What Is the Best Breed of Dog for a Family

Reviewed and updated on May three, 2020 by Katie Grzyb, DVM

In this article:

• What Makes a Good Family Dog?

• Setting Up a Meet and Greet

• 5 Questions to Ask When Choosing a Family unit Dog

• Listing of Elevation Family Dogs

What Makes a Proficient Family unit Dog?

To determine which dog is best for your particular family unit, Dr. Holly Putnam, DVM and quondam board member for the Association of Shelter Veterinarians, suggests that you consider the size of the domestic dog as well every bit your family'south lifestyle and what free energy level would fit all-time.

Regardless of whether a dog is a purebred or a mutt, these three factors tin can assistance you lot choose a expert family unit dog:

• Temperament – This is the dog's personality. Yous should exist looking for an agreeable temperament. For instance, a calmer canis familiaris has the ability to course strong bonds and be a neat companion for your kids.

• Size – Size solitary does not determine whether a canis familiaris will exist good with kids. Size should exist looked at in relation to both temperament and energy level. Some larger dogs tend to existdocile, while some smaller dogs tin can be excitable. "For example, if you accept a family with pocket-size children, a large, rambunctious dog may inadvertently knock the children down," says Dr. Putnam.

• Energy level – This is a affair of preference for your family. Be realistic well-nigh the lifestyle yous tin provide to a canis familiaris that needs more do than average. If yous can't meet a dog'due south needs, his excess free energy can atomic number 82 to behavior bug down the route. Dr. Putnam gives the following example; "If y'all are an avid runner and looking for a canine companion, a leisurely Basset Hound may non exist the all-time match."

Setting Up a Meet and Greet

To get an thought of a potential new pet's temperament and energy level, be sure to practise a meet and greet or several before yous make the decision.

"When considering adopting a dog, you will want to observe how they answer to all members of your family," says Dr. Putnam.

Dr. Putnam likewise recommends watching the dog's trunk language:

• Does the domestic dog approach y'all and your family with a wagging tail or body, or practise they cower in the corner of the room?

• How willing is the dog to play or share with your family? Some dogs go possessive of what they believe is theirs. This tin can escalate into a dangerous situation with immature children who tend to pick up everything, including the dog'due south toys or food dish.

5 Questions to Enquire When Choosing a Family Dog

In addition to the see and greet, Dr. Putnam says that you should with the shelter or rescue workers to find out a little bit more about the canis familiaris and their likes and dislikes. Here are five sample questions to inquire near potential family dogs:

1. Is the dog safe for all members of the family? Some dogs are perfectly happy to socialize with anybody in the family, while some prefer only adults or one gender.

2. What free energy level does the dog have?  Yous may want a dog that will back-trail you and the family unit on long walks, or i that tin can be carried in your arms the majority of the fourth dimension.

3. What ongoing care will the canis familiaris require? Is it a long-haired domestic dog who will need regular training, or a senior who may need more frequent veterinary visits?

4. What age range are you looking for? Would you prefer a puppy who may require lots of grooming but will probable socialize well with the entire family, or would you prefer an adult dog who is potty trained, just may be more shy or demand time to become used to the routine of your abode?

5. Will this dog go along with other pets? If yous take other pets at home, you will want to cull a canis familiaris that has shown to exist social with other pets, and be certain that your animals like the new dog.

List of Elevation Family Dogs

Call up that while these dogs may take characteristics that brand them peachy family pets, you will still need to work on daily training and socialization to assistance them become skillful canine citizens.

Hither'due south a list of dogs that tend to brand the best dogs for kids and families:

ane. Meridian Choice: Mutts!

While your family unit might be considering merely purebred dogs, don't count out mixed breeds. Mixed breeds frequently provide the best traits of two (or more!) slap-up breeds in one dog.

When you prefer a mixed breed domestic dog, you are saving the lives of two dogs—the dog you adopt, and the dog y'all've now fabricated space for at the rescue.

By adopting, you can likewise get more behavioral background on the dog. The shelter or rescue workers spend their days caring for the dogs, so they can let you know about the ins and outs of a canis familiaris's personality and habits.

In terms of size, if the dog is a mutt and too not fully grown, you might only become a best estimate on their size as an developed.

ii. Gilt Retriever

The Golden Retriever is a confident, smart, kind, and loyal dog. Neither aggressive nor timid, the Golden Retriever is extremely patient, which makes them a perfect match for kids.

While the brood does demand a lot of exercise, they dearest to play (retrieving games are their favorite—for example, your Golden might honey playing with frisbees).

You lot'll ofttimes notice that the fun-loving Golden Retriever is affectionate and obedient, as well, pregnant that your kids will fall in love instantly.

Proper care for their glorious gold coats requires twice-weekly brushing.

3. Labrador Retriever

This is one of THE most pop domestic dog breeds, and for good reason—the Labrador Retriever is playful, patient, loving, protective, and reliable. Another perk—Labs are highly intelligent and take well to training.

They crave A LOT of exercise (they love swimming!), so be sure your family unit is up for the challenge. Brand certain that they take plenty of room to run around and play.

Whether they're Black Labs, Chocolate Labs, or Yellowish Labs, they all share the same sense of stamina, strength, and obedience that makes them such a popular breed.

These affable dogs go along well with other animals and pretty much everyone they run into, plus their short coats mean that they simply really demand a weekly combing to keep them make clean and good for you. However, Labradors practise shed, and so you should exist prepared for cleaning up their hair regularly.

4. Poodle

Too their often-distinctive haircuts, the Poodle too happens to be a very smart and gentle canis familiaris.

Proud and elegant, this dog brood is both caring and loyal and is seldom annoyed or bored.

Poodles are available in both miniature and standard sizes, meaning yous can choose the specific Poodle size that all-time matches your living surround. They're great for kids with allergies, as they shed very trivial.

Each brood comes with different perks. The Standard Poodle breed, for instance, is very obedient, smart, playful, and adventurous. Although they are often shy with strangers, they get along great with people and kids that they know.

Miniature Poodles, on the other hand, tend to dedicate themselves to ane person in particular, merely they are good with other pets and kids. They are smart, responsive, obedient, and playful.

No matter the particular breed of Poodle, however, their coats practise require scheduled grooming.

five. Irish Setter

Known for their carmine glaze, the Irish Setter is playful and energetic, loves beingness effectually people, and plays well with children.

In fact, this breed loves being with their family unit and so much that they hate to be alone, which ways they're on their all-time behavior when surrounded by their loved ones. (Check out some like shooting fish in a barrel means to prevent separation anxiety in your dog here.)

This dog needs lots of exercise and is a good match for energetic kids.

A smart and trainable companion, the Irish setter is perfect for people with a yard, and they're slap-up at greeting new people that come into your dwelling house, as well.

Irish Setters exercise have a longer glaze, and so they will crave regular grooming and brushing to preclude them from getting pilus mats.

vi. Vizsla

While this breed isn't exactly a common household name—mostly due to their demand for regular exercise—they're actually one of the best domestic dog breeds for agile and energetic families with older kids.

The Vizsla has a livelydisposition only a gentle manner, and is both loyal and affectionate.

The breed is also obedient, confident, and smart. Vizslas form close bonds with family members and are able to learn new tricks chop-chop.

They accept a brusque coat, so their grooming routine is quite low maintenance.

7. Newfoundland

Nicknamed "Nature's Bodyguard," the Newfoundland is considered to be 1 of the most intelligent breeds in the earth, and these dogs just happen to dearest children and are very protective of them.

Gentle, kind, and patient, this breed is almost like the Mother Teresa of dogs. Both younger and older family unit members will rapidly fall in love with this large, wonderfully sweet dog.

The Newfoundland all-time suits a family with large, open spaces, and although they are known to drool and shed excessively, they should not be left to live outdoors in the yard (no dog should). Their long coats will also require regular grooming and upkeep.

The Newfoundland is likewise a nifty swimmer and has been known to salvage lives in emergency situations. They are easily trained and quite task-oriented, so don't be agape to provide them with stimulation that requires a little actress piece of work on their role.

8. Bull Terrier

Unfairly branded every bit an aggressive fauna, the Bull Terrier was actually bred to be a companion dog—friendly and loving towards adults and kids alike.

Keep in mind that your Balderdash Terrier may often have mischief on their mind, specially when it comes to other small animals and dogs. Avoid problems past keeping your pet mentally and physically agile every twenty-four hours.

A Bull Terrier's short, flat coat is easy to care for, and the breed does best with like shooting fish in a barrel access to a g for play.

9. Beagle

The Beagle's small size (they can easily be carried!) and calm temperament make this brood a nifty pick for families.

Beagles were originally kept as hunting dogs, and their sturdy build means they're never too tired to play games. If your kids love the outdoors, this breed will fit right in, since there's nothing they love more than exploring outside and taking to the trails.

Smart, friendly, and happy, the Beagle usually gets along with other pets, too (except for a fleck of chasing here and there). They do shed, and so they crave frequent brushing and bathing.

10. Bulldog

For a devoted, patient pup that'south certain to act affectionately towards kids, the Bulldog is your go-to breed. The Bulldog has a sturdy build that is perfect for kids. However, he won't win any awards for "most energetic dog."

A docile, friendly, and loyal dog, the Bulldog gets along well with other pets and dogs, too. The Bulldog is comfortable living in big houses equally well equally modest apartments.

Most are also pleasant with outside visitors and compatible with other pets, which makes them the perfect fit for a busy, social family. Their smaller size makes them suitable to both big houses and small apartments, equally well.

If you are interested in getting a Bulldog, keep in mind that the compressed nature of their jaw means they'll need a little extra care with teeth cleaning, and wheezing, snoring, and some drooling are par for the course.

The folds effectually their tail and facial wrinkles will need to be cleaned to preclude clay buildup. On the other mitt, their coat needs minimal care.

So at present that you know a thing or two virtually kid-friendly dogs, choosing a new dog for your family unit should be a little chip simpler.

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Source: https://www.petmd.com/dog/top_tens/evr_dg_top_10_for_kids

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