Extending your family by four paws can be an exciting experience. While several breeds make excellent family dogs, not all breeds are well-suited for households with children. That is why choosing the right fur baby for your family can be a crucial decision, especially when you have kids.
Many dog breeds tend to behave well around kids. Not only this, but dogs also encourage your children to exercise and play outdoors. Dog-child interaction allows both parties to become well socialized.
Apart from offering unconditional love and loyalty, dogs help instill a sense of responsibility and cooperation in your children. Kid-friendly dogs usually have a lot of patience, a playful nature, and protective instincts.
In addition to training your dog, you also need to teach your kid how to behave nicely around their canine pets. Here are the 8 best dog breeds for families with children.
Best Dog Breeds For Families With Children
1. Labrador Retriever
Labradors are outgoing, friendly, and active dogs. One of the most popular dog breeds, Labradors like playing with others and have a strong desire to please. These gentle dogs are quite good-natured and make great family dogs.
Labradors are patient, easy to train, and affectionate dogs. These medium-sized dogs form strong bonds with your family, including kids. They are well-suited for homes where they get enough space and a yard to roam and exercise.
Labs need a lot of exercise for physical and mental stimulation. Therefore, they get along well with active families who have time and energy to keep up with them. However, Labs are prone to obesity; a balanced diet and regular exercise can help them stay fit.
2. Golden Retriever
The Golden Retriever is another popular family dog breed. Goldens also have a friendly, affectionate, and tolerant temperament. Their gentle demeanor makes them ideal for accompanying your kids.
Golden Retrievers are medium-sized, sturdy dogs that have loads of energy and love playing with children. They outshine many breeds in the dogdom due to their versatility, intelligence, and agreeable personality. These active fellows need plenty of daily exercise to stay healthy.
Their beautiful, long coats require some grooming and lots of brushing, since they shed quite a bit. Goldens are vulnerable to some health issues, like hip dysplasia and certain types of cancer. Regular vet check-ups can help reduce the risk of disease.
3. Beagle
Beagles are energetic and friendly, and tend to be calm and tolerant around kids. Beagles are small to medium-sized dogs that excel at hunting and make wonderful family dogs, explains Britannica. These curious and cheeky fellows love their pack and prefer staying by their side.
These intelligent dogs have easy-to-maintain coats. They are relatively low maintenance, but need vigorous game time in a fenced yard or long daily walks on leash. However, Beagles are escape artists, so they do not make a good candidate for off-leash hiking.
These gentle and adventurous canines prove to be entertaining companions for people of all ages. Despite being quite active outdoors, they are laid back at home. However, they can become destructive if left alone for too long.
4. Newfoundland
Newfoundland, affectionately called “Newfie,” is known for its gentle and protective nature. Newfies’ patience and sweet temperament make them a great option for families with children. These calm pooches form devoted and famously good companions.
Newfoundland dogs are active and need some room to romp and exercise due to their large size. They are well-suited for homes with large spaces or yards. Newfies need moderate exercise to stay healthy and happy. Adult Newfies need around one hour of daily physical activity.
According to Hill’s Pet, Newfies are famous for their friendly and watchful nature. They do not bark a lot, but they do not stay quiet when they sense a potential danger. Newfies love water and are avid swimmers, so they can be ideal swimming partners for your family.
5. Collie
These high-energy dogs are quite responsive to training. They need daily exercise to stay fit, so they are well-suited for active families who can provide them with adequate physical and mental stimulation. Collies are herding dogs, known for their loyal and affectionate nature.
Collies love to move around, but are also happy to relax at home. They are known to be good and gentle with kids. They are quite friendly and protective of their loved ones. Collies are also wary of strangers, so they make good watchdogs.
Collies are medium to large-sized dogs from the United Kingdom. They form strong bonds with their family and are prone to separation anxiety, so you cannot leave them alone for long periods. If not exercised properly, Collies can become destructive and bark excessively.
6. Bernese Mountain Dog
Bernese Mountain Dogs are the “gentle giants” who make loving and fun companions for your kids when they are properly socialized. They particularly do well in active households with older children who like engaging in outdoor activities like hiking and camping, according to the AKC.
However, they are not good for homes with small kids, as they can knock them over or accidentally hurt them. These sturdy dogs are calm, good-natured, and devoted to their families. Bernese Mountain Dogs are large dogs weighing up to 115 pounds, so they need a large space to roam and exercise.
Berners are intelligent and eager to please dogs who can be trained easily. They may be a little shy around unfamiliar faces, but are patient around kids and other pets. When left alone for extended periods, they can develop separation anxiety.
7. Poodle
These fluffy dogs are quite friendly and have a loving disposition. Poodles are the curly-coated canines who are known for their intelligence, high trainability, and adorable looks. All Poodle types, be it Standard, Miniature, or Toy Poodle, make excellent family dogs.
These well-mannered dogs have plenty of energy to play with children. Poodles are the kind-hearted dogs, suitable for individuals who are vulnerable to allergies due to their low-shedding hypoallergenic coat.
These agile and graceful dogs are known for having an even temperament. Poodles need around one hour of daily exercise to get adequate mental and physical stimulation. They love to run, swim, and retrieve. Poodles grow into social and confident dogs.
8. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are loving, affectionate, and gentle dogs known for their friendly demeanor. These small-sized dogs are ideal for individuals living in apartments or households with little kids due to their compact size.
Cavaliers need a lot of attention and are always up for play sessions with family members. They appreciate daily walks and adapt well to the energy in the home. These intelligent and eager-to-please pups are highly responsive to training sessions.
They are generally healthy but can be prone to certain genetic disorders, such as neurological issues or heart problems. These easygoing and laid-back fellows are forgiving towards children and do not show any kind of aggression.
Conclusion
Several dog breeds make excellent pets for families with kids due to their easygoing, calm, and gentle personalities. These dogs are friendly and intelligent, having an eagerness to please, which makes them trainable. If you are planning to adopt any such breed, make sure to reciprocate their love and affection.
The dogs mentioned in the above article are great for families with children for several reasons. They offer a great companion to play with kids, as well as keep a watchful eye on the kids while they are outdoors.
