At first glance, a list of the friendliest dog breeds might seem unnecessary—after all, dogs are widely known as one of the most loyal and affectionate animals. But while any pup can be raised to be social and loving, some breeds come with generations, sometimes centuries, of selective breeding that has shaped them to be especially gentle, adaptable, and eager to bond with humans.
The lovable dogs featured here aren’t just cute—they’re naturally calm, good-natured, and well-suited to family life. Thanks to their easygoing temperament and instinctive friendliness, they tend to thrive in homes with children and changing routines, making them ideal companions for growing families.
Now, let’s look at the friendliest dog breeds that adore human companionship.
Friendliest Dog Breeds that Love People
1. Labrador Retriever
Labeled for years now as one of America’s most popular dog breeds by the American Kennel Club, the Labrador Retriever is a friendly dog that is a perfect companion for families.
These sweet natured dogs will even go up to interesting strangers for pats. They are fond of making new friends on their walks and enjoy playing with children. They have enough energy to enjoy multiple play sessions in a day.
Known to bond with their entire human families, the Labradors have a lot of energy as a medium-sized dog. They require a lot of exercise and are excellent runners and swimmers.
They are known to particularly enjoy swimming. Labs are very low maintenance as their thick, dense coat requires periodic brushing, and a regular bath usually handles their shedding issues.
2. Golden Retriever
This sunshine in a canine body is well known for its affectionate nature and good temperament. As another of America’s most popular dog breeds, the Golden Retriever is also an affectionate dog that enjoys life and has a cheery outlook on everything around it.
Energetic when out walking and exercising, Goldens are also very good at following orders and will follow sit and stay commands for as long as they have to.
Golden retrievers are the most famous of the retriever family, and their long golden coats also win them fame for its sheer appeal.
The breed is usually in light, dark and regular golden colors. Their luscious coat needs to be brushed weekly to remove dead hair and its better to groom them daily in shedding season.
3. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
One of the friendliest small dog breeds, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel has royal links. It has a calm temperament but is also a good sporting dog. The dog is a calm beauty, with large, round eyes and a long, silky coat that is usually tricolored.
Rated by the American Kennel Club as a toy spaniel, they do well as lap dogs as well as high-energy companions for both children and other dogs.
This breed demands a lot of time and attention, so it will probably not do well if they are left alone for long stretches. As a toy breed, they are not high energy, and will be satisfied with a quick play session in a yard or a 30 minute walk around the neighborhood. They make for good companions for the entire family.
4. Pug
The Pug is Chinese in origin and is globally famous for its face, which seems to reflect human emotions. They are known for their happy go lucky attitude towards humans, kids and other dogs.
Pugs are versatile and do well in all families and environments. They are an affectionate breed that loves to play and cuddle with their humans.
Some Pugs are sensitive and may feel neglected if left alone for too long. They may act up despite being trained well if they are alone for long stretches. The breed is known to enjoy their food, and this combined with their preference for long snuggles can lead to obesity.
This is a serious health concern for the breed, but can be managed with vigilance and regular walks and even agility training to keep them fit and happy.
5. Irish Setter
The Irish Setter is a gun dog that does well with other dogs, children and others pets. These loyal dogs were bred for sports initially. They are great pets for children, but may not do too well around toddlers and younger children as they tend to get too excited during playtime.
They are great sporting companions, and very poor guard dogs as they are simply too friendly to be good protection against strangers.
According to WebMD, Irish Setters have a reputation for being difficult to train, but this is primarily because they stay in their puppy phase for a longer time compared to other dog breeds.
They need longer and more steady obedience training. As super-intelligent dogs, they pick up on training well and respond best to positive reinforcement
6. Border Collie
The Border Collie is famous for its intelligent personality, made even more popular through the popular TV show Lassie, although that was about a Rough Collie.
Collies were originally bred as herders and are a medium-sized, energetic dog. These are hard working and athletic workers who need a lot of time and energy from their owners to thrive.
As a medium sized dog, Border collies enjoy working hard and then spending time with their humans after their day is over. They also do well with other pets and dogs.
They are known to be highly trainable, and should ideally have a regular exercise or obstacle course training routine to have an outlet for all their energy.
7. Boxer
Boxers are a working dog, but have adapted well to an urban life with families and planned exercise. The class clown of this list, they are known for their strong goofy side. They are social butterflies and do well with kids and social interactions.
They can prove to be great guard dogs and will protect their families without hesitation or fear. They are playful dogs and can be socialized early to handle human interaction without getting too excited. Boxers are large dogs and are fairly low maintenance with their short coats.
8. Newfoundland
Newfoundland or Newfies have such a gentle nature that that they are also considered to be nanny dogs for kids. They are large dogs, originally bred to help Canadian fishermen pull in nets and their catch.
They are excellent swimmers and their affectionate and sweet nature is a core quality of the breed according to WebMD.
Their dark, thick coats require regular and intensive brushing, and they have a tendency to drool a lot. They enjoy indoor life, but need at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise to thrive. Their giant size should be a factor when you explore getting one.
9. Poodle
Poodles come in three different breeds, toy, standard, and miniature, and are among the friendliest breeds. They are extremely affectionate animals and have a gentle demeanor, and do well with other animals if socialized from puppyhood.
The poodle is favored as being almost hypoallergenic and a great dog for the entire family, especially if someone has allergies.
Poodles will need regular grooming as well as brushing. Many owners trim their dog’s coats, and if you don’t want to do that, you will need to brush them almost daily to maintain their coats.
Conclusion
All dogs are reliant on their owners for their health and well-being. However, some breeds have been bred over time to perform better as house pets. The breeds listed above are those that have been proven to do well with families and in social settings.
It is advisable that first-time dog owners pick a breed from this list to have a great pet to love. Some breeds will not do well being left alone for more than 2-3 hours, and it’s better to avoid getting them if you are a working couple or everyone is out for the entire day.
