Many dogs are friendly and loyal companions, but experts warn that some breeds may not be the best fit for households with small children. Certain breeds of dogs can be dangerous to young families due to their size, temperament, or energy levels, so it is important to understand different breeds to help ensure a safe and harmonious environment for both children and pets.
A canine expert at Hub Pages shared three popular dog breeds in the UK that are not suitable as family pets. They shared: “I have experience as a dog handler, working in animal shelters and my own experience and research. My aim here is not to incriminate dogs, as I believe each dog breed has a required owner and should only be sold or given to someone who is truly right for it.”
Jack Russell Terrier
According to Tug-e-Nuff, the Jack Russell Terrier ranked ninth among the most popular dogs in the UK in 2024. However, this dog is known for their snarling and nipping at fingers.
“Jack Russells 9/10 times are again another little piranha. Whilst there are some families that have them and they are okay, these are the rarity. Jack Russells are very noisy dogs. They love to bark, dig, run around and chew,” said the canine expert from Hub Pages.
They continued: “They can be hard to manage even for experienced breeders and can be highly disobedient and will sound extremely nasty when they snarl. Despite their small size, they require a lot of exercise, a good amount of garden space, a very high level of training and even then it is built into their nature for them to snap before they think, bite and hunt.”
Jack Russells have a strong-willed and unpredictable nature, which means they require an experienced owner and a calm, structured home environment. Without firm boundaries and consistent training, they can become a challenge.
French Bulldog
The French Bulldog ranked 15th for popularity and is known for their small, scrunched face. However, families with young children are warned against them as they can be similar to terriers if not trained or treated correctly.
The expert shared: “The French Bulldog suits a quiet home preferably with a single person as they look to one person as the pack leader and require lots of attention, training and work to keep them occupied. They are a very small breed of dog which are by nature happy and friendly. These dogs require quiet homes.
“If these dogs come in second, third, or anything less than the baby of the family, they can become bored, aggressive, snappy, hostile or even aggressive towards other dogs.”
Shepherd dogs, Shetland Sheepdogs, Border Collie
These types of dogs are very common across the UK but are known for being herding and farming dogs. They are not suitable for cities or small homes, especially Collies or Shepherds, which are known for extremely high energy levels, where they like to run.
These dog breeds can be stubborn and require a lot of training. The expert went on to further explain: “The issue raised with these dogs is they are prone to herding, they will herd other animals, children, bikes and even other people, and this can’t be bred out of them.
“These dogs are prone to nipping at heels or even biting, growling or becoming physically rough if the herding isn’t going to their plan. If you can imagine them chasing a bike, imagine them chasing the neighbour’s kids or random kids at the park, the child running away, and the dog will see it as a catch-the-rabbit kind of thing, which, as you can imagine, is not safe.”
