Dogs can be great companions and fantastic teachers for kids. However, not every breed can be classified as a "family dog" that can get along with children that easily.
Dogs can be great companions and fantastic teachers for kids. However, not every breed can be classified as a “family dog” that can get along with children that easily.
Before you buy or adopt a puppy, it’s crucial to determine which breed would be perfect for your family’s lifestyle.
There are plenty of factors to consider. Energetic dogs would be the best pick for lively children that are down for a playmate at home. Toddlers would develop better in the companion of more patient and calmer breeds. Temperaments can vary, but if you have children at home, your dog should be gentle, friendly, and easy to train.
We’ve prepared a list of the best dog breeds for families with kids.
Cane Corso
Called also Italian Mastiffs, Cane Corsos are great family dogs. Don’t be misled by their size and imposing posture – they are usually loving, gentle, and devoted to the family that takes care of them. Contrary to popular belief, Italian Mastiffs for sale from trusted and reputable breeders aren’t that likely to develop aggressive behaviours.
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They recognise their owners and always greet them in a friendly manner. Additionally, they don’t need much training due to their natural intelligence and instinct. However, due to this dog’s size, it’s not recommended to adopt a Cane Corso if you have a toddler. They can easily, but unintentionally, knock your little child over.
Labrador Retriever
Labradors are considered to be one of the kindest dogs in the world. They just love attention. They’re enthusiastic, friendly, active, and always ready to play. However, as their energy level is extremely high, owners need to make sure that they can provide labradors with a sufficient amount of exercise.
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Additionally, grooming them is easy due to their short double-coat fur. They need only to be brushed once a month in winter and once a week in summer. They’re highly trainable and trustworthy. A well-trained labrador can develop enough social skills to play with your children safely. Not without reason, they are known for being an excellent choice for families.
Cocker Spaniel
If you live in an apartment with children, adopting a spaniel can be a great option for you. They can thrive both outside and inside, and they enjoy snuggling on the couch with their beloved owners. They have an incredibly gentle and loving personality and want to be included in each family activity; be a real part of it.
However, you have to remember that cocker spaniels need a lot of attention. They’re not aggressive, and they’re easy to train, but if you neglect their needs, they can develop separation anxiety or fight-or-flight syndrome. But if you train it since its early years, you can be sure that your spaniel will be a loving and patient companion.
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Irish Setter
Irish Setters are amiable and have high energy levels. This breed can be a great best friend of an older kid that wants to play with them, but they’re not recommended for little children due to their loudness. But don’t worry – they’re relatively easy to manage and can be trained to calm down when asked.
Setters love the companionship of their owners and the other dogs. They love to play and would be perfect for active children. If you decide to adopt a setter, remember to provide it with enough playtime and exercise, or it can get frustrated and unhappy.
French Bulldog
Bulldogs are perfect for those who are worried about their babies around the dogs. Bulldogs are exceptional watchdogs and get attached to their families, including the youngest. They want to take part in each family activity, so if you’re going to adopt a Frenchie or even an english bulldog (see here for personality traits), be ready to take it to all your family trips and give it a lot of affection.
If you’re not a fan of sports activities, a bulldog can be a great pup to adopt. They don’t need a lot of exercises and prefer to spend evenings wrapped up in the blanket with their owners. They are known for their gentleness and cuddliness, so if you’re looking for a gentle couch potato, Frenchie can be your choice.
Conclusion
Dogs can teach your children a lot. Your kids can learn how to be more responsible and caring while having a fantastic companion to play with. However, you have to remember that not each dog would be suitable for you and your family.
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It all depends on your lifestyle and personality. If you like to spend time outdoors, a labrador would be your best friend. But if you prefer to watch TV shows with your children instead of taking long walks, think about a bulldog.
Remember that each dog can be gentle and friendly if you train it properly from an early age. Be prepared for a specific dog’s character, and don’t ignore their natural instincts and needs, and you can be sure that they will make your family happier.
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Didsbury favourite Rustik has confirmed its will sadly be closing this month
Danny Jones
West Didsbury favourite Rustik has sadly announced it will be closing for food after a decade at the end of this month.
The beloved Burton cafe and bar has been a staple of the tight-knit foodie neighbourhood since 2015, but now the independent Irish eatery has confirmed that the business will be shutting down permanently in less than a fortnight.
Confirmed on Wednesday afternoon, 17 September, the casual Manc restaurant and hangout informed their loyal followers of the unfortunate news.
Unsurprisingly, their social media has been awash with condolences, collective sadness and support for the local institution.
Posting across all of their accounts, Rustik wrote: “After an unforgettable 10 years on Burton Road, the time has come to close our doors. It’s hard to believe how far we’ve come — never in a million years did we imagine Rustik would grow into what it became.
“From the bottom of our hearts, thank you to every single one of you who walked through our doors and supported us along the way. We poured everything we had — our time, our energy, our lives into making Rustik a space for everyone. And what a ride it’s been.
“From the chaotic, beautiful brunch shifts to late nights dancing on tables to ‘Wagon Wheel’, pushing through the challenges of COVID and helping our community with meals during hard times— we’ve done it all, together.
“To our amazing staff, past and present: thank you for your hard work, your dedication, and the love you brought every single day. You helped build something truly special, and we’ll never be able to thank you enough.
“To the incredible musicians who filled our space with life — keep doing what you do. The noise complaints? 100% worth the unforgettable nights.”
The team go on to detail that the official closing date is Tuesday, 30 September, reiterating that it is “business running as usual until then” and urging fans to “come down, grab your last Rustik fix, and raise a glass with us one final time.”
Signing off with an emotional farewell, they add: “Lastly, a message close to our hearts: please support your local cafes, bars, and independents. Hospitality is tough right now, and they need your support more than ever.
“Thank you for the most incredible decade of our lives. It’s over and out from us.”
It goes without saying that we’re gutted to see Rustik go and know how much it meant not only to the Burton Road community, but also to the Didsbury community, Chorlton and many other Greater Manchester natives.
Review | Villanelle debut: Liam Gallagher’s son’s band release their first track – here’s our review
Danny Jones
Liam Gallagher’s son, Gene, and his band Villanelle, have officially released their debut single to the masses, and since we’re still very much immersing ourselves in everything even remotely to do with Oasis, we thought we’d give this first track a review.
Now, if you’re expecting a familiar Britpop vibe like his dad and uncle used to bash out back in the day, you’d be very wrong…
It’s one thing to settle into something similar to what you’ve grown up around and try to continue a lineage if you’re from a successful family – especially with a legacy as important and influential as the one left by Liam and Noel – but we’re glad to report they’ve done something pretty different.
24-year-old Gene Gallagher and his bandmates Ben Taylor (guitar), Jack Schiavo (bass), and Andrew Richmond (drums) haven’t just tried to do an impression of Oasis; instead, they’ve found their own sound, and while it does give somewhat of an old-school flavour, it’s not what we expected.
It takes literally milliseconds for you to click into realising the vibe they’re going for.
‘Hinge’ is a simplistic but hard-hitting, grungey and dark debut from Villanelle, who, despite having played a number of in-progress songs live over the last year or so, have only just dropped their first studio single.
In fact, they’ve actually taken the admittedly bizarre and unorthodox first steps of having already played live with Liam Gallagher on the Definitely Maybe 30th anniversary tour before they actually released anything people can easily listen to outside of their live performances.
Nevertheless, the young four-piece introduces Villanelle as the latest post-punk outfit amidst the ongoing revival of the classic rock genre.
That is to say that punk is a tried and true classic style of music, not that these lads are trying to sound like The Rolling Stones…
Anyway, we’re getting sidetracked: Villanelle draw plenty of influences from both original and contemporary examples of this sonic subculture, and while it isn’t explosive per se, ‘Hinge’ is short, direct and hits the same formulaic notes.
It’s also fair to say you can hear a bit of the recognisable LG whine in Gene’s vocals at times, too. Listen to it in full down below and see if you agree.
Even the basic found-footage style video fits into the same category.
To call it straightforward isn’t intended as any kind of a diss, by the way – some of our favourite tunes and best artists spearheading the renaissance of the punk scene write like this.
What we will say is that it looks like bloody good fun to both play and listen to in a small, sweaty room, with plenty of pits and people bouncing off the walls.
Gallagher Sr. might be surprised to see his son going for a slightly heavier, more hardcore route with his sound, but he can’t accuse him of forgetting his roots as the child of a ‘Rock ‘N’ Roll Star.’
The boys are actually hitting the road this winter, including a date at The Castle Hotel in the Northern Quarter, if you fancy grabbing a ticket.
You can grab your tickets to see Villanelle on tour HERE, and in the meantime, let us know what you think of their debut track down in the comments.
The Manc -
16th February 2021 
