Around 250 babies are born each minute in the world. Each of these bundles of joys deserves a beautiful pet to share all life’s challenging moments. A well-tempered dog can make all the difference in a peaceful home where multiple generations share cultural and family traditions.
Welcoming a new dog into your household does take a little upfront work. There are many family-friend dog breeds available, but you want to focus on those that will merge with your unique family dynamic the best. We’ve outlined the best dogs for kids and other family members that you can count on when looking for a breeder or adoption opportunity. If you’re searching for the Best Dog Breeds for Family, this guide will help you make the right choice.
What Makes a Dog Breed Ideal for Families?
Every family has its own version of a dog being “family-friendly.” Sometimes that requires calm demeanors due to grandparents being in the house or having high energy so little kids have someone willing and able to keep up their physical explorations. There are many considerations, but these are the core traits of loyal family dogs:
- Temperament: Everything begins with temperament. You want the best dogs for kids to be gentle, affectionate, and naturally tolerant of little hands always picking them up. The dog you choose should never overreact to sudden movement or loud noises.
- Trainability: Easy-to-train family dogs are like digging up gold. They should pick up on the specific and unique commands you use so they follow household rules and reduce stress instead of making things more complex.
- Energy Levels: You must consider the energy level expectation of gentle dog breeds for children. The difference between high and mellow energy is going for a slow and relaxed daily walk or running a marathon around the nearby park.
- Socialization: Families have a lot of obligations and activities. You want the best dog breeds for families that will go to the soccer games, show up at the BBQ, and enjoy camping – without being disruptive or destructive.
Try to find a breed that will bond with multiple people in your family. You want a pup that is good around kids, teens, adults, other pets, seniors, and guests. This is why exploring the Best Dog Breeds for Family is essential — they offer the right temperament and adaptability for households with diverse age groups.
The Best Dog Breeds for Family
The trick to family-friendly dog breeds is balancing temperament, trainability, and adaptability. Here are some of the best dogs for kids we’ve found to enhance your unique family culture and lifestyle.
Labrador Retriever
A black lab is known as the ultimate family dog (that’s why it has its own brand). Labrador Retrievers have one of the friendliest natures you are going to find. They tend to be extremely easygoing, gentle, and patient – even with tiny children.
Labs are also easy to train. Any family on the fence about owning a dog should start with a Labrador Retriever because they will quickly adapt to your needs and make dog ownership a much more rewarding experience the first time around. They also get along well with other pets because they consider themselves part of your “pack.”
Ready to meet your Lab? Check availability!
Golden Retriever
The Golden Retriever is frequently listed at the top of popularity lists in the U.S. for loyal family dogs. They have some of the friendliest demeanors that make them ideal for multi-generational homes and this is also why they are used as therapy and assistance animals.
Goldens tend to be quick learners. They love getting outdoors and playing with their humans. Their affectionate personality and high tolerance help them form tight emotional bonds with everyone in the household.
Find your perfect Golden Retriever pup now!
Bernese Mountain Dog
Better known as the “Gentle Giant,” the Bernese Mountain Dog looks like a mountain of fur, but acts like a protective and loving canine. They have calm and friendly temperaments while being equally affectionate, loyal, and watchful.
You shouldn’t be surprised to see a Bernese stop your child from slipping into the pool or getting in between family members and possible threats. They love consistent attention and will happily play in the outdoors all year long.
Meet your Bernese Mountain Dog companion today!
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
If you’re looking for easy-to-train family dogs that are small, affectionate, and adaptable – consider the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. They pack a lot of love into a tiny, quiet frame that makes them easy to bond.
The adaptability to space constraints makes these gentle dog breeds for children popular in cities and urban areas. They have low-maintenance grooming needs and can easily move from high-energy play companions to cuddly couch potatoes.
Your Cavalier companion might be waiting — check now!
Cockapoo
Intelligence also matters for the best dog breeds for families. While a playful companion is good, seeking out a Cockapoo (crossbreed of Cocker Spaniel and Poodle) has grown in popularity. In part, this is due to their loving nature, but also the low shedding, which makes them ideal for families with mild allergies.
Cockapoos are easily trained and have a ton of personality. They love interactive games with mental stimulation and contain an intuitive nature that makes them loyal. They do best in homes with routine schedules.
See who’s ready to snuggle — Cockapoo puppies!
How to Choose the Right Family Dog
Now that you have a better idea of the family-friendly dog breeds, we should offer some insight into how to choose the next time you visit a local trusted breeder. You want to look for aspects like:
- Match Breed Traits to Your Lifestyle: Do you live an active lifestyle? Is your family out of the house for most of the day? You need to look at family-friendly dog breeds that match up with your daily lifestyle so they blend in well instead of requiring a lot of stress or work to be comfortable.
- Understand Care, Training, and Grooming Needs: Not all of the best dogs for kids are low maintenance. You can find dogs requiring a lot of TLC and others that need structured training to avoid unnecessary behavioral problems. Make sure you have the time to dedicate yourself to your pups.
- Prepare Your Home and Children: Always set up your home before you bring in any loyal family dogs. You want a welcoming space with baby gates, chewable toys, safe zones, bedding, food, and potty accessories.
While you’re at it, be sure to teach your kids about how to approach the new family dog. You don’t want a simple misunderstanding to lead to a lifetime of regret.
Conclusion
Finding the perfectly easy-to-train family dogs requires some work. It is more than picking up the stray that happened into your backyard – although that can sometimes work. Putting in a little effort goes a long way to ensure you select from the gentle dog breeds for children so they have a partner to grow up alongside.
You may be a first-time pet owner looking for a lovable Labrador Retriever or a multi-generational family considering a Cockapoo that fits into your living space. Either way, there is plenty to choose from on our list of the best dog breeds for families.
Take your time and let everyone in the family have a say in what types of dog breeds you’re considering. You never know when a question from a young child or a pleasing memory from a grandparent makes all the difference.
Interested in other breeds? Check out our Best Dog Breeds for Your Lifestyle guide!
