Choosing the best dog for your family largely depends on your lifestyle. If you have children in your home, you need to adopt a breed with a kid-friendly nature. Their gentle and patient demeanor makes them well-suited for homes with kids.
Such dog breeds have a natural affinity for kids and make wonderful family pets. These playful dogs will light up your child’s world with joy, fun, and laughter. They also make amazing playmates for your children and form strong bonds with them.
Dogs encourage your child to get off the couch and engage in outdoor adventures. As a result, the kids get more exercise, which is good for their physical and mental health. Interactions with dogs help improve your child’s social skills.
Here are the top 11 dog breeds that naturally love kids.
Dog Breeds That Naturally Love Kids
1. Labrador Retriever
Having an outgoing and friendly nature, Labrador Retrievers are well-suited for family life. These gentle and loving dogs get along nicely with kids and are quite patient around them. They are tolerant of unexpected hugs and pats from your children.
These child-friendly dogs bond firmly with the entire family and socialize well with strangers and other dogs. Labs are enthusiastic athletes who need lots of exercise and mental stimulation to stay fit. They love outdoor adventures and encourage your children to engage in active play sessions.
Labradors love swimming and playing games of fetch with your children. Their intelligence and high energy levels mean they can be easily trained.
2. Poodle
Known for their high intelligence and hypoallergenic coats, Poodles make excellent family dogs. Their high energy levels match your kids’ vibes. These loving, gentle, and kind dogs come in three sizes: Standard, Miniature, and Toy.
Standard Poodles are a good choice for families with older kids, while miniature and toy Poodles are a better option for homes with young children. Their athletic nature and playful personality mean they make wonderful companions for your little ones.
Poodles love swimming and enjoy tossing sticks, toys, and balls as it exercises their mind and body, explains the American Kennel Club. They also like going on long walks and jogs.
3. Bichon Frise
Bichon Frises are playful, peppy, and curious dogs who make excellent companions for people of all ages. Their high intelligence and people-oriented nature mean they love pleasing their family members, including children.
Bichons have a friendly and patient nature; they can tolerate and match your child’s endless spirit. Being a small dog, they don’t intimidate or overwhelm children. However, they may give a warning snap to rambunctious kids, so it’s better to avoid such interactions.
According to Britannica, Bichons are ever ready to snuggle and play, and can be trained easily. They can be enthusiastic watchdogs, but do not make good protective dogs due to their small size.
4. Beagle
One of the most popular dog breeds, the Beagle, gained fame from the animated character Snoopy. Their friendly nature and manageable size make them desirable in households with kids. Beagles are social fellows with an affectionate nature.
They love being surrounded by people, including kids, and enjoy family life. These loyal dogs are naturally protective of your children. They will alert you with a distinctive baying sound when they notice a threat reaching towards kids.
However, they might not be well-suited for homes with babies and toddlers due to their vocal nature. Beagles make loving and energetic companions for older kids and love to play with them in your backyard.
5. Bernese Mountain Dog
Truly a gentle giant, Bernese Mountain Dogs are sweet-natured, gentle, and affectionate canines. Their patient and playful personalities mean they love kids and are tolerant of their unexpected hugs and nudges.
Originally bred as working dogs, Berners make reliable, smart, and loyal family dogs. They enjoy outdoor adventures and will happily accompany you on hikes and walks. Berners are naturally protective of your children.
Berners are intelligent and eager to please, so they can be trained easily. A bored or neglected Bernese Mountain dog can exhibit destructive behaviors, so better not to leave your dog alone for too long.
6. Pug
Pugs are playful and fun-loving dogs who will keep your children entertained with their goofy antics. Their small size and moderate exercise needs make them one of the best dog breeds for families with kids.
These child-friendly dogs make affectionate family members and exhibit a happy-go-lucky attitude. Their sturdy build means you do not have to worry that your kids might hurt them. Pugs do not bark frequently, so they do not frighten small children.
If you are looking for a clingy and loyal companion for your children, you should adopt a Pug. However, do not let your kids engage them in vigorous play as they are brachycephalic.
They have flat faces and short muzzles, which makes them prone to overheating and breathing issues. That is why Pugs may not be a good choice for active families, or extreme care should be taken.
7. Boston Terrier
Boston Terriers are loving, compassionate, and friendly canines. They do well with kids due to their playful and gentle nature. Boston Terriers are full of energy and match your child’s temperament. Kids can play games of fetch and frisbee with these small to medium-sized dogs.
According to PetMD, Boston Terriers were bred to be companions. These happy-go-lucky dogs behave well in multi-pet households with proper training and socialization. However, their high energy levels need to be managed in hot and humid weather due to breathing difficulties.
Boston Terriers are smart dogs; they respond quickly to those training methods employing positive reinforcement and are easy to train.
8. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are famous for being tolerant and patient. It makes them well-suited for households with kids. These small dogs are high-spirited and enjoy nothing more than warm snuggles. Their sweet demeanor, melting expressions, and expressive eyes will steal your heart.
Cavaliers are eager to please dogs and enjoy companionship. They are warm and welcoming towards everyone in the family as well as strangers. Having a playful approach towards life, they make ideal companions for your children.
Cavaliers are known for their adaptability and do equally well with upbeat athletes as well as shameless couch potatoes.
9. Cocker Spaniel
Having luxurious coats and soft eyes, Cocker Spaniels have been popular family pets. They make eager playmates for kids and can be effectively trained as athletes. Cocker Spaniels are high-energy dogs who need plenty of physical and mental stimulation to stay healthy.
Cocker Spaniels are gentle dogs with a protective nature, but they are not overly protective when they meet new dogs. They were originally bred as hunting dogs, but now make excellent furry friends for your children.
Cocker Spaniels are tolerant around children and are highly adaptable to family life. They also do well with small children.
10. Shih Tzu
Shih Tzus are playful and social dogs who make wonderful companions for children. If you are looking for a snuggly small dog breed for your children, they can be a good choice for you. They do not require lots of exercise, which makes them ideal family dogs for individuals with kids living in apartments.
These child-friendly dogs adapt well to humans and other pets in the household. Mentally, they are bright, curious, alert, and active. Shih Tzus are the ultimate lapdogs with a laid-back nature, so they are perfectly content being your child’s quiet furry companion.
Training a Shih Tzu can be an entertaining yet frustrating experience. They are people-pleasing dogs, so you need to avoid harsh corrections and use positive reinforcement methods for these dogs.
11. American Eskimo Dog
American Eskimo Dogs, or Eskies, are intelligent, alert, and friendly dogs. They make wonderful family dogs and do well around kids due to their manageable size and friendly disposition. Eskies are loyal, smart, and versatile pooches.
These eager-to-please dogs are one of the most trainable breeds. Eskies are kid-friendly dogs who prefer to be cuddled. They are attentive towards their owners and have lots of energy that can be expended through daily walks and playtime.
Make sure to exercise your dog properly. An under-exercised Eskie can become destructive or start barking excessively.
Conclusion
While some dog breeds are known for being formidable guardians, others are loving and gentle. They are affectionate and patient towards kids and do not mind their unexpected hugs and nudges. In fact, they make the most amazing and protective companions for your children.
Kid-friendly dogs usually have a playful approach to life. Their energy levels match the high spirits of your child. They encourage your child to get up and exercise more. These breeds make quiet and comforting friends through the rollercoaster of your kids’ childhood.
Besides these dogs that show immense love towards kids, you may consider some other dogs, like, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, French Bulldog, Golden Retriever, and German Shepherd. They also make wonderful companions for homes with children.
