If you think dogs are just friends with adults, you are wrong! Dogs love babies. Rather, they adore them the most. You would often see babies giggle at a dog trying to snuggle in the same bed they are lying on. Canines would do anything to make the babies laugh!
Some dogs are naturally more inclined to keep babies happy. They are gentle and have nanny dog instincts in them. They understand what the baby needs when he is crying.
Scientific evidence supports the theory that babies are happy with dogs. According to the National Library of Medicine, babies perceive their relationship with certain canines as similar to that of a parent-infant bond. They connect with them closely and intimately.
In this article, we will discuss 7 dog breeds that play gently with babies and even console them when necessary.
7 Dog Breeds That Play Gently with Babies
1. Golden Retriever
One of the most popular dogs in the United States, the Golden Retriever is a much-loved member of many families. This dog is especially loved by families with children. It is a canine with a calm temperament and an absolute delight to small children.
What makes it so loved by the babies is its even temperament. A Golden Retriever doesn’t get triggered by baby cries and is not aggressive towards the baby. Rather, it tries to console the baby, making sure that he is physically alright.
These dogs have a soft mouth when compared to other dogs. This makes them the best dog breed to be with kids, as they play with the dog without hurting them in any manner. Infants are fragile, and a strong touch can hurt them. The soft mouth of the Goldens is safe for babies.
As the Golden Retrievers don’t have a high prey drive, they are a good choice to be around babies. Also, they are some of the most intelligent breeds out there, and hence it’s possible to teach them baby-safe commands like “be gentle”.
2. Labrador Retriever
Labrador Retrievers are super loyal to their humans and thrive in homes filled with love and companionship. Their behaviour with infants is just like that of a mature human being who knows exactly how to deal with the little ones.
Labs are lovely dogs! You can trust your baby with it, even with your eyes closed! Babies are unpredictable, tiny humans. They can react to anything at any time. As Labs are not aggressive and don’t react violently towards kids, one can say they are great with babies.
Some research has also shown that these dogs showcase safe attachment styles with human babies, replicating the bonds formed between babies and guardians. Their trustworthy demeanour and gentle nature earn them the reputation of being some of the best dogs around kids.
3. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
This small dog breed is an absolute favourite of the babies and rightfully so! Cavaliers are dogs bred for companionship. They were not bred for critical activities like hunting or retrieving. Rather, their origin was connected with companionship.
The AKC notes that it is affectionate with children and patient with babies. These small dogs are calm. Their reactivity is very low, making them great companions for children of all ages. Even if the baby cries, the dog doesn’t overreact. When a dog sees a baby crying, it responds in the calmest manner possible
These dogs are small. If you live in an apartment, Cavaliers will easily adjust to it. Urban families, most of the time, reside in small apartments without yards. This little dog has no qualms living in a small space; rather, it loves the idea of being physically close to its parents at all times.
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel doesn’t have chase instincts. Also, as they are not hunting dogs, they don’t really have a strong prey drive. This makes them some of the safest family dogs for homes with babies.
4. Beagle
Curious, friendly, and joyful, a Beagle is a great family dog. Although it is energetic, it can easily adapt to the family lifestyle, where it becomes extremely gentle with kids. Despite being playful with the big kids, it exhibits gentle behaviour with the babies.
Proper socialising is required with Beagles. When they are introduced to the babies gradually, they tend to get comfortable with the new living situation smoothly.
They are not only gentle with babies, but they also showcase protective instincts. Once they form close bonds with the babies, they take good care of them and are always attentive towards them.
Beagles get attached to family members quickly and deeply. So much so that if you leave them alone for a few hours, they may end up developing separation anxiety. If they became a part of the family when there were no kids, they are still less likely to react aggressively in a noisy environment.
Rather, with time, they easily adapt to the new living situation and get accustomed to the weeping, feeding, and burping baby!
5. Boxer
These dogs are absolute pookies when it comes to babies. Despite their tough appearance and muscular build, these dogs are incredibly playful and joyful around children. They form strong bonds with them and understand their emotions.
If you have always considered a Boxer a tough dog, as it has a reputation of being a fantastic massager and military working dog in the World Wars, you are wrong. Boxers are gentle dogs that can be easily trained. As they are smart and eager to please, it is possible for the dog owners to house train them.
As they are phenomenal, gentle guardians, parents are always carefree and satisfied when a Boxer accompanies their kids. They don’t overreact to sudden baby cries; rather, they understand that the baby will cry at times. Hence, they are often referred to as ‘nanny dogs’.
6. Irish Setter
Irish Setter is not just about being gorgeous; it is super fun and loving towards kids. Despite being high-spirited, it is friendly with children and loves playing with them. This friendly and outgoing nature of the dog makes it an absolute favourite amongst youngsters.
Even at home with small babies, it is a great choice.
As this extremely loyal dog is soft in temperament, as mentioned by WebMD, it doesn’t really showcase aggression in various life situations. They turn out to be great family pets when there is an addition of a baby to the home. Even when a toddler is around, the Irish Setter would put up with his tantrums without getting aggressive or frustrated.
Patience makes them a favourite of the pet parents. When a baby is crying, asking for milk, and the parents are panicking to grab the bottle and make the food, this dog will patiently wait for the storm to calm down. A lot of times, it may even come up for help and try to soothe the baby with gentle patting.
As the baby grows and grabs the dog or even crawls into its space, the dog would be super patient and wouldn’t react.
7. Collie
If you want an intelligent dog around you, as it would be better able to manage a baby than any other dog, a Collie must be your number one choice. This dog is high on intelligence and turns into one of the best caregivers for the babies when parents are not around.
They are also super loyal and would protect the babies at all costs!
This Reddit Thread vouches for the fact that these dogs are super gentle around kids.
Collies form a strong protective bond with children. They enjoy all the phases of the baby’s growth and become an active part of its development. They are gentle with the babies and keep a close eye on the surroundings to ensure nothing hurts them.
These non-aggressive dogs are also easy to train. They will take only a few weeks learning new behaviours and understand the lifestyle of the house.
Conclusion
Some dogs are naturally calmer and gentler around babies. Breeds like Bernese Mountain Dog, Cocker spaniel, Shih Tzu, and Poodle are incredibly gentle with the kids and showcase a calm demeanour around them.
For active kids, these pets become the best companions as they play with them, fetch, and even engage in hide-and-seek without getting tired. They can also the busy parents take care of the baby when the parents are busy with something else.
