Dogs can be your child’s best friends, especially when raised with them. Raising your kids with dogs offers many benefits to your kids as well as their furry friends. Both get to exercise more often and have a happier mindset.
The best family dogs get along nicely with children and have a gentle nature. These pooches offer constant companionship and comfort to your kids through the ups and downs of childhood. Studies show that kids with dogs exercise eleven minutes more than their non-dog owning peers.
Kid-friendly dogs have a patient and affectionate nature. If you have kids at home, you need to consider many factors before adopting a dog. These may include the age of your kids, the size of the dog, obedience training, and breed type.
Here are the top 10 dog breeds that love kids the most.
Dog Breeds That Love Kids the Most
1. Labrador Retriever
Labrador Retrievers are the most popular family pets, known for their adaptable and outgoing personality. Their playful energy and unwavering loyalty make them one of the best dog breeds for families with children.
Labradors are very smart and soak up training like a sponge. Their high trainability and intellect make them attuned to family routines. Labradors’ eyes glimmering with kindliness and wagging tails simply convey the message “let’s be friends!”
Having an unwavering loyalty and high tolerance level around kids, Labradors can handle your child’s unpredictable behavior. Seemingly, Labradors understand that kids are learning and exploring.
2. Beagle
These happy-go-lucky and funny pooches have a loving nature and lots of patience around kids. Most Beagles enjoy the company of kids and make one of the best dog breeds for families. These medium-sized dogs are happy, companionable, and curious.
Beagles’ high energy levels and fun-loving spirit make them ideal playmates for children, especially those who love to play. Beagles are described as friendly and merry dogs by the American Kennel Club.
Whether it’s snuggling on the couch after a long day or playing in the yard, these sweet-natured dogs bring joy and warmth to your children’s lives. Watch how these Beagles get all lovey-dovey with kids:
3. Border Terrier
Border Terriers are upbeat and agile dogs with an affectionate personality and good temperament. They love exploring outdoors and are great with kids, making them wonderful family dogs. A Border Terrier has a strong desire to please its loved ones and is highly trainable.
Border Terriers are energetic dogs who require plenty of exercise every day. They do well with active families who can take them for at least half an hour of brisk walking every day or engage them in interactive play sessions.
Border Terriers love outdoor adventures with children and enjoy playing fetch, tug-of-war, and hide-and-seek with them. Cuddles after the play sessions make them even more pleased. Border Terriers are gentle and have a protective streak for their family.
4. Cesky Terrier
The national dog of the Czech Republic, the Cesky Terrier, is a loyal and loving family pet. These clever dogs exhibit a friendly disposition towards everyone, including children, adults, other pets, and even strangers.
Cesky Terriers are playful dogs who make eager walking allies. With an affable temperament, they make one of the best dog breeds for kids. Cesky Terriers are gentle, calm, highly intelligent, and obedient. Unwavering loyalty is deeply ingrained in their DNA.
Cesky Terriers are pure bliss to have around the house. They are well-mannered and eager to please, but too sensitive for harsh training methods. Cesky Terriers are capable of easily adapting to your family’s lifestyle.
5. Boxer
Blessed with strong work ethics, good looks, and lots of intellect, Boxers are large dogs with a muscular build. Boxers may look like one of the toughest dog breeds, but they are known for their big personalities. They are often called “nanny dogs” because of their love and care for children.
Boxers have a happy and loving disposition. They enjoy the company of children and other animals and make their family members laugh with their playful antics. Boxers can go from high-energy athletes to the biggest couch potatoes in no time.
These energetic dogs need plenty of daily exercise and love having a nap once they are done with it. If you are looking for a loyal companion and protective guardian for your kids, a Boxer can be a great family pet. See how this adorable Boxer pup is napping and playing with a cute little kid:
6. Chinook
Chinooks are muscular and substantial working dogs. With twinkling eyes and a dignified personality, they are quite people-oriented and have a special affinity for children. Originally bred to pull sleds and herd animals, Chinooks thrive when they are with other dogs. You only need to introduce them properly.
Chinooks’ playful, eager-to-please, and gentle nature make them ideal companions for your children. They love their family members so much that they can develop separation anxiety when left alone for too long.
Chinooks are also patient around small children, but since they are large dogs, such interactions should always be supervised. PetMD recommends at least two hours of exercise for these athletic dogs.
7. Collie
These Brainiacs of the canine world make excellent family dogs. Social media is flooded with videos and images of Collies and children being adorable together. In a poll asking if rough and smooth Collies are good companions for kids, 87% of the respondents said “yes.”
These sweet and athletic dogs are famously fond of children. Collies are affectionate, playful, and protective, making them an ideal dog breed for kids. However, they are naturally inclined to herd rowdy kids and nip at the heels of small children, thanks to their history as herding dogs.
Collies are super obedient dogs with a sterling character.
8. Brazilian Terrier
Brazilian Terriers are extremely smart, friendly, and playful pooches. They have affectionate and entertaining personalities and are gentle around the people they love. These traits make them the best dog breed for families.
Brazilian Terriers do not like strangers and make excellent watchdogs. They are well-behaved around kids and flourish when engaged in exercise and play. Your kids can play fetch with them in the garden or enjoy watching them solve a puzzle.
Their boundless enthusiasm, love for the outdoors, and ability to keep up with kids during sports make them ideal playmates for children. However, Brazilian Terriers’ interaction with little kids should be supervised.
9. Golden Retriever
Being the happiest dog breed on the planet, Golden Retrievers are popular for their outgoing personalities and friendly nature. Their intelligent eyes, puppy-like behavior, and playful approach are just some of the many reasons why they are the best dog breed for families.
Golden Retrievers are one of the most gentle and calm dog breeds, making them good around kids. They are patient around unpredictable kids and rarely get aggressive. Their energy level and playfulness can match that of your kids.
Golden Retrievers are affectionate dogs who thrive on physical contact. They are also sensitive to their owners’ emotions and moods.
10. Japanese Spitz
This Spitz-type dog originates from the cold and snowy regions of Japan. Japanese Spitz is a friendly and fun-loving pooch known for its fluffy coat. These small white dogs make loyal companions for your kids and make them smile with their endearing antics.
This Japanese dog breed brings joy and warmth to your home. These happy little doggos have a gentle temperament, playfulness, and easy trainability, making them the best dogs for your kids. However, Japanese Spitz are prone to separation anxiety and may bark loudly when left alone or excited.
According to Purina, they enjoy the company of their loved ones, but are reserved with strangers like all other Spitz-type pooches.
Conclusion
Do you want to bring a canine home as a new family member who gets along nicely with your kids? Certain breeds love kids from the core of their hearts. Their gentle, calm, and affectionate nature makes them ideal for smaller as well as older kids.
Whether they are big dogs or small, they are protective of your kids and are often nicknamed “nanny dogs.” They are typically patient around unpredictable children and stay loyal throughout their lives. However, you should train your dog as well as your kids before adopting a furry friend.
