Ready for a puppy? Great! If you are looking for a dog that will work best with your family, consider the fact that dogs between the ages of 1 and 5 are best with children. This is because dogs in this age range aren't as excitable and wanting to play rough as puppies do. Small dogs at this age aren't old enough to suffer health problems that make older dogs cranky.

The best way to find a puppy good with kids is to adopt one from an rescue center. And there you can ask them what kind of temperament the puppy has. Many shelters test puppies to see how they react to a child environment. Puppies from shelters normally live with volunteers who train them to get used the experiences they'll find in their permanent home. Ask for a pet that has lived with children.

When at the shelter, test for yourself how the small dog reacts to a gentle touch to his ears. Touch the paws and try putting your finger in his mouth to see what he does. On the floor, try running around and make some noise. Watch the reaction. You are looking for a puppy that accepts the same behavior you will have around your house.

Did you know you can adopt dogs from guide-dog training programs? These are pups that didn't make the cut as a seeing-eye dog, but make wonderful pets.

If your heart is set on a purebred dog, my advice is to look at the mother and father of the puppy you're interest in. Their temperament will tell all. If they are sweet, the puppy will be as well. It would surprise you to find many dogs considered good with kids are mean spirited because of the parents.

That said, there really are some breeds better than others for homes with children. For example, the sporting breeds of retrievers and spaniels are known to be gentle. They enjoy to be touched and their bite is generally soft. They are high energy, however, and as puppies can have sharp teeth that can hurt when they nip.

As the world now longs for toy breeds, believe it or not, these aren't the best with children. The are more self-preserving and can get hurt much easier than a large breed. Dogs that were bred to herd, like border collies, can chase children and bite them.

If you are serious about finding if the dog will be best with your family, you can employ the services of a professional dog trainer in your area and have them run a temperament assessment. They charge around $75 an hour - but it may be worth it. If you use the trainer later with your dog, they will probably do the assessment for free.

In a 2006 study on dog bites by Pediatrics, they recommend that parents wait until children are of school age before getting a dog. Babies were the most likely to be bitten by dogs they knew. Always supervise interaction between dogs and kids.