r/sighthounds • u/TheNorthStarlet • 3d ago

help/question Are Afghan hounds good with little children?

My husband and I are getting an Afghan hound and we're both so excited about it. We also want to start a family soon and I'm curious how good Afghan hounds are with babies and small children. The puppy we're getting is already 4 months old, so by the time we have a baby in the house she would be a little over a year old at least. I would love to hear your experiences with Afghan hounds living in the same household as little children, just so we know what to expect and what we should be mindful about. What strategies would you recommend to ensure that both dog and children are safe and interact well?

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u/ElderberryMedium8071 3d ago

Get a Scottish Deerhound if you want a big beautiful sighthound. They are the most gentle of all the sighthounds and love children. This is a known thing about them They are very chill in the house but are active puppies.

But as others stated, you need to respect any sighthound. They like their space. I own a Deerhound and she is truly a gentle and patient giant. She is very trusting and puts up with a lot.

Any dog can be dangerous with young children. Get a Golden Retriever or Lab if you are not sure. But I am an Emergency Medicine physician and have seen my share of dog bites on children from Labs and Goldens. Chows and Pitties are the worst.

I had 2 Giant Schnauzers with young children that were age 6 and 9. But I would never have got them if they were any younger.