Our children are 21/2 and 41/2. Our 2 year loves animals and we want to nurture that and have him grow up with a puppy or young dog. what small breed of dog is best for that.

i personally prefer the pomeranian, it`s fun to see the dog grow with the children.

Pugs or English Bulldogs are very hardy little dogs. I myself have an Italian Greyhound...he runs away fast when they try to chase him..never seem to catch him..lol but hes very quiet, polite toward the kids. Only thing about iggies is they have super thin legs that could break easily. Wouldnt let him jump off of high counter tops or anything We also have 2 chihuahuas that are very small, but my kids have been around them since they were born.! Good luck on finding a new member of the family!

mini pins. they are smaller versions of the doberman. they are great family dogs and lap dogs. don't bite and are very loveable.

i have a toy poodle and he is the sweetest thing and the best thing about them is that poodles don't shed

Schnoodles!!! They are awsome with kids and very smart. Love ours, best dog I have ever known. Very well behaved (house broke in 2 weeks) learned to sit and stay in about 20 minutes. Loves to play with the kids, and they are entertaining for adults too. They are lap dogs too though, they want to be wherever you are to snuggle...the couch, your bed, ect. but its ok because they don't shed and are hypoallergenic. They are awsome! Good luck

I love my Lhasa and she is great with children, but I don't have any of my own. I would agree with some of the other answers, that you should go for a more medium size dog that is not as likely to be hurt by the children. Go look at AKC.org or go to your local shelter and look around. Make sure you do some research on the breed's temperament. Good luck.

I've had a grrreat experience with my shih-tsu! My children are now 8 & 4 but we've had our Kato for about 2 years...he loves our kids and they love him. He is playful, gentle and loyal, he follows my children everywhere they go and sits near them patiently as they nap or watch tv.

Go for a Labrador. They are great family dogs. Very loving, affectionate , protective and intelligent . Very very good for kids to grow with.

There probably isn't a set small breed good for children. But I'm sure many of people with many types of small breed dogs have had great experiences with them and their children. As for me personally, I have a small Spaniel/Poodle mix who has been a blessing for my family and I. We got her when I was 7, and now 11 years later, she's still here. And still is great with kids. My 7 and 8 year old niece and nephew live with us and she's just as good with them as she was with me, despite her age. Check your local shelters, there are many great dogs and puppies there looking for a home. And a lot of shelters can already tell you if the dog/puppy is good with children. I wish you the best of luck in finding the new addition for your family!