Are you tired and facing burnout because of your demanding career? Is denying your kids’ wishes to come play with them becoming a habit? If you are sitting on the couch right now, pondering the life choices you made and feeling this burden of guilt weighing down on your heart.
Do not despair, we have a solution to all your problems and a medicine for your emotional turmoil. Now the healer might be four-legged with a lot of fur. But just you wait and watch until it is trained and socialized well, your kids are going to be the happiest little humans after meeting their furry match.
These kid-friendly dog breeds are the ultimate gift to parents who are struggling with work-life balance and are so stressed with the constant day-to-day hustle. These adorable pups are playful canines that will fill your house with loads of love, joy, and laughter the moment they step into your haven.
They are smart, sturdy, caring, and equipped with a gentle demeanor, and will become a great childhood companion for your little ones. Let’s explore the possibilities of friendly companions you can get.
Dog Breeds That Play with Kids Without Getting Tired
1. Labrador Retriever
- Group: Hunting dog / Sporting Group
- Temperament: A force of energy that will knock you down, but keep your kids so happy
- Energy level: Turbulent, like a tornado, high energy
- Trouble Making Quotient: Very likely to conspire with your kids and throw you into the POOL!
- The motto of this pup is “Just have some fun and worry later.”
Labrador Retrievers are active dogs that enjoy playing with kids and require regular exercise. Take this joyful pup on long walks, hikes, and challenging trails, and it will be overjoyed. Labs love when people interact and spend time with them because they are so people-oriented.
When your kids play with this popular dog, your Lab will get fulfillment of its exercise needs and an active lifestyle. While your rowdy kids will get a tireless companion who can play hours on end, whether it be hide and seek, games of fetch, or a mini soccer tournament, you can trust this non-aggressive, ever-playful pup to be the best breed for your children.
Labs have a puppy-like demeanor; they are bouncy, full of energy, and always ready for some adventure. Hence, get this popular pup today and find your kids becoming the next star athletes beside this agile dog.
2. Golden Retriever
- Group: Exuberant Scottish Gun Dog / Sporting Group
- Temperament: A sweet blast of warmth and a bundle of joy
- Energy level: High Energy
- Trouble Making Quotient: Very likely to spoil a surprise by being too innocent and affectionate
The motto of this pup is “Everyone is worthy of love and happiness.”
This strike of serendipity is such a great kid-friendly dog breed that you won’t be able to get over their charm for a very long time. The Golden Retriever is the pony or unicorn of the canine world. All bright like sunshine and daisies, and always up for an activity that involves fun.
They tend to be great pets for kids and adults. The goldies will give the emotional therapy you need and your kids a constantly joyful friend to spend time with. They shed a lot, but that doesn’t dim their brightness and love one bit.
Golden Retrievers are excellent for active families and can participate in various activities such as hunting and playing fetch. These merry pups with golden locks were originally bred for hunting and retrieving. They are great travel companions and the most social dogs you’ll ever meet. Their sole purpose is to spread joy around the world.
3. Beagle
- Group: Excellent Hunting Dog breed / Hound Group
- Temperament: A gleeful mystery, funny, cute, and lively like a strong gust of wind
- Energy level: Bursting full of Happy Energy
- Trouble Making Quotient: Very likely to dig a hole in your garden, for sniffing out prey, aka the cute rabbit
The motto of this pup is “Why not smell every single flower on this planet when we can?”
These snoopy, inspiring Beagles don’t take walks; they investigate and find problems to solve. Dog owners should be aware that this small dog breed is not an easy pup to handle and raise if you don’t have active kids around.
Beagles are intelligent dogs that law enforcement agencies use for detection and scent work. These pups are strong and tireless; you won’t ever find a Beagle that gets tired with a little play.
According to the AKC, be ready for these adorable tri-colored pups to become perfect playmates, but also trouble-making strategists with your kids. They will probably sneak out together to find adventure, or plan to outsmart you, and can even overthrow your rule in your house.
These scent hounds with short legs are team players and natural pack dogs, and will form a solid team of curious explorers or badass pirates.
4. Pug
- Group: Mischievous Companion Dog / Toy Group
- Temperament: Lovey Dovey house pet, loyal, kindhearted, and a good dog mixed with a bit of spice and naughtiness.
- Energy level: Snoozes in between play sessions, considers power naps important – the ultimate low-energy dog breed
- Trouble Making Quotient: Highly likely to start a secret quest for finding treats and then eat them all in one go
The motto of this pup is “A bit of drama and sleep hasn’t ever hurt anyone.”
These generally healthy couch potatoes are not the most ideal pup for warm weather because they overheat quite easily. But that doesn’t mean they don’t need regular exercise in the form of a playdate. They love children and readily become everyone’s best friend.
As per Omlet, Pugs are sassy and mischievous little dogs that make a great pet clown for every family member. Their idea of play is to steal a stash of doggie treats, play hide and seek, and nonstop sessions of fetch, all in the comfort of a small apartment. These dogs were once associated with Chinese royalty.
These small, muscular dogs are brachycephalic and hence are more prone to health problems. Evaluate the breeder thoroughly before buying or adopting these royal fur babies.
5. Boxer
- Group: Athletic & Sporty Working dog
- Temperament: The most upbeat and playful athletes who love their owners with such intensity that you’ll be overwhelmed
- Energy level: A peppy tsunami of energy
- Trouble Making Quotient: Highly likely to behave like a spoiled, stubborn brat when you don’t give in to his demands.
The motto of this pup is “If they let you go free, make sure you utilize every second of the freedom you are given and enjoy.”
Don’t expect a snooze fest or a gentle sleepover party in the presence of this muscled goof of a dog, who was born to protect and build muscles in his free time. Exercise for a Boxer means running marathons around in the backyard, frolicking like a bug, rolling in the mud, and splashing some pool water.
Pawlicy Advisor states these medium-sized dogs are incredible guardians and emotional wrecks at the same time. Hence, make sure you have all the armor in your repertoire before you bring one of these into your house.
6. Maltese
- Group: Loud Hollering Fashionista of a Companion /Toy Group
- Temperament: Free-flowing elegance wrapped around a fearless athlete.
- Energy level: A smooth, irresistible wave of energy
- Trouble Making Quotient: You’ll likely have to drag these snow white puppies out of a tussle with a big dog; it is small but no less stubborn.
The motto of this pup is “Seize the day, and make way for some more adventurous fun.”
This charming pup was born into the lap of luxury; hence, a bit of pizzazz and attitude should be expected by pet parents. But what you didn’t know is that these long-living pups transform into stubborn and agile hooligans from time to time.
Hence, this pristine white, show-stopping puppy isn’t at all what it seems like. It is a loud barker, a great watchdog, and a wonderful, energetic playmate for your children. The Maltese have small dog syndrome and will be the entertaining factor for all your family members.
These silky pups require regular grooming and more care than most dogs, but you cannot resist these bow tie-wearing little dogs with big, dark eyes and a cute black gumdrop nose.
7. Border Collie
- Group: Nimble Worker / Herding dog breed
- Temperament: Sharp as a tack with a knack for agility training
- Energy level: Completely reckless and uncontrollable, erupting volcano of energy
- Trouble Making Quotient: Beware, the tendency of this pup for escaping the fence is 100, and it will also be found chasing your children and with the spirit of a cheetah.
The motto of this pup is “Chase away the highs and lows of life, and if it gives you lemons, run to the grocery store to buy other essentials and make a lemon meringue pie.”
This Anglo-Scottish medium-sized herder is a force to be reckoned with. We can’t guarantee what type of conspiracies and agendas these smart dogs will concoct with your already challenging children. But you can rest assured, it will be highly creative and bizarre.
Your little ones will be learning a thing or two about sneaking out the window after bedtime and tackling some crucial life skills from these Collies.
PDSA notes that Border Collies are affectionate and protective dogs, suitable for families and kids. They are gentle and easy to train, making them perfect for first-time owners. But beware, they also tend to outsmart their owners. These Border Collies rarely bite, making them an ideal choice for those who have kids.
8. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
- Group: A Sporting Spaniel in a Toy Group
- Temperament: Big cuddle bugs and graceful athletes
- Energy level: Squirrel chasing an aristocrat of a dog breed with enough energy to run the agility course
- Trouble Making Quotient: “You might come home to a dog ragger because you left your Cavalier home for too long and it needed friends.”
The motto of this pup is “Save everything and be whoever you want to be every day, a shameless couch potato or a nimble athlete, it’s your life, your choice.”
The ultimate good dogs of the entire bunch are these prancing and frolicking, endearing, doe-eyed puppies. The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is the best breed of choice for a family with young children. They’ll follow your kids around and play fetch with your toddlers without causing them any harm.
PetMD says this low-energy dog breed, although prone to some health problems like Mitral valve disease, is a great, unique, and calm breed full of sweet surprises and cute antics. They can be a bit greedy about their toys and their owners’ love.
But they are adorable nonetheless. Extremely gentle and loving, these pups make great therapy dogs and emotional support animals.
9. Staffordshire Bull Terrier
- Group: Former Gladiator /Terrier Group
- Temperament: Boisterous, rock-solid, enthusiastic lovers
- Energy level: A fiery turbocharged missile of energy
- Trouble Making Quotient: “It is a bad, bad idea to bring this guy to a dog park. Get ready to face the stubbornness on a pro max level.”
The motto of this pup is “Live loudly, love intensely, and fight like you are the only champion in the ring.”
Bull Terriers are gentle dogs that can resist pain, making them suitable for rowdy kids. These nanny dogs are the ultimate doggy package that protects their family and takes care of the kids at the same time. These staffies are extremely sensitive, medium-sized dogs that are tenacious, sturdy, clever, and brave.
Continental Kennel Club explains that they form strong bonds with their family and are profoundly loyal. But that doesn’t mean they don’t have some spunky or spirited energy in them (take note of their brawling history).
They make great playdates for younger and older children. These friendly pups with mammoth smiles are a sincerely sweet and lovable breed.
Constant supervision, accompanied by the right training and early socialization, makes Staffies great family guardians and pets.
10. Newfoundland
- Group: Working Group
- Temperament: Soft, soulful, and sweet with an almost poetic and dignified bearing
- Energy level: A powerful yet gentle breeze of energy
- Trouble Making Quotient: “They might prank you by hiding under the table. Be prepared for a Peek-a-Boo game.”
The motto of this pup is “Patience is a virtue, if someone hits you. Hit them back with love bombing.”
These Canadian-born Newfoundlands have a calm and loyal predisposition. They are great with kids, but do not like to run and jump as much as most children do.
Hence, they are ideal for smaller kids who like gentle play. These big, fluffy Newfoundlands are very protective of children and are sometimes called ‘Nature’s Babysitter’.
Purina mentions that Newfoundlands prefer staying close to their masters and are quite trustworthy, trainable, and plain sweet dogs. They have a playful and mischievous side, hence, build a sturdy fence or they’ll problem-solve their way out of it. A true great addition to a growing family.
Conclusion
Picking these mischievous puppies is like picking your poison; the one you can manage or handle is the right choice. But think wisely that these thick double-coated wonders are way ahead of you. But it’s a guarantee you’ll laugh a lot harder and breathe a bit better in their presence.
Low-energy dog breeds like those mentioned in this article are also a good choice for children, and even though the Shih Tzu and Cocker Spaniel seem small and not sturdy enough, they do surprisingly well in agility and will make great companions and partners in crime for your rambunctious kids.
