say not phased by anything, I mean he doesn't mind people touching him or coming up to him or hugs or anything like that, as in he just laps it up and doesn't show any distressed signs. He doesn't get upset or freak by loud noises. So I'm not worried about him getting stressed in that sense with children to where he'd react, though I'd make sure they are gentle with him still. The only time he is silly and over excited is when the door bell rings and people come in. He's not been around kids though apart from on leash walks where he just ignores them and walks past. I'm just worried about if he sees my nephew outside and wants to jump up at him and knock him down accidentally. I want him to be able to be outside with us and not have to worry about that. I haven't tried it yet so I don't know how he really will be but I don't want my nephew accidentally hurt at all so want to introduce them carefully. The impulse control would be a great thing for us to work on in lots of different settings. He loves training and I know he'd love doing that. He is excellent at long stays except for when greeting people at our house. He can leave it for anything but that because he's just too happy in that moment that there are people here. He has made progress but we have a long way to go still. What I'm worried about is that if he sees my nephew that he will show that type of excitement towards him and my nephew won't understand or be physically able to just stand still and ignore him. I would have him on a lead but I still don't want that level of excitement directed to my nephew.

I was just thinking that he might be gentle and surprise me. I know hearing the door bell adds to his excitement greeting so maybe if I introduce them in a different environment and work up to it. When he was a puppy my nephew had him sitting and staying just by putting up his hand and copying me. My nephew did this over and over and each time my boy responded, was very cute and funny. But now he's so huge I really will be super careful. I'm not sure if his parents have taught him about safety around dogs, there are many great articles and tips that might come in handy for them too.

That sounds great. Would an adult be able to kind of mimic this since I don't know any older children?

Awesome. Thanks. I should say that I get people to ignore his excited greeting as much as they can, stand still and hold their arms to their chest and not look at him until he's calmed down and then they can give him a treat. But he is still too excited than he should be and wants all their attention that it's hard and he will be a lot bigger than a 4 year old for him to be at all over excited like this.

Thanks for the link. I will definitely use a leash and it will be better than nothing but he will still be super excited unfortunately, unless we're going for a walk. Like Labs often are, he loves everyone a little too much when they come over to his house. After the initial crazy happy that someone has come to see 'him' he does eventually calm down but I really want him calm from the start with my nephew. Definitely need to keep working on his excitement level when someone comes over. I think maybe a baby gate separating him inside while he gets used to my nephew's movements etc then step by step, on a leash, coming for a walk with us or greeting not directly face to face and positive reinforcement for being calm and short time outs for being too excited should help but it still really worries me at the thought. Our boys are exactly the same age Stressmagnet! Don't think they're litter mates though. It's amazing to see how serious and calm he is when in training mode or on a walk but then how crazy happy goofy he can get for attention.

Thank you for the tips. My boy walks well on a lead at my side and I think my nephew would enjoy helping to walk him so that could be some good positive interaction. He is good at those tricks and commands but I've not taught him perch work so will work on that. Sounds great. He hates rolling over and won't do it, I think because he is so big and it is uncomfortable? But the others he's good at. I've been reading a lot on how to best introduce dogs to children, especially for over excitement and it seems that 30 second time outs can be useful so I'll give that a try too unless he is just way too excited. I'll make sure my nephew knows to be gentle. My boy however is so laid back and not phased by anything but what I am most worried about is him jumping up and knocking him over or chasing him if he runs or squeals, just because he thinks that's playing. I need to work hard on his over excitement. He doesn't jump up at me but I think he would try with a child. He knows the look at that game so I wonder if that could help get him used to any sudden movements of my nephew playing outside? We'll take it in baby steps.

Just wondering if anyone has any tips on how to do this. My nephew and family will soon be living closer and I would like to have him over often but I'm worried about him being knocked over by my big Labrador (weighs 40kg plus/not overweight). My lab is very well trained and is a good dog but does get over excited at times (when I play with him) and is not used to kids except for walking past them on lead. He does this very well, even prams and on bikes. I was thinking for inside I will put up a baby gate and that way he can get used to my nephew without having access. My nephew likes to play outside too though and I know if I leave my boy inside when we go outside he will bark and want to be with us too. Is it possible that somehow I can be outside with my nephew and let my boy outside with us too? How should I get them used to each other while outside? On a lead? Tied up out of reach? (I don't like the idea of tied up but if it would help?). Get a large dog playpen for outside so he can see my nephew from in there? Or should I just not let him near my nephew at all until they are both older? I think it would be helpful to tire him out a lot before my nephew comes over too. My boy does know stay and commands very well but if a child is running or making noises I think he is going to want to play. My lab is 15 months and my nephew is 4 years old. He already loves my dog and has seen him lots on Skype and met him when he was a puppy. My boy loves everything but I'm just worried that he will knock him over in excitement and he is very big. I will get a trainer in to help us see what methods work best but wondering if anyone has any tips or experience with this. I don't expect it to be easy or solved right away and will put in a lot of work to help try to make this happen.

Rough Collies sound like such a wonderful breed. Maybe I should think about getting one now with my Labrador instead of waiting till I'm old :) That is the worry with the retrievers and I know how sharp those teeth were with my boy.

Your Rough Collies sound like they were beautiful. I would love to one day get a Rough Collie when I'm getting elderly. Is it true that they love small animals? My dream is to one day have a Rough Collie and a Havanese when I'm old :)

What about a Bernese Mountain Dog? Would they be more suited to an active family than the Newfoundland?

Thanks for that awesome information. Your Goldens sound lovely. The Portuguese Water Dog could be a possibility…

Another on the list… a Newfoundland. But are they suited to a active family and what kind of dog sports do they enjoy once fully grown?

Sounds a lot like my Lab Stressmagnet. I am starting to really see him mature into a really good dog but it takes a lot of work and patience and so amazing to see. Thanks everyone! I don't know any Goldens but I have read that they can sometimes be a bit more sensitive to loud noises and kids so a lot of people choose a Labrador instead but it sounds like either would be great.

A young family I know (children 8 to pre-schooler) are looking for a medium to large dog breed and the Labrador, Golden Retriever and Rough Collie are their top choices. The family is very active but also want a dog who can relax when need to. Shedding and grooming is not an issue. The dog will be inside and there is almost always someone home. They will also put in time and effort in training and continue with ongoing obedience and maybe some other dog sports. I know Labradors and Goldens can knock over small children without meaning to and that Labradors are maybe more sound to loud noises and kids but Rough Collies may be more gentle and sensitive. I already have a Labrador but he hasn't had daily exposure to children and would probably try to play a bit too much with them and knock them over from his happiness so I'm not a lot of help there. Does anyone have any experiences or opinions on which one might be more suitable? The good and the bad. Other breeds are welcome but they really want a medium to large dog and those are their top choices. Thanks!

My 1 year old Labrador hasn't had a lot of experience with children. On leash I have him trained to walk right by them, including prams and bikes, without looking at them. But I'm not so sure off leash. Today at the beach it was quiet but there was a small child running around on the dog beach area on his own when we arrived. I think his parents were up away from the beach watching him from a park bench. I didn't unleash him because it was a new situation, being so quiet except for the child there. He was watching the kid run around and was excited and wanted to go play. I redirected him and he seemed fine but then the child had also left pretty quickly. If I had let him off straight away I was worried that he might run over the to the child and jump up and knock him over just to play with him (he loves everyone and everything but he is very heavy). Did I do the right thing or should I have just trusted my dog and called him back if he headed over that way? Knowing we had never been in a situation like this before. And how do you train a big dog to just ignore running children in parks/beaches when off leash? Am I supposed to just risk it and correct him if it does happen? Or am I supposed to get him into a sit and give him treats for focusing on me and then still risk it by then letting him off leash? What would you do or have done or have seen others do, successfully or otherwise? Thanks.

Adorable! I think my boy would be good with however small but I really want them to be able to play rough if they wish and to limit the chance of accidental injury so I'll definitely keep that in mind with deciding on a breed.

Thanks! My lab is very good with other dogs and reading dog. He doesn't really engage more than a hello unless the other dog does so it sounds like it might work well. I've started looking into the English and Welsh Springers too, a bit bigger… I agree, another gun dog is probably the way to go. Even if I do decide on another Lab or a Golden she most likely will be much smaller than my big boy.

Would you feel safe with leaving a English Cocker alone with a large Labrador, once the cocker is grown that is?

That is horrible and sad. Thank you for that perspective. I think maybe an English Cocker but not sure I feel super comfortable about it yet. Thanks everyone.

Beautiful photos. My boy is a very fit 40kg so really want to be careful about any accidental injuries to a little one. I think any second dog will be the boss of him since he's so gentle and easy going and plays to the level of the other one. Love Havanese… so many dogs to choose from, it's so hard.

I was thinking probably a terrier on the medium to large side or English Cocker, maybe Cavalier and would get a female.

Thanks for all the great stories and advice. My lab is naturally a gentle boy with other dogs and is on his very best behaviour at the dog park… but he does gravitate towards the big dogs. He likes to say hello to the little ones but they mostly don't engage much more. I think he'd be good with a little dog but I do want them to be able to play pretty rough so these stories have given me a lot to consider :)

Thanks. My Lab is a year old and so far hasn't had a chance to really play with little dogs but he likes meeting them. Really want him to be able to run around crazy with the little dog and have lots of fun if we do get one.

Still undecided on whether to get a small dog with my very big Labrador and wondering if you can share stories of your big dogs playing with small dogs or vice versa, small dogs being 7-15kg. Do they play chasies and wrestle or too dangerous? Can they be best friends? For anyone who has both, do they need to be separated when you go out incase of the big one accidentally injuring the little one? Thanks.

Thanks for that Stressmagnet :) I think maybe an English Cocker Spaniel might be the most suitable smaller dog for us, though I'm so drawn to the Havanese. By the way, our Labs share a birthday :)