Dogs are often a great addition to homes, especially those with children. Choosing the best dog breed for your kids would involve considering several factors, including the size of the dog, family lifestyle, and energy level of the dog.
However, you cannot go wrong with a dog that has a sweet and gentle demeanor, amicable attitude, receptive to training, and the ability to keep up with your family.
The characteristics above cover a number of dog breeds, but you still have to consider if they are the perfect fit for your kids.
Some of the factors below should be considered when looking for a dog breed suitable for your kids.
What should I consider when looking for a good family dog?
- Size: Small dog breeds can be more fragile and might feel more comfortable around older children. Some huge dogs would be suitable at home in a house filled with rambunctious little children but require space to play and exercise. On the other hand, some large dog breeds tend to be docile, while some smaller breeds can be excitable.
- Temperament: Different dogs have different personalities, which should be considered when choosing a dog for your kids. You would want to choose a dog breed with an agreeable temperament.
- Energy Level: Dogs can be very energetic animals, and choosing the right one for your kids and family is strictly a matter of preference. It is necessary to be honest about the type of lifestyle you can provide for your dog and choose one with an energy level best suited for that. If you cannot meet your dog’s needs, its excess energy may be a problem in the future.
- Care and Maintenance: Like energy levels, your dog’s maintenance is a significant factor to be considered. It would help if you looked out for dogs that you can meet their grooming needs. Are you too busy with regular grooming? Then a dog with a short coat would be good for you. Consider the needs of your potential dog and ensure that your family can meet them before choosing a dog.
10 Best Dog Breed for Kids
Here is a list of the top 10 best dog breeds for your kids to consider;
1. Shih Tzu
Shih Tzus are small dogs that were exclusively pets of Chinese emperors. These dogs with their long fur, small faces, and luminous eyes lived behind the walls of the Chinese royalty and were unknown to the outside world until the 1930s.
Shih Tzus are cute and friendly companions that have continued to charm people for generations. They are very playful and require lots of attention, making them best suited for a family with smaller kids.
When maintaining the long, flowing coat unique to a Shih Tzu, it is vital to brush it daily and with the hair in front of their face swept up to form a topknot. You can also keep the coat short; this does not require as much grooming or a topknot.
A brief walk in the park daily or short indoor playtime is perfect for this breed.
2. Pug
Pugs are one of the most famous dogs in the world, with their curly tail, wrinkled brows, and it’s adorable glimmering eyes. This dog breed can be described as affectionate, playful, and gentle-natured.
The Pug is polite to other people and animals and gets along with both kids and adults—making them a favorite for everyone.
Pugs enjoy taking naps, though they are snore and snort due to their flat faces and small nostrils, which affect their breathing.
Pugs’ short coat requires minimum maintenance, but it does shed. It is crucial to pay attention to the area around the face and eyes because dust and dirt may build up in the facial wrinkles. Pugs need daily strolls or playtime in the yard.
3. Bichon Frise
The Bichon Frise is a sweet, fluffy dog that is ideal for families with children of all ages. Their hypoallergenic coat makes them the perfect dog for families with people that have allergies.
Bichon Frise has a lovable and attentive demeanor that makes them very easy to train and thrive in human company, especially children.
They can be a little shy with strangers at first but are quick to warm up to anyone.
This dog breed stands at 9-12 inches and weighs about 7-12 pounds. They have a curly white coat that may have traces of cream. The Bichon Frise has a life expectancy of 14-15 years.
4. Golden Retriever
This dog breed is another contender on the list of best dog breeds for kids. Golden Retrievers are jovial and lovable dogs that are full of energy, eager to please, and excellent with children of any age.
They are smart and capable of thriving in any household. Goldens are also very energetic dogs and require lots of exercise to keep them from being bored and in good shape.
Exercise may include activities like running, hiking, and playing fetch. Training a Golden is essential but not difficult; they are very eager to learn and can do many things.
This dog breed has long coats that require regular grooming. They weigh around 55-75 pounds and stand at 21-24 inches.
5. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
These adorable little dogs are a perfect fit for homes with older children. They are great lap dogs that love spending time snuggling with their owners.
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel possesses a calm demeanor, and their attentive nature makes them respond well to training. They are also very eager to please.
Although they have slightly smaller noses than pugs, they are still susceptible to similar health challenges. Although they may enjoy staying on the couch, it is good to encourage them for a little physical activity like a walk in the park.
Cavalier King Charles spaniel has long coats that require regular brushing. They possess average intelligence and are small dogs that weigh about 13-18 pounds and stand only 10 to 13 inches tall.
6. Labrador Retriever
Labrador Retrievers can be described as playful, intelligent, active, and obedient. This dog breed is perfect for homes that offer lots of attention, exercise, and training.
Labs are loyal, good-mannered, and well-behaved dogs that are comfortable relaxing in the home as they are running in the park with their owners.
Labs are popularly known for their love for food and would happily eat anything edible within their line of sight, so they tend to become overweight.
This can be managed by regular exercise and limiting dog treats. Labs are very easy to train and have an easy-going temperament, making them a good dog breed for kids.
They possess a short, dense double coat that comes in chocolate, black and yellow colors. Labrador Retrievers stand at 21-25 inches and weigh 55 to 80 pounds. They have a life expectancy of 10 to 12 years.
7. Newfoundland
The Newfoundland is a working dog from Newfoundland, Canada, and is known to be one of the most intelligent dog breeds in the world.
Although its original purpose was originally to help fishermen, this dog breed has become a family favorite over the years.
They love children and are very protective of them. Both younger and older children would fall in love with this dog’s sweet nature.
Asides from being an incredible family dog, Newfoundland is also an exceptional water dog and strong swimmer, and there have been many people who have been rescued at sea by these gentle giants.
Newfoundland dogs typically stand between 27-30 inches tall and weigh as much as 150 pounds. They are best suited for families in large, open spaces. Their long coat requires regular cleaning and maintenance.
8. Poodle
Poodles are famous for their distinctive haircuts and graceful demeanor. They also happen to be very gentle and intelligent dogs loyal to their owners and are seldom agitated or bored.
Poodles come in both standards and miniature sizes, which means you can choose one suitable for your living environment.
They are fantastic with kids and a good breed for people with allergies as they shed very little. The Standard Poodle breed is intelligent, playful, curious, and obedient. They can be shy around strangers but get along splendidly with adults and kids they know.
On the other hand, Miniature Poodles are very delicate and tend to devote themselves to one person in particular, but they are good with children and other pets.
Both poodle breeds require adequate training and grooming.
9. Collie
Collies are a variety of dog breeds, some of which include Border Collie and Bearded Collie.
This family-friendly puppy is a gentle and predictable breed that is trainable and rarely causes a nuisance—a perfect fit for families that are not familiar with dogs.
Collies are very affectionate with children and are eager to please their owners and their family. Collies were originally bred as herding dogs and have not lost that instinct, so your Collie may try to herd your kids.
It may be cute at first, but it’s best not to encourage such behavior no matter how useful you think it could be. Collies require regular grooming because of their long hair.
They are a very sensitive and gentle breed but can be stubborn too. So it is vital to keep obedience training in mind when getting a Collie.
10. Bulldog
Bulldogs have a reputation for being fierce and aggressive. But little is said about how they were historically used to protect children. The Bulldog is a devoted dog that is affectionate towards children.
This dog breed is friendly and loyal and gets along with other dogs and pets too. They are comfortable in large living environments as well as small apartments.
They are also delightful to strangers, which makes them great pets for social families. Bulldogs require regular grooming, especially the folds around their tail and facial wrinkles that need to be cleaned to prevent the buildup of dirt.
