Top 10 Family Dogs: Best Dog Breeds for Families

If you’re wondering what sort of dog breeds make a good pick for families with children and you want to select a dog that will get on well with your kids, play with them, and be good natured enough to put up with the odd dressing up session or race around the garden, we’ve got you covered with our top picks of ten of the best dogs for families.

Read on for our top ten suggestions, in no particular order!

Labrador retriever

The Labrador retriever is an excellent all round dog, which is equally well suited to working roles or domestic life! Outgoing, lively and personable, the Lab is an excellent choice for families with children of all ages, thanks to their fun-loving dispositions and kind tempers. However, they also need a lot of exercise, and so are best suited to active families that like to get out and do things, which the Lab loves being involved in.

Golden retriever

The golden retriever is a large, outgoing and very personable breed of dog that loves the company of people, from the youngest of children up to the oldest OAP! They are very kind and enjoy being involved in children’s games, but they also tend to shed hair heavily, which can make clearing up after them a continual job!

However, if you can encourage your children to get involved in helping to care for your dog by teaching them how to brush and groom your pal, this can be a win-win situation for all involved!

Cocker spaniel

The cocker spaniel is an excellent medium-sized dog breed that is entertaining, loves to play, and will bond strongly with kind children. Whilst they do need a reasonable amount of exercise, they are not as demanding in that respect as some of the other working spaniel breeds, and so fit in well to a domestic lifestyle.

Hungarian Vizsla

The Hungarian Vizsla is a breed that has only taken off in a big way in the UK over the last ten years or so, but the breed is fast gathering a committed following of enthusiasts! The Vizsla is a medium sized pointer type dog, with a very gentle, kind nature and plenty of energy for playing and walks!

A handsome, distinctive-looking dog that is a pleasure to train and handle, the Vizsla is a great choice for introducing older children to dog training and general care.

Springer spaniel

The springer spaniel is slightly larger and livelier than the cocker spaniel, but shares many of the same traits when it comes to temperament and tolerance with children! If your family lives an active lifestyle and spends a lot of time outdoors, the springer spaniel might be the perfect choice for you.

Staffordshire bull terrier

The Staffordshire bull terrier has a lot to recommend it as a family dog, being as they are medium sized with short coats that don’t need a lot of grooming, as well as kind, calm temperaments and a real soft spot for children! The Staffy is a great all-round family dog, which tends to bond strongly with children and be very tolerant of newcomers.

Rottweiler

The large, hefty Rottweiler is a very calm, laidback breed that prefers strolling around and slow, interesting walks rather than top speed racing around! They are kind, calm and protective around their families, and very loving too.

West Highland white terrier

The West Highland white terrier or “Westie” is a small dog breed from the terrier grouping that is friendly, loving and gentle, and makes a great choice for families of all types with children from very young to teenaged. If you are looking for a smaller breed that will fit in well with a family, this might be the perfect pick for you!

Dachshund

Another small dog breed that is kind, loving and tolerant is the small Dachshund or sausage dog, as they are sometimes known! Dachshunds can come in either long haired or short haired variants, and are another nice pick for families looking for a smaller breed of dog that will fit in well with a busy family home, and get on well with children.

Mutt

Finally, don’t overlook the mongrel or mutt-a mixed breed dog that can come in virtually any colour, size and shape! There is a lot to be said for a mixed breed dog when it comes to hybrid vigour and good health, and getting all of the best traits of several different breeds all in the one dog!

However, because you cannot assign any specific breed traits to a mixed breed dog, you will need to review each dog on their own merits when making your choice-but this is how you should approach dog ownership in general, as of course, every dog has their own unique personality and traits, regardless of breed!