Finding a dog for a family can be difficult. There are certain breeds that might not be a good fit. There are certain personalities or activity levels that might not work for your lifestyle.
What are the best child friendly dog breeds? If you’re thinking about getting a new dog for your family, here’s what you need to know:
A Word of Warning
Before delving into the idea of one breed being better than another, we wanted to provide a little warning. You should remember that a dog’s breed is able to tell you many things about a dog. You will learn a lot about which breeds are preferred for certain families based on their ideal traits, such as look at personality.
What you can’t learn from a breed is how the individual dog’s personality will be. Dogs of a certain breed typically act a certain way, but it’s never a guarantee. The characteristics of a breed are a generality. Each dog has its own personality and may or may not act like typical dogs of that breed.
Best Child Friendly Dog Breeds
With that out of the way, let’s take a look at our favorite family-friendly dog breeds.
Golden Retriever
This muscular and medium-sized breed has been a favorite of the American Kennel Club (AKC) for decades. They typically weigh from 55 to 75 pounds and stand just under two feet tall. Their size and weight make them a rather robust dog that will not likely get hurt playing with children.
The Golden Retriever needs a good amount of exercise as well, so they might be the perfect dog to get your children outside to burn off their energy. They do shed, so they’ll require some grooming, but their gentle demeanor will make teaching children how to groom them rather easy. This can be a great way to teach your children responsibility while helping you out with the responsibilities that come with pet ownership.
The popularity of the Golden Retriever has led to many breeders crossing them with other purebred dogs. Even if you’re allergic to dogs, a Golden Doodle (Golden Retriever and Poodle mix) is now an option for you.
Shetland Sheepdog
The Shelty is much like their larger cousin, the Collie, but in a smaller package. This breed grows to be only about 15 inches and 25 pounds, so their size doesn’t mean they will be accidentally knocking over children. They also are very calm and tolerant dogs. They can be wonderful companions for children and want their affection. In return, you’ll get a dog with a watchful eye and overall gentle personality.
Shelties are herding dogs, so the inclination to “herd” children might have to be broken. It should be smooth sailing once they understand the behavior is not acceptable.
German Shepherd
The German Shepherd is a larger dog at 25 inches and up to 100 pounds, but they are loyal companions. These dogs are very smart and trainable as well. After all, there’s a reason they are used as police dogs.
The German Shepherd is a serious dog that is wary of strangers, but they have a playful side too. In the right family, they can be affectionate and loving while also watching out for danger. They also shed. Be sure to brush this dog at least once a week and plan on brushing every other day when they go through shedding periods.
Beagle
The Beagle is another smaller dog weighing in at only around 20 to 25 pounds. They are just over a foot in height, but their muscular and solid build makes them a hearty breed. They love to be social and will thrive in a large family.
Beagles are a very vocal breed. They have a distinctive cry that can help warn of any danger. They might not be the best for households with very young children as they’ll likely disturb naps. While they may be loud, they also love to be around children.
Poodle
Poodles come in all shapes and sizes. There are actually three different classifications for the breed, toy, miniature, and standard. Because of the diversity within the breed, they can range anywhere from 5 to 70 pounds. So, you can always pick a size to fit your home.
Poodles may have a reputation for being high-strung. In reality, they are anything but. Poodles are one of the smarter dog breeds and have enough energy to keep up with even the most active children. They’ll love a cuddle at the end of the night, and their hypoallergenic fur makes them a great match for most families.
The Best Dog is the Dog That Matches Your Lifestyle
These breeds are ideal family companions. There are other dogs that would fit equally nicely into family life. Like we said above, the individual dog’s personality is the biggest contributing factor to a great family pet. The most important thing is to pick a dog that is right for your lifestyle. If you are all active and attentive, then an energetic pet could be the right fit. If you prefer to exercise your dog with a 10-minute game of fetch, then a smaller less-active pup may be right for you.