Dogs may be a man’s best friend, but they also make a great family companion. Not only do dogs make life more fun, they teach children valuable lessons like compassion and responsibility. While any breed can make a great family pet with the proper training, some breeds are just naturals. Here are ten of the best dog breeds for families.
Labrador Retriever
Labrador Retrievers are one of the most popular breeds of all time – and for good reason. Labrador Retrievers adore humans and are playful, loving, protective, and reliable. They are quick and eager to learn and love to show off. They make great service dogs and are the only breed that has been accepted for training as an arson dog.
Standard Poodle
The Standard Poodle is a gentle and extremely smart breed. In fact, they are one of the smartest breeds. They are good-natured and make excellent family companions. Poodle’s are great for families with allergies as they do not shed as much as other breeds.
Golden Retriever
Like the Labrador Retriever, Golden Retriever’s are gentle, loving, and protective. They are extremely patient – a plus around boisterous children – but have enough energy to keep up with the kids. Originally bred as gun dogs, Golden Retriever’s love to swim and are excellent service dogs.
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Irish Setter
Playful and energetic, the Irish Setter makes an excellent family dog. They love to play and are best suited for families with a yard filled with energetic children. Irish Setters do have a lower life expectancy than other breeds, though. Many Irish Setters only make it to age twelve and few live to be fifteen.
Vizsla
The Vizsla was originally bred as hunting dog in Hungary. They are a loyal, gentle, affectionate, and quiet breed. They have a high energy level and require a lot of exercise – perfect for families with children. Vizsla’s do, however, love to spend time with their family. They are eager to learn and enjoy showing off.
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Newfoundland
With a natural love of children, the Newfoundland is known as “Nature’s Nannies.” Though they are large, they are quite gentle and sweet. Newfoundland’s do tend to shed and drool a lot and do best in families with large spaces due to their size. They love to be around their humans and will love nothing more than to make them happy while keeping an eye on them.
Bull Terrier
An intelligent and friendly breed, the adorable Bull Terrier makes a great family companion. They are energetic and will put up with a lot when it comes to children. They rarely complain about rambunctious children and will even help kids learn how to relate to dogs. Their high energy levels will help tire children out and tend to be protective of their family.
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Collie
Though their gorgeous long coat can be high maintenance, their desire to herd kids will certainly make up for it. Collies are a friendly and intelligent breed that love to please their humans. They’re highly trainable, too, which makes them great family companions.
Beagle
The Beagle is an energetic and friendly breed. They can be a bit high maintenance in terms of bathing and brushing, but they make an ideal family dog. Beagles are sturdy and make great nannies as they would be happy to help you round up the kids for bed. They do have a habit of howling, which is cute in small doses.
Bulldog
Not only are bulldogs absolutely adorable, they are a sturdy breed that will put up with a lot. They’re not overly energetic and have a high tolerance for playful children. Bulldogs are also highly adaptable and are suitable for both apartments or houses.
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Mixes
Another great option for families? Mutts! Mixed breeds are great as they combine the personalities of different breeds into one dog. Visit your local shelter and look for a dog with an energy level that matches with your family. A good rule of thumb, especially if you have younger children, is to focus on the mid-to-larger dogs. Small dogs are more prone to injury either by accidentally stepping on them or knocking into them.
Some dogs are naturals when it comes to families. But that doesn’t mean other breeds aren’t! With the proper training, any dog can be a shining star with a family. These ten dog breeds just happen to shine the brightest.
Most of my day is spent playing with dogs. When they nap, I’m here working on my blog. You’re welcome to reach out and connect with me.