A huge number of us decided to welcome new puppies into our homes last year – Kennel Club figures show dog ownership soared by nearly 8 percent – and post-lockdown demand for four-legged friends remains high.
There are a whopping 221 different breeds of pedigree dog to choose from, alongside numerous crossbreeds, so there’s plenty of thinking to do before you select your family’s latest addition.
Our lifestyle has a huge bearing on which type of dog will work best for us – if you have limited space you might want to look at small dogs, while the more elderly pet owner should place certain breeds at the top of their wishlist.
Meanwhile, certain breeds have particular attributes or temperaments which mean that they simply aren’t suitable for households with young children.
Here are the 10 breeds of dogs that should be avoided by young families, according to the American Kennel Club.
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9. Shih Tzu
The Shih Tzu is a delicate breed that requires fairly gentle handling. They also tend to get under your feet, meaning that a slightly careless child can easily cause an accidental injury.
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10. Saint Bernard
Saint Bernards are gentle giants but their sheer stature makes them unsuitable to be around small children - who they can easily knock over by accident.
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