What are the best dog breeds for families? When adopting a puppy or a new dog, you might want to know which breed is best for you and your family.
Here in this article, we recommend the ten best dog breeds for families and children.
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Best Dog Breeds for Families and Children
What makes a good family dog?
To determine which dog is best for your family, consider the dog’s size, temperament, and energy level.
Regardless of whether a dog is purebred or a mutt, these three factors can help you choose a good family dog:
1- Size: Some larger dogs tend to be docile, while some smaller dogs can be excitable. But if a big, rambunctious dog has a family with kids, it can knock the children down without realizing it.
2- Temperament: You should look for a dog with a pleasant and calm temperament that can be a great companion for your children.
3- Energy level: This factor depends on the family’s lifestyle.
Explore our list of the ten best dog breeds for families.
10 Best Dog Breeds for Families
BEAGLE
Beagles are intelligent and energetic. They are generally affectionate and social dogs, making them excellent family dogs.
The Beagle is an intelligent pack dog that loves the company of other dogs and people.
A Beagle will not cope with long hours alone and could be restless and destructive.
Beagel Breed Summary
- Size: Small to medium
- Height: 13 to 15 inches tall
- Weight: 18 to 35 pounds
- Energy: Active, needs a lot o exercises.
- Personality: Friendly and curious
- Adequate for Children: Yes
- Good with other Dogs: Yes
- Shedding: Sheds in the summer
- Life Expectancy: 10-15 years
- Grooming: Weekly
- Barking Level: Vocal
BRUSSELS GRIFFON
Brussels Griffon is lively, intelligent, and sensitive. They are excellent watchdogs with personalities and devotion.
This breed is excellent for families. Brussels needs daily walks.
Brussels Griffon Breed Summary
- Size: Toy
- Height: 7 to 8 inches at the withers
- Weight: Males – 8 to 12 pounds, Females – 6 to 10 pounds
- Energy: Medium
- Personality: Lively, intelligent and sensitive
- Adequate for Children: With supervision
- Good with other Dogs: With supervision
- Shedding: Smooth-coated Griffons shed seasonally. Rough-coated Griffons do not shed.
- Life Expectancy: 12-15 years
- Grooming: Weekly
- Barking Level: Barks when necessary
BULLDOG
Bulldogs are friendly, kind, and loyal companions.
Although the size of the Bulldog dog is not small, this will not prevent him from snuggling into your lap for a good hug. Bulldogs enjoy brisk walks and other activities.
Bulldog Breed Summary
- Size: Medium
- Height: 13 to 15 inches tall
- Weight: Males – 50 or more pounds, Females -40 or more pounds
- Energy: Low
- Personality: Friendly and courageous
- Adequate for Children: Yes
- Good with other Dogs: Yes
- Shedding: Seasonally
- Life Expectancy: 8- 10 years
- Grooming: Weekly
- Barking Level: Quiet
FRENCH BULLDOG
French Bulldogs are adaptable, playful, and intelligent.
French Bulldogs are a loving and charming breed. They don’t bark much but can make an excellent watchdog. They don’t require a lot of exercise and enjoy their family. This breed gets along well with other animals and loves to make friends.
French Bulldog Breed Summary
- Size: Small
- Height: 11 to 13 inches tall
- Weight: Up to 28 pounds
- Energy: Medium- Not very active
- Personality: Friendly, playful
- Adequate for Children: Yes
- Good with other Dogs: Yes
- Shedding: Seasonally
- Life Expectancy: 10-12 years
- Grooming: Occasionally
- Barking Level: Quiet
GOLDEN RETRIEVER
Golden Retrievers are sweet and have a puppy-like temperament making them cheerful playmates for people of all ages.
Loyal, dependable, and eager to please, these dogs are often easy to train.
Golden Retriever Breed Summary
- Size: Small
- Height: Males: 23 to 24 inches; Females: 21.5 to 22.5 inches
- Weight: Males: 65 to 75 pounds; Females: 55 to 65 pounds
- Energy: Active
- Personality: Intelligent, friendly and devoted
- Adequate for Children: Yes
- Good with other Dogs: Yes
- Shedding: Seasonally
- Life Expectancy: 10- 12 years
- Grooming: Occasionally
- Barking Level: Barks when necessary
IRISH SETTER
The Irish Setter is playful and energetic, loves to be around people, and plays well with children. This breed loves to be with its family.
This dog breed needs a lot of exercise and is a good match for energetic children.
Irish setters have long fur and need regular brushing to avoid tangling.
Irish Setter Breed Summary
- Size: Large
- Height: Males – at least 27 inches at the withers. Females – at least 25 inches at the withers
- Weight: Males – at least 70 pounds Females – at least 60 pounds
- Energy: High
- Personality: Friendly
- Adequate for Children: Yes
- Good with other Dogs: Yes
- Shedding: Seasonally
- Life Expectancy: 12-15 years
- Grooming: Weekly
- Barking Level: Barks when necessary
LABRADOR RETRIEVER
Labrador Retrievers are friendly and outgoing, devoted to their families, eager to please, and calm yet energetic.
Labs are a large breed with a lot of energy, so it is important to socialize and train puppies from a young age.
Labrador Retriever Breed Summary
- Size: Large
- Height: Males: 22.5 to 24.5 inches; Females: 21.5 to 23.5 inches
- Weight: Males: 65 to 80 lbs; Females: 55 to 70 lbs
- Energy: High
- Personality: Friendly
- Adequate for Children: Yes
- Good with other Dogs: With supervision
- Shedding: Regularly
- Life Expectancy:10- 12 years
- Grooming: Weekly brushing
- Barking Level: Medium
MUTTS
Mixed breeds often provide the best traits of two great dogs in one dog.
In terms of size, if the dog is a stray and is not fully grown, you may only get a better estimate of its dimension as an adult.
POODLE
The Poodle is a gentle dog. This dog is affectionate and loyal and rarely gets angry or bored.
Poodles are available in standard and miniature sizes. You can choose the specific poodle size that best suits your living environment. The Standard Poodle breed is obedient, intelligent, playful, and adventurous. This breed gets along very well with people and children they meet.
Miniature poodles tend to be devoted to one person and are good with other pets and children.
Poodle Breed Summary
- Size: Toy, Small/medium or large
- Height: Toy – 10 inches or less Miniature – 10 to 15 inches Standard – More than 15 inches
- Weight: Toy – 4 to 6 lbs. Miniature – 10 to 15 lbs. Standard – 40 to 70 lbs.
- Energy: Medium
- Personality: Intelligent and loyal
- Adequate for children: Yes
- Good with other Dogs: Yes
- Shedding: Low
- Life Expectancy: 10-18 years
- Grooming: Daily brushing
- Barking Level: Medium
PUG
Pugs are charming, mischievous, and affectionate.
Pugs are family favorites due to their balanced temperament, playful personality, and outgoing and loving disposition.
In addition to being robust and adaptable, the pug is an ideal dog for families with children.
Pugs are playful and lively and enjoy daily walks or moderate exercise. This breed does not tolerate hot weather.
Pug Breed Summary
- Size: Small
- Height: 10-13 inches
- Weight: 14–18 pounds
- Energy: Medium
- Personality: Intelligent and loyal
- Adequate for Children: With supervision
- Good with other Dogs: With supervision
- Shedding: Regularly
- Life Expectancy: 13-15 years
- Grooming: Weekly brushing
- Barking Level: Barks when necessary
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