Are you thinking of bringing a furry, gentle, and child-friendly pet to your home? Dogs are the epitome of unconditional love and friendship. All dogs become great companions of their owners, but some show extra love and care towards children.
Talking about the benefits of dogs and children growing up together, Purina mentions that children who grow up with dogs are more active, healthy, and happier.
Though all dogs have a playful nature, some have a blast playing with children of all ages. To make things easier for you, dog lovers, we have gathered the top 10 happy-go-lucky breeds that love having fun play time with kids and sharing toys.
These extremely loyal dogs are not only focused on play time, but they also protect your kids from any possible dangers by keeping an eye on them. Read on to learn more about these fluffy dogs.
Dog Breeds That Share Toys With Children Naturally
1. Labrador Retrievers
Labs are the most popular and happy-go-lucky, medium-to large-sized dog breeds in the US. This active and extremely friendly breed makes the perfect family dog because of their affectionate nature. They do exceptionally well with children of all ages.
Labs adore kids and would love playing fetch with them and learn new, fun tricks to make them happy rather than being a couch potato all day. They love engaging in various activities to keep themselves and the kids around them engaged.
Labs, being highly energetic dogs, are not well-suited for apartment dwellers as they require a big yard to blow off some steam. These beautiful dogs need daily walks and exercise to fulfil their high energy requirements. They are highly trainable, which makes it easier to get them used to all situations.
2. Golden Retrievers
Though less intense than labs, Goldies are polite and eager to please dogs and are considered to be the best breed around kids. These large, fluffy friends are affectionate dogs and love all outdoor activities. They would prefer going out to staying in all the time, especially because of their high energy.
This calm and gentle-natured breed adapts to the needs of children based on their age. These dogs are happy roughhousing with older children around the house or having a simple, playful adventure with small children. Their adaptable nature makes them the best dogs to be around as little companions.
Goldens are a patient dog breed, which makes it easy to train them. They thrive on companionship, which is why it is never ideal to leave them alone for a long time; otherwise, they may get depressed. They prefer daily walks and love being around their favorite humans.
They adapt to your family’s lifestyle and spend their time doing what you love.
3. Cavalier King Charles Spaniels
Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are a small dog breed that is the easiest to be around, making them excellent family dogs. This breed is an ideal option if you have small children in the house, and is especially great for kids who get scared easily.
These sweet, calm, affectionate, and loving small dog breeds love being lap dogs with their favorite humans. These small dogs are great with kids who love to play and cuddle. Because of their small size, these dogs are the perfect match for apartment dwellers.
Though low-energy dogs, they require a daily walk of at least 20-30 minutes. They must not be left alone for a long time, otherwise they may develop behavior problems.
4. Bernese Mountain Dog
The Bernese Mountain Dogs are known to be the friendliest, gentle giants. Because of their huge size, these large dogs are especially careful around children so that they don’t knock them over.
The American Kennel Club rates this breed a 5/5 for being great with young children and 5/5 for being affectionate with their family.
These sweet, calm, and charming dogs are playful and great to be around kids. They love giving small kids a funny back ride on them, which they enjoy thoroughly.
These dogs need daily exercise, excel at agility training, but will be happy to enjoy a long walk with their pet parents.
5. Collie
Famous for their role in the series “Lassie”, Collies are watchful, reliable, faithful, and intelligent dog breeds who love to be around family. These large dogs are perfect to be around your kids, as they not only play and cuddle up on the couch with them but also protect them from any dangerous situation.
Collies thrive when surrounded by their favorite humans; however, they can be controlling at times, which can be resolved with positive reinforcement and obedience training sessions.
These large dogs require attention and a lot of exercise and high-intensity activities; otherwise, they get out of control and bark excessively. Collies are perfect around teenagers who love to participate in agility and obedience activities.
All in all, these wonderful dogs do a great job with kids, keep an eye on them, and keep the kids safe. These dogs are well known for their patience and tolerance, making them the best dog breed for kids of all ages.
6. Poodle
A brilliant small dog breed that comes in three sizes, including Toy, Miniature, and Standard size Poodle. The size you decide to bring home should be based on the size of your home and, especially, the age of your children. For toy dogs and miniature Poodles, your kids must be old enough to handle them with care.
These dogs are playful, affectionate, and energetic, which makes them a great furry friend for your kids. Poodles love interactive play and learning new tricks every day, which allows them to keep your toddlers and kids busy for hours.
Poodles are easily trainable, elegant, and make a wonderful pet for their owners. They are highly intelligent and can outsmart each family member easily.
7. Bulldog
The most huggable dog breed, Bulldogs have a very high level of tolerance, which makes them a great companion for your kids, especially young children. They are very careful around kids but can be a little stubborn, making it difficult to train them; however, they are naturally well-behaved.
Bulldogs have a tough exterior; they are easily recognized with their loose skin, furrowed brow, pushed-in nose, small ears, undershot jaw, and distinctive rolling gait.
Bulldogs are excellent with kids. They have a gentle nature and great gentleness towards children and newborns. These pups are very playful and especially well-behaved around kids, making them excellent family pets.
8. Irish Setter
Irish Setters are a beautiful and lovable dog breed that offers the best combination of friendliness and willingness to play all day with your kids. These gentle and sensitive pets are the best dog breed for kids of all ages, including babies.
According to PetMD, the lifespan of these dogs is 14 years, which makes them long-lived companions for your child for years to come.
Irish Setters can be distracted during training because of their high enthusiasm, which is why it is recommended to train them in short and frequent sessions so they don’t get bored easily.
9. Boxer
Boxers are very playful breeds who can keep your children entertained for hours. They are protective, intelligent, and thrive while performing physical activities like agility and flyball.
These dogs may be a strong choice for younger kids, but can be handled easily by older children. However, there must still be elderly supervision when Boxers are playing with your kids to avoid any accidents.
According to Britannica, this smooth-haired, working dog is named so because of its boxing style, using its sturdy paws to fight its opponent. Although they can be the best dogs for your family, they don’t get along well with other dogs and pets in the house.
10. Beagle
Beagles are among the happiest and best dog breeds in the canine world. They are long-lived family pets who keep you and your kids entertained for years. The best thing about Beagles is that they get along well with other dogs and pets in the house.
These small and smart dogs are an exceptional companion for a toddler. Their size is just perfect for young kids to handle comfortably on a leash.
These dogs require diligent supervision during playtime, as they can bark at times, which may scare the kids.
Conclusion
When bringing a dog home, there are so many factors that you must bring into consideration, especially your family dynamics, lifestyle, and the age of your children.
The dog breeds mentioned above can settle in your family very easily; all it takes is proper training, love, and care to make them feel at home.
Teach your kids to be gentle with dogs and share their toys with them to create a harmonious balance. So, what are you waiting for? Choose the perfect breed for your home today!
