Every kid wants a dog, but not every parent is sold on the idea. Aside from weighing the responsibilities involved in caring for a pet, adults sometimes fear they can’t trust their children with a new furry friend. Could the dog be dangerous? Will he be able to put up with the manhandling he’s bound to endure at the hands of his young pals?

Just like people, dogs have personalities, and some are better able to deal with children than others. There are no real hard-and-fast rules, and you can find good-tempered, patient individual dogs in every breed. But in general, experts say, if you have small children, stick with small dogs who are less active. A big, boisterous playful dog is likely to accidentally mow right over a tiny tot. And with a small dog, if he does at some point nip at a child, he can’t do as much damage as a large breed.

According to The Reader’s Digest Illustrated Book of Dogs, here are a few of the best breeds for families (especially with young children):

Beagle: Beagles are good-natured, friendly and relatively small. You rarely see one without his tail wagging.

English Cocker Spaniel: Gentle and loyal, the English Cocker makes a devoted friend.

Golden Retriever: An ideal family dog, the Golden Retriever is calm, gentle, loyal and intelligent, which makes him easy to train.

Pug: Pugs are quite even-tempered, mischievous and downright funny. Even though they’re small, they’re sturdy — almost like a big dog that’s been shrunk — so they can handle some roughhousing.

Labrador Retriever: They don’t come any smarter, gentler or more patient than a Lab, and those are prized traits when it comes to living with kids.