Dogs & Children We added this page due to the unprecedented amount of calls we have received about this topic, from anxious parents and individuals who were genuinely concerned about the bonding process between dogs and children. During the time we were researching the Boerboel, we came across many a so called dog trainer who had made statements to the point of saying dogs and children were not a good mix. Why? Well, according to the professional judgment of those so called dog experts, it was their view that a running, screaming, shrieking child elicits the prey drive of the dog, or can raise a dogs excitement levels. We would completely agree. But these experts also concluded that children and dogs were not compatible, with which we strongly disagree. Then we came across the Boerboel marketing garbage that tells you the Boerboel is genetically wired to love your kids, distinguishes instinctively between small children and adults and can openly discriminate, something we completely disagree with. OUR VIEWS: Dogs in general will make excellent companions to children. Period. Training both, small children and the dog together as a team, will create a good harmony as well as instilling the necessary components to nurture empathy and confidence in children. Dogs will help to instil self worth in children (FACT). Children reared with dogs become better parents in adulthood (FACT). Disturbed children and those with emotional issues will benefit greatly from their interaction with dogs (FACT). A child’s voice is far more successful in achieving interest from a dog than an adult’s (FACT). Dogs can serve as transitional vehicles or as a form of security for children venturing away from the emotional bond of a parent (FACT). Just like the invisible line of affection and bonding that holds a dog to their human adult companion, this same line is also visible with small children (FACT). Smaller children usually are fearless just like a four week old puppy; everything is a novelty and must be explored. Adults have much more fear and usually project there insecurities and bad nerve issues on to their children (FACT). Children develop a sense of self worth and importance of themselves by their developing a bond with the dog. Dogs contribute to lowering high blood pressure in adults and children through touch (FACT). Children without siblings have much stronger bonds with their dogs and will compensate through the dog for additional company  (FACT). I hope that these are a few reasons why we believe that dogs are imperative to the future well being of a child. No other species, including cats, elicit such responses of affection from small children, and this bond retains itself right through to a child’s adolescence. Remember: Children need training and guidance along with the dog, supervision is required right until the child has acquired dominance and leadership qualities effective for the control of the dog. A WORD OF WARNING: CHILDREN ARE THE BEST DECOYS IN THE WORLD, UNFORTUNATELY. Dogs trained in Man-work should always be supervised when in the company of children. Dogs trained in advanced obedience will not run after a screaming child despite the interest created from the scenario, if the dogs have the high skill levels dog men expect. Dogs need to be socialised to the novelty of screaming, running and shrieking children through positive reinforcement learning that such scenarios are neither hostile nor field sport days for the dog. Buying this breed for protection work or as a guardian protector should create a dog which will not discriminate between a small child and an adult.  No well trained and good protection prospect will discriminate. If you expect your dog to discriminate, do not train it for protection work. Period.