Characteristics: Compatible With Kids

Being gentle with children, sturdy enough to handle the heavy-handed pets and hugs they can dish out, and having a blasé attitude toward running, screaming children are all traits that make a kid-friendly dog. You may be surprised by who's on that list: Fierce-looking Boxers are considered good with children, as are American Staffordshire Terriers (aka pit bulls). Small, delicate, and potentially snappy dogs such as Chihuahuas aren't so family-friendly.

**All dogs are individuals. Our ratings are generalizations, and they're not a guarantee of how any breed or individual dog will behave. Dogs from any breed can be good with children based on their past experiences, training on how to get along with kids, and personality. No matter what the breed or breed type, all dogs have strong jaws, sharp pointy teeth, and may bite in stressful circumstances. Young children and dogs of any breed should always be supervised by an adult and never left alone together, period.

-- Select Characteristic -- Affectionate with family Amount of shedding Apartment appropriate Cold tolerance Compatible with kids Dog friendly Drooling potential Ease at being home alone Ease of training Easy to groom Energy level Friendly toward strangers General health Good for novice owners Heat tolerance Intelligence Mouthiness Need for exercise Playfulness Potential for weight gain Predatory tendencies Sensitivity Tendency to bark or howl Vigor Wanderlust Watchdog ability

See Full Breed Characteristic List