The Best Dog Breeds For Families By Desertrat89 [98 more lists]
Everyone has their favorite dog breed, but what's the best breed to bring into your home if you have kids? Of course, the very best thing you can do is adopt a dog, making sure that the animal is good with kids beforehand. But if you have your heart set on a particular breed, there are definitely some dogs that are better in families than others. Vote your favorite kid-friendly breed up and add any you see missing.
- 1
Golden Retriever
“ This dog has been the #1 family dog for decades. They are patient, good-tempered and loving. They are easy to train and people-lovers to the extreme. These dogs get big, tho... up to 80lbs, and they have a lot of hair. They are also dogs that need plenty of exercise. „ - 2
Labrador Retriever
“ This breed is extremely smart - possibly one of the smartest of the breeds. Loving, happy and affectionate, they also have that very important quality for a dog around kids: patience. Note that this dog is another that can get quite large, but their shorter haired coat makes for less shedding that some. They absolutely require daily exercise, so if you don't think you can manage a lot of fetch, walks and trips to the park... this may not be the dog for your family. „ - 3
Irish Setter
“ This breed is beautiful, fun and high-energy. They are silly and flighty, but known to be a bit on the less-intelligent side. This makes for a fun, silly pet that needs to be entertained a lot. They are great with older kids who want to play all the time. They are hunting dogs, however, and can be easily distracted by scents and the prey-instinct. „ - 4
Collie
“ Everyone obviously thinks of Lassie when they hear the word Collie. There are actually three types of Collie, but its the smooth coated variety that makes the best family dog. This dog needs a lot of affection and attention as well as a yard to run around in. This dog doesn't do well when it's bored. One of the best things about it, besides its ease of training, is that it is one of the few breeds with relatively few health problems. „ - 5
Bernese Mountain Dog
“ This dog is simliar in shape and breeding to the Newfoundland. They love children and are another giant, gentle, calm breed. They do, however, bark because of that same protective nature found in most of the herding/working breeds. If you live in a neighborhood with a lot of people coming and going, this dog could wear your nerves thin. While this dog is easily trained, it does require a lot of space as its more active than the Newfoundland. Like all the large breeds, it's also prone to hip problems. „ - 6
Newfoundland
“ This dog is enormous and gets up to 150lbs. Make sure you have a lot of space and are willing to spend a lot of time keeping its massive coat clean and groomed. They are gentle giants - calm, intelligent and brave. They are incredibly protective of kids (which might not be right for your family, consider your environment) because of their breed's history in protecting livestock. „ - 7
Miniature Schnauzer
added by: Randolph - 8
Jack Russell Terrier
added by: Roger Stenson - 9
Lhasa Apso
added by: Randolph - 10
Standard Poodle
“ This dog is in the top 5 of the smartest breeds of dog out there. Watch out for this one, as its a problem solver. This trait does make for a wonderful family companion, however... making it super easy to train. High intelligence, however, can create behavioral issues if you are not careful with your consistency. „ - 11
Pug
added by: IanT.Sebas“ Strong willed but rarely aggressive, the pug is suitable for families with children. The majority of the breed is very fond of children and sturdy enough to properly play with them. They can be quiet and docile but also vivacious and teasing depending on their owner's mood. They can make good watchdogs; they are always alert and sometimes yappy „ - 12
Schipperke
added by: Randolph - 13
Maltese
added by: Roger Stenson - 14
Bichon Frise
“ This is a sweet, loving, happy dog - but needs older kids as it tends not to deal well with very little children poking and pulling on it. The size of this dog makes it suitable for families in small living spaces, and while it needs exercise like any dog it doesn't needs the high levels that the working dogs require. Note that, like many of these small, white-haired breeds, it is prone to skin problems and requires daily brushing. „ - 15
Rottweiller
added by: dubier - 16
Vizsla
- 17
Boston Terrier
added by: MikeHatfill - 18
Pit Bull Terrier
“ The sad story of this breed should not deter you from bringing it into your family. Like any dog on this list, or any dog anywhere, ever - these animals can be mistreated and taught to do bad things. I would have put this dog much higher on the list, but for the fact that people mistrust it. Don't. This dog was known for a century as the "Nanny Dog" because of how people-centric it is. You only have to meet one Bull Terrier to know how happy and thrilled they are to be around people. They must be socialized properly with other dogs (just like all the dogs on this list) but they will always be about their family first. They are highly energetic and not great for very young children (they would just knock them over in their enthusiasm) unless they are already mature animals. I have two kids and two pits, and there have never been better, more awesome dogs. They both let my kids do unspeakable things to them with the patience of saints. „ - 19
Standard Schnauzer
“ This is a reliable, smart (as hell) breed that is social and charming. They are good around young children and they tend towards the attention of the whole family vs just one person in it. This is a mid-size dog, so it can handle a smaller living area, but still requires a lot of exercise - and it can become destructive when it gets bored (like most dogs). „ +Add New Item
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Vizsla at 8/08/2011 11:37 AM
Jack Russell Terrier at 8/05/2011 11:41 AM