A dog can be a wonderful addition to a family, bringing joy, companionship and lots of fun. Dogs also encourage us to get more exercise in the fresh air. For younger children, they can help with developing key social and emotional skills, while for older children, pet care teaches them responsibility through caring for an animal.
Choosing the right dog for your family and household is essential for a number of reasons. While it’s important to factor in aspects such as the size of your home, children (and more specifically, child safety around pets) adds a few more considerations to the list. To help you with your decision-making, here is our guide to some of the best dog breeds for families.
Assess Your Needs
Before considering which breeds for families might be suitable, it’s important to first consider your own circumstances - as this can help to inform the type of dog you choose. Some examples include:
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The size and age of your family: Do you have a baby or young child - and if so, are you able to take on the responsibility of a new pet alongside parenthood? New pets can be challenging, especially at the puppy stage - so bear this in mind to avoid taking on more than you can handle.
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Other pets: Consider the other members of your family - including the furred, and feathered variety - and how you might navigate introducing them to a new pet-sibling.
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Living situation: The size - and style - of your home can have a bearing on the size (and style) of dog you choose. For example larger breeds might struggle in smaller homes or living in apartment blocks.
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Lifestyle: All dogs require regular exercise - some more than most. If your family enjoys long hikes in the great outdoors, a Border Collie or Bernese Mountain dog could be your new best friend.
Adopt Or Shop?
When getting a dog, adoption can seem like the most obvious route to take: besides potentially saving a dog’s life, other benefits to adopting include lower cost, since routine procedures like chipping, vaccines and spay/neutering often form part of the adoption fees. That said, dogs with “past lives” may come with behavioural issues to resolve later on.
By contrast, buying a pet is more expensive and requires a degree of caution. Pet stores, puppy mills and disreputable breeders are major contributors to the problem of neglect and overbreeding in dogs - so if you are considering this route, two good resources to use are the RSPCA and Kennel Club’s list of assured breeders.
Choosing A Dog
With 121 different pedigree breeds to choose from (not including the many cross-breed varieties), it can be a challenge to create a shortlist of best dog breeds for families. Some good “all-rounder” traits to look for in a family dog include a gentle, easy going disposition, patience with children and responsiveness to training. Besides these traits, there are a number of other factors to consider, including:
Size & Breed
While many larger breeds are docile and sweet-natured, they also risk accidentally knocking down younger children, children can also pose a danger to smaller, more delicate “toy breed” dogs - so if you have young children aim for a happy medium and consider a small-to-mid-size breed. Here are a few examples of family friendly dog breeds to consider, from small to large:
Small Dogs
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Havanese: While their extra-long hair requires plenty of grooming, small-yet-sturdy Havaneses are well-worth putting in the extra effort, and will reward you with their intelligence, affection and playful personality.
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Shih Tzu: This breed can adapt to a variety of living situations, making them a good option for apartment-dwelling families. While they can be a little stubborn at times, they’re generally sociable and friendly with both humans and other animals.
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Cavalier King Charles Spaniel - Sweet-natured spaniels are generally a good option for families, and the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is no exception. While they might be a little too “vocal” for some households, they are smart and eager to please, making them easy to train.
Medium-sized Dogs
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Cocker Spaniel: The "merry cocker" (so-called due to their cheery disposition and waggy tail) is loving, loyal and easy to train, making them a great choice for families. Best suited to an active household, this breed needs plenty of regular exercise to keep them happy.
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Labrador - This breed is prone to weight-gain, making regular walks are essential. As with all highly intelligent breeds, the labrador retriever also needs lots of mental stimulation, or beware: they may take out their frustration on your shoes and soft furnishings!
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Wheaten Terrier - Soft by name, soft by nature, the soft-coated Wheaten is a smart, adaptable breed with plenty of energy to spare, requiring regular walks and playtimes as well as daily grooming to maintain their silky coat.
Larger Dogs
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Bernese Mountain Dogs- If you have space to accommodate them, these gentle giants are devoted, trainable and great with kids. While designed for the outdoors, they are not overly energetic and suit families with varying activity levels.
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Greyhounds - Although typically associated with racing, greyhounds are relatively laidback, content with shorter walks and plenty of time lounging with their pack (so long as there’s plenty of room for them to stretch out and relax)
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Great Dane - Another “gentle giant” breed, Great Danes seem not to be aware of their size - so don’t be surprised if yours attempts to clamber into your lap for a cuddle! With big dogs come big stomachs, so be sure you have the budget to maintain a regular, high-quality diet.
Health Problems
When it comes to choosing best dog breeds for families, it’s also important to consider potential health conditions. While mixed breed dogs are known for being comparatively more resistant to genetically-inherited disorders, specific pedigree breeds often come with a number of potential health problems such as hip dysplasia and certain cancers.
Some breeds like golden retrievers also require extra grooming to prevent uncomfortable matting and tangles - while “wrinkly” breeds like bulldogs require extra care for their sensitive skin. These brachycephalic (or flat-faced dogs) often face life-long breathing difficulties requiring additional veterinary care.
Temperament
While certain physical traits (such as a powerful jaw) can present a risk, aggressive tendencies tend to be a learned response to threat, rather than an innate characteristic. With proper socialisation and training, it is possible to get these behaviours under control - however this can depend on a variety of factors, including past negative experiences with a previous owner.
Keep in mind that while some dogs may be described as more or less sociable, this does not mean you should leave them for long periods. Generally you can leave dogs at home for 4-6 hours (less if they are puppies or senior dogs), but remember that dogs are pack animals, and too much alone time can be distressing for them, especially for breeds like Irish Setters, who are especially prone to separation anxiety.
Allergies
If you or a family member has pet allergies, it’s important to note that no dog is 100% hypoallergenic. That said, it is possible to find breeds that shed comparatively less than others. Some of the best low-allergy dog breeds include Kerry Blue Terriers, Bichon Frises, Poodles and Maltese dogs.
Spending time with a prospective pet before bringing them home (for example by visiting a pet adoption centre) can be a good way to assess your family’s response to allergens and in general, can help give you a better idea of which dog you might prefer.
Ultimately when looking at best dog breeds for families, do your research first into various breeds, visit rescue centres or reputable breeders first - and make sure you have the energy, time and resources to take care of a new pet.
From comfy and cosy dog beds to dog crates and everything in between, we have all the essentials you need to welcome your new pet to the family. Check out our range of great products today - or if you need more petcare advice, you’ll find plenty of tips here on the hub.